Waves crash, free and wild, against the cliff face. In the distance, a whale crests then crashes back into the sea. The trade winds carry the sweet scent of coconut and rain. One of the best things about visiting Kauai is being outdoors, and what better way than hiking one of the beautiful trails? Of course, a hike with toddlers or young kids is not always the easiest endeavor. If you’ve ever read Lonely Planet Kauai, you may be concerned too…
In today’s busy world, sometimes you may find yourself with a yen to head to Disneyland but no partner to accompany you. Should you worry? Of course not! Single parenting at Disneyland is a fun and rewarding experience for you and your kids. In all honesty, my husband does love Disneyland, too, but he works crazy hours so my daughter and I often fly solo. But my husband (sorry, honey) is not involved in this discussion. We are here to…
Who knew I had 6 months of toddler-related travel stories and tips in me? I would not have guessed that I would have another 6-12 months (or more, not to bore you) of even more kid-adapted travel tips. I would not have believed 6 months ago how much I would enjoy nurturing this tiny small blog. It’s funny how things like this creep up on you. So here are some things I’ve learned in this short/long 6 months. Blogging is…
Are you in need of some fun indoor activities to enjoy a rainy day with toddlers? Los Angeles may be known better for its outdoor and sun-loving sport but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have plenty of indoor kid-friendly fun. For those few weeks of the year when the rain pours over the desert, Los Angeles has a lot of ways to love the wet and cold. Your kids don’t need to hide indoors driving you crazy; get out and experience all…
“I’m not getting off the ship.” Our cruise ship dinner tablemates opined when asked if they were going to spend the one day in Ensenada, Mexico. “Why not?” The older woman smeared butter onto a roll. “No need. There’s not much there to do. I’d much rather have a drink by the pool.” Hmm. I deftly fed my distracted daughter some soup. I sensed a challenge. How could we spend our one day in Ensenada off the ship? Initially, when…
Before I had my daughter, I envisioned her and I sitting at a restaurant, happily sharing exotic cuisine without a fuss. “Hah,” I would chortle in my daydream. “I never have to worry about a picky eater while traveling.” Then somehow Ryan Reynolds would walk by our table. Fantasies aside, I am at heart a realist. In some ways, picky eating can be seen as part of a child’s normal development. It can be seen as a struggle for control or…
Has your smartphone addiction impaired your family travel? Do you long for a tech-free vacation? Me too. I have a love/hate relationship with my phone. There is a strong part of me that likes being able to answer questions like “who is that actress in that movie with the bridge?” Or my personal favorite: “why is my two-year-old screaming at 2 AM?” On the other hand, I don’t like that this terribly expensive little box seems to control a great…
It seems to be a truth universally acknowledged that once you have kids, you must take them to visit the Mouse. The Mouse is pretty awesome and Disney really caters well to families. I would advise, though, if you only have a day or so, take them to California Adventure instead of Disneyland. I think Disney’s California Adventure toddler-friendliness way exceeds the Disneyland park. If you don’t really think your little one may be ready for the full park experience,…
The garden island of Kauai is known for its rugged beauty (featured in Jurassic Park!), friendly people, laidback lifestyle, and adventure tours. Yup, they like to offer kayaking, hiking through a rainforest to hidden waterfalls, zip lines that rival the Nile in length, boat tours where you can swim to hidden caves, and more. Amazing and life-changing, but not necessarily family-friendly. And honestly, Kauai is SUPER keiki-friendly. If you are looking for Kauai toddler activities (beyond the beach), look no further…
It’s no secret that my family loves to eat. Though my 3-year-old recently had trended more towards the “chicken nuggets and French Fry” diet (i.e. ketchup), she is still fairly adventurous when she’s hungry. So when we recently visited Hawaii, I knew we needed to spend some time exploring the ‘ono foods on Kauai. Full disclosure: many of these foods can be found on other Hawaiian islands, but I’ve included places on Kauai suitable for foodie families. There is also…