Archive for August, 2011
Panda Trek at The San Diego Zoo
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- Credit: Maribel Reyes
My family and I are members of the San Diego Zoo and absolutely love heading down to visit, whenever we have the opportunity. My kiddos are obsessed with all of the animals but they definitely have a soft spot for the panda exhibit, in part due to one of their favorite shows, Ni Hao Kai-Lan. Maribel, had the opportunity to check out the new Panda Trek at The San Diego Zoo and shares all about her experience.
- Credit: Maribel Reyes
Two weeks ago the news we have been waiting all summer to hear finally was announced: Phase I of the Panda Trek Exhibit at the San Diego Zoo was open and ready to allow guests to view the hard work and team effort that was put into the design and construction. We had the opportunity to be there a few days ago and let me tell you my 20 month old enjoyed it as much as I did. It was everything the San Diego Zoo had planned and more! Panda Trek is located in Panda Canyon next to the Giant Pandas Exhibit.
As you enter Panda Trek,you walk through a stone path and are greeted by staff to take pictures holding you guessed it! Pandas. There is also an exhibit hut that has equipment used to track pandas such as radio, collars, boots and books. Not only are the giant black and white animals on display at this new exhibit, but you will also find the Red Panda, Takins and Vipers.
- Credit: Maribel Reyes
First on Panda Trek is the Red Panda which is native to the Eastern Himalayas and Southwestern China, it loves to be in trees and surprisingly eats not only bamboo but also birds, eggs, insects and small mammals. The little guy was taking a midday nap when we arrived and we first had a little bit of a hard time finding him as we thought he would be roaming around his new home but he was nestled between the tree branches. As you keep walking you will find the Takins. They are interesting to observe and also to photograph. They are not camera shy at all!
Across from the Takin exhibit is the Mang Mountain Pit Viper, although at the moment is still not in its new home. We were able to read about them and see a picture. The exhibit looks ready to welcome this viper and it should happen in the next couple of days. When it makes its way to the exhibit make sure to take the time to visit, because this venomous viper is rarely seen in its habitat or in zoos! This is quite the treat!
- Credit:Daytrippingmom
One of my favorites features of the exhibit is walking along the path that will lead you to the Giant Pandas. As you make your way, you will be able to see different kinds of bamboos and feel as if you were just in China! The San Diego Zoo team designed a fabulous exhibit that allows you to travel across the globe to a Chinese forest without ever leaving the Zoo.
The giant black and white Pandas are the end to this Trek and it is always fascinating to observe these endangered and magnificent animals in action. We were in for quite the treat. We usually catch the Pandas napping but on this visit, they were roaming, climbing trees and romping in the water.
Panda Trek is truly a must see!
P.S. Don’t forget that the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park are offering kids free admission during the month of October!
Maribel is a mother of two, that is always looking for an adventure. To read more about her fun outings head over here.
Last Minute Summer Fun: The Cove Waterpark – Jurupa Aquatic Center
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Credit: Marlena's Photography
Last week, we went to The Cove Waterpark in Riverside with our friends for day full of water, sun and fun. The Cove is a super fun waterpark designed for kids of all ages. My son looooooved the slides in the Lil’ Mates Lagoon (pictured above). He’s been asking almost everyday if we can go back! I loved the relaxed feeling of the park, the super hot (but super young) lifeguards and the beach entry to the Lil’ Mate’s Lagoon.
Credit: Marlena's Photography
What it is:
A family friendly water park with something fun for everyone. There are 3 Crow’s Nest slides (for Adults and kids at least 48′), Surfing on the Riptide Reef FlowRider (super cool), Lil’ Mates Lagoon, Ne’er Ending Continuous River (pictured above) and more! I liked that there were tons of umbrellas for shade to sit in and lots of chaise lounger chairs all circled around the kids water play area. So I could sit back in the shade and watch my son and his friend have a blast.
Don’t forget to wear water shoes. The ground is extremely hot!!
Hours:
Open Daily 11AM – 5PM Beginning August 28th the Water Park will be open Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays until October 2nd
Prices:
Prices are based on height-
Children (under 30′) Free
Juniors (48′ and under) $12
Seniors (Age 55 +) $12
Adults (48′ and taller) $16
Group rates and season passes are available.
(We found a great deal for The Cove through groupon and were able to purchase our tickets for a deep discount. However, next summer I will be purchasing a couple of season passes. This place was awesome enough to visit a couple times a month!)
Parking is free and lockers are available.
Credit: Desiree Eaglin
The Rules:
Appropriate swim attire must be worn inside the water at all times. Cotton, buttons, rivets, snaps, belts, pants and t-shirts are strictly forbidden. I was even stopped several times by the lifeguards and asked what kind of material my board shorts were. Swim diapers are required for all diapered guests.
They do not allow outside food or drinks (including bottled water!!). I am hoping that they change their mind on that rule for next summer. The Cove does have their own “cafe” called the Backyard Grill. The prices were on the high side.
Outside flotation devices are not allowed, however The Cove provides life jackets and inflatable tubes at no extra cost. (They were super great jackets too)
Don’t forget to wear water shoes. The ground is extremely hot!!
Check out Marlena’s Photography on Facebook. She brought her camera along for our day full of fun and was able to capture these great shots and more. Thank you Marlena for an amazingly fun day! We can’t wait to go back to The Cove with you guys soon!
For more information please log on to The Cove Waterpark Website or by calling 951) 360-1974. Don’t forget to wear water shoes. The ground is extremely hot!!
Phineas and Ferb across the 2nd Dimension
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Are you a Phineas and Ferb Fan? Desiree reviews their latest game and tells us all about it.
There’s 104 days of summer vacation in the city of Danville where 2 step brothers live, named Phineas Flynn and Ferb Fletcher. Phineas and Ferb fill their summer days with outlandish activities meant to bust their summer boredom. They invent machines and discover new things (and drive their sister Candace bonkers). They have a pet platypus named Perry that unbeknownst to the boys is actually an undercover secret agent.
This cartoon is my 4 ½ year old son’s very favorite thing to watch and it’s a show that I highly recommend. I can honestly say that this cartoon is not only entertaining to me; it’s educational and fun for him to watch and I feel good about letting him watch it.
On August 8th the all new Disney original movie: Phineas and Ferb Across the 2nd Dimension premiered on the Disney channel. To go along side the first ever Original Movie Phineas and Ferb Across the 2nd Dimension video game was released. In the game, Phineas and Ferb have escaped the 2nd Dimension and must find their way back to Danville. Phineas and Ferb team up with their 2nd Dimension selves along with Agent P (Perry the platypus) and all new character Agent T (it’s a turtle). Along the way team engages in combat against Doctor D and his evil robots.
The game and the different levels are thought provoking and fun. My son enjoyed the treasure hunt of searching for coins and solving the puzzles. The graphics were amazing and the game is easy to control. Plus, my love of garden gnomes came in to play! There is a whole level of dictatorship garden gnomes to defeat-that is just hilarious.
Phineas and Ferb across the 2nd Dimension is available with full move support for PlayStation 3 and is also available for Wii and DS. The console versions are rated “E-10+” while the DS version is rated “E” for everyone.
*I recieved a copy of the game for review purposes.
It’s Give-a-way Time!!
The fabulous people at Disney are giving you a chance to win your very own copy of Phineas and Ferb Across the 2nd Dimension video game!
To enter please respond to this post with the answer to this question-
Question: Who is Candace’s crush? (hint: his name starts with the letter “J”)
One winner will be selected at random using random.org. US residents only please, one entry per person. Contest ends on September 1st, 2011 at 11:59 pm. Thank you all for entering and good luck!
To follow Desiree’s adventure head here. You can also find Desiree on Twitter @DesireeEaglin
Disclosure: No compensation was received for this post. A copy was provided for review purposes.
Disney’s Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever! Ever
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Disney Live! Phineas and Ferb
If you have kiddos that are fans of Disney’s Phineas and Ferb, you are in for a treat! Disney’s Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever! will be coming to Southern California in September. The show will be at the Fred Kavili Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza on September 23 and the Long Beach Terrace Theatre, September 24 and 25th.
The show is part action adventure and part rock concert. Kiddos will dance to the soundtrack of hit songs from the animated series, including “Gitchee Gitchee Goo,” “Squirrels in My Pants,” “Backyard Beach,” “Busted,” “Today is Gonna Be a Great Day,” and “Summer Belongs to You.”
The show will play in Thousand Oaks on Friday, September 23rd at 4pm and 7pm. It will play in Long Beach on Saturday, September 24th at 4pm and 7pm. It will also play on Sunday, September 25th at 1pm.
To purchase tickets and additional info head here.
Pretend City Two Year Birthday Bash: Free Admission to everyone!
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Pretend City has a birthday this week!
If you have Tuesday open in your calendar and are looking for something to do with the kiddos, you won’t want to miss this. In celebration of their anniversary, Pretend City is opening their doors to the public for FREE all day! The mayor of Irvine will be present, there will be a cake cutting, and special events geared towards 2 year olds.
Odds are that it will be super busy that day, but if you arrive early or towards the end of the day, you will have a better time. I love heading there in the late afternoon. The crowds definitely thin out in the afternoon. If you’ve wanted to visit and haven’t had the opportunity to do so, you can’t beat FREE!
For additional info head here.
Mine for Nine – *Give-a-way!*
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Recently, I had an amazing opportunity and I am so excited to share with you guys about this wonderful company called “Mine for Nine”. If you are like me and you have a hard time dressing fashionably while you are pregnant, then you are going to love this groundbreaking online boutique!What it is
“Mine for Nine” is an online boutique that allows women to borrow designer maternity clothes for 75% off the retail price. No longer will you have to buy gigantic clothing that you will “grow into”! You can now borrow the right size that will fit perfectly! The most exciting benefit of this service to me-is the opportunity to borrow special events outfits. Let’s say, your cousin is getting married and you’d like a nice dress to wear to the wedding or you’d like to wear something extra special for your own baby shower! “Mine for Nine” is there to help!
How it works
Mommas-to-be shop the user friendly website Mine for Nine and select clothing based on their needs. The clothing is loaned out on a monthly basis (except special occasion dresses, they are loaned out on a 14 day basis), but if you love it you can keep it longer and the borrowing fee will be prorated for the weeks they are kept-there are no late fees! When you have outgrown or are through with that style all you have to do is return the clothing in the prepaid packaging that is provided. Then you can borrow something else and do it all over again!
My experience
I had the opportunity to borrow a few pieces for a product review. And I have to say, it was such an amazing experience and “Mine for Nine” really, really, honest to goodness CARE about their customers and they understand that customer service is what it is all about.
The wrong dress was accidentally sent to me (but I wasn’t complaining it was cute!!) and not only did they send out the correct dress to me that same day, the correct dress came with a hand written note explaining what happened. That meant so much to me, that I will shout from the rooftops to every woman I know about how amazingly awesome this company is.
The extra added touch
While filling out your order online at “Mine for Nine” they ask what sex the baby is. Well guess what? Each order comes wrapped in either pink, blue or yellow tissue paper according to what you replied. And that’s not all! Each order comes with a hand knit hat too! HOW SWEET IS THAT?!? My heart melted when I opened my package!
For the purpose the review I borrowed these items (and just to be honest-I wore the gray dress on a date night with my hubs last weekend! Don’t judge me that I’m not even pregnant and my youngest is a year old! It’s a cute dress!!):
Chloe Dress – my fav of the bunch, this dress is extremely soft and comfortable!
Credit: Desiree Eaglin
Credit: Desiree Eaglin
Credit: Desiree Eaglin
Credit: Desiree Eaglin
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What the California Office of Traffic Safety wants you to know this school year
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With the first days of school fast approaching, the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) wants us all to remember a few simple rules in order to keep our children safe. “Remind your kids how important safety on your streets is to you and them; that they need to be careful every time they leave the house. Drivers, especially those dropping off kids, need to stay focused and on the lookout for children” said OTS Director Christopher J. Murphy.
The Office of Traffic Safety wants to remind us that the best way to encourage safety in our children is to lead by example and to start teaching them while they are young about safety.
Here are a few simple rules to follow:
Bus rides:
Remain seated, keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times, remain calm (no jumping, throwing, screaming or acting out), do not distract the bus driver.
Bicyclists:
Wear a bicycle helmet at all times. Follow the road rules and pay attention to the road and its hazards (potholes, trash etc). Watch out for parked cars, they may be moving soon. Be alert to what is around you and pay attention. Never wear headphones while biking. Ride single file.
Drivers:
Drive extra slow and extra cautious at the beginning of the school year. Students are extra excited to be there and less likely to pay attention to cars. California’s maximum speed limit around schools and children is 25 MPH. Remember that all drivers are responsible for the safety of the children around school zones and school buses. Do not talk on your cell phone or text while driving, these behaviors are extremely dangerous. Be alert and pay attention to what is around you. When the buses red lights are flashing, all vehicles must stop in all directions.
Walking:
Do not jay-walk, cross the street at marked crosswalks only. Look both ways before crossing a street. Always walk on the sidewalk if there is one. If there are no sidewalks to use, walk facing traffic so you can see the traffic coming. Do not run across the street or between parked cars and buses. Watch for cars and obey all traffic signals. Be alert and pay attention to what is around you.
This has been a public safety announcement from your friends at DayTrippingMom. We want you and your children to be safe this school year!
Leave us a comment with your safety suggestions!
Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, CA
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Credit: Desiree Eaglin
Yesterday, my children and I were invited to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach California to learn about the new events and activities that the aquarium is offering. We brought along Grandma (it was her birthday!) and we had a really fabulous time!
My very favorite exhibit at the Aquarium of the Pacific is the Lorikeet Forest. I never forget to stop by there and enjoy the beautifully colorful and feisty birds. For some reason, my son was afraid to hold the nectar this time around, so I fed them. I ended up having 3 birds on one arm fighting and biting me! It didn’t hurt, but it sure was funny.
Credit: Desiree Eaglin
Did you know that besides having an amazingly special day trip experience at the aquarium of the pacific that they also have educational children and family programs, summer day camps, festivals and special events? I was happy to hear this myself!
The Aquarium of the Pacific has lots of public programs that can make everyone in the family happy. Here is a list of the programs that the Aquarium of the Pacific has to offer:
Sleepovers: for all ages (how amazing would that be??)
Birthday Parties and Birthday Sleepovers: all ages (hmm…my oldest is turning 5 in January and this would be an awesome way to celebrate his big day!)
Adult Programs and Tours: Behind the scenes, discovery group tour, animal encounters (My husband and I have tried the behind the scenes tour and it was really cool!)
Outdoor Adventures: Whale Watching and Dolphin Sea Life Cruise (you better believe I’ll be doing this)
Family Programs: Aqua Tots Ages 2-3 years old with parent. Saturday Family Fun 4-6 years old with a parent.
Childrens Programs: Junior Biologist 7-12 years old. Job Shadow: Grades 7-12
For more information about any of these programs please log on to www.aquariumofpacific.org/education or by calling 562) 951-1630
As part of our experience yesterday at the Aquarium of the Pacific, we were able to visit the private educational classroom that is a proponent in the summer day camps and educational programs. It was a really great experience and my son even tried on a Angelfish costume just for ya’ll to see:
Credit: Desiree Eaglin
The Aquarium’s new Molina Animal Care center, Ocean Science Center Gallery and new Arctic & Antarctic exhibitions have opened! We stopped by the Molina Animal Care center and met a beared lizard (I don’t remember his name, it was extremely hot and I was trying not to melt-sorry).
Credit: Desiree Eaglin
Not only does the Aquarium of the Pacific already have amazing exhibits and activities but, starting in September the Aquarium will also be offering special events and festivals! Such as, Moompetam a Native American Festival from September 17-18 a celebration of our local Native American cultures. Scarium of the Pacific on October 22-23 a Halloween event for the whole family. In November, the Aquarium will be having the Autumn festival November 5-6 the festival will highlight the traditions and cultures of Japan, China, Korea and the Phillippines with crafts, ethnic cuisines, music and dance.
If you’re afraid of forgetting any of this information, don’t worry DayTrippingMom will keep you updated with the newest festivals and events that the Aquarium of the Pacific will be offering!
Take it Outside and Play Series: Planting a Play-Outside-Seed
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Credit: Michele Whiteaker
This is the last guest post from the Take it Outside Series by the amazing Michele, from Fun Orange County Parks.
Thanks to Aracely for inviting me to share my ideas with you over this last month of summer. I see she’s been taking her own kids to the beach for some kite flying and family time. I hope you’ve learned it’s not hard or complicated to get outside. One of my favorite sites for getting outdoor inspiration is Green Hour by the National Wildlife Federation. They have dozens of ideas and activities. Also, watch Nature Rocks! for their FREE downloadable activity guides which come out every season.
Week 4
Plant a Seed Together. This is a great way to get outdoors, yet stay close to home. I’m working on my own container garden. I think pumpkins or sunflowers are fun starters. Our neighbors have a grand crop of corn this year. I’ve taken notes from Children’s Gardens we’ve visited and don’t have any rules about what container we use. I’ve seen old boots, wheelbarrows, sand buckets, or milk cartons. Dig through your recyclables and see if something will work. Recommend: Visit Tree of Life Nursery to find native plants to attract local wildlife.
Water Play at Home. Sprinklers? Water balloons? Cups filled with water? What containers can you come up with? Let the kids get parents wet for once! It’s so much fun. I say do it in your clothes right before shower time when the laundry is going in the wash anyways. Just keep the boys away from the hose (They don’t play fair)!
Would you rather take it day-by-day? Look at Michele’s Make Playing Outside a Habit in 30 Days.
Thanks for rounding out your summer with some outdoor fun. Hope you’ve started some routines that will stick with you through the school year. Remember:
- Recess is not enough FREE play time!
- The beach is still fun in the winter if you bundle up.
- Don’t wait for summer to enjoy all this summer fun.
This video will give you all the encouragement you need to make PLAY a priority in your child’s life whether it’s summer or not:
Michele Whiteaker promotes play by sharing local places on her FunOrangeCountyParks.com Play Blog. Subscribe to her Play Trips newsletter for new ideas every week. Join her page on Facebook where she’s built a local community of play enthusiasts. Or just skip all that and go out and play!
Roar and Snore at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park: An Adventure to Remember!
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- A view of the giraffes from our campground
This past weekend we had one of the most incredible experiences as a family. My husband, the kiddos and myself drove an hour and a half down south but were transported a world away.We spent the night at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and had the opportunity to experience the Junior Night at the Roar and Snore Safari. This special night is designed for families with children younger than six. It is an experience like no other and as close to an African Safari as you can get, without having to travel to a different continent.
The Roar and Snore Program began in April of 1994 and is more popular than ever. The Overnight campouts run from February to November and there is a variety from different programs from Junior Night(families with young children) to Adult Adventure Challenge Nights. There is something for everyone!
- The Roar & Snore Campground
The fun started from the moment we arrived at the park. We were greeted by the Roar and Snore staff, who checked us in what seemed like a minute. We were then led to a shaded area with other waiting families while the staff took our bags from our and had them delivered to our tents. While we waited we were able to have an animal meet and greet presentation . Once we all had the opportunity to touch the animal ambassadors we made our way into camp.
- The kiddos peaking out of the tent.
We made our way to the campground and checked into our tents and prepared for dinner. We had a yummy dinner that was perfect for little hands. Our tasty kiddo-friendly dinner featured hamburgers, hot dogs, mac and cheese and other treats that the kiddos loved. They ate every single thing and that is a rare feat!
The view from outside our tent
After dinner, we headed back to our tent to prepare for our behind -the-scenes mini walking tour. The kids were beyond excited to head back to the tent because it was our first time camping out as a family. They really had a blast and could have spent the evening just hanging at the campground enjoying the most amazing views and their super fun tent. We had a Vista tent, which comfortably sleeps a family of four and has a view of the African Plains Exhibit. We brought our own sleeping bags and the tents came with sleeping pads. We headed back to meet with our group after changing into our walking shoes and just in time for a quick and easy craft that the kiddos were able to take along on our “hike”.
- The kiddos were able to make their own “binoculars” for our evening “hike”.
We headed for our evening “hike” with our group and were in for quite the treat. We were able to take a behind the scenes look at the Lion House and actually had the a lion roar at us. It was incredible! We also had an animal interaction with an armadillo. My kiddos were officially in heaven between the lion roar and being able to touch a real life armadillo.
My son getting up close and personal with an armadillo
There is nothing quite like the feeling of having the park all to yourself!
Our mini walk also included a private viewing of the elephant exhibit. It was such a cool experience to be able to walk around the park without any crowds. The walk also was just the right amount of time and length for the little ones. My kiddos loved every single minute of it! We headed back to camp for some s’more making and drum time.
- Drumming away before bedtime.
Families gathered around the fire to make some s’mores and then a fun drumming session. Everyone participated and there were smiles all around. It really was an incredible experience. Bedtime is a little early at the Junior Roar and Snore to make sure and accommodate tired little feet. It was a beautiful night and an even more amazing sunrise. There is nothing quite like being awaken to the sound of lions and tigers roaring. Honestly, it was one of the most amazing experiences of my entire life.
- Our delicious breakfast spread
Wake up time is at 6:15,but we had been up for at least half an hour listening to the sounds of the animals. We packed our belongings and headed for breakfast that also included great kid friendly fare. We went on a morning walk before the park opened to the public and had the opportunity for another animal interaction before heading home. Our experience concluded right around 9:30am.
- My daughter meeting one of the animal ambassadors
We had a beyond incredible time and as I shared with my husband on the ride home, we made memories that will last a lifetime. The kiddos have not stopped talking about our experience and in reality neither have we. It was such a special experience and it was so nice to be able to be around other families with young children and not have to worry about inconveniencing anyone. One of the fathers in the group and I chatted and discussed how nice it was to have age appropriate activities for the kiddos and also be around other parents that “get it”! It really made for a great time.
I also have to add that there were three families in our group that had experienced a safari in Kenya and shared that it was hard to pick a favorite between the Roar and Snore and an African Safari, it truly is that kind of experience.
There are different types of Roar and Snore experiences. We took part of the Junior experience, but you can also experience Family Night and Adult-Only Nights. There are also special experiences for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. You can select from one of three types of tents. Premium, Vista and Classic. The camp is home to 46 tents. There are showers and restrooms all within very close proximity of the tents. The Roar and Snore experience includes dinner, snacks and breakfast.
It truly is an experience like no other and I can’t recommend it enough. There are still dates left this year. To find out more about this incredible experience head here.
