Jack Sprat, tucked into the base of the mountain near Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, is a top-notch restaurant and surprisingly family-friendly. The kids menu includes impressively healthy options like a Caesar salad with grilled chicken and broccoli with cheese sauce, as well as the old stand-by of mac and cheese (but completely homemade and super tasty). The atmosphere is very relaxed, yet the adult entrees include sophisticated choices like lamb and flatiron steak using local and organic ingredients. Be sure to try the bacon-wrapped dates with gorgonzola fondue--but don't be surprised if the kids eat them all and you have to order more! Dinner for a family of four here will not be inexpensive, but nothing in this area is!

In Alaska, it's so tempting to pull over each time you see a moose walking down the shoulder of the road or a bald eagle perched on a stop sign to pose for a photo. Don't do it! Although Alaska's abundant wildlife seems to go about its business without being bothered by having humans around, the creatures are far from tame. A visit to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is a much safer alternative to get a close-up of a bison, caribou, moose, and maybe even a brown bear. This is a drive-through center about 45 minutes south of Anchorage. You can also park your vehicle and walk through, which I highly recommend. There is an activities center that offers special events throughout the year. Kids (and adults!) will love stopping to chat with Jack the moose and trying to find the hiding porcupine.

Be aware that this area can be very muddy, so dress accordingly and maybe bring a change of clothing if you plan to get out and walk. In the summer it can get quite crowded with tourists and RVs. While admission may seem a little pricey for individuals, the maximum charge per carload is $30, and it supports the conservation center.

We were tipped off to Eggs 'n Things by some friends who lived in Honolulu for several years and would have never given it a try otherwise. It is located on a side street in Waikiki that you wouldn't notice otherwise. We were told to arrive early, and that is definitely a must! We got there a little before 8am and had to wait for about 10 minutes for a table. By the time we left, the entire sidewalk was filled with people waiting for tables.

As the other review mentioned, the seating is upstairs, so keep that in mind when bringing baby gear with you. We were able to find a metered parking spot down the block, but they are hard to come by.

The food was fantastic! The child's breakfast plate could have been shared easily by my 3 and 6 year olds, had they not each wanted something different. My daughter ordered the coconut waffle instead and still talks about it-crunchy, coconutty, delicious! I had the macadamia pancakes, and the serving was also HUGE. I wish I could have taken it with me, but breakfast food doesn't really make great leftovers. It came as 5 6-inch-diameter pancakes. There are three flavored syrups on the table- maple, guava, and coconut. Be sure to try them all!

Our family of 4 ate for about $45, which isn't cheap for breakfast. But in Waikiki it can cost at least $30 for breakfast just by getting coffee and pastries from Starbucks, so this wasn't much more of a splurge. My only regret is that we didn't go back once more during our trip.

The Hale Koa is specifically for military and their guests, but if you manage to stay here you are in for a treat. The price can't be beat for a hotel directly on Waikiki beach--no streets to cross to get your toes into the sand. The rooms are clean, the balconies have great views of both Waikiki and the beach (depending on which room category you choose) and the amenities are fabulous. In Hawaii you aren't spending much time in a hotel room anyway, so it doesn't need to be fancy. We could have gone for the whole week we were there without leaving the property had we wanted to. The restaurants on site serve the same type of food you find elsewhere in Waikiki, and we never had to wait for a table. They all have kids' menus.

The location of the Hale Koa is perfect. It is right outside of the mega-touristy area of Waikiki but easily walkable to all of the local shops and restaurants. The parks on either side add a very nice buffer from the city sounds.
My kids loved the 6-and-under pool that was only a foot and a half deep. The larger pool was also very child-friendly with wide steps to play on. We went to the luau right on site, which was very affordable as far as luaus go. The beach here is perfect- not too crowded, especially before 10am. A light breeze and nearly no waves make it perfect for smaller kids.

You do have to book pretty far in advance, and I now understand why! If we ever return to Oahu, we will definitely stay at the Hale Koa again.

This is the type of beach I always pictured that I would find in Hawaii. Beautiful blue-green water, mountains, fine, soft sand, and sea turtles. This was by far my favorite spot on Oahu. My 3-year-old was a bit unhappy with the amount of wind and requested to return to hour hotel's beach in Waikiki, but the rest of the family could have stayed here for days. We watched kite boarders and kayakers, made sand castles, and watched the turtles swim around. There are enough waves to ride the boogie board but not huge surf like you find further along the North Shore. The restrooms were not the best--they felt dirty and run-down. There was a very nice grassy area for picnicking, and parking was free.