imsnow's Passport
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 | 24 First to Review |
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Send a ComplimentAbout Me & My Family
I’m a single mom with one 3 yr old boy. My two passions are traveling and raising my son. I love being a mom and there’s no place I’d rather be then with my son. I work full time and love to exercise.
Our Family's Travel Personality
adventurous, curious, quiet, cautious, relaxed, simple, independent, energetic, spontaneous, sophisticated, easy_going, social_butterfly
We Just Got Back From
Maui
Our Favorite Vacation Spot
Manhattan Beach, CA
A Place We'd Love To Visit
Petite St. Vincent
Favorite Vacation Memory
Celebrating my son's 2nd birthday in Maui. It was 9 days of Paradise.
Worst Travel Moment With My Kids:
I’ll never forget flying home from Honolulu in first class with my 1.6 month old son on Delta. The plane did not have any milk for the flight and even though I boarded early not one person thought to inform me that the plane was not stocked with milk. Cash was still drinking from a bottle at this time and freaked out over having to go 5 hours without milk in his bottle. This old cranky lady was loudly complaining behind me the whole flight home about how she was tired of hearing my son cry (as if I wasn’t). I wanted to scream (but did not) at every employee of the airline for not informing me the plane had no milk until we were up in the air.
Websites I Like:
Children's Activities New Year's Eve Day in Nor Cal
Celebrate New Year's Eve with your family in Northern California. Here are Trekaroo's top picks.
Zephyr Cove Resort & Marina
760 U.S. Hwy 50 Zephyr Cove, Nevada
Comment:
M.S. Dixie II will be offering two Lake Tahoe cruises on New
Years Day that will be perfect for families. The first is a two-hour brunch
cruise with cinnamon French Toast, eggs, bacon and other breakfast
favorites with great views and a historical narrative as the boat cruises to
Glenwood and back.
In the afternoon, an Emerald Bay sightseeing cruise will take families to
the most photographed bay on the lake, along with a video presentation on
the history of the Lake.
104 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, California
Comment:
Saturday, December 31; 10a.m. – Noon
Noon Year’s Eve Celebration
Designed specifically for families, the daytime Celebration presents Disney’s beloved The Love Bug, the opportunity to take pictures with an original Herbie, crafts and games, including a Beach Ball Bounce and Frisbee toss contests, with free beach balls and Frisbees for all contestants. Partiers can also enter to win a special screening of classic Disney films for 50 people on the Museum’s Fantasia-inspired big screen theatre. $10/person.
The next day is Sunday Family Story Time at The Walt Disney Family Museum
The Presidio, San Francisco, CA (December 2011) – Spend the first Sunday of each month at The Walt Disney Family Museum, sharing favorite stories during its Sunday Family Story Time for families with children 5-8 years old.
400 Beach Street
Santa Cruz, California
Comment:
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is open on New year¹s day. Some rides will be
open from Noon 5pm. Game arcades (including mini golf and laser tag) are
open all day (11am - 10pm)
http://www.beachboardwalk.com
Rides scheduled to open on New Year¹s Day:
1. Giant Dipper
2. Pirate Ship
3. Double Shot
4. Merry Go Round
5. Fireball
6. Rock & Roll
· STARFISH
· SPEEDWAY
· JET COPTERS
557 McReynolds Road
Sausalito, California
Comment:
The Bay Area Discovery Museum's Noon Year's Eve celebration for families with children on Saturday, December 31 from 9 a.m. - noon. Families can count down to noon with us as we watch the ball drop from our Festival Plaza. There will be a family-friendly DJ and children can create their own party hat to celebrate the Noon Year. For more information please visit: http://www.baykidsmuseum.org/programs-and-events/holidays/
1 Miramontes Point Rd
Half Moon Bay, California
Comment:
New Year’s Eve Children’s Party
Saturday, December 31st – 6:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
$110 per child; each additional sibling receives a $20 discount; ages 5 to 12
The best children’s party in town happens on New Years Eve at The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay! With arts and crafts, games, dancing, and a special children’s buffet, no child is going to want to miss this gala. And the fun doesn’t stop there! We will be having our very own private pool party only available for attending children. S’mores, flashlight tag and a rockin’ countdown to midnight are all part of the fun. Come join us as we welcome 2011 with a mini balloon drop and of course, a toast of sparkling apple cider!
reviewed on: April 27 2012
"Heaven, I Have Arrived"
Immerse Yourself in Picturesque Half Moon Bay:A stay at the The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay is the ultimate coastal indulgence. The outdoor facilities include ocean front fire pits, a weekend Hot Chocolate Bar in the Gazebo, an 18-hole golf course with ocean views from every hole, and a bagpiper that can be heard announcing the arrival of each day’s sunset.
The majority of the guestrooms and suites at The Ritz-Carlton offer panoramic ocean views, and most include comfortable window seats, inviting fireplaces, or spacious terraces.
Because guests spend so much time relaxing outside, the hotel offers a Fire & Wine Butler. Spreading cheer Thursday through Sunday evenings, The Fire & Wine Butler roves the property on a specially-provisioned golf cart, providing on-the-spot fire and wine service to guests enjoying themselves outdoors.
Located just a short walk from the main building are the guest houses, which consist of three adjacent buildings with rooms that are the same as the main building but offer a more secluded atmosphere. Tip: Guesthouse rooms are not always pricier than those in the main building and they offer complimentary parking!
Little Touches of Luxury:
The Ritz-Carlton literally rolls out the welcome wagon for it youngest guests. At check in, children select a welcome amenity from a wagon full of toys. Over the course of my weekend stay, this delightful wagon was rolled out for my son on three separate occasions.
On the second day of my trip, a large candy-covered edible castle was placed in my room while we were out. My son’s face lit up like a Christmas tree when we returned to our room to find this unexpected and delicious gift!
Additional family friendly amenities include sand toys and beach accessories, family board games and videos, and putter and wedge for use on pitching and putting greens.
C'est Très Magnifique:
Regularly hailed by guests as the finest brunch in the Bay, the nautically inspired Navio offers an impressive selection of coastal cuisine and decadent desserts from a 1,000 square-foot display kitchen.
For a more relaxed setting, The Conservatory Lounge is ideal for families with toddlers and offers a bistro menu throughout the day. The children’s menu is the same at both Navio and The Conservatory.
A World-Class Spa with World-Class Service:
After a day spent exploring Half Moon Bay, I scheduled a massage to relax and rejuvenate at the spa. Guests entering the spa will discover calming views of the Pacific Ocean and enjoy the comforting sounds of tranquility fountains throughout the facility and treatment rooms.
Ritz Kids:
Little ladies and lads visiting The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay can enjoy special activities just for them in the Ritz Kids program. From daily programs and Friday night parties, to summer adventures and innovative classes, the resort has much to offer its younger guests.
The Ritz-Carlton runs an eight week summer camp program beginning the week of June 23 through August 24. Each week camp staff will enliven the minds of junior guests with different themed activities and coastal excursions. If I lived in Half Moon Bay, I wouldn’t think twice about enrolling my child for the entire 8 weeks. For just a few dollars more than a Montessori preschool program, your child could be experiencing the summer Ritz-Carlton style!
Disclosure: I received complimentary lodging, spa treatment, and meals as a guest of The Ritz-Carlton. The Ritz-Carlton did not request that I express any particular opinion and my reviews always reflect my honest opinion.
7611 Galilee
Roseville, California
Comment:
It’s a very special New Year’s party at BounceU! Join us for our countdown to noon complete with sparkling cider, noisemakers, pizza & drinks, craft, games, and a whole lot of bouncing. Parents are FREE to stay and join the fun. Children must be at least 4 years old to be dropped off.
Date & Time: Saturday, December 31st 11:00 am – 1:15 pm
Admission: $16 ($14 sibling). Pizza & drink for parents $5 (optional).
Tickets must be prepaid and are non-refundable.
This event is for all ages and includes pizza, drinks, sparkling cider, noisemakers, crafts, games & bouncing!
Centennial Drive
Berkeley, California
Comment:
New Year's Eve Day Party
Celebrate the New Year around the world!
Saturday, December 31, noon-2:00 p.m.
Balloon Drop at 2:00 p.m.
Free with Admission
Celebrate the dawn of 2012! Count down the New Year around the world on our Science on a Sphere®, and celebrate with an apple cider toast. Create your own noisemaker to ring the new year in with a bang, and be there for our big balloon drop.
reviewed on: June 22 2011
"Fantastic Hands on Museum!"
I visited http://visitberkeley.com to plan my Berkeley trip. It was from the family section of the website, http://visitberkeley.com/what-to-do/family-fun, that I learned about UC Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science (LHS). The LHS was a marvelous experience for both my son (age 2) and me. We had so much fun that I vowed to return to the LHS once a year. The current exhibit “Dinosaurs Unearthed” is at the LHS through January 1, 2012. REALISTIC MULTISENSORY EXPERIENCE
A life sized model of a Fin whale whose back is begging to be climbed resides on the LHS plaza, located in the Berkeley Hills above the University of California at Berkeley. Once inside prepare to be greeted by several gigantic animals with open jaws, blinking eyes, and moving limbs! I walked among roaring, stomping, realistic-looking dinosaurs that never once scared my toddler son. Outside in the back stands an adult Tyrannosaurus Rex of immense size with booming sounds. Downstairs in the lower level are dinosaur skeletons. I took several pictures of a T-Rex skull while gawking at the size of its teeth. I also learned that you can get married here!!
NONSTOP EXCITEMENT FOR ALL AGES
Younger visitors will have fun in the Young Explorers’ Experience. This special exhibition area features activities designed for visitors aged 2–7 years, such as a dino dig site, a climb-in dino nest, and a take-home activity. Birthday parties can also be arranged for children turning 4 and older.
The LHS features hands-on exhibits and non-stop activities for children and adults. I measured my son in nanometers at one of the hands-on activity stations in the Nanozone and watched a puppet show put on by fellow visiting children in the KidsLab; a multi-sensory play area for children in kindergarten and younger.
My son was engrossed for 30 minutes at the Kapla exhibit (simple building planks that reminded me of Jenga). My favorite moment though was at the windtubes. I watched my son play side-by-side with older kids, toddlers, and even children who were brand new walkers.
The cafeteria food was reasonably priced. I paid $5 for a large kid’s cheese pizza and a bag of chips. The elevators are large, the crowds are reasonable, and the parking lot is a short walk to the entrance. Best of all the entertainment is nonstop. Of all the trips I’ve taken this year to Maui, Oahu, Santa Cruz, and even Disneyland, I have to admit this museum was one of my favorite events.
Parking is $4. Open daily from 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. For more information go to http://lawrencehallofscience.org/
• $17.00 Adults (ages 19–61)
• $14.00 Student/Senior/Disabled (ages 7–18; 62 plus)
• $11.00 Children (ages 3-6; children under 3 are admitted free)
• $4 for Members, UC Berkeley students and staff
• Free for Member Dino Pass holders. Get more information on membership and the Dino Pass at http://lawrencehallofscience.org/giving/member.
• Planetarium and 3D Film an additional $4 each per visitor
Disclosure: The Lawrence Hall of Science provided my family with complimentary tickets so that I could review “Dinosaurs Unearthed”. The Lawrence Hall of Science did not request that I express any particular point of view and my reviews always reflect my honest opinions.
55 Music Concourse Drive
San Francisco, California
Comment:
Sign up for the last sleepover of 2011 on Friday, Dec. 30! Explore the Academy after-hours, say good night to the reindeer, and join the Radio Disney AM 1310 Road Crew for some fun and entertainment - including games, new dances, sing alongs to favorite tunes, and tons of awesome prizes.
reviewed on: December 04 2011
"California Academy of Sciences Always Delivers"
California Academy of Sciences is nothing short of “astonishing-amazing-oh my goodness-magnificent -I can’t wait to visit again-tacular!!” Now through January 16 2012, the Academy celebrates 'Tis the Season for Science', the science behind some of our most familiar holiday sights, sounds, and traditions. Twice an hour the Academy makes it snow inside and during my visit I saw children trying to catch artificial snowflakes on their tongues. How cute!
My son and I had an up close and personal experience with a pair of live reindeer in the museum’s East Garden!! We were able to touch reindeer antler and I learned an interesting reindeer fact: lichens and mosses are the reindeer’s favorite food. One species of lichen is so commonly eaten by Santa’s sleigh-pullers that it’s called “reindeer lichen.”
Outside in the East Garden my son enjoyed the freedom to run around and burn off some energy before we headed to the hot and humid four story rainforest. The rainforest environment is ideal for frogs, not so ideal for kids dressed in winter clothes.
In the rainforest, the sounds of exotic animals transports you to the tropics. We saw parrots, bats, and butterflies as we climbed into the canopy of the living rainforest. My son actually thought he was walking through a jungle and clung to my leg!
The soothing sights of swimming fish at Steinhart Aquarium impressed my son and he happily sat in his stroller while I ogled over the Philippine Coral Reef, one of the deepest exhibits of live corals in the world! At the Northern California Coast Gallery there's a Discovery Tide pool where children and adults can touch and examine a wide variety of ocean creatures.
February 2012 Addendum!
My son and I are huge fans of San Francisco’s California Academy of Sciences. If you’ve never been, it’s the only place on the planet with an aquarium, a four-story rainforest, a planetarium, and a natural history museum all under one roof. An amazing experience for every member of the family.
When I first heard about the opening of Animal Attraction, a new exhibit at the California Academy of Sciences, I instantly cleared my calendar to go! From sex change to cannibalism, The Academy presents some of our world's wild mating strategies in an 18-tank aquarium gallery devoted to the science of courtship and reproduction in the animal kingdom. Meet hermaphroditic banana slugs, cannibalistic praying mantises, and parasitic anglerfish.
The exhibit uses iPads as exhibit labels, allowing visitors to flip through gorgeous images, watch videos of reproductive behaviors in action, and guide their own digital explorations using interactive touch screens throughout the exhibit.
Some parents might see the word “mating”, and wonder if the exhibit is appropriate for young eyes. The exhibit features the animals themselves and is meant for audiences of all ages and focuses on the mating strategies of the animal kingdom in a scientific format geared toward educating museum visitors. Animal attraction is age appropriate for children of all ages so fear not!!
California Academy of Sciences provided my family with complimentary tickets for this review. California Academy of Sciences did not request that I express any particular point of view and my reviews always reflect my honest opinions.
886 Cannery Row
Monterey, California
Comment:
Ring in the New Year with the entire family at the Aquarium! This special New Year’s Eve event will feature a sparkling cider toast at 9 p.m. to celebrate the countdown to the New Year on East Coast time! Our evening snack will be a Ghirardelli ice cream sundae bar! There will be fun family activities and programs for a night of celebration! Wake up with the fishes on New Year’s Day, enjoy a full breakfast in the Monterey Bay Aquarium Cafe then join our naturalists in watching wildlife from the Great Tide Pool Deck.
200 Larkin Street (between Fulton and McAllister Streets)
San Francisco, California
Comment:
What: Strike a Japanese temple bell to ring in the new year
When: December 31st.
9:30-11:30 a.m. bell ringing for museum members.
11:30 a.m. bell ringing ceremony for nonmembers
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. art activites
Details: Good explanation of Japanese bell ringing tradition here.
RSVP: none. Children 12 and under get in free. Get your numbered tickets at the front desk.
Cost: Free with admission
601 Skyway Road
San Carlos, California
Comment:
What: Noon Year's Eve Celebration
When: December 31st, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Details: Face painting, Lizard Lady, For Goodness Snakes, puppets, music, games, bounce house, climbing wall, flight simulation game, live entertainment, balloon drop
RSVP: none. Event free with admission.
180 Woz Way
San Jose, California
Comment:
What: Balloon Drop
When: December 31, with ball drops between noon and 2:05. Radio Disney will be there from 12:30-2 with games, music and prizes. Museum closes at 4 p.m. that day.
Details: create a noisemaker, a party hat, other crafts and "countdown to noon across the time zones"
RSVP: none.
Cost: free with admission
1 Ferry Building
Embarcadero and Market Street San Francisco, California
Comment:
Bundle up for fireworks near the Ferry Plaza. Head to the Embarcadero and watch outdoors - they start at midnight.
2301 Hardies Lane
Santa Rosa, California
Comment:
? 12pm (noon) ? Up/Down Balloon Drop & Root Beer Toast
? 3pm ? Root Beer Float Toast (ice cream included ONLY at 3pm)
Happy New Year, Charlie Brown!
Celebrate with hands-on crafts for kids all day long and two opportunities to toast the New Year. At 12pm (noon) enjoy a root beer toast and our up/down balloon drop. Or at 3pm welcome the New Year with a root beer float (ice cream included ONLY at 3pm) and other fun!
Old Sacramento
1110 Front Street Sacramento, California
Comment:
The free celebratory evening activities are produced by the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau. Radio Disney AM 1690 Sacramento invites kids and families to ring in the
New Year in Old Sacramento on December 31 (6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.). One of 19 events hosted
by local Radio Disney stations across the country, this family-friendly
celebration gives kids the opportunity to have all the fun of New Year's
Eve before their bedtime featuring songs from Radio Disney's "Top 50
Countdown of 2011," interactive entertainment and prizes.
