This contest is now closed. Congratulations Jen, number 183! We know you will love the resort.

Although many families travel in the summer to their vacation destinations, a winning argument can be made that more fun activities are available for guests during the snowy winter months at the Tenaya Lodge. This lodge, located near the southern entrance to Yosemite, is chock full of family activities that will make any kid or parent happy to spend as much time at the Sierra resort as possible.

When the snow glistens on the pine trees and the sky is brilliantly blue, families at the Tenaya Lodge will likely be found ice skating in the open air rink, riding sleds down the sled run, or sipping hot chocolate next to the grated bonfire on the north side of the lodge.  In the grand conference rooms, special events are hosted by Tenaya where families can participate in gingerbread building contests, dinners with Santa, and making holiday crafts.  An open air sleigh ride pulled by horses would be an amazing treat and snow shoes, cross country skis, and evening flashlight hikes await the adventurous.  Nearby in Yosemite National Park, visitors can ski downhill at BadgerPass or visit the beautiful Yosemite Valley with it’s frozen waterfalls and ice-covered cliffs.  I know my kids would be so happy and content at the lodge with its large indoor pool and arcade that we would probably have to convince them to try all the other fun activities!

During the spring, summer, and fall, when the snow has melted away, the Tenaya Lodge comes alive with it’s many outdoor activities.  Our kids loved climbing the 25-foot rock wall, shooting arrows at the archery range, and swimming in the large outdoor pool.  Bikes of many sizes and fishing gear are available to rent.  Families can strike out on their own for a 1 mile nature walk to Big Creek or a 5 mile hike to a nearby waterfall.  Guided hikes and flashlight hikes are also available.  During the summer months, the outdoor Chuck-Wagon Jamboree and Summerdale BBQ both offer outdoor eating, live music, a campfire, and S’mores.

Even with all the things that the Tenaya Lodge has to offer to families, it’s location to Yosemite National Park is one of the most amazing things about this resort.  Within a one hour drive, families will be taking in one of the most breathtaking views of a mountain valley framed by 4,000 foot high cliffs and towering waterfalls.  There is nothing like it on earth and should be on every family’s “must-see-list”.

The Steal: Win a 2 night vacation package at The Tenaya Lodge in Yosemite, CA valued at $1,100!

• 2 night stay at the Tenaya Lodge
• Breakfast for four for two days
• Two 60 minute Ascent Spa treatments
• One in-house activity for four

Welcome to

When I was a kid, I wanted to be an ice skater.  Unfortunately for me, the nearest ice rink was 35 minutes away and my mom was not willing to shuttle me back and forth for lessons.  On second though, given my lack of coordination, it was probably a blessing in disguise.  Nonetheless, I still love to skate and look forward to when my kids are old enough to take interest.

In my opinion, there is no better place to ice skate than out in the fresh air.  After all, ice skating began on frozen ponds in Switzerland 5000 years ago!  Modern times have traded in bone for steel and regions without frozen ponds now make due with artificial rinks, but the fun and exhilaration of gliding across the ice is still the same.  So where can families find outdoor ice rinks?  Count on Lydie and her fabulous lists to provide you with the answers!  She put together a list of the 10 Best Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks for Families.  Here is a sampling of what made the list:

The Ice Skating Rink at Curry Village:

I am definitely going to add this rink to my bucket list.  Imagine skating in Yosemite Valley with views of Half Dome and El Capitan.  Its hard to find a more beautiful scene on the entire planet.

Mellinnium Park in Chicago:

Photo courtesy of Culture Mob

Home of the world famous “bean” sculpture and  spitting fountain, this park gives you free access to their ice skating rink, provided you bring your own skates (you can rent skates for $10).   Practice your double axles with the Chicago skyline in view.

Squaw Valley USA:

Just off the north shore of Lake Tahoe is the home of the 1960 Winter Olympics, Squaw Valley.  Visitors can take an aerial tram up the slopes and skate on an Olympic sized rink with incredible views of the Sierras.

Read about the other seven rinks that made the list of the Best Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks for Families.

One of the newest outdoor rinks to hit the country is the ice skating rink at The Strand in Huntington Beach.   Families can ice skate within view of palm trees and the Pacific Ocean directly across the street from December 22nd through January 5th.

Do you know of an outdoor rink that you think Trekaroo families should visit? Then tell us about it by writing a review.

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 | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA

When families think of great destinations to view fall foliage, California is not typically the first state that comes to mind.   More often than not, people head to the eastern half of the country to witness New England’s dramatic color, or The Great Smokey Mountains ablaze with reds, oranges, and browns.  Lucky for us west coasters, there are still plenty of great places to experience autumn’s splendor without hopping a plane and battling the “leafer” crowds.   Here are a few of my favorite spots for seeing fall color in the Golden State.

June Lake

Photo courtesy wunderground.com

There are few places in California more beautiful than the Eastern Sierra in the fall.  Quaking aspens flanking the lake seem to  glow as the sunlight penetrates their leaves.  There is just something about the granite covered mountainside reflecting in the lake with fiery trees highlighting the foreground that keeps drawing people back to June Lake year after year. Come early in the season before the snowfall begins and the area around the lake loses its flashiness and takes on its winter coat.

Read more about where to stay and what to do while visiting the Eastern Sierra with Kids.

Bothe-Napa Valley State Park

Seeing the fall colors in Napa Valley is an experience unto itself.  Wineries are just finished celebrating “the crush” and the night air is distinctively crisp. In between stops at wineries (yes, there are plenty of family friendly wineries out there), be sure to walk a trail or two in Bothe-Napa Valley State Park.  The big leafed maple are gorgeous and sound so wonderful crunching underfoot.

Read about all the activities and lodging suggestions in Wine Country with kids on Trekaroo.

Yosemite National Park

Photo courtesy nps.gov

Yosemite is like the prom queen. She never had a bad hair day and always looks picture perfect.  No matter what the season is, Yosemite never stops short of wowing whoever graces her presence.  While many of the trees in the park are evergreen, there are still maples, oaks, and dogwoods to spice up the scenery come mid-October.  The fall weather makes for nice mid-afternoon strolls on the parks hiking trails.

Read all about family friendly lodging and activities in Yosemite.

Julian

Photo courtesy flickr user goldenstatephoto

Yes, there really is fall color in San Diego County!  At 4,000 feet in elevation, palm trees and sandy beaches give way to mountain air, apple orchards, and some wonderful opportunities for leaf peeping.  This historic mining town is a great place for Southern California natives to get a taste of fall without having to hop on a plane.  Grab a cup of hot apple cider and enjoy the view before heading back on down the mountain and into the land of endless summers.

Sacramento

California’s capital is filled with more than high rises and legislature.  It is also a city with over 110,000 city-owned trees (and many more privately owned), which makes for quite a vibrant spectacle come fall.  When I lived in Sacramento, I absolutely loved taking the bridge over the river and gazing down at the beautiful trees below.  My kids loved jumping in piles of leaves in city parks and searching for the biggest maple leaves bigger than their tiny faces.  If you can pick any season to visit the City of Trees, make it the autumn.

Read all about where to go and where to stay while in Sacramento with kids.

Samuel P Taylor State Park in Marin County

15 miles west of San Rafael, the Bay Area crowds are non-existent and coastal redwoods intermingle with oaks and firs to create a lovely fall spectacle come late October.  Samuel P Taylor State Park is a great place to hike, bike, and enjoy the golds and browns popping against the evergreens. Pt Reyes National Seashore is just down the road and an especially nice place to take in the sunset this time of year.

Best Spots to See Fall Foliage with Kids in Northern and Central California

Best Spots to See Fall Foliage with Kids in Southern California

Interested in visiting the North Bay? Then be sure to check out all of our suggestions for family friendly lodging and activities in the Bay Area.

Still looking for more fall fun in California? Than be sure to check out Spooky Festivals and Attractions in Northern California and Spooky Festivals and Attractions in Southern California.

More on Fall Foliage:

Best Spots to View Fall Foliage with Kids in Utah

Best Spots to View Fall Foliage with Kids in Texas

Best Spots to View Fall Foliage with Kids in Tennessee

Best Spots to View Fall Foliage with Kids in New England

Best Spots to View Fall Foliage with Kids in North Carolina

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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

Its hard not fall in love with water rushing over a cliffs edge into a sparkling pool below.  Waterfalls have always been a favorite destination of families, and anyone who has stared up at H2O in free fall or watched a river suddenly take a drop into a canyon hundreds of feet below can understand why; they are just plain gorgeous.  Trekaroo families have shared so many of their waterfall secrets and each one is worth a visit, but here, in no particular order, are ten of our favorites:

1. Yosemite Falls :

The tallest waterfall in North America is also one of the most stunning on the planet.  Located in the impossibly beautiful Yosemite Valley, its an easy (and stroller friendly) walk from the shuttle stop to the base of the lower falls.  Older kids who love to hike can make the 2600 foot climb (7.6 miles round trip) to the very top of the upper falls.  Its an incredible view that will be etched into their minds forever.  Peak flow is in late spring and early summer.  While you are in Yosemite be sure to check out Bridalveil, Vernal, and Nevada Falls.  They are all guaranteed to make your jaw drop.

2. Niagara Falls

Photo courtesy Flickr user bdesham

While the Niagara Falls are not the tallest, they are certainly some of the most impressive falls your family will ever see.  They straddle the international border with Canada and have been a popular vacation destination for decades.  Families can throw on a poncho and hop on board the Maid of the Mist to get a close up view of the falls, or wander through the tunnels behind the falls to get a very different (but equally as wet) view.  At night the falls are lit up with multi-color lights, but I think they look much more beautiful during the day when they are able to show their much more stunning natural colors.

3. Yellowstone Falls

Yellowstone is probably best known for being a geothermal wonderland, but it also has some of the most spectacular waterfalls in the country.  Upper and Lower Yellowstone Falls plunge with tremendous force down deep into the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, creating incredible vistas along the way.  There are a number of different spots to view the falls including Artist’s Point, but I think one of the most unique vantage points is taking the trail down to the brink of the Lower Falls.  Watching thousands of gallons per second pour over the brink is spellbinding.

4. Akaka Falls

Photo Courtesy of Flickr User Snuffy

There are so many amazing waterfalls plunging deep down into the tropical forests of the Hawaiian Islands but Akaka Falls on the Big Island made our list because of its dramatic beauty and family-friendly accessibility.  A short walk leads visitors to water plunging 442 feet into the spring carved gorge. If standing within view of Akaka Falls doesn’t make you want to build a grass hut and take up permanent residence in the jungle, nothing will.

5. Snoqualmie Falls

Photo Courtesy of Flickr user Redefinery

Just outside of Seattle are Snoqualmie Falls, one of Washington’s most popular natural attractions.  1.5 million visitors come every year to watch the Snoqualmie River plunge 268 feet, creating a white curtain of water.  There are observation points at the top and bottom of the falls and plenty of nice hiking trails in the area.  If you simply can’t get enough of the falls then consider staying at the Salish Lodge and Spa which is just perched near the brink, and enjoy a piece of Northwestern luxury.

6. Shoshone Falls:

Photo courtesy of Trekaroo member gwosatum

Near the city of Twin Falls, ID, the Snake River decides to ditch the whole “winding through the countryside” routine and do something a bit more exciting.  It plunges 212 feet creating a dramatic spray and a beautiful spectacle.  This waterfall is best viewed in the spring as irrigation diversions can reduce the flow quite a bit in the summer and fall.  There is a nice picnic area near the parking lot with an incredible view, so don’t forget to pack a lunch!

7. Multnomah Falls

Photo Courtesy Flickr User Odalaigh

This gorgeous waterfall in the Columbia River Gorge is hard to miss while traveling along Interstate 84. Don’t just give it a drive by, take time to stop and enjoy these beautiful falls.  Multnomah Falls drop 620 feet, and its an easy walk from the parking lot, through a tunnel under the highway, to a viewing area near the base. If you are looking for a real adventure, take the steep hike up multiple switchbacks to the top of the falls.  The view will be worth the burn in your thighs.

8. Silver Falls State Park

This forested park just east of Salem, OR is a waterfall lovers dream.  An 8.7 mile trail takes hikers past 10 waterfalls along Silver Creek.  Whether you only have time to visit the easily viewed 177 foot South Falls or an entire day to follow the trail and see them all, you are guaranteed at least one “wow” to escape under your breath.

9. Upper Whitewater Falls:

Photo courtesy RomanticAsheville.com

Located 60 miles from Asheville, NC in the Jocassee Gorge,  this stunner is the tallest waterfall east of the Rockies.  Its just a short stroller-friendly walk from the parking lot to the upper viewing platform. For an even better view, head down 154 steps to the lower viewing platform and take it all in.  While in the area, be sure to check out Gorges State Park for more wonderful waterfall-filled goodness.

10. Glacier National Park

I know, I know, Glacier National Park isn’t a waterfall.  But come mid-summer, a drive down Going to the Sun Road will place you in a waterfall lover’s paradise.  Snowmelt cascades over cliff edges, down steep mountainsides, and even on to the road itself, creating drama that only Mother Nature can dish out.  This may be the only place on the planet where I was happy to be stuck in road construction traffic. The delays allowed us to slow down and enjoy parts of the park (waterfalls included) that we might have otherwise missed.

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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

The original inhabitants of the Yosemite Valley called the place Ahwahnee, which translates to something like “large mouth”.  The area was said to resemble a gaping bear’s mouth, but it is also an apt description of the effect this rugged and vast landscape has on visitors of all ages.  It’s a stunning view that makes the soul feel big and the every body seem small and allows a child’s imagination to fly wild in the high sky of the Sierras.  Trekaroo parents attest to the majestic qualities of this national park and through their contributions they have given us a list of the top spots to visit while in Yosemite with the youngsters:

The Pinnacle of Wonder for Kids in Yosemite: Glacier Point

There’s something about perspective that changes things and at Glacier Point it’s all about perspective.  The spectacular view from the top may have your child forgetting all about their Nintendo Wii bowling score for at least a few minutes while they contemplate the grandeur of the world around.  Half Dome looms in the distance, allowing parents to briefly appreciate not having to trek 14 miles up that rock with the youngins.  As trekaroo parent Lydie says “[Glacier Point is a] beautiful view without having to hike for hours.”  However, if hiking is part of your plan, Trekaroo mom Sarah assures us “there are hikes that start and end here.” Whether hiking or driving to the top of this Yosemite landmark, Trekaroo parents rank this as one of the best places to visit with their kids.  Shinyhappypeople has this advice: “If it’s your first trip to Yosemite and you don’t have much time, put Glacier Point at the top of your “must see” list.  You won’t regret it.”

Best Place for a Kid-Friendly Yosemite Education: Yosemite Valley Visitor’s Center

The Yosemite Valley Visitor’s Center is frequented by many a mom and dad at the start of their pursuit of the great outdoors.  It’s a great place to begin with plenty of maps and advice to go around. “If you aren’t an experienced camping/hiking/walking the trails family, you should stop in at the visitor’s center. You’ll find maps and hopefully a park employee to answer any questions,” says familiarycerz.  Besides gaining your bearings, the Visitor’s Center offers other educational activities for kids.  Trekaroo mom arial confirms that this is a great way to start your child’s Yosemite adventure: “Not only can you learn about the surroundings and environment, but you can also watch a great free video that is full of history.”  With so much to see and do, first time visitors will especially benefit from the resources at the Visitor’s Center and find the most enjoyable way to explore.

Photo Credit: uSchmarol

The Most Classic Yosemite Journey for Kids: Yosemite Falls

It’s on the postcards and in the films, but there’s nothing quite like watching massive amounts of water fall a few thousand feet.  It’s quite a step up from the bathtub faucet.  Trekaroo parent doubleadventure reminds us that this aquatic wonder truly is for everyone, “Even the tiniest munchkins and those who are disabled can get up close and personal with the Lower Falls”.  Many a youngster (including this author at the ripe age of 7) has made the trek up this towering fall.  Trekaroo user Arial also waxes nostalgic about her childhood journeys up the Falls and gives the recommendation of packing a good hearty lunch for the trek.  Whatever level of physical exertion you choose, the kids will no doubt be awed by the sight and sound of the three falls the make up this beautiful trademark of Yosemite.

Photo Credit: bunny_mama

The Best Place for Kids to see their Parents Looking Up: Mariposa Grove

In Mariposa Grove the trees are nearly as tall as your child’s imagination.  “There are amazing trees here, really big ones, that you can walk through,” says morrobaykim about this precious forest.  HDinSoCal enjoyed the walk to “Grizzly Tree” with the family, “This tree was the best tree worth seeing.”  Amongst these cousins of the Redwoods, there are many ways to meander through the towering, millenniums-old trees by foot or by guided tour, whichever suits your motion fancy.  Trekaroo parents warn, however, that the parking lot is frequently full, especially in the summer.

Photo Credit: flickr/Jared Hawkins

The Best Place for Kids to Reflect on Life’s Big Questions: Mirror Lake

Even mountains can have a bit of vanity, which is why Mirror Lake rests below the towering façade of Half Dome.  There are adventures to be found along the trail, such as TravelPang’s see-saw discovery.  And the destination itself is a spectacular way to relax the afternoon away with a packed lunch and swimming trunks.  The hike is accommodating as maimai19 puts it, it’s a “nice hike for anyone, young and old.”  The trail is stroller accessible for those who can’t quite carry all their own weight yet.  Trekaroo mom, Arial, recommends this place for all-comers: “Whether you get here by biking, hiking, bus, car, or horse this is a great place for all to visit.”

Photo Credit: Giles Douglas

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Related Articles:

• For more activities in Yosemite for Kids
• Kid-friendly lodging in Yosemite National Park
• 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

• American’s National Parks with Kids
• American’s National Monuments with Kids

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Stephen Wanta is a contributing author on 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