It’s been a year, and we need savvy parents like you to help local families navigate the ups and downs of life in Seattle!
Do you love exploring your city with your family, uncovering local hidden gems, and then dishing to your friends about your awesome weekend? Are you a parent or caregiver living in the Seattle area with kids between the ages of 0-10? Are you active in the digital writing/blogging community? If you answered yes to these questions, then Red Tricycle & Tinybeans wants you!
Red Tricycle/Tinybeans is looking for talented Seattle-based writers to join our team and contribute stories to our Seattle metro market. Ideal candidates must:
• Have a firm grasp of the English language, excellent grammar and punctuation skills.
• Be active in the writing and blogging community with published work (either print or online).
• Possess an intense curiosity and excitement to explore the city and dig deep (both online and in the real world) to find off-the-beaten-path story ideas and insider tips.
Our mission is simple: to help busy parents have more fun with their kids!
Good luck!
To apply Email Us at allison.sutcliffe (at) tinybeans.com your cover letter, resume, and writing sample with “Seattle Writer” in the subject line.
Calling all Target lovers! Now you can combine your love of the bullseye retailer and your prowess as a property owner in a whole new game: Target Monopoly!
Target and Hasbro are bringing shopping enthusiasts a limited edition version of Monopoly that you can finally get now. Monopoly: Target Edition plays the same way the OG version does, but with all the things that make Target the magical place it is.
Instead of buying property, you get to pick up Target items, and in typical Target Circle fashion you can earn tokens that will help you increase your savings. When you pass GO, go ahead and buy those items in your Target basket! To win, be the player with the most savings at checkout.
“Monopoly: Target Edition is the latest example of how we are always exploring new ways to spark moments of joy with all of our guests within our curated assortment of fan-favorite and Target-exclusive games and toys,” says Nik Nayar, senior vice president, hardlines, Target.
The limited edition game is available now stores and Target.com.
‘Tis the season for sunshine, exploring and making memories! To help you get the most out of your summer, we’ve teamed up with Go RVing to give you everything you need to plan an epic family vacation. Get our guide here!
From Los Angeles
Ventura
Venture to Ventura for laid-back, small-town vibes just outside of Los Angeles. Spend the day relaxing with the sun, the surf in the sand, or board the Island Packers Ferry for a trip out to Channel Islands National Park. This awe-inspiring park is made up of five remote islands. While you enjoy your hikes and photo ops, you'll need to bring your own drinking water and plan to pack out your trash, since the park does not have the same services as more accessible parks. Once you've finished your exploring, plan a night at Ventura Beach RV Resort where you can walk to the beach or bike to the pier. Bonus: The resort includes a free pancake breakfast each Sunday.
Solvang
Check out California's Little Denmark with a stop in Solvang. Snack on authentic Danish pastries while you wander through the windmills and Scandinavian-designed buildings. As you explore downtown and learn about Danish culture, hop on the horse-pulled Solvang Trolley to get around town! If your little one is an animal lover, surprise them with a stop at OstrichLand, where you'll get up closer and personal with ostriches and emus. Flying Flags RV Resort and Campground is just outside of Solvang, and has plenty of playgrounds and an off-leash dog park to entertain everyone.
Big Sur
With a trip to Big Sur, getting to your locale is part of the fun! Spend a day driving along the Pacific Coast Highway for jaw-dropping views of the bright blue ocean over dramatic cliffs. When you're ready for a stop (and your driver wants to take in the views) plan a pit stop at Lucia Lodge for lunch and potential whale spotting. You'll love the delicious food and the kids will be excited for the postcard they get at the end of the meal. Plan to stay the night at Riverside Campground, a 34-site campground with a restaurant that will bring you a picnic so you can dine in the riverbed.
When you're ready for wifi and phone service again, make your way up to Monterey for more oceanside exploring. Spend your morning walking around Cannery Row and plan an afternoon at Monterey Bay Aquarium—home to over 20,000 marine animals including sea otters, penguins, sharks, jellyfish and so much more. After an exciting day in town, wind down at Marina Dunes RV Park located just north of Monterey. This RV park has its own glamping section and is a quick walk to the beach or trails.
You've heard of Paso Robles for being a wine-focused destination, but this so-cute spot offers loads of family-friendly entertainment as well! Spend the day exploring one of the many local wineries with kid-friendly activities like free gelato, epic zip lines and a kids grape tasting. At night, check out the Sensorio light show which was featured in The New York Times as #6 in “50 Places to Visit in 2020”. When it comes to a place to stay, plan a stay at Cava Robles RV Resort, which is equipped with pools, spas, fire pits, a wellness center, and dog parks!
From San Francisco
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe's giant freshwater lake makes it the perfect stop on a summer road trip! Rent paddleboards or kayaks to explore the crystal-clear waters, and plan a hike to see the Balancing Rock at DL Bliss State Park—a 250,000-pound boulder balancing on a small amount of granite. Relax at Tahoe Valley RV Resort, where kids can enjoy movie nights, game nights and a pancake breakfast!
Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Did you know sequoias can grow over 250 feet tall? Learn about some of the oldest and largest sequoias on a trip to Calaveras Big Trees State Park. Explore the park on foot by hiking through the North and South Groves, along with checking out ancient volcanic formations. Once you've seen the trees up close, see more of the area via raft with a trip on the North Fork of the Stanislaus River through OARS. Golden Pines RV & Campground is close to everything you'll want to see and has 22 RV sites with electric, water and sewer.
Mountains, 200 miles of biking and hiking trails, and over 300 days of sunshine a year? Count us in. Redding has a lot you'll want to see, like the Sundial Bridge and Lassen Volcanic National Park, but be sure to scoop out some time for Shasta State Historic Park where you can learn about the gold rush and see the ruins of where a bustling city once stood. JGW RV Park has everything you'll need for a great stay: tons of wildlife and fishing along with a heated pool and strong wifi.
Make a stop at Six River National Forest, which is made up of one million acres of land, four counties and six rivers. Plan to spend your day rafting on one of those six rivers with Redwood Rides, where you can do a mellow float or kick up the adrenaline with rapids. Mad River Rapids RV Park is just outside of the national forest and is only two miles to the beach!
Humboldt Redwoods State Park is California's largest redwoods park and is home to several of the world's tallest trees. Plan to drive Avenue of the Giants, a 31-mile portion of historic Highway 101 that winds through the park. While at the park, check out Redwoods EdVentures for kid-friendly quests that let little ones earn patches for their accomplishments while exploring. Plan to stay at Giant Redwoods RV Park, which has river-view sites and an outdoor theater.
It’s been a year, and we need savvy parents like you to help local families navigate the ups and downs of life in NYC!
Do you love exploring your city with your family, uncovering local hidden gems, and then dishing to your friends about your awesome weekend? Are you a parent or caregiver living in NYC with kids between the ages of 0-10? Are you active in the digital writing/blogging community? If you answered yes to these questions, then Red Tricycle & Tinybeans wants you!
Red Tricycle/Tinybeans is looking for talented NYC-based writers to join our team and contribute stories to our NYC metro market. Ideal candidates must:
• Have a firm grasp of the English language, excellent grammar and punctuation skills.
• Be active in the writing and blogging community with published work (either print or online).
• Possess an intense curiosity and excitement to explore the city and dig deep (both online and in the real world) to find off-the-beaten-path story ideas and insider tips.
Our mission is simple: to help busy parents have more fun with their kids!
Good luck!
To apply Email Us at mimi.oconnor (at) tinybeans.com your cover letter, resume, and writing sample with “NYC Writer” in the subject line.
After having delivered several hundred babies as a midwife in Chicago and New York City, Christine put away the scrubs and moved back home to the Golden State to focus on her own young family. She loves exploring the great outdoors and is happiest any time she is outdoors, preferably on or near water. Christine is thrilled to join the Red Tricycle/Tinybeans team as Bay Area editor and looks forward to combining two of her greatest loves—exploring and writing.
Favorite place to play outdoors: Rockaway Beach in Pacifica. During migration season, whales frolic and play close by so it’s a front-row seat to one of nature’s greatest shows.
Favorite thing to do on a rainy day: Children’s Discovery Museum in San Jose
Favorite restaurant to take the kids: After a day of sailing or windsurfing, we love relaxing at The Bistro at Shoreline Lake
Can’t-live-without mom product: Do coffee and wine count? No? Baby wipes.
Favorite thing about raising kids in the Bay Area: I love that the weather is fantastic year-round which allows for even more time to spend outdoors. Drizzling rain (when it happens!), you have nothing on two feet of snow!
Most unique thing you’ve done with kids locally: Hiked to Alamere Falls in Bonita near Point Reyes. It is unique in that it empties directly into the ocean and is one of only two waterfalls of its kind on the West coast—the other being McWay Falls in Big Sur.
Michelle Obama has been busy! The former First Lady has written a best-selling book that’s now being adapted into a children’s book, and she’s not done yet.
Obama announced today that she is launching a new kids show, Waffles + Mochi. Airing on Mar. 16 on Neflix, the show is all about discovering, cooking and eating good food!
Waffles and Mochi will take kids on adventures all over the world, exploring new recipes and ingredients. The Netflix show is an avenue that extends Obama’s dedication to supporting children’s health.
The former First Lady is also continuing her relationship with Partnership for a Healthy America by getting fresh ingredients to families in need so they can cook together at home.
Don’t forget to tune into Waffles + Mochi on Mar. 16 only on Netflix.
We have all been guilty of being too “plugged in” some days, and our kids are no exception. Screens are here to stay, and finding a happy medium between being online and being in the real world is more critical than ever. Teaching our kids how to balance technology and screen time with hands-on play and discovery is key, and we could use all the help we can get.
Life lesson alert: “You can plug in, but only learn by doing.” No, these words of wisdom didn’t come from Oprah, but from a robot on an uber-cool new kid’s show. Based on the beloved book by Dan Yaccarino, Doug Unplugs is a robo-centric story with a twist from the geniuses at Dreamworks and Apple TV+; and we are here for it. Read on for four life lessons preschoolers (and the rest of us) can learn from Doug and his human and robot buddies!
Doug Unplugs the Joys of Learning
Our hero Doug is driven by curiosity and a sense of wonder as he learns the computer screen doesn’t reveal the full picture. Instead of turning his back on technology, he uses it to enhance his real-life experiences. By combining the usefulness of technology with active learning in the real world, he teaches kids that you can learn by doing!
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
Doug and his high-energy human best friend Emma are the most dynamic duo around! Emma helps Doug navigate the excitement of new experiences in the human world, and for Doug, everything is new! With her natural exuberance, Emma embodies the joy and heart of learning. Combined with Doug's insatiable curiosity for knowledge, Emma and Doug thrive—everything is more fun when you share it!
Community Mindedness
Doug is part of a unique robot crew. Rather than staying contained in his small world at Reboot factory, he goes forth into Megacity! While exploring the real world, he never forgets his roots. Doug shares his knowledge gained on his adventures with his buddies at Reboot! His robo-community thrives while relationships with his family and friends grow as they all enjoy the excitement and discovery together!
Technology With a Purpose
In this show, much like life, tech is essential, but it can't replace a real-life experience! Doug is immersed in tech; heck, he is tech! When he steps away from his automated world of robots to engage with the unpredictable real world, he's in awe of everything around him, big and small—a great reminder that sometimes, it's the little things!
This series encourages kiddos to not just turn to technology when it's time to learn but to use tech to fuel their curiosity, inspiring them to get out and start exploring. Let's face it: sometimes...you just gotta unplug!
Have you ever wondered what goes into making your favorite Pixar films? Disney+ shared the trailer for its new original docuseries Inside Pixar, which will premiere on Nov. 13. The series consists of four collections with five short stories in each collection, centered around a central theme.
The first collection releasing on Friday is “Inspired,” exploring what sparks inspiration and the journey from idea to execution.
Produced by Pixar Animation Studios, Inside Pixar is directed by Erica Milsom and Tony Kaplan, the series offers insights into the personal and cinematic stories that provide an inside look into the people, artistry, and culture of Pixar Animation Studios.
While our favorite playgrounds may still be closed, but there’s plenty of other free ways for kids to have fun at LA’s parks and gardens. Whether you’re looking to take a bike ride or explore a cave, there’s a park that fits the bill. Read on for our list of the best parks for every activity.
If you're up for a little drive, head south to San Pedro's 123-acre park Deane Dana Friendship Park and Nature Center, which offers views of Catalina Island in one direction, and the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountain ranges in the other. Located a short distance from the ocean, the park offers sea breezes and a large grassy bluff, ideal for kite flying.
For a super simple ride, perfect for beginning bikers, check out the 3/4 mile loop at Lacy Park in San Marino. The refurbished wide, paved path that makes a loop around the center of the park is an ideal place to practice brand new bicycle skills. Check out our full list of awesome, car-free bike paths for kids.
Discover the ancient oak trees that abound at Crescenta Valley Community Regional Park in Glendale. The low, thick branches make it easy for little ones to practice their climbing skills safely.
The Arlington Garden in Pasadena offers a drought-tolerant oasis for kids to explore. Here, you'll find a citrus grove, kid-friendly rock maze, a succulent fountain, wishing tree and more. Birds, bees and butterflies all call this garden home and can be seen throughout the year.
There's no better time than now to dine outdoors with the family. For a change of scenery (beyond your backyard), head to one of LA's top secluded picnic spots and enjoy a meal alfresco.
Enter Griffith Park at Canyon Drive and you're a short hike away from the famous Bronson Caves, a must-see for tiny explorers. Go early to beat the crowds (and the heat). For even more cave exploring, check out these beachside grottos.
LA county brings some relief from the heat, opening splash pads and lake beaches around town. (Note: Splash pads at state parks and park operated by the city of Los Angeles and other cities, like Santa Monica and Glendale, remain closed.) See the full list here.
Ready for a little home town adventure? This scavenger hunt idea will have you exploring the San Francisco Bay Area with the kids in a totally COVID-19 safe way. Hop in the car or head out on your bikes to find these Bay Area landmarks and Insta-perfect locations. You can download this scavenger hunt for kids here.
