ML Interest Tag: vacation

Off the Handlebars: The Ultimate Staycation

by allison ellis

Sorry we missed you. We are currently not checking email, Twitter, or your Facebook status updates detailing your $1,500 a night “glamping vacation.” We are enjoying our very own 3-day “ultimate staycation,” replete with onsite spa services, a fully-equipped kitchen, washer/dryer, children’s library, chef, butler and wi-fi, just steps from a beach, pool, waterfall, hiking trails and an 18-hole golf course.

We haven’t left the house.

Day 1
Oooh wee! That was a long trip from the back door down the porch steps to the start of our staycation, which begins on our moss-covered aggregate patio. My back hurts. Wah. Time for a massage. I’m opting for the hot stone treatment. The spa menu says that the stones will warm naturally from the Northwest’s own thermal temperature.

Wait. Why aren’t the rocks heating up?

Ah, well. We’re going for it anyway.

Okay, probably not the best massage in the world, but definitely not the worst.

Our accommodations include “indoor tent camping” which I think is a lot better than “outdoor tent camping.” No bugs, no drunken neighbors at nearby campsites, and a real live working toilet and sink ten feet away. Now that’s what I call luxury!

Day 2
We woke up today feeling refreshed, full of energy and ready for adventure. The kids bounded out of the house and explored our onsite organic container garden. And do you know what they found? A TOMATO! In the Northwest! In August! Amazing. We feel blessed by the bounty of this harvest.

The sun came out for a few minutes so we decided to head to the beach.

Next up: extreme sports!

You’d think we’d be wiped out from all of today’s activity, but my son really wants to hike up to the waterfall. Whew! Another incredible adventure. We plugged it in and because there are so many mosquitoes and leaves clogging the thing, we barely got a trickle, but you know what? This is nature to the fullest and we’re soaking up every minute. What a day.

Day 3
It’s rise and shine as everyone’s up for a full day of golf! The brochure didn’t explain that we would need to dig those 18 holes ourselves but that’s okay. Not leaving our staycation-bound compound is shorthand for “some of us could use some exercise.”

Luckily, just as the last of the 18 holes were being dug (and before the man of the house arrived home to see what we’ve been up to) we got in a nice round with friends.

And that concludes our vacation.

So we gotta ask readers — what is your idea of the ultimate staycation? Hot stone massage? Extreme sports? Let us know in the comment section below how awesome your staycations have been this summer. 

— Allison Ellis (she even took the photos. After all, a staycation wouldn’t be complete without some sweet memories, right?)

Editor’s note: This tongue-in-cheek opinion piece is the second in a series of humor essays in a new parenting column for Red Tricycle called “Off The Handlebars.” Love it? Hate it? Let us know what you think.

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Dog-Friendly Hotels and Inns

by Erin Lem

City dog owners often face the predicament of what to do with their faithful companion when they want to make a quick escape. Dog hotels and boarders are a good solution, but costly. Dog-obsessed friends are another remedy. But really, what those puppy dog eyes want is to go with you. So get out of town and take them. Along the coast and in the mountains, dog-friendly hotels abound, here’s some of them, and fun activities and places to eat while you guys are there.

To find where to stay with Fido on your next vacation by reading the full article here from our friends at 7×7.

This is our weekly guest post from our friends at 7×7, a site that keeps you up on the best of SF. We’ve teamed up for an exciting partnership to bring you a fantastic Date Night idea each week. Be sure to check out their blog for hourly doses of the best of SF.

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5 Awesome Art Classes for Kids in Portland

by Katie Kavulla

If you have a little Monet, Chagall or Michelangelo on your hands, but aren’t willing to turn your spare room into an art studio yet, consider signing them up for a children’s art class in Portland. This way, they can let their creativity flow freely and you’ll keep paint off of your carpet! Here are five spots that offer art classes, open-studio times and vacation art camps.

Ano’s Art Academy
If you’re searching for an art program in Portland where your budding Picasso can take a regular class each week, then Ano’s Art Academy is a fantastic option. They offer classes on Tuesday through Saturday for all ages, with specific classes exclusively for 3 – 6 year olds. You can also custom build a private class for a small group of kids, which is a fun idea for getting together regularly with other families. You can even drop off the kids for art and use it as a chance to grab a quick cup of coffee with the other parents!

10220 SW Park Way, Portland
503-292-927

The 100th Monkey Studio
Offering art classes for all ages of artists (from age one through adult), The 100th Monkey Studio is a special studio with a very creative vibe. Because they offer more than just art classes for children, The 100th Monkey truly takes the creativity in its youth program to the next level, while still letting the kids have fun with art. The Messy Monkeys sessions are especially cool – they are drop-in art classes where families can socialize, enjoy a cup of coffee and make art, all at the same time – perfect for rainy day play dates!

110 SE 16th Avenue, Portland
503-232-3457

Gymboree Play & Music
Believe it or not, Gymboree offers some of the best art classes for kids in Portland. With two locations, one in Cedar Hills and one near Bridgeport Village, they offer art classes for kids as young as 18-months old. Gymboree art classes are also a great option for families with artists of varying ages. They have Family Art Classes where children ages 18-months to 5-years old can participate together to create art. Don’t forget to ask to try a class for free before signing up!

Two locations in the Portland area – see their website to pick the one closest to you

Multnomah Arts Center 
A wonderful art program that is via the Portland Parks and Recreation Department, families love coming to MAC for classes! Children can start as young as 18-months, with parent involvement, and there are a few different classes to pick from including themed-classes or classes where getting messy while making art is the goal. Bonus points to MAC for keeping class prices low – a typical 5-week session will run you around $40. 

7688 SW Capitol Highway, Portland
503-823-2787

My Masterpiece Art Studio
An art studio that was born from the arts programs being cut from Portland Public Schools, My Masterpiece Art Studio is run by two moms with backgrounds in art, history and education. They offer a variety of classes for preschoolers, toddlers and school-aged kids to learn about art and techniques. We think their open-studio sessions are especially cool – no reservations are needed and the studio is open for you and your kids to get creative!

Parkside Business Center, 7905 SW Cirrus Drive #27G, Beaverton
503-453-3700

– Katie Kavulla

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Follow the Sun to Fun!

by writerredtri

Are you craving an escape from these cooler temperatures? Wondering when you’ll able to experience real, true summer? We hear you, Seattleites! Everyone deserves a moment (make that lots of moments) in the sun, so we’ve compiled a list of places where you might find yours. Catch your well-deserved rays while camping, exploring new places, or playing outside with the kiddos. Here’s hoping you’ll have a sun-filled time!

(Of course, sunshine is never a sure thing, so check weather forecasts before hitting the road.)

Head to the coastal sea town of Seabrook, WA. It’s the closest sandy beach on the Pacific Ocean (did somebody say sandcastles?) and a great place for bike riding and kite flying!

Find out why Lake Chelan (pictured) is called “nature’s playground.” There are tons of activities (on the lake and off) to wow the little ones and chances are the sun will greet you when you arrive.

Situated in the “rain shadow,” a frequently rain-free area, San Juan Island is the perfect sunny escape! Orca whale-watching season lasts from now until October 15, you can take any number of hikes (including one to a lighthouse), and there are all kinds of festivals going on all year round.

Intrigued by the San Juan Island area? You and the fam can enjoy a camping experience at Camp Orkila on Orcas Island, the largest of the San Juan Islands. There are several types of camps to chose from, including a Family Camp. Picture a sunset campfire that doesn’t involve chilly children. Yep, sounds good to us, too.

Sure, you might associate Suncadia with wintertime, but don’t write it off just yet. There are lots of reasons to visit this resort and every chance that you’ll catch some sun if you do! Hike, bike, fish, or boat with the family. The resort even has pre-arranged Family Programs.

Get in touch with the great outdoors as part of the Olympic Park Institute Family Program. The camp offers seven individual experiences for families to choose from and is located on the gorgeous Olympic Peninsula on Lake Crescent. Though the area’s climate can be affected by the nearby mountains and sea, summers are usually fair to warm.

Bend & Sunriver has over 300 sunny days a year. We feel like that’s enough incentive to visit, but if you need more: there are museums, hikes, and a swim center just waiting for you to enjoy. And, if your idea of a sunny vacation doesn’t exclude snow, you can always enjoy skiing and other “winter” activities.

Spend some time at one of the best kids’ camps in the Northwest, Camp Seymour. Family camps are offered throughout the year, with lots of different vacation and recreation activities. The camp is located in Gig Harbor, where the Cascade Range and the Olympic Mountains serve as barriers to easterly and northerly weather systems and the weather is usually ideal.

Make a day-trip out of a visit to the Camano Island/Stanwood area. Though the population swells during summer months, the area still has an isolated feel to it. Camano Island’s protected location (offered by Saratoga Passage to the west, Skagit Bay to the north, and Port Susan to the east) offers less chills and more sunny thrills.

—Abigail Matsumoto

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Daddy & Me Photo Contest Finalist #14

by Tuba Ugurulu

Drum roll please… Here are the finalists of the Daddy & Me Photo contest! Warning: These pictures will crack you up and will warm your heart. Now it’s time to vote for your favorite submission!

Send an email to promo@tinybeans.go-vip.net with city name along with the finalist’s number. Example: “Seattle 18”. The picture with the most votes wins!

Finalist #14

We made a trip to Disneyland to celebrate Molly’s 5th birthday.  Going to Disneyland was like a dream come true for us.  Daddy reads Molly Disneyland vacation brochures at bedtime and she often wakes up and tells us that she dreamed of Main Street. Crystal Pierce

Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Next

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Jackie MacDougall's Family Favorites in LA

by Tuba Ugurulu

You all know the heartwarming story of LA’s brave mom Jackie MacDougall from The Silver Whining blog. (And if you don’t, you really should visit her blog, which was one of our top LA Mommy Blog picks.) Here, Jackie tells her family favorites and shares Los Angeles’ hottest family spots with Red Tricycle moms.

What is your favorite family ritual?
Pizza/family movie night! Every week, we pick a film the kids haven’t seen, often a classic (ET, Willie Wonka, Benji, etc.). After a hectic week, it’s our time to completely shut out the rest of the world — no laptops, phones or video games allowed! And when the movie’s over… my husband and I often end up sharing our own childhood stories with the kids.

Where do you like to catch a bite with the little one in tow?
Given our kids are 6, 5 and 4, we don’t often head out for meals. But when we do, we’re always on the hunt for a menu that helps kids branch out in a fun, healthful way.

Describe a perfect Sunday with your family.
Sunday is the only day we don’t have to be on a schedule or out the door early. We take the morning to sip coffee, let the kids just “be,” and decide what we’re going to do with the day. Sometimes, that includes an “adventure” somewhere in the LA area… but sometimes, it just means enjoying each other and making a pact to embrace the day.

What is your favorite pearl of wisdom for a frazzled new mom to find her happiness?
Stop trying to achieve perfection. Who are you killing yourself to impress? Babies need simple things — food, shelter, love. Forget what everyone else is doing and treat yourself the way you would treat your best friend. You have enough going on — adding your own expectations and pressure on top of that isn’t helping anyone.

What are your family’s favorite venues for catching live musical performances?
Outside venues are the best. We love grabbing a blanket, picnic and listening to music under the stars. It allows the kids to get the bugs out and reminds us that it’s important to re-connect with our pre-kid grownup.

What’s your favorite local vacation or day trips?
We love going to Ventura over the summer. I swear renting one of those little boats for an hour and getting away from it all is a perfect, inexpensive way to get in touch with peace and recharge your batteries — sometimes it just takes that 60 minutes! And when the crowds start to die down in the late afternoon, that’s when we’ll hit the beach. Playing and watching the sunset is a perfect way to end the day.

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My Mommy Bites' Family Favorites around Los Angeles

by Tuba Ugurulu

One of Los Angeles’ Top Mom Blogger Dorothea Coelho from My Mommy Bites shares words of wisdom with Los Angeles moms. From a favorite relaxing spots to places to eat with kids in tow she tells her family favorites in 5 quick questions!

1. What’s your favorite “escape hatch”—a way to put in some “me” time to recharge?

My favorite escape hatch is hiking in Runyon Canyon in the Hollywood Hills. The views are breathtaking and the people watching is classic LA. You can get a great workout, some fresh air, see the Capitol Records building and  the Pacific Ocean as well as ogle at small herds of unemployed actresses hiking in high heels and parachute pants.

2. What’s your favorite local vacation or day trips?

One of my favorite local vacation spots is Paradise Cove in Malibu. It’s a good drive up the PCH when we all need to unwind and see the ocean. Paradise Cove has it’s own beach and a restaurant but you can pack a lunch and hang out all day. Again, great people watching, always a Glee cast member there and yummy French Fries and grilled cheese sandwiches. Another place we like to go to visit the Goodyear Blimp launching pad in Carson. Not much there but an open field and one park bench but when the blimp takes off it is pure magic. And it’s near an IKEA if you need to stock up on weird Swedish knick-knacks and brightly colored dish ware that doesn’t make you weep when it shatters.

3. Where do you shop for your kids clothes?

I only shop for kids clothes at Target and H&M. The prices and the hip factor cannot be beat and who doesn’t love a uber-hipster kid in skinny jeans and an ironic t-shirt for under twenty bucks? I am truly my mother’s daughter when it comes to a bargain and value. I was also very lucky to inherit boxes and boxes of great hand-me-down clothes from a friend with great taste and a nutty, neatness factor. Because of her generosity and OCD I only needed to start shopping for my son when he turned three. Lucky me!!!

4. What are a few of your favorite parks & places to visit with kids and around town?

We LOVE going to Travel Town in Griffith Park to visit the old trains and ride the mini train as well. I have a son who  is train-obsessed and nothing satisfies his choo-choo itch more than a few hours there. And it’s free admission and is small and manageable. We also love The Peterson Automotive Museum, a treasure trove of the coolest, most famous cars in film and television. The Bat Mobile, Grease Lightning and The General Lee are all there for everyone’s nostalgic pleasure and yes, I leave there feeling relaxed yet as old as the sun. How is that possible?

5. Where do you like to catch a bite with the little one in tow?

Our absolutely favorite place to eat with Otto is a small, hole in the wall called Frank’s on Fairfax. They have the best breakfast burrito I have ever had and the owners love kids as much as a mall santa loves a cigarette break. The are the sweetest people and the best cooks. Also, we adore Sushi Time on Beverly Blvd. Unbelievable sushi and they are so lovely to our son and so welcoming. Did I mention the yellow tail???? Like butter… If it has to be a chain restaurant with thousands of tables and electronic table finders than Maggiano’s at The Grove. But that is only with a group of kid friends and an appetite for destruction.

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Los Angeles’ Smart Wife Carin Goldstein’s Mommy Tips

by Tuba Ugurulu

One of Los Angeles’ Top Mom Bloggers, Carin Goldstein, a wife, a mother, and a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, help moms improve the quality of their lives on her blog Be The Smart Wife.  Now she is coming to help Red Tricycle moms find the best kid friendly places to eat, play and shop! Here’s Carin’s family favorites in town in 5 quick questions. Be the smart mom and check them out!

1. What’s your favorite “escape hatch”—a way to put in some “me” time to recharge?

The Starbucks up at “The Glen” – the best place for me to catch up on my reading, writing, and calendar planning.  My guilty pleasure “me” time is any day that I visit my favorite boutique, “Anat B.” in Sherman Oaks.

2. What’s your favorite local vacation or day trips?

With the hubby alone to the St. Regis at Dana Point – beyond relaxing.

3. Where do you shop for your kids clothes?

Target: THE best – need I say more??

4. What are a few of your favorite parks & places to visit with kids and around town?

The city’s best kept park secret and our favorite is Briarwood park up in the hills of Bel Air.

5. Where do you like to catch a bite with the little one in tow?

Poquito Mas is a household favorite.  The food is fresh and yummy and we’re easily in and out with the kids which is a priority when dining out with them!

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Land of the Lost

by Jacqui Boland

Are your little ones sick of reading about Eloise in NYC and Madeleine in Paris? Are they hungering for a tale with slightly more local flavor?

Sasquatch Books, a small independent publisher putting out books in the Pacific Northwest and California, has just rolled out the San Francisco version of its “Larry Gets Lost” series. In these books, the titular, curious dog gets separated from his owner, Pete. They’ve already put out a Seattle version, and in the SF version, while Pete and his family are on vacation, Larry, chasing after a doughnut, winds up running up and down the city¹s streets and hills and past famous landmarks like Alamo Square, AT&T Park, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Cliff House. The story’s colorful, retro-inspired illustrations bring the beloved city highlights to life, and make them seem magical again even to a jaded city kid who walks past them every day.

Taking a romp through the city doesn¹t have to be exhausting – just add it to your bedtime story ritual!

Larry Gets Lost
Order from your favorite local independent bookstore or online at www.sasquatchbooks.com

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Meet the Parents (Online)

by Jacqui Boland

Wish there was an easier way to keep tabs on your far-flung family members and let them know what little Harlow or Moses has been up to? You’ve been thinking about jump on the blogging bandwagon but really, who has time to read the WordPress tutorial between diaper changes? That’s why we love the simplicity of Seattle-based myfamily.com. Now in its second generation, myfamily is the free-subscription website that connects family and friends through photos, videos, news pages, and calendars. It’s a photo-sharing, message writing, and organizational site all in one. And it’s got one too-much-fun feature that we’ve never seen anywhere else: voice narration! Through the site’s toll free phone number, you can record yourself talking about the pictures you upload, and your family and friends can listen as they drool over how much fun you’re having on that family vacation (trip to the zoo, first day of school, birthday party). It’s as simple as choosing a name for your site, uploading some photos, writing a few newsy bits and inviting family members and friends to join. Only the people you invite can see your content, and they get to post their own photos and messages for you to enjoy, too. Keeping in touch —and involved in each others’ lives, even across distances —has truly never been easier.

MyFamily

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