May 2, 2014
If you haven’t been to Walt Disney World for a while, you might be somewhat confused by the new alphabet soup. Replacing the hugely popular 15-year-old FastPass system, FastPass+ allows you to book rides in advance, before you ever set foot in the park. My Disney Experience embeds the FastPass + experience into an entire ...
April 30, 2014
Dad and I, along with my best friend Angela, began competing in MouseAdventure’s annual Walt Disney World events in 2012. Part scavenger hunt, part trivia competition, part endurance test, the events are exciting but exhausting. They’re also addictive. When we learned the Walt Disney World MouseAdventure was cancelled for 2014, we were devastated. Enter Kevin ...
April 28, 2014
If you have been to Disneyland or Walt Disney World in the spring or fall, you might have seen a horde of people in bright yellow lanyards dashing through the parks at top speed. Armed with clipboards, backpacks and every type of writing implement under the sun, they clearly appear to be on a mission. ...
April 19, 2014
For my dad’s birthday in 2009, I arranged for my cousin and her husband to come in from out of town for a family reunion. We planned several days at the theme parks, rented a beautiful condo, and made some terrific dining reservations. Yet I wanted to do something really unforgettable for the actual birthday ...
April 16, 2014
The Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa captures the allure of the island of Kauai in a seaside sanctuary for the whole family. Upon first entering the resort, one is greeted with flower and Kukui nut leis, as well as the island breezes washing right through the resort and hotel lobby which opens to views of ...
March 19, 2014
Nestled within the verdant woodland of Irvine Regional Park, the Orange County Zoo is home to over 30 kinds of animals, most of which are native to the Southwestern United States. This is a small 8-acre zoo that is perfect for families with young children, and includes animals like black bears, deer, ...
March 18, 2014
The ruins of Corfe Castle are magnificent
March 17, 2014
Lying hidden atop the Andes in the Cusco region of Peru, the ancient Incan city of Machu Picchu is one of the most important archaeological sites in South America. Long ago it provided an estate for the emperor Pachacuti. It was built around the year 1450 but was abandoned a century later ...
March 11, 2014
Butterflies are in bloom. That’s right, Spring brings more than flowers and budding leaves. It brings butterflies! From April 13 – September 1, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County will open their annual seasonal Butterfly Conservatory exhibit with over 30 butterfly species from North America flying free among a lush variety ...
March 11, 2014
Looking for some gigantic fun? Well my kids and I were, one fine fall day in Orange County, in the coastal area where white sand beaches lead up the hills to elegant resorts and stately homes. We found some Elephantine fun. ELEPHANT PARADE – Dana Point Surely you and your little ones have ...
