Family Day-tripping to Dana Point, California August 31, 2009
This article is from my Parenting column on the LA. Edition of Examiner.com. Please visit to SEE PHOTOS of Dana Point!
Dana Point Harbor has something for every member of the family. Located midway between Los Angeles and San Diego, Dana Point Harbor is gorgeous, and easily accessible–by boat, bike or car! Divided into the East and West Basin, both operate as a separate marina.
Nestled between the basins, you’ll discover curious waterside shops, a variety of restaurants, ice cream shops and walking paths. When my sons and I met up with photographer Kristianne Koch and her children, Merrik and Maliea, one morning for breakfast, we chose Coffee Importers, 2008 Best of Dana Point gold medal winners for best healthy choices, best breakfast, best sandwich, and (of course!) best coffee.
Our children are all aged four and under. While we look forward to the day when we can enroll them in Dana Point’s sailing school for kids, kayaking or windsurfing, our little ones enjoyed spotting “humungous” crabs in the water, petting the many dogs walking by, and spending the day examining tide pools, floating on a surfboard and making sand castles on Baby Beach.
A native of nearby San Clemente, Kristianne grew up visiting DP Harbor. Here is her Top Five List of Things to Do:
1) Tidepools/Dana Marine Life Refuge Low tide brings tide pool adventurers to the far west side of Dana Point Harbor.
2) Baby Beach It’s safe to go back inthe water! OC Weekly rated water quality at Baby Beach grade F over they years, but 2008 saw an improvement with a fair C. This year, Baby Beach received straight A’s from April to October, and during year-round dry weather, reports OC Weekly. (Dana Point recently received a federal earmark to study pollution in the area, so that might help prevent this year’s grade from being a fluke.)
3) Whale watching Whale watching and novice-to-expert fishing trips run daily out of Dana Wharf.
4) The Ocean Institute Nestled against the bluffs in Dana Point Harbor, this nonprofit organization is closed during the week for ocean preservation classes but facility tours are available Thursday and Friday at 4 pm. Open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays. Thursday & Friday: 3:30pm 45 min.
$2.00 per person, members are free.
5) Happy hour at Wind and Sea Merrik and Maliea love to talk to people out the big windows overlooking the sidewalk.
There are numerous waterfront choices for dining, from the casual to the romantic. Catch an early breakfast, or watch the sun go down with a glass of wine and a memorable dinner.
Harbor Deli
Tel: 949.496.0424
New York Style Deli
Slice of New York
Tel: 949.496.1447
Italian Food
Jolly Roger
Tel: 949.496.0855
Casual Dining on The Waterfront
Jon’s Fishmarket
Tel: 949.496.2807
Fresh Pacific Caught Seasonal Fish
Proud Mary’s Restaurant
Tel: 949.493.5853
Family-owned Restaurant on the Waterfront
Wind & Sea Restaurant
Tel: 949.496.6500
Fresh Seafood and Steaks on the Waterfront
Beach Cities Pizza
Tel: 949.496.0606
Pizza with Homemade Sauce. Sandwiches, Salads and Pasta
Coffee Importers & Deli and Scoop Deck Ice Cream
Tel: 949.493.7773
Seaside Patio, Fresh Roasted Coffee Drinks, Pastries, Desserts, Bagels, Soups, Smoothies, Fresh Juices, and Ice Cream.
El Torito Restaurant
Tel: 949.496.6311
Mexican Cuisine
Gemmell’s Restaurant (Rebecca’s favorite! Gemmell’s is very welcoming to children, but also a nice romantic spot for celebrations.)
Tel: 949.234.0063
Traditional and Classic Fine Dining
The Harbor Grill
Tel: 949.240.1416
Inventive, Fresh Seafood, Extensive Wine List, Premium Cocktails
Harpoon Henry’s Seafood Restaurant
Tel: 949.493.2933
On The Water Seafood Restaurant and Extensive Wine List
The Brig Restaurant
Tel: 949.496.9046
Great Home Cooking
The Beach House
Tel: 949.496.7310
Brunch, lunch or dinner.
For more info: Book a family photo session with Kristianne! View Kristianne Koch’s portrait portfolio, blog and personal/fine art galleries, or book a session. Or, contact her at kristianne.koch@cox.net or 949-702-7707.
The Ocean Institute
24200 Dana Point Harbor Dr.
Dana Point, CA 92629
Phone:(949) 496-2274
GAIA Shasta Hotel for green family travel We usually leave the world behind us when we check into a luxury hotel. Quite the opposite happens at GAIA Shasta Hotel, when… Keep Reading » Lake Piru family camping Get brave and dirty: Try a campout with your preschoolers! Last weekend, we took the kids camping at Lake Piru in Los Padres National Forest near… Keep Reading » Budgeting for the Best Family-Friendly Hotels School’s out for summer and parents everywhere are gearing up for some quality time with their kids. According to an Auto Club of America… Keep Reading » Visit Anaheim’s retro HoJo for pirate waterpark family fun Every family needs and deserves the ideal getaway. To be considered “ideal”, in my estimation it must include the following… Keep Reading » Greening your family picnic or reunion Over Fourth of July weekend alone, Americans lit up more than 60 million barbecues and roasted about 150 million hot dogs and 890 million pounds…Keep Reading »
More About: Vacation · Things to Do · Education · Child Development · Activities for Kids · LA Kid Activities · Slideshows · Baby’s First Year
Fun, Educational Road Trip Games for Kids July 23, 2009
Mother and homeschooler Jessica Parnell knows how to turn any place into a learning environment–even the back seat of the car on a road trip with her children.
“We found ways to take the basic [subjects] and turn them into a game,” says Parnell. “This not only helped to pass the time, but brought out the creativity in all of us.”
For a selection of some of Jessica Parnell’s fun and educational on-the-road games on the subjects of English and Grammar, Math, and History/Science/Nature/Creativity, read the rest of this article here.
Ready to road-trip? Check out Budgeting for the Best Family-Friendly Hotels.
Summer Challenge! Tasting Ice Cream Like A Connoisseur June 28, 2009
Ice cream, sorbet, frozen custard, frozen yogurt, gelato… these are the culinary treasures of summer. Lucky for us, Los Angeles boasts some of the finest purveyors of frosty delights in the country. Now that summer is upon us, I propose a season-long exploration for the entire family, in the good names of gustatory pleasure and the spirit of adventure!
I’ve compiled an alphabetical list of LA’s most highly recommended ice cream parlors; There are enough tempting destinations listed to visit one frozen-delight outlet per week until Labor Day, with room for visit to a stumbled-upon treasure (comment back if you find an ice cream parlor the rest of us need to visit!) or to make a second visit to a favorite place to sample another flavor!
Al Gelato 806 S Robertson Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90035. 310-659-8069
Charlie Temmel Ice Cream 1313 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291. 310-664-9564
Mashti Malone’s Ice Cream 1525 North La Brea Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90028. 866-767-3423
Milk 7290 Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036. 323-939-6455
Milk 7290 Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036. 323-939-6455
Pazzo Gelato 3827 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026. 323-662-1410
Scoops 712 N Heliotrope Dr. Los Angeles, CA 90029. 323-906-2649
Silky Smooth Ultra Creamery Beverly Center Mall-7th Floor 8500 Beverly Blvd. Store 752, Los Angeles, CA 90048. 310-659-9992
Taking a cue from wine connoisseurs, equip yourself and your kids with a notebook to record impressions. On Labor Day weekend, celebrate your newly refined palate with a trip back for what is—in your esteemed opinion—the “very bestest” frozen treat in Los Angeles.
Just like tasting wine, paying special attention to your ice cream can be an adventure that will deepen your appreciation for both the treat and the various methods by which it is made.
Here are some fun tips for tasting like a true connoisseur
Begin with your basic senses. Keep in mind that you can smell thousands of unique scents, but your taste perception is limited to salty, sweet, sour and bitter. It is the combination of smell and taste that allows you to discern flavor.
One a fresh page in your notebook, enter the name of the ice cream shop, the date, and the flavor you chose. Then, eat! Be sure to make additional notes in your book using the following as a guide:
Look: What color is it? Did you choose a treat with bits of fruit, nuts, chocolate chips? Can you see them? Does your treat have a smooth, creamy texture, is it soft or firm, light or heavy? Is it melting quickly, or holding its shape?
Taste: Take a bite, and allow it to slowly melt on your tongue. Depending on which flavor you chose, you might detect the taste of berries, chocolate, vanilla, spices, or citrus. Sweet tastes and salty tastes are mostly tasted at the tip of the tongue. Bitter tastes are mostly sensed towards the back and rear sides of the tongue, and sour tastes (like citrus) are mostly tasted at the sides of the tongue, at the middle and towards the front.
Is it melting quickly, or slowly? What flavors did you notice first? Did any additional flavors appear as the ice cream melted on your tongue? How sweet is it? How does the texture feel? Does it taste better eaten from a spoon, or licked directly? (I’m told there really is a difference.) Does the flavor persist long after each bite, or does it disappear? Close your eyes and search your imagination: what does the taste make you think of?
Explore: What is the funniest flavor the shop offers? What is the weirdest? (Scoops features flavors such as (Fois gras and Sweet cream, Earl Grey Ginger, and Riesling Cherry!) How was it made? (Does the shop use an old family recipe? What kids of equipment are used to prepare the ice cream? How long does it take? How often do they make it?)
Sure it tastes good, but is it good for me? Some shops will offer information such as calories, or fat content per serving. Silky Smooth Ultra Creamery uses excess butterfat, yet is 90% fat free. (How do they do this?) Be sure to add notes about nutrition in your ice cream notebook, if it happens to matter to you. With dessert, often one is better off not knowing.
Lastly, give your ice cream a final rating overall: perhaps grade it A, B, C or D, or give it a ranking from 1-10. When you find one you like, don’t keep it a secret. Comment below and spread the good word!
Parenting Examiner Column – Week in Review June 20, 2009
My newest parenting column is now available on the LA edition of Examiner.com, the premier online brand for local information and events. Examiner.com is a fresh, innovative online local news and information source. Powered by a diverse group of contributors from around the country, Examiners are “credible, passionate, knowledgeable people who talk about their topics and share their knowledge in a fun, useful non-pompous way.” (Eesh, alert me if this comes off as pompous!)
Michelle Trela, Family & Parenting Channel Manager for Examiner.com, generously commented: “You hit the mark on pretty much everything I look for: localization, hyperlinks, photos (and you even used a slide show! Very few new Examiner are brave enough to try one, so bravo, it came out great!), clean writing (nice sense of humor, too!), a good headline. Keep up the great work! This is really top notch work; I look forward to seeing what else you have to write.”
Here are links to my articles from this week. I’d love to see your comments—especially any requests to cover whatever topic that matters most to you! Thank you for taking the time to check these out:
Camping at Lake Piru June 9, 2009
Get brave and dirty! Try a campout with your preschoolers!
Last weekend, we took the kids camping at Lake Piru in Los Padres National Forest near Ventura, Calif. Our boys, ages 2 and 4 years, were very excited, and spent the week before our trip ”practicing” in their turtle-shaped tent at home. My husband has his father’s old 1985 speed boat, and we were curious about how our little ones might fare on a cruise about the lake. (They’ve been boating on it since birth, but each time seems to be an entirely new adventure!)
The campsite at Lake Piru is a lot less rural than I’d hoped—Tiny spaces in a former oliver orchard butting up to neighboring campers on either side—and while the fabulous sunsets, and chocolate brown cows on the surrounding picturesque hills created a tranquil setting, the overall “campground” aspect felt a little more like tailgating than getting back to nature. Like all things in life, even strangers camping only 50 feet away (with their late-night banter and dubious musical tastes) have a silver lining; So much exposure to other campers allowed our children fleeting interactions with other young ones new to the concept. The boys also made friends with rollicking doggies of all shapes and sizes, and (truth be told) I’m neither ready to go “deep woods” with a 2- and 4-year-old just yet, nor am I ready to stray too far from a decent coffee place when I know I’ll be spending the night on a blow-up mattress.
The economy what it is, the boat launch was virtually deserted all weekend, with only a lone skier on the lake, although it is a popular spot for trout, northern black bass, catfish, bluegill, sunfish and crappie fishing. We enjoyed high-speed rides with our friends and little guys, who were both giggling hysterically and urging their father to go faster, faster! When we let down our anchor in a quiet bay, they thought nothing of jumping right in the lake–I was so impressed!
One unexpected benefit of the empty boat launches was the combination of wide open space and the perfect kite-flying wind caught between the mountains and water. (My husband scoffed when I packed a kite: “how do you suppose we’ll fly a kite in the woods?”) When I pulled out our Mater and Lightning McQueen kite, the boys cheered! The string was nowhere to be found, so I removed the kite’s tails, connected them, and we used them as a makeshift string. The wind picked the kite right up, and we were off and running!
While we had packed a toy bulldozer and an excavator, along with some sand toys, the boys ignored them. They were too interested in exploring rabbit holes, and collecting sticks, and throwing stones into the woods. One thing that surprised me was the ongoing ordeal about who was going to collect the water and help scrub the dishes after every meal. To be fair, I put them both to work, but they weren’t happy about it. They each wanted to be “the one” who helped. (This is the kind of debate I’d like to see more often!)
Each night, the boys were exhausted. When we tucked them into bed, the would roll about in huge fits of giggles—they were so thrilled to be sleeping in a tent! They were giving us big kisses and hugs and cheering, and it was nothing short of adorable. Until early in the morning, when our littlest early-riser had me up at 5am, walking the perimeter of the campground, again and again, until around 8 am, when he finally settled down enough to eat breakfast—or rather, pick the chocolate chips out of the otherwise nutritious trail mix.
Check out the slideshow! After reviewing our fun, I realized we all need our hair cut.
Hacking Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters Ride At Disneyland May 13, 2009
As one of millions of parents who has watched Pixar’s Toy Story movies ad nauseam, paid the sizeable entrance fee to Disneyland, stood in endless lines to experience the magic of a 2-minute ride with their offspring, shouldn’t we grown-ups enjoy just the teeniest edge at a few rides?
Dad Danny Sullivan thinks so. A few years ago, he posted his tips for hacking the Buzz Lightyear ride in Tomorrowland at Disneyland in order to post the day’s highest score. Summer is almost upon us, and many will be visiting The Magic Kingdom. Now is our chance!
As Rex says in Toy Story 2
I have to sheepishly admit why I’m personally so interested. My husband is a lifelong video game fanatic—He has played it all. I barely played Pacman back in the day, and aside from a little Bejeweled, I’m hopeless. However! When we went on this ride, I held both my squirming boys while working our ion blasters, and he rode by himself, unecumbered. When the ride was done, mysteriously I’d scored THREE times the points he had! Could I be the next person to defeat Emperor Zurg? Could I?!?
Read Sullivan’s tips here. To infinity, and beyond!
Pirate Water Park Family Fun at Anaheim’s Retro HoJo! May 1, 2009
Every family needs and deserves the ideal getaway. To be considered “ideal”, in my estimation it must include the following components:
1. Fun for EVERYONE. Mom and Dad get to relax, and the children have the time of their lives!
2. It musn’t break the bank–that’s a no-brainer.
3. It must be comfortable, safe and conveniently located near great restaurants and fun activities.
Our diamond was not found in the rough, it was discovered in the retro.
Our family recently spent an amazingly wonderful weekend together at Howard Johnson’s in Anaheim, www.HoJoAnaheim.com.
Built in 1965, Anaheim’s historic HoJo is a mid-century marvel located just off the I-5 at Harbor (aka: a mere 8-minute walk to Disneyland’s entrance). Designed by architect and hugely successful urban planner, William L. Pereira (visionary of the iconic dome of LAX, the Disneyland Hotel, the UCI campus and the TransAmerica Pyramid building in downtown San Francisco), the Anaheim HoJo is unmistakably 1960s California.
Wet ye shall be, buccaneers!
I’d love to impart a local history lesson to my children as much as the next parent, but let’s be honest: the Anaheim HoJo’s big draw is Castaway Cove, the hotel’s private pirate-themed water playground. Yes, I said pirate. I’m certain my boys just felt a quiver of excitement run down their spines as I typed the word.
Built only two years ago, Castaway Cove is the only themed water playground outside of the Disneyland resort. Be assured, this isn’t any glorified sprinkler. As you can see in the photos, there are multiple heated waterslides, a toddler pool, fountains, jacuzzi, cargo net climbs, water cannons, and the most remarkable adrenalin rush in the form of a 300 gallon drench bucket which releases a torrent of water on joyful kids and parents every 2 minutes. (By some feat of engineering, those 300 gallons only soak the willing and wanting. A chaise directly in front of it offers the perfect vantage point without once getting sprayed!)
Think pirates are just for boys? While our young sons do love all things both watery and pirate-y, we mingled with several families visiting that weekend, most of which were groups enjoying a “girls weekend” away. There was one group we met which comprised two great-grandmas, a grandmother, two daughters-in-law and two grand-daughters. Those little girls didn’t stand a chance when their moms and grandma took turns operating the water cannons as they climbed the cargo net to the highest water slide. We were also pleased to discover the hotel is a favored annual destination for many guests–even before the water park was installed. It’s important to note the HoJo sits on 10 acres (most newer hotels in the area comprise only 1 acre, with only a small rooftop pool), and beyond Castaway Cove guests can explore a separate, large, Garden Pool (which will receive its own hot tub this year) and jasmine-scented garden walkways. The spacious rooms offer balconies overseeing the action and free parking is located away from the activity, so children are safe to roam about the entirely non-smoking facility.
Our weekend was the ideal mix of much-needed relaxation and whirlwind water fun. While “retro” best describes the exterior, our room was comfortable, modern, and boasted a terrific view. (The HoJo sits directly across from Matterhorn mountain and the Monorail tracks. Disney’s fireworks show explodes just to the right of the Matterhorn as viewed from the deck of Castaway Cove!)
With such close proximity to Disneyland and the fabulously stocked gift shop bursting with Disney souvenirs, I wondered whether our little ones would spend the entire weekend begging for The Magic Kingdom, but they were so satisfied by just playing in the water, and in the hotel’s well-equipped gameroom, it actually never came up.
My readers know all too well, I’m very particular about food and nutrition; a family vacation does not mean a trip away from good health. Mimi’s Cafe, one of the most well-respected and popular restaurants on the strip, sits directly next to the hotel, and area restaurants and shopping abound. Also, every guest room has a fridge for food storage and most have a microwave.
HoJo Anaheim will soon will be adding 14 pirate-themed 2-bedroom suites accommodating six comfortably. Parents can have their own bedroom with king-size bed, while the kids’ side will feature a bunk bed and sofa sleeper and separate bathroom.
Typically, an easy-on-the-budget hotel doesn’t compare with the service at a pricier, exclusive resort. We were very pleasantly surprised to discover the outstanding service and atmosphere of welcome at the HoJo. Every last housekeeper, groundskeeper or maintenance person greeted us and our children with genuine warmth, as if they were sincerely happy to have us visit. Could it just be the euphoria of 300 gallons of water dropped on our heads, or was this one of best family vacations ever?
Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel – Anaheim Resort
1380 South Harbor Boulevard, Anaheim, CA 92802
800-446-4656
Stay@HoJoAnaheim
www.HoJoAnaheim.com
TripAdvisor’s “Best U.S. Hotel For Families” and “Best Family-Friendly Bargain Hotel in the U.S.” – 2005, 2006 & 2008!
photos by Joseph Lacko
WIN a Green Vacation in California’s Wine Country April 2, 2009
WIN 3 Nights Free Lodging at
Gaia Napa Valley Hotel & Spa, and
A Self-Guided Tour of Napa Valley’s Green Wineries
Quick poll for parents!
How long has it been since you enjoyed a good night’s rest?
__ Last night! __ Last week ___ Last month ___ Sometime before I got pregnant with my first child. Maybe 2004?
What types of stress are a part of your day-to-day life?
__ work obligations __ parenting issues __financial struggles __ pollution
Do you or your family need any of the following:
__ Downtime __”Me” time __ Vacation!
Enter SolarDay 2009’s free Green Vacation sweepstakes for solar and green winery fans at www.solarday.com.
During your stay, visit the 500 animals at nearby Six Flags, Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, CA.
By registering for the green vacation sweepstakes, the winner gets to stay at the first LEED Gold hotel (and solar-powered) Gaia Napa Valley Hotel & Spa in American Canyon, Calif., just south of the town of Napa.
While staying at the hotel the winner can visit the many green, sustainably farmed, organic and solar-powered wineries in nearby Napa Valley. Boththe hotel and the wineries operations demonstrate how we can live greener, more sustainable lives. And, you’ll get a chance to relax and unwind as a family. The value of the room for three nights is $400.
The short registration form only takes about 10 seconds–sign up, and go green!
Giving Thanks to Canadian Thanksgiving! October 16, 2008
We just returned from a wonderful visit to Canada, to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving at my parents’ cottage on Lake Huron in Bayfield, Ontario. The leaves were ablaze with gold, red and bronze, the nearby farmer had grown a tall crop of corn, and the weather was alternately warm enough to play on the beach, yet cool enough to sit in the rocker by the fireplace. My children had a constant sense of wonder about them, examining for hours my father’s antique toys, rowing out on the lake in a little boat, and running through rows of corn, or crunching dry leaves underfoot in the woods.
Bayfield is one of those hidden treasures which soon becomes a retreat for couples seeking a quiet yet luxurious getaway, or families peaking in and out of quaint little shops and chatting with friendly locals. Some treasured memories for us were Noah playing an old harmonica and dancing along with his own music, Joseph obsessed with his “chine” (machine), lifting and maneuvering toy cars with its mechanized lever, hanging out with Casey and Melanie, my brother’s fun, affectionate and infinitely patient children, and trying our hand at horseshoes.
You never know what might capture a child’s imagination. There was a set of magnets that became miniature modern art sculptures, and a border collie, Jacques, who faithfully kept us all closeknit. We walked the long, narrow bridge over the gorge in Goderich, (Canada’s “Prettiest Town”—I would say there are plenty that give it a run for its money), and our children played happily alongside one another for the entire visit, no need for a referee!
Living in California, it was especially a treat to watch the kids interact with their Canadian grandparents. Eager to show them collected rocks or sit in a lap for cuddles, the miles of distance became insignificant.
Travel with children is often a struggle. For this trip we have only blessings to count, thankful for Thanksgiving.
