ML Interest Tag: gondola

Oakland Zoo Adventure Guide to Animals, Rides and Food

by Tarah Beaven

Have your kids turned feral? You may not think so after a trip to the Oakland Zoo. Herd your wild ones and take them on an adventure for a day of animal sightseeing, experiencing native California wildlife, playing at a new playground and going on carnival rides. Read on for the inside scoop to where over 700 native and exotic animals live.

Map Your Visit

A unique trait of Oakland Zoo is that it’s built into the landscape of the Oakland Hills. The landscape is populated with animals that are native to California and from around the world. Keep your eyes open because you might even stumble upon secret trails throughout the zoo. Because of its size, if your kiddos burn energy fast, be sure to bring a stroller or rent one there (single stroller $7; double $9). Given how vast Oakland Zoo is, grab a map at the zoo entrance and mark all the animals that are must see. The map distinguishes each area so you can maximize what type of animal interests your kids the most. It also has a list of feeding times for the animals—the real animals, not your kiddos.

Pro Tip: There are two entrances to the zoo, Main Entrance and Lower Entrance. Map the animals you want to see and pick the parking lot closest to maximize your walking time. The gift store is at the Main Entrance.

Walk The California Trail

This past summer the Oakland Zoo opened its newest addition: the California Trail. Step onto a gondola and take the free (with paid admission) four-minute ride over an ecological recovery zone that’s filled with native plant habitats for local wildlife, including the endangered Alameda Striped Racer snake.

This birds-eye view will give you a 360 outlook of the Bay Area and on a clear day you can see as far as downtown San Francisco. While riding the gondola be sure to keep an eye out below to see the recently-added American bison. And yes, there are even many baby bison calves to see in the herd too!

The gondola will drop you off at the top of a mountain that has a café, playground, overlook and six (soon to be eight) new native California animals including bald eagles, gray wolves, grizzly bears, American black bears and others.

Walk the “California Trail” to the newly-opened playground and watch your kids go wild! This playground has a stream running through it, a rocky mountain to climb, grassy hills to slide down on mats and a mini zip-line. You’ll want to block out a good amount of time for the kids to run and explore here. And don’t be shocked if you see a black bear climb a tree and hangout on a branch from it’s nearby home.

A Real Safari Adventure

A must experience is a ride on the Safari Train that chugs you to Wild Australia—no passport required. The train loops around the home of wallaroos and emus that freely walk around—and yes, they can even walk right up the train. Wild Australia can only be accessed by train, so be sure to buy tickets at Adventure Landing located near the Main Entrance.

Children’s Zoo

The Children’s Zoo, located near the Lower Entrance, is the prefect area for children to roam, explore and play. This area houses a goat and sheep barn where children can pet and brush the animals. If your child is a reptile lover be sure to stop in at the Reptile and Amphibian House. There’s even a special door only for children to enter through.

Keep your eye out for secret trails and a lily pad hop that your children will love skipping around on. But be careful! One small slip and they’ll fall into a shallow pool of water.

Be Amused

If seeing roaring lions, huge elephants and tiny insects isn’t enough excitement stop by Adventure Landing. You can purchase single tickets ($1.75) or a book of 24 tickets ($24) to ride the Safari Train, carousel, small roller coaster and a handful of carnival rides. Be warned, your thrill seeker child may not want to see the rest of the zoo if you start here first!

Parking & Dining

Because of the zoo’s location, be prepared to shell out $10 for paid parking. Also note that pets are not allowed, they are not even permitted to stay in the car.

There are food kiosks studded all over the zoo with meals and snacks. There are three main cafés located near each entrance and one in the California Trail exhibit.

Pro Tip: The café near the main entrance has a special kid’s meal that comes in a zoo-themed container with animal crackers. Kids go crazy for it. You can see the food options here.

Avoid The Crowds

Get a leg-up on the crowds and plan your visit for a weekday morning. Not only will you avoid the masses but you’ll also have a front seat view to see the animals eating their breakfast.

Admission & Hours

General admission: $24/adult; $20/seniors; $20/children 2-14; children under 2 and adults 76 and over are free
Military discount (with current ID): $18/adult; $15/seniors; $15/children 2-14; children under 2 and adults 76 and over are free
Parking: $10 car parking fee; $15 bus parking fee

Members are free and parking is included in membership!

Hours: Entry 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Gondola 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Adventure Landing Rides 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Contact Yard (in Children’s Zoo) 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; The zoo is closed: Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Oakland Zoo
9777 Golf Links Road
Oakland, CA
(510) 632-9525

Online: oaklandzoo.org

—photos and story by Tarah Beaven

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Navy Pier: Getting Better with Time

by rtlisasnart

Vintage handbags, cheddar, fine wine and Navy Pier . . . all things that get better with time. Navy Pier celebrated the big 1-0-0 in 2016 and with that brought exciting changes that just keep being built upon. Read on to learn more about the iconic Ferris Wheel and activities that make this the top leisure destination in the Midwest.

Navy Pier Ferris Wheel
photo: Navy Pier

Go for a spin. At 196 feet tall and 50 feet larger than the former Ferris Wheel, the Centennial Wheel is the best way to get an overview of the excitement at Navy Pier and take in the Chicago skyline. Believe it or not, the original Ferris Wheel at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exhibition in Chicago was actually larger than the Centennial Wheel, but now you’re riding in style thanks to the cushioned seats, video screens and doors that automatically open and close on each of the 42 gondolas.  If you have a family of daredevils, splurge for a private ride for up to four on the glass bottom gondola.

 

Grab a bite. Having your kids by your side won’t leave you yearning for a better dining experience at Navy Pier because the kid friendly communal area includes views of the water, WiFi access, and lots of food options.  Bubba Gump, DMK Burger and Fish Bar, Harry Caray’s are just a few places serving up sit-down lunch and dinner options. Satisfy your sweet tooth after dinner by stopping into the Original Rainbow Cone at the Pier’s South Dock when its warm and Brown Sugar Bakery all year ’round.

Enjoy being green.  As you wander down the Pier, you can rest assured knowing that the updates brought to the Navy Pier have occurred with the environment in mind.  From the behind the scenes infrastructure to the recently planted trees and benches made from reclaimed wood, the greener Navy Pier allows you to enjoy natural elements in an urban environment.

Navy Pier Fireworks 2
photo: Navy Pier

Don’t forget the old favorites.  The Chicago Children’s Museum, Crystal Gardens, Amazing Chicago’s Funhouse Maze, IMAX theatre and boat rides are some of the classic Navy Pier destinations that are not to be missed.  No need to worry because these attractions are still around the updated Navy Pier, as is the fireworks display that occurs ever Wednesday and Saturday evening Memorial Day to Labor Day weekends.

Navy Pier
600 E. Grand Ave.
Navy Pier
Online at: navypier.com

—Lisa Snart

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Mt. Rainier: Discover A Magical Winter Getaway!

by Annette Benedetti

Living in Portland, you’ve probably hit the slopes at Mt. Bachelor more than once, twice or even three times. If your family is ready for a new mountain experience, you are in luck! Mt. Rainier National Park is only a two to three hour drive North of Portland and offers a multitude of winter activities and adventures that the whole clan will love. From sledding and snowshoeing to gondola and tram rides through the wilderness, this mountain experience will bring your nature-loving crew back again and again.


photo: by Annette Benedetti

Getting to Mt. Rainier 

The entrance to  Mt. Rainier National Park  closest to Portland is the Nisqually entrance located in Ashford, Washington. To get to there by car head North on I-5 to Hwy. 12 (exit 68) then head East on Hwy. 12 to SR 7. In Morton, head North on SR 7 to SR 706 in Elbe. From there go East on SR 706, which will take you to the Nisqually Entrance.

Mt. Rainier National Park
Online: nps.gov/mora/index.htm

Winter Adventures Await

Mt. Rainier offers plenty of opportunities to take winter activities to the next level. The mountain offers spectacular views that you won’t find anywhere else and the likelihood of running into wildlife, including dear and elk, is high. If you aren’t sure where to begin, consider some of the following activities.

The Paradise Snow Play Area
Your kids won’t be able to get enough of this area, which is the only area that that allows sleds. They will kill hours racing down the slopes on disks and tubes that fulfill their need for speed. The snow play area is located north of the upper parking lot at Paradise and is open from mid-December through the end of March.

photo: Seth Stoll via Flickr

Snowshoeing
During the summer months, Mt. Rainier has and endless number of trails that give you access to breathtaking mountainscapes. Now imagine being able to leave the trail and see what’s beyond the defined paths! Well, you can do just that once the snow has become too deep to see trails. Snowshoeing is an activity that even the younger set can enjoy. If you are new to the mountain or snow shoeing, consider signing up for a ranger guided tour at Paradise. And added bonus of the tours is that snowshoes are provided by the park and there is only a suggested donation of $5.00 for both the tour and the equipment. They are offered from mid-December through early March. There are over thirty Snowshoe trail descriptions you can check out by visiting visitrainier.com.

Ride Crystal’s Mt. Rainier Gondola
See Mt. Rainier from the sky! This gondola ride will take you to the Crystal Mountain summit for unforgettable mountain views. Your family will “ooh” and “ah” as you travel almost 2,500 vertical feet to the summit where you will be able to see Mt. Rainier in all of it’s glory as well as the Cascade Range.

Cost: $22/adult, $17/youth ages 11-15 and $5/child 10 years and under.
Online: crystalmountainresort.com/activities/mt-rainier-gondola

Once at the summit, you can hit the Summit House, Washington’s highest elevation restaurant. Warm up with some Bison and Elk chili or fill up with a Rainier burger, better known as “The Mountain”. There’s even a kids menu offering favorites such as butter noodles and parmesan and the classic cheeseburger. For more information visit crystalmountainresort.com/summit-house-restaurant.

photo: courtesy of Three Bears Lodge

Take a Tram Ride
Break out the blankets and warm clothes because you don’t want to miss this chance to view native Northwest animals in their natural winter environment. Catch the tram at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park in Eatonville and tour 435 acres of free-roaming area of park. See who has the best eye in your family and try to spot bison, caribous, elk, mountain goats, deer and moose. If you are lucky an animal may even approach the tram.

11610 Trek Dr. E., Eatonville
Online: nwtrek.org

photo: courtesy of Three Bears Lodge

Family Accommodations

While you can make a visit to Mt. Rainier a day trip, there’s so much to do that planning a full weekend away (or longer) will give you ample time to get a real taste of what the mountain has to offer your clan. If your crew prefers to stay in a hotel or lodge setting, consider staying at the Nisqually Lodge in Ashford. Your stay comes with comfortable accommodations and amenities like Free Wi-Fi, TV and air conditioning and heat. They also serve a full continental breakfast every morning between 7 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., which features waffles, sausage, scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy and more so you can power up for the active day ahead.

Renting a cabin is another attractive lodging option. Three Bears Lodge offers eight cabins just outside the year-round Paradise entrance to the national park in Ashford. The cabins accommodate groups of all sizes and the owners of the cabins have kids themselves so they have designed six of the 8 cabins specifically for families with young children. These cabins come with highchairs, boosters, toys, cribs and anything else you could imagine you might need. All of the cabins have fully equipped kitchens that have the supplies for a complimentary waffle breakfast. If you choose this lodging option, the only thing you need to bring with you is food.

If you have furry family members, good news, four of the Three Bears Lodge cabins are pet-friendly and equipped with amenities just for fido including a doggie basket; which includes dog tags with the cabin address and phone number; dog towels; a sticky roller for hair removal; dog treats and plastic baggies. They also provide a washable dog bed and food and water bowls.

Nisqually Lodge
31609 SR 706 E., Ashford
Online: whitepasstravel.com/nisqually/

Three Bears Lodge
206-241-8080
Online: rainierlodging.com

Has your family been to Mt. Rainier National Park? If so, tell us about your experience in the comments section below.

—Annette Benedetti

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Ship Ahoy!: 9 Ways to Hop a Boat With the Kids

by rtgretchenkunz

We New Yorkers are surrounded by water, constantly going over, under and around it. But most of us — with the exception of many Staten Island commuters, of course — don’t really spend a lot of time on the water. Taking a boat ride, be it big or small, powered by wind, feet, or diesel fuel is a great way to enjoy the city with kids. Here are some of the coolest ways to go boating in NYC, for all kinds of reasons. Click through to see our seafaring picks!

For Paddle Boats and More: NYC Parks

You don’t have to go any further than one of your local parks to have a boatful of fun.  Central Park boasts the famous Loeb Boathouse on the lake, where you can rent rowboats or kayaks to paddle under your own power, or take a ride in an authentic Venetian gondola for a little bit of Italy in NYC.  In Queens and Brooklyn, Wheel Fun Rentals can get you in a pedal boat or kayak at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, LeFrak Center at Lakeside Prospect Park, Marine Park or the World's Fair Marina.  In Staten Island, you can rent a row or paddleboat at Clove Lakes Park, and in the Bronx you can get in some free rowing on weekends at Hunts Point Riverside Park via Rocking The Boat.

Where is your favorite place to explore the seas around the Big Apple?

—Gretchen Kunz

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Off-Season Day Trip: Explore Crystal Mountain (Minus the Snow)

by Erin Cranston

Have you been meaning to zoom off on a day trip, hoof it on a hike or spy a stunning peak all summer, but somehow playdates, summer camps and spray parks got in the way? Never fear, busy parents. Summer is not over, and we have the perfect place to do all three—Crystal Mountain Resort. This splendid spot not only has views of stunning, snow-capped peaks, walks through vibrant valleys and lots of room to roam, but a thrilling mountainside ride and enticing edibles sure to please your whole brood.

Way More Than Snow
When most of us think about the mountains in our fair state, we think of sparkling snow, lift lines and lots (and lots!) of skiing or snowboarding. Why would you go to Crystal when the snow’s all gone? Luckily, the folks at Crystal Mountain Resort have created a summertime wonderland for us nature-inclined families, with lots of trails, wildflowers for miles, spots to get your nosh on and treats to keep your brood busy, plus an eye-popping ride to the top.

Head East, Young Man
Most folks will head to Crystal Mountain via Enumclaw, which is usually the most direct route from the city. If the Littles get grumpy before you hit your ultimate destination, plan a pit-stop in uber-friendly Greenwater, which is about 21 miles east of Enumclaw. Grab a potty break and an ice cream at world-famous Wapiti Woolies (their hats have been on Mount Everest), or grab a snack (and a beer for you) on the huge, sun-filled patio at the historic Naches Bar and Grill before you make your way up the mountain. This is also a perfect place to stop on your way home when the words “I have to pee” inevitably fall from your little one’s lips. InsiderTip: If you elect to take 410 before Greenwater, expect 30-40 minute delays on Chinook Pass Mon.-Fri. because of avalanche control work.

Foodie Finds
Once you’ve hit the base of Crystal, find a spot in the ginormous parking lot and make your way to the Resort. There, you’ll find a few food options for your nature-starved (or just starved) brood. For an easy meal at the base, check out the All American Lunch Box food truck, open weekends for lunch from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.(ish). Burgers, dogs, brats, salads and more await you at this convenient spot to fuel up, and the flower-covered patio is a great place for your mini-me to walk out the wiggles while you nosh at the umbrella-ed picnic tables.

If you’re looking for a little more scenery with your salad, look to the tippy-top of Crystal to the Summit House Restaurant, Washington’s highest elevation eatery at a whopping 6,872 feet. A variety of salads, seafood dishes, Northwest-themed sammies and steak are available for grownups, while the kids’ menu offers burgers, PB&J, buttered noodles and more. Reservations are strongly recommended (and do not include the cost of a trip up the mountain), though not required, and patio seating is first come, first served. Insider Tip: The tables Inside have a view too.

If you’re raring to get your adventure on, skip the restaurants and grab pre-made sammies, bottled drinks and snacks at the Mountain Shop Market before you head to the summit, or grab your grub (and a beer) at the Summit Shop, located just below the gondola at the top of the mountain.

Up, Up and Away
Yes, we said gondola! The super cool Mount Rainier Gondola will whisk your whole family a dizzying and breathtaking 2,500 feet up, up, up to the summit of Crystal Mountain. Check out the stupefying views and the peaceful silence (you can dream, right?) in the steady and air-conditioned car, which seats eight, including wheelchairs and the family dog. At the top, plan on spending at least an hour taking in the nearly 360 degree jaw-dropping views of Mount Rainier and the Cascade Range. Wood and canvas lounge chairs are set up to stretch your legs and gaze on Rainier, or you can walk (or run) the wiggles out on the various trails along the summit with even better viewpoints.  If you’re lucky, Rainier will decide to show her pretty face while you’re gawking. Insider Tip: If you’d like to save money, and your crew is of the extra hearty variety, hike up Crystal. One way gondola rides down the mountain are free (and you deserve it!). Just don’t forget sun hats and sunblock, shade is not in abundance at the summit.

Adventurama
If the road trip, dizzying gondola ride and dessert with a view isn’t enough to whet your adventuring whistle, there are a few other fun frolics to keep the kiddos (and you) busy ’til closing time. The free Crystal Mountain Disc Golf Course offers 30 holes and two courses to get your frisbee on. The Lower Course stays at the base, while the Summit Course involves a gondola ride and a gradual hike down the mountain. (Don’t forget your hiking boots!). Speaking of hiking boots, there are a variety of hiking trails covering Crystal to get your blood pumping, from toddler-riffic to downright difficult. Download the Crystal Mountain app or print out the Hiking Trail Map and plan your trek.

If you have an equine aficionado in your family, then horseback riding with Crystal Mountain Outfitters will be right up your trail. Rides last 3-6 miles (or all day for folks 12 and older) through early Sept.; leave a message at 509-895-9120 to check availability. Finally, if you’d just like to lay low and toss a horseshoe or two, various free lawn games like badminton, volleyball, bean bag toss and yes, horseshoes are available to check out at the Mountain Shop.

Crystal Mountain Resort
33818 Crystal Mountain Blvd.
Enumclaw, Wa 98022
Hotline: 888-754-6199
Main Office: 360-663-2265
Online: crystalmountainresort.com

Mount Rainier Gondola
Open: Through Sept. 21, 2014
Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Closes daily at 5:30 p.m. starting Sept. 2, 2014.
Cost: Adults (13-64) $22; Children (4-12) $12; 3 and under Free

Summit House Restaurant
Open: Through Sept. 21, 2014
Hours: Sun.-Thurs., 10:30 a.m.-4:45 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Closes daily at 4:45 p.m. starting Sept. 2, 2014.

Do you think you’ll visit Crystal Mountain before the snow returns? Have you already visited this summer? Let us know about your experience in a comment below!

–Erin Cranston

Photos courtesy of: Katie Christiansen, Erin Cranston and Crystal Mountain Facebook page

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SkyView: What You Need to Know About Atlanta’s Ferris Wheel

by Phebe Wahl

The largest portable ferris wheel in the United States (it’s nearly 20 stories high), SkyView provides riders with magical city views coupled with a birds-eye view of whatever is going on at Centennial Olympic Park—which during the holidays means lots and lots and lots of twinkling lights. Here’s what you need to know before you go.

Photo: SkyView Atlanta via Facebook

What to Expect Since SkyView is still so new, you might expect to wait a little while (generally no more than 20 minutes after you’ve bought your tickets) before boarding your gondola. Although outdoors, the waiting area is covered and has several fans aimed at the line. A photographer is on hand to capture your “before” image as you wait in line, which you can purchase with it’s digitally re-mastered background after you exit the ride. Each air-conditioned gondola is filled with only people in your party (unless someone is riding alone, in which case individuals are put into a gondola with another party), and can accommodate up to six people. Inside the gondola are two benches that face each other, and the view on the way up is to the West, while your view on the way down faces East. During your initial rotation you will likely stop several times as they continue to load the wheel, but then on your second, third, and fourth rotations you’ll be rolling with few interruptions. The entire trip once your securely tucked into your gondola takes about 15 minutes. Where to Go Located near the intersection of Luckie Street and Centennial Olympic Park, SkyView is easily accessible from either the Interstate or any major in-town artery. You can find it just South of Centennial Olympic Park (near the water fountains), and there is parking in an unattended lot immediately next to the ferris wheel (plan on paying $10 to park in the lot closest to the wheel, or $5 to park a few blocks away). Making a day of downtown? Park at the deck for the Aquarium and the World of Coke, and leave your car there all day until you and your crew of exhausted littles scream “Uncle!” and head towards home. TIP: In the event that you do decide to hit one of the other attractions downtown (see our article on the Coolest Month Ever to decide among the Children’s Museum, the World of Coke, and the Aquarium), be sure to head to SkyView first. A moderately long walk from the Aquarium/ World of Coke parking lot will be much better tolerated on the front end of your day than on the back end. When to Go SkyView is open 7 days a week, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and from 10:00 a.m. to midnight Thursday through Saturday. On Sunday, SkyView opens at noon and closes at 10:00 p.m. TIP: Since it’s summer and absolutely none of our kids are staying up until dark since that would be waaaay after bedtime (wink, wink), a daytime trip to SkyView is best made any time from 10:00 a.m. until about 5:00 p.m. The crowds are thinner, the lines are shorter, and if you go in the morning, the heat is less stifling. Be aware, however, that they’ll shut the whole thing down if it’s lightning (as those are some fireworks nobody wants to see up close).  What to Take Since we’re parents, the idea of specifying what to take to an attraction like this is a little redundant. We’ve got our emergency kits filled with changes of clothes, diapers, drinks, and snacks pretty well figured out. However, since SkyView currently has no restroom options beyond the port-a-potty at the back of the lot, be sure to empty bladders before you go and bring your hand sanitizer in case you must go where no mother wants to go with kids. The nearest concessions are in Centennial Park, so certainly bring water. And, since the ride will rock their world (bring your camera!) and they will not want to leave, it might not be a bad idea to sneak a few dum-dums into the side pocket of your bag. We’re just keeping it real. What Not to Take Basically, don’t take anything you wouldn’t take to the airport, and also be sure to leave Fido at home (as if any sane mom would tote all her kids downtown plus the pooch). If you’re doing a strategic strike on the ferris wheel alone and don’t plan to hit any of the other downtown attractions, you may not need a stroller, depending on the number of kids you have in tow (strollers aren’t allowed in the gondola, but there is a stroller parking area located near the base of the wheel).

What Else Being one of the first to experience Atlanta’s newest attractions is pretty cool, but if your pack is super posh, you can purchase tickets to the VIP gondola, replete with leather seats, tinted windows, a glass floor, and no waiting in line. For the birthday planners out there, email SkyView’s dedicated event coordinator to begin brainstorming together on the best birthday party ever. Why to Go While a trip into the heart of downtown can sometimes present a challenge (one way streets, construction, or events that we’ve never even heard about that attract thousands of people to a six square block area and catch us by surprise), SkyView is worth the effort. Does Superman fly? Yes. Does Spiderman defy gravity? Yes. Can your kid (and you) feel like a Superhero as you slice through the sky on a giant ferris wheel? Absolutely. Go. Be a Superhero. Details: SkyView Atlanta, 168 Luckie Street NW, Atlanta, Ga 30303, Adults $14.45, Seniors and Military $13.00, Children 3 and older $9.10, Children 2 and younger free What do you think of Atlanta’s new ferris wheel? Tell us below! –Shelley Massey All photos courtesy of the author

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Top of the World, Ma: Santa Monica’s Pacific Wheel

by kim orchen cooper

“I’m flying, like Peter Pan and Tinkerbell,” giggles the 5 year old next to you. That pinch of pixie dust sure worked, because suddenly you also feel like like you’ll never grow up.  And even prettier than the sites of London is the sand, sea, and sunset as you soar over the Santa Monica Pier.   A spin on this wheel takes you straight back to childhood, taking your own kids with you…

It’s So Easy, Being Green
Super progressive energy-conscious Santa Monica installed this Pacific Wheel in 2008, the world’s first solar-powered Ferris wheel, replacing the 1996 original that sold on eBay with proceeds benefiting the Special Olympics.  Well, well, a worldview to feel good about as you ascend 9 stories above the Strand.

Choices, Choices
Young riders soaring at heights of 3-1/2 feet can spin solo, or be accompanied by a grown up, who can stretch out in a gondola with actual legroom.  Choose from oodles of options for tickets:  single rides are a bargain at $5 while unlimited rides are less than $16 for the 7 & under set.  Adventure-seekers who can’t imagine a day without dizziness opt for an annual pass ($99).  Peruse Pacific Park’s website before visiting, and you just may find a nifty discount.

But Mom, I’m Huuuuuungry
When disequilibrium sets in, it’s time for a snack break.  Among the surfers, fishermen, body builders and sun worshipers below, pick a spot to picnic with your pint-sized posse, digging tiny toes into the sparkling sand nearby.  Small fry insisting on park fare will find fast food outposts (Taco Bell and Pizza Hut are popular; Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf presents healthier options).

Pacific Park at Santa Monica Pier
Free park admission, rides and games extra
Open 365 days; hours vary (generally 11:00 am – 9:00 pm, until midnight Fri. & Sat.)
Online: www.pacpark.com

Insider Tips:

— When kids get tired and need a change of scene (as kids do…) you are right next to a fabulous beach playground with mini monkey bars and swings for all sizes, all with a free view of the sunset.

— Parking at the Pier can be a pricy proposition (say that 10 times, fast!).  Try the $1/hour lot for 2 hours, at the end of Seaside Way, just south of the main Pier lot.  Or check out the metered parking off the 1700 block of Appian Way; Pacific Terrace has $2/hour meters, good for 5 hours from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm.  Or strap the tiny tots into the stroller (bring your own – no room for rentals on the Pier), and walk from Santa Monica Place parking at Colorado and 2nd Street.

Do you have any tips or tricks for visiting the Santa Monica ferris wheel with your fam?

— Kim Orchen Cooper

Images courtesy of Kim Orchen Cooper.

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