If you are planning a family trip to the Yosemite Valley in the near future, you may want to consider a kid-friendly place to rest your head and  enjoy the few hours that your away from the park.  After our recent stay at the Tenaya Lodge, we are certain that we stumbled upon an amazing little secret, and we think it’s the best place to stay at Yosemite with Kids!

The Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite
This 298 room lodge sits just outside the south gate and features a main hotel, surrounded by personal cottages. Tenaya offers Yosemite Park lodging, with all-season recreation ranging from hiking, biking, swimming, skating and skiing, to the alpine serenity of the new Ascent Spa at Tenaya Lodge. Great dining options at our classic hotel range from casual to candlelit.

What Makes the Tenaya Lodge the Best Family Hotel in Yosemite?
For starters, you’ll find a kids check-in area where they can climb up a small flight of stairs and find themselves standing face to face with the friendly front desk staff. Here, kids will be able to get an activity sheet and crayons to keep them busy while mom and dad check in.

There’s also the indoor heated swimming pool, deemed by our girls as their “most favorite memory”. However, the arcade came in at second place, while the Tenaya’s 3 on-site restaurants and pizzeria played a close third. Then there’s the ice skating rink located right on the property, and although we were not quite brave enough to jump in a pair of skates and zoom around, we certainly noticed a number of smiling grins that were enjoying their first time on ice skates.

There’s also an amazing list of on-site activities (see list below) that are sure to keep every member of your family happy, whether big or small.

Lodging
The Tenaya Lodge features a very warm atmosphere that immediately makes you feel at home. You can even bring your four-legged best friend along – yes, pets are welcome too! The guest rooms are beautifully decorated with lodge-themed decor throughout, granite countertops, and additional amenities that ensure your time there will be spent comfortably.

The housekeeping staff works night and day to ensure that the hotel and guest rooms stay tip top, even featuring a nightly turn down service with truffles! All of the rooms at Tenaya Lodge feature individual climate control, high-speed wireless Internet access, luxurious down bedding, direct-dial telephones with message alert and voice mail, coffee makers, irons and ironing boards, remote-control cable television with Nintendo® and movies to order, and in-room safes. Bath amenities include all-natural ingredients and eco-friendly packaging.

On Site Activities
The activity list at the Tenaya Lodge is certainly something to marvel at, featuring a long list of kid-friendly activities that will please everyone in the family. On site activities include:

- Ice Skating Rink
- Outdoor fire pits (s’more packs available for purchase at the gift shop)
- Archery
- Sleigh Rides
- Rock Climbing Wall
- Snow Shoe Hikes
- Sledding
- Bicycling
- Kids Camp
- Kids Snowmobiling
- Kids Adventure Club
- Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides

Babysitting is also available upon request, among other activities such as the Kids Adventure Camp that keeps little ones busy while mom and dad take a break or enjoy a nice activity/meal together. The Tenaya Lodge knows that every parent wants to ensure their children’s safety, so each employee goes through a thorough screen process and background check, and each employee is fingerprinted.

The Staff
There are many features that sets the Tenaya Lodge apart from its hotel neighbors, however the one that certainly stands out is the amazing staff. We encountered a large number of employees during our four night stay and I was very surprised to see that each and every staff member was not only kind, attentive, and polite, but they were willing to go out of their way to make us feel at home. Even accommodating requests to heat up the pool a bit more, or provide a few extra bags of coffee.

The Ascent Spa
This upscale 10,000 square foot spa features an array of treatments rooms and an extensive menu for those who seek a little relaxation, including dry saunas, steam rooms and an enhanced wellness center featuring cardio stations and strength training equipment.

The Ascent Spa is located on the lower level of the lodge and once the elevator doors open, guest are immersed in waterfalls and zen-inspired decor. The Ascent Spa is a relaxing place to treat yourself to an end of the day “treat”, but make sure to book your appointment in advance as the spa does fill up rather quickly.

We give the Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite a five star rating and two thumbs up! It’s by far the best place to stay at Yosemite with kids and we encourage you to treat your family to a stay at the Tenaya Lodge the next time you visit Yosemite!

If you are a Star Wars fan then you may want to plan a visit to Legoland California, where the new Star Wars Miniland is now open! We were able to sneak down to the Carlsbad area and check out the new attraction. It was quite possibly the most excited I have seen my husband to date!

“Take your family to a galaxy far, far away as LEGOLAND® California introduces an all-new STAR WARS™ Miniland area! Guests experience scenes from the six live-action STAR WARS movies, plus one from the animated series STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS™ –all made of 1.5 million LEGO® bricks. Interactive features, life-size LEGO models, and more than 2,000 LEGO models will delight guests young and old. Scenes include Tatooine where Luke Skywalker grew up; Endor; the icy planet Hoth and the Millennium Falcon.”

As we entered the gates at Legoland California, we were met by an area filled with the most amazing Star Wars sand sculpture, and the detail was amazing…..

As we entered the Miniland area we were engulfed in the world of Star Wars. The Master model builders really poured their hearts into this Miniland and equipped with sounds, and movement, it was truly a sight for all to see……

Of course, it certainly wouldn’t be a Star Wars Miniland without giant, life-sized figures of Chewbacca and R2-D2….

How the Lego Models are created:
The roughly 2,000 LEGO Star Wars models are being developed and built by eight model designers and two animation electricians at our sister park, LEGOLAND Deutschland in Günzburg, Germany. It is up to the Master Model Builders at LEGOLAND California to bring the scenes to life with the help of animation electricians, technicians and landscapers all working to ensure the LEGO models appear as realistic as possible with special effects and landscaping.

Planning started in March 2010. The individual film scenes were selected after careful consultation with Lucasfilm Ltd. Pictures and drawings of the figures, spacecraft, vehicles, landscapes, etc. were taken as the basis for the detailed construction blueprints. The model designers used a special LEGO drawing paper for this, on which one square is equivalent to one LEGO knob. In the next step, they calculated how many bricks and which colors and forms would be needed for the models. For particularly difficult model parts, prototypes are first built, before the model is constructed brick by brick. To help the LEGO models last longer, all of the bricks are glued together and then sprayed with a special UV coating.

Authentic Star Wars sounds, actions and lighting effects help to make the models even more lifelike. For all models, only commercially available LEGO pieces are used. LEGOLAND Deutschland and LEGOLAND Billund will also be opening new Star Wars Miniland displays in 2011.

Star Wars Miniland is open now! Head over to www.Legoland.com and plan your vacation for summer 2011!

Thank You to Legoland California for providing park hopper tickets for our family to enjoy. My thoughts and opinions remain my own.

Each year around spring time, our family takes a trip down to sunny San Diego to visit SeaWorld. Since I was a small child, I have always enjoyed that SeaWorld offers families the opportunity to learn from the creatures of the sea. Dolphins, Whales, Penguins, Turtles and even Sharks can be observed in their environments, allowing children and adults to better understand that which we didn’t, just a few short years ago.

Visiting SeaWorld
As we stepped through the gates of SeaWorld San Diego, we were met by a beautiful grass landscape, and colorful flowers and trees. Just beyond is a number of rides, attractions, and interaction programs for those who want to get “hands on” inside the park.

We were able to experience a number of rides within the park, including our 6-year old’s favorite, Atlantis!  Here’s a little about the rides at SeaWorld San Diego…..

Bay of Play - a place just for the wee one’s! Bay of Play features three rides, including Elmo’s Flying Fish, Oscar’s Rocking Eel, and Abby’s Sea Star Spin.

Journey to Atlantis - a combination of a roller coaster and a water ride, Journey to Atlantis is a ride that you won’t want to miss!

Shipwreck Rapids – splash through river rapids, spin, and splash in a raft-like inner tube that carries 9 shipwrecked passengers.

Bayside Skyride – once on the top, you can see 100 miles in every direction on a clear day. Not for the faint at heart.

Blue Horizons
We were fortunate to grab a few great seats for SeaWorld’s very successful show, Blue Horizons, that follows the story of a young girl named Marina, who yearns to explore the secrets of the sky and sea beyond her window. Marina’s imagination comes to life as she dives through her window into a “blue” world of adventure and wonder, where dolphins will dance, free-flying tropical birds will fill the sky with color, and the spirits will soar! Blue Horizons is a unique show that features dolphins, pilot whales, birds, animal trainers, and the most amazing live acrobatic performers!

After we caught a few shows, we felt the need to get up close and personal with the animals, so we headed over to the Beluga Whale viewing area. This is one of my favorite exhibits within the park and for good reason.  Where else can you get this close to a Beluga Whale?

Oh and if that’s not close enough for you, then you may want to look into the Beluga Whale and Dolphin Interaction Programs, where you can get in the water with these amazing creatures!  Our oldest has to be just a tad bit older (programs are for ages 10+) to take part in the interaction program, however we will be in the water with the Beluga Whales as soon as she hits that age mark!

Before we left, we had to stop for a moment and hang out with this cute little guy….

A number of shows are set to return in Spring 2011, including Shamu Rocks, Into the Blue, Cirque de la Mer, The Shamu Story, and opportunities to Dine with Shamu! Visit www.Seaworld.com to plan your trip now! Special dining events and animal interaction programs require advance reservation.

Disclaimer: Thank You to SeaWorld for providing our family with tickets to enjoy the park. My thoughts and opinions remain my own.

I just love the holidays.  In fact, it’s my favorite time of year! There’s so much going on between parties, dinners and festivals, it seems the hustle and bustle of the season is something I’ve come to look forward to.  For the past 5 years we have visited the Disneyland Resort during the holidays and once you visit during this time of year, you too will be heading back every year to soak up the holiday magic.

Last weekend we headed to the Disneyland Resort for our annual trip! We kicked off the day by playing inside both Disneyland Park and Disney’s California Adventure Park.

The most amazing part of holiday time at the Disneyland Resort is the Christmas Tree!  Standing 60 feet tall and decorated with over 2,000 ornaments, this Christmas Tree boasts 4,800 LED lights and is truly an amazing sight!

And if you thought that was amazing, just wait until you see the nighttime Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle light show!  The show is divided into three “acts” over the course of the evening, each one beginning at the Castle and traveling the length of Main Street, U.S.A and finishing at the Town Square Christmas Tree.  The amount of lights on the Castle are just stunning and it creates a joyous atmosphere throughout the park.

The light show is followed up by the “Believe in Holiday Magic” Fireworks Show. The show is simply magical and the amount of fireworks used is just astonishing. The fireworks show is set to holiday themed music and at the end…it snowed!!!! How’s that for a little Christmas magic?

If you love parades, then you’ll want to check out  ”A Christmas Fantasy Parade”, where decorated floats and characters will dance before you, decked out for the holidays!

Our girls are truly little princesses so we decided to head over to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, where they enjoyed a “Princess Makeover” right inside Disneyland Park. They had the opportunity to pick out their dresses, shoes and accessories and then their “fairy god mothers” went to work doing their hair, make-up, and nails! It was an experience that none of us will forget!

After a fun filled day at the park, we headed over to the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa where the kind people at Disneyland put on a magical dinner highlighting the good eats inside of both parks! There, we had the opportunity to mingle with celebrity chefs and taste the amazing cuisine from the following restaurants located inside Disneyland Park and Disney’s California Adventure Park:

- Storyteller’s Cafe at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa

- Cafe Orleans inside Disneyland Park

- PCH Grill inside Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel

- Rancho del Zocalo inside Disneyland Park

- Goofy’s Kitchen inside the Disneyland Hotel

- Ariel’s Grotto/Wine Country Trattoria inside Disney’s California Adventure Park

These gingerbread Mickey Mouse beignets, created by Chef Martha, were covered in cinnamon sugar and accompanied by an eggnog anglaise.  Talk about yummy!

During the dinner, the kids and adults danced and sang to Disney Music with the Live DJ, and Lil’ Pea even did the Congo with Minnie Mouse! We met the newest Disney character, Duffy the Bear, who  in short, Minnie Mouse gave to Mickey Mouse so he wouldn’t be alone during his travels!

We enjoyed photo opps with many of the characters, while the kids enjoyed decorating sugar cookies with frosting and candy. We even had the opportunity to dance for a few seconds in front of a camera and the magical world of Disney managed to turn it into a Flip Book, if you can believe that!

We then had the opportunity to ride “It’s a Small World”, where the entire ride has been transformed for the holidays with an amazing light show that dances to holiday music outside and decorations throughout the inside of the ride!

Then, we went on a hunt for Reindeer!  Bet you didn’t know that the reindeer lived at Disneyland during the holidays, did ya?  Well they do, and you’ll find them at Santa’s Reindeer Round-up!  Located in Frontierland, families will have the opportunity to view the reindeer, meet Santa & Mrs. Clause and enjoy holiday arts and crafts.

Holiday magic is happening now thru January 2, 2010!  Take the family or the entire extended family and enjoy the sights, smells and sounds of the holidays at the Disneyland Resort!

Holiday Fall Savings
Right now you can save $300 on a Four-day, Four-night vacation package when you book between now and December 1st.  For those of you who are seeking a hotel room only, you can get great savings at all three of the on-site Disneyland Resort hotels, when you book by December 1, 2010. Special room rates include 30% off at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, 25% off at Disneyland Hotel and 20% off at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel!  Travel must take place before December 17,2010.  For more information on Holiday Fall Savings, visit www.disneyland.com.

Thank You to Disneyland for providing tickets to the park and travel accommodations.  No compensation was received.

Last week we had the opportunity to attend Brick or Treat Party Nights at Legoland California! This was our first year attending the halloween inspired event, happening Saturday nights in October! The Not-So-Spooky activities included a dance party, costume contests, nighttime trick-or-treating on the Brick-or-Treat Trails, holiday inspired music, a light show and the entertaining “Boo Crew”!

We were welcomed through the gates by a giant Lego pumpkin, where guests had the opportunity to climb inside for a fun photo opp! The party started at 5pm, which is when the park usually closes and we were excited to see the park at night. Only certain areas of the park remained opened, however all of the rides within those areas were open and we literally walked right on. We were all thrilled!

Two Brick-or-Treat trails were available and one opened earlier than the other. I was disappointed to find out that you could only go through ONE Brick-or-Treat Trail (NOT BOTH) and when the kids were turned down at the second trail, I was a bit perturbed, to say the least. Kids don’t really “get” why they can’t go through both and I thought it was a bit of a #fail on Legoland’s part, especially since they have SO many wee ones that just don’t get it and I saw a few who were quite upset. It is important to note that this was the only downfall to the Brick-or-Treat Party and I would still gladly attend in coming years.

I was impressed by the “treats” that Legoland gave out including bags of Baked Lays Chips, Lego Bricks, Lego Magazines and activities, a FREE Chipotle kids meal at any location in San Diego and minimal candy. Our dentist will certainly thank Legoland on our next visit!

There were loads of halloween themed decorations throughout the park included Lego ghosts, Lego witches, pumpkins and more! There were also a number of characters walking about and many who were on stilts (see picture below).  WOWZA!

We had a fantastic time enjoying the park at night and relishing in the many halloween decorations and activities! We were able to ride a large number of rides and both the kids and my husband and I really enjoyed that.  We will certainly attend next years festivities and I hope that ALL of the Brick-or-Treat Trails will be open to guests!

What You Need to Know…

- Brick-or-Treat Party Nights happen each Saturday night through October and the party is from 5pm to 9pm!

- A separate event ticket is NOT required! Akk Brick-or-Treat Party night festivities are included in the price of a regular one-day admission to Legoland California.

- Trick-or-Treat “goodies” are only available on the Brick-or-Treat trails and you may only walk through ONE trail during the party.

- Rides and attractions are open during the party in the areas that remain open during the party.

For more information about Brick-or-Treat Party Nights visit www.Legoland.com

Thank You to the folks at Legoland California for providing us with tickets to the event.

Last weekend we attended Mickey’s Halloween Party at the Disneyland Resort!  This was our 4th year attending the not-so-spooky party and it’s something we all look forward to doing this time of year.  In years past, the halloween festivities have been held at Disney’s California Adventure Park, however this year Mickey’s Halloween Party has moved across the way to the Disneyland park and it was a new and fun experience for all of us.  My favorite part about Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort is that they only sell a small number of tickets to each nights event.  That means you can walk right on to most rides with NO wait!  It’s SO awesome!

This year Disney villains have invaded Disneyland Park, along with Mickey and all of his friends dressed up in Halloween costumes. Guests will have the opportunity to dress up in halloween costumes, walk through the park, stopping at “treat” stations along the way and filling up on yummy halloween treats!  The decorations are truly amazing and halloween has dawned areas of the park throughout.  Halloween music also immerses guests in the halloween time extravaganza and the Halloween Time Fireworks show is truly something to experience!

Two of the parks most popular rides have been transformed for the holiday: The Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain! The Haunted Mansion has been transformed by Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and the ride is filled with holiday decorations throughout.  Space Mountain is also rockin’ the holidays with the return of Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy, featuring a thrilling haunted version of the ride.

What You Need to know…

Mickey’s Halloween Party is scheduled for Tuesday and Friday nights in October (1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26) and Halloween night, itself.

- A separate event ticket is required to attend Mickey’s Halloween Party and your ticket includes admission to the park 3 hours before the party begins, allowing you to play inside the park! Tickets purchased in advance are $49 most days and will very likely sell out! Tickets purchased on the event days (if still available) are $54.

- Nearly all rides are open during the party and my favorite part is that you can walk right on to most rides with NO wait because they only sell a small number of tickets to the party!

- You’ll be provided with a Trick-or-Treat bag to load up on treats at the treat stations and YES mom and dad can Trick-or-Treat too!

- Character photo locations are set up throughout the park

- Dance Parties are located at two dance clubs within the park in both Tomorrowland Terrace and the French Market

- “Mickey’s Costume Party” cavalcade performs twice nightly

$300 Savings on 4 Day, 4 Night Vacation Packages
Vacationers can enjoy a $300 savings on a four-day, four-night Disneyland Resort Vacation Package at any Disneyland Resort Hotel if booked between now and December 1, 2010. Travel must take place between October 1 and December 16, 2010. The offer is perfectly timed for guests to take advantage of the popular festivities taking place at Disneyland Resort during the Halloween season.

The savings also include all of the magical extras that come with booking a vacation package through the Walt Disney Travel Company. These benefits include preferred seating to some of the popular shows and attractions, Disneyland Resort Park Hopper tickets, a Magic Morning admission into Disneyland one hour before the park opens to the general public and a “Key to the Magic” card which allows clients to charge meals and merchandise to their resort hotel account.

For more information and to book, call your local travel agent or visit www.disneyland.com.

For more information about Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort or to purchase tickets for Mickey’s Halloween Party visit www.disneyland.com/halloween.

A big thank you to the folks at Disneyland for providing tickets to Mickey’s Halloween Party and a stay at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel.

We recently took a long 5 hour drive down to San Diego to see all of the new things Sea World has to offer and it was far more than even I had expected!  The all new show, Blue Horizons, was certainly our favorite, featuring dolphins, pilot whales, birds, animal trainers and the most amazing acrobatic performers.

Blue Horizons
The 25 minute show follows the story of a young girl named Marina who yearns to explore the secrets of the sky and sea beyond her window.  Marina’s imagination comes to life as she dives through her window into a “blue” world of adventure and wonder where dolphins will dance, free-flying tropical birds will fill the sky with color, and the spirits will soar.

The girls were glued to the animals and performers the entire show and with our very busy Lil’ Pea, it was a welcome surprise and a bit of a break for us! There were a number of acrobatic performers that flew through the sky and did some amazing high dives. Although, I must say that my favorite part of the show was the flying acrobat dressed as a parrot. She was simply amazing. There were quite a few members of the Sea World staff present offering up yummy treats and bubble blower guns, which of course, the girls just had to have! Yes, mommy remembers what it was like to be a small child and the magic of bubble guns!

Although Sea World offers many attractions that we truly enjoyed, I have to say that the underwater shark tube was truly an experience. There were a shocking amount of shark swimming over and around us and it was a bit of a thrill to know the only thing separating them and us, was a little glass! At one point, I looked up and this big guy was over the top of us…

And look at these adorable Sea Turtles bathing in the sun…

I was thrilled to see a large grass/sand area with multiple tables, where families can gather and have a snack or just let the kids get out some of that acquired energy! We spent a good hour there, where the girls ran around and went digging in the sand….

Dining at Sea World
There are many restaurants and snack bars located throughout the park that include the most famous of theme park foods: Churros and Frozen Lemonade! An array of food options are available Alcoholic beverages are also served throughout the park for those over 21 years of age. Individuals can purchase an All Day Dining Deal pass that allows you to eat all day, at multiple locations throughout the park, for one low price. Adults are $29.99 and children ages 3-9 are just $14.99.

Don’t Like Waiting In Line? Grab a Quick Queue Pass
Guests can now purchase a “Quick Queue” pass that allows you unlimited single-day access to the express entrance of Journey to Atlantis, Wild Arctic and Shipwreck Rapids. The Quick Queue ticket also allows you a free ride on both the Skyride and Skytower. Also available is the Quick Queue Premier Pass, offering all of the benefits of Quick Queue with the addition of reserved seating at all of the shows, including Shamu Believe, Shamu Rocks, Pet’s Rule, Sea Lions Live, Sea Lions Tonite, and Sesame Street Presents: Lights, Camera, Imagination.

Animal Interaction Programs
Sea World offers a Dolphin and Beluga Whale interaction program, where you can actually get into the water and swim with these amazing animals. The interaction programs allow you to touch them, feed them, and literally interact nose to nose. These programs are available at an additional charge and once the girls are old enough, this is one activity that we will definitely be taking part in.

Attention Southern California Residents
Southern California Residents can now purchase a ticket for just $59 and come back a second day for FREE! Southern California Residents can also purchase a Fun Card that allows you to come back for the entire year FREE for just $69.

Right now, available for all Sea World guests, you can purchase a child’s ticket for just $5 with a paying adult!

Whether your young or old, Sea World offers something for every member of the family, whether it be rides, shows, interactive experiences (such as swimming with Dolphins) or learning about the ocean and the wonders that live within it. It’s now on my list for top theme parks to visit and I encourage you to visit and see the amazing activities that Sea World has to offer!

Disclaimer: I was provided with free entrance to the park to facilitate my review. My thoughts and opinions remain my own!