This week at Trekaroo, we’re all about Disney! 

For so many people, a Disney vacation is the ultimate family vacation experience, and we agree!

We are devoting the entire week to coverage to Disney parks, cruises and events.  Stay tuned as we even offer a few sneak peaks at the coming attractions for this summer.

 Photo by: Flickr/HarshLight

To get this Disney party started, we’re giving away a Disneyland Vacation for a family of four!! The package includes:

• Four (4) Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Tickets
• A two (2) night, Disney view stay at the Hilton Anaheim
• Breakfast Buffet passes at the Hilton Anaheim

The Hilton Anaheim is located just steps from the Disneyland Resort and offers beautiful rooms overlooking the magic (and even the fireworks) of the parks while boasting family amenities galore.  There are numerous dining options, including a full-service restaurant and lounge, poolside grill, Starbucks and even a food court!  The pool deck offers a fantastic place to unwind and features a wet play structure and mini water slide for the younger kids.

The Hilton is a Disneyland Resort Good Neighbor Hotel, which means that Disney has hand-picked the Hilton because it offers scheduled transportation to the parks, superior service, exceptional quality and in-room Disney tips on your TV!  It is one of a select few hotels in the area that features a Disney Desk on site. Disney cast members work to get you the best tickets, itineraries and more, right from your hotel—no standing in line! The Hilton is currently offering some awesome specials including receiving a $50 Disney gift card with a four night stay.

Read the full review of the Anaheim Hilton.

 Read reviews of rides, attractions, dining, and lodging at Disneyland Resort.

The Steal: Win a Disneyland Resort Vacation

Details: One lucky winner will receive four (4) Disneyland Resort Single-Day Park Hopper Tickets, a two (2) night stay at Hilton Anaheim in a Disney View Suite with two queen beds, and breakfast buffet passes.  Reservations subject to availability and expire March 19, 2013.

HOW TO ENTER TO WIN:

In an effort to make it easier to enter, we are now using Rafflecopter. Simply click on “Read the rest of this entry” and then a box will appear. The more you do, the more entries you will receive!

Read the rest of this entry »

Yesterday marked the start of Chinese New Year, a 15 day festival celebrating family, new beginnings and the start of the lunar new year.  My family lived in China for a short period of time, so celebrating the Chinese New Year feels a bit like home.  This year celebrates the year of the Dragon; if you or your little ones are turning 12, 24, 36, (etc…) this year—throw something on that is red in color (wear it the whole year!) and get ready for a year full of luck & happiness!

Without further delay, here is your Trekaroo guide to everything Chinese New Year:

Festivals & Parades

The highlight of the festivities, especially for the kids, is the chance to attend a Chinese New Year Festival or Parade.  If you live anywhere near a metro area, chances are there is some sort of event going on to celebrate the holiday.  Los Angeles is the closest metro area to my family, and we were hosted for a pre-New Year LA tour by the Omni hotel.  The Omni at California Plaza exudes family-friendliness from backpacks stuffed with kid activities given at check-in, to complimentary milk & cookies before bed for all the little ones.  In addition to being full of family friendly amenities, the hotel is conveniently located near Chinatown; take the hotel car for a quick 3-minute ride and you are there!

Read my full review of the fabulous Omni Hotel.

LA’s Chinatown will be hosting their 113^th annual Chinese New Year parade on January 28^th at 1pm.  Families with older kids can sign up for The Great Chinatown Hunt, an Amazing Race style  scavenger hunt in Chinatown also on the 28^th—I must admit that I am waiting with anticipating for my girls to get older so we can enjoy this event.  Cities across the US are holding parades and festivals in honor of the year of the Dragon.  Get out there and get your roar on!

Photo by: Flickr/Global Jet

Chinese New Year Activities & Festivals in your city:

Los Angeles | San Diego | San Francisco |San Francisco ( Fortune Cookie Tours) | Sacramento| Portland | Seattle | Phoenix/Tucson | Denver | Chicago | Atlanta | Washington DC| New York | Connecticut Cities | Florida Cities | Massachusetts Cities |

Food

A major part of Chinese New Year, and Chinese culture in general, is eating authentic food- and by authentic, I don’t mean Panda Express!  Sharing meals together is a major part of Asian culture, so important in fact that the common street greeting in Chinese is ”Ni Chi Le Ma?” (你吃了吗 , Knee Chur Luh Muh)–have you eaten??  Most of the amazing memories I have while living in China take place around a giant table full of delicious food!  The West Coast & other major US cities abound with amazing authentic Chinese and Asian food opportunities; although the rest of the country is hit or miss, some awesome, flavorful restaurant spots are tucked into to unique corners across the US.

Jiaozi (饺子, geeOW-zuh) , more commonly known as dumplings, receive special New Year Spring Festival recognition as one of the main dishes to be served at a Chinese New Year feast.  My family gathers together yearly to continue this dumpling making tradition—although there is a bit of work, even the kids can (and should) join in the preparations for these tasty bites, and the reward is a lot of family time together with a delicious ending.    If you aren’t up for the labor intensive version, be sure to head out to your city’s favorite Chinese restaurant this new year.

Photo by: Flickr/johnsember

Find authentic food in your neighborhood:

Los Angeles |San Diego | Seattle | San Francisco | Portland | Chicago | Denver| New York City | DC |

Family

The major theme of the Lunar New Year is family.  Similar to our Christmas holiday, millions of people across the world take a break from work, fly home to be with mom and dad, and attempt to spend quality time with their family over food, fun and festivities.    If you live in a rural area or just don’t have the money or time to head to a Chinese festival or event, make it a staycation. Grab those closest to you and spend time making a memory this Chinese New Year- give red envelopes full of small trinkets or change to children, make dragons out of recycled egg cartons, wear a ton of red and decorate your house with home-made paper lanterns, or even attempt your hand at making your own Chinese New Year feast!

Stay-at-home Chinese New Year Resources:

Chinese New Year Overview | Chinese New Year Crafts | Jiaozi Recipe | Chinese New Year Games

Have a game, craft, recipe or any other Chinese New Year Staycation idea?  Share it here.

___________________________________________________

Katie Bodell is Trekaroo’s Assistant Editor, a wife, & a mom to three sweet California girls.

Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC | FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA

It’s the New Year and time to get out and have an adventure with your family!  We know all about tight budgets, pinching pennies, and sometimes the cost of travel can be very immobilizing but if you will consider traveling on just one tank of gas and finding adventures for cheap, it can make for a day filled with fun memories with your kids.  Here are some ideas for places to enjoy by traveling on one tank of gas from the San Diego area.

Palomar Mountain

Photo courtest Flickr uaer Abraxas3d

Any time our family can get away, our favorite places to visit are outdoor areas that have spaces to run, sticks to pick up, and fresh air to breathe.  Our family loves to play “Base Tag” anytime we are in a forest.  My kids hide behind rocks and trees and try to make it back to “base” before daddy can tag them.  Approximately 70 miles from downtown San Diego is Palomar Mountain State Park, a pine-forested mountain area at 6,000 feet in elevation, with picnicking, hiking, camping, fishing, biking, and more. The highlight of this area is the Palomar Mountain Observatory where families can look at the 200-inch Hale Telescope and watch a video on its inner workings.   On your way up or down the mountain, be sure to stop at Bates Nut Farm in Valley Center for some delicious farm treats, or see living history at Mission San Antonio de Pala on Highway 76.

Julian

Photo courtesy Flickr user Mandaroo

This little town is known for its pies, antique stores, and fresh-grown, crisp apples.  An hour drive from downtown San Diego will take families to this quaint and cute village.  Train rides, mining tours, and panning for gold will have kids searching for that elusive treasure and talking about it for years to come.  My boys quickly learned to swirl the gold pan just the right way to make the heavy gold flakes stick to the bottom while the lighter stuff washed away.  They talked about their treasures all the way home.  If you want to find some fun adventure mining, visit the Julian Train & Gold Mine, Eagle Mining Company, the Julian Mining Company, or the Julian Pioneer Museum.  Make sure to finish  day by devouring a delicious slice of pie!

Cabrillo National Monument

Families on Trekaroo are singing the praises of the Cabrillo National Monument because of the incredible views of the San Diego Harbor, downtown buildings, and the glittering Pacific Ocean.  The Old Point Loma Lighthouse is like a beacon for children who love running to it and viewing the historical facts and replicas.  Families can climb the steep spiral staircase to the viewing platform above. Check the tide charts before going and enjoy the sea life in the tide pools below the lighthouse or take a stroll along the steep wave-weathered cliffs and enjoy the wild views of a seemingly never ending Pacific.

Torrey Pines State Park and Beach

There are too many gorgeous beaches in the San Diego area to list, but the beach below Torrey Pines State Park derves special mention. It is extra beautiful because the cliffs and hills above it is home to the rarest pine tree on the planet,the Torrey Pine.  Families love exploring the hiking trails which feature sweeping vistas of Torrey Pines State Park which hug the Pacific and have spenting time in the visitor center.  After exploring the “hill” where the Torrey Pines are, head down to the beach to enjoy some time in the sun and play in the water.

Escondido

Photo courtesy Flickr user Nicmcc

This North County city has several claims to fame, such as being home to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park (a 4.5 star activity for Trekaroo families) and the EscondidoChildren’s Museum.  My husband grew up in this city and eagerly took me to Dixon Lake while we were dating.  Located just north of Escondido, but unknown to many residents, this man-made small lake boasts great bass fishing.  Families will enjoy picnicking on the grass, getting out some energy on the playgrounds, and even renting a rowboat for a cruise around the lake.  Camping, rock-climbing, and bike riding are other fun activities for families to enjoy.  Many people enjoy parties and get-togethers at this outdoor park on the weekends, so if you want a less crowded experience, visit on a weekday.

Carlsbad

The beach town of Carlsbad boasts so many activities for families, that one day here might not be enough.  My kids recently spent a couple of hours touring the Museum of Making Music where they got to play real instruments and learn about the history of music.  When we visited the Flower Fields last May (open seasonally) my parents were just as delighted in the gorgeous blooms as my kids were, when they weren’t running through the Sweet Pea Maze.  LEGOLAND is the biggest pull for families, and I must say that the Star Wars section of MiniLand is not to be missed. If your day-trip turns into an overnighter, consider a stay at the  West Inn & Suites. My family recently had the opportunity to stay at this family friendly property and really enjoyed our visit. You can read my full review of the West Inn & Suites on Trekaroo.

Coronado Island

Photo courtesy Flickr user Funcrunch

The thrill of driving over the large, iconic bridge to Coronado Island is just the start to a great day of family fun.  Trekaroo families have called Coronado City Beach the “Best Beach in Southern California.”  That is saying a lot considering there are  hundreds of miles of beautiful coastline in California!  I guess the soft sand, free parking, and pretty shells go a long way in making a beach great. The Coronado Ferry Landing is a fun shopping and eating destination.  Trekaroo user sunnysd365 recently shared her family’s favorite activities on Coronado Island.  Their highlights included biking and scootering on the beach boardwalk, walking down Orange Avenue, visiting the historic Hotel Del Coronado, playing at Spreckels Park, and enjoying delicious treats at MooTime Creamery and Café 1134.

Wherever you decide to go on one tank of gas this year, let it lead you to great adventure and fun with your family.  We’d love to hear about it!

Want more San Diego fun? Check out

San Diego Must See With Kids in 5 Days

Family Fun in San Diego

5 Best Family-Friendly Restaurants in San Diego

Fun Activities For Toddlers in San Diego

Michelle McCoy (aka Mcfam) is Trekaroo’s Southern California Destination Guroo. She and her husband, Matt, have 3 boys and a girl ages 2 to 10.  They love traveling to National Parks and going camping, but when life with young kids keeps them home, they find their fun in traveling to the local beaches in Orange County and hiking in the wilderness areas nearby.

Travel with kids to: CA|CO| DC| FL| HI| IL|MA| NC| NY| OR | PA| TN | TX |VA| WA

In this economy, money is tight but families still want to travel. If your restless children are climbing the walls you may want to consider a cost effective road trip. It may not be the island vacation you’ve been dreaming of, but road trips are a fun way to enjoy the day with your family, a “quickie” you might say. Or, as Mick Jagger would say: ‘You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find you get what you need.’ Here are Trekaroo’s top picks for places your family can visit on one tank of gas from Sacramento.

 Tour Moaning Cavern & Mercer Cavern in Calaveras County

Under the gently rolling hills of Calaveras County, are hundreds of limestone caverns, an ideal family vacation activity. Visitors of all ages have the opportunity to learn about cavern geology at Moaning Caverns and Mercer Caverns. Moaning Cavern is the largest single chamber public cavern in California. The main room is large enough to fit the Statue of Liberty inside. Moaning Caverns offers a holiday ‘Caroling in the Cave’ concert featuring a rappelling Santa and local high school choirs singing a cappella.

Read Trekaroo user reviews of Mercer Caverns

Auburn is known for its California Gold Rush history

Gold panning is a favorite tourist attraction. Kids in particular will love panning for specks and flakes like the thousands of miners who flocked to California in the mid-19th century. You might even sneak some history in, and there’s a (microscopic) chance you’ll come out of the experience with your very own gold nugget! Direction and free brochures to popular panning spots are available at Auburn California Welcome Center.

What Auburn’s less known for, but is of equal importance to tweens, is the Skateboard Park at Overlook Park. The Skate Park has ample parking and offers a beautiful view of the canyon. The park also connects to walking trails that access the canyon. Bring your lunch, park your car, and enjoy a wonderful relaxing view.

Step into the Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfield

Smell the aroma of chocolate, peach, cinnamon, pineapple, or whatever is being cooked up that day. Fairfield is located about 45 minutes west of Sacramento. Participate in the free 40-minute walking tour in which Jelly Belly tour guides show you a real working factory where over 150 different sweet treats are cooked up. Swing by the gift shop and buy the BeanBoozled Game.  BeanBoozled jelly beans are a collection of 20 lookalike flavors, some so crazy you can’t believe it, while others are the delicious Jelly Belly beans you love. New this year are Canned Dog Food and Centipede flavors. Take the dare with the spinner wheel, then pick and eat the jelly bean in the color the spinner lands on. Is the black jelly bean Licorice, or is it Skunk Spray?

Read Trekaroo user reviews of the Jelly Belly Factory

 Visit Vallejo Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

Nothing provides more lasting memories for children than a great day shared with family at an amusement park. At Six Flags Discovery Kingdom you’ll find thrilling rides, a wide variety of entertainment, and huggable cartoon characters. That’s why I took my 3 yr old son here for his birthday on a Wednesday morning in August. The park was practically empty. No lines for rides, no lines for anything WOOOOO!! Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is an animal theme park and includes a variety of roller coasters and other amusement rides, along with a collection of animal exhibits and shows. Families can even get in the water and swim with Atlantic bottlenose dolphins!  The Dolphin Discovery program is available seven days a week throughout the year. 

Read reviews of Six Flags Discovery Kingdom on Trekaroo.

 The waterfront Children’s Museum of Stockton is amazing

The Children’s Museum of Stockton ‘Where Every Touch is a Know-Know!’ opened in 1994 as a memorial to the elementary students killed in a 1989 massacre at Cleveland Elementary School. The museum was the brainchild of a teacher at the school who was wounded in the attack, Janet Geng, Founding Director of The Children’s Museum of Stockton.  Each year, more than 55,000 children play in its little grocery store, climb inside its ambulance and peer inside the mouth of a larger-than-life Delta bass. KIDSWORLD is a permanent exhibit in the museum. KIDSWORLD which occupies three-fourths of the 22,000 square foot structure is a child’s version of a miniature city. Over 40 exhibits including a bank, hospital, grocery store, recycling, art center, and a post office engage children in a hands-on exploration of a functioning city. The new exhibit, “Healthier Ever After,” is an interactive feature highlighting exercise, nutrition and smart food choices and will be on display through mid-January

Read reviews of the Children’s Museum of Stockton on Trekaroo.

 Walk among roaring, stomping, realistic-looking dinosaurs at – Lawrence Hall of Science- UC Berkeley

Explore the prehistoric world like never before in Dinosaurs Unearthed. Scientists, engineers, and artists designed these creatures to be as lifelike as possible. The gigantic animals open their jaws, blink their eyes, and move their limbs. See the Hall’s dinos spring to life — if you dare! Dinosaurs Unearthed features amazingly real animatronic dinosaurs, a hands-on fossil dig site, articulated full-size skeletons, actual dinosaur fossils, and interactive multimedia stations. Younger visitors will have fun in the Young Explorers’ Experience. This special exhibition area features activities designed for visitors aged 2–7 years.

Visitors to Lawrence Hall of Science can also explore the skies in an interactive planetarium, where questions and activities are part of the program! The geodesic dome is installed with a state-of-the-art projection system. The 50-seat planetarium’s Public Planetarium Program is presented every Saturday and Sunday. Daily programs are also offered Monday-Friday during the summer. Saturday Night Stargazing, weather permitting, is held every 3rd Saturday of the month, year-round.

Read Trekaroo user reviews of Lawrence Hall of Science.

 Apple Hill growers such as #1 High Hill Ranch and #14 Denver Dan’s Apple Patch offer many kid-specific activities and fun for the whole family

One of the oldest ranches on Apple Hill, High Hill Ranch, offers daily fishing and you’re almost guaranteed to catch something there. Fishing is priced per pound and you have to keep your catch so unless you want to walk around all day carrying a dead fish I’d save this activity for last! On the weekends the ranch offers pony rides, face painting, and hay rides.

At #14 Denver Dan’s Apple Patch children will have a tour of the orchard, will be shown how to pick an apple (correctly) & will have a container which will hold about 3 apples. They will return to the barn and have a demonstration of an apple peeler (it will make apple slinkies!)  Next they will have a treat of apple cookies and glass of apple cider, and apple stickers to take home with the apples they have picked.  Also at Denver Dan’s is Cookin’ Kids, a pie making class for kids age 3 & up. Kids get to roll their own dough, place in 6” pie pan, and fill the crust with pie makins’. Then they learn to roll the top crust, place it on the pie, and crimp the edges. Any leftover dough goes into cookies that they can top with decorations! Their pies and cookies are baked and placed into individual containers for the kids to take home and share!

Photo by: Trekaroo/MissBirdieMFGS

Read Trekaroo user reviews of #1 High Hill Ranch

Be on the lookout for more “One  Tank Road Trips” heading your way as we launch this fun series across the US. 

Can’t hardly wait??  Tell us, what are your favorite places to go on one tank of gas from your city!

Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC | FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA

Somewhere in between a nature walk and enjoying my morning coffee on the beautiful south shore of Lake Tahoe, I came to understand why Camp Richardson Historic Resort and Marina has been a favorite all-season destination resort since 1924. Like Disneyland, Camp Rich offers enough activities to keep you on-site your entire trip. I’ll see your Tomorrowland and raise you Lake Tahoe, the second deepest lake in North America! This knotty-pine paradise comes complete with miles of sandy beach, a mountain sports center, ice cream parlor, general store and deli, lakeside restaurant, its own full-service marina with boat rentals, and a HUGE personality!

Camp Richardson is your fun headquarters!

During the warm seasons families can enjoy hiking, biking, beach-going, water play, boat rentals, fishing, and more. Kids can become honorary forest rangers as they explore majestic Lake Tahoe the  other lakes in the Lake Tahoe basin that deserve our attention. Just across the street from the main entrance. Camp Richardson Corral offers guided trail rides, hay wagon rides, steak rides, and winter sleigh rides. For riders 5 and younger, Camp Richardson Corral offers pony rides. Snowy season offerings include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snow play and nearby ice-skating and sledding.

Mountain Sports Center is your on-site resource for all your recreation needs from full suspension mountain bikes, tandem bikes, bike accessories & repairs, hiking information and maps, cross-country ski rentals and trails, snowshoe rentals, to moonlight cross-country skiing and sleds.  Recently voted “Best Place to Cross Country Ski” by Tahoe locals, the Sports Center offers groomed and marked trails and is a great place to ski along the shores of Lake Tahoe. In winter, the miles of summer bike trails are magically changed to a beautiful white wonderland for skiing and snowshoeing as Camp Richardson hosts its own 35KM cross-country ski track.

The Camp Richardson Marina offers everything from an on-site water ski school to Seadoo, power boat, paddle boat, and kayak rentals. With the closest marina to Emerald Bay and one of the lake’s longest piers, this marina offers an endless array of ways to explore the deep blue waters of Lake Tahoe. A gas dock, as well as launching and mooring facilities are available for those who would like to bring their own boat to the lake. During the summer months, the marina is open seven days a week.  oh, and if you see a purple mitten floating in the lake, grab it for me. My toddler chucked it in the lake from the pier during our visit!

Grab a Rum Runner and enjoy the view!

The Beacon Bar and Grill, located right on water’s edge at Camp Richardson Resort, is the perfect place for families to dine. The Beacon’s kid’s menu is excellent! There’s a nice variety of dishes to choose from with several healthy options. I’m happy to report, the prices are very reasonable (we paid $8 per child for very generous portions). When the weather heats up, patrons flock to the Beacon’s outdoor patio to soak up the sun, enjoy the beautiful view, and drink the Beacon’s famous Rum Runners and thick slices of fried calamari. For off-site dining, try Camp Richardson’s Fresh Ketch Restaurant, located right on the water at the Tahoe Keys Marina (about a 10 minute drive). The Ketch was voted, “Best Seafood” by Tahoe locals! In the summer, patrons can watch a Tahoe sunset from the waterfront lawn. If you need to stock up on supplies or grab a quick bite, The General Store & Cafe with Deli offers groceries, beer & wine, camping supplies, books & maps, gifts & apparel, sundries, ice, ATM, and Wi-Fi. Breakfast and lunch are served daily year-round. During the summer months, be sure to grab an ice cream cone. It just seems to taste better when eaten the fresh Sierra air.

A wide variety of lodging options to fit every budget and need.

Camp Richardson Historic Resort & Marina offers year-round lodging to fit every need. In the summer, reservations are made by the week only.

• Year round cabins – Sleep 2 to 8 people, studio, 1 and 2 bedroom units offer a gas fireplace, full kitchen (including microwave, coffeemaker and toaster), with utensils, linens and towels provided.
• Summer-only cabins – Studio and 1 bedroom units offer a basic kitchen (including coffeemaker and toaster), with linens and towels provided.
• Camp Richardson Hotel – 26 rooms sleeping from 1 to 4 people. Within the Hotel, the grand hall great room offers a social area with Wi-Fi, cozy seating, and the largest (and most gorgeous) fireplace I’ve ever seen.
• The Richardson House – A completely remodeled 7 bedroom, 5 bath house that sleeps 20. The home is furnished with modern amenities, hardwood floors, multiple TVs, a huge stone fireplace, a game area, and a formal dining area that sits 10 guests, making it perfect for family reunions.
• Beachside Inn – This 7-unit motel offers king and two double bed units. Perfect for those who want immediate access to the lake and the beach.
• Marina Duplex – Two adjacent two story units, each with sleeping for six, with basic kitchens, TV’s and phones. The Marina Duplex is in the center of activities during the summer.
• RV Village – Three campground areas are available.  New this year, a fully furnished, turn-key RV ready for your arrival. The “Hide Out” trailer is 27 feet and sleeps 6 people with a queen bed, a twin bunk, and a fold out double sofa sleeper. Also includes a bathroom with tub & shower, flat screen TV/DVD player, surround sound stereo, heat and air.
• Camping – 210 tent sites in two locations nestled in towering pine trees. Badger’s Den Campground and Eagle’s Nest. Campsites go early in the summer so it is recommended families book a couple months in advance.

 Good to know before you go:

• Camp Richardson Resort has a strict no pet policy.
• While you are visiting Camp Richardson, don’t feed any animals. Never leave food out on a picnic table or in a tent. All food, coolers, and food containers should be put away inside your car. Garbage should be disposed of in animal-proof dumpsters.
• Mai Dalton is the poised and passionate Lodging Operations Manager. If you run into her don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation. She has lots of fun Camp Richardson stories to share.

Want more Lake Tahoe fun? Check out reviews of  family friendly activities in the Lake Tahoe area.

Tina Buell (aka: imsnow) is one of NorCal’s Destination Gurus and a single mom to a 3 year old boy. She loves to travel with her mom and son to as many places as her schedule and budget allow.

Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC | FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA