Carful of Kids

Newbie Guide to Throwing Together a Walt Disney World Trip

2016-05-23T16:00:00.000-05:00

All or part of this trip was provided for review purposes. The opinions are solely of the writer.

We visited Walt Disney World in April. It's a great time to visit. Fewer people and lots of sunshine without the heat and humidity.

The Carful of Kids had the opportunity to play in Walt Disney World for four days so we jumped at the opportunity. Before this trip we had explored Disneyland for one day. So how does a national parks, road-tripping Mom plan a last-minute Walt Disney World vacation?

I lost my mind.

Tips for last-minute Walt Disney World Trips

Taking a Disney trip requires planning. Really. For a moment I thought could wing it. Then my best friend, traveling companion and fellow WDW newbie talked some sense into me.

If we wing it, she said, we'll be walking around, getting nowhere, wasting all our time in line. She was right. Her sister, a Walt Disney World veteran, had given her that advice.

A trip to Walt Disney World is on every kid's must-do list.

So I logged on to Amazon and bought the book. Which book? I don't remember. I bought the one with the most pages. Then I read it cover-to-cover, my friends. I recommend this. Don't skip the book.

Then I took the book with me. I looked at the book A LOT in the parks. I checked on rides for my timid kid, who doesn't like scary rides. I read reviews for the best rides and the ones to skip.

The Orlando airport is not next to the resort. It's a $70 taxi ride away so I wanted to stay at the Walt Disney World resort because of the complimentary Magical Express transportation. That and this was my first trip, I didn't know my way around and didn't want to get too far from the parks.

When your favorite resort is booked

I didn't have a lot of time to plan my April trip, about 5 weeks. So the value-priced rooms disappeared before I could snag one for the Saturday night of our five-day, four-night trip to Walt Disney World.

To make it work, I ended up with reservations at three different resorts. No biggie, I just transfer resorts. I’ll make it work. I’m a family travel writer, it’s just part of the job. That and I didn’t have a choice.

Walt Disney World Parks don't fall asleep at night. Light Shows, Fireworks and enjoying your favorite rides at night top my list.

So I learned a lot from my three-resort tour of Walt Disney World. My trip was part of a work conference so a couple of rooms were booked at a Walt Disney World deluxe resort. Since I arrived early to explore the parks, I booked a room at a value resort. Then the least-expensive room I could find for a Saturday night was a moderate resort.

Sometimes rooms come available about 4 weeks out. Don't count on this feature but check daily for resort availability. If a room does come available, grab it and don't wait.

Walt Disney World will transfer your luggage for free. I found this out by asking my pals and Disney experts at TravelingMom.com.

My Stay at a Value Resort

The Pop Century Resort is a value resort ($) 1.7 miles away from Hollywood Studios. It features four areas named after decades of the 20^th century with a total of 2,880 rooms along the shores of Hour Glass Lake and cross from the Art of Animation Resort.

My kids loved the over-the-top theme of the Pop Century Resort.

The Pop Century Resort is fun. The buildings exude energy and draw me through the resort. From the four-story tall bowling pins and the ginormous 60s flowers pasted to the sides of the candy-colored buildings, this place is a hit with the young at heart.

Hits of the Pop Century Resort:

Over the top theme that kids love
Nice pool
Great option if you plan on spending all your time in the parks.

The Hippy-Dippy Pool is a kid-pleaser.

Misses of the Pop Century Resort:

Farther away from parks but closer than off-property lodging
Limited activities for kids, no fishing or pirate cruises
Limited to quick-service dining
No character breakfasts
No in-room coffee maker
Small rooms and skimpy linens

The rooms at the Pop Century Resort are basic rooms.

My Stay at a Moderate Resort

The Caribbean Beach Resort is a moderate resort ($$) 4.1 miles from Epcot. An expansive property that includes seven villages with a total of 2,112 rooms along the shores of the 45-acre Barefoot Bay.

Want a beach vacation along with a Walt Disney Vacation, stay at the Caribbean Beach Resort.

The Caribbean Beach Resort evokes the calm and serenity of a beach vacation yet includes a resort-style pool that’s sure to excite the kids. With its expansive grounds and lush, tropical landscaping, the Caribbean Beach Resort never felt crowded.

Hits of the Caribbean Beach Resort:

The Fuentes del Morro pool is one of the best of the Walt Disney World resorts.
Lots of activities for the kids, like fishing excursions and pirate cruises
Larger rooms with more amenities, nice if you’ll be spending more time in the room
More dining options, quick-service and casual dining
A pool in every village
White-sand beaches

The Caribbean Beach Resort rooms have a trundle and accommodate five people.

Misses of the Caribbean Beach Resort:

Huge resort that requires its own bus to get around
No character breakfasts
No private patios or balconies
A motel feeling, I entered my room from an outside corridor.

The trundle in the Caribbean Beach Resort room.

My Stay at a Deluxe Resort

The Grand Floridian Resort and Spa ($$$$$+) is the Walt Disney World’s flagship resort located on 40-acres next to the Seven Seas Lagoon. Built to resemble a grand Victorian seaside resort of the late 19^th Century, it has 867 guest rooms across the main building and five additional buildings. Next to the lagoon is a pool, a white sand beach, a marina and a view of Cinderella’s Castle in Magic Kingdom.

The pool at the Grand Floridian is one of two.

The Grand Floridian Resort and Spa offers a grand experience for families who yearn for the convenience a Walt Disney World Resort and want a refined environment to decompress from the energy of the parks. Walking into the Grand Floridian lobby is sensory experience, the architecture is as impressive as the 3-foot tall flower arrangements that greet me. The service is refined yet welcoming.

Hits of the Grand Floridian Resort

Beautiful accommodations
Lots of dining options including quick service, casual dining and fine dining.
Character meals
Lobby entertainment
The most transportation options to get to the parks—bus, monorail or ferry
The highest level of service of the Walt Disney World resorts
One of the best spas in Orlando

The rooms at The Grand Floridian Resort and Spa are luxurious and spacious.

Misses of the Grand Floridian Resort

Nice pool but not my kid’s favorite
My kids were immune to their luxurious surroundings and wanted to spend all their time in the parks.
Beautiful property but off-site luxury resorts give you more for less

The Alice-in-Wonderland themed pool for little kids at The Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.

Note about transferring resorts during your stay:

I had to change resorts three times during my five-day/four-night stay at Walt Disney World. Walt Disney World will transfer your bags free-of-cost. I preferred to pack up our bags and roll them down to bell services that transferred them in the afternoon, usually between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

If I wanted a bell hop to grab my bags from my room I would have to stay with my bags until the bell hop arrived. I found this inconvenient since we wanted to get to the parks as early as possible.

The process was fairly easy and I had only one small incident. One of our bags had a tag on it stating it was left on the transportation bus. Nothing was missing.

Staying Off-Property

Want to stay off-property? I visited the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista, the closest hotel to Disney Springs. It offered many amenities at lower rack-rate.

The interior of a Wyndham Lake Buena Vista, the closest resort to Disney Springs.

Character breakfasts several times a week
Resort-style pool
Theme park transportation
Tennis courts
Kids activities
Mini-refrigerator
In-room safe

Know before you go:

By checking frequently for cancellations, I found a room on a booked Saturday night about 3 to 4 weeks before my scheduled arrival.
Make reservations as soon as possible, even for slower months, if you’re visiting during a weekend.
If you are transferring resorts during your stay, pack light. One rolling bag per adult. One rolling bag for every couple of kids. Backpack for the adults and cinch sacks for the kids.
Missed all the dining reservations? Skip it. There’s plenty of quick-service places to eat. My kids don’t miss the experience and just wanted to ride the rides.
Pack refillable water bottles and skip the soda. Take protein or granola bars for snacks while in line or on the bus.
Bring running shoes for the park. No flip-flops, sandals or hiking sandals; they all killed my feet.

Product Review: Panasonic's LUMIX DMC-ZS60

2016-05-20T12:20:00.001-05:00

This product was received for review purposes. The opinion is solely that of the writer.

Panasonic's LUMIX DMC-ZS60 packs a lot of power in a pocket-sized point-and-shoot.

I received a LUMIX DMC-ZS60 a few weeks ago to try out, Panasonic’s new point-and-shoot for the consumer market. I’ve had a love affair with cameras since the first one fell into my hands 30 years ago so I can't wait to try it out.

Described as a semi-professional photographer, I can shoot anything and I have over the years; portraits, products, concerts, landscapes and lots of candids with kids. The secret to a good photograph is knowing how to shoot a good photo, not the expensive equipment.

Since everyone has a camera on their phone these days and every photographer I know uses their phone as a backup. Why get a LUMIX DMC-ZS60?

I captured this bird with the 30x Zoom lens on the LUMIX DMC-ZS60.

I’ll be honest with you, I haven’t used a point-and-shoot in 20 years. I don’t use them because I need to make adjusts on the camera and they don’t support that function. That’s until I got the LUMIX DMC-ZS60.

Since I’m new to LUMIX DMC-ZS60, I start with the manual, which I suggest with any new camera. It’s packed with diagrams and explains all its functions.

Then I start to play with the LUMIX DMC-ZS60. I find some things I love and some things that could be better.

Hits of the Lumix DMC-ZS60

The size. Fits in a pocket or small purse.
The functionality of a DSLR, like the manual adjustment of aperture, shutter-speed, zoom and focus.
A 30x Zoom with a manual ring that can be used with your shooting finger.
Built-in Optical Image Stabilizer to combat hand-held image blur.
Level shot function because crooked images are annoying. This is one of my favorite features.
Wi Fi feature for sharing across your social channels.
Touch screen supports several gestures, like touch, drag, pinch and spread.
4K Ultra HD video recording and on-camera cropping.
Post-focus to record bursts of photos.

Misses of the Lumix DMC-ZS60

Tiny buttons are hard to see.
The LCD screen is smaller than an iPhone.
The touch screen is great until you touch it by accident.
To use the advanced features, you need to understand photography and read the manual.
Lacks clear and intuitive icons.
A cluttered display screen.
The manual functions are hard to adjust in the middle of a shot.

After a few weeks, how does the LUMIX DMC-ZS60 fit into my workflow? I use it when I need a good shot and I can't pack my bigger and heavier DSLR. I use it when the light is low or when I need to zoom in on my subject, replacing my smart phone.

I'm taking more and longer videos. I can't fill up my phone with lots of videos and my DSLR doesn't shoot them. So the LUMIX DMC-ZS60 is a great option and very easy-to-use.

I love the vivid colors that the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-ZS60 captures.

The easy-to-use point-and-shoot setting is great for novices. I can hand the LUMIX DMC-ZS60 to my kids so they capture their moments. I can use the images since the 18 megapixel sensor produces high-resolution images.

I love the size of the LUMIX DMC-ZS60 especially for all its functionality. It's a great addition to my camera family and I didn't know I needed it until I found myself using it more and more.

If you are in the market for a new camera and need more than a smart phone, check out the LUMIX DMC-ZS60. I love the size and the video recording in 4K.

For my readers I have a special offer--a FREE travel kit with an extra battery and battery charger, $100 value. Use bit.ly/tmomzs60 to get to Panasonic's Lumix Lounge for more information and a dealer near you.

Product Review - Ricardo Elite Roxbury 2.0

2016-05-09T16:03:00.000-05:00

This item was provided for review purposes. The opinions are solely that of the writer.

My Ricardo Elite Roxbury 2.0 is a great travel companion.

For Mother’s Day this traveling mom got a present especially designed for travel bloggers and other traveling professionals that need a mobile office on-the-go. As a former flight attendant, I know luggage and I’m not easy to impress.

Hits of the Ricardo Elite Roxbury 2.0

I've wanted a piece of polycarbonate luggage for some time. I like the added durability. As former crew member, I know how hard air travel is on luggage.

The Roxbury 2.0 has lots of space and dividers to pack with ease.

The Roxbury 2.0 has an external strap so I can tote more luggage. As a Mom with three kids, I’m always toting a ton of stuff.

The padded electronic sleeve adds another layer of protection for my laptop though it's a tight fit for my full-size laptop. I also appreciate all the zippered pockets in the mobile office feature. I love the organizer pockets for my smaller items, like sticky notes and extra business cards.

Misses of the Ricardo Elite Roxbury 2.0

I just don’t like luggage with four wheels. I find that it’s easier to pull luggage than push. I think of my luggage as a little wagon following behind me. I pull it on the escalator and under the turnstiles of metro stations. With four wheels my luggage tends to wander and it's not as easy to control especially when stopping suddenly.

The Ricardo Roxbury 2.0 has traveling professionals in mind with a mobile office feature.

While I love the purple color, I would choose black for myself. I know it’s easier to spot on the luggage carousel but I like to have a put-together look. When I’m traveling on a longer trip and I have several pieces, I want a unified color of luggage. I prefer black. Since I travel for my job, I don’t want to have my outfits clash with my luggage.

I like the mobile office feature, I really do, except when I don’t need to work. I don’t like giving up the space for the mobile office when I need more space for clothes. I would have preferred the mobile office to be a zip-out feature so it could be removed when not in use.

There's plenty of room for everything though I would have liked the mobile office detachable so I would use this space for clothes when I'm on vacation.

I missed an external pocket. I use them to stash things I need when traveling, like boarding passes, books or magazines.

The polycarbonate shell scuffs faster than fabric soft-faced luggage. After one trip I have scuff marks on the exterior.

Packing List:

For my recent weekend away to San Antonio, I packed the Roxbury on the light side. Here's what I packed:

Clothing:

2 pairs of sandals, one of them hiking sandals

1 pair of flip-flops

1 pair of nude flats

2 belts, I like to match

3 pairs of undies with an extra bra

1 nightie

1 knit dress just because

1 cardigan sweater

3 pairs of shorts

2 tank tops

1 short-sleeve tee shirt

1 long-sleeve cotton shirt

1 bathing suit

1 cover up

1 make-up bag

1 large toiletry kit, it's really big since I have a family of 5.

This is my pretty packing job. I added more stuff before zipping it up for a recent weekend away.

My Mobile Office:

My large Apple Macbook Pro

iPad

laptop charger cord

surge protector in case hotel doesn't have enough outlets

notebook

extra pens

extra business cards

As you can see, there are many features of the Ricardo Roxbury 2.0. I like this bag but I still take my backpack since I pack several cameras for my trips. I was able to pack everything I needed for a weekend away and still had room for more clothes.

Resort Review: The Grand Floridian Resort Walt Disney World Florida

2016-05-03T14:01:00.001-05:00

All or part of this stay was provided free for review purposes. The opinions are solely that of the writer.

The Grand Floridian Resort at Walt Disney World is the flagship resort property with activities and amenities galore. Is it right for your family?

The Grand Floridian Resort was the last property on our three-resort tour of Walt Disney World. The flagship resort of Walt Disney World has a refined elegance of a bygone era with Victorian architecture, afternoon tea service and a grand lobby filled with music and flower arrangements. The Grand Floridian Resort offers its guests a soft spot to sip some champagne and refresh after a day in the parks.

Hits:

The Grand Floridian offers a grand experience for families who yearn for the convenience a Walt Disney World Resort and want a refined environment to decompress from the energy of the parks. Walking into the Grand Floridian lobby is sensory experience, the architecture is impressive as the 3-foot tall flower arrangements that greet me. The service is refined yet welcoming.

The lobby of the Grand Floridian is a treat for the senses. Taking a moment to enjoy the musicians while sipping on a cocktail is my idea of a vacation.

Getting to the parks is easy from the Grand Floridian, I found the Magic Kingdom Ferry, the Magic Kingdom monorail and bus service service to the other parks. Transportation at the Grand Floridian Resort within Walt Disney World is the best of any of the resorts I visited.

The Grand Floridian Resort offers a wide variety of activities for kids and adults alike. For the kids, pirate cruises and character meals top the list. For Mom, the Grand Floridian has one of the best spas in Orlando and an elegant afternoon tea service. Boat rentals, jogging trails are available on-site and golf is located nearby.

Misses:

My boys, 8 and 11, were immune to the luxurious surroundings of the Grand Floridian Resort. They were more interested in the park rides. The pool wasn’t as exciting to them as the Spanish-fort themed pool at the Caribbean Beach Resort. They skipped it and went to one of Walt Disney World's water parks instead.

The Grand Floridian Resort has the highest guest-to-castmember ratio of all of the Walt Disney World resorts.

For the Grand Floridian’s price point, I expected more luxury, especially in the toiletries and amenities. While I didn’t find a glaring faux pas, other luxury brands offer more for less.

The Resort :

The Grand Floridian Resort ($$$$$+) is Walt Disney World’s flagship resort located on 40-acres next to the Seven Seas Lagoon. Built to resemble a grand Victorian seaside resort of the late 19^th Century, it has 867 guest rooms across the main building and five additional buildings. Next to the lagoon is a pool, a white sand beach, a marina and a view of Cinderella’s Castle in Magic Kingdom.

The Grand Floridian Resort resembles the grand seaside resorts of a bygone era.

The self-parking is complimentary though not as convenient as the Caribbean Beach Resort. To get to the Grand Floridian Resort, I used the Magic Kingdom monorail and the ferry. Both are fun and try both for a different experience. I used the Walt Disney World bus transportation to get to the other parks and the complimentary Magical Express to get to the Orlando airport.

I had to check-in with the front desk since my room was part of a conference and I couldn’t check-in prior to my arrival. The front desk staff was courteous and I didn’t have to wait. Though the staff didn’t know where my welcome reception was located when I asked for the location by name. I had to walk around the property for 10 minutes and asked several different cast members.

The Grand Floridian has several room configurations and one and two-room suites are available. Complimentary Wi-Fi is included.

I visited the Grand Floridian Resort in April.

The Room:

I had a reservation for a standard room on the first floor of the Sago Cay building. Since I transferred from the Pop Century Resort, my luggage was not in my room when I checked-in though it arrived later.

The bedding and the mattresses are soft and provide an excellent night sleep for park-weary guests.

The rooms at the Grand Floridian are 440-square feet with a large vanity area and separate tub and toilet area. Our room featured two queen beds, a pull-out sofa and a desk with a chair. The room sleeps five in total. There’s plenty of room for a pack-n-play. With a large closet with sliding doors, there was plenty of room to stash our luggage on the luggage rack provided. In the closet I found a pair of plush robes, an in-room safe, deluxe wooden hangers and a lingerie hanger along with extra bedding.

Our room at the Grand Floridian exuded luxury with deluxe bed linens and lots of towels. I found throw pillows on the chenille sofa. Our room had a private patio with a pair of chairs and a table perfect for early morning coffee.

The chenille sofa has a pull-out mattress for one of the kids.

On the marble-top console, I found a coffee maker with coffee though I expected to find creamers at this level of property not the standard issue condiment packets with powered creamer. The deluxe ice bucket and real glassware were located here above the mini refrigerator. At this price point, I want wine glasses and a wine opener. I didn’t find a mini-bar or complimentary water bottles either.

The bathroom of our Grand Floridian Resort room was luxuriously appointed though it was missing some of the extras. I expected an enclosed glass shower with a separate soaking tub. I found a standard tub and toilet in the same room, slightly bigger than what I found at the Caribbean Beach Resort.

A pair of sinks on a marble-topped vanity of the Grand Floridian Resort's standard room.

The vanity area featured marble countertops with a double sink and a decorative mirror with accent lighting. I found a lighted make-up mirror, a decorative tissue holder, a hair dryer along with a hamper for dirty clothes. A great place to put my dirty clothes bag that I pack for trips.

The toiletries were nicer than the other Walt Disney Resorts but I wanted more. I found a facial bar, a bath bar, bath gel, shampoo, conditioner and a shower cap. I wanted mouthwash, cotton balls, Q-tips, a sewing kit, a shoe polish wipe and a make-up towelette.

Activities:

The Grand Floridian features many activities including a jogging trail, an arcade, a pirate adventure for kids, fishing excursions, fireworks cruises and watercraft for rent. The spa, Senses, is one of the best in the area. The Grand Floridian has a fitness center and a full-service salon. The Grand Floridian Resort features two pools, one so large ducks think it's another lake.

The Alice in Wonderland-themed water play area is a hit with the littlest guests of the Grand Floridian Resort.

The Beach Pool overlooks the Seven Seas Lagoon and the white-sand swimming beach. It includes a 180-foot waterslide, waterfalls and lots of lounge chairs. Need a little space poolside, there are cabanas for rent with flat-screen TVs and a mini refrigerator with complimentary water and soda. For the smaller kids, a water play area for kids under 48-inches is located next to the Beach Pool. I found a campfire area on the swimming beach and the Beaches Pool Bar and Grill for snacks and drinks.

The Courtyard Pool is located behind the main Grand Floridian building. It’s a quieter choice for guests. It includes a hot tub and the Courtyard Pool Bar is close.

The Courtyard Pool is close to the Grand Floridian Resort rooms.

New Balance has a one-mile running trail at the Grand Floridian Resort and I found Arcadia Games inside of the main building. Like the Caribbean Beach Resort, kids can take a pirate adventure without the parents. There’s also watercraft rentals at The Captain’s Shipyard.

Since the Grand Floridian is right across the Seven Seas Lagoon from Magic Kingdom, there are fireworks cruises as well as guided fishing excursions. The Electrical Water Pageant floats by the Grand Floridian too.

Dining:

The Grand Floridian offers the most dining options of any of the Walt Disney World resorts. With in-room dining, quick-service, casual dining, character dining and fine dining options, families have plenty of options.

Character meals at 1900 Park Fare are a popular option, reservations can be made 180 days in advance. The Garden View Tea Room offers a morning tea for the littlest guests and a traditional afternoon tea for families wanting a special experience.

Know Before You Go:

Make reservations for popular dining spots as soon as possible, preferably when they are released.
For Victoria and Albert’s, kids must be 10-years-old. No casual wear is allowed.
The morning tea service at the Garden View Tea Room is geared for younger children and the afternoon tea is traditional.
The Magical Express picks up across from the Monorail station.
Airport Check-in is available for some airlines at the Grand Floridian.

You might be interested in:

Resort Review: The Pop Century Resort at Walt Disney World

Resort Review: The Caribbean Beach Resort at Walt Disney World

The International Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot

Resort Review: Pop Century Resort Walt Disney World Florida

2016-05-02T12:05:00.003-05:00

The FUN environment of Pop Century Resort.

The Pop Century Resort was the second of the three resorts that I stayed in during our recent trip to Walt Disney World. A value-priced Disney Resort that has kids running from the 1950s to the 1990s faster than you can download a movie on dial-up. With its over-the-top towering icons of American culture, this is a family-pleasing resort that’s easy on the wallet.

Hits:

The Pop Century Resort looks like a party. The buildings exude energy and draw me through the resort. From the four-story tall bowling pins and the giant 60s flowers pasted on the sides of the candy-colored buildings, this place is a hit with the young at heart.

The Pop Century Resort is a HIT with kids.

The Hippy-Dippy Pool with its Petal Pool Bar is the place to rejuvenate the kids after a long day in the parks. The Classic Hall building has registration, bell services and a quick-service food court conveniently and centrally located.

The Pop Century Resort’s size is more manageable than the Caribbean Beach Resort where we stayed first. No need for additional internal buses to get around the resort, we walk right to our room. The carful of kids spent the day at the park and the Pop Century Resort texted us our room number since I checked-in online before arrival. A great feature that I recommend.

Misses:

The rooms at Pop Century are small, some of the smallest at Walt Disney World. During our stay at Walt Disney World we left early and we got back late but if you spend more time in your room as a family the size might be a problem.

Who doesn't love fins on the cart?

The linens in the Pop Century were skimpy in quality and number. I prefer softer sheets and more towels. While road trippers can pack towels for the pool, a family flying to Orlando can't.

There were less activities for kids at the Pop Century Resort than the moderately-priced Caribbean Beach Resort. This was not a problem for the carful of kids because we spent all day in the parks and really only used the pool.

The Resort:

The Pop Century Resort is a value resort ($) 1.7 miles away from Hollywood Studios along the shores of Hour Glass Lake and cross from the Art of Animation Resort. The buildings are grouped and named after decades of the 20^th century, giving the Pop a total of 2,880 rooms.

The carful of kids loved the pops of 20th century culture, like the bowling pin staircases.

The self-parking is complimentary. I used the Walt Disney World bus transportation and the Magical Express (complimentary Orlando airport transportation). Both are efficient though we had to stand at peak times.

I visited the Pop Century Resort in April.

The Room:

I had a reservation for a standard room with two doubles beds on the fourth floor in the 1950s section of Pop Century Resort. There's an elevator that I found after we climbed the stairs. The carful of kids had to climb the stairs inside the giant bowling pin because it looked fun.

The rooms at the Pop Century Resort are No Frills accommodations.

The buildings are well-maintained but have a roadside motel feeling. The rooms look out onto an outdoor corridor and don’t have private balconies or patios. Our room is 260 square feet there's not a lot of extra room for a pack-n-play and luggage. This room provides sleeping for four.

Our room featured a small table with 2 chairs, a small refrigerator, a flat-screen television, a phone and an in-room safe. I didn’t find a coffee maker, a charging station, real glassware, clock radio, a ceiling fan or separate closet. I missed some of those items, especially the coffee maker.

Interior of the bathroom at the Pop Century Resort.

The linens in our room at Pop Century Resort were lacking. With two pillows per bed, it's not enough. I found another on the shelf above the closet rod. The mattresses were thinner and the white linens were clean but rough. I didn’t sleep as well here as I did on the previous night at the Caribbean Beach Resort.

The bathroom area was small though it did have a curtain in the vanity area so a Mom could change when a kid baths. The tub and toilet are separated by a door and are clean and well-maintained.

The two pillows per bed was inadequate for this Mom.

The vanity area at the Pop Century Resort had one sink and I found a plastic ice bucket and disposable cups on the bathroom counter. Basic toiletries were included: bath soap, facial bar, shampoo and conditioner.

Our room, like our room at the Caribbean Beach Resort doesn't have a real closet. I found an iron and ironing board, hair dryer and luggage rack next to the vanity under the closet rod. The room got messy with the kids when I can’t hide the clutter behind a door.

The vanity area of the Pop Century Resort is small especially for a family of four.

The towels were also inadequate in our room at the Pop Century Resort. The four towels that I found in the room were rough. We ran out of towels after a trip to the pool.

Activities:

The Pop Century Resort has less activities than the Caribbean Resort. No fishing or pirate-themed kids’ cruises. Fewer pools and the white sand beaches with hammocks and sand volleyball courts were missing at the Pop Century Resort.

The carful of kids wanted to tour the Pop Century Resort to see all the giant sculptures.

The Pop Century Resort has three pools in all. The bowling ball-themed pool in the 1950s, the computer-themed pool in the 1980s and the Hippy-Dippy pool in the 1960s.

I found a playground in the 1970s and there’s a jogging trail. At the Hippy-Dippy Pool, the Pop Century resort shows movies. Inside the Classic Hall building is the Fast Forward Arcade.

Dining:

The Pop Century Resort has a quick-service food court with the basics. I found a grab’n’go section, a grill, pizza, pasta and sandwiches. Breakfast is also served. I didn’t eat at the Pop Century, opting to eat in Epcot during our visit and the carful of kids ate a protein bar on the way to the park.

The bowling bin shaped pool in the 1950s area is fun.

Outside at the Hippy-Dippy Pool, I found tables that you could enjoy a snack or cocktail from the nearby Petal Pool Bar.

Note about transferring resorts during your stay:

I had to change resorts three times during my five day/four night stay at Walt Disney World. Walt Disney World will transfer your bags for free. My bags were transferred once I was assigned a room at my new resort, usually between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

I preferred to pack up our bags and take them to bell services myself. If I wanted a bell hop to grab my bags from my room, I would have to stay with my bags until the bell hop arrived. I found this inconvenient since I wanted to get to the park early.

My bags were transferred two different times and I had only one small incident. One of our bags had a tag on it stating it was left on the transportation bus. Nothing was missing and I had my laptop in one bag.

Know before you go:

The Pop Century Resort uses bus transportation to get around Walt Disney World.
The Pop Century Resort is a popular resort and fills up fast at all times of the year.
Airline Check In is available for some airline at the Pop Century Resort.

You might be interested in:

Epcot: The National Parks and International Flower and Garden Festival

Resort Review: Caribbean Beach Resort

Resort Review: The Grand Floridian Resort

Hotel Review: Caribbean Beach Resort Walt Disney World Florida

2016-04-26T16:52:00.002-05:00

The white sand beaches at the Caribbean Beach Resort add to the island ambience .

The Caribbean Beach Resort was the first of three resorts that I stayed in during my recent trip to Walt Disney World. A moderate priced Disney resort that evokes the calm and serenity of a beach vacation yet includes a resort-style pool that’s sure to excite the kids. With its expansive grounds and lush, tropical landscaping, the Caribbean Beach Resort never felt crowded.

What I love:

The Fuentes del Morro pool is the draw for families at the Caribbean Beach Resort. With its pair of water slides, a couple of water canons and zero-entry, it was a wow moment for my boys, 8 and 11-years-old.

The Fuentes del Morro Pool is a kid magnet day and night.

Besides the pool, I found bike rentals, sand volleyball, an arcade, guided pirate excursions and a walking path next to the Barefoot Bay. The travel time to the resorts was reasonable too.

What I didn't love:

The size of the Caribbean Beach Resort was cumbersome. It has an internal bus service that I had to use or hike for miles. The Custom House is where registration, bell services and the Magical Express (complimentary bus transportation to and from the Orlando airport) are located. It’s separate from the rest of the resort and the dining and pool area.

I didn't use the registration area during my stay since I checked into my room before my arrival. I got a text with my room number when it was available in the afternoon. I recommend using this option.

Don't have kids? Each of the seven villages in the Caribbean Beach Resort has its own pool.

I found the Magical Express service efficient. Though I would not let the Magical Express pick up my checked luggage next time. Even though it was delivered to my room, I needed some items before it was delivered, 5 to 8 hours after my flight landed. Next time I will claim my checked bags and put them on the Magical Express with me.

My checked bag was delivered to my room but my carry-on luggage I checked with bell services was not. Since my room was not ready, I left my carry-on with the bell hop. When I got back to the resort I had to make a special trip to the Custom House to claim my bag. The trip took 30 minutes and that’s 30 minutes that the boys could've been swimming in the pool. Bummer.

The Resort:

The Caribbean Beach Resort ($$) is a moderate resort that's 4.1 miles from Epcot. An expansive property that includes seven villages with a total of 2,112 rooms along the shores of the 45-acre Barefoot Bay. Each of the seven villages has a guest laundry, a separate pool and a white-sand beach.

I found plenty of complimentary self-parking. Though I used the Magical Express and the Walt Disney World bus transportation. The bus transportation to get to the parks is fairly regular but be prepared to stand. The Caribbean Beach Resort features complimentary Wi-Fi but breakfast is not included.

The interior of our Caribbean Beach Resort with its coffee maker, TV and trundle-hiding credenza.

I reserved a room with two double beds and a fun kid-sized trundle, sleeping for five. The Caribbean Beach Resort has pirate-themed rooms available, which are extra. They have two double beds but no trundle, sleeping for four.

The island colonial architecture and tropical landscaping offer lots of privacy and I rarely saw other guests. The villages, named after Caribbean Islands, have a separate pool and white-sand beach. The Caribbean Beach Resort gives you an island vacation in the middle of Disney.

I visited the Caribbean Beach Resort in April.

The Room:

I had a reservation for a first floor room in the Martinique Village. Each village features several buildings and I thought the buildings could use more signs, hard to navigate with a week’s worth of luggage.

The beds were soft and comfortable with white cotton linens and four pillows.

The room itself is 314 square-feet with a semi-private vanity area and separate tub and toilet area. The room features two double beds and a pull-out trundle that my boys fought over. The room sleeps five total. It would be tight with a pack-n-play and luggage.

Our room had a small round table and two chairs, coffee maker, hair dryer, in-room safe, iron and ironing board, flat screen television, ceiling fan, a mini-refrigerator and ice bucket with real glassware. Missing was an alarm clock. The charging station located on the bed side table with two outlets and two plugs for USB cords was the nicest feature of the room. This feature was missing from the luxury property where I stayed.

The bathroom at the Caribbean Beach Resort has some extras but a separate closet was not one of them.

The bathroom area has louvered doors that extend the island feel and allow for a separate changing area; great for a Mom who wants to dress before the kids wake up. The room features a standard tub enclosure with a decorative shower curtain and toilet.

The vanity area features two separate sinks with granite counter tops, decorative lighting and mirror. I liked the lighted make-up mirror that’s mounted next to the sink and the decorative tissue cover and soap dish. Standard toiletries are included: facial bar, bath bar, shampoo and conditioner.

The trundle in our room at the Caribbean Beach Resort was a hit with the kids.

Next to the vanity was a long closet rod and the luggage rack. I found the lack of an official closet a serious draw-back. The vanity area gets messy with kids quick. I found four towels in our room which I thought was lacking for families.

The hooks next to the entrance door added convenience for jackets.

Activities:

The Fuentes del Morro pool with its Spanish colonial-themed fort, a pair water cannons and two water slides, one over 80-feet long, is the main attraction. There’s a lot of fun happening here. I especially liked the zero-entry area where I watched my kids and got my toes wet, without putting on a swimsuit.

For the younger kids, there’s a separate water play area. With lots of lounge chairs and the Banana Cabana Pool Bar for your favorite cocktails, this area grabs the kids from all over the resort.

The white-sand beach next to the Barefoot Bay was nice. The Martinique Village has a sand volleyball court. All along Barefoot Bay is a wide walkway suitable for jogging.

Caribbean Beach Resort has family fishing excursions and dockside fishing as well. Bikes and surreys can be rented.

For kids looking for adventure, Caribbean Beach Resort has a Pirate Adventure Cruise for kids ages 4 to 12-years-old that departs at 9:30 a.m. A arcade is located at Old Port Royale area next to the main pool.

Dining:

With a quick service food court and casual dining options, feeding the family is easy. I used the grab-in-go section that features sweets, healthy snacks, drinks and even individual, alcoholic beverages.

Since the weather was perfect, we took our purchases outside and ate on the large patio area. I found a table, though there should be more. I got the last one.

What I loved about this area is the outdoor entertainment located nearby. My kids could watch the outdoor movie or participate in the campfire activities. I watched my kids while I enjoyed a cocktail without having to sit right next to them.

Up Next: More Walt Disney World

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Epcot's International Flower and Garden Festival

National Parks and Disney? Yes! At the Epcot International Flower Festival

2016-04-22T14:57:00.000-05:00

Part of this trip was provided free for review purposes. The opinions are solely that of the writer.

The Carful of Kids enjoy Epcot's International Flower & Garden Festival with Park Ranger Mickey.

The carful of kids love our national parks and we've spent years driving to the corners of our country to explore them. So why are the carful of kids exploring Disney during National Parks Week? What does Disney and the National Parks have in common?

Disney is a sponsor of the National Park Service's Centennial. I was a little shocked to hear that myself. I love Disney and I love our national parks but they are kinda different. Right?

I think this is my favorite topiary. I love Lady! If she would fit in the overhead bin on the flight home, she would be mine.

On our recent trip to Walt Disney World during Epcot's International Flower and Garden Festival, I find Mickey as a Park Ranger in the National Park Foundation's garden. Mickey celebrates the National Park's Centennial and encourages kids to find their park.

Snow White and her Dwarfs bring a smile to my face.

Every spring since 1994, the International Flower and Garden Festival plants itself in Epcot. From the first week of March until the last week of May, plant lovers gaze and daydream as they wander through the amazing displays.

Who doesn't love Cogsworth?

With over 70 topiary displays with Disney characters of every generation, I love meandering through Epcot's World Showcase discovering each display. Each character is a piece of plant art and I take a few minutes to discover the details in each.

Cinderella and Her Prince dance away the afternoon in shades of green.

On the weekends, Epcot comes alive with music with the Garden Rocks Concert Series. A free concert located in the America Gardens Theatre brings national acts to the World Showcase.

France's Beauty and the Beast is a crowd pleaser.

The floating gardens catch us by surprise. They float and turn under the monorail near the Odyssey Bridge and the International Gateway.

Tea? Yes, Please. I love the tea-themed garden in the United Kingdom.

Next to the floating gardens, the carful of kids explore the butterfly garden that's sponsored by Go-Go Squeez. After chasing butterflies, the carful of kids slurp an apple sauce pouch down in one gulp.

I love the Traditional English Garden dedicated to Shakespeare in the United Kingdom.

Along with the themed topiaries, some of the countries have themed gardens too. In Japan we find a display of Bonsai. In the United Kingdom, I'm enchanted in the Shakespeare Garden.

Be sure and find Epcot's Garden Railway in Germany for the kids.

If your kids aren't as enchanted with the International Flower and Garden Festival, find the kid-pleasing miniature outdoor train. I'm as delighted as my boys with Epcot's Garden Railway located in Germany.

After the sun fades, the topiaries glow after dark.

As the sun dips and the light begins to fade, the topiaries transform again. Thanks to their lighting the topiaries glow into the night.

The International Flower and Garden Festival has special menu items throughout Epcot's World Showcase. In the outdoor kitchens that are sprinkled in the countries, I find farm-to-table items that are fresh alternatives for families.

Up Next: My Review of Walt Disney World's Caribbean Beach Resort

Calling Junior Rangers: 8 Free Badges to Earn at Home

2016-04-12T11:56:00.000-05:00

The Carful of Kids have earned lots of Junior Ranger badges through our road trips.

The carful of kids are members of the Junior Ranger ranks of the National Park Service. Since our first road trip together, we've earned them at every park.

Junior Ranger badges are free, collectible souvenirs for kids to earn. It's a great program for families and over the years, I've learned just as much as the carful of kids.

The badges are a great way to show teachers that kids keep learning while on vacation. My 11-year-old had a project on Yellowstone National Park and he wore his hat. He got 5 points of extra credit.

What are Junior Rangers?

Junior Rangers are junior park rangers. Kids from 5 to 13 can join the ranks as they explore, learn and protect our national treasures. Most parks, over 200 national park sites in all, hand out free booklets specially designed for each park (a few parks charge $3 for the booklet). Kids complete the educational booklet as they experience the national park in a kid-friendly way.

Each park we visit has a badge to earn by completing a workbook and exploring the park.

The Junior Ranger badge requirements are different for each park. Some requirements might be hiking, recycling or attending a ranger program.

During the summer season when most kids visit national parks, the NPS offers special Junior Ranger programs just for kids. The programs for kids are more active than the traditional ranger programs and discuss topics kids love, like animals.

8 National Junior Ranger Badges

The Junior Ranger program has national Junior Ranger badge booklets that can be downloaded, printed and completed at home. Afterwards, the booklets can be mailed to the National Park Service which will review them and mail the earned badge back for free.

Junior Archeologist activity book can be completed at home and mailed into the NPS Chief Archeologist. This Junior Ranger booklet contains a parent guide to help kids discover how people in the past lived.

Junior Paleontologist Program is for the dinosaur-loving kid in your family. The National Park Service has 259 parks that preserve fossils. This booklet can be done in a participating park or at home.

Junior Cave Scientist Program is for all the young speleologists out there. The National Park Service has 150 areas that protect caves or karsts (landscapes created by weak acids that dissolve rocks). This badge can be completed at one of the parks with a cave or at home.

Junior Ranger Night Explorer helps kids learn about the night sky. It’s best completed in a dark sky park that hosts telescope or astronomy programs but can be completed at home.

Wilderness Explorer concentrates on the outdoor knowledge needed to explore the wilderness areas within the National Park Service. It should be done in a park or another wilderness area. The booklet includes an answer key. This program is best for kids ages 8 and up.

Underwater Explorer has Junior Rangers discovering what lies below the surface of the water. It can be completed at home and mailed to the Submerged Resources Center.

Underground Railroad Junior Ranger activity book has kids learning about slavery during the Civil War and the road to freedom. It can be completed at home.

Junior Civil War Historian is for Junior Rangers that want to learn more about the Civil War. Kids must visit three participating parks or two parks and complete the Underground Railroad Junior Ranger activity book.

Other Special Junior Ranger Programs

The Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts have partnered with the National Park Service to offer a certificate or patch for registered scouts. Scouts who complete 10 hours of organized learning, like the Junior Ranger badges, or perform service projects are eligible for a patch. To earn a special certificate, scouts have to complete five hours of service or education.

The Carful of Kids recite the Junior Ranger Oath to explore, learn and protect our national treasures.

Know Before You Go:

Pack your own pencils, preferably the mechanical type that don't need sharpening.
Dress for hiking, one might be required. The parks always include shorter hikes that are great for everyone, including strollering kids.
The Junior Ranger program is designed for kids ages 5 to 13 though I’ve been helping my youngest earn them since he was 4. He was not going to be left out.
Kids love picnics so pack a picnic. Food service can be limited.

Seafood, Sand & Surfing: How to have the Greatest Beach Trip Ever

2016-03-24T16:53:00.002-05:00

The carful of kids love to try new things so we drive to the Texas coast for long weekend packed with seafood, sand and surfing. This is an easy road trip for most Texas families, taking just a few hours to drive to the beach.

After picking up the kids after school, we arrive at the beach condo on Friday night. Everyone pitches in and we have our gear unloaded in no time. I prefer to rent a condo since I can cook a couple of meals and they usually have a washer to take care of those wet towels.

Exploring the Bridge of the U.S.S. Lexington.

It's Saturday morning and after a quick breakfast, the carful of kids head out to our first activity--the U.S.S. Lexington, a WWII aircraft carrier. This tour is a must for school-age kids, though not as easy for the smaller kids since much of the tour isn't stroller-friendly.

The U.S.S. Lexington is located at 2914 N. Shoreline Boulevard in Corpus Christi. The admission is $14.95 for adults and for the kids 4 to 12 it's $9.95. It's open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (6p.m. in the summer), 7 days a week, closed for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Parking is available for $3.50.

After the carful of kids explore all the decks of the U.S.S. Lexington, we head back to the beach for our next adventure, building sand castles. We're not just building any sand castles, we're learning sand construction from a sand sculptor.

Chip Cooper, a sand sculptor, has over 30 years experience molding sand castles and he has won countless awards.

Award-winning sand sculptor, Chip Cooper, has been playing in the sand his whole life. With a few everyday, household tools, Chip has the carful of kids building the best sandcastles on the beach.

This is a great activity for the whole family, babies and grandmas included. Chip brings all the tools and a canopy to keep us covered. The lesson is about 2 hours and that's enough time to build individual sand castles or a larger family sand castle.

Who doesn't want to learn how to make awesome sand castles?

After a quick stroll along the beach shell hunting, it's time to head back to the condo for dinner, island-style. Earlier in the day, we stopped by Port A Seafood, located at 108 S. Alister St. for some shrimp, a Gulf Coast speciality.

Along with some corn, sausage and potatoes I brought with us, I boil up a fabulous seafood dinner for a fraction of the cost to eat out. It's a one pot meal so clean-up is a breeze.

It's not a trip to the beach without a Shrimp Boil.

The carful of kids hit the bed hard after a day full of activities; we have another full day of fun planned. I take a Mom moment and head out to the balcony to enjoy a glass of wine and listen to the waves.

I don't have to poke the carful of kids more than once to get them going this morning. They're headed to the SUV before I can get everyone sun-screened.

The carful of kids are learning how to surf with the Billabong Surf Camp on North Padre Island, located in front of the Windward Parking Lot, next to the Holiday Inn. We pick out our boards and put on our rash guards. The carful of kids seem to get it but what about a Mom with a teen? I don't even like to get my hair wet.

The one day learn-to-surf class starts on the sand with a core class where I learn I can't pop up like a 13-year-old. I'm still optimistic, I can do this. I ditch the sunglasses and lug my board into the water.

Well, it's a lot of work to paddle out. I get out there and the instructor sets me up to catch a wave. In the process of popping up on my board, my bathing suit gets wedged up my rear end. I think it's afraid. All I hope is my instructor didn't see all my Momma parts.

On the first try, I get on my knees and then I slide right off my board and in the water. I shake the saltwater out of my hair as I stand up and catch my board.

I head back. Same thing, paddle, paddle, paddle, the instructor holds my board while we wait for the perfect wave. He pushes me off and then I'm suppose to pop up and ride her in.

So my carful of kids are gliding in like pros this time. Me, I'm just a soggy mess. I'm not going home without this. I stand up and head back out there. My surf instructor greets me with a smile.

I'm doing this I tell myself. I visualize getting up on the board just so I can brag to my husband. I wait for the wave and off I go.

Pop! And UP! Yes, this Mom of three, gets up on her board and rides it for a glorious millisecond before I go down and under.

When I get back to the beach, one of the instructors asks me, What do they call a Mom who gets up on her board?

I don't know. What? Not knowing what to expect.

A Surfer.

I have to smile.

Time to get out the sandwiches. I'm starving.

A trip to the beach is not complete without a photo with the giant shark.

The carful of kids are much more successful at surfing. Due to the size of the surfboards and strength needed to paddle out, I recommend this for middle-school kids.

It's been a great weekend and it's time to hit the road. Monday will be here before you know it.

Chip's List of Household Items for Sand Castle Construction:

Long-handled garden shovel
Old pens for drawing vines or stones on the sides of your castle
Plastic spoons, knives and forks
Chip brushes to sweep away excess sand
Short sections of PVC pipe for turrets and towers
Large kitty litter container or gallon bucket for molding wet sand
A can of Pam cooking spray, to coat inside of the bucket for an easier release

I added some cute items from the craft store to my sand castle kit, like cocktail flags, tiny artificial flowers and doll house or fairy garden furniture. Just be sure to remove the items after you snap a couple of pictures with your sand castle. Don't want to add litter to our beaches.

Wildflowers at the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park in Central Texas

2016-03-08T15:05:00.002-06:00

It's spring in Central Texas so that means one thing--wildflower season. It's a great time to get out and drive the backroads of Texas in search of the best wildflower fields possible. This time the carful of kids drive out to some of the best wildflower fields in Texas, near Johnson City.

We can't talk about wildflowers without talking about the First Lady of Wildflowers, Lady Bird Johnson. Lady Bird Bird Johnson campaigned for the Highway Beautification Act that limited billboards and planted wildflowers along our highways during her time as First Lady of the United States.

Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th President

Lyndon B. Johnson, or LBJ as he was commonly called, was the vice president under President John F. Kennedy and became the 36^th president after Kennedy’s assignation in 1963. Born in 1908 of humble roots in Johnson City, Texas, he spent the majority of his life in politics.

The carful of kids sit at the same table that President Johnson did when he signed an education bill.

After graduating college, LBJ taught school. In 1930 Johnson began his political career. For his presidential run, he campaigned on his vision of a Great Society by improving civil rights, education, transportation and protecting the environment. Many of those ideals can be traced back to his formative years in Texas.

Lyndon B. Johnson Ranch near Stonewall, Texas

For generations, the Johnson family worked cattle along with politics. In 1951 LBJ bought a family 250-acre ranch along the Pedernales River and eventually expanded it to 2700-acres. He raised 400 head of prize-winning Hereford cattle. The descendants still roam the ranch.

A stop at the Show Barn is a must-do for kids at the LBJ Ranch.

There are several stops along the self-guided driving tour of the LBJ Ranch. The first stop for kids is Junction School, Johnson’s one-room schoolhouse where he started school at 4-years-old. With a couple of kerosene lanterns and a pot-belly stove, this school gives my kids a new appreciation for the air-conditioning and fluorescent lights of their school.

The LBJ Birthplace, a reconstructed house that resembles the original, is the next stop. Across the street is the family cemetery where former President Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson are buried; we walk over to pay respects.

My 11-year-old works on his cowboying skills.

My kids want to trample through the Show Barn to take a look at LBJ's cattle. This is where the ranch staff would pamper LBJ’s registered Herefords to get them ready for stock shows. His prize-winning Hereford cattle fetched more money when auctioned for breeding purposes. Even at the height of his career, President Johnson would call his ranch foreman daily.

The Airplane Hanger

When we arrive at the Johnson’s home, my boys climb up the stairs to peek inside of the president’s airplane that's parked outside the hangar. Inside of the old Airplane Hanger we check in at the Visitors Center to get our tickets for the ranger-guided tour of the Texas White House ($3 for adults and free for those under 17).

My boys stand next to LBJ's Lookhead Jetstar that's parked outside of the hanger.

The Texas White House

As the kids walk into the Texas White House, LBJ and Lady Bird's home, it’s the details of another century that catch their young eyes. Why aren’t the TVs flat and why did he have three? Is the first thing they ask when they see three sets with dials mounded side-by-side on a cart in the Johnson’s living room.

The carful of kids head inside of the Texas White House located along the banks of the Pedernales River.

The corded telephones are another hit with my kids. There are 72-corded phones that play hide and seek throughout the house. LBJ relied on the 72 phones and the 15 phone lines to run the country. The park ranger points them out that as we meander through the sprawling Texas White House.

Kids at Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park

After the tour, my kids head back to the hangar to finish up their Junior Ranger booklets. As we walk through the displays, we learn more about the important legislation that LBJ signed like the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The National Park Service hands out Civil War to Civil Rights trading cards at the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park for his role in the 1960s.

After the tour, the carful of kids play on the rotary dial phones.

My boys are ready to check out LBJ’s car collection next. It’s located behind the hanger and has a couple of his legendary white Lincoln Continental convertibles. Another favorite with the boys is the Lagoon Blue Amphicar that LBJ would drive into a nearby lake.

Spring Break at Lyndon B. Johnson National Park

The park rangers have a special ranger program series scheduled for Spring Break starting on Saturday, March 5th, and continuing until Sunday, March 20th. The programs are free and last about 30 minutes. With ranger programs three times a day at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., there's time to catch more than one.

The Lyndon B. Johnson park rangers have special programming for Spring Break.

The programming varies from day to day and topics include: 100 years of America's Best Idea, Wildflowers and the Ranching the LBJ way. For the kids there are programs about the Secret Service at the Ranch, Aviation and Roping and Ranching.

Getting to Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park

The Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park has two districts—one in Johnson City and one 14-miles away near Stonewall, Texas.

The Johnson City location encompasses the LBJ Boyhood Home, the Johnson Settlement, the Visitors Center and the park headquarters. It is located in Johnson City, 50 miles west of Austin, Texas, along U.S. Highway 290 West at 100 E. Ladybird Lane. It’s free and open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

At the LBJ boyhood home in the center of Johnson City, the carful of kids stand on the porch just like President Johnson did he was a boy.

The Lyndon B. Johnson Ranch and the Texas White House are 14 miles west of Johnson City along U.S. Highway 290 West. For the self-guided driving tour, visitors must pick up a free permit at the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park at 199 State Park Road 52 in Stonewall, Texas. It’s free and the LBJ Ranch gates are open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

No public transportation is available to the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park. The airstrip at the LBJ Ranch is not open to the public.

Know before You Go:

Both units of the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park are Free.
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park’s Junior Ranger badge can be earned at either location.
Photography is not permitted inside of the Texas White House.
The LBJ is a working ranch, stay off of fences and away from cattle.
Cattle have the right-of-way on park roads.
Drones are not permitted at any NPS location.

Mojave National Preserve in Southern California

2016-02-25T15:49:00.005-06:00

The carful of kids get antsy in the SUV when I drive across the country for miles on end. I try to find interesting stops along the way so the kids get out and run around. National park sites are great options and I'm always ready for a diversion.

Headed back to Texas from Lake Tahoe I find a great side trip, the Mojave National Preserve. It's in-between Interstate 15 and Interstate 40, that's 250 miles from Los Angeles.

Three New National Monuments

President Obama just designated three national monuments in the Southern California desert. According to the National Park Service, he protected an additional 1.8 million acres, making this area the largest desert conservation area in the world.

The Castle Mountains National Monument is an area that is surrounded by the Mojave preserve on three sides and Nevada on the other. The Mojave Trails National Monument connects the land between the Mojave preserve and Joshua Tree National Park to the south. The Sand to Snow National Monument stretches from the highest peak in Southern California to the valley floor and includes 1,700 petroglyphs.

The History of the Mojave National Preserve

The California Desert Protection Act of 1994 created this preserve to protect 1.6 million acres of fragile desert landscape. It also expanded and upgraded Death Valley and Joshua Tree national monuments and made them into national parks.

The Mojave National Preserve is home to the Mojave desert, one of the four deserts of North America. The Great Basin desert, the high desert, is north of the Mojave. It has the harshest living environment. The Sonoran desert, that runs into Mexico, lays to the south of the Mojave. The Chihuahua desert is in far West Texas and Mexico.

Mojave National Preserve is the third largest National Park Service unit in the lower 48, after Death Valley and Yellowstone national parks. The most dominant feature of the Mojave desert is the Joshua tree, not actually a tree but a species of yucca.

Kelso Depot

I love old buildings and I love trains so the carful of kids had to stop by the Kelso Depot.

The Kelso Depot is a Spanish Missions Revival building from 1924 that's now the Mojave National Preserve's Visitors Center.

Union Pacific wanted to expand into Los Angeles but there's a two-percent grade; the trains needed a helper engine to get to LA. In addition, the trains at the time were steam trains and needed more water to make it to their destination. In the desert, water is the most valuable commodity.

Kelso provided both and saw rapid growth with the train operations and then mining in the early 1900s. In 1924 a Spanish Missions Revival Depot was built that rivaled the buildings by the Fred Harvey Company.

The Kelso Depot provided housing for railroad employees and boarding for others visiting the area. It also had a telegraph office and restaurant along with a library and billiards room.

The Carful of Kids finish up their Junior Ranger badge work.

As the railroad replaced steam engines with diesel engines and the mining moved on, the Kelso depot was closed in 1985. A group of concerned citizens with the help of local officials would save the Kelso depot from demolition.

The Kelso Depot houses the Mojave National Preserve Visitors Center (free, open Thursday to Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) where I grab Junior Ranger booklets for the kids and refill the water bottles.

Keeping the Kids Happy

The carful of kids love spotting animals from the car and the desert is a great place to spot animals. I know I was surprised but it's true, there are less places for the animals to hide.

Coyotes and jack rabbits are some of the carful of kids' favorites to find. The best time to catch them darting among the cactus is in the morning and late afternoon.

The Carful of Kids take a moment to lock themselves up.

The carful of kids love Joshua trees and there are some great spots to see them in the Mojave National Preserve like Cima Dome near Teutonia Peak.

Getting to Mojave National Preserve

The Mojave National Preserve is located between Interstate 15 and Interstate 40 in southern California. Baker, California, is the nearest town with services like gas and lodging. The closest airport is in Las Vegas, Nevada, 90 miles away.

Getting Around Mojave National Preserve

The Mojave National Preserve is free and open 365-days a year and 24-hours a day. There are a handful of paved roads, the Kelbaker and the Kelso Cima Road are the major routes. Though they are sun-baked roads that are rough in areas.

Know before you go:

The Kelbaker Road from Baker, California, to the Kelso Depot Visitors Center is rough, drive with caution.
Don't rely on technology for directions in the Mojave National Preserve, pick up a map at the Kelso Visitors Center or park headquarters in Barstow.
Cell service in the preserve is undependable.
Carry extra water year-round.
Flat tires are common on unpaved roads, be prepared.
Many of the roads within the Mojave National Preserve are four-wheel drive roads, unsuitable for passenger cars.
Lodging isn't available inside of Mojave but is available in nearby towns.
There are two campgrounds within the preserve.
There are three varieties of rattlesnakes in Mojave, all are poisonous.

Make 2016 the Year to Find Your Park

2016-02-19T14:15:00.000-06:00

The carful of kids love to visit the national parks of the United States and we are not alone. According to the National Park Service (NPS) over 307 million people visited our national parks in 2015.

With the National Park Service Centennial and Every Kid in a Park campaign, the program that provides fourth-graders a free annual pass, 2016 should surpass those numbers. So what do you need to know to plan your trip to visit one of our national parks.

Taking a picture at the entrance sign is a family tradition.

The Top 10 Visited National Park list is a start. Let the carful of kids help.

We've been to most of the parks on the Top 10 Visited National Parks in the U.S. and they are fabulous. Even during the height of summer national parks don't feel crowded once you're away from the visitors centers and parking lots.

Top 10 Visited National Parks

1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina The rolling blue mountains fade into the horizon.

2. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona An American Icon

3. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Drive along the mountaintop and through the wildflower meadows.

4. Yosemite National Park, California Set in a valley rich in wildlife and waterfalls.

5. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming The quintessential national park experience with Old Faithful Geyser and valleys full of bisons.

6. Zion National Park in Utah A hiker's paradise with its signature red rock formations.

7. Olympic National Park, Washington Where the ocean, the mountains and the rainforest collide.

8. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming Postcard landscapes of the rugged mountain peaks reflecting in the lakes at their base.

9. Acadia National Park, Maine A wind swept ocean landscape makes me yearn to be a painter.

10. Glacier National Park, Montana The park for catching a glimpse of the vanishing glaciers.

If you plan carefully, you can see several national parks in one vacation.

The Vacation Budget

National parks are inexpensive, $20 to $30 for a carful to get in for 7-days. If you want to camp, each of Top 10 Parks has developed campsites for less than $30 a day. Throw in the hotdogs and marshmallows and you are looking at one budget-friendly vacation.

If you are visiting more than one park consider an annual pass. I usually travel over July so I get an annual pass every other July since they are good for 13-months.

NPS Annual Passes

Type of Pass	Eligibility	Cost
America the Beautiful Pass	All visitors	$80
Military Pass	Current U.S. military members and their dependents	Free
Senior Lifetime Pass	U.S. citizens and permanent residents 62 years and older	$10
Access Pass	U.S. citizens and permanent residents with a permanent disability	Free
Volunteer Pass	Visitors volunteering 250 hours a year	Free

If you have a fourth-grader did you know about the Every Kid in a Park Program that President Obama rolled out this year. Your 10-year-old can go online, do some activities and get a voucher for a free annual pass.

If you don't have a fourth-grader, check out these fee-free days for 2016.

16 Fee-Free Days for 2016
Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday	January 18, 2016
Presidents’ Day Weekend	February 13 – 15, 2016
National Park Week	April 16 – 24, 2016
National Park Service Birthday	August 25 – 28, 2016
National Public Lands Day	September 24, 2016
Veterans Day	November 11, 2016

Know before you go:

National Parks are popular destinations during school breaks and holidays--make reservations as early as possible. Reservations for lodging are available 13 months in advance.
Parking can be an issue at popular destinations during the middle of the day.
Watch your children at all times, many features have barricades kids can climb over.
Bring food and refillable water bottles for your visit. Food service can be limited.
Keep wild animals wild. Don't feed them for your safety and theirs.

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