Travel in North America

Vancouver with Kids: Biking in Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC

April 20, 2012 By Amy @ The Q Family 3 Comments

Our visit to Vancouver with kids last summer was short and mixed in with business but it was one of the most memorable trip for the kids. Not only we took several mode of transportation ranging from boat, train, trolley and bus, we also got to bike around the popular Stanley Park in Vancouver.

Explore Stanley Park by Bicycle

Stanley park is a must visit for anyone who plan a trip to Vancouver. The park is well maintained with various activities for the whole family to enjoy and the view.. the view is breathtaking even with cloudy sky!

Great Bicycle Rental Shop with Ideal Location

During this trip we had only a few hours to explore Stanley park, ideally I wish we could stay longer during our visit in Vancouver. So we decided to explore the park on a bike. We received complimentary passes from the conference I attended for Spokes Bicycle Rentals. Funny how thing worked out since that’s the company that I had been researching and planned to use them anyway.

Spokes store is located only a short walk from the entrance of Stanley park which makes it’s an ideal location. With kids, we didn’t want to have to walk with our bikes around the block. The shop has various types of bikes to fit various level of bikers. For our family, we opted for one child’s bike and one trail-a-bike. Mr. Z still hasn’t mastered his bike skill and we knew he would most likely give up on biking if he has to do it on his own.

The staff was very helpful in setting up our bike and made sure that it was the right size for each of us. The process didn’t take long and soon after we were ready to head out for a fun day except it was still raining. It was our last day in Vancouver and it was one of the activity that the kids had been looking forward to. We waited it out a bit and luckily the sky opened up and we were ready to roll.

Let’s GO!

Biking in Stanley park is very popular and easy. With separate path just for bike and pedestrian, it was safe and easy to do with young kids. The path is clearly marked with the sign to show separate lane for bike versus pedestrians. We started off at the main entrance of Stanley Park and followed along the bike trail the curve around the shoreline providing us with amazing view as we look back to Vancouver skyline.

Kids Approved Points of Interest

There are several points of interest to stop along the way that will keep kids entertain for the whole bike trail. It would have taken us the whole day to stop at everything. But with limited time, we just had to skip some and save those for next visit. Not long after the entrance, we learned about First Nation History and the Totem Poles at Brockton Point Interpretive Centre.

As we peddled leisurely along the Sea Wall bike route, we stopped to check out the Nine O’Clock Gun, the historical canon that still booms out message faithfully each night.

The bike trail wraps around the shoreline that go around the whole park. It took us about an hour and a half to complete the whole loop. The path is clearly marked for bicycle, pedestrian and roller-blade traffic. Most of the path is easy even for kids. There are some sections that narrow but with caution there shouldn’t be any issues for any kids.

We also saw several playgrounds along the way. Even though we visited Vancouver in June, the day we went to Stanley Park was cool and cloudy so we didn’t try out the outdoor water fun at the Variety Kids Water Park.

In the end, we enjoyed our time in Stanley park and we would highly recommend exploring the park on a bike. It was fun and easy to do as a family.

Family Tips:

Dress properly with tennis shoes or non-slipper shoes.
Dress in layer as the weather in Vancouver can change frequently. An extra rain jacket came in handy for us.
Bring bottle of water. There are also a few concession stands and restroom along the way.
Remember to ask for the trail map from bicycle rental shops.
Enjoy!

Filed Under: Canada, Natures & Parks, Vancouver Tagged With: bike ride in Stanley Park, blogsherpa, Canada, Canada with kids, family travel, family travel vancouver, Family Trip, Family Vacation, Family vacation in Vancouver, family vacations, stanley park vancouver, stanley park with kids Vancouver, Things to do in Vancouver with kids, Things to do with kids, Travel with Kids, Vancouver, Vancouver with Kids

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge: Family Favorite Resort in Walt Disney World Resorts

April 4, 2012 By Amy @ The Q Family 4 Comments

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge by far is one of most memorable and our family favorite resort we have stayed in Walt Disney World. There is no doubt that the Disney’s Grand Floridian Spa & Resort is the most convenient for family but there is something about having animals roaming in the backyard (ok.. not entirely our backyard but you know what I mean) that created a lasting memory for the whole family.

Arusha Savanna View Room – Worth the Splurge

We chose to splurge on this trip and booked standard room with Arusha Savanna view. There are various room types in Animal Kingdom Lodge and the most popular type is the Savanna View type. There are 3 separate savannas within the Animal Kingdom Lodge which are Sunset, Arusha and Uzima. Each savanna has different type of wildlife but Giraffes are the only animal that can be found in all three savannas.

The animal guide inside the room became handy for kids to help them spot and try to identify the animal. And some animal isn’t that hard to identify. Giraffe, anyone?

Room with Personality

The standard room is a good size for our family of 4 with two queen beds. I love the detail that goes into the decoration to make us feel like we have stay at a safari lodge in Africa.

Of course, we won’t see Mickey Mouse towel art in Africa but it’s a little thing to keep the magic alive in Disney World Resort.

I love the detail on the wall in the bathroom. Make waiting for my turn to use the bathroom more fun.

Fun Recreation for Family

Not all resort pools are created equal and the Uzima Spring pool is one of our family favorite.

With nicely landscape around the pool providing shade for families, zero-depth entry, 67-foot slide and kid wading pool, it’s one of the best pool on Disney World Resorts.

For little kids who are not into pool time, the Hakuna Matata playground nearby is a great place to spend that extra energy. The shade area provides great cover during the hot Florida day with a great view of the savanna to boast.

Another fun family activity is the movies under the stars where guests can enjoy Disney movie in the pool under the stars. It was nice to enjoy great weather while watching one of our favorite Disney movie.

Animal, animal, animal everywhere

One of the most unique feature of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is the wildlife encounter that guests can experience throughout the resort. So it’s no surprise that there are various activities available for guests from cultural immersion, animal programs & wildlife encounters to culinary exploration. Make sure to check out activities list when you check-in to find out more about available activities for everyone.

We took the Night Vision Animal Viewing where we learned about animals at night time and used night vision goggles to check them out.

Arusha Rock and fire pit is also a great place to view animals all day long. The overlook allows guests to be able to have a closer look at animals while they roam around the Arusha Savanna.

The stay at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge came with a high price tag. But for special occasion, it’s totally worth it. The kind of service and experience we received during our stay at this resort is one of the best we have experienced. Kids still talked about their visit even months after we have checked out. So if you are looking for one of the most memorable stay for your family in Disney resort, the Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge will not disappointed.

Filed Under: Florida, Hotel & Resort Review, Walt Disney World Tagged With: Animal Kingdom Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge review, blogsherpa, Disney, Disney Resorts, Disney with Kids, Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, family travel, Family Trip, Family Vacation, Florida, Orlando, Orlando with kids, The South, Travel with Kids, usa, Walt Disney World, Walt Disney World Resort, walt disney world with kids

Family Fun in the Oahu Sun

March 19, 2012 By Amy @ The Q Family Leave a Comment

Picking a place to travel with a young family can be difficult for a number of reasons. Between finding kid-friendly activities, suitable places to eat, and a relaxing place to stay, there are a lot of criteria to satisfy in order to keep everyone happy. Hawaii has long been an attractive option for families due to the practically universal enjoyment derived from beach activities, as well as a unique combination of sights, sounds, and eats that is guaranteed to make even the youngest traveler smile. Plenty of family-friendly Honolulu hotels promise close proximity to the beach and to a number of inland activities that are enjoyable for everyone! Here are a few excursions that your family is sure to love.

Honolulu Zoo

The amount of things to do on one of Oahu’s beaches is no secret. Between snorkeling, surfing, or just lounging around and building sandcastles, every member of the family is sure to find something to their liking. But for a change of pace that won’t result in groans or frowns from the younger members of your gang, consider spending an afternoon at the Honolulu Zoo! Close to the beach, the zoo champions a large array of animals that are sure to keep your kids’ jaws dropped. After a long day at the beach, it will be nice to get a walk in while surrounded by colorful, exciting creatures.

Sea Life Park

You’ve seen the photos before of friends and celebrities getting to interact with dolphins, and when visiting Oahu, you can do the same! Sea Life Park, besides having plenty of exhibits and shows to take in, allows visitors to hop into the water with a life vest on and play with the wildlife. You’ll be able to snap your family getting smooched by the infinitely entertaining dolphins at the park–giving your kids a story that they won’t stop telling for a long time!

The Bishop Museum

Another educational activity for adults and children alike is a trip out to one of Hawaii’s most famous museums–The Bishop. With plenty of cultural artifacts and specimens dating back to the earliest days of the Island, as well as a large series of exhibits (such as the Living Islands zone or Dinosaurs Unearthed), your family will learn a ton about this unique area that they’re visiting in a fun and exciting way.

After a long day of adventures, having a nice hotel to call home will certainly make your treat all the more memorable. The Lotus Honolulu caters to families with their comfortable rooms and unbeatable location, providing you with a large selection of restaurants and activities just out the front door. Make your Oahu vacation the trip of a lifetime!

Photo Credit: dexxus, frikitiki, meredith, nostri

Filed Under: Beaches, Hawaii

LEGOLAND Florida with Kids: Fun Family Visit for LEGO Lover Kids or Any Kids

February 29, 2012 By Amy @ The Q Family 5 Comments

By now, I’m pretty sure most of you either have visited or have heard about the LEGOLAND Florida, brand new theme park in Winter Haven near Orlando.

The grand opening in October of 2011 was a huge success with many coverage from media and family travel bloggers. I have read and know that we will visit soon. Even though we have already been to LEGOLAND California but with the driving distance from Atlanta, it is a must-do for us especially with Mr. Z being so obsessed with all things LEGO. So here is our detail review post on our visit to LEGOLAND Florida. Be warned that this is a long post. I tried to provide as much information as I can to other parents who look into visiting in the future.

Where to Stay when Visiting LEGOLAND Florida

Winter Haven is actually about 45 minutes drive from Orlando area. Most families opt to stay in Orlando area so they can take advantage of other attractions in the area. Plus the options for accommodation will increased ten fold staying in Orlando or Kissimmee area. We stayed at the Residence Inn Orlando International Drive which proved to be a great choice for family.

Other family friendly hotels and resorts that we have stayed and will be a great choice are the Omni Orlando Resort which is closer than typical hotels in Orlando or the Holiday Inn Club Vacation Orange Lake which provides plenty of amenity and space for the whole family.

There are several options for staying in Winter Haven but it means you will be far from everything else. Plus with the operating hour of 10 AM – 5 PM (double check website for special hours and date), it’s very doable to just wake up early and drive from Orlando area.

LEGOLAND Florida Tickets Price & Discount

With the listed price online for $75 per adult and $65 per child, it seems very pricey comparing to other theme parks that have longer operating hours and more rides or attractions. However, there are also more discount and coupon code available from LEGO to help offset the cost.

When we went, we use the Pepsi promotion (which already expired) to snag Buy one adult ticket, get a FREE child ticket, a saving of almost 45% off. Check out MouseSavers.com for the most current deals or discount on LEGOLAND Florida tickets. There are still deals to have.

Inside LEGOLAND Florida: First Stop Ford Driving School

Plan your LEGOLAND Florida visit by arriving early before the park open at 10AM. We arrived around 9AM and they already let you walk into the park even though many areas are roped off waiting for the official opening hour. We were able to take pictures and get that out of the way before start trekking to LEGO City for Ford Driving School.

Our friends gave us a tip to head directly to the Ford Driving School because the line will get longer as more families arrive. And we did just that and we were the first group to get on the driving track. It’s another dream fulfilled for Mr. Z since last time we visited LEGOLAND California he was too small to partake in the Volvo Driving School. For parents of younger kids, no fret, Ford Jr. Driving School is available for 3-5 years old to enjoy their driving skill.

More School Time with Flying School & Boating School

We didn’t waste any time in checking off each ride on our map. Kids hopped to the next school for some flying time. Being one of the first in the back of the park has its perk. We got on the ride with no line. This kid-friendly roller coaster is just what I need. If you are the dare devil who loves the fastest or the scariest ride then don’t waste your time in LEGOLAND. Most rides have enough fun and excitement but it’s not gonna turn your stomach upside down.

Kids have no sign of slowing down. After the flying school, they zoomed to the next school but this time on the water at Boating School. It’s a good way to take a little break. We started to see more people and the line started to form. Luckily it’s a covered area so it wasn’t so bad. But during the hot months in Florid (which will be pretty much almost all year long), come prepare with fan or battery-operated fan to tame those heat down.

Another fun interactive stop for the whole family is the Rescue Academy where family will have to work together to compete with other teams. Then we headed out of LEGO City and stepped into LEGO Technic zone.

LEGO Technic Zone: Heart Stopping Fun at Test Track

In LEGO Technic Zone there are several fun rides that kids will enjoy. With the heat beating down on us, we made a beeline to the Test Track. It doesn’t seem to be scary at first but that little car on top of the track moving at the fast speed with no guard gave me a heart stopping thrill. I’m sure it was safe but when I was on the track I wasn’t so sure about that. Or maybe it was the momentum and physic at work at our vehicle that Mr. Rojo and I rode had more speed than the kids’ vehicle.

We took a lunch break at the Lakeside Sandwich Co before the lunch crowd started to come in. The space wasn’t big so it can be hard to find table to sit if you plan to eat during lunch. Plan ahead and take a break sooner than normal to avoid this problem. Another plus is the Lakeside Sandwich is indoor with A/C, a must for Florida fun day.

More Lands to Cover in LEGOLAND Florida

The Land of Adventure is another favorite for kids with Coastersaurus, the wooden roller coaster setting in Dinosaur theme, and the Lost Kingdom Adventure, where kid fires laser blaster at target to unearth treasure in the Egypt Kingdom. For parent of younger kids, Safari Trek and Beetle Bounce provide excitement and fun that tame enough for the little ones.

At this time, we already knew that we won’t be able to test every ride to go to every single attraction. We took a break at the DUPLO Village for some ice cream and playground fun at DUPLO Farm. It was a great way to break up your go..go..go day in LEGOLAND. Next to DUPLO Village is a stand for Granny’s Apple Fries which many of my travel blogger friends raved about on their blogs.

After the quick break, we made a few stops in Fun Town, checking out the gifts and toys in LEGO Studio Store, before taking in the bird’s eye view of LEGOLAND Florida on the Island in the Sky.

Great Place to Refuel: The Market Restaurant

For a quick refuel to recharge the crew battery so we can tackle the rest of the park, we headed to the Market Restaurant. It’s a food court style that offers various options from Asian Market to Kids’ Choices. Too bad many food selection had dwindling down to only a few choices from each station.

Another great reason to consider Market Restaurant for family dining option was the LEGO station where kids can enjoy limitless time to build their own masterpieces. We were there during the non-busy hours so it was fun for kids. But I don’t know how hard will it be during lunch time.

Last but Not Least Stop: Miniland USA

My favorite part of LEGOLAND Florida but not so much for the kids. Yes, they did enjoy looking at each part of the town in Miniland USA but they just ran around so fast competing to be the first one to push the button! It was also dark when we got to this part of the park. Luckily, it seems the park did extend the hour for another hour instead of their regular closing hour at 5 PM.

Even though I have heard many people say this park can be done in one day. To fully experience and enjoy all the rides, it will take more than a day. We had already skipped many kiddie rides that were too small for our school-age kids. But we still missed many parts of the park like the Cypress Garden or the Pirate Cove area where you can catch the Live Water Ski show.

Based on many resources, it seems you can easily upgrade your one day pass to include the next day admission for a fraction of the price. I couldn’t confirm this information on LEGOLAND Florida website so you might want to call ahead or ask the customer service.

I know this is a long post so thank you to stay with me till the end. I will try to work on another post with family tips for LEGOLAND Florida soon. In the mean time, check out my friend, Jen from Pensacola With Kids on her detailed review of LEGOLAND Florida that has a lot of great information and tips.

Have you been to Legoland Florida? Any tips or experience you would love to share?

Filed Under: Attractions/Museums, Florida Tagged With: blogsherpa, Family Adventure, family travel, Family Trip, Family Vacation, Florida, LEGOLAND Florida, Legoland Florida coupon, Legoland Florida discount, Legoland Florida discount code, Legoland Florida review, Legoland Florida tips, LEGOLAND Florida with kids, Orlando, Orlando with kids, The South, Things to do with kids, Travel with Kids, usa

Family Ski Vacation in North Carolina @ Appalachian Ski Mountain

February 27, 2012 By Amy @ The Q Family 4 Comments

After our first ever family skip trip to Keystone Resort, our family is hooked to this new winter sport. However, it’s hard for us to find a good ski resorts within driving distance to Atlanta. I did a little search and found that there are several ski areas near Atlanta that we can drive up over a weekend. So the plan was in motion to go for another ski trip.

We were fully aware that the snow, the trails or even the facility will not be anywhere near what we had experienced in Keystone like my friend, Kristin mentioned on her blog :) . But as beginner skiers, we just want to learn the art and skill of skiing at this time. Appalachian Ski Mountain is located in Blowing Rock, North Carolina about 5 hours drive from Atlanta, not too bad for a long weekend.

More Fun with More Friends

This trip we planned it with a group of friends that have kids similar in ages to Miss J and Mr. Z. Traveling or planning a trip with group of friends can help save on family ski vacation and kids will have instant playmates.

We had enough in our group to even get the discount group rate for our ski lift tickets and rentals. Another bonus of group traveling.

Cabin Stay in the Snow

There were different types of accommodations available in Appalachian area. Most popular ones are cabin rentals or hotel stay. We chose to rent a cabin since it can accommodate all of us and we had extra space for kids to hang out and play.

Kitchen was a center of our action during our whole stay. We cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner all throughout our stay. With a bit of pre-trip planning, each family just had to prepare minimum about of work and it was more fun cooking with friends.

We were lucky to get snow the night we arrived. Kids couldn’t dress up in layer fast enough to enjoy the snow flake and play outside.

In the morning, we woke up to several inches of fresh, untouched, white snow surrounding our cabin and covering our driveway. Here’s where we learned one valuable lesson in choosing a cabin rental (make sure that the driveway is not too steep to get in and out during snow or properly maintain with salt & gravel) or preparing for staying in a cabin rental during winter. Living in Atlanta, we don’t have to worry about snow tire or anything in that nature. So we were quite unprepared to handle this situation. We ended up stuck inside the house half a day before we could go anywhere.

But it’s not exactly a big problem for us or the kids. There were fun things to do all around the house in the snow. They built a fort, had a snow ball fight, sled down the hill and enjoyed time together.

The Appalachian Ski Mountain Experience

Our cabin was only a few minutes from the Appalachian Ski mountain entrance. So it was a quick hop in the car to start our day at the ski area.

The rental process for group rental was very efficient and fast. A coordinator gave us a quick overview and provided our group with lift ticket. After a few minutes, we were off to get our ski rental gears.

I loved the fact that there were plenty of staffs to help direct people to where they need to be. Many instructors even helped us out to put our ski boot on. With many kids on our trip, some of them took a basic lesson to refresh their learning and some headed to the magic carpet.

There are not many choices for the trails if you are an expert who frequent much higher elevation slopes in the West or the Colorado mountain but it’s sufficient for first time skiers family especially for kids. We (ok.. *I*) stick to the only slope I could manage while Mr. Rojo and our friend who is more experience skier than us took the kids to try out different slopes.

We spent the whole day there and lunch time was a challenge. We didn’t pack lunch as we should so the line was long but moved at the reasonable speed. After several more runs on the trail, it was time to say goodbye to the slope.

Kids had a wonderful time partly because they had many friends to share their fun experience with. I would be lying if I say I hardly compare this family ski experience with our family ski trip in Colorado. But knowing that this experience provided us with different experience and allowed us to improve our skill within a budget, I’m okay with that.

We actually planned another trip to try out another ski resort in North Carolina soon.

Here are family ski vacation tips we learned from our trip:

If your schedule allows, try to ski on non-holiday and non-weekend day. We went during MLK day and ski on Monday and got a great discount in addition to our group rate.
Choose your accommodation wisely. Check to make sure that you can get in and out of your cabin during snow. There are hotels in Boone area which is about 15 minutes drive from Appalachian Ski mountain.
Pack your own lunch to avoid paying steep price for food.
If you plan to buy food, eat early or later than normal lunch time.
Enjoy!!!

So have you been to Appalachian Ski Mountain in North Carolina? Any tips you would like to share?

Filed Under: North Carolina, Ski Tagged With: Family Adventure, family ski trip North Carolina, family travel, family travel tips, Family Trip, Family Vacation, Ski vacation with kids North Carolina, ski with kids, Things to do with kids, Travel with Kids

My Dream Vacation for Less: Spring Family Vacation at Breckenridge

February 8, 2012 By Amy @ The Q Family 11 Comments

As many part of the country are still battling the cold and snow, we at the Q Family already are dreaming about our next adventure in Spring and Summer. Our recently family ski trip to Keystone resort put the Colorado mountain resorts on the map for us and Breckenridge is one that we want to visit on our next family vacation.

It’s without a doubt that Breckenridge is well known for winter sport and ski family vacation that comes with quite a price tag for family who looks to travel on a budget. However, there are many ways to enjoy great family spring vacation for less. As we are dreaming about our next spring adventure, we would like to share with you how we plan our next family vacation for less!

Home Away from Home

When travel with kids, accommodation is a big factor in make or break your dream vacation. Choosing the right type of accommodation for your family is crucial part of travel planning.

We always look for vacation home rental as our first option. Most home rental provides extra room for family so we are not on top of each other. The homey atmosphere provides kids (and adults) a more relaxing environment after a long day of activities or fun in town.

Breckenridge has a lot of lodging types to choose from. With a quick search on Homeaway for Breckenridge, we know we will have no problem finding the right place to stay for our family.

Friends Make Travel more Fun

Another way to help save on your next family trip is to make it a group affair! We recently took a quick long weekend getaway during the holiday break with a group of friends who also have kids that are in the same age range as our kids. The cost of home rental is considerably lower than renting traditional hotel room in the same area.

At dinner time, we enjoyed our dinner as each of the family showcase their favorite dish. Kids had a blast because they had friend to play with. So we know that if possible our next spring vacation, we would love to go with our friends again.

Feast fits for the King

Food is a big part of our life and we wouldn’t have enjoyed much of our vacation if food is blah.. So to have our own full kitchen during our vacation is a big plus and one that we always love!

Cooking during vacation doesn’t have to be painful or too much work. We plan simple family favorite meal that everyone loves. The time to prepare and cook our meal is typically shorter than the time we wait at a restaurant. Plus kids can be kids and running around the house until the dinner is ready instead of having to sit quietly (most of the time) in a restaurant.

One Last Run on the Slope

Spring in Atlanta means warmer weather and short sleeve shirt. But in Breckenridge, it means discount rate from ski resort for the end of the season discount. The resort season doesn’t end until mid April so it’s a great chance to enjoy winter sport while the rest of the country flock to the warmer destinations.

Photo credits: Breckenridge

This post is sponsored post. Bought to you by:

HomeAway offers the world’s largest selection of vacation home rentals that provide travelers with memorable vacation experiences and benefits, including more room to relax and added privacy, for less than the cost of traditional hotel accommodations. Make memories where you stay, not just where you go. HomeAway.com – let’s stay together.

Filed Under: Colorado, Travel Tips Tagged With: Breckenridge, Breckenridge with kids, Family Vacation Tips, Spring family vacation, Travel with Kids

A Hawaiian Family Adventure

February 2, 2012 By Amy @ The Q Family 4 Comments

Even though you spend every day with your family, there’s something about taking a trip together that just brings everyone closer. Being away from hectic daily life allows you to have more enjoyable quality time, and it’s a great opportunity to try out new activities or foods you don’t have access to at home.

One of the best places to take a family vacation is Hawaii, hands down. The lush tropical setting and sparkling coastline feel like an exotic foreign country, and the welcoming spirit and laid-back atmosphere make it the perfect place for a trip that pleases everyone.

Waikiki Beach, Oahu

We usually start off at Waikiki Beach. It’s a surefire crowd pleaser. There’s a reason it’s one of the most famous beaches in the world, after all. It’s safe for swimming and wading, close to Oahu hotels and resorts, and offers up many opportunities for surfing lessons, snorkeling, canoeing and beach combing.

Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, Oahu

This safe, calm cove is a gorgeous place, and has been a protected marine environment since 1967. The efforts to return the bay to its natural ecosystem have spawned decades of environmental stewardship throughout Hawaii and have enlightened and educated visitors for years. Just 10 minutes away from Waikiki, the curved bay is home to hundreds of species of fish and is perfect for those who are new to snorkeling or scuba diving. Children love to wade with the colorful fish, and everyone will walk away with a deeper sense of respect for pristine nature.

Dole Cannery Maze, Dole Plantation, Central Oahu

Corn mazes are so mainland. Take a tropical twist on the labyrinthine adventure by treating yourself and your family to a puzzling path through pineapple gardens! Actually, the maze is made up of hibiscus, heliconia, croton, panax and pineapple, so it’s not only breathtakingly beautiful but also pleasantly fragrant. Race with your kids to search for the eight secret stations on the way to solving the mystery of the maze, and try to beat the record-holding time of seven minutes. Most people take about an hour to finish, so don’t feel bad if you find yourself sidelined during the floral journey.

Atlantis Submarine Tour, Waikiki, Oahu

You’ve spent plenty of time staring at the water’s surface. Now it’s time to really see the world beneath with a submarine tour. Skim below the water at a depth of 80 to 110 feet past coral formations, sunken tanker ships and plenty of multicolored sea life.

Waikiki Aquarium, Oahu

Situated beside a living coral reef, the Waikiki Aquarium is one of the oldest public aquariums in the United States. More than 500 species of marine plants and animals reside in the aquarium, which is conveniently located near Waikiki hotels and beaches. Come to get a true taste of all the biodiversity unique to Hawaii!

Have you been to Hawaii with your family? What do you recommend?

This is a sponsored post.

Filed Under: Beaches, Hawaii

Keystone Ski Resort with Kids: Wonderful Stay for Family at River Run Village

January 20, 2012 By Amy @ The Q Family 2 Comments

With the amount of family ski trip posts, I hope you won’t get bored about this. We have so much information to share about our first family ski trip experience that I know other families who are thinking about it will find useful. Seeing that we don’t live in the Northern part of the country, planning a ski trip is a daunting task and it’s not cheap. However, with good pre-trip planning, you and your family can enjoy family ski vacation on a budget.

Lodging Options in Keystone Ski Resort are Endless

On our Keystone Ski trip, we stayed at the River Run Village condominium. For first time visitor, choosing the right accommodation to stay with your family can be overwhelming. Keystone Ski resort offers various type of lodging from vacation home rentals, condominiums, bed & breakfast and inn.

For family vacation, I found that renting from condominium type lodging is the best value. Not only, we have extra space for all the ski equipments, we also have kitchen that we can prepare breakfast, lunch or even dinner (if we have energy left after a long day of skiing) to help save on family ski vacation.

Inside the Dakota Lodge

Within River Run Village, there are multiple buildings for accommodation. We stayed at the Dakota Lodge that is right in front of the brand new Dercum Square outdoor ice skating rink. Unlike hotel, the setup for rooms in Dakota Lodge is more apartment type with separate living room, dining room and full kitchen. After picking up our ski equipments, the extra space came in handy. If you stay in a small room, there is also locker to put your ski equipment on the first floor.

Deluxe Mountain-Inspired Decoration

Our 2 bedroom condominium is beautifully decorated with mountain-inspired theme. Each bedroom has comfortable bed that we fell asleep as soon as we hit the pillow. All standard amenities, towels, soap, shampoo, hair dryer, are provided. With 3 flat screen TVs in our unit, everyone (for once) doesn’t have to fight over what channel they want to watch. And yes, internet connection is FREE and fast. I have to say though that with a full day of skiing, I hardly touch my computer except to check out our photo from EpicMix.

River Run Village: Great Location for Family

Within Keystone Resort, there are multiple areas for lodging. The River Run is a PERFECT location for families especially ones with beginner skiers. With its central location right at the base of River Run Gondola and the Summit Express chair lift, we don’t have to take a bus or get in a car to get on the slopes.

The Keystone Ski & Ride school and the Ski rental facility are also within walking distance from the River Run Village making it’s a breeze to pick up our ski equipments and drop kids off at their school.

All in all, the stay at River Run got a thumb up from Miss J!

Thank you Keystone Ski resort for providing our family with complimentary accommodation, transportation and some dining during our stay.

Filed Under: Colorado, Hotel & Resort Review, Ski Tagged With: blogsherpa, Colorado, Denver, Family Adventure, family ski trip tips, family travel, Family travel Keystone CO, Family Trip, Family Vacation, Family vacation in Keystone CO, hotel review, Keystone, Keystone CO, keystone ski resort, keystone ski resort review, Keystone with kids, Resort Review, Rocky Mountains, ski accommodation, ski lodging, ski with kids, Travel with Kids

Denver with Kids: A Room with A-Mazing View at Homewood Suites by Hilton Denver International Airport

January 13, 2012 By Amy @ The Q Family 8 Comments

During our recent family ski vacation in Colorado at Keystone Resort, we spent a few nights in downtown Denver before heading up to the Rocky Mountain National Park. I have been searching for family friendly accommodations that is also within our budget in Denver. Yes, many online forum recommended staying in downtown Denver. But, with kids in tow we actually like to stay out of downtown in the area where we don’t have to worry about finding or paying for parking. We also prefer to have grocery stores within driving distance.

Those factors lead us to Homewood Suites by Hilton Denver International Airport. We have stayed at various types of accommodation and Homewood Suites by Hilton remains one of top family friendly hotel in our opinion.

Convenient Location to Explore More of Denver

With the convenient location near the Denver International Airport, we were able to not only enjoy exploring downtown Denver but venture out to other surrounding area. The hotel is right by the interstate highway that lead to other cities like Colorado Springs, Aurora and Golden.

There are many chain restaurants like Outback Steak House, Ted’s Montana Grill or Applebee’s nearby which make it very convenient for us to grab a quick meal or have a special dinner night. If you want to get your own groceries and cook in the room, there is Safeway within short driving distance.

AMAZING View from the Room

The majestic view of the mountain range as a backdrop to Denver is one of the best feature of this city. Homewood Suites Denver International Airport took advantage of the view. Our room is facing the mountain and I never got tired of waking up to this view. Now I understand why Denver residents are so active. The mountain just beckons them to go out and enjoy wide range of outdoor activities

Extra Space with Everything You Need and Want

When travel with kids, we try to avoid staying at a typical hotel room because of the space. That’s why I love Homewood Suites by Hilton. With a suite room, we have extra space so we won’t be on top of each other. We all know how sibling love each other so much that they can’t invade each other personal space. The two-bedroom suite provides ample space for us to relax at the end of the day and gives us privacy from the kids with separate living room and kitchen area.

After spend the day doing what you do, it’s nice to know that you can rest easy in a bedroom that is clean and comfortable. The room is spacious and has a flat screen tv that allowed me to kick back and watch my shows while Mr. Rojo and the kids watched their shows on the other tv’s. We definitely don’t get this at home. Did I mention the view from the room? Oh yes. I already did. Just wanted to make sure you got that point.

As a geek family, internet connection is something we ~~need~~ prefer. And it’s nice to have free internet connection at an acceptable speed to catch up with family and friends online at the end of the day. Mr. Rojo is the crazy one who always likes to check the speed. He never tells me the numbers but he had a big grin on his face after testing the speed and proceeded to go watch his online videos.

The kitchen is small but efficient. We didn’t cook any meal in the room but it’s nice to be able to have a full size refrigerator to put our drinks and fruits for late night snacks. The full service of the hotel included them putting the dishes in the dishwasher for you and running it. It’s something that I didn’t even know that they do. It’s nice not to have to worry about too much cleaning when travelling because I know many of my friends don’t like staying in VRBO because they don’t want to clean when they are on vacation! Well, at Homewood Suites you get the best of both world, the space of the VRBO and the service of the hotel.

Perfect Amenities with Family in Mind

Other services and amenities from Homewood Suites are also perfect for family. We love the complimentary hot breakfast, the type where you get real scramble eggs, make your own waffle and enjoy hot coffee.

The indoor swimming pool is perfect for kids to use up those energy from a long day of travel or for parents to get a quick me time at the hot tub. The exercise room looks very nice… yes, look nice because admit it we are not gonna exercise during our trip. I’m exhausted most of the time at the end of the day because of the thin air of Denver… or.. is it because I’m too lazy to exercise. You pick.

Great Value for Budget Conscious Family

Yes, you might not be in the middle of downtown Denver. But I don’t see the benefit of staying in downtown. We would have to pay for parking fee and most hotels in downtown will cost more. The saving itself is totally worth an extra drive. It’s also not so bad when we have a great view to drive to downtown Denver when we want to explore.

At the time of our visit, room rate ranged from $99-$250 (based on date and availability). The extra space, free parking, complimentary breakfast, free internet connection and convenient location make Homewood Suites by Hilton Denver International Airport a great option for family who want value without sacrifice the luxury. Make sure to check out hotel special for any promotions or discount rate.

Disclosure: We received media rate from Homewood Suites by Hilton Denver International Airport. This post is based solely on my experience and my opinion without any outside influence. I will not write about a place we will not stay ourselves.

Denver Hotel Review

Filed Under: Colorado, Hotel & Resort Review Tagged With: blogsherpa, Colorado, Colorado with kids, Denver, Denver vacation, Denver with kids, Homewood Suites Denver, Homewood Suites Denver review, hotel review, Travel with Kids

Mr. Rojo’s return to the Greens of Myrtle Beach

January 10, 2012 By Mr. Rojo Leave a Comment

For all the Q Family Followers out there, you don’t usually hear from me, Mr. Rojo. I usually like to stay in the background. You’ve probably read the great posts of skiing in Colorado. With those stories and the cold winter, you might want something to warm you up. Here’s a post of my trip to Myrtle Beach, SC that I took.

Myrtle Beach, SC is well known for it’s well groomed golf courses. It is the Nexus for all golfers to test their golf skills on professionally designed golf courses. Yes, I love to play golf but I have only been to experience Myrtle Beach Golf one time in my life many moons ago when life was simpler and the days seemed longer. When my good friend called and invited me for a trip to Myrtle Beach, I had to say yes even without the family CFO’s approval. Luckily, I didn’t get into too much trouble for my impulsive behavior.

On our Dude’s Most Excellent Golfing Adventure, we planned to play three golf courses with the best course saved for last. Oh.. and maybe we could run into Natalie Gulbis… For my friend. Not me.. because I’m a happily married man writing on my wife’s blog… The last course we played was Wild Wing Plantation’s 27 hole course. When we were younger, we probably would have played all 27, but in our current state of easily pulled back muscles, we only played 18. On this day, we were to tackle the Avocet course on Wild Wing Plantation. It proved to be a tough track with rolling hills and hidden traps and water. I’m not going to mention my score due to embarassment and besides, I think I stopped keeping score after the second snow man. That’s a score of 8 for you non-golfers.

I had mentioned that I had visited Myrtle Beach when I was younger single man. The only thing that I noticed was the golf and the beaches.. Oh.. and the bright neon lights of the T-Shirt shops. This time around I saw Myrtle Beach through the eyes of a family man and noticed that there are a lot of family friendly things to do in Myrtle Beach like Broadway On The Beach and NASCAR Speed Park.

Filed Under: South Carolina Tagged With: blogsherpa, Myrtle Beach Golf, Myrtle Beach SC, Myrtle Beach vacation, South Carolina, The South, usa

Blissful Moment at Family Ski Trip

January 6, 2012 By Amy @ The Q Family 6 Comments

Even though we have been back for more than two weeks, I still can’t help but remember all the precious memory we had at Keystone Ski resort.

The morning at the River Run Village was busy with the sound of ski pants rubbing each other, the clicking noise of the ski boots on the street, the sound of exciting kids to race down the slopes and the cheerful greeting from happy employees at Keystone resort.

It’s those moments that I am thankful and appreciate the opportunity we have as a family to be able to enjoy and experience it. Born in a tropical country in Thailand, if you would have said one day I will ski down one of the best ski resort in the Colorado mountains, I would have laughed at you. But now, we are planning our second ski trip for this year to ski resorts near Atlanta. (yes, we do have some in North Carolina area) The snow might not be as powdery or even real snow at all but I know the thrill and excitement of going down hill will probably be the same!

Filed Under: Colorado, Ski Tagged With: blogsherpa, Colorado, Colorado Ski vacation, Denver, Family Adventure, Family Ski vacation, family travel, Family travel Keystone CO, Family Trip, Family Vacation, Family vacation in Keystone CO, Keystone, Keystone CO, Keystone with kids, Rocky Mountains, Ski vacation with kids, usa

A Look Back to Family Travel 2011

January 4, 2012 By Amy @ The Q Family 9 Comments

Although we are a few days into 2012, our recent family trip to Keystone resort is still fresh in our mind, the first ski experience on one of the best family ski resort in Colorado. So to keep up with our tradition, we have our review post looking back to our family travel last year. It was a fun year!

January: Snow in Atlanta

It’s not often or should I say NEVER that Atlanta metro area will get seven inches of snow in winter. So it was a real big treat for our kids to enjoy snow tubing (home-made style) at our own backyard. The snow storm in Atlanta shut down the whole city a whole week. For adults, the cabin fever started to set in but for kids it was like an unexpected winter break!

February: Indoor Water Park fun

We went up to Sevierville, Tennessee to help celebrate our friend’s birthday. An indoor water park at Wilderness in the Smokies is a great year round fun where kids (and adults) can enjoy swimming, sliding, surfing and more in the heated environment even in the middle of winter.

March: Mickey Memory with Disney Social Media Mom

This month we drove down to our familiar vacation spot in Orlando to attend the Disney Social Media Mom 2011 where we learned, laughed and connected with bloggers. It was our first time staying at the Disney’s Grand Floridian Spa & Resort and it was an experience we won’t easily forget. Mr. Z also experienced a big kid ride and hooked on the roller coaster now!

April: Fun in Atlanta at Georgia Aquarium

In Spring, we stayed close to home and enjoy local attractions in Atlanta like the Grand opening of new Dolphin Tale show at the Georgia Aquarium, the beautiful day at Piedmont Park for the Dogwood Festival

May: Birthday Celebration at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

This year we took another trip down to Orlando to celebrate Mr. Rojo’s birthday at the Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. We hardly stayed at the Disney’s resorts previously because our family has a timeshare in Orlando but year 2011 we stayed in not just one but two property! And I have to say I understand why people keep going back year after year!

June: Summer fun in Seattle & Vancouver

Our big summer trip this year was a two weeks trip to Seattle and Vancouver. It was a business/family trip combo. I attended TBEX 2011, the Travel bloggers conference, in Vancouver and we also enjoyed family vacation in Seattle.

July: Family Reunion in the Ozark & Side trip to St. Louis

Our first family reunion was planned at the YMCA of the Ozark. It was wonderful for kids to meet and play with their cousins. We also took a little detour to visit St. Louis, MO. A fun day but not nearly enough to discover this gem in the Midwest.

August: Back to School

Summer time flew by when you had so much fun. Before we knew it, the kids were back in school. Yes, here in Atlanta we go back to school in August!

September: Myrtle Beach on Labor Day

Now, that kids are in school, we have to work around school holidays and take advantage of every holidays we can get. So we planned a short break during Labor Day weekend to visit Myrtle Beach. What a fun place for the whole family! We found that Myrtle Beach is not just a place for fun time at the beach or various family entertainments like MagiQuest but we could also enjoy nature like Kayak tour.

October: Fall Family Camping

In October, we had our first fall family camping trip with a group of our friends at Redtop Mountain Park. It was beautiful even though a bit too cold for this tropical girl. Kids, on the other hand, had no problem with the cold temperature at night when they had the whole park to explore. The water in the lake was too cold for anyone of us to dare going in. But we knew it will be a great place to camp again in the summer.

November: Legoland Florida

During the Thanksgiving break, we went to visit the recently opened Legoland Florida. Mr. Z was beyond happy to be able to ride in EVERY SINGLE ride at his height. Miss J loved being a big kid who could take her little brother on the ride without us. Ah!! A theme park where kids rule!

December: Ski & Snow at Keystone Ski Resort

Our last but certainly not least family trip of the year was one of the memorable one for our whole family. It was their first time on ski and my first time learning to ski. One word, AMAZING trip! We certainly enjoyed our whole experience during our trip to Denver & Keystone. This will certainly be a place we would love to revisit again in the future.

Wow! I didn’t realize how much we have traveled this past year until I started this post. It certainly has been a blessing for us to be able to continue our love of travel and adventures. We are thankful for the opportunities we have been given and hope we will continue to be able to travel as a family in 2012. Here to more travel in 2012!

Filed Under: Camping, Canada, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Ski, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vancouver, Walt Disney World, Washington Tagged With: family travel, Family Vacation, Vancouver

Keystone Ski Resort with Kids: Outstanding Ski School for Family

December 30, 2011 By Amy @ The Q Family 17 Comments

Learning to ski has been something I have been afraid to commit to since my first experience 10 plus years ago when my friend encouraged (ok.. maybe pushed) me downhill on the slippy slopes in New England. It wasn’t a pleasant experience that has scared into my mind since.

So when we first planned our family ski trip to Keystone Resort this winter, the first thing I checked was the ski school program. I don’t want Miss J and Mr. Z to have the same experience. Fortunately, we have picked one of most family friendly ski resort in the Colorado mountains.

The Keystone Resort Ski & Ride school has a great system and programs that make this nervous parent feel at ease.

Easy & Efficient Ski Rental

We took a bit longer to get our ski rental gear ready with our bulky ski-ready jacket and pant. But the process in itself was easy and quite efficient even during the busy winter season in Keystone Resort. After register our family members to their system, a knowledgeable attendant quickly measured our feet size and found our ski boot. Then we went to the next station to get our ski binding. Then off to the cashier to pay for the rental.

Private Lesson

There are several lessons for you to choose from. Group lessons, private lessons or family private lessons are all excellent option for beginner or even more experienced skiers. On the first lesson, we took family private lesson with the most AMAZING and patient instructor ever, Mrs. Kim Hesh Olson. So if you plan to book private lesson, make sure to ask for her!

After we were all set, Mrs. Kim took us up the gondola ride to the mid station to start our lesson. We started slowly by learning how to put our ski on, glide on one foot and move around.

With high altitude (it’s called a mile high city for a reason, we were at least 8,000 feet above sea level), we took it easy on the first day. There were several breaks for us and the kids. The learning area at mid station is also used by Ski & Ride School children lessons where we saw kids as young as 3 years old enjoying their lesson.

By mid day, the high altitude had hit Miss J hard so I took her down and rested while Mr. Rojo and Mr. Z continued their lesson. By the end of our first private lesson day, Mr. Rojo and Mr. Z had already learned how to turn and went down green slopes a few times!!

If you have never ski before, I would highly recommend taking private ski lesson. The cost might seem high from the price tag but you can have up to 6 people in your private group. So if you have a group of friends who have similar skill, private lesson will be the way to go.

Children’s Ski & Ride School

The process of checking in our kids to their lesson couldn’t be easier. We arrived at the Ski & Ride school at the River Run village about 20 minutes before the class. After confirming our registration and our information (including our phone number so they can contact us in case of emergency), the kids were tagged with their class information and personal information.

The school will take care of fitting and getting kids’ ski gear ready. We didn’t have to worry about getting their gear since we already had our ski rental from yesterday. Even if you didn’t have your rental from previous day, the school will take care of providing proper gear for them in the school. You don’t have to do anything except dropping them off with proper outfit and on time.

Kids were assessed and put into group of similar age and skill level. Since Miss J missed half her private lesson the previous day, she started in Beginner group while Mr. Z moved to Green group. The instructor also paid close attention to kids’ skill level so that they can adjust the group accordingly.

The ski & ride school has several separate learning area. They went up to the Summit station on top of Dercum Mountain in another learning area. So we were able to see them in their classes a few time. It’s amazed me to see Miss J who was still fighting her high altitude sickness participated and enjoyed her lesson with her new friends. Mr. Z had a blast learning more advance skill and racking up his points on EpicMix on his several runs that day.

The school also provided end of day lesson review and recommendation. As we picked them up at the end of their lesson, the instructor gave us detail information on how they did on their lesson including runs & terrain and what they can work on.

It’s true that kids are fast learners. So I know it’s a great idea to put them in ski school instead of continuing with private lesson with us because by day 2 our skill level within our family has already varied. The least athletic one in the family, I still need a lot of coaching and hand holding while Mr. Z is more comfortable with Green slopes. The boy has no fear and already start talking about Black diamond.. Ha.. He will have to find someone else to take him down that path!

If you are thinking or planning a ski trip for your family, I would highly recommend checking out Keystone Ski & Ride School for your kids (or even yourself). There are various type of lessons and discount for different packages.

Thank you Keystone Ski resort for providing our family with complimentary accommodation, ski lessons and lift tickets during our stay.

Filed Under: Colorado, Ski Tagged With: blogsherpa, Breckenridge and around, Colorado, Colorado Ski vacation, Colorado with kids, Denver, Denver with kids, Family Adventure, family travel, Family travel Keystone CO, Family Trip, Family Vacation, Family vacation in Keystone CO, Keystone, Keystone CO, Keystone Resort, Keystone with kids, Rocky Mountains, Things to do with kids, Travel with Kids, usa