Recent Posts
  • “I speak for the trees” from Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax is a favorite quote used in Joshua Tree National Park’s publications.  Having visited it recently, we can certainly understand why.  The trees looked very Seuss-like — odd and quirky.  This unique national park is located 140...

    Joshua Tree National Park with kids

    Posted on January 27, 2012 | 1 Comment
    “I speak for the trees” from Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax is a favorite quote used in Joshua Tree National Park’s publications.  Having visited it recently, we can certainly understand why.  The trees looked very Seuss-like — odd and quirky.  This unique national park is located 140...

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  • Venice greeted us with a torrential downpour during our visit (without the kids) in November 2010.  We managed to explore Piazza San Marco and the surrounding areas in the rain — a day suited for museums, shopping and eating.  Luckily, the sun was shining brightly the following day...

    Our Venice Acqua Alta Experience

    Posted on January 23, 2012 | 27 Comments
    Venice greeted us with a torrential downpour during our visit (without the kids) in November 2010.  We managed to explore Piazza San Marco and the surrounding areas in the rain — a day suited for museums, shopping and eating.  Luckily, the sun was shining brightly the following day...

    Read More...

  • California’s twenty-one Spanish Missions have played an integral part in the state’s history .  Founded by the Franciscan priests, each Mission was built a day’s worth of horse back riding apart from each other.  They were centers of religious and cultural activities. Today, they function as parishes and living museums.  Unfortunately,...

    Visiting Old Mission Santa Barbara

    Posted on January 19, 2012 | 32 Comments
    California’s twenty-one Spanish Missions have played an integral part in the state’s history .  Founded by the Franciscan priests, each Mission was built a day’s worth of horse back riding apart from each other.  They were centers of religious and cultural activities. Today, they function as parishes and living museums.  Unfortunately,...

    Read More...

  • The picturesque port of St. Thomas is a popular stop for many Caribbean cruises.  This is one of the three islands that make up the US Virgin Islands, a US territory.   Our Princess ship was not docked in town but at Crown Bay (about 1.5 miles...

    St. Thomas, USVI with kids: The Skyride

    Posted on January 16, 2012 | 2 Comments
    The picturesque port of St. Thomas is a popular stop for many Caribbean cruises.  This is one of the three islands that make up the US Virgin Islands, a US territory.   Our Princess ship was not docked in town but at Crown Bay (about 1.5 miles...

    Read More...

  • We decided, as a family, to try new adventures in 2012 and venture outside our comfort zones.  So, we started the first week of the year on a cruise ship that sailed to the Western Caribbean and did activities we’ve never done on the ports of call we were...

    Our First Week of Adventures in 2012

    Posted on January 11, 2012 | 40 Comments
    We decided, as a family, to try new adventures in 2012 and venture outside our comfort zones.  So, we started the first week of the year on a cruise ship that sailed to the Western Caribbean and did activities we’ve never done on the ports of call we were...

    Read More...

Featured Posts
  • At last! We were excited to take our kids to finally see the Statue of Liberty after all these years.  They are very familiar with the Las Vegas version (yes, we know that’s a stretch) and saw a replica when we were in Japan last July.  They...6November 1, 2011

    Visiting the Statue of Liberty with kids

    At last! We were excited to take our kids to finally see the Statue of Liberty after all these years.  They are very familiar with the Las Vegas version (yes, we know that’s a stretch) and saw a replica when we were in Japan last July.  They…

  • Death Valley is the largest national park in the continental United States.   It is also known as the hottest, driest and lowest of the national parks.  Despite what the name implies, it is not a huge wasteland and there really is a lot to do here even...2October 31, 2011

    Death Valley National Park with kids

    Death Valley is the largest national park in the continental United States.   It is also known as the hottest, driest and lowest of the national parks.  Despite what the name implies, it is not a huge wasteland and there really is a lot to do here even…

  • We visited three of the major shrines and temples around central Tokyo – Sensoji, Meiji and Zojoji during our week in Tokyo.   The Asakusa area is definitely one of those places that are not to be missed when visiting Tokyo.  We were greeted with so much...2September 21, 2011

    Tokyo Shrines and Temples with kids

    We visited three of the major shrines and temples around central Tokyo – Sensoji, Meiji and Zojoji during our week in Tokyo.   The Asakusa area is definitely one of those places that are not to be missed when visiting Tokyo.  We were greeted with so much…

  • One of our planned day trips during our Tokyo trip was to visit the city of Kamakura.   We bought the Kamakura Free Pass at the Odakyu sightseeing center located on the West exit of the Shinjuku station.  It turned out to be a money and...0September 20, 2011

    Visiting the Great Buddha of Kamakura

    One of our planned day trips during our Tokyo trip was to visit the city of Kamakura.   We bought the Kamakura Free Pass at the Odakyu sightseeing center located on the West exit of the Shinjuku station.  It turned out to be a money and…

  • Oh What a Grand Place!    Brussels’ Grand Place was absolutely spectacular. This was a truly remarkable public square with beautiful architecture and so much history.   Seeing these beautiful images are what prompted us to visit Brussels in Oct. 2009.  The pictures of the buildings do...0September 19, 2011

    Brussels with kids: Peeing Statues & Giant Atoms

    Oh What a Grand Place!    Brussels’ Grand Place was absolutely spectacular. This was a truly remarkable public square with beautiful architecture and so much history.   Seeing these beautiful images are what prompted us to visit Brussels in Oct. 2009.  The pictures of the buildings do…

  • El Palacio Real or Royal Palace is the official residence of the Spanish royalty even though they don’t actually live here. It is now mainly used for special state functions. It is the largest royal palace in Europe with over 2,500 rooms and only 50...0June 22, 2011

    Madrid Royal Palace with kids

    El Palacio Real or Royal Palace is the official residence of the Spanish royalty even though they don’t actually live here. It is now mainly used for special state functions. It is the largest royal palace in Europe with over 2,500 rooms and only 50…

  • Elephant Seal Colony – San Simeon, CA We visited a colony of elephant seals 5 miles north of Hearst Castle right off the 101 Freeway and was supposedly the largest colony of this type of seals. There was a turn off to a parking area...2April 11, 2011

    Central California Animal Adventures

    Elephant Seal Colony – San Simeon, CA We visited a colony of elephant seals 5 miles north of Hearst Castle right off the 101 Freeway and was supposedly the largest colony of this type of seals. There was a turn off to a parking area…

  • Juneau is Alaska’s capital city and is a very popular port on Alaska cruises.   We were lucky enough that an old friend moved to Juneau and was available to show us around. It was wonderful to see the local sites and get an insight into...2April 7, 2011

    Juneau with Kids

    Juneau is Alaska’s capital city and is a very popular port on Alaska cruises.   We were lucky enough that an old friend moved to Juneau and was available to show us around. It was wonderful to see the local sites and get an insight into…

  • There was a little highway off Colorado’s main freeway (I-70) that took us to Morrison, CO after seeing signs about Dinosaur trails. It was a little town with two free scenic areas to visit that will entertain the whole family. Dinosaur Ridge Visitor Center – Morrison,...0March 29, 2011

    Exploring Dinosaur Ridge & Red Rocks with kids

    There was a little highway off Colorado’s main freeway (I-70) that took us to Morrison, CO after seeing signs about Dinosaur trails. It was a little town with two free scenic areas to visit that will entertain the whole family. Dinosaur Ridge Visitor Center – Morrison,…