Kidsfaire

Just wanted to post a little bit about the upcoming kidsfaire at the Orange County Fairgrounds. It will be held October 6-7th and from what I’ve been hearing this is a must if you have young children. It’s pretty much a big expo for kids with age appropriate fun zones, shows and appearances by favorite characters such as Barney, Strawberry Shortcake and other cartoon characters. Admission is 8 for adults , children 2-12 are 5 and under two free. You can bring a picnic lunch or purchase from concession stands. I am definitely bummed that I will be missing this!! Hours are 10 am to 5pm..

for more info
www.thekidsfaire.com

Las Vegas with Kids

So you have heard that Las Vegas is no longer the family-friendly place that they tried (unsuccessfully) to be in the 90’s. This is true, but do not let be a deterrent to bring the little ones if you feel like it. We put this to the test with our two kids under 3 it discovered that it can be fun!!! This weekend we took them for a quick weekend getaway and we had a blast. We only did a couple of things and they had such a good time. First off, it’s important to choose a good hotel that can be kid-friendly. We stayed at the Hilton Grand Vacation Club. It was a great choice. We stayed in one of their one bedroom suites and I can’t rave enough about what a great place this was. We had a one bedroom suite, with almost a full size kitchen (it even had a dishwasher) and a washer and dryer.. Yes a washer and dryer. The kids were in heaven. However, if you have a smelly dishwasher, House Real may have the right solution for you.

They also have two full size pools, a small grocery store, and a fun game room. There was plenty of room to relax in our suite and I think that’s essential when you are traveling with small children. While it is a part of their vacation club program, you can still book rooms there just like a regular hotel.

Saturday morning we headed out to Green Valley Resort in Henderson for brunch. The food was fantastic and the kids had a great time. We explored the resort and then headed back to our room. We were in town for a wedding so that took up most of our Saturday afternoon. Once we left the wedding we headed over to the Strip for a drive and to see the Bellagio Water show. Our kids had a great time just looking at all the lights and just people watching. My two year old loved the water show. She kept saying Mommy the water is dancing!! She also said as we were exploring the city – this is like Chuck E Cheese. I can go on and on about the many things to do but I will limit myself to a few on Las Vegas Blvd.

First off, at the end of the strip would be a visit to Circus Circus and their fun zone. You can head further down and explore the shops in the Venetian and even ride one of their gondolas. You can also watch the free Treasure Island show right on the strip. I think they perform every hour. A little further down is the Mirage. There they have a free volcano show also right on the strip. This place is great because of the white tiger and dolphin exhibits. They also have an aquarium but its currently closed for renovations. You can literally spend all afternoon in this place.

Further down Las Vegas Blvd is my absolute favorite. I love the water show at the Bellagio and it’s also absolutely free. If you have time after all of this, head over to the Mandalay Bay Shark Reef. It’s a fabulous aquarium that is open daily from 10 am to 11 pm. I believe admission is 15.95 for adults. 10.95 for children 4-12 and under 4 are free!!

I know that they say that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas but seriously this city can be enjoyed by kids. There are so many places to sight see, free shows and seriously cheap dining options. We had a great time and I would recommend it to anyone.

Hawaii

We are preparing for a trip to Hawaii next month with both our 8 month old son and 2 year old daughter. This will include a flight to and from the island. We will be sure to report to you the things we learned and tips that we picked up along the way. Stay tuned.

This entry was posted in Hawaii.