DOUBLE THE ADVENTURE

A Carnival of Gluttony at the OC Fair

2010-07-30T11:06:00.001-07:00

I will openly admit that I love bacon. Honestly, what’s not to love about the salty, crispy goodness that is fried pork? But, as with most things divine, moderation is key unless a future in XXXL pants is desired. Its no secret that America is fat. The fattest city in the US 20 years ago has the same percentage of obese people as the slimmest city does today! That statistic is disturbing. What has happened to our culture? When did this become okay? I will tell you when it became okay- around the same time that people decided it was appropriate to line up for this:

If we only enjoyed deep fried treats once a year at the fair, this wouldn’t be such a huge deal (though I honestly can’t imagine a situation when deep fried butter would be acceptable), but we live in a world where people have their own deep fryers at home!

And for crying out loud, why on earth would anyone even want to eat this?

Disgusting.

Now I am not going to pretend like I never go to Mc Donald’s or that I don’t let my kids have a corn dog when they go to the fair.

But I also feel like my decision to make a small garden in the backyard so my kids are familiar with more than corn and green beans, along with my pursuit of outdoor activity with my children, help counter act any of the occasional food splurges they might have.

How do I know this is working? Well for one thing my three year olds can actually identify most of the crops growing in the Centennial Garden. Considering the tiny number of fruits and veggies the average first grader in this country can identify, I think we are on the right track. I also know that when my daughter chooses roasted corn over every other food item at the fair, I am teaching her good habits.

Look- I am not saying that kids shouldn’t have a treat at the fair. By all means, indulge. But what I am saying is that we are shaping the next generation’s minds, bodies, and attitudes and if we choose to make things like deep fried butter a part of our culture, we are heading in the wrong direction. I refuse to let my kids be another statistic. They aren’t going to sit inside all day playing video games while eating processed food. It isn’t okay. The stats have to be reversed. We as parents need to be more responsible for the health of our children. And the fair should be more about this:

And less about this:

Okay. I am stepping off the soapbox for today….

Playing along with Trekaroo’s Spotlight Thursdays

And Delicious Baby’s Photo Fridays.

Big Waves and Big Fun on Newport Beach’s Balboa Peninsula

2010-07-15T00:03:00.001-07:00

Sometimes it takes a visit from an out-of-towner to appreciate all the great places that are close to home. Often times we get so caught up in traveling someplace far away and exotic, that we forget to stop and explore all that our local regions have to offer. I could probably spend a lifetime exploring the Southern California and still never see it all!

Recently, we took my inlaws down to Balboa Island in Newport Beach for a day of seaside fun. For some reason, Southern California was protesting summer and had put on its grumpiest face. The days were filled with gloomy clouds that would not break, and the seas were angry; throwing giant waves at the shore in a form of protest against the weather. Lucky for us, glum weather is no match for the beauty of Balboa. Balboa Island is one of the most expensive places in the country to live and its no wonder why, its picture perfect. Charming bayside homes line the streets and frozen banana stands dot the main drag. Every time I visit Balboa Island, I can’t help but think of the idyllic town of Seaside, the town that Jim Carrey’s character in The Truman Show called home.

Adding to the picture perfect streets were flags and other sorts patriotic decor left out from the Independence Day celebration the day prior. We found a parking spot (which can often be a precious commodity on this island come summer) and strolled along the canals towards the bay, admiring the white-trimmed houses and taking guesses at how many millions each one would set us back.

Soon we reached roads end and hopped on board the tiny ferry which shuttles 3 cars and a couple dozen sightseers across the channel to the Balboa Peninsula. Immediately the kids wanted to hit up the rides at the Balboa Fun Zone. Mari took the obligatory ride on the carousel while Ben opted to try something a bit more thrill seeking (well, for a toddler)- the ferris wheel. Paul couldn’t resist buying a package of that pink fluffy pillow of sugar that people pass off as food and the kids were happy to stuff themselves with as much as they could pry out of their Daddy’s hands.

We played the usual arcade classics such as skeeball and shoot-the-hoop, and marveled at the skills of our pint sized athlete. Look for Ben, in some event or another, in the 2024 Olympics.

Then we headed over to the pier to pick up burgers at Ruby’s, a pier’s end mainstay here in Southern California. The 50’s themed diner may be a chain, but it certainly does seem to fit in with throwback feel of the peninsula.

While chomping on burgers and watching the kids play on the playground, we couldn’t help but notice a sudden exodus of wet tourists carrying soaked towels away from the beach. We went over towards the surf and marveled at the sudden absence of the people which had previous occupied the sand with their towels, umbrellas, and beach chairs. The reason? A monster wave had just hit the shore and carried itself all the way to the lifeguard stand!

We decided to stick around and watch the surf to see if we could catch a glimpse of something as equally impressive. Sure, the waves were much bigger than normal, but at first glance they appeared to be nothing outside of what one would normally see before a storm hit the coast.

Suddenly, the sets got bigger. MUCH BIGGER. While I stood there exclaiming “Wow” over and over, my husband had the foresight to grab the camera and wait with his eye in the view finder for the “big one”.

Then it came.

And he caught it.

It was enormous. It made every other wave I had ever seen look like a dwarf in comparison. The wave came within a few feet of the top of the pier and probably gave those who happened to be standing near the rails quite a thrill! Once again, Mother Nature reminded us all who was boss.

If you visit Balboa, you probably won’t see monster waves or gloomy days. What you will see is a great spot to spend a day together as a family and a fine example of what makes California so special. If your family makes an annual pilgrimage to Disneyland, consider skipping the theme park madness for a day and hitting up this gorgeous spot on the golden coast. I promise, Mickey will do just fine without you.

Playing along with Trekaroo’s Spotlight Thursdays. Click on the link and find more great family friendly travel fun!

Also playing along with Delicious Baby’s Photo Friday.

Hiking with Kids, Tools of the Trade

2010-07-07T20:35:00.001-07:00

I have a confession to make- I sort of have an obsession with outdoor survival. Maybe its because I have watched one too many episodes of Survivorman. Or maybe it goes back to my childhood days spent pretending to be a pioneer on the prairie. Either way, I love to learn as much as I can about wilderness survival and hope to one day put those skills to use.

Since I currently spend most of travels with a couple of three year olds, remote backpacking with nothing but a swiss army knife and some freeze dried food is not really practical. However, there are some products that I have which do relate to practical survival while hiking with children, especially when hiking alone.

The first is a filtered water bottle. I love my Ech2O Water Bottle by Get the Bottle because I can use it to filter anything from tap water to river water and know that my family won’t get sick in the process. If we ever get into a situation where we get stranded, I at least know I can provide them with safe drinking water (as long as we aren’t someplace with no water at all).

The second thing I love to carry with me is a swiss army knife. My husband gave me a knife (or multi-tool as us survival “experts” like to call it) a couple years ago and it has been great, but their must be some extra testosterone flowing through my blood because lately I have been craving something bigger and better. Lucky for me, the people at Dual Pro X contacted me and let me have a chance to try out their Victorinox Dual Pro X.

This multi-tool rocks! I feel like I am constantly discovering new gadgets which is incredible considering how lightweight this tool is. I can throw it in my backpack and not worry about it adding any significant weight. On hikes we have used it to strip twigs from large sticks and create customized walking sticks for the kids, dig splinters out of tiny fingers, and open a canned goods on the trail. While I haven’t had any dangerous instance come up on the trail since I have started carrying the Dual Pro X, I do feel safer knowing I have something that provides some protection should such an instance occur.

In addition to life in the great outdoors, the Dual Pro X has also come in handy at home. I can never seem to find my husband’s tools when I need to unscrew one of those pesky battery covers on the kid’s toys and luckily now, I can just use my multi-tool! I have also found myself grabbing the tool to open packages and even open a bottle of beer.

I really can’t recommend either one of these products enough and I think they are great values for the price. For more information on the Ech2O Water Bottle click here. For more info on the Dual Pro X swiss army knife click here.

HERE”S A TIP: Fan the Victorinox Swiss Army Facebook fan page and participate in Share the Adventure for a chance to win great products and compete for a $25,000 Ultimate Adventure! A chance to win $25,000!!! Why wouldn’t you do it?

Disclosure: I was provided with both the Dual Pro X and the Ech2O Water Bottles to review (I reviewed the Ech2O for Trekaroo) but neither company asked that I express a particular opinion and my opinions of both of these products reflect my honest feelings towards these products.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Victorinox Swiss Army. All opinions are 100% mine.

Strand Beach, Dana Point

2010-06-17T12:50:00.001-07:00

On warm weekends in the summer, popular Orange County beaches such as Huntington, Newport, and Laguna are packed with tourists and inland dwellers looking for reprieve from the heat. As a spoiled local, I can’t stand to sit in traffic in Laguna Canyon only to have to spend an hour finding parking somewhere on the street. Luckily, I have been let in a secret. That secret is Strand Beach in Dana Point.

For years, only the diehards went to Strands because quite frankly, it was a long way down to the bottom. The steps were steep and the walk back up was a thigh burner. But now, the trip down to water has gotten quite a bit easier thanks to the funicular. If and elevator and a tram were to get together and have a baby, it would look like a funicular.

The funicular definitely gets you from point A to B but it does it at a very SLOW pace. Personally, I would skip the ride down and just take the stairs. Save the funicular experience for the way back up, especially if you have a bunch of stuff to lug back up the hill.

The beach itself is, just as its name implies, a narrow strand of sand just north of the Dana Point headlands. During high tide, the strip of beach to the north is quite small so I suggest following the boardwalk south to a larger expanse of beach. The boardwalk will take you past obscenely beautiful newly constructed beachfront homes that are perfect for drooling over.

Besides the beautiful strip of sand (which I have had all to myself on multiple occasions), Strands is also great because on busy weekends and holidays, more than likely you will find plenty of free parking in the lot. We went on Memorial Day this year and there were plenty of free spots to be had!

If you would like to check out The Strand for yourself pop this address into Google Maps: 33971 Selva Road Dana Point, CA. There are bathrooms both at the parking lot level and near sea level where the funicular lets off.

Playing along with Trekaroo’s Spotlight Thursday. Click on through and see what else is in the spotlight! Also participating in Delicious Baby’s Photo Friday.

Country Inns and Suites 1K Day 6- Cowboys and Rockets and Forests, Oh My!

2010-06-12T06:49:00.001-07:00

Day 6 is complete! Read all about it on the Trekaroo Blog here. Today is our last day! I can’t wait to see where we end up!

Country Inns and Suites Day 5- A Whole Lotta Kansas

2010-06-10T21:49:00.001-07:00

Day 5 of our journey is now up on the Trekaroo Blog here. We only have two more days to go. Any guesses as to where we might end up? We are having a great time. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow holds.

Country Inns and Suites 1K Day 4- An Amazing Arch and a Trip to the Wrong Kansas City

2010-06-09T21:57:00.001-07:00

Today was incredible. I fulfilled a long time dream and made it up to the top of the Gateway Arch, spent some time with good friends, and then got majorly lost in the wrong Kansas City. Read all about day four of our cross country mystery road trip here.

Country Inns and Suites 1K Day Two- Three Lake and Alot of Traffic!

2010-06-07T23:07:00.001-07:00

Today was an exhaustingly fun day. We hit up Madison, Milwaukee, and Chicago. You can read my run down of the day’s adventures over on the Trekaroo blog here. Don’t forget you can follow me on twitter @doubleadventure and everyone’s tweets about Country Inns and Suites 1K with the hashtag #CIS1K. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow entails!

Country Inns and Suites 1K Day One- Baseball, Cheese, and a Giant Orange Moose

2010-06-06T22:45:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone! We have officially begun our adventure. Today was full of lots of stops and fun surprises. You can read all about it over on Trekaroo here. I would love feedback so please be sure to comment!

The Top 10 Most Memorable California State Parks

2010-06-01T22:43:00.001-07:00

Last weekend, Americans celebrated Memorial Day, honoring our country’s soldiers and celebrating the unofficial start to summer. California’s 278 state parks are the perfect place to spend those gorgeous summer days. These priceless public assets offer spectacular and accessible natural wonders. The Nature Conservancy has been working with diverse partners for over 50 years to preserve California’s iconic state parks. Check out their Top 10 Most Memorable State Parks:

Most Memorable Trees :Humboldt Redwoods State Park, Humboldt County

A trip down the world famous Avenue of the Giants is a sight you’ll never forget. This memorial grove nestled in Humboldt Redwoods State Park is home to some of the most ancient and tallest trees on the planet. The park is over 53,000 acres, including 17,000 acres of old-growth redwoods, and offers prime camping and outdoor activities.
This was one of California’s ﬁrst parks to be preserved when the state park system was established in 1928, and it protects about one-eighth of all remaining old-growth redwoods, the largest continuous stretch in the world.

Most Memorable Bridge: Natural Bridges State Beach , Santa Cruz County

Named after three arches carved out of a mudstone cliff, Natural Bridges State Beach offers traditional summer activities in a dramatic and diverse setting. Although the namesake bridges have been lost to the sea, their rocky remains provide a gathering spot for pelicans, cormorants and other sea birds. Catch a glimpse of otters and sea lions off shore and explore tide pools filled with colorful creatures. Learn about the area’s natural history at the visitor center, walk the nature trail through the wetland, play in the surf or just relax on the beach.
Afterwards, visitors can visit the nearby Seymore Discovery Center at Long Marine Lab to stand in awe by the assembled skeleton of a blue whale, the Earth’s largest animal. This 87 foot skeleton, from a whale that washed ashore nearby in 1979, is one of only four displayed in North America and is believed to be the largest displayed worldwide.

Most Memorable Soak : Grover Hot Springs State Park, Alpine County

A soothing soak in the therapeutic, green waters of Grover Hot Springs State Park surrounded by majestic Sierra Nevada granite peaks is as relaxing as it gets. There is a hot pool (102 - 105 degrees) fed by six mineral springs and a refreshing cool pool. Unlike most hot springs, there is almost no pungent scent of sulfur.
Visitors have been coming to this natural spa since the 1850s to “take the cure”. You can also camp overnight or hike to the Hot Springs Creek waterfall.

Most Memorable Hike : Mt. San Jacinto State Park, Riverside County

The weathered summit of Mt. San Jacinto is the highest point in the California State Park System at 10,834 feet in elevation. Visitors to Mt. San Jacinto State Park can take the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway up to 8,500 feet and enjoy panoramic views of the high country, and then hike through beautiful granite mountains covered with pines, mountain meadows, and streams. The park also offers camping, horseback trails, picnic areas and food service and spectacular wildlife viewing.

Most Memorable Clams: Pismo Beach State Beach, San Luis Obispo County

Pismo Beach is home to the famous Pismo clam, which is the largest clam in California. This self-proclaimed “Clam Capital of the World” even has a clam festival every October. Visitors can try their luck at clamming (salt-water fishing license required) or enjoy the seaside activities this top California beach has to offer. With over 23 miles of soft sand, there’s something for everyone including camping, golfing, picnicking, fishing, swimming, walking the nature trails or soaking in the sun on the beach.

Visitors can also explore the nearby Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge - 18 miles of 500 foot towering peaks stretching from Pismo State Beach to Point Sal. In the 1980s, The Nature Conservancy acquired more than 3,000 acres of dunes to protect them from development and has since transferred them to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to manage as part of the Refuge.

Most Memorable Wildlife: Tule Elk State Natural Reserve, Kern County

The lush open country of the Central Valley is ideal for the once endangered Tule Elk, found nowhere else in the world except their native California. Tule elk are smaller than their cousins the Roosevelt elk, and are sometimes called dwarf elk despite their respectable heft, power and massive antlers. They are breathtaking to watch and are truly are a unique state treasure.
Famed cattleman Henry Miller embarked on a 50 year effort to save Tule elk in 1874 after once vast herds were on the brink of extinction. In 1932, the herd at what is now Tule Elk State Natural Reserve was given permanent protection. Visitors can take a guided tour, view exhibits at the visitor center or enjoy a picnic and watch elk roam past.

Most Memorable Pier: Malibu Lagoon State Beach, Los Angeles County

You don’t have to be a movie star to enjoy Malibu’s famous beaches – once referred to as the American Riviera. A stroll down iconic Malibu Pier at Malibu Lagoon State Beach is better than any red carpet. Visitors can fish off the pier, or if they don’t want to catch their lunch can relax at one of the local restaurants, grab an old fashioned shake or enjoy a picnic on Surfrider beach where Gidget and other beach-blanket movies were filmed. The pier also has facilities to rent beach equipment, book a harbor tour or go deep-sea fishing.
This is also a world-class surfing spot and located in the epicenter of California’s beach culture. Visitors can also explore the Spanish-style Adamson House, a National Historic Site, or the adjacent Malibu Lagoon Museum which features pictures of various Malibu eras from the native Chumash to the birth of the surf craze.

Most Memorable Fruit: California Citrus State Historic Park, Riverside County

As you enter California Citrus State Historic Park, visitors are greeted by a replica of an orange stand – a reminder of a bygone era of when “Citrus was King” and a second Gold Rush ensued as citrus barons flocked to Southern California to make their fortunes. This 377 acre park nestled in majestic palm trees and fragrant fruit groves captures and preserves the importance of the citrus industry to the state’s history and economy – which helped define California as the “Golden State”.

Visitors can learn more from the interpretive displays in the visitor center which is a model of a packinghouse, enjoy summer concerts in the amphitheater, picnic or explore the demonstration groves where navel and Valencia oranges, grapefruit and lemons are still grown.

Most Memorable Float: Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park, Butte County

Whether your vessel of choice is a drift boat, raft or a good, old-fashioned inner tube, it doesn’t get more relaxing than a refreshing float down the Sacramento River, California’s longest. As you drift, you’ll see scenic countryside filled with elderberries, wild grapes, sycamores, and wild roses which are home to diverse wildlife like river otters, herons, song birds and turtles. At the end of your trip, you can grab a picnic lunch under a massive oak or cottonwood tree or take a nature walk in Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park.
This is also a popular spot with anglers who can catch salmon, steelhead and shad, and The Nature Conservancy and its partners are working to restore the habitat necessary for fish and fresh water which is so important to the community, recreationists and local economy. They have undertaken one of the largest riparian restoration projects in the United States.

Most Memorable Birds : Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve, San Diego County

Located on the international border between Mexico and California, Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve is one of last salt marshes remaining in Southern California and is home to over 370 species of migratory and native birds – including six endangered species. This is a key stopover point of the Pacific Flyway. Whether you’re into photography or you just like to look at them, visitors can explore four miles of walking trails for prime bird watching.

A stop at nearby Border Field State Park to view the sand dunes and salt marshes that give refuge to critically threatened and endangered birds such as the Western Snowy Plover, the California Least Tern, and the Light-footed Clapper Rail or is also a must.

Once you’ve visited one of these most memorable parks, capture that memory with a picture and submit it to The Nature Conservancy.

Are you looking for more great family friendly activities? Check out Trekaroo’s Spotlight Thursday.

Country Inns and Suites 1K Adventure- 7 States in 7 Days!

2010-05-28T09:14:00.001-07:00

Imagine your family waking up, hopping on a plane to Minneapolis, and then getting up the next morning to begin driving 1000 miles through 7 states for the next seven days. Sounds like fun, right? But there's a catch. You won't know which direction you are heading or which states you will be visiting. As a matter of fact, you won't even know where you are going each day until you received a message on your smart phone giving you new instructions! Sounds like a blast doesn't it? Well, that is exactly what my family will be doing from June 5th-13th while we participate in the Country Inns and Suites 1K Adventure!!!!

Lately we haven't exactly been the most spontaneous travelers. I love to research, plot out, and organize every last detail of our vacations. On this trip however, I have to hand the torch over to Country Inns and Suites by Carlson and trust them to do the planning. While I am confident that they have plotted a fantastic course for us, I am still experiencing a bit of anxiety about the unknown. I will probably be bringing along multiple travel guides so I can blurt out random facts about each location we visit and I have a feeling my road atlas will be attached to my right arm (I know we will have a GPS but I am old school), but my excitement over this journey far overshadows those little anxious gremlins in the back of my mind.

Here is what I do know: We will be driving an Avis Rental Car, equipped with a GPS, be given a Sprint smart phone (the Samsung Moment to be exact), some Dining Cash gift cards, and a JVC Camcorder. Each day, we will get messages on our Smart Phones regarding our next "Suite Stop". In those messages we will be given directions and the information that we need to navigate to our next destination. We will have a task to complete at each "Suite Stop" and it will be up to us to determine how we spent the remainder of our time during the day. Every night, we will be sleeping soundly at one of many different Country Inns and Suites throughout the country. Its nice to know that at the end of the day, we will be in a clean, comfortable bed with plenty of room for the four of us to spread out!

My family is not going on this journey alone. We are heading down the road with two other families. The first is the Williams Family of Colorado. Kara (aka Colorado Gal), the family matriarch, is also a fantastic travel writer and one of the women behind Vacation Gals. The second is the Sveback Family. Ross Sveback is a widely recognized Twin Cities lifestyle expert (I am really looking forward to all of his tips!) who can be found on Kon-Tent. Part of my excitement about this journey is being able to meet these two families and share our experiences with each other. I can't wait to read their blog posts, tweets, and Facebook updates to see how their experiences differ from ours even though we are all traveling the same stretch of highway.

I would love nothing more than to have you all follow along with us as we take this trip and explore America. Make sure to bookmark the Country Inns and Suites 1K page so you can follow our three families as we roadtrip across the country. Each day, I will be writing a post at the Trekaroo blog (I will be placing a link to that post here as well), recapping our day and giving you the highlights of our journey. We will also be videotaping portions of our trip so be sure to check out the clips I post to see yours truly making a complete fool of herself on camera. I will also be updating the Trekaroo Facebook page and my personal Facebook page. Finally, I will be tweeting up a storm on both @trekaroo and @doubleadventure. Make sure and follow the hashtag #CIS1K so you don't miss a moment of the adventure!

There you have it- the details (or lack thereof) of our upcoming journey. Now I would love to hear from you! Where do you think we will be heading? What places do you hope we see along the way? Any tips for venturing out into the great unknown? I am looking forward to hearing what you all have to say!

Disclosure: A significant portion of the costs and resources for our family’s participation in the 1K Country Adventure was provided by Country Inns & Suites By Carlson.

Lassen Volcanic National Park with kids

2010-05-27T10:26:00.001-07:00

When my children were about nine months old, my best friend, Chrissy, and I thought it would be a good idea to strap them to our chests and go hiking in Lassen Volcanic National Park. Turns out, it wasn’t a good idea, it was a GREAT idea! We had a wonderful day exploring the geothermal features of the park while introducing the kids to the first of many National Park adventures. Lassen is off the beaten path but well worth the drive. Here are some of my tips for visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park with kids:

WHEN TO GO: The park is snowed in until June so my recommendation is to plan for a mid-June to mid-September visit unless you are in to snowshoeing. We went in June and while all the roads were plowed, there was still quite a bit of snow on the ground which was a surprise to us. After all, we were wearing t-shirts and shorts!

WHERE TO STAY: We stayed near the town of Chester, in a cabin by the shore of Lake Almanor. It was close enough to drive back and forth to the park every day, but much more practical for us than camping inside the park with a couple of infants. Lake Almanor is a popular summer vacation destination and there are plenty of cabins for rent in the area. If your family loves to camp, there are 6 campgrounds (3 of them are group sites) within the park.

WHAT TO DO: I think every trip to Lassen Volcanic National Park should include a hike to Bumpass Hell. It is a beautiful 3 mile hike over the side of a mountain and into a stinky, hydrothermal wonderland filled with steaming pools, bubbling mud pots, and multicolored streams. Make sure to keep your children on the boardwalk so they don’t break the fragile crust on the ground surrounding the features. Mr Bumpass made the mistake of walking too close to the features and slipped through the crust, scalding his leg in the process!!!

Those with older children who are up to the challenge can take the 5 mile RT hike to the top of Lassen Peak. On May 22, 1915, Mt Lassen experienced a large volcanic eruption and the effects of the volcanic eruption can still be seen throughout the Devastated Area. Views from the trail leading up to Mt Lassen are nothing short of spectacular.

Another fun (and short!) hike is to Cold Boiling Lake. This trail is only .8 miles RT and leads to a lake with gas bubbles coming up which give it it’s boiling appearance. For an even more incredible boiling lake experience, take the easy 3 mile RT hike to Boiling Springs Lake where the water temperature is 125 degrees due to a number of hot springs under the surface of the water.

This post is featured on Trekaroo’s Spotlight Thursday. Click on the link below and see who else is playing along!

Family Vacation
Redding

Barbara’s Lake Hike, James Dilley Preserve

2010-05-19T22:07:00.001-07:00

How many natural lakes do you think Orange County, CA has? True, there are a few lakes in OC, but as with alot of things in Orange County, most of them are not natural. The answer is ONE. Just one. One small, unassuming lake tucked away in the James Dilley Preserve off Laguna Canyon Road. At 12 acres, Barbara’ Lake may not be Lake Superior, but she certainly is pretty.

Mari and I met some friends and introduced them to the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. We have hiked quite a few trails in this park but we still hadn’t seen the lake! Since the trail from the Nix Nature Center to Barbara’s Lake is flat, we decided it was a great hike for our toddler foursome to take on. We began with a quick loop around the 1/2 mile nature trail (named Mary’s Trail) and admired all the sights and scents of the coastal sage scrub habitat.

Then we headed out south on the Little Sycamore Canyon Trail which lead us under the road past more great scenery and over towards a little pond. Now this may or may not be Bubble’s Pond. I seem to have found conflicting reports on the internet as to its exact location. What is the significance of Bubble’s Pond? Well back in the early eighties a hippo escaped from the (now closed) Lion Country Safari and took up residence for 19 days in the area!

We took a right on the Stagecoach Trail and then a quick left onto the Lake Trail. The vegetation grew more lush and we could tell that we were close! Suddenly we found what we were looking for- Orange County’s lake!!! The shore was lined with cattails and wildflowers instead of million dollar homes. I think I like lakes alot better that way…

New Orleans Jazz Heritage Festival Food- The Best of the Best

2010-05-19T11:37:00.001-07:00

Last month I entered a little place called food heaven. It was a land filled with seafood, spice, pastries and pork. I may have gained 5 lbs and taken 5 years off my life in the process, but it was all worth it. Where is food heaven you ask? Well honey, its down on the bayou of course!

I could go on and on about how amazing the New Orleans Jazz Festival was (and believe me, I will in another post) and about how I plan on going back every year (because I do) but today I want to talk about the food. The glorious, glorious food. Every single food item that I sampled was fantastic. I was lucky enough to attend the festival with some seasoned veterans who guided me through all things Jazz Fest related. Now I want to pass my new found knowledge on to you so you will be prepared when you visit (because you REALLY SHOULD).

THE BEST PO BOYS: You absolutely CAN NOT go to Jazz Fest and not eat a Po Boy (or three). They are the classic New Orleans sandwich. We all agreed that the Cochon de Lait Po-Boy, a flavorful shredded pork sandwich with an out of this world sauce, was one of the best. I don’t know what they do to that pork but I do know that I have found myself waking up in the middle of the night screaming “I need more Cochon de Lait!”. The Fried Softshell Crab Po-Boy was unlike any other crab sandwich I had ever had before. So crunchy, so crabtastic, so perfect. I never knew you could eat the shell of a soft shell crab and I certainly couldn’t imagine it would taste so good. Finally, you HAVE to try alligator while you are in New Orleans so why not try it in a po-boy? The Fried Gator Po-Boy is actually very good and yes, alligator does taste like chicken.

BEST USE OF CRAWFISH: Crawfish is a Jazz Fest staple and the Cajuns know how to turn those lowly mudbugs into some of the most tasty cuisine you will ever experience. The Crawfish Beignets are so rich and flavorful. The flakiness of the beignets compliments the tender meat of the crawfish beautifully. However, the award for best use of crawfish of all time goes to whoever created Crawfish Monica (I am assuming it was someone named Monica). Wow. In this dish pasta goes Cajun and let me tell you, its the best decision pasta has ever made. Its creamy, spicy, crawfish heaven. I also have to recommend staying at the French Quarter Suites while in New Orleans. The rooms are spacious and accommodating and every Saturday of Jazzfest they do a crawfish boil for all their guests. All you can eat crawfish, fried chicken, potatoes, corn, salad, beer, and soda. It was wonderful. I have never eaten so much crawfish in my life. It just kept coming!!!!!

Photo Courtesy Kajun Kettle

BEST SWEET TREATS: You can’t come to New Orleans without trying Cafe Du Monde’s Beignets and Cafe Au Lait. Lucky for everyone in attendance, Cafe Du Monde has a stand at the New Orleans Jazz Festival. In my opinion, there is no bad time for beignets and an iced Cafe Au Lait is perfectly refreshing after spending hours in the hot sun. If you are looking for a dessert to go with all that Cajun goodness, try the Mini Pecan Pies. Nothing says sweets from the south quite like a pecan pie and these little tid bits of heaven are sure not to disappoint.

BEST POST JAZZ FEST STREET PARTY EATS: I never liked bloody marys. That is, until I tried a bloody mary from Luizza’s. They are so fresh and tasty that you almost feel like you are doing something healthy by drinking them. Every day after Jazz Fest ends, the streets around Luizza’s are filled with people celebrating the end of an incredible day of music. Join them for a bloody mary, and be sure to grab a Cajun style tamale from a street vendor along the way. Still hungry? Try a barbeque shrimp po-boy from Luizza’s. In New Orleans, barbeque doesn’t refer to some tangy sauce smothering a hunk of meat. It refers to the way the food was cooked. And this shrimp is cooked to perfection and paired with a lovely garlic sauce. Excuse me while I wipe the drool off my computer…

Photo courtesy Nola.com

Guest Post at Who Says Eight is Enough

2010-05-17T20:53:00.001-07:00

Hi all-

I just wanted to let you know that I did a guest post over at the blog of one of my dearest friends, Debi, at Who Says Eight is Enough. Her and her NINE kids are currently on a cross country road trip so I thought I would share some road trip experiences of my own. I would love it if you took the time to head on over and check it out here. I am really looking forward to heading back out on the road with my family next month!

Lake Englebright

2010-05-12T21:36:00.001-07:00

For so many of us, Memorial Day Weekend signals the opening of camping season. The weather is warm, the rain has slowed, and great outdoors is calling. When I lived in Northern California, we spent several Memorial Days at Englebright Lake. Located in the California’s Gold Country outside of Nevada City, Englebright is a quiet lake with a houseboat studded marina that seems to be off the radar of most Californians. Every year, we rented a large party boat with a bunch of friends and made our way to one of several boat-in camping areas located on the lake. It was so much fun to pitch our tents on the oak studded shores and circle our chairs around the campfire. The men played horseshoes and had tri tip cooking competitions while the women lounged in the sun or climbed up the hills on hikes to the dam. If the weather was warm enough, we would take the boat out to the middle of the lake and jump off the second story into the freezing water below. It was a great tradition that we all looked forward to every year.

Sadly, my last visit to Englebright Lake was when I was pregnant with my children. Evidently, air mattresses and twin filled bellies do not work well together. One night on the air mattress was enough to pull a bunch of muscles in my stomach (an injury I still feel the effects of) and cause me to have to leave the campsite in tears.

I refuse to let that ill-fated visit be our last. I look forward to one day taking my kids on a camping trip at Englebright Lake with the children of my friends who shared in those trips of years past. We will share our “under the radar” location with a new generation and hopefully start new traditions in the process.

In the meantime, if you are in Northern California and looking for a fun spot to take the family, check out the boat-in sites at Englebright Lake. I hope your family can create some fond memories as well.

Family Vacation
Grass Valley

Fiesta Days at Heritage Hill

2010-05-10T22:13:00.001-07:00

Sometimes all you need in life to make you happy is a Mariachi band and a dancing horse. Well, at least that’s all my family needed to declare our outing to Heritage Hill’s Fiesta Days a rousing success. We knew there would be butter churning, even candle making, and of course there would be a celebration of our area’s Mexican heritage. But the frantic hooves of a stallion stomping to the beat of the Mariachi caught us by utter surprise.

I imagine the caution tape that was placed in front of the stage where the dancing horses performed was to keep rabid fans who had been entranced by the rhythm of the Mariachi music from coming up front and trotting alongside the professionals. Mari was one of those rabid fans. Her eyes danced and her hands swayed to the beat. She furrowed her brow as she tried desperately to understand why no horse she had rode in the past had ever stepped to the beat of the music she so sweetly sang. She stared dreamily at the man who rode those magical horses as he crooned love songs while wearing his glitzy ensemble. It was if he stepped directly out of her toddler imagination: a snazzy dressed singer who danced with horses.

It wasn’t just Mari who swooned at the performance. Women of all ages seemed to be captivated by the man who could make horses dance. After the show, they lined up to get his autograph and smiled for the camera next to their dream boat.

There was plenty more fun to be had at Fiesta Days beyond the dancing horses. The kids enjoyed hand churning ice cream, learning how to make their own hand dipped wax candles, and making their own jump ropes the old fashioned way. We watched people perform traditional Mexican dances and tried on bonnets inside the one room schoolhouse. It was a wonderful afternoon and while the candles and clay pots we made will become fixtures in our home, those horses dancing to Mariachi music will stay firmly implanted in my memory forever.

Playing along with two for Twos-day at Who Says Eight is Enough.

Mc Cloud Falls

2010-05-05T21:35:00.001-07:00

Back before there was Mari and Ben, there was Toby and Raley. They were my first children and the thought of leaving them behind for a hike or a camping trip was incomprehensible. They wagged their tails and happily hopped in the car and went along with whatever journey I had up my sleeve. Today, the dogs don’t join us nearly as many trips as they used to because honestly, two toddlers are hard enough to wrangle, let alone two dogs! Luckily, things are getting easier. Soon Toby and Raley will be hopping back in the car and walking alongside us on the trail. Until then, I have memories of trips past, including the one we took to McCloud Falls.

McCloud Falls are actually three different waterfalls located within two miles of each other along the McCloud River in Northeastern California, not far from Mt Shasta. There is a trail that runs along the river connecting each of the falls and the entire roundtrip hike is 3.4 miles. Its a great little hike for families with three different destinations along the way!

The Lower Falls are the most popular due to their accessibility. They are only twelve feet high but the water takes a powerful plunge over those twelve feet into a wide pool below, creating a beautiful scene. The base of the falls is a popular spot for swimming and picnicking. The edge Lower Falls is also a popular cliff jumping spot. There was absolutely no way you were going to get me to take the plunge (one fall off a cliff will do that to you) but Paul and my friend Kristi were happy to take the plunge over and over again while Toby howled with worry.

The Middle Falls are the most impressive of the trio. They are 46 feet tall and nearly 100 feet wide. The area surrounding the pool has plenty of boulders around it, perfect for soaking up the sun after swimming in the chilly waters at the base of the falls.

The Upper Falls are just a couple minutes up the trail from the Middle Falls and shoot over the edge to a pool 25 feet below. Most people only view them from the platform above but I have read that you can scramble your way down to the bottom.

Camping along the McCloud River is a wonderful way to spend a family vacation and explore a part of California that few people ever see. I look forward to taking Mari and Ben to McCloud Falls with my original babies one day, and making some new memories as a complete family.

Playing along with Spotlight Thursdays at:

Family Vacation
Mount Shasta

Happy to be the New Kid in Town

2010-05-04T12:18:00.001-07:00

I am happy to announce that I have taken a new position as Blog Editor in Chief for the family travel website, Trekaroo. I fell in love with Trekaroo late last year after discovering it through a friend and never thought I would ever actually have an opportunity to be part of the team! I will still be posting on Double the Adventure, but I hope you will sign up and follow me along at Trekaroo as well. We have some great giveaways coming up (including the current Hawaiian vacation giveaway) and lots of great projects in the pipeline.

If you are interested in reading the wonderful welcome post that Trekaroo wrote for me, you can read it here. Working with a team dedicated to the world of family travel really is a dream come true and I would love nothing more than for you to join me on this new journey.

National Geographic Prize Pack Giveaway: 2nd Annual Tuesday Blog Party

2010-05-01T20:26:00.001-07:00

THIS AUCTION IS NOW CLOSED. THE WINNER IS JULIE BOUFFARD!!!! CONGRATS JULIE!

From now until May 8th, I am holding a give-away to help benefit Whatchagonnado.org, which is an organization that was founded by Charley & Jessica Whitt to honor their daughter Tuesday.
Although their site is not completely up and running yet, the idea they have is (it will be up by mid-May).
Whatchagonnado.org is being set up to benefit families that are dealing directly with pediatric cancer. It will help to fund their medical costs, food & travel, and even funeral arrangements, if needed :(

And, of course, it will also help to provide funds for Pediatric Cancer Research.

Charley & Jess know all too well what it is to live with pediatric cancer....
Tuesday was their beautiful twin daughter who bravely fought and sadly lost her 8 month battle with stage 4 neuroblastoma in January of 2009. They learned firsthand what cancer does to a family and they want to turn their pain & their loss into something to help others.

And myself, and all of Jess & Charley's friends, want to do anything we can to help them achieve their goal and make sure that the loss of Tuesday is never forgotten and always has purpose.

UP FOR AUCTION:

A National Geographic Prize Pack which includes a subscription to the National Geographic magazine of your choice (National Geographic, National Geographic Traveler, National Geographic Kids, or National Geographic Little Kids), the National Geographic Guide to the National Parks, and National Geographic Our Fifty States! That’s an over $65 value!

All pictures courtesy of NationalGeographic.com

All you have to do to enter to win this auction is simply leave me a comment letting me know you are interested in winning this fantastic prize pack and then be sure to donate $1 per entry to the Tuesday Fiona Whitt Foundation, which benefits Whatchagonnado.org. Just click on the donate now button below.

Also, head on over to the Tuesday Blog Party to see what other fantastic items are being auctioned off by clicking the image below.

There are lots of great auctions and all it costs is one dollar to enter each one (unless otherwise specified).
If you would like to make a donation for one lump sum, instead of many individual donations, please feel free to donate however is easiest for you.

If you end up donating $10, but only find 5 auctions you are interested in, you can use those additional dollars as additional entries (Just let me know how many entries dollars you donated towards the prize pack and I will give you an entry per dollar).

Thank you so much for supporting a great cause and remember to have fun!
Good luck!

Why we do what we do

2010-05-01T08:31:00.001-07:00

This post was originally written by Debi Bouffard over at Who Says Eight is Enough. I found it to be so powerful and inspiring that I wanted to share it with all of you as well. Tomorrow is the 2nd Annual Tuesday Blog Party. Bloggers from all over the blogosphere will be giving away fabulous prizes all in the name of Pediatric Cancer Research. You can host your own giveaway or just participate by bidding on a few items for $1 a piece. Either way, please help us raise money and awareness about a disease that took a little girl who so many of us love so much and can never forget.

These are the Whitts...

Axel, Spencer, Piper & Tuesday
They are the beautiful children of my friend's Jess & Charley. They are privileged children.
Privileged because they grew up in a home full of love, in a family that envelopes the very meaning of home... where the world revolved around happiness. and exploring. and adventure. and love of man. and earth.
Their parents did everything right. For their kids.
Everything.
Healthy food. Healthy living. Happy life.
And then cancer came.

Piper, Axel, Spencer & Tuesday
It was a shock.
They did everything they should do. They loved their bodies. Their children. Their world.
They ate healthy. They lived strong. They fought hard. Every.single.day.
And cancer still won.

Spencer, Piper & Axel
There's a big gaping hole where Tuesday once was. A hole that everyone can feel and yet no one can fill.
All the prayers, the tears, the hugs, the love.... none of it touches that space.
Nothing.
But they still feel love and hope and happiness.
And that is why I do what I do.
To help bring them any bit of happiness I can.
And part of that is to make sure Tuesday is never forgotten and that her legacy lives on forever.
Not because the family asked it of me, but because I need to do it for them.
Because I love Tuesday and miss her.
Tomorrow, the Tuesday Blog Party begins.
Whatchagonnado?
Be a part of it and help us make a difference.
Please.
For Tuesday.
For the Whitts.
For all of the children fighting cancer and winning.
And especially for the ones who aren't.

Sealife Aquarium

2010-04-28T14:45:00.001-07:00

They are the most feared creatures of the deep. While they are sleek predators with mouths full of forever regenerating teeth, they are also some of the most misunderstood creatures in the ocean. Most sharks pose no threat to humans, but “Jaws” has left so many of us with a tremendous fear of a giant carnivorous fish slinking beneath us as we swim. At Sealife Aquarium (on the LEGOLAND California Resort property), they are helping to dispel some of those myths and educate families on the many wonders of the deep.

Recently, Mari and I were invited to spend the morning at Sealife Aquarium and get a look at some of the new shows that have recently debuted. As we walked through the aquarium and over to the Lost City of Atlantis where the Daily Dive was held, Mari peered in at fish, seahorses, and rays through kid sized peep holes. Its details like height appropriate viewing areas which make educating children about our oceans that much more practical. When children can explore things at their level, they are much more likely to absorb what’s going on around them.

The Daily Dive was a great way for kids to be able to ask questions about sharks, sea life, and marine biology to an actual diver inside the tank with the sharks. The newest star of the Lost City of Atlantis tank is a hammerhead shark. Little ones inquisitively asked why the hammerheads eyes were so far apart (so he can see all around him) and what types of food these unusual creatures ate. There were also silly question such as “Can you eat underwater?” (the surprising answer was yes!) and if sharks liked pizza (which I think would depend on the shark.), but the point was that children were actively engaged in being educated and they were having too much fun to notice it!

The next show we watched was the Shark Talk puppet show. It was a comical talk show involving a octopus interviewing a hammerhead shark. It was geared towards younger children but I certainly saw older kids with smiles on their faces. Mari was enthralled throughout the show and I have to admit, I was pretty entertained as well. There was just enough adult friendly humor thrown in there to keep things interesting.

With all this shark talk I do want to let you know that there is more to Sea Life Aquarium than just sharks. The California Coast exhibit demonstrates the ebb and flow of tidal life. Ray Lagoon is a wonderful place to check out those ever smiling flat fish. The Kingdom of the Seahorse with especially popular with Mari who holds a soft spot in her heart for those delicate little creatures. And of course no self respecting aquarium is complete without a touch pool. Luckily, Sea Life Aquarium has two.

In honor of last week’s Earth Day festivities, here are nine great tips on how you and your family can help save our seas. The people at Sealife Aquarium gave to me on a Grow a Note; a note card with wildflowers seeds in the paper that you can plant!

1. Ban the Bag- Bring your own bag to carry your things.

2. Scoop the Poop- Clean up after your pet.

3. Pick Up Three- Pick up three pieces of trash (that you didn’t create) per day.

4. Shorten the Shower- Make a game out of taking shorter showers.

5. Turn the Tap- Turn off the water when you’re brushing your teeth.

6. Keep it Real- Limit your use of disposable cups, plates, and utensils.

7. Trash to Treasure- Find new uses for old things.

8. Limit the Landfills- Put recyclable items in the right bin.

9. Spread the Word- Tell a friend how they can help.

Family Vacation
Carlsbad

Check out my Guest post on Ciao Bambino!

2010-04-19T08:59:00.001-07:00

This week is National Parks week and what better way to kick things off than to head over to Ciao Bambino and read my guest post on Yellowstone with Kids. As many of you know, we went on a road trip last summer and hit a number of National Parks, including the granddaddy of them all, Yellowstone. I hope that the article will inspire some of you to take your kids to Yellowstone. It truly is an experience that every American should have.

Environmental Nature Center

2010-04-16T09:55:00.001-07:00

The Environmental Nature Center is located in an unexpected place. Just a normal city street near a high school. From the outside it looks like nothing more than a pretty eco-friendly building but once you step inside you are swept into a world that nature rules.

The inside features a Discovery Room with a giant tree surrounding by stuffed creatures to learn about and drawers filled with fun things to discover. There is a Native American shelter with a spot where you can learn to grind acorns and terrariums filled with snakes on the side wall. There are also plenty of fun books for kids to curl up with and learn from. I think my kids enjoyed making animal tracks with water and stamp pads the best.

Out back, the ENC really shines. There are trails meandering through representatives of 15 of California’s ecological zones including a Redwood Forest and Channel Islands Flora. I think the ENC is a wonderful place to take a walk and educate your children on California’s diverse habitats. My kids especially loved the stream that ran through the Southern Oak Woodland and plunged over a small waterfall. There is just something about poking water with sticks that seems to entertain three year olds for hours on end. I found the Desert and Coastal Sage Scrub to be exceptionally beautiful with all the wildflowers in bloom this time of year.

During our walk we focused on the tiny aspects of nature that make the outdoor world so incredible. Everything from tiny fish swimming in a wetland to mushrooms sprouting up in the damp, organically rich soil of a forest floor, to a butterfly with tattered wings seamlessly blending in with its surroundings.

During the late Spring and Summer, the ENC’s Native Butterfly House is open. We missed the opening by a week but we will certainly be back soon to see things all aflutter!

The best part of the ENC is all the classes, workshops, and programs it has to offer. There are classes for children, families, and adults about everything from bushcraft to dino fossil mold making to green building. There is truly something for everyone who interested in the natural world. For a look at some of the upcoming classes and events click here. I can’t wait to return and have my children participate in some of the Little Naturalist programs.

The Environmental Nature Center is located at 1601 16th Street in Newport Beach, CA. Its open Monday through Friday from 8-5 and Saturday from 8-4. Admission to the facility and enjoy some time in the great outdoors is FREE! For more information check out their site here.

For more fantastic travel photos check out Delicious Baby’s Photo Friday.

PS- in the spirit of Photo Friday I had to include my new favorite shot of my kids. It wasn’t taken at the ENC (actually it was taken in a field near my house) but I just love it and have to share it with the blogging world!

Family Vacation
Newport Beach

How to get tickets to American Idol

2010-04-14T14:06:00.001-07:00

Yesterday afternoon I was able to watch a bit of pop culture history in person. I went to a live taping of AMERICAN IDOL!!!!!!!! I have to admit, this season has not been my favorite. There just isn’t anyone that I have been really excited about. But when I received that email telling me my name had been selected, I jumped on the chance of being able to see how it all happens. I am so glad that I did because it was a BLAST!

I was lucky enough to score four tickets to the live taping of the Tuesday Night show. I took my husband, Uncle Bill, and his eleven year old granddaughter Cecilia. You do have to be 14 to attend a taping of American Idol so we lied through our teeth about her age. We quickly learned we are very bad liars. When they asked us what year she was born in, we stammered and stuttered and gave the wrong year. Figuring out math under pressure is hard! Luckily, after some begging and pleading, they told us to work on our story and let us through.

LESSON FOR THE DAY: If you are going to attempt to sneak someone under 14 into American Idol, have a good back story. Or at the very least, come up with a birth date. Note: Just as with most of life, these rules don’t seem to be enforced if you are famous or extremely wealthy.

While in line outside of the studio, we struck up a conversation with a contestant’s wife. I was shocked to find out that they have to wait in line just like the rest of us. One would think that the contestant’s families were important enough not to have to wait outside with the common folk. Evidently not. I did not, however, see the cast of Glee lined up with us (who was there to promote there show. I was very excited about that) nor did I see the woman who I later found out was one of the Real Housewives of Orange County. Not sure if you can consider her famous. So I am gonna chalk that one up to wealth…

As with most things Hollywood, the studio was much smaller in person than it appeared on tv. Its amazing what lighting, cameras, and a little Hollywood magic can do. There was a great energy inside the building and they did a wonderful job of keeping the audience pumped up before the show and between commercial breaks.

Speaking of audience- there isn’t a bad seat in the house. The studio is very small so even if you are in the back, you are still going to see everything just fine.

All the performers had great voices, though some did perform MUCH better than others. Ryan Seacrest is truly great at what he does. He seems to truly love his job. Simon looked even more bored in person than he does on screen. I think he has already checked out…

Now for the question I have been asked alot lately- How did you get tickets to American Idol? Well, it was really easy. Last year, I went on a website called On Camera Audiences and entered my info to get in the lottery for tickets. Then, a couple days ago I got an email saying my name had been selected followed by a link to more instructions. I was given three choices: 1. The Tuesday dress rehearsal show, which is essentially the exact same show but without the judges. 2. The Live Tuesday Performance Show or 3. The Wednesday Results show. I chose option two. I was able to reserve up to four tickets, so I selected the maximum and hit send! It was easy as that. I think I got my first show choice because I happened to be on my computer when the email was sent. I am sure the longer it takes you to respond, the less likely you will receive your first choice.

There are other shows you can sign up for from that site as such as So You Think You Can Dance (which I have been selected for twice but have been out of town both times!!!!!) and Dancing With the Stars, so sign up for as many shows as you are interested in. Good Luck!