The Main Street Electrical Parade Is Coming Back to Disneyland for a Limited Time Only

by Shahrzad WarkentinJuly 1, 2019

Disneyland’s Main Street Electrical Parade is headed back to the park to delight young fans and give older ones a big dose of nostalgia. The iconic parade is back for a limited time only, so you’ll want to book your next Disney vacation soon.

The Main Street Electrical Parade was an instant classic from its debut at Disneyland in 1972. The floats covered in thousands of glittering lights and its signature sounds dazzled audiences for decades until it was retired in 1996.

The parade has been modernized and revived several times with the last version parading through the park in 2017. Now Disney Parks is bringing back the fan favorite one more time.

The classic parade with its “electro-syntho-magnetic musical sounds” will be winding its way across Disneyland one more time this summer, nightly from Aug. 2 to Sep. 30.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Courtesy of Scott Brinegar/Disneyland

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All 650 Dressbarn Locations Are Going Out of Business

by Shahrzad WarkentinMay 23, 2019

After more than half a century in business, national retailer Dressbarn has just announced that it will be going out of business.

The chain, which started as a single store in Connecticut, currently operates about 650 locations nationwide. For the time being all locations will remain open for business and will be honoring returns as well as accepting Dressbarn-branded credit cards and gift cards. The company promises to share more information about sales and closing dates as the winding down of business continues over the coming weeks.

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“For more than 50 years, Dressbarn has served women’s fashion needs, and we thank all of our dedicated associates for their commitment to Dressbarn and our valued customers. This decision was difficult, but necessary, as the Dressbarn chain has not been operating at an acceptable level of profitability in today’s retail environment,” said Steven Taylor, Chief Financial Officer of Dressbarn in a statement.

He continued, “During the wind down process, we will continue to provide our customers with the same great experience both in-store and online, offering them even better deals and value. We will work to assist our associates through the transition and maintain existing relationships with our vendors, suppliers, and other key stakeholders through this process.”

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Dressbarn via Facebook

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One Cool Thing: LEGO Backpacks

by Amber GuetebierJune 5, 2017

Even though school is winding down, these cool new backpacks from LEGO are too awesome to not spread the word. Not only are they highly functional, they are eco-friendly, too! So if you’ve got a serious brick-o-phile in your household, read on about the latest gear you won’t want to miss.

What It Is

For more than ten years LEGO Bags have partnered with Carry Gear Solutions to make safe, practical bags for kids. Chances are you already have one of their cool storage solutions. New this year, the LEGO Eco backpacks and soft-sided lunch boxes take the love of LEGO and being green to a whole new level. Not only will you find amazing designs (like packs that look like giant bricks) every bag is made from recycled plastic water bottles. Eight for a backpack and four for a lunchbox, and each bag comes with a tag that illustrates the point.

Styles & Styles

There’s one for all tastes: because LEGO lovers come in wide range of ages, there are plenty of styles to chose from. You’ll find NINJAGO and NEXO Knights; clever brick-patterned fabric styles; and—our favorite—the giant LEGO brick pack that has two outside pockets, and plenty of room for all the gear kids tote around all day, along with the coordinating lunch box.

Bells & Whistles

All the bags are well-thought out with kiddos in mind. They feature places to write your kiddo’s name, stash pockets, reflective fabric strips on the padded shoulder straps, and the lining even has its own brick pattern. The bags are big enough to hold everything without being too big for the kids. Backpacks range from $25-$50 and lunch boxes $16-$25.

Find them now online: legobags.com

Will you snag one of these backpacks for your kids?

—Amber Guetebier

All photos courtesy LEGO Bags

Today Is National Trails Day

by rtstephenApril 4, 2016

Daily

Today Is National Trails Day

Climb every mountain.

Can’t hit the mountain tops today?
Get our guide on hiking your own ‘hood.

No matter where you go, you’re going to need trail mix.
Make a batch with this recipe.

From local parks to national treasures, you can help keep our trails beautiful for this generation and the next with a few easy tips.

{ Today’s ideas brought to you by The Long and Winding Road }

Take Flight at This New Expanded Park & Playground

by Helen Walker GreenAugust 6, 2015

In the days before kids, you may have considered Westcrest Park for your four-legged family members because of its great off-leash area. But now thanks to the just-opened 20-acre park expansion—which includes a new playground, walking paths and panoramic views of the city— your kids will be begging to go here as much as your furry friends. Read on for the scoop.

photo: Helen Walker Green

Once a Reservoir
Six years in the making, the Westcrest Park expansion is located on the lid of the West Seattle Reservoir. In 2009, Seattle Public Utilities began channeling the reservoir underground—to give the area cleaner water and to provide more space for the community to enjoy. After a lot of hard work, the underground reservoir is now complete and this super playground and public gathering space is ready to be enjoyed. View photos of the reservoir construction by Vantage Point Photography here.

High-Flying Art
David Boyer’s stunning Flyers greet you from every direction as you enter the park. These fun kinetic wind sculptures were inspired by Seattle’s history of aviation (and the many planes that pass over West Seattle on their way to and from Sea-Tac Airport and Boeing Field) and by the birds in the West Duwamish Greenbelt that border Westcrest Park. The sculptures act like weathervanes—see if you can spot which group of flyers has movable tails.

photo: Helen Walker Green

Ready to Play
Climb, spin, zip, swing or slide. This new Seattle Parks and Recreation playground has it all, plus a huge lawn for playing or picnicking and winding paths and native prairie just waiting to be explored. Little monkeys will love conquering the Explorer Dome with a rope ladder, nets, loop bridge, tippy slide and other challenges. Psst! There are lots of different routes up. Once there, check out the view from the top (and do a bit of plane spotting) before sliding down the pole for an easy way down.

photo: Helen Walker Green

Gettin’ Dizzy With It
If your kids like to go ’round and ’round, this modern-day merry-go-round is sure to be a big hit. With room for several tots, there’s plenty of space to climb up and hold on. Just make sure there’s a grownup nearby to give everyone a big push!

photo: Helen Walker Green

Zipping Along!
If your little daredevil enjoys the adrenaline rush of being pushed off the platform or the thrill of soaring through the air before coming to an abrupt stop, these two speedy zip lines are both easy and safe for big and little kids. The disc-shaped seat zips from a cushy elevated platform, making it easy for little ones to get on. Psst! Give your superhero a push, so he or she can experience a bit of a kick at the end.

photo: Helen Walker Green

Going Downhill
Walk past the climbing structure and discover the two “secret” slides set in the rocky hillside. Take the rock steps back up or scramble up the hill and go again and again!

photo: Helen Walker Green

A Traditional Play Structure
Everyone loves the classic monkey bars, swaying bridge and spirals. The park’s turreted play structure has two little kid slides, two wavy slides and one spiral big slide. The play structure is a great place to play a game of Freeze Tag or seek some shade on a hot summer day.

photo: Helen Walker Green

In the Swing of It
Get a push in the basket swing and see how high you can soar. The design of this swing is great for sensory development and for kids who don’t like traditional swings. As kids swing back and forth, the swing will stimulate their vestibular nerves—a great physical gross motor exercise that can have positive emotional benefits.

photo: Helen Walker Green

Little ones will enjoy swinging in the tot-sized swings. There are no big kid swings here, but perhaps that’s for the future—there’s certainly enough space. Psst! You can find big kid swings in Westcrest’s original playground located south of the playground, past the P-Patch.

photo: Helen Walker Green

Wide Open Spaces
Since Seattle Public Utilities replaced the open reservoirs with grass, there’s plenty of room to play catch, Frisbee, stomp rockets – you name it! In fact, the Great Lawn and native prairie areas are so big you could host two soccer matches and several birthday parties and still have room for more. The park is a great place for an afternoon picnic as there are several picnic tables and plenty of benches along with tons of room to spread out your picnic blanket on the grass.

photo: Helen Walker Green

Bike, Scoot or Stroll
There are smooth winding paths all around the park, great for little ones on a tricycle or big kids on a two-wheeler. Sneak in a run or a relaxing stroll while your kids burn off some energy in the big grassy lawns.

photo: Helen Walker Green

Good to Know
1. Bring your own shade. While there’s plenty of shade in the greenbelt that borders the park, the new expansion is quite exposed. Bring a hat or a portable sun/wind shade. BYOS also stands for bring your own shelter. Although we haven’t experienced the park on a rainy day yet, we definitely recommend umbrellas or a portable tent when the skies are unforgiving.

2. The parking lot is quite a walk (or toddle) to the playground. Plan on bringing your stroller or wagon for tired feet.

3. Since there are no trees or bushes blocking the playground or grassy areas it’s easy to keep an eye on wandering tots. And for dyno-tots on the run, there’s plenty of time to catch up to them before they get anywhere near traffic.

photo: Helen Walker Green

Getting There and Parking
The new expansion has its own entrance (separate from the dog park) with 60 parking spots, two ADA accessible restrooms and two water fountains. The entrance to the parking lot is on 8th Ave. S.W. between Cloverdale and Trenton. Map it (although Google Maps hasn’t quite caught up with it yet – we assure you the playground is there). Psst… You can easily walk to the new playground from any other part of Westcrest Park too.

photo: Helen Walker Green

There’s More to Westcrest
If you’ve never been to Westcrest Park before, you’ll find there’s a lot more to explore than just the new playground. Westcrest is bordered by the West Duwamish Greenbelt – a lovely leafy place to go for a short hike (you might even find a geocache). There’s also P-Patch next to Westcrest’s original small playground and of course, the Off-Leash Area with 4-acres of fun for the pooches in your crew.

Westcrest Park Expansion
8th Ave. S.W. (between S.W. Cloverdale St. and S.W. Trenton St.)
Seattle Wa 98106
206-684-4075
Online: seattle.gov/parks/projects/west_seattle_reservoir

Have you visited this new playground? What do you and your family like best about it? Tell us in the Comments below.

— Helen Walker Green

Just Opened: OMSI’s Mazes

by Kelley GardinerFebruary 25, 2015

You’ve played Mouse Trap and even tackled Bella Organic’s annual fall corn maze. Take your brood’s love of games, puzzles and everything brain-teasing to the next level at Mazes, the brand new exhibit at OMSI that gives a whole new meaning to family game night. Now through May 6, this highly interactive exhibit will have you lost (and found!) in a real winding maze, and solving mind boggling illusions and puzzles. Read on to find out what you’re bound to get yourself twisted up in.

photo: Kelley Gardiner

Mazes
The focal points of the exhibits, that take up the most real estate and will probably get your little explorers most excited, are the two mazes to wind through. The first, and largest, is the Maze of Illusions. As you make your way through the maze, you’ll find plenty of optical illusions to solve or just enjoy. As you encounter each illusions, make sure you pay attention because you’ll need to remember them in order to find your way back out of the maze. Volunteers monitor the maze, and emergency exits are available on each end just in case anyone starts to lose their nerve. Expect to spend 10-15 minutes winding your way through.

The Junior Maze is shorter, both in height and distance, for younger problem-solvers. They’ll find percussion instruments along the way to jingle, bang, and beat, so expect a little bit of volume. If your child is old enough to stand up, they can enjoy bead races and turning wheels with marbles.

Good to know: The Maze of Illusions and Junior Maze are not accessible by wheelchair, motorized scooter, or strollers.

Puzzles
In addition to those mazes, there are plenty of puzzles and activities to keep your family entertained. Several patterned floor mazes (like the colored path maze, and headlong maze) near the entrance encourage problem-solving, and trial and error, as kids enter the maze and figure out the solution with their feet and brains. A rope course is tricky enough to keep older kids thinking as they try to scramble up, around and through without getting tangled in the “intricate web of ropes.”

photo: Kelley Gardiner

Hands-On Activities
If you’ve still got brainpower after solving puzzles and triumphantly exiting the maze, OMSI’s new exhibit has plenty to do. Build your own marble race, draw a maze and display your masterpiece for all to see, try balancing on a balance board with an embedded marble, and learn about the history of mazes. At the far end of the exhibit, your family is encouraged to “Make a Maze” with long soft blocks, getting kids of all ages (even toddlers) in on the fun.

photo: Kelley Gardiner

The Scoop:
Mazes is included with a regular OMSI admission, which gives visitors access to all other exhibit halls (Earth Hall, Life Hall, Turbine Hall, Science Labs, and Science Playground), $13 adult, $9.50 3-13, and members get in for free.

OMSI
1945 SE Water Ave.
503-797-4000
Online: omsi.edu

Have you visited this new exhibit at OMSI yet? What did your family think? Let us know in the comments!

—Kelley Gardiner

Who Let the Dogs Out? Best Off-Leash Areas for Pooches & Kids

by Helen Walker GreenFebruary 17, 2015

“Big dogs, little dogs, red dogs, blue dogs….“ Dog parks aren’t quite as happening as P.D. Eastman’s Go, Dog. Go!, but they’re still quite a Dog Party. If you’ve got a pooch and a kid (or multiples of either), we’ve rounded up the best places around the city to spend the day with the fam, tails ‘n’ all. Flip through the gallery to get the poop, er scoop.

Off Leash Area Edmonds (OLAE)

The OLAE is a fave of pooches and kids alike - dogs can take the plunge into beautiful blue Puget Sound, run, jump and play on a driftwood-strewn beach, and try their paw at an agility course. This dog park is on the Whale Trail, so you can do some whale-watching while your pooch is squirrel-watching. There’s a grassy spot nearby, perfect for picnicking, and a small playground for younger kids (with no less than three slides). Afterwards, take those sandy paws and sneakers for a walk along the Edmonds Boardwalk, where kids can spot different kinds of boats and marine life and pooches can spot squirrels.

Good to Know: If you have more than one grown-up on hand, you can also explore the non-dog park part of the beach. You’ll need that extra grown-up to keep an eye on the dogs though, as Edmonds beaches are marine sanctuaries (no dogs allowed).

Insider Tip: If your little one is a train buff, this is the dog park for him or her – a train track runs right by the park and kiddos can get a close-up view of freight trains, the Sounder and Amtrak.

Off Leash Area Edmonds
498 Admiral Way
Edmonds Wa 98020
Online: olae.org

photo: Helen Walker Green

Dog Park Etiquette for Kids
Kids and dogs can have a very special relationship, but please use caution in the dog park. Remember that this is the pooches’ park and little ones need to know how to behave around dogs. Here are some tips to keep everyone in your brood safe and happy:

1. Never bring food or toys to the park (dog toys are fine, or course).

2. Keep a close eye on your kids, especially tots.

3. Discourage your kids from running, dogs may think they want to play chase.

4. Teach your tyke to always ask the dog’s human if it’s OK to pet their dog.

5. Dog parks are not the place to help your little one get over their fear of dogs – there’s too many dogs, and most are in that rambunctious,”Hey, wanna play?” mood. Setting up a quiet meeting with a friend or family member’s mellow dog is a much better place to start.

Where is your favorite off-leash area? Tell us about it in a comment below.

— Helen Walker Green

12 Bay Area Museums You’ve Never Visited

by Amber GuetebierFebruary 28, 2014

Maybe you’ve heard of some of these museums, but we bet you haven’t yet explored these hidden gems with your kids. These small, local museums are an easy (and cheap) way to find adventure in your own backyard. Keep in mind that many of the museums on this list are staffed by volunteers so it’s always a good idea to call ahead to confirm opening hours. Flip through the gallery to begin your adventure.

The Cable Car Barn & Powerhouse, SF

This museum makes you feel like a tourist in your own town, with an elevated viewing area to see the winding machinery for the cables as well as a sneak-peak at where the actual cables leave the barn into the streets below. It’s full of cable car history, historic photos, gears, levers, wheels, and an adorable gift shop.

Hours: Apr. 1-Sep. 20, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Oct. 1-Mar. 31, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day
Cost: Free
Ages: All Ages

1201 Mason St., San Francisco, Ca 94108 (sfcablecar.com/barn.html)

Photo credit: Michelle S. via Yelp

What’s your favorite hidden museum in the Bay Area? Let us know in the comments below!

—Amber Guetebier

Kids Love Saint Edward State Park in Seattle

by writerredtriFebruary 10, 2013

No matter when the urge for a ‘Sunday drive’ hits, the entire family will love a trek up to beautiful Saint Edward State Park, located on the shore of Lake Washington in Kenmore. This is much more than a play structure and some grassy fields, this parent fave sits surrounded by majestic trees and quaint brick and stone buildings.The area is beautiful and a great place to spend an afternoon with the kids!

Approximate Travel Time: 30 min North of Seattle.

What to Do In The Park:
Kids of all ages will race to the brilliant playground, constructed in 2003. You’ll discover two all-wood play areas, including a totally-fenced in area for kids up to age five. Older siblings will enjoy neighboring climbing/hiding structures with a medieval castle theme. Take time to stroll along one of several easy hiking trails winding through the woods, or down near the beach. An entire afternoon could be spent exploring this park, easily.

Where To Next:
Next stop, a short drive over to Snapdoodle Toys — they’ve got aisles of fresh-for-the-holidays toys for you and the kids to meander through. You’re sure to find a few holiday gifts in their enormous selection — from indoor, rainy-day goodies like art supplies and books, to get-moving gadgets including Wheely Bugs and Prince Lionheart bikes. Sneak a peak in Snapdoodle’s DoodleZone –a room you can reserve for birthday parties. Plus! you can grab a free latte or cup of tea at Snapdoodle.

Where to Eat:
Check out neighboring Mia Roma, or local-favorite TaiHo. No time to sit? Plan ahead and give Kenmore’s Jet City Pizza a ring — pick one up to take home.

—Matina Fresenius

ML Interest Tag: wind

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