Trekaroo families have the inside scoop, and the word on the ‘roo is that the Orlando area has a slew of magical adventures for the little ones. Cities within the city were even specifically built for youngsters (and their wallet-toting parents, of course). Orlando boasts Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World, gigantic water parks as well as thematic journeys through Medieval Times and the Holy Land.  Yet, Orlando is not all leg-achingly gigantic parks, it’s a city growing fast in may directions with unique venues for locals and tourists alike. It is also in the midst of vibrant natural areas with diverse wildlife.  Trekaroo parents have given us an inside look to the best of the best in the Orlando area.

#1 Activity and Best Amusement Park for Kids: Disney’s Magic Kingdom

“You can’t skip Disney. You MUST visit Disney at least once in your life.” There’s not much room for disagreement with this imperative from Lilkidthings.  With 73 Trekaroo families giving unanimously positive reviews, it’s clear as the crystal that Disney is an amazing destination. “You don’t go to Dinsey unless you plan to have a fun filled day,” says bukosker. Even a skeptic will believe in magic by trip’s end.  Take bejolly65′s comment: “I was so hesitant and cynical when we decided to go to Disney World. [...] But I guess there is a reason that Disney World is so popular. They really know what they are doing.”  The kids need no such convincing.  Many a trekaroo family speaks of how enchanted their child was seeing Cinderella or taking a magic carpet ride. “The girls loved Magic Kingdom, because as we all know Cinderella’s Castle is there,” says Trekaroo family metro927. While kids will be excited just being in the Kingdom, Trekaroo parents all agree that a day at Disney needs to be planned for maximum magic to occur and they have left a goldmine of suggestions. Keebz, an iPhone equipped mom, downloaded the Disney app and scoped out wait times. Don’t be alarmed if the plan falls apart, it’s only natural as parents and kids alike get lost in the atmosphere. As Travelingmom says, “This place can make an infant out of a grown man!”

Photo Credit: flickr/ninjapoodles

Best Museum for Kids to Explore: Orlando Science Center

From hurricanes to space shuttles, the Central Florida area is one of the most interesting places for science and the Orlando Science Center works hard to capture the creative energy of the area.  Trekaroo family apalanza says that the Science Center is great for all ages, but suggests packing your own lunch to save some cash.  For locals, WE3REEDS suggests the annual membership that allows unlimited access throughout the year. “Imax is included as well as all their special events.”  For denizens of more distant lands, the Orlando Science Center is a great excuse to get away from the parks and explore the town.

Photo Credit: OSC

Best Place to See Animals in Action: Sea World

While Disney may have your kids singing “Under the Sea”, Sea World journeys under and over while riding on the back of an orca whale.  Trekaroo parents concur that Sea World magnifies the wonders of ocean life with spectacular shows.  ”All the shows were great and VERY entertaining,” said akotash.  But it’s not all just high-flying whales, mischievous sea lions and acrobatic dolphins.  ”The last time I was at SeaWorld, we were able to get up close and touch the dolphins as we fed them,” commented Kat569.  Sea World offers many opportunities to get close to the animals and for some extra greenbacks, you can take behind the scenes tours.  Younger kids will certainly be amazed by the high-energy shows and every child will love the massive playground area in Shamu’s Happy Harbor.   What parents love most, though is seeing the look of amazement on their child’s face as the animals show their power.

Photo Credit: flickr/Big C Harvey

Best Natural Experience for Kids: Kelly Park

With an amusement park on nearly every corner, it’s easy to forget that Orlando is set among natural wonders of its own.  Kelly Park is a great place to get away and experience Florida’s abundant flora and fauna without having to drive too far from the city.  Shauna, a Trekaroo mom, commented that Kelly Park is “a great family outing for next to nothing!”  With a cost of ONE dollar, it will be by far the cheapest activity of any Orlando vacation. Shauna also suggests renting a tube and floating down the river as a great way to eco-tour Central Florida.  Even without the aquatic journey, there are plenty of reasons to pay the park a visit.  Volleyball courts, picnic tables, nature trails and even camping make the park a relaxing destination that is close enough to escape to on a whim.

Photo Credit: flickr/systemslibrarian

Wonder what Trekaroo Families voted as the Top Kid-friendly Hotels in Orlando?
Top Kid-friendly Hotels in Orlando, Florida - voted by parents

More Resources for Orlando

• All 71 Activities for Kids in and around Orlando, Florida
• Kid-friendly hotels in and around Orlando, Florida

• More Disney, Less Waiting – A review of RideMax
• 5 Tot-friendly Restaurants Favorites in at Disney
• Disney Hotels for Tween and Teens
• Top 5 “Must Do” Walt Disney World Attractions with Teens
• Free and Low-Cost Activities in Orlando for Preschoolers
• Water Parks in Florida

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Stephen Wanta is a contributing author on Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TX | VA | WA

Trekaroo’s goin’ to Carolina
Can’t you see the sunshine,
Can’t you just feel the moonshine,
Ain’t it just like a friend of mine,
To hit me from behind
Yes, we’re goin’ to Carolina with our KIDS!
(To the tune of James Taylor’s “Carolina in my Mind”)

Why North Carolina? Because Trekaroo families have been taken it upon themselves to build a fantastic list of activities and hotel reviews that just had to be released to the public. From the famous sunny beaches of North Carolina to the winter fun in High Country, families love it in North Carolina. Looking for some indoor fun? There’s plenty to enjoy in North Carolina from a world-class zoo in Asheboro to exhibits of fascinating sea life in our three coastal aquariums. We’ve got family-friendly summer fun at minor league baseball games and Nascar races.

Photo by: Flickr/Texas_mustang

So, what have Trekaroo families shared?

• Over 650 activities for kids throughout North Carolina
• Activities and hotel reviews in all 4 regions: Piedmont Triangle, The Coast, Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Great Smokey Mountains.
• A list of kid-friendly hotels in NC waiting to be rated by parents
• Lots of fun lists like:
  • Places to Hike with Kids Around Charlotte, North Carolina by PrincessTrioMom
  • Cheap Things to Do in Charlotte, NC with kids by JodyMace
  • Kid-friendly Hotels in Charlotte, North Carolina by SpencerSpellman
  • Fun for Dudes, Both Kids and Bigs Near Charlotte, NC by rjones64
  • Snow Tubing and Sledding Hills in North Carolina by thelees3
  • Ski Resorts in North Carolina with Kid Programs by thelees3
  • Best Activities for Kids in the Piedmont Triangle – voted by Trekaroo families by Stephen Wantas
    

In celebration of our launch, the Trekaroo KidsMobile Blog Carnival stopped in Charlotte, NC and invited local bloggers on board to share their local tips on kid fun around Charlotte.  Check out what they had to share.

Special thanks to christinembyrd, PrincessTrioMom, jamierippy, Grandma Adele, summerbreeze, Olgabow, jrhammlett, allison, frogsandladybugs for their love of North Carolina and sharing more than most about their adventures with  kids with the Trekaroo community. And of course, thanks to team Trekaroo who work around the clock to make get all the details in place.

Going to Carolina with my kids,

Esther Lee (thelees3) – CEO

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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 | TX | VA | WA

Over the mountains and through the hills, over the plains and through the desserts….the KidsMobile pulls into

San Diego, CA

Whether it’s winter, spring, summer or fall, San Diego is a wonderful destination in any season!  Home to Legoland, the world famous San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld and a good many warm sandy beaches, San Diego is definitely one of my favorite vacation spots in the US.  Why?  Well, the weather is gorgeous, the people are laid back, the outdoor recreation is wonderful, the town is manageable, traffic is tolerable, and it’s situated close enough to Disneyland to the north and Mexico to the south.  Alone or combined with a side trip in either direction makes for a spectacular family vacation.

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Trekaroo families  have been voting for their favorite kid-friendly activities and hotels in and around San Diego.  We’ve tallied their votes for 2009 and here’s the line up!

Top Activities for Kids in San Diego, CA – voted by parents

Top Kid-friendly Hotels in San Diego, CA – voted by parents

Living in San Diego leaves local families little excuse to stay home.  These moms bring you their personal recommendations of the best places to take kids in their hometown.  Want the local scoop?  Here it is!

Bridget Smith, the author of The Unauthorized Legoland Guidebook not only shared with us her Top Tips for a Legoland Adventure with Toddler and Preschoolers, but now gives us some great ideas about Fun Things to  Do After Visiting Legoland, California. Bridget spent countless hours in Legoland one year and made more than full use of their family’s season pass to bring us the blow-by-blow of making the most of your visit to Legoland.  Follow their family’s other adventures on her blog:  Family Adventure Guidebooks

The Q Family  isn’t local but lives to travel.  If you have 5 days to spend in San Diego, here’s their list of the Must See Attractions with Kids in San Diego. This is a family who’s constantly on the go!  The Q Family Adventures Travel Blog chronicles their adventures with wonderful photos, fun stories and helpful tips.

Balboa Park is a wonderful urban park that families love.  But when hunger strikes, Carolina has a list of Kid-friendly Dining in Balboa Park.  She is the mom behind the blog Kids Go West.  As a public school teacher, mom and freelance travel writer, she shares her insider tips on all the totally awesome places to go with kids in her home state of California. Bookmark her blog if you’re heading to California.

Rockinmama loves to mix fun and learning.  She recommends these 5 Fun and Educational Kid Activities in San Diego.  On her blog Rockin Mama, she writes with great humor about pregnancy.  She also write prolifically about parent-friendly products.  If you’re looking for the inside scoop on new products for parents out there, this rockin mama’s got it.

Ciao Bambino brings us San Diego: Favorite Family Hotels . Ciao Bambino is a one of Trekaroo’s favorite partners because we share a common passion – inspiring families to travel.  Ciao Bambino provides tips and advice around all things related to traveling with kids and is a guide to the best kid-friendly hotels.

Sarah Wyles runs Toddler’s Travels – a local baby equipment rental company for visiting families.  Naturally, she’s a guru on Fun Activities for Toddlers in San Diego.  Instead of lugging all those bulky items on the plane, rent it when you arrive from Toddler’s Travels.

Colleen of TravelMamas has the scoop on the 5 Best Family-friendly Restaurants in San Diego County.  Her blog, Travelmamas, gives tell-it-like-it-is tips about traveling with kids.  Relying on her own family’s experience as well as the advice from other traveling parents and experts, she gives loads of practical advice on traveling well with kids.

La Jolla is one of the most beautiful suburbs of San Diego and La Jolla Mom shares with us her list of Things to Do in La Jolla With Kids. Her blog La Jolla Mom has become a meeting place of sorts for local moms looking to connect.  Her Family Fun section is full of popular and off the beaten path places to go with kids.  Hop on over and see why La Jolla is a town you must stop at when visiting San Diego.

Other Resources for San Diego, CA

• All 104 Activities for kids in the San Diego County
• Kid-friendly hotels in and around San Diego County

Which Hotels came up at the top?

Top Activities for Kids in San Diego, CA – voted by parents

Next stop, Denver, CO (that’s right, the launch of Colorado is coming soon)

The Trekaroo KidsMobile is a blog carnival with a twist. It’s designed to provide a unique opportunity for mom and dad bloggers to be featured on Trekaroo while

1) expressing their unique point of view

2) getting a web of link exchanges.

Join us for one of our next stopovers.

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LiLing Pang is a contributing author on Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | FL | HI | MA | NY | PA | TX | VA and now IL WA, and DC

San Diego is one city not lacking in natural beauty.  With that comes some world class hotels and resorts where families are simply in heaven.  Here are some of the best of the best that Trekaroo families love.

# 1 Top Luxury Family-Friendly Hotel with Great Kid Perks: Hotel Del Coronado

This KSL Luxury property is getting rave 5 star reviews from families on Trekaroo.  Not only is this hotel rich in history and Victorian charm, it is rich in family-friendly amenities.  Michipo says the “grounds are immaculate and the beach is beautiful”.   Kids will enjoy it’s beach front location while mom and dad won’t be able to get enough of the splendid views and their extensive spa services.  Their kids program caters to children of all ages with biking, kayaking, sailing, surfing, and all manner of water sports to entertain and amuse.  Babysitting is can also be arranged through the hotel. Choose from a variety of accommodations, including beachfront cottages and villas.  Until Dec 31, 2009, Hotel Del Coronado is offering family packages that include free meals for kids under 12. Rates start from $315/night

Read the full reviews from families on the Hotel Del Coronado| Check for Deals and Availability

Best Value Without Compromise Hotel: Catamaran Resort and Spa

The Catamaran Resort is located a short drive from SeaWorld (9 minutes) and the San Diego Zoo (15 minutes) on the north end of Mission Bay.  Mission Bay itself is a treasure trove of water sports and outdoor fun. Catamaran Resort also offers accommodation and facilities that your kids will love at affordable prices.  With a beachfront location, this resort also offers all sorts of water sports like sailing, surfing, water-skiing and more.  They also offer babysitting services and a Kid’s Camp where parents can drop kids off for a fun filled day. In the evenings, enjoy a cruise on Bahai Belle on the house.  Believe it or now, rates start at $109/night.

Read the full reviews from families on Sheraton Carlsbad | Check for Availability

Best Hotel Near Legoland: Sheraton Carlsbad Resort and Spa

The Sheraton Carlsbad has direct access to Legoland reserved for Sheraton guests.  With a number of generously sized suite room that offer a separate room for mom and dad, plus a large family-friendly pool stocked with floaties, beach balls, this hotel gets top marks from Trekaroo families.  Consider upgrading to the Club Level for an additional $20-40, so you can enjoy th breakfast buffet and after/evenign snacks which allows you to avoid a visit to the grocery stores for milk and kid-friendly food on the go. There are a few additional charges to beware for WIFI and parking.  Rates start from $159/night

Read the full reviews from families on Sheraton Carlsbad | Check for Availability

Which Activities came up at the top?

Top Activities for Kids in San Diego, CA – voted by parents

Other Resources for San Diego, CA

• All 104 Activities for kids in the San Diego County
• Kid-friendly hotels in and around San Diego County

• Top Tips for a Legoland Adventure with Toddler and Preschoolers – familyadventuremom
• Fun Things to  Do After Visiting Legoland, California - familyadventuremom
• Must See Attractions with Kids in San Diego – theqfamily
• Kid-friendly Dining in Balboa Park – kidsgowest
• San Diego: Favorite Family Hotels – ciaobambino
• Fun Activities for Toddlers in San Diego – Toddler’s Travel
• 5 Best Family-friendly Restaurants in San Diego County – Travelmamas
• Things to Do in La Jolla With Kids – LaJollaMom

LiLing Pang is a contributing author on Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | FL | HI | MA | NY | PA | TX | VA and now IL and WA

# 1 Top Family-Friendly Hotel with Great Kid Perks: Hotel Palomar

Hotel Palomar welcomes your child with special treats – from fun packs to popsicles in the afternoon to milk and cookies in the evening.  Trekaroo families also loved the Wine and Wii hour and the simple but clean pool.  With a variety of rooms to choose from,  you could pick a suite to have some privacy from the kids.  The in-house restaurant is excellent.  The Palomar is also located within walking distance to all of Washington DC’s major attractions.  Their Discover the District Package offers families executive accommodation that will fit up to a family of 5 plus little perks like Kids Eat Dinner Free at the Urbana Restaurant plus a free in-room movie with popcorn.  Rooms start at $239/night.

Read the full reviews from families on the Hotel Palomar | Check for Deals and Availability

#2 Great Service and Excellent Location: Grand Hyatt Washington DC (Center)

The location of the Grand Hyatt cannot be beat with a metro stop right in the lobby and within a short 10 minute walk to the Mall and other major attractions.  It’s wonderful location makes it possible for families to take a break in the middle of the day and to get to attractions with minimal hassle.  Trekaroo families found the staff very attentive.  The wide range of choices for breakfast is also a big hit.  The nicely appointed rooms make for a comfortable stay.  Rates start at $166/night

Read the full reviews from families on Grand Hyatt Washington DC (Center) | Check for Availability

#3:  Best Hotel with Free Parking: Hawthorn Suites Alexandria

If you’re driving and don’t want to spend a ton on parking, consider staying away from downtown Washington DC in Alexandria at the Hawthorne Suites.  This hotel offers free parking along with their suite rooms complete with a full kitchenette.  A hotel shuttle takes guests to the nearest metro stop so you can avoid driving downtown if you wish.  This hotel even has a pool with life guard on duty.  Within a few miles, you can explore charming Old Town Alexandria.  Rates start at $109/night

Read the full reviews on Hawthorne Suites in Alexandria | Check Availability

Which Activities came up at the top?

Best Activities for Kids in Washington DC – voted by parents

Other Resources for Washington DC:

• All 100 Activities for kids in the Washington DC Metro Area
• Kid-friendly hotels in and around Washington DC

• The Best Kid-friendly Hiking Trails in DC – HikingAlong
• Indoor Places for Toddlers Around Washington DC – SuburbanDaddy
• 8 Things (Under $5) to Do in Washington DC with Toddlers – Two Kids and A Map
• Fun Washington, D.C. Activities that get Kids Fired Up -  Sujatha
• Day Trips with Kids From Washington DC – teachmama
• Must See Attractions in DC with Preteens and Teens – musingsfromme
  
• What to do with Tweens in Washington D.C. – MsTwixt

LiLing Pang is a contributing author on Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | FL | HI | MA | NY | PA | TX | VA and now IL and WA