I have a strange affection for quirky roadside attractions. The bigger, the better. My unfortunate family is victim to the road trips I organize seeking sites claiming to be the “biggest,” “largest,” or “tallest” in the state, country, and even the world. Over time, my husband and two kids have come to enjoy, or at least tolerate, these fun outings full of great photo ops.
All the sites we’ve seen have been memorable in their own ways, but a few standouts really captivated my 10-year old son and 3-year old daughter. If you want a detour from the typical tourist attractions, I would suggest these:
World’s Largest Rotating Globe, Yarmouth, ME
“Eartha” is a 41-foot, three-dimensional scale model of the earth with mountains and landforms in full 3D, which rotates and revolves to simulate the earth’s real movements. She dominates the glass-enclosed lobby of DeLorme Map Company in this southern Maine town.
Eartha is immense, so regardless of your age, your first reaction is “Wow!” To even see the northern hemisphere, you have to take the stairs or elevator to the second and third floor observation balconies. She tilts at 23.5 degrees, just as the earth does, and revolves on a special cantilever arm, powered by two electric motors. At maximum speed, a full revolution and rotation will take just one minute.
As an added bonus to visiting the globe, you can also see the17-foot tall boot in the exterior courtyard of the L.L.Bean flagship store in Freeport, a few miles north.
World’s Largest Light Bulb, Edison, NJ
A monumental replica of Thomas Edison’s first practical incandescent bulb, the world’s largest light bulb is nearly 14 feet of Pyrex glass segments. It sits on top of the 117-foot concrete Memorial Tower at the Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park, and was built in 1937 by former Edison employees. While you’re here, devote 30-60 minutes to visiting the adjoining museum, where you can see historic photographs, early light bulbs and other inventions, and even listen one of Edison’s phonographs.
Edison’s laboratory was located on this tract of land from 1879-1884, before he moved to a more well-known site in West Orange, NJ. Still in his 20’s and relatively unknown during his time here, Edison was already churning out patents at the unbelievable pace of a sheer genius. Besides the phonograph and the light bulb, he came up with 400 other patents.
World’s Largest Bowling Pin, Tampa, FL
As much as the Edison Center is educational, Splitsville is just plain fun! In front of this hip bowling alley on Florida’s midwest coast stands the world’s largest bowling pin, which towers 30-feet over the courtyard of the Channelside entertainment complex. On the inside, this is not your father’s bowling alley. It’s a hipster space with glam décor and a funky soundtrack. With only 12 regulation-size lanes, and a few pool tables, there’s a cozy ambiance rather than an echoing cacophony of bowling balls striking pins.
Despite the cool factor, this is still an ideal place for family entertainment. You can program the lanes to raise the gutter guards when it’s the kids’ turns to bowl, and the smaller ones can roll their balls down 2-foot high metal ramps rather than trying to lift and throw them themselves.
There’s something for everyone on the varied menu, including sushi and a full bar. Your meal is served lane-side, so you can continue your strike streak uninterrupted.
World’s Largest Kaleidoscope, Mt. Tremper, NY
Constructed inside a tall black silo, the World’s Largest Kaleidoscope is located within the Emerson Country Store in the small Hudson Valley town of Mt. Tremper. The store itself is a minefield of breakable but beautiful kaleidoscopes available for sale. After being escorted to the interior of the silo, you’re offered the choice of lying on the floor to see the show, or leaning on tilted back boards.
A ten-minute video — colorful, musical, and somewhat psychedelic – is reflected off three 37-foot tall mirrors, intensified by the high-quality sound system. A selection of three shows rotates, depending on the season.
–Traci L. Suppa blogs about what happens when her small-town family visits the “world’s largest…” whatever…at Go BIG or Go Home. (http://gobigorgohomeblog.com)
Welcome to 
This week I couldn’t help but notice the barrage of adorable first day of school pictures popping up on Facebook. It seems as though for many, summer has come to an end. In our neck of the woods, we still have a couple more weeks before the kids head back to school and get to share all their summer adventures with friends. If my kids knew how to write (they are three), they could produce one heck of a “how I spent my summer vacation” essay. They did more in one summer than I did in my first 18 years of life! Oh to be the children of a mother with severe wanderlust…
This summer, my family had the pleasure of visiting many places we have never experienced before. We spent 7 days exploring 7 Midwestern states thanks to Country Inns and Suites in a wild and wacky race from one mystery location to another (read all about the Country Inns and Suites 1K here). Than I headed to New York City for the week to join up with fellow Travel Bloggers at our annual conference, TBEX.
A few short weeks later, my family and I hopped on board the Catalina Express and finally visited the island just across the sea from the Southern California coast. Catalina was everything I had imagined, and then some. My husband and I fell in love with Avalon’s small town charm and Mediterranean beauty (read all about Catalina here).
Next, we left the sea and headed towards the mountains for a weekend in Mammoth. I learned that the Eastern Sierra was just as stunning as the popular western side, and that Mammoth is much more than a ski destination. We hiked to Devil’s Postpile National Monument and stood at the 11,000 foot summit of Mammoth Mountain. Standing at the top of that mountain felt like standing on top of the world (you can read more about Mammoth’s summer attractions here).
Finally, last weekend, we were able to check two more National Parks off our list. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks were wonderful places to end our summer. My tiny tots stood beside the world’s largest tree and my heart raced as I peered over the edge atop Moro Rock. We hiked to our hearts content amongst vast green forests, granite bottomed rivers, and wild flower filled meadows. My kids have visited 11 National Parks now. Only 47 more to go!
How did you spend your summer vacation? Perhaps you went to some far off exotic locale. Or maybe you decided to stick closer to home. Either way, I hope you got outside and enjoyed life outside your neighborhood with your children. Kids are like sponges and travel helps all those brain cells grow, grow, grow!
Do you have an outing that you would like to spotlight this week?
Perhaps its a post about a vacation you just took or a day trip that you think our readers should know about. Or maybe its a post about the vacation you are currently planning and going to book through Trekaroo! Link up something fresh from your blog using the Mr Linky below.
PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS.
Step 1: Pick a recent post (past couple of days)
Step 2: Under “Name” write: “Title of your blog post (blog name)” – blog name in parenthesis
Under “url” paste: the link to your blog post (not your home page)
Step 3: Grab the Spotlight Thursday image and link to this post so your readers can see who else is playing along this week.
We want to be sure that everyone who participates in Spotlight Thursdays gets their moment in the spotlight so blogs that don’t link back will unfortunately have to be removed.
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Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo and the blogger behind Double the Adventure.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
It’s 6:15PM. Everyone is restless, but attempting to sleep. Tired, but energetic from the day’s climb to Camp Muir, I settle into my sleeping bag and try to dream of electric sheep. Except, I can’t. Because, you can’t really dream when you’re not sleeping. Sure, daydreaming, but it’s just not the same. Someone’s climbing boots are really just too odorous, they should have left them outside, or thrown them off the mountain. And then there’s that guy who sounds like a train, a train broken down and in need of service, maybe like a BART train in San Francisco. It was recommended that I bring ear plugs and perhaps an iPod, obviously I didn’t. Someone gets up, dons their boots, and clomps out the door. The very very noisy door which is insulated with cut up thermarest camping pads. It’s still light out, when is it going to get dark? Ah, finally it’s dark. Someone can’t help from laughing in response to the snoring moose in the bunk above. I fight every urge in my body to look at my watch. I just want to sleep. I can’t. I have to pee, but it’s cold outside. I don’t want to leave my warm sleeping bag. The hours pass. I drink some water. More people get up and walk around. Curse that loud door.
I think there was a period when I may have fell into something resembling a semi-comatose state. I think that period was 10 minutes before a guide opened the creaky door and shined a bright headlamp in my face. Where am I? Am I dead? Rustle, rustle, groan, the climbing zombies quickly stir and then the adrenaline starts kicking in. The guide says, “Everyone get up and get ready. We’re leaving in under an hour.” It’s 11:23PM.
I fire up my headlamp, throw my water bottles and food into my pack, and put on my heavy but trusty warm boots. I fill my 32 oz mug with starbucks instant coffee and don my down jacket and gaiters. Gaiters are “man-leggings” that cover your lower legs and protect your legs and expensive climbing pants from the sharp points of your crampons. I scarf down a clif bar, a couple of poptarts, and I’m good to go. I exit the hut and am hit simultaneously by the biting cold and the utter beauty of the clear night sky. Windstopper hat, check. Helmet, check. Headlamp, check, coffee candies in pocket, yup. My pack feels wonderfully feather light, absent my sleeping bag, trekking poles, and some food. I put on my crampons and I’m ready to go. Crampons are spikes that attach to your boots and make you feel like you can walk upside down. I detach my ice axe from my pack and we start roping up into our four-man rope team.
We set off into the dark and across the Cowlitz Glacier. The snow trail seems narrow and we trudge one foot at a time. It’s difficult to see much beyond our feet and on numerous occasions I have the feeling that a slight misstep would send me tumbling into the abyss. I had recalled that a sign I had read at Camp Muir warned of hidden crevasses. An hour passed and we continued ascending, moving into the pumiced volcanic rock switchbacks of the Cathedral Gap. The rock here was loose and wiley, liable to conk you on the head when you’re looking the other way.
After some time (more than an hour), we stop for a break and put on our down jackets to weather the cold night air. I take a few swigs of water and eat a clif “mojo” bar. I think it gave me some mojo, good mojo, mojo rising. We start up the Ingraham Glacier and then begin ascending Disappointment Cleaver, the physical crux of the climb. I’m feeling pretty good and enjoying the pace and the rhythm. Several minutes of crunch, crunch, silence, punctuated by sporadic drifting sentences of pseudo conversation. Zig, zag, switch ice axe to the uphill hand, zig, zag, “clank!” on the rock, zig, zag, the sound of metal crampons on hard snow and ice, and the light rumble of unstable rock to pass the time. Watch out! Crevasse, step over it! I generally did not look down the crevasses, just straight ahead. We continue to climb one to two hours at a time through the night.
The moon is a crescent sliver in the black sky above us. It’s not only a crescent, but it beams a bright firey orange color, reflecting the color of the sun. The recent forest fires have filled the air with particulates which cause the light to refract and reflect in fantastic ways. We continue to be whittle away the hours and finally the burnt orange sun begins to rise. The sunrise is phenomenal, one of the most dramatic and magnificent I’ve ever seen. We pause for a few photos and continue the ascent through the thinning air.
We reach the crater rim at 7:05AM. Mount Rainier is a dormant volcano and is topped by a crater. We reach the lower part of the rim, drop our packs, and unrope. There are steaming vents along the rim of the crater which don’t look too friendly, though apparently stranded climbers have used them for warmth. Ice axes in hand, we start the last few minutes to the high point on the other side of the crater. We descend the rim and walk across the crater through a field of enormous jagged sun cups. If I didn’t know better, I’d think those things could impale you. It looks like another world, like something from “Avatar”. We reach the summit (elevation 14,410 feet) at around 7:30AM. The sun is out, but the wind is also out in force. We snap a few photos, sign the summit register and head back down into the crater. We stop briefly to refuel and congratulate each other, then we rope up and start heading down the mountain.
Mountaineers know that heading up the mountain is only half the battle. Getting down safely is the other half. Heading down is a long chore which is hard on the knees, but at least we have daylight now. As the sun rises, the danger of rockfall increases. The snow begins to melt and the rocks which were once frozen to the ice can start to slide. We spend several hours weaving our way down the mountain while trying to avoid kicking rocks onto the teams below us. We stop for a break at 9:40AM at the top of Disappointment Cleaver. As we move on, we step over a few crevasses, some of which are quite deep. One crevasse requires us to cross a ladder. They’re definitely a bit scarier when you can see them in the sunlight. At one point, I jump over one and get a scolding from the guide, “Keep your feet on the ground next time!”. My rope-mate thought it looked cool at least, if not the safest thing to do. Duly noted.
We arrive back at Camp Muir at 11:44AM. The guide advises us to not go into our sleeping bags and to prevent anyone else from doing so. If we did, we might never leave. Within six minutes of our arrival at the high camp, it starts snowing on us and the winds turn blustery. There goes our good weather! We rest up a bit and pack up the rest of our gear for the final leg down the mountain. As we descend the mountain unroped, the weather devolves into white out conditions and a mix of snow, rain, and wind. We stop at intervals to make sure everyone stays together. We slide down the giant mogul-ish sun cups of the Muir Snowfield. It’s just not quite as fun when you’re not on skis though. My knees are hurting a bit, but the ibuprofen is moderately successful at masking the pain. At some points, we encounter snow chutes that previous climbers had graciously carved out for us using their behinds. I whip out my plastic garbage bag and happily slide down some of these chutes. Unfortunately, I’m too lazy to put on my waterproof pants, so I end up getting fairly drenched for the first time during the entire climb. Getting so wet makes the last bit of the decent fairly miserable for me. What was I thinking? I’m feeling somewhat spacey and disconnected. I just want to get down this giant mountain and put on some dry clothes.
We reach the visitor center at Paradise at 2:30PM and hop on the bus for the 45 minute ride back to Ashford. I take a brief nap on the bus and am ecstatic to change back into dry clothes when we arrive back at the Whittaker Bunkhouse. A few minutes later we’re eating burgers and pizza, drinking beers, and talking of our exploits. The guides present us with certificates and we all sit around for a while as people slowly say their goodbyes.
One of my rope-mates read this quote from his meditation book at Camp Muir, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” – Matthew 17:20
Nothing is impossible indeed.
Intro | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
Donate online here:
http://www.summitforsomeone.org/main.php?page=4&climber=7034
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The Summit for Someone benefit climb series raises money for Big City Mountaineers. BCM is a 501(c)(3) non-profit which provides outdoor wilderness mentoring programs for at-risk teens. The mission of Big City Mountaineers is “enhancing the lives of under-resourced urban teens through transformative outdoor experiences.”
With your help and my summit attempt, the BCM program will reach at-risk teens nationwide (over 2,600 program days last year!). I’m seeking to raise $4000 for the organization. Thank you for considering donating on my behalf. Get out there, do good, and have fun!
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Brennan Pang (brennan) is co-founder and COO of Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
I was awakened this morning to the faint sounds of “Dreamweaver” by Gary Wright playing somewhere in the distance. Coupled with someone walking around on the old floorboards above, it made for a strange alarm clock. For the next two hours I drifted in and out of sleep, then noticed that the enormous clock read 7:37AM. It’s go time!
I jump out of bed, throw on my climbing clothes, grab my pack, stop by the cafe for a tall coffee, and return my room key. I drop my extra duffel bag at the RMI shed for safekeeping and then jump on the bus for the trip to Paradise, the point of departure for our climb of Mount Rainier.
After hitting the bathroom, ensuring we all have water, and getting a quick pep talk, we start off at 9:30AM from the visitor center area of Paradise (elevation 5,400 feet). We climb steadily on the asphalt walkway, then further as the trail becomes a mixture of dirt, volcanic rock, glacial melt, and snow. Wildflowers are in abundance at this time of year, the scarlet paintbrush, pasqueflowers, broadleaf lupines, and a myriad of others cast an astounding array of blue, violet, yellow, and red across the green and brown landscape. As we climb higher, we begin to leave the crowds behind. Our plan is to climb an hour at a time, then stop for short 10 to 15 minute breaks to rehydrate and refuel.
At 11:40AM we stop to take a lunch break. We are now above the trees and the alpine line at an elevation of approximately 7500 feet. I gulp down water, eat a powerbar, some ritz, and we set off once again. We slowly but steadily ascend the Muir Snowfield, named for John Muir, the noted conservationist who climbed Rainier in 1888.
The air continues to thin and breathing becomes tough. As the hours drone on, I start into my rhythm, taking a brief momentary rest at each step. Each pause of a straightened leg adds up over time and helps the body to rest even as you continue to climb. Step 1, breathe, step 2, breathe, step 3, pressure breath. The pressure breath is a forceful exhale of carbon dioxide which helps to pressurize your lungs to absorb more oxygen. Staring at my feet, looking for the subtle changes in the surface of the snow to determine where to best place my next step, then occasionally looking around and admiring the beauty of the creation around me. For me, climbing is elemental, as I begin to climb, a billion thoughts fly through my mind, but as time wears on, rhythm and the next step becomes the focus. I settle into a meditative kind of state, but one that is exhilarating.
At 2:45PM we reach Muir Camp at 10,000 feet. Everyone feels strong and we spend time hanging out, taking photos, and organizing gear for the climb ahead. The weather has been wonderful up until this point, sunny and a slight breeze. Muir Camp is home to a ranger station, and a few huts, one of which is RMI’s. The vibe here is one of excitement, and with the historic stone and log huts flying Tibetan prayer flags against the picturesque mountain it feels like a different world.
At 4:00PM the team gets together for an upper mountain briefing. After the briefing we roam around camp and get ready to settle in for the night, or shall I say the day? The RMI hut is about the size of a rectangular shipping container, but is made out of 2×4s and plywood. It’s chock full of sleeping bunks and can probably hold 24 people or so. I grabbed a lower bunk and put down my sleeping bag, then packed up and organized what was necessary for the impending summit attempt. The guides had hot water available at 5PM. My dinner was freeze dried Cajun chicken and beans cooked with the hot water, then I had some stroganoff-like noodles also cooked in the same manner. 
I finished it off with an entire package of beef jerky, a red vine, and a few cookies. No time for cooking up here today. Roamed around camp and took some photos. The sky is a bit hazy from the forest fires but the haze mostly looks to be below us. Mount Adams can be seen peaking through the top of the haze. It’s breaktakingly majestic up here. Off to catch some sleep now at 6:15pm. It’s tough with a noisy snorer, a bunch of smelly climbers, and an excruciatingly loud door.
Intro | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
Donate online here:
http://www.summitforsomeone.org/main.php?page=4&climber=7034
—
The Summit for Someone benefit climb series raises money for Big City Mountaineers. BCM is a 501(c)(3) non-profit which provides outdoor wilderness mentoring programs for at-risk teens. The mission of Big City Mountaineers is “enhancing the lives of under-resourced urban teens through transformative outdoor experiences.”
With your help and my summit attempt, the BCM program will reach at-risk teens nationwide (over 2,600 program days last year!). I’m seeking to raise $4000 for the organization. Thank you for considering donating on my behalf. Get out there, do good, and have fun!
—
Brennan Pang (brennan) is co-founder and COO of Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
Welcome to
My kids love nothing more than to make a mess. While I am cleaning one room, they are destroying another. Its an endless battle of mom vs child. So when Trekaroo’s very own Lydie came up with this list of Fun Places to Do Messy Art, I knew I had to spotlight it.
There are plenty of great children’s museums with spots for kids to strap on a smock and get out their need for making a mess through artistic expression. But what I think is great about this list is that its also features some art museums such as the Museum of Modern Art and the High Museum of Art, that perhaps parents wouldn’t have thought would be an appropriate place to bring young children. Another place on the list that came as a surprise is the Free Speech Monument in Charlottesville, VA . Here kids can use chalk to draw, write poetry, or even just sign the large wall dedicated to celebrating free speech. If your kids are like mine, they will have plenty to say.
Be sure to take a moment and check out the full list of Fun Places to do Messy Art here. It features locations all around the country that welcome a little paint splatter and chalk dust. If you know of a great place that Lydie missed, please let us know in the comments section so we can make the list even bigger and better!
Do you have an outing that you would like to spotlight this week?
Perhaps its a post about a vacation you just took or a day trip that you think our readers should know about. Or maybe its a post about the vacation you are currently planning and going to book through Trekaroo! Link up something fresh from your blog using the Mr Linky below. PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS.
Step 1: Pick a recent post (past couple of days)
Step 2: Under “Name” write: “Title of your blog post (blog name)” – blog name in parenthesis
Under “url” paste: the link to your blog post (not your home page)
Step 3: Grab the Spotlight Thursday image and link to this post so your readers can see who else is playing along this week.
We want to be sure that everyone who participates in Spotlight Thursdays gets their moment in the spotlight so blogs that don’t link back will unfortunately have to be removed.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
Today Trekaroo would like to spotlight one of our members, Amy, of Pit Stops For Kids. Amy has been an active member of Trekaroo, contributing many great travel tips, activities, and hotel reviews all in the name of helping fellow families travel better. She has shared opinions and advice on a wide variety of places in the Pacific Northwest such as Powell’s Books in Portland, the Olympic Game Farm in Washington, and the Sea Lion Caves of the Oregon Coast (you can view Amy’s entire passport here).
This month, Amy and her family are in the midst of a 22 day road trip across the Western United States. I have have really enjoyed following her family on their journey via her website, Pit Stops for Kids, and I think Trekaroo readers will too. Those who follow along also have a chance to win her giveaway! So far her family has traveled to some amazing places including Glacier National Park, the Big Sky Resort in MT, and Yellowstone National Park. Last summer my family took a similar road trip and while many of our stops may be similar, our experiences have been different. I think that is one of the many great things about family travel- the same road can take us on countless different adventures.
Where has the road taken you lately? Do you have an outing that you would like to spotlight this week? Perhaps its a post about a vacation you just took or a day trip that you think our readers should know about. Spotlight your posts here by following the instructions here and filling out the Mr. Linky Form below.
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Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo and the blogger behind Double the Adventure.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
One of my favorite things about the Hawaiian Islands is the water. Its so clear, blue, and best of all- you don’t need a wetsuit to swim during the winter! Whenever I visit Hawaii, I always make time to snorkel. There is just something so tranquil and beautiful about entering an underwater world full of vibrant fish, docile sea turtles, and delicate coral. Of course, some beaches are better for underwater exploration than others. Here are seven of Trekaroo’s favorite beaches for family friendly snorkeling:
1. Molokini Crater, Maui:
Photo courtesy Mauiguidebook.com
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This snorkel hotspot is located 3 miles offshore and is world renowned for its clear waters full of marine life. Everything from parrot fish to Humuhumunukunukuapuaa (Hawaii’s state fish) can be found swimming around this ancient sunken volcano. The only way to reach this spot is by boat. Lucky for you, there are plenty of outfitters ready and willing to give you a ride (for a fee). Be prepared to share the water with plenty of other snorkelers and scuba divers. This beautiful spot is definitely no secret.
2. Kahaluu Beach Park, Hawaii :
Photo courtesy Letsgo-Hawaii.com
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Kahaluu is a shallow cove on the west side of the Big Island is full of fish and is a popular sea turtle hangout. Since most of the cove is only neck high and the waters are usually calm, its also a great place for first time snorkelers to learn the ropes. Here you can swim amongst eels, porcupine fish, tang, and many other brightly colored fish. During low tide, there are also great lava rock tide pools for the family to explore.
3. Hanauma Bay, Oahu:
Photo Courtesy Haunama-Bay-Hawaii.com
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I’ll be honest, this isn’t my favorite beach in Oahu. I don’t like to have to pay to snorkel and I certainly don’t like sharing the fish with a crowd. That being said, you can’t beat the proximity to Waikiki, the scenery, or the amount of fish in the bay at this popular spot. Hanauma Bay really is a great place to learn to snorkel and get to know the fish that call the Hawaiian Islands home. Small children can play at shores edge and enjoy the small break. Older children can swim with sea turtles, glide past triggerfish, and float above the urchins.
4. Anini Beach County Park, Kauai:
Photo courtesy Alohaclubhawaii.com
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Not only is this beach Kauai’s safest beach for swimming, it is also one of the best snorkeling spots on the island! The shallow waters framed by emerald cliffs create an idyllic snorkeling paradise. Beginners and experts alike will enjoy exploring the tranquil, fish-filled waters. Be sure to leave some time to do some beachcombing. Rare and highly valued Niihau shells have been known to wash ashore.
5. Kapalua Bay, Maui :
Photo Courtesy Virtualtourist.com
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On the northwest side of Maui, just past the resort sprawl of Kaanapali Beach is a cove that is perfect for beginning snorkelers. The beach itself does have gorgeous white sand and is perfect for sunbathing, but once you head out towards the rocky outcrops on the north side of the cove, you enter a world filled with tropical fish, crustaceans, and invertebrates. The cove shelters the water from the wind, keeping the water calm; so pop on those flippers and hop on in!
6. Poipu Beach, Kauai :
Photo Courtesy igougo.com
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The most popular beach on Kauai’s south shore, Poipu Beach is ideal for families. You’ll find great places to lay out a towel, have a picnic, and enjoy the water. There is a small breakwater area where children can play and snorkel without the threat of large waves or strong currents. This beach always ends up on top 10 lists and its no wonder why, this stretch of sand is truly paradise.
7. Shark’s Cove, Oahu:
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This snorkeling spot with a misleadingly sinister name is my favorite place to snorkel on Oahu. There are some extremely shallow areas in the Pupukea tide pool portion of the cove that are great for kids. Two things to keep in mind before you visit: the entrance into the water is rocky so caution should be used, especially with young children and large swells can occur on the North Shore during the winter so this spot is best suited for summer exploration.
Related:
- 128 Fun Activities for Kids on Oahu, Hawaii
- Kid-friendly Hotels on Oahu, Hawaii
- Family Fun on Oahu’s North Shore – by DoubleAdventure
- Kid-friendly Tide Pools on Oahu, Hawaii – by TravelPangs
- Hot Spots for Families on Oahu, Hawaii - by ebickford
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Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo and the blogger behind Double the Adventure.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
Image Courtesy NPS
Today’s spotlight is on the National Parks Junior Ranger Program. Children ages 5-12 can pick up a Junior Ranger booklet at each participating National Park installation (there are over 200 participants), complete the assigned activities, share their answers with a park ranger, and earn a Junior Ranger badge. Most programs require Junior Rangers to attend a ranger led program and pick up litter in addition to completing the activity booklet. Booklets can be picked up at park visitor centers. The Junior Ranger Program is a great way to educate kids about each park in a fun but educational way and the badge they receive upon completion of the program is the perfect souvenir to represent all their hard work. I can’t wait until my kids are old enough to participate!
If a National Park vacation is not on your immediate horizon, your kids can learn about parks all over the country through the WebRangers Program. There are more than 50 games on the WebRangers website that are designed to educate children about our National Parks. The games range from “Name that Yellowstone animal” to reading a map to playing park superintendent. I spent a few minutes playing the games and had a very time pulling myself away from the site! Kids who complete the WedRangers Program earn the coveted WebRangers badge.
Do you have an outing that you would like to spotlight this week? Perhaps its a post about a vacation you just took or a day trip that you think our readers should know about. Or maybe its a post about the vacation you are currently planning and going to book through Trekaroo! Spotlight your posts here by following the instructions here and filling out the Mr. Linky Form below. Also- don’t forget to enter Trekaroo’s Summer of Travel Blogathon! Who knows, maybe a Spotlight Thursday participant will win!
Let’s see where the spotlight shines this week!
Next week don’t miss our Spotlight Thursday on National Parks next week on May 27, 2010. If you’ve got a post on visiting ANY National Park with kids, don’t forget to link up your post so all of us get to know what you’ve written. If you don’t have a National Parks post, don’t fret. You can still be a part of the fun and link up with any new travel or activity post as always.
Trekaroo is seeking families who love National Parks! Sign in and share your reviews on Trekaroo. Every review you write over the next 4 weeks can be can be entered in the $1000 Summer of Travel Contest!
Related articles:
- Best Hikes for Tykes in Yosemite National Park
- 15 Family Friendly National Park Adventures
- National Park Junior Ranger Program
- 5 National Monuments Your Family Should Visit
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Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo and the blogger behind Double the Adventure.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
