The Vacation Gals — Expert advice on family trips, girlfriend getaways & romantic escapes, plus travel tips, gear and giveaways.

Disneyland Family Value Vacation Package at Hyatt Regency Orange County

July 29, 2010 | Author: SoCalGal

Disneyland family value vacation packages are hugely popular. Disneyland is a major family vacation attraction destination here in California, and naturally it follows that there are many hotels in and around Anaheim set up with child-friendly features to accommodate kids and their parents on a Disneyland vacation. The Hyatt Regency Orange County’s “Summer of Fun” Summer Family Value Package is one such vacation package, and it’s really a great deal. More than just Disneyland — although that is a big part of a stay at this Hyatt — the vacation package includes other top family travel highlights in Southern California. My family and I were invited to try out the Hyatt Regency Orange County Summer Family Value Package, and it was terrific from start to finish.

First of all, the Hyatt Regency is around 7 minutes from Disneyland (so are lots of other hotels) and the free shuttles run every 30 minutes. The Hyatt recently completed a top-to-bottom renovation and now has VIP Family Suites. These two-bedroom suites are large; two full bathrooms, two full bedrooms and a living room. The living room has a sofabed for larger families. That makes for three flat-screen televisions, but this is a Southern California vacation; better to get outside and have some fun! The kids’ bedroom has a completely comfortable bunk bed, which my daughters thought was great (they took turns regarding who got to sleep on the top bunk each night). Families that partake of the Summer of Fun Disneyland family travel package get picked up at the airport — if that’s how they’re arriving — in a luxurious town car, and the helpful staff takes care of their luggage right away. We drove to the Hyatt, but this added luxury is notable.

The four day/three night Hyatt Summer of Fun family travel package includes 4 Disneyland Park Hopper passes and town car transportation to and from Disneyland. Also included in the package is transportation to Huntington Beach for surfboard lessons (Huntington Beach is “Surf City USA”, after all) and picnic lunch for four. If the Angels are playing a home game, arrangements can be made to get to their stadium and watch the game too. We were pretty lucky because not only was there a home game for the Angels, but they were playing the Mariners…so they won, which was kind of a surprise. Also included in Hyatt’s family travel value package is a family-friendly cooking class with the chef at TusCA, the wonderful signature restaurant at this Hyatt. Kids get a welcome package with Mickey Ears, sunscreen, a backpack, fresh biscotti from TusCA, a complimentary daily movie and a daily stocked in-room fridge.

Hyatt’s Summer of Fun really is a value travel package; it comes to over 20% savings, plus the arrangements for family friendly Southern California vacation activities are already done for the parents. As a mom who does most of the travel plans for my family, believe me — it’s simply a luxury to relax and have the travel plans taken care of by Hyatt Regency Orange County. My kids loved Disneyland, and even though they were pretty tired by the end of the day they still wanted to return for the nighttime World of Color Water and Light Show. We got back to the Hyatt Regency after 10:00PM, and they practically fell asleep standing in the elevator. It was a great day for them. It’s extremely gratifying, as a parent, to be able to give my children a wide variety of travel experiences. The Hyatt Regency Orange County Summer of Fun Summer Family Value package absolutely delivers the luxury and child-friendly features of a great child-centered family trip in Southern California. The package provides a vacation the kids will remember for years.

Thank you to the Hyatt Regency Orange Count for hosting my family for the weekend.

Posted in: Budget Travel, Destinations, Family Travel | 1 comment

Jolly Green Giant Statue

July 28, 2010 | Author: TwinCitiesGal

As you may have guessed, visiting roadside attractions is one of my family’s favorite vacation pastimes. These quick stops are a great way to break up the monotony of hours in the car or a fun little daytrip escape. Oftentimes, the background of these quirky attractions reveals regional history or have local significance.

This past weekend my family took a two hour drive south on U.S. Route 169 (Interstate 35 is a quicker option) to the town of Blue Earth, Minnesota. We drove through “The Valley of the Jolly Green Giant” which is actually the Minnesota River valley near the town of La Sueur. We were surprised by the drive’s lush surroundings which seemed to come out of nowhere after miles of cornfields and farmland. A “Welcome to the Valley” billboard was propped on the side of a hill letting us know we had arrived. My kids thought that was “it” (the giant) and pronounced the attraction lame. Little did they know…

Blue Earth is named for the river by the same name that surrounds the town but it’s the 55-foot Green Giant that has put Blue Earth on the map. The Jolly Green Giant has been Giant Food’s mascot since 1920′s but this massive statue has only been around since 1978 which was right on cue for the opening of Interstate 90. History fun fact: this section is where the I-90 east and west road crews met and the highway was considered complete.

Naturally, my kids were enthralled by the idea of seeing a “giant” and while they were no doubt impressed by its size, my daughter thought it was hilarious he was wearing a “dress.” Also, while you’re there look for the two dimensional Sprout by the red barn.

How to get to the Jolly Green Giant Statue: Take 35 south from Twin Cities or north from Des Moines. Drive west on I-90 and exit 119. Turn south onto US 169. Drive about a half-mile and make a right onto CR-104/Fairgrounds Road. Turn left onto Giant Drive and look for the little parking lot.

Admission: Free

Tip: Bring a picnic lunch to this roadside attraction or visit the nearby Dairy Queen for a treat.

Posted in: Family Travel | 1 comment

Type-A Conference Pass Winning Wednesday

July 28, 2010 | Author: ColoradoGal

Drum roll, please…. the person who is going to the Type A Mom Conference courtesy of Creative Memories is… Karon Warren!

I’m thrilled Karon’s comment number came up via Random.org because she entered a lot, per the giveaway guidelines. I’ve also known Karon for years — even before we ever started blogging — since travel writing is one of her beats (I hope you’ll attend the Travel Tribe that SoCalGal Jen is leading, Karon), and I know she really wants to go to Type A, so she’ll put the pass to good use!

Oh, how I wish I had the power to give away conference passes to all the people who entered this giveaway. I know there are others of you who entered daily or nearly daily in an effort to win. We sure appreciate your comments here at The Vacation Gals, and I do hope you can somehow make it to the Type A Mom Conference, since it is such a worthy event. Last year’s conference was so beneficial to me in terms of learning and networking.

Karon, I’ll be in touch to set up the conference pass for you, and if for some reason you won’t be able to make it in September, I hope you’ll share it with someone who can!

Posted in: Travel News | 2 comments

Winning Wednesday: Stretch Island Fruit Company Giveaway

July 28, 2010 | Author: TwinCitiesGal

Today is the day we announce the winners of our Stretch Island Fruit Company giveaway. We asked our readers to tell us what flavors sounded tasty to them out of Autumn Apple, Abundant Apricot, Harvest Grape, Mango Sunrise, Orchard Cherry, Ripened Raspberry and Summer Strawberry.

Our 1st Winner is Tammy #9 who says she’d love to try the Summer Strawberry and the @2nd winner is Ilene #64 who thinks the Orchard Cherry sounds tasty.

Don’t forget to keep an eye out for samples on Continental Airlines this summer. You may be one of the lucky 250,000 to passengers to get a taste of these treats. Tammy and Ilene, we hope you enjoy your 5 free boxes. A big thank you to Stretch Island Fruit Company for the opportunity to giveaway such fun prizes. Stayed tuned for more giveaways.

Posted in: Travel News | 1 comment

Tips for Taking a Baby on a Cruise

July 27, 2010 | Author: SaltCityGal

We had officially lost our minds. We decided to take our baby girl who was almost nine months old on our Alaskan cruise. Sure she has been on over thirty flights, ten states, and a foreign country, but a cruise was a whole new ballgame. We were excited, nervous and full of questions. Unfortunately the Internet did not have many answers. Because of this, I want to share all the insights and tips we learned that made cruising with a young baby not only tolerable but enjoyable.

We had the best possible experience on our cruise. We were on the Celebrity Mercury of Celebrity Cruise lines and loved it. The crew took such good care of us. They were in love with our baby, she really was a little celebrity onboard. Unfortunately she was too young for all the youth programs (starting at age 3 and up) and even too young for the in-room babysitting that took place at night for three hours with an additional fee (starts at a year), but still it wasn’t too big of a hassle, it just meant that we would split up for shows some nights.

Before the cruise: First off packing makes all the difference. Taking a baby on a cruise means you need to bring everything that they will possibly need for a week. Sounds like a headache right? It’s really not that bad with the proper planning. Make sure to bring all the essentials, enough diapers, wipes, baby food, formula, bottles, baby spoons, diaper rash, clothes, bibs, favorite toys because honestly the cruise lines do not carry much. Depending on your cruise you may be able to find some convenient stores at ports that have what you need. One tip I have that can make packing a little less cumbersome is packing all of baby’s disposable items (food, diapers, wipes, formula) in a box and checking it. That way you can just dump the box on your cruise and not have to worry about it!

Also, make sure to reserve a crib ahead of time. For most cruise lines the cribs are a pack-n-play type crib. This is what we had on our Celebrity cruise, and it worked out great. One tip would be to splurge for a larger stateroom so the crib actually fits and it’s not too cramped. It helps if the baby has room to crawl.

While on the cruise: My best advice to those traveling with babies or small children would be to play things by ear and to go on the cruise with low expectations. Most babies nap or sleep most of the day, so expect to spend a considerable amount of time in your cabin. We had a balcony, which made all the difference. While baby was sleeping we could be outside enjoying the scenery or reading a book. Know that some port days may be difficult and you probably won’t be able to do a lot of the shore excursions due to the restrictions of having a baby with you. Plan for naps, meals or opt to split up and meet later to walk around the city. Also, while our baby was too young for many of the youth programs our Celebrity ship offered Toddler Time where we could bring the baby into the youth area and she could play with toys, crawl around, and get a break, we just had to stay there with her. She loved all the “new” toys and fun activities.

Bringing baby into the dining room: I have to admit this was the aspect of the cruise, after sleeping arrangements, I was most apprehensive about. However, I should have had more faith in my baby because she did great! We got comments all the time about how well behaved she was. The waiters got to know her and what she wanted and helped create distractions. Every time we came to our assigned dining time there would be a high chair waiting for her, a plain yogurt, and a napkin folded into a different animal. We would also bring small toys for her to play with when she got bored. As for food for the baby, we were informed on the first day by our maitre d’ that they had all kinds of baby food available and they could also puree anything we wanted for her. I wish I had known that or else I would have packed less food! We opted for some plain yogurt and would mix in some baby food fruit.

My last advice is relax and enjoy the cruise with your baby! Make memories as a family and if possible go with other family or friends so they can take a shift watching the baby so you can get some alone time and get out of your stateroom!

Hilarye Fuller is editor of the popular travel blog DottingTheMap.com and Salt Lake City Destinations Examiner on examiner.com. She lives in Salt Lake City with her baby and her husband and travels often.

Posted in: Cruises, Travel Tips | 1 comment

Backyard Safari Outfitters Children’s Outdoor Toys Giveaway

July 26, 2010 | Author: SoCalGal

Just in time for the dog days of summer, we have a children’s educational outdoors toy set contest giveaway. Backyard Safari Outfitters makes nature walks, and exploring the outside world, even more fun for kids. The educational toys at Backyard Safari Outfitters are tough and well-made, and children don’t even have to really “pretend” to be using the equipment since it’s all fully functional. No pretend child-size outdoor toys here! The Vacation Gals have a contest giveaway of three Backyard Safari Outfitters items: The Cargo Vest, Bug Vacuum, and Mega Magnifier. A Pop-Up Field Guide is also included.

The Cargo Vest tag says it’s good for kids ages 5 and up, but it might be too small for a 10-year old (my 11-year old could zip it up, but it didn’t look comfortable). It is super rugged, with lots of cargo style pockets for the safekeeping of those treasures kids find on nature walks…you know, rocks, pine cones, that sort of thing. There are six D-rings and two shoulder clips so that other gear can be kept easily at hand, and a clear front pocket for the Field Pop-Up Guide.

The Bug Vacuum is my older daughter’s favorite Backyard Safari Outfitters item. It really works; it sucks up insects and arachnids, without harming them as far as I can tell. Kids can be kind to nature while observing the bugs, and then releasing them safely. I’ve also found the Bug Vacuum to be very useful in terms of getting insects out of my house without having to squish them first. We don’t have to embrace all types of bugs to appreciate little critters, after all!

The Mega Magnifier is a large, framed magnifying glass that can be put on the surface of a stream — or other types of water — so that children can examine what swims or grows under the water’s surface. My family didn’t get to test one of these out, but I assume it’s as sturdily constructed as the other Backyard Safari Outfitters educational toys with which my kids have played.

To enter this contest giveaway, all you have to do is leave a comment below describing something you or your children have found on a nature walk. The giveaway winner will be chosen using a random number generator, but please don’t enter more than once a day. Relatives of The Vacation Gals should not enter the contest giveaway, and please — US residents only. The Backyard Safari Outfitters giveaway will run until 6:00 PM PST Tuesday, August 10, and the winner will be announced on Wednesday, August 11, 2010. Good luck!

Posted in: Travel Gear | 31 comments

Glacier Calving during Glacier Tour on Alaska Inside Passage Cruise

July 23, 2010 | Author: SoCalGal

Glacier calving pictures and videos show images of Earth’s changing surface. Alaska small cruise ship vacations are excellent ways to experience the Inside Passage, and glacier tours are even more interesting with glacier calving that can be captured in pictures and video. Glacier tours are part of most Alaska Inside Passage cruises, and so we found ourselves cruising up Endicott Arm Fjord to get an up-close look at Dawes Glacier as part of our Alaska cruise vacation. Travel to Alaska often includes weather concerns; true to form, we’d been wearing t-shirts and sandals the day prior, and the day Fantasy Cruises’ Island Spirit small ship cruised to Dawes Glacier, it was raining. That didn’t dampen our spirits (sorry ’bout that), as the crew served hot chocolate while us tourists clustered at the bow of the ship. We had quiet fun watching the glacier calving. Take a look at this video.

Can you believe we were completely enthralled for over half an hour before the glacier calving finally occurred? Richard, the naturalist on the small cruise ship Island Spirit, really knows his glaciers. In retrospect it seems perhaps bewildering that we Alaska tourists were so excited with Dawes Glacier calving an iceberg around the size of half a city block — after all, it’s not fireworks — but it also makes sense. Glaciers advancing and receding are part of a natural geologic process that takes millennia and literally changes the face of the Earth. Canyons are carved, boulders are deposited a thousand miles from their starting points, trapped animals become fossils. It’s incredible to think about. Half an hour isn’t really that long at all a wait, after all, to get to witness a small part of the continual process of our Earth’s changing surface. Not long at all.

Thank you to Fantasy Cruises for hosting this southeast Alaska cruise travel vacation.

Posted in: Cruises, Destinations, Romantic Getaways | 4 comments

Top Scenic, Family-friendly Attraction in Colorado: Royal Gorge Bridge & Park

July 21, 2010 | Author: ColoradoGal

I’ve jumped out of an airplane, been pummeled by 5 Gs of force in a bobsled whizzing down a track at 80 miles an hour and squeezed through narrow passages in claustrophobia-inducing caves. But I just could not bring myself to free-fall and swing 1,300 feet above a canyon via the world’s highest Skycoaster at Royal Gorge Bridge & Park last weekend.

However, my fearless 10-year-old and her daredevil father waited in line for nearly two hours to do just that:

We had fun spotting ant-sized kayakers and rafters in the Arkansas River, more than 1,000 feet below the bridge!

This crazy ride at Royal Gorge Bridge & Park in Cañon City, Colorado (about an hour’s drive southwest of Colorado Springs), was hugely busy last Sunday. There’s no minimum age — you just need to be 46 inches tall; the cost is $20 to $25 per person, depending if you have one, two or three “flyers.”

First, you’re strapped into a harness, and secured to the wires. Then you’re pulled off the ground and hoisted back away from the canyon and up 100 feet above the ride platform, and on the count of the attendant’s “1-2-3″ you have to pull your own rip-cord to launch yourselves into a free-fall, until you’re jerked into a 50-mph soar across the Royal Gorge. After a half-dozen “swings” back and forth, you’re helped to a stop, when, all smiles, you go watch yourselves on video.

My daughter and husband both said the three-minute adrenaline rush was well worth the wait!

The suspension bridge was built in 1929 and it's just 18 feet wide.

Thankfully, for non-thrill-seekers, there’s loads to do at this popular sightseeing attraction, as well. First, just walking across the Royal Gorge Bridge is an event in itself, after all this is America’s highest suspension bridge, and the views of the gorge — and the kayakers and the rafters waaaaaay below — are incredible. (You can also drive your car across the bridge, take a taxi or rent a golf cart.)

Another option for crossing the gorge: America’s longest single-span aerial tram, which hovers 1,178 feet above the Arkansas River below. Oh, and then there’s America’s steepest incline railway, which descends at 3 mph down into the canyon. (Yes, there’s a lot of record-setting going on at this top Colorado attraction.) Each of these modes of transport are included in the admission price to the park.

There’s also an included petting zoo, a wildlife park with Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, bison and elk, mule rides and an antique replica carousel. The Plaza Theatre shows a nifty video of the colorful history of the construction of the bridge, the incline railway and the aerial tram. We heard lots of live music as we strolled around both sides of the bridge, and of course, there’s the requisite theme-park food: pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs, ice cream and funnel cakes. And gift shops.

At the top of the canyon, the Incline Railway isn't too steep; it gets steeper as you descend!

If you can’t get enough of the gorge in an afternoon visit, you can also go whitewater rafting on the Arkansas River that courses through it, ride the rails on the Royal Gorge Route Railroad or take an flightseeing helicopter ride above and into the gorge. (Talk about thrill-seeking: we couldn’t believe how the pilots swerved and dove and maneuvered through the narrow canyon.)

I’m really glad we stopped in Canon City to visit the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park after a weekend of activity in Colorado Springs and our stay at The Broadmoor (where I want the amiable staff to adopt me so I’d never have to leave; I am madly in love with this luxury hotel, but that’s another post). For road-trippers through my state, or any families vacationing in the Pikes Peaks Region, I highly recommend you spend some time at this ultra-scenic, activity-filled spot.

Thanks Royal Gorge Bridge & Park for hosting us on a fun-filled afternoon!

Posted in: Destinations, Family Travel | 2 comments

Small Cruise Ships in Alaska for Great Inside Passage Travel

July 20, 2010 | Author: SoCalGal

Small cruise ships in Alaska’s Inside Passage are able to provide travelers with incredible, uniquely Alaskan vacations that the large cruise ship tours can only dream of. The southeast Alaska small cruise ship I experienced was, without a doubt, one of the highlights of my traveling life. Fantasy Cruises’ ship, Island Spirit, can hold a maximum of 32 passengers (with a 9-person crew). Its smaller size allowed us to overnight in remote, otherwise isolated bays and inlets. The captain, Jeff Behrens, installed a powerful battery: The engines are turned off at night, with no detriment to the power use of the cruise ship guests, and the sounds of Alaska’s wilderness are able to come through without the constant hum of the engine acting as a muffler. Waking up to calls of bald eagles, splashes of sea otters, or the sound of a waterfall is an incredible vacation experience. No other cruise ship, large or small, is able to provide this sense of quiet, of truly being part of a timeless and majestic part of our country.

Fantasy Cruises Island Spirit cruise ship’s size and intimacy allows for flexible itineraries; once, for example, we veered slightly off course to follow a pod of orcas for 45 minutes. The adult killer whales were teaching their babies to jump and slap the surface of the water with their tails, and we happily watched the lessons unfold right off the bow of the ship. Sure, dinner was around half an hour later that evening, but so what? We eat every day, but we certainly don’t get to see orca pods every day.

Another day, we hiked to Baranof Warm Springs and Baranof Lake, after which we kayaked around the bay. The captain had intended to weigh anchor after the hikes, but because we asked (and once he determined that the water was calm enough), he decided to change our day’s remaining itinerary for a couple of hours. This level of personal attention adds spontaneity and a feeling of casual intimacy to an Alaskan cruise vacation that was a completely welcome surprise.

By the way, Alaskan small cruise ship vacations like Fantasy Cruises are more expensive than are the large cruise lines. However, on the last large cruise vacation I took, the activity add-ons came to a lot more money than I expected. Fantasy Cruises trips are completely all-inclusive. The daily cocktail hours (which often extend past dinner, as SOME passengers enjoy more than a couple of glasses of wine at night), the shore excursions, port charges and taxes, kayak rentals, everything is included. There is no final bill slipped under guests’ doors the last morning of the trip.

The personal service and casual atmosphere, the attention to detail and real affection the crew had for the wildlife and wilderness along southeast Alaska’s Inside Passage — these are aspects of the trip I’d hoped to see. This Alaskan cruise vacation exceeded my expectations. Having the owner and captain on board, joking around with and also educating us was really, really great. The ship’s onboard naturalist gave daily lectures (voluntary to attend, this is travel, not school!) that I enjoyed as well. I also appreciated the personal relationship the captain has with several different people we met along the way. Ed, the caretaker of Five Fingers Lighthouse, was very welcoming (especially for a guy who is used to spending a lot of time by himself). Ed and Captain Jeff Behrens chatted while we toured the lighthouse, which was both the first, and last, manually operated lighthouse in Alaska.

Now, a small cruise ship vacation in southeast Alaska’s Inside Passage isn’t right for every type of traveler. Families with small children, for example, would be better suited to travel on a large cruise ship or an Alaska land tour. Fantasy Cruises does not cater to children; the youngest kids to participate in this cruise’s Alaskan tour have been self-sufficient 13-year olds. People who want lazy cruise vacations filled with tropical drinks and palm trees should clearly stick to coastal Mexico or Caribbean cruises. There’s no 24-hour all-you-can-eat feed lot, either.

Who are the right types of travelers to participate in a small cruise ship vacation along southeast Alaska’s Inside Passage? Well, how does this sound: Kayaking in peaceful inlets, taking nature walks and easy hikes on remote wilderness beaches and pathways, staring in gap-jawed appreciation at massive glaciers and incredible marine mammals, enjoying quiet, companionable evenings with a few drinks and a few new friends, and knowing that your travel experience is leaving a lighter carbon footprint than more popular alternatives. If those travel details sound great to you, then a small cruise trip is absolutely a great choice for your Alaska vacation. It sure was, for me. Fantasy Cruises’ Island Spirit is highly recommended.

Posted in: Cruises, Destinations, Romantic Getaways | 6 comments

Stretch Island Fruit Company Giveaway

July 19, 2010 | Author: TwinCitiesGal

Every time my family travels we visit the store beforehand in search of kid-friendly travel snacks. When Stretch Island Fruit Company recently approached me about their current promotion and giveaway my interest was piqued and I asked for more information. I was sent a handful of samples and, much to surprise, I realized I was already familiar with the product. My kids love these snacks! We purchased these at the health food store we used to frequent in Arizona and we have even used them on our travels!

While I don’t believe any product can substitute for a real piece of fresh fruit, I let my children enjoy these snacks, especially when we are on the road or in the sky, because they have all-natural ingredients, with 99 percent real fruit and are the equivalent to 1/2 a fruit serving – but mostly because they don’t bruise in my carry-on bag. Compare them to other similar products and you will see there is no comparison – there’s no corn syrup in these babies!

Flavors include Autumn Apple, Abundant Apricot, Harvest Grape, Mango Sunrise, Orchard Cherry, Ripened Raspberry, and Summer Strawberry.

If you’re flying on Continental Airlines this summer you may get the opportunity to try them as the company is passing 250,000 to passengers. If you’re missing out on this inflight promotion, here’s another way to try the these tasty treats for free: Stretch Island Fruit Company is offering a prize to two of our readers the chance to win 5 free boxes (via coupons)!

Interested in winning some Stretch Island Fruit? To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment below telling us what flavor Stretch Island Fruit you’d like to try. Winner will be selected via a random number generator. You may increase your chances of winning by entering once daily. This giveaway is open to US residents only (for shipping cost purposes) and The Vacation Gals family members can not win. This contest runs until July 27, 6:00PM CST. Winner will be announced on July 28, 2010. Good luck!

Posted in: Travel Tips | 68 comments

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