We wanted to make this trip special for our (almost) three year old little girl as these are her final days as an only child. I heard about the Nickelodeon Getaway at the Renaissance Esmeralda just outside of Palm Springs. This sounded like the perfect way to make our daughter feel special but also give mommy and daddy a chance to relax before the arrival of our newborn baby.

Nickelodeon Getaway
Upon arrival we were greeted by Spongebob Squarepants and Dora the Explorer. This was the perfect start to our fun-filled weekend. Click over to view a short video of my daughter when she first saw Dora.

After spending some time with Dora we decided to hit the pool for some sun and relaxation. My husband and daughter enjoyed swimming and playing on the sandy beach while mommy enjoyed a (virgin) margarita by the pool. The resort grounds are truly beautiful with fire pits, palm trees and a poolside bar. It was quite relaxing!

We had just enough time for dinner before attending the mass sliming show hosted by Nickelodeon. Good times were had by everyone. Children were invited to compete in a game-show style competition culminating with the popping of slime-filled balloons over their heads. This was followed by a pool-side or "dive-in" movie. It was the perfect ending to a fun filled day!

We made it an early night and retired to our luxurious room. We arrived to find another surprise waiting for us. Dora had stopped by and left a special backpack loaded with a Dora themed items including a book, pillow case and photo album (Spongebob Squarepants themed backpacks are also available). My daughter was so excited to receive all of these extra special gifts. We read her a the good night story and she fell fast asleep.


The next day was our character breakfast with Dora and Spongebob. The food was great and the children really enjoyed themselves. While my husband took boo boo out for more fun at the pool, mommy was treated to the Mellow Mama Prenatal Massage at the Spa Esmeralda. This was the perfect way to be pampered after 36 weeks of pregnancy.

Looking for a Family Friendly Beach in Southern California?

A few weekends ago we decided to take a trip to the The Strand Beach at Dana Point. I've been wanting to visit the Strand since hearing about it from a friend. It was a glorious afternoon at the beach. We picked up some sandwiches and drinks at the nearby Gelson's Market and made our way down to the Strand Beach.

The Strand is located near Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point and offers miles of trails and parks overlooking the picturesque Pacific Ocean. One of the highlights is the Funicular (an inclined Beach Elevator). It takes about four minutes to ride down from the parking lot to the beach. The Funicular was a big hit with my two year old little girl. There's also a stairway leading down to the beach.

Upon arriving at the beach, we enjoyed our yummy sandwiches, played in the sand and took walk along one of the trails. It was a fabulous afternoon! The gently sloping shores make this a great beach for families with younger children. You'll definitely want to add this to your "must see" list of beaches in the South OC!

Getting There:
Take PCH in Dana Point to Selva Road and head South towards the ocean. There's a free parking lot titled “Salt Creek Beach Park."

While you're at the Stand beach you may want to pay a visit to the new Dana Point Headlands Preserve Nature Trail.

This weekend I took my daughter to the Kidspace Museum as they released over 500 Painted Lady Butterflies into the Kidspace Gardens. It was our first visit to Kidspace and we found it to be a great family friendly outting, especially if you have children between the ages of one - 10 years old. Upon arriving, we stopped at the crafts table to make our "butterfly wings". Then we made our way to the amphitheater for the butterfly release. My two year old was in aww of the hundreds of butterflies taking flight. It was a spectacular site to behold.

Once the main event was over we took the time to explore the rest of the museum. We particularly enjoyed the wading pool/streams located behind the museum. This was a refreshing way to cool down on a warm day. Be sure to bring spare clothes and water shoes or sandals as you are not allowed in with bare feet.

Our next stop was the Digging Deeper Gallery where we learned about bugs, painted, climbed and explored nature. There were a ton of activities for children of all ages.

Some additional highlights of Kidspace include: Outdoor and indoor climbing areas, Tricycle Tracks, Gardens and water play areas. The Inside the Early Childhood learning Center for children four and under. You will find rubber matts, building blocks, balls, climbing equipment and more. Perfect for those with younger children.