Family Travel

WhiteWater Branson Missouri Equals Lots of Family Fun

August 28, 2011 by Jennifer 4 Comments

Are you scheduling a family trip to Branson, Missouri? If so, I would love to help you with what must-do activities to schedule that the whole family would enjoy.

First, you have to plan a dinner show that will entertain the entire family: Dixie Stampede

Secondly, for a thrill ride that will have you saying… seriously I just did that? Shepherd Hills

Thirdly, a dinner that is extraordinary on a cruise boat: Branson Belle

and you cannot leave off the WhiteWater Park in Branson, Missouri. The perfect attraction to spend the day to relax and cool off in the water. You don’t have to worry as there are so many activities that you will definitely not hear the “I’m bored” comments from the kids. I will go ahead and say too, the prices are very reasonable for a family as you can literally spend all day and have fun in the sun.

We arrived at the park and the kids were ready but of course we had to be tourists and get our picture made.

Then, BOOM… lightning, thunder and rain decided to make a presence. Luckily, Mother Earth knew there were a lot of kids eager to take on WhiteWater so the storm passed fairly quickly. The girls dived into the wave pool first thing.

L spotted the cool kids area and pleaded that we must go see now.

As soon as we got there, I knew exactly why she was so eager to visit the kids area. Everything was just her size. M saw the fun L was having and had to join in as well. Lots of laughs and smiles.

While L was enjoying her size park, M was ready to take on an adventure. One of the many water slides at WhiteWater and M was up for the challenge. This 7.5 story, 6-lane, multi-level thrill slide is the wildest ride ever to hit White Water! I waited patiently at the bottom of the slide and once I spotted M, I knew she was having a blast.

After being in the water all morning, we had worked up quite the appetite. I love how the park has posts throughout the park directing you in the right direction.

We spotted the food fast.

WhiteWater had anywhere from healthy salads and fruits to the juicy hot dogs.

and you cannot forget the awesome souvenir cups….

The food was gulped down and it was back to the wave pool to finish out the afternoon. Now this is how to have fun in the water. Definitely add to the family to-do list in Branson, MO. We highly recommend it.

San Diego Safari Park Allows You Up Close With Giraffes

August 21, 2011 by Jennifer 1 Comment

Have you ever been up close and personal with a giraffe? I can cross that off my bucket list. As I wrote before about our trip to San Diego Safari Park, I was literally face to face with a giraffe.

The reason we were so up close and personal is because we went on an amazing, educational and out of this world experience on the Caravan Tour. Our tour guide was so patient and really made the whole tour so much fun. I believe we were all sad when the tour came to an end because it was that much fun. You are riding around through the habitats and are able to get so close with all the animals. The girls were filled with questions and the tour guide took time to answer each question a way the girls could understand. You are on the tour 2.5 hours but the whole time is filled with adventures, so many different animals, feeding time and lots of smiles, laughs and oh my’s.

Quick one minute and twenty seconds video to summarize our feeding time and up close and personal adventures.

Now, you see why the girls are still talking about this adventure two weeks later. It is a time to turn off technology, get down on your child’s level and have an amazing time enjoying mother nature. Two thumbs up from the entire family and agree everyone should add to their must-do list for San Diego.

Beautiful sight of mom and baby whale at One Ocean SeaWorld Show

August 18, 2011 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

As you all know, we had an amazing journey to San Diego, California. The trip was so memorable and definitely on our list to do again. One of our days, we were at SeaWorld San Diego. In the review post, I told you about a beautiful video of the mom and her baby. As I sat there during the Shamu Show, tears filled my eyes as the mom and baby swam right in front side by side. No matter who we are, as a mom, we will always guide our children along. Our children look up to us so much as role models. Each step we take, is a step that is being imprinted in our child’s brain. Take a peek into this short video and see a beautiful life story right there in the water at SeaWorld San Diego.

Life is amazing through the eyes of a mother and a child no matter if we are human or an animal. As the girls were so mesmerized by the new One Ocean show, my heart was filling with joy as I had my girls right by my side watching this beautiful treat right before our eyes.

As all the animals are in One Ocean, we are all in One World. This my friends is just one of the many reasons we are annual pass members to SeaWorld. Experiences and joys that we encountered at SeaWorld are priceless memories that I am so stoked to create with the girls!

Brands can connect in person with kids too

August 8, 2011 by Jennifer 9 Comments

Coming off a high from last week’s trip to San Diego. As we touched down on NC soil late Sunday night, M wrapped her arms around me and said:

“Mommy, I am so glad we got to go with you. That was the best trip.”

I am crying again just as I write the quote out. I went back and forth to decide if it would be the right decision to take the girls with me out to San Diego for the BlogHer Conference. Ultimately, it came down to the decision that I really needed them there for my sanity. I love to travel as a family and actually addicted now to seeing new places, my decision did not fail me. We had such a wonderful time.

Did you see?

Seal Family Tours

Harbor Boat Tours

San Diego Safari Park

SeaWorld San Diego

and there were more visits to the San Diego Zoo and the USS Midway Battleship that will be coming to you this week. So with all the super fun family visits to all over San Diego, I did still have my conference to attend. During parts of the conference, I welcomed my family onto the Expo floor with me. I blog about my family, so what better way to see what interests my girls than to put them in the center of it all. The girls had an absolute blast engaging with the brands.

Playskool was rocking their world with the playdough. The theme had the girls creating fun beach scenes.

and also Sesame Street caught their eye and created huge smiles on L’s face.

Hallmark who I love so much as a brand and this weekend just sealed the relationship. The engagement with my kids won my heart over for good.

Scrubbing Bubbles knew how to win over a family’s heart. I am so excited to test out their new bathroom cleaner. Can you say time saver for moms?

Perfect mid-day snack for the girls was found when we visited the Yo-Crunch Yogurt Booth. The yogurt was a hit with the girls and now I found a snack that will be perfect for their school lunches.

With a geek such as their mom, it would not be right if the girls did not test out the technology on the expo floor. We found the coolest game at the Discovery Bay Games booth. I had to literally pry my girls away from their booth. They were having that much fun with their new game DUO.

Then the Samsung 10.1 Galaxy Tablet peeked M’s curiousity, that she had to take a seat at the Samsung booth. She was loving her a game of Angry Birds on such a big screen (compared to mommy’s 4.3 screen on the Droid).

L spotted the banana walking around the Dole fruit booth and just had to catch up with the banana. She couldn’t believe there was a walking banana. Too fun!

Having the kids there made this BlogHer such a different direction but a positive direction. Seeing the girls reaction to products and engaging with the brands made me smile so much. I am so glad I made the decision to take them. Sweet and magical memories that the girls will remember for a lifetime.

Things to do in San Diego with kids | SeaWorld

August 5, 2011 by Jennifer 5 Comments

A trip to SeaWorld is a must-do when you are in San Diego. We laughed, we smiled, we hugged, we gasped all day long as we enjoyed such a wonderful family day today. I will go more in depth with another post next week with a cute video you are going to love which involves a mommy whale and her child.

The girls were ready to start the day…

To start our day, we high tailed it to the Pet’s Stadium to see the much talked about Pet’s Rule show. This show was so funny and left you thinking how do animals do that? All the animals in the show were rescued and turned around to be such great pets that do the coolest tricks.

The highly anticipated show we have been wanting to watch since it was open to the public this spring was The Shamu Show: One Ocean. The show teaches you how we all can make a difference and care for the ONE Ocean we share. So beautiful!

Rides were calling our names, well M and L’s names so we hopped on over to the Sesame Street Bay of Play. Even hubby got in on the fun during the rides. Such a fun place to hang out with your kids and even get wet. Let me say, actually get soaked.

Then we heard a sound, oh it was barking. The Sea Lions were barking for us. They were hungry. The girls were able to feed the Sea Lions fish but had to be extra careful as the birds were perched and ready to dive for the fish themselves.

All the cheering earlier as we walked by the dolphins exhibit left us pondering, so we made our way over to grab a great seat. The show was packed so it paid off getting there 30 minutes early. Dolphins, whales, birds and acrobats… oh my! A little girl’s dreams are made when she finally gets to ride the dolphins. This show will keep you on the edge of your seat and your mouth hanging open. Seriously, it is that good. I was greeted as we came in…

Our time was coming to an end sadly, so we made one last mad dash to see the polar bears. The polar bear was being very sassy today by keeping his bottom pressed up again the window where we were at in the Wild Artic experience.

We went into Polar Bear tunnels and felt the frigid temperatures. I’m ready for winter now 🙂

Overall, it was a phenomenal day. L popped up said, mommy I am so glad we get to do this as a family. Heart breaker, she knows how to melt her mommy’s heart. You could spend a good two days at Sea World, so take your time and really enjoy it all. I have just barely touched based all on there is to do. This is a place the whole family will enjoy 🙂

Family Travel

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