Tag: Travel with Kids

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Half Moon Bay! The Ocean Is Calling…

#halfmoonbayThe Bay Area has so many beautiful places to explore it can be hard to decide, ocean, forest, wine country, the city, and all of them are within an hours drive of one another, but for our family it’s really no contest… The ocean is calling…

More often than not a free weekend means piling in the car and heading for the water and more specifically Half Moon Bay. Tim loves the waves, the boys love the fish and chips and I love family time. A win for all!

Barbara’s Fish Trap

Half Moon BayI don’t know when it happened, but somewhere along the way we discovered Barbara’s Fish Trap and we never looked back. The perfect place for our family, Barb’s is a casual dining restaurant with friendly service and consistently good food! They have both indoor and outdoor seating and a take away window as well.

We aren’t the only ones who love Barbs, so if you’re interested in table service be prepared to wait, otherwise the ever present line for the take away window moves along at a fairly rapid pace and the quality of the food remains the same! We’ve met many interesting people over the years while sharing one of the sunny yellow picnic tables outside at Barbs.

#clamsandchipsIf you’re wondering, what do we get? Elliot and I always get the clam strips & chips and Simon likes traditional fish & chips while Tim likes the seafood combo. The portions are quite generous so you might consider sharing. Keep in mind they only take cash, but there is an ATM on the premises.

Now if only there were pumpkins behind them!

Mavericks

#mavericks

Mavericks is a world famous surfing location off of Pillar Point Harbor and just up the road from Barbara’s Fish Trap. It’s also Tim’s favorite part of visiting Half Moon Bay! The bigger the waves the more he likes it. He follows the surf report and he will often drive down early in the morning in the hopes of seeing some wave action.

The waves can reach as high as 60 feet in the winter and most winters they hold an invitation only big wave surfing competition. Because the waves are unpredictable spectators aren’t allowed to go down to the beach during the competition, but the beach is very accessible at other times of the year.

Surfers in Half Moon Bay
Bill Lewis the Sandcastle builder.

 

What Else…

Half Moon BayThere are so many fun things to do in and around Half Moon Bay depending on the time of the year!

Wildlife sightings!

Strawberry picking at the U-pick patch in the summer!

A visit to the pumpkin patch at Halloween time.

Walks and hiking along the beach…

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The Half Moon Bay Ritz Carlton offers many fun activities throughout the year and you don’t even have to be a guest to enjoy them. For example, at the holiday time they show movies on a large screen under the stars and of course there is another one of our favorites, marshmallow roasting all year long!

What’s that I hear?

Oh, gotta go… The ocean is calling!

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Santa Barbara

santa barbara-0901With it’s beautiful coastline, perfect mediterranean climate and gleaming white mission style buildings Santa Barbara is one of the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful, coast city in California. When you throw in great shopping, its many fascinating sights, including the Mission, botanic gardens, a renowned natural history museum and an adorable zoo with ocean views, you’ve pretty much found the perfect place for a relaxing family weekend. Continue reading “Santa Barbara”

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Seattle! The Experience Music Project!

#guitarcyclone

 

#emp

The Experience Music Project (EMP) is an interactive museum dedicated not only to music, as the name suggests, but to all things pop-culture. If you’re me this makes it a place worth visiting. In fact we are frequent visitors and though our group ranges in age from 7 – 70+ there truly is something for everyone, making this an excellent family activity, especially on a rainy Seattle day. Continue reading “Seattle! The Experience Music Project!”

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Seattle The Pike Place Market 

#pikeplacemarketcenter

The Pike Place Market district is a must see when visiting Seattle. There are many farmers markets in the area, but if you ask me, the Pike Place Market is king of them all! Within this historic district you’ll find the freshest produce, bakers, butchers, farmers, specialty food stores, a crafts market with local artisans and over 200 individual shops as well as many restaurants ranging from takeout to fine dining. And if that’s not enough it’s also a place where the fish fly through the air, you can sit on a pig (bronze that is), and sticking your gum on the wall is a favorite pastime!

#publicmarketduskLocated just a few blocks from the center of Downtown the Market overlooks the beautiful Elliott Bay and Waterfront neighborhood and there is a passage connecting them called the Market Hill Climb. Pike Place was established in 1907 as a way to connect the famers and the people and it’s still doing so to this day. With Farm-to-Table being all the rage these past few years they were way ahead of the game!

The Market isn’t just for tourists, locals frequent the Market regularly in fact my own family shops there often. The sounds, smells, sights and friendly people make a shopping expedition to the Market a real pleasure, no matter where you shop, but of course we have our favorites…

Pike Place Fish Co.

#flyingfish

We’ve been visiting the Pike Place Fish Co. for as long as I can remember and not just because they offer a wide variety of fresh sustainable fish and shellfish, but because shopping there is a true experience. What’s so special about a fish market? This particular one is famous for throwing its fish. Yep! You read that right. They literally throw the fish through the air! Once you’ve placed your order, heads up, because whatever you ordered will be thrown across the counter and possibly back and forth a few more times before it’s finally wrapped up. In the mean time as your item is flying through the air all the employees yell out it’s name in unison! Imagine all this happening multiple times simultaneously and you’ve got quite a show! Whether you’re shopping for seafood or not stop by anyway, it’s always a good time at the Pike Place Fish Co. Which reminds me…

You might be thinking that as a tourist you’ll only be able to look at all the Market has to offer, unable to bring all these amazing food items on a plane, but you’ll be happy to know that most places will pack to ship including the Pike Place Fish Co. Recently my sister came to visit me in the Bay Area and she brought an entire fresh salmon on the plane with her!

Sosio’s Produce

#sosiosThere are many produce vendors in the market, but our favorite is Sosio’s. Again the reason isn’t just because they offer beautiful fresh produce, but it’s also very much about the shopping experience. The people working at Sosio’s are as nice as can be, answering questions, offering samples and in general just welcoming everyone who comes by. All of the above is done with a sense of humor as you can see from the sign in my photo of the Brussels Sprouts.

Flowers Galore!

#washingtontulipsInterspersed between the fish, produce, and other food vendors you’ll find fresh cut flowers galore! Stall after stall of fresh cut blooms in every shade of the rainbow. Not only are the flowers lovely to look at the prices are more than fair, with bunches in the $10 – $12 range, why not pick up a bunch to brighten up your hotel room?

#washingtontulips

Restaurants 

Though I have many favorite spots to eat in the Market District it’s rare that I take the time for a true sit down meal, preferring instead to grab something to go while I’m walking around. Translation: I’ve got shopping to do! Mee Sum Pastry is not only one of my favorites, but it fits this bill perfectly! They offer many authentic Chinese snacks, but my favorites are the BBQ Pork Stick and the Crab Rangoon. Simon loves the Bao and mom usually gets the Almond Cookie.

Rachel the Pig(gy Bank)

Rachel the Pig is the Market’s mascot and is located just below the famous Market clock and sign. Although Rachel has become a popular photo op she is actually a true piggy bank and has raised over $200,000 since she arrived in 1986. The money deposited into Rachel is used by the Market Foundation to help support the Market’s social services program, which includes a food bank, a senior service center, a neighborhood health clinic, a preschool/daycare and more. Just behind her to the left is a stairwell which leads down to the portion of Post Alley where the Gum Wall lives.

The Market After Dark

#Pikeplaceatnight

Though the food and flower stalls close up in the early evening there is still plenty to do in the Market after dark. Remember all those restaurants I didn’t have time for in the daytime? They’re all open and so are many fun bars and clubs! Il Bistro is an old favorite and located just below and to the left of the Market Sign, Tim and I used to go there when we were dating, and if after seeing all that seafood at the Market you’re craving fish then the brand new Sushi Kashiba might be a nice choice. I just love wandering through the Market at night, the deserted feeling in a place normaly filled with the hustle and bustle of everyday life and there is something so beautiful about the glow of all that neon on the wet cobblestones on a rainy Seattle night.

Other Fun Market Activities

Beyond all that I’ve mentioned there are many other interesting sights, fun places to explore, and yummy things to eat while visiting the Market. Here are a few:

Pin for later:

Pike Place Market with Kids Seattle Washington #familytravel #seattlewithkids #pikeplacemarket

Take Me With You!

Would you like directions to all these fabulous places? Why not take me with you! you can download this and other fun hilarystyle articles using the GPSmyCity app!

#gpsmycityhilarystyle

 

 

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Seattle! The Great Wheel!

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The Seattle Great Wheel is a relatively new addition to Seattle’s Waterfront neighborhood and in my opinion a welcome one! Located at Pier 57 on Elliot bay, and just a short distance from the Seattle Aquarium, the Great Wheel is also an easy walk from Downtown. Continue reading “Seattle! The Great Wheel!”

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Seattle! The Mystery Coke Machine!

#mysterycokemachine

I just returned home from a trip to Seattle, my old home town. The boys and I try to make a visit at least once a year and we have our favorite can’t miss spots, but for this visit I was looking to add a few new things to our itinerary. It was during my search that I came across an article about the Mystery Coke Machine! What’s this all about I thought? How had I never heard of it?  Continue reading “Seattle! The Mystery Coke Machine!”

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Seattle! The Gum Wall!

#gumwall

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What do you do with your gum when you’re finished chewing it? The obvious answer would be, throw it away, but if you’re visiting Seattle you might consider another option, sticking it to the wall. Yep! You heard me; just stick it to the wall! The Gum Wall that is…

What’s A Gum Wall?

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Located in the portion of Post Alley, which is just to the left of the Pike Place Market sign, the Gum Wall is An ooey gooey sticky mess of layer upon layer of brightly colored Already Been Chewed gum (ABC.)

I know!  You’re thinking its super gross, and it is, but at the same time there is something strangely satisfying about adding your blob of soft sticky ABC to the wall along with the thousands of other people who’ve done so.

Follow the cobblestone street down and around and you’ll find The Gum Wall just outside the entrance to The Market Theater. The tradition of putting gum on the wall got its start in the early 1990s when theatergoers would stick coins to the wall with ABC. In 1999 after a few failed attempts at trying to clean it up the Market Foundation made the Gum Wall an official tourist attraction!

Seattleites Love The Gum Wall!

Gum Wall-0615After 20 + years of existence, parts of the wall were covered several inches thick, as high as 15 feet for 50 feet! That’s a lot of gum!

Seattleites are strangely protective of this weird and wacky tourist attraction, so when plans were announced to scrape away the gum and clean the wall people were definitely worried! (At least I was!) Apparently the sugar in all that gum was causing the bricks to erode, but what would this mean for the future of the Gum Wall? Would it be coming back? Would this be the end?

The Gum Wall Lives!

There’s always a crowd at the Gum Wall
Fresh New Gum
Gum Wall Selfie

This past November after days of steam cleaning and pressure washing 2,350 pounds (1,070 kg) of gum were removed from the wall, but almost as soon as the work was completed gum started appearing on the wall!

In the end cleaning the wall and starting fresh seems to have been a good thing! The old gum had become pretty dingy and dirty over the years and who knows what was living on it, but its best not to think about that too long…

The new gum is fresh and vibrant and there is even a faint smell of bubble gum in the air! I don’t know about you, but I think it makes quite a lovely background for a photo!

Keep in mind It was at one time named one of the top 5 germiest tourist attractions, so touching it isn’t the greatest idea. Using your gum wrapper to press your ABC onto the wall is one way to avoid accidentally touching anyone else’s ABC.

Gum Wall Portrait
Auntie putting her gum on the wall
Post Alley at Night
The Gum Wall at Night
Simon at the Gum Wall 2011

If you do make a visit to the Gum Wall, and I highly recommend that you do, don’t forget your gum!

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Japan! Adventures in Cuisine!

#shrimp

#tempurawithsaltHeading to Japan for the first time there were many unknowns, but whether or not we would enjoy the food wasn’t one of them! In fact, considering how much we all love Japanese cuisine, loving it was pretty much a guarantee!

While it’s true that most cuisines are more authentic when eaten in the countries they originate from, I can now say (after our visit) that Japanese restaurants in America do a pretty great job. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t some pretty big differences. Eating Japanese food in Japan is absolutely different then eating it here in the states for a number of reasons.

You’ll find a variety of choices on the menus in the US, but in Japan most restaurants specialize in only one cuisine, so if you want ramen and sushi you’ll need to visit two different restaurants. The variety and type of food served is also quite different, for example you’ll be hard pressed to find horse sushi or tempura lotus here in the States. The choices can seem quite bizarre and even downright exotic.

A lot of restaurants have plastic food displays or photos of food on the menu, however this is no indication of the quality of the establishment, the chances that the food will still be great are high! In fact, these practices are quite common and can prove quite helpful when faced with trying to read a menu written in only Japanese.

Converting ¥ to $ A Cautionary Tale

Based on our love of Japanese cuisine, Simon had come up with a list of foods that he wanted to try while on our trip. We had done a pretty good job of checking everything off the list, with the exception of one item, his favorite, tempura.

Ginza

It was our last night in Japan and as is our usual habit we were wandering aimlessly looking for a place to eat. We were in Ginza and though there were retail stores aplenty we were having trouble finding a tempura restaurant.

When we finally found an acceptable place with an available table we didn’t think twice… In hindsight I should have noticed that the Yelp listing had multiple dollar signs, but we were very hungry, and not a little impatient…Oops!

The restaurant, Ten-Ichi, while not a dive didn’t seem all that remarkable either, and along with the menus we were given aprons, which added to what seemed like a fairly laid back atmosphere. The menu was a list of what seemed to be all-inclusive dinners for very reasonable prices, and Simon and I chose the same meal, Tim picked another and Elliot still another.

The waitress spoke no English and we spoke no Japanese. We placed our order by pointing at the menu. Immediately she shook her head “no”. What was she trying to tell us? We had NO idea! Each meal included multiple courses; maybe it was too much food? We pointed at Elliot and shook our heads “no” as if to say, “does he need his own meal?” We signaled back and forth a few more times and it seemed like everything was worked out. Our order had been placed…

What Seems too Good to be True is TOO Good to be True.

Our meal was fantastic! It was hands down the best meal we had the entire trip! Tempura in Japan was incredible and nothing like anything we’d in the States. The batter was light as air, the house made sauce was divine, and we learned a new way to enjoy tempura, a squeeze of lemon and a pinch of salt. Heavenly! It had been the perfect way to end what we all considered the vacation of a lifetime! A good thing too, because…

A short while later after we’d enjoyed our meal and a few glasses of wine, the check arrived… I wish I had a photo of the look on Tim’s face when he told me the check was the equivalent of just about all the dinners we’d had the entire trip, combined! Yes, that is right! All the dinners! Combined!

We’d made a mistake converting the ¥ to $ and instead of my entree being $19.00 it was really $190.00… you get the idea! It was lucky for us that this restaurant accepted credit cards, as many places in Japan do not. Sticker shock aside, we all agreed that not only was it truly the best meal of our trip, but maybe the best one we’d ever had!

Later, when I spoke with Simon about it, he said, he’d known all along just how expensive the entrees were, but because earlier on I’d asked him to let Tim and I worry about the expense of our trip, he assumed we knew what we were doing. Clearly we did not!

Lessons learned:

  • Wear your glasses when reading the menu!
  • When mom says yes to a $190.00 dinner entree she doesn’t really mean it because obviously she isn’t wearing her glasses and doesn’t realize what she’s agreeing to! Say something!

The good news:

  • Not only will we never forget this fabulous meal, but it I can’t think of a single meal we didn’t love while visiting Japan!

A Word About Credit/Debit Cards

Keep in mind many places in Japan do not accept credit cards and if you’re coming from the United States there is a high probability that your credit and debit cards won’t work in most ATMs. ATMs located in 7-Elevens should work, but getting cash can be difficult and it’s a good idea to plan ahead, so you don’t run out.

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Les Catacombes de Paris!

#lescatacombes

Paris Catacombs-3683Deep below the streets of Paris their lies a labyrinth of tunnels filled with the skeletal remains of over 6 million people. A not so proverbial skeleton in the closet if you will. A few summers ago we had the opportunity, along with some friends, to explore these tunnels. They are The Catacombs of Paris, and if you have a chance a visit is definitely worth your time!

#lescatacombesAs I drag the boys from monument to museum to landmark hoping they are enjoying themselves. I remind myself that the real world education the kids are receiving will more than make up for missing a few days of school here and there. They seem to enjoy our travels, but was I fooling myself? How much of an impact was all this travel really having? As it turns out, quite a lot!

Our older son is taking French in school this year and according to him visiting Paris was definitely a factor when deciding which language to take. Just as our visit to the Paris Catacombs helped provide the inspiration for his French Night presentation. The boys did a fabulous job building a replica of the Catacombs and preparing a slide show, which they then took turns presenting in both French and English.

#frenchnight

Here, in his own words, are some thoughts that Simon had about his visit to the Paris Catacombs:

I had been on underground tours in other places, but the Catacombs of Paris were unique for the fact that the entire place was filled with human bones. The experience was really interesting and cool, and I am really glad I went. If you’re wondering, is this a creepy or scary place to visit? It’s not at all! It has a long and fascinating history and there aren’t many places in the world like it.

Simon’s French Night Presentation Materials:

  • At 229 years old, the Catacombs of Paris are a labyrinth of bones situated 20 meters below ground.
  • Originally built to combat the health risks of aboveground cemeteries, The French transferred the bones from cemeteries into its pre-existing tunnels for easy storage.
  • The tunnels had been under Paris since the first century AD, when they were mined out by the Gallo-Romans.
  • The bones of over six million Parisians were transferred to its depths from many different cemeteries.
  • During The French Revolution, bodies were put directly into it and in World War II the French Resistance used it as a base.
  • The Catacombs span over two kilometers and are filled with strange murals and wall designs made entirely of human bones.
  • People have always been fascinated by it since its creation, and everyone from Napoleon to royal families have explored its endless tunnels of bone.
  • Opened to the public in the 20th century it is now a popular tourist destination in Paris.
  • The temperature in the Catacombs is always at 57 degrees Fahrenheit

Hi It’s Me Again…

When you plan your visit to the Catacombs keep in mind that it is an incredibly popular tourist destination and that they allow only 200 people into the tunnels at any one time. The tours take 45 minutes, so be prepared to wait. The official website recommends visiting after 3 pm Tuesday – Friday, but we chose to arrive about an hour before opening and ate breakfast while we waited in line.

While I found the tour and visit very fascinating, and not at all scary, I don’t think a repeat visit will be necessary. It is interesting to think about why they needed to build the Catacombs and how different the practices of today are from 200+ years ago. Taking quality photos was difficult, especially because I only had my iPhone, but I did get a few worth sharing. Au Revoir!



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Running with RunDisney
	


			

			
							
		

	
	

		
Disneyland is high on my list of favorite places, so when I heard they had started a run series I was pretty excited! The idea of running in and around the Disney Parks as well as behind the scenes seemed awesome, and it absolutely was! Let’s face it, is anyone better at organizing large groups of people than Disney?


From the Expo to the Finish line and everything in between there are so many positives to participating in a RunDisney event! Not only does the course take you through both Disneyland and California Adventure, but the on course entertainment is fun and constant which really helps the miles fly by! A pair of fairy wings doesn’t hurt either!


#thefinishlineThere are multiple RunDisney weekends throughout the year each with a different theme. I had the opportunity to participate in both the Tinkerbell 1/2 Marathon, which I ran twice, and the Disneyland 1/2 Marathon.


A Sprinkling Of Pixie Dust


You know me, I love a good theme and Disney races are the perfect opportunity to have some fun with your race attire! If you don’t know what to bring, don’t worry, The Expo will have everything you could ever want or dream up. This includes outfits, hats, shoes, accessories galore and even hairdos!


I don’t usually like a lot of extras when I’m running, but I couldn’t resist picking up a few things. I decided arm warmers; a themed skirt and a hairdo would be fun! If you’re wondering, the hairdo absolutely held up, in fact I have a feeling it might never have come out! It must have been the Pixie Dust they sprinkled on as the finishing touch!


Ready, Set, Go…


 
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
  


All of the events take place when the park is closed to the general public, which means you’ll need to be at the start line before dawn. I’m not a big fan of pre-dawn wake up calls, so I stayed at the official park hotels, which made getting to the Start Line really easy and more importantly, gave me a little more time to sleep.


There were literally thousands of people participating, but everything was so organized and run so smoothly you would never have known. Once in our assigned corals there was entertainment and finally just before we set off, fireworks!


Along the Way


 
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
  


You’ll hardly have time to think about how far 13.1 is because you’ll be so busy checking out all the on course entertainment. As you run along the course you’ll see ethnic dancers from around the world, cheerleaders, marching bands, and vintage cars from every decade! Disney characters and park employee’s cheer as you run by King Arthur’s Carousel, It’s A Small World, and many other iconic Disneyland attractions, and if you’re interested in stopping there are photo opportunities as well. During the Disneyland 1/2 Marathon I had the amazing experience of running right through the Anaheim Angeles Stadium and I must admit it was a highlight!


The Finish!


 
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
  


Mickey and friends will be cheering for you as you cross the finish line and of course there will be that well deserved medal! I loved the idea of running a race at Disneyland and I’m happy to say that it lived up to all my expectations! Not only did I have a wonderful time during the run, but I was able to include family and friends and make an entire weekend out of it! Three times!


 
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
  


Think of a wonderful thought

Any merry little thought

Think of Christmas, think of snow

Think of sleigh bells off you go

Like reindeer in the sky


You can fly

You can fly

You can fly


Think of the happiest things

It’s the same as having wings

Take the path that moonbeams make

If the moon is still awake

You’ll see him wink his eye


You can fly

You can fly

You can fly


Up you go with a height and ho

To the stars beyond the blue

There’s a Never Land waiting for you

Where all your happy dreams come true

Every dream that you dream will come true


When there’s a smile in your heart

There’s no better time to start

Think of all the joy you’ll find

When you leave the world behind

And bid your cares goodbye


You can fly

You can fly

You can fly

You can fly

You can fly


When there’s a smile in your heart

There’s no better time to start

Think of all the joy you’ll find

When you leave the world behind

And bid your cares goodbye


You can fly

You can fly

You can fly

You can fly

You can fly


Songwriters

SAMMY CAHN, SAMMY FAIN


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Lyrics © Walt Disney Music Company, Universal Music Publishing Group


Read more:  Disney – You Can Fly! You Can Fly! You Can Fly! [From Peter Pan] Lyrics | MetroLyrics