When traveling, you can’t take your house with you, so how do you deal with children’s games? How do you keep your kids from asking “Are we there yet?” a thousand times or needing to stop for a break every 5 minutes? How do you keep them entertained in a world where internet connection rules? The times we are living in has more and more people thinking of taking longer trips, not a quick one that entertains them for longer. As a result of this new normal, we are getting new requests for travel games to keep kids busy on long train or car or plane trips. I searched and searched to pick some of the best games available. This is a quick summary for all ages and some games are easier to handle when things do not move too much or on a small tablet.
This superior quality chess set offers you smooth hand-feel while frivolous. Smooth processing for each chess piece to lower the noise while traveling. Offers silent environment for your analytical thinking.The pieces are stress-free to differentiate. The Chess set has an attractive wrapping with rules of the chess game available inside the box. Every distinct piece of the chessboard has a magnetic pull to the playing field of the 64-square chessboard, and light magnetic attraction would create it steady to play while not solid to transfer the pieces at the time of playing in stormy weather, out-of-doors or traveling. Small enough for travel in a backpack or bag, but large enough surface area for easy play.
Appreciate the typical game of bingo, animal style, anywhere you go. Easy to play with simple to follow the rules. No requirement for decks of cards only utilizes the magnetic pieces and a built-in magnetic spinner. This game is recommended for ages 3 and above. This game is played between two or more players. It is an excellent hands-on game for children to stay busy for long hours without utilizing technology or their phones. A classic game that everyone is sure to know and want to play instead of driving or being left out for long!
In this board game for kids, it’s a contest to acquire all of the animals on Noah’s boat beforehand the
excessive flood. Collect every animal together to conquest. Appropriate for two to four players, and
appropriate for kids age 4 and up. The box comprises one game panel, five animal tokens, thirty-six
terrain cards, one rain token, and thirteen rain cards. This makes a great gift for Christmas or other holidays including a birthday present.
This forty piece game set consists of thirty-two magnetic tiles and eight style mags. The original
technology creates Stile Mags, simple accumulation of magnetic buildings as well as mosaics. Talk about a game that is friendly for all ages and imaginations! This one is sure to keep them (and maybe you) busy for hours on end creating magnetic magic!
Appreciate the all-time typical game of Backgammon anywhere you go. No requirement for decks of
cards, sports, or additional action games. This game has you enclosed with long hours of
entertainment. This game is played between two players. It comes with all that you require to get on
the go, such as magnetic pieces, two dice, and the game board published ingeniously within the box.
Appreciate the typical game of Words anywhere you go—no requirement for technology, phones, or
applications. Pick your head to come up with a word prepared from letters on your board. This game
can be played between 4 players.
Board games and the like are at an all time high, especially those that are friendly on the go. Families are spending more time together and games that can be easily taken on a ride and don’t get upset when moving will continue to be at the forefront of shopping purchases this year and next. What is your favorite game to take with you which is missing from the list?
I know that when we are ready to travel outside our comfort zone again, I want to go somewhere affordable, but not break the bank getting there. Our girls are getting older and about the age where we can take them on longer trips they will remember. I want them to be able to explore like I wasn’t able to at their age. I long to give them culture and experiences at a younger age so they don’t go travel crazy like me when they are older. We are impatiently awaiting these rankings of the cheap, most trendy destinations or, conversely, the less known.
Here are the top 10 affordable places perfect for big adventures and visit in 2020.
10 Affordable Places to Visit in 2020
1) Ecuador
If South America is in your sights, you should consider Ecuador. A country of contrasts with its legendary volcanoes, its colorful colonial towns, and its seaside life punctuated by the Pacific Ocean, there is plenty to have fun! Very small between Peru and Colombia, Ecuador can be explored easily, quickly, and inexpensively. According to Lonely Planet, almost everything is within half a day of transportation. As much as Ecuador is a cheap destination, so are its famous Galapagos Islands.
2) Slovenia
The ultimate base camp for lovers of the outdoors, Slovenia, has carved out a place of choice in this list. Affordable, the “green heart of Europe”; reveals itself in several facets: a seaside town with Venetian beauties, Alpine passes in the sky, a forest of stalagmites, castles like fairy tales.
3) Argentina
Historically, Argentina is recognized as an economic destination. And she does not skimp on efforts to remain so! For example, foreign visitors who pay for their accommodation by international bank card are entitled to a refund of taxes or, even certain nationalities benefit from visas at reduced prices, underlines Lonely Planet. Hikers will find their challenge at the Perito Moreno Glacier and certainly at Aconcagua, while Buenos Aires is a real eye-catcher for art and culture lovers.
4) Southern Nile Valley, Egypt
When we talk about the south of the Nile Valley, we discuss the region between Aswan and Luxor. An essential stopover during a trip to Egypt, Luxor, is often the starting point for a cruise on the Nile, which is, according to Lonely Planet, an excellent way to travel economically. Often, food and other transportation are included, and the entrance fee to larger monuments is not very expensive. The longest river in the world is yours, desert adventures, temples, and ancient treasures.
5) The Maldives
Hard to believe, but the Maldives is becoming more and more affordable. Independent tourists are increasing, and that at the same time, a network of cheap accommodation is developing.
This is a BIG goal on my travel list because the beautiful pictures and stories I’ve heard of these islands. It’s quite a long airplane ride, but I believe Steve and I will visit here soon.
6) Albania
Albania is a very cheap destination that lurks right in front of our eyes! Even today, few tourists visit the last frontier of Europe. Bordered to the north by Montenegro and to the south by Greece, Albania offers hikes in glorious landscapes, tasty gastronomy, small historic villages, and unique archaeological sites.
7) Great Smoky Mountains National Park, United States
With more than 10 million visitors annually, Great Smoky Mountain National Park, straddling Tennessee and North Carolina, is far from a well-kept secret. Quite the opposite, it is the most visited national park in the United States. Entrance to the park is free, so it is an excellent option for an economical road trip or hiking trip. Especially since the Great Smoky Mountains are crossed by one of the longest and most famous North American trails: the Appalachian Trail.
8) Łódź, Poland
Łódź, Poland’s third-largest city, is a must-see destination. This former industrial city, once in decline, has transformed in recent years to unveil innovative architectural projects, street arts, and districts entirely dedicated to culture and entertainment.
9) Houston, United States
Houston offers one of the best value for money in Texas. Among other things, the Houston Museum District’s urban escapades allow you to visit the metropolis on foot through 19 museums, ten of which are free, and the EaDo district presents us with an outdoor street art gallery to visit in self-guided mode.
10) Naxos in Greece
An island known by the Greeks takes a scooter tour to enjoy the landscape and have a good time. It is one of the most beautiful of the Greek Islands and a short ferry ride away from the super famous Paros and Mykonos Islands, but stays under the radar for popularity. If you visit here, chances are you will get all the beautiful views you long for when on a Greek vacation.
Every time we fly to Hawaii as a family, I INSIST we fly with Hawaiian Airlines because they do hospitality right. From the very beginning of the boarding process, you are greeted, no matter which seat you occupy, with the traditional Hawaiian dancing and singing. For me, it creates this experience of relaxation and gives the true definition of “island time” before even leaving the ground.
This was my 3rd visit to the islands – one previous flight that wasn’t with Hawaiian Airlines – and the experience (at least the flight) was one I don’t remember.
But the first time we flew with Leila to the islands in 2014, I can tell you exactly where we sat on the plane and how the experience was so incredible even sitting in a coach class seat. Here are a couple of photos from that trip.
Before we go too much further, I should state that these opinions and review are my personal experience and were not approved or endorsed by Hawaiian Airlines. So what I’m telling you is this was a genuine experience and we paid for our flights and seats just like everyone else on the plane. This review is approved by me otherwise I would tell you differently.
So this time, Steve and I decided to treat ourselves and check out what those lay flat seats and pods are all about. And, it was just the two of us this trip, and a 6 hour flight is any excuse to give yourself extra comfort, right?!
And let me tell you, they don’t skimp on the experience in First Class either!
The first class cabin is set up in a 2-2-2 configuration, so if you are traveling in parties of 2 it works best. There are a total of 18 seats in the first class cabin.
I always struggle with putting my things in the overhead bin, and I think the ones up there are even higher, so I had Steve help me. I usually just put my carry on under the seat, but the pods have a foot rest and a tiny little place to put your bag. There are several pockets, trays, compartments and such to make up (in my opinion) for the loss of the under the seat storage.
The second we sat down, the flight attendants came around to give us a drink.
Now, if you’ve never flown First Class (this was only my 2nd time ever) you may be a bit caught off guard that you don’t have to wait to get a drink until reaching 30,000 feet. But most airlines offer a drink complementary to First Class guests prior to the flight even taking off as a way to say thank you for purchasing those seats … I guess … and to make you comfortable while the Main Cabin boards the plane.
We had 3 options of drinks – Passionfruit Mango Guava Juice, Mai Tai (which in my opinion there’s none better than the Hawaiian’s make!), or Champagne. The drink package was part of their amenity kit that doesn’t stop at the first offering.
Steve and I both chose the Juice as we don’t really drink anymore.
As all of the First Class guests had been served, the Flight Attendants returned with a menu for the 3 course meal we would be served during the flight.
I took the opportunity to snap a few shots and try out my new 360 degree camera to try to figure it out. – not an easy task …
Right before we got ready to take off, the Flight Attendants took our breakfast orders and picked up our drinks for take off.
Oh! I forgot to mention that all the glassware, no matter which airline you fly, for first class is always glass. Like real glasses on a plane y’all! I was shocked and felt instantly special when I first saw this, so that’s another reason to fly first class if you can. And also Hawaiian has their logos etched into their glassware, super cool and branded.
And trying to take a picture of etched glass with liquid in it and empty are equally as hard, so you will have to use your imagination for this one, or go try it out yourself to see IRL 🙂
Once we got in the air and it was a bit safer for the Flight Attendants to move around, they first brought us a beverage of our choice (again, if you wanted any of the open bar selections as shown in a photo of the back of the menu above, you could get it for the whole flight… for free) and I chose green tea with a bit of coconut milk for the creamer. I don’t know why, but it sounded (and tasted) amazing.
Along with the beverage, we were given Mauna Loa Macadamia Nuts that were lightly salted, on real plates. Like heavy, good plates. Another reason to fly first class. And the tray table comes up much easier out of the arm rest and has a separate bar for the tv screen.
Unlike many airlines who offer free or purchasable wifi, Hawaiian Airlines does not offer this service. What they offer is complementary entertainment via these monstrous iPads that are at minimum 15 inches. (Steve thinks they are like 32 inches but I don’t so much agree.. And in the main cabin, these can be purchased for the duration of the flight.
There are no movies shown on the flight, just the movies, tv shows, and music available on the iPad.
After finishing our Macadamia Nuts, the main course was brought out.
A real tray, napkin, individual salt and pepper shakers, real silverware, and again, nice plates presented a croissant, bowl of fruit, a few pieces of sausage, and the egg bake with salsa on it. On the side had butter and a container of jam should you like it.
During the entire flight, the Flight Attendants were asking if you needed any refills on your drinks or if you would like water. I don’t think there was a time that I needed something that they didn’t already have coming to me. It was very nice and made the experience even more enjoyable.
I chose to not eat the sausage as I don’t eat that type of meat but everything else was delicious! Steve enjoyed his as well even though he’s not much of a breakfast eater, he ate it all.
Once we were finished, they brought out my favorite part of the meal. Dessert.
I know what you’re thinking, dessert with breakfast?!
It was so good though! And I think I may start making it part of my daily routine to have dessert with breakfast..
I’m mostly kidding, mostly. Mostly because I need to find someone who could make me this delicious thing, or something very similar that I could have ever morning.
And that blanket y’all. The plane is cold! Like most of them, so this was a total lifesaver for the whole flight. I believe a blanket and pillow are pretty standard on long or overnight flights, but don’t quote me on that. When we flew overnight and 8 hours to Tahiti we had a blanket and a pillow too.
Near the very end of our flight, they brought around these amazing Sweet Onion chips for us along with some water if we wanted it.
And let me tell y’all about these chips. They are legit the best onion chips I’ve ever tasted! I had them for the first time when we flew to Hawaii with Hawaiian Airlines in 2014 and I couldn’t get enough. As a kid, I used to eat the cheapest of the cheap Sour Cream and Onion Potato chips and then upgraded to the Lay’s/Ruffles Sour Cream and Onion and thought those were like gold. Well, those are NO comparison to these sweet and salty deliciousness. They are super crunchy, almost like a kettle chip but better.
Now, I’m not gonna lie, I believe the plane, and my breath probably smelled the same from all the onion consumption, but I didn’t care, and Steve liked them, so he didn’t either 🙂
If you find these in a store, (I’ve seen them at Costco before) do yourself a favor and get them! I believe the make a variety pack, but this is my favorite flavor. They are sold all over the islands and one day, we are going to go tour the plant and soak up the sweet onion goodness!
PS – these aren’t gluten free, so I had to ration myself this time so my body didn’t have a reaction, but it was so worth it!
About 20 minutes before landing at the Honolulu Airport, the Flight Attendants came around and picked up the iPads and our final drinks and trash.
Once we landed and pulled up to the gate, an announcement was made to let the first class passengers deplane first, so that was comforting knowing that we still got to get off right away as we had a connecting flight to the Big Island and I was ready to stretch my legs and see if we could call the kiddos since we left our house at 3:30 am and they were still snoozing in their beds.
After catching the shuttle bus outside, we made our way to our next flight, called the girls, and just enjoyed being in Hawaii before our short 45 minute flight that was also with Hawaiian Airlines.
It was a much smaller plane, and we sat near the back of the plane which wasn’t a big deal since it was so short. Most of these flights don’t offer a premium cabin. It’s simply a plane to get from point A to point B. Many of the inter island flights only serve a small juice container of the Passion Orange Guava juice and not really snacks as the flight is so quick. They do play Hawaiian music on these flights, which continues to get you in the Hawaiian mood.
Because we booked a round trip flight with Hawaiian Airlines, the return flight was also a first class experience.
Sometimes, if you didn’t book a round trip First Class experience, you can upgrade if available for either leg of your trip. When we travel, we sometimes will try to upgrade for the return leg of the trip so we can relax and extend our vacation so to speak before we hit the ground running again.
This time, we were First Class the entire way.
I took a few shots of the Kona Airport and from my window seat of the islands from above.
Our flight back was very much the same as the flight there, except we sat in the very front right of the plane, making it easier for bathroom breaks.
I watched the new Will Smith movie, Collateral Beauty, and let me tell you, I bawled my eyes out. Probably not the best movie to watch on an airplane, but DANG it’s so good.
It was one of those that I knew my hubby wouldn’t want to see in theatres even though we love Will Smith – it’s very much a sad but great story. And the other actors/actresses are incredible too!
Again, there were 4 courses for the meal served, and you had an option of what you wanted.
We opted for the Passion Guava juice while the Main Cabin was boarding.
We then received the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nuts with a drink of our choice (I chose green tea again sans milk as they didn’t have any alternative milks this time.)
Then the first course was a choice of Grilled Mediterranean Chicken, Quinoa Tabbouleh and Tzatziki Salad or Nicoise Salad with Ogo Calamansi Vinaigrette and I chose the Grilled Chicken choice.
Next the main course was a choice of Soy Braised Beef Short Ribs with Bok Choy and Wasabi Mashed Potatoes or Okinawan Sweet Potato, Kabocha, Mushroom, Quinoa and Provolone Cheese Burger.
Steve chose the Beef Short Ribs and I totally LOVED the Cheese Burger that was filled with veggies and yummy goodness!
For dessert we each had a Chilled Mini Orange Cream Pie made by the Hawaiian Pie Company and it was just as delicious as it looks!
Along the way, they kept our drinks filled and offered water if we wanted.
Because it was a night flight, it was a bit easier for me to lay down and sleep for a bit on this flight unlike the flight to the islands. These lay flat seats inside each pod make it so much better than trying to recline back in the Main Cabin seats on any other flight.
And after watching that tear jerker movie, my eyes were a bit more interested in sleeping than reading a book or working.
Sometimes you gotta just roll with it and take a nap when you need it.
So there you have it! Our entire First Class experience through our lens without actually having to shell out the $$ to try it yourself and going through the airport/security/boarding/etc.
For a domestic flight that’s over 4 hours, we honestly believe First Class is the only way to go. If we flew into or out of Los Angeles airport, we’d probably need to do so for our sanity! And the lounge access would be needed as well!
Based on our experience, do you think you’d consider a First Class flight with Hawaiian Airlines if you went to the islands?
One would think that if you lived in a state that has one a few of the most highly visited tourist places that tons of people come to each year, you’d visit it quite a bit too?
Yep I thought so too, but unfortunately, we don’t go as often as I’d like.
In fact, we actually visited Sedona because we had a gift certificate from a friend to visit and take a little ‘baby moon’ before our baby was born….. 3 years ago.
And we had to use the certificate before it expired, 3 years later!
So we decided that after all the Thanksgiving madness, we would take a quick weekend trip as the girls were out of school and Steve’s office was closed for the weekend.
So we left on a Friday about 10 am and drove the 1.5 hours to get there (lame that we live so close and Steve’s never been, right?) and let me just tell you, we weren’t prepared for the temperature drop!
It was in the high 70s when we left Scottsdale and by the time we arrived in Sedona it had dropped to a cool and rainy 45-50 degrees.
Brr..
The GPS was set to take us straight to our lodging, which was this cute little boutique hotel, called Adobe Village Inn but it was too early to check in, so we went to Subway to grab some lunch and let the girls stretch their legs.
After lunch, we went to check into our room, which we stayed in the Coconino 2 bedroom suite. It had a full kitchen, 2 bedrooms, and a great view of the red mountains that Sedona is so commonly known for.
That night, we decided that maybe we’d go out and explore some things, and Steve found a casino close enough to where we were staying that also had a children’s play area for the girls to get out some of their energy. So, we drove about 20 miles south to Camp Verde and the Cliff Castle Casino where we had dinner at an OG Johnny Rockets before letting the girls go play in the play area.
And the decor inside this beauty was just as I remember going to back in the day. So awesome!
Side Note: I fully believe that if more Casinos had kids areas, they would get more business! Not just for their tables and slot machines, but for their restaurants and accomodations! It was neat that we could take them and they could play on slides, climbing things and they even have a separate bowling alley for adults and kids to play together.
Steve and I then found a seat at a Blackjack table – his favorite game and I pretend to know what I’m doing, with him mostly telling me what to do.
The only thing I don’t like about casinos is they allow smoking, and as a non smoker, it’s a bit overwhelming and I really don’t like to visit them for too long becaue the smell penetrates your entire being.
I will say, if someone isn’t smoking right beside me, I get lost in the game, and don’t notice it that much.
And this particular night, I was giving the dealer more chips than I was bringing in. Steve on the other hand was playing like a wild man – 2 hands at a time, doubling the bet and then splitting and winning (mostly). So I didn’t feel so bad that my stack was getting pretty small because his was 3 or 4 times mine.
Little tip if you never gamble or have been thinking about gambling – I NEVER put all my chips on the table at first. I bet the minimum until I start to win, and then I take my starting money out and put it in my bag so I never go home down. I only play with my winnings at that point, and if Steve (because he always does) asks for chips as he’s spent all of his, it’s out of winnings. This is the ONLY way I will play!
After about an hour and a half to two hours of play, and actually coming out $300 up, we decided that it was time to go. By the time we would get back to town, stop by the store for a few needs, and to the room it would be bedtime. Plus, they played non stop like little monkeys for that time, so they were tired.
If you know me at all, you know that I’m one for a schedule and routine when it comes to morning and nights, and being on vacation is no different. We go to bed at the same time and wake up around the same time, no matter where we are. Because the girls are little, the structure is invaluable and needed to help them in life.
Saturday morning, Steve always sleeps in and never has breakfast. So the girls and I had a short little walk to the main building to get a wonderful, homemade and delicious 3 course breakfast complete with coffee, juice and homemade muffins.
When you make your reservation, they ask if you have any dietary restrictions, and I requested gluten free and dairy free. So each morning we stayed, they had a special muffin marked just for me, and were very careful with their food preparations to ensure my food wasn’t compromised with anything I couldn’t eat. <– SO AWESOME! and such great hospitality for their guests!
If you are traveling with kiddos, the portions they make are for adults, so I just let them know the morning of that they could split the meals for the girls because I didn’t want them to waste their food.
After breakfast and getting ready for the day, we traveled into the main tourist area of Sedona to check out some shops and we stumbled upon this olive oil and vinegar shop that Steve was super into! He wanted to try ALL the oils and even tried a few of the honeys they had available.
He tried to get the girls to try the oils too, but they’ve been ‘victim’ to one too many of his funny tricks and don’t really like to try what he says is ‘good’ anymore! And Leila can read a lot now, so she knows what the labels say and if it’s spicy or something she would try. But they did have a fun time trying the honey together.
Finally, he settled on a bottle of the Garlic Olive Oil, Rosemary Honey, and Some Maple Syrup from Vermont.
We then wandered down the street and found a Mexican place (our favorite food group) where we could watch some football, each some great guacamole, and enjoy some tacos. And also a quick warm up as we were freezing already!
After filling our bellies, the girls wanted to take a picture with the painting on the wall that looked similar to Miguel from “Coco”.
Even in November, there were so many tourists from other countries visiting Sedona. It was a bit difficult to walk down the sidewalk with the girls and make sure they were safe from all the traffic happening.
We did manage to find a Pink Pig that Finlee thought was the funniest thing ever! And we tried to test out a new 360 camera that I eventually decided isn’t for me (after another trip) with a family photo looking at the Red Rocks.
On our way back to the car, about half frozen from the brisk wind and cooler than we are used to temps, we stopped by The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and grabbed a few truffles and sweets for the room.
And the girls spotted a crystal store and convinced Steve to go take a look. He of course was in awe of the pricing they were charging (and getting!) for these ‘rocks’.
Side Note – if you are in the market for some crystals and go to Sedona to get them, they will be higher priced than buying from someone online or even a store somewhere else. It’s because they have to pay a premium for the retail space, and they will always have the energy of Sedona around them, but so many people touch them on a daily basis it’s important to cleanse them WELL.
We headed back to our ‘home’ for the weekend to warm up, and plan what we were going to do for the game that night. Steve is a diehard Ohio State fan, which of course doesn’t bode well with my “Purdue FOR LIFE” attitude, but it was the big Michigan vs. Ohio State game, so that won out.
As we started researching, we realized that there aren’t a lot of places for us to go watch the game because they were all for the 21 and over crowd. Then we remembered that we got a $40 gift card for booking more than 1 night with Adobe Village Inn to one of those restaurants and they delivered. So we ordered with them, and settled in to watch the exciting game that had me on the edge of my seat even as a non fan!
Sunday morning comes and the girls and I are treated to another 3 course breakfast that was equally as delicious as the previous.
We then packed our things, and started our long, 1.5 hour journey south to Scottsdale.
I am confident we will be spending more time in Sedona and the surrounding areas as we know what to expect with kids and as a family. Next visit, I plan to hike and visit a few of the outdoor attractions, of course when it’s warmer and the are up for it!
If you are planning a visit to Sedona either by yourself or with friends/family, I hope our visit was enough to get some ideas going for you. She’s beautiful and a must see!
When I first moved to Arizona, I wouldn’t have ever thought one of our favorite places to go would be an aquarium. Except I didn’t know how hot it would be in the summers, and how quickly dark would fall at night.
Now that we’ve been through a few summers and winters, I do.
Even still, if I let these yahoos stay out all day and night in the summer, they’d most likely do it, but the second dark falls, they are inside. So fall and winter are a bit tricky because we don’t leave the house much after dark.
But, when I said we have to go see the ‘Monster Fish’ in partnership with National Geographic at Odysea Aquarium at 5:30 on Friday, what do you think happened?
Of course they didn’t care that it was going to be almost dark when we went and pitch black when we got out, oh no! They were so excited to get to go to one of the attractions that we’d already been to twice this year already and Leila went to for her school field trip in the spring.
They couldn’t wait to go!
Finlee asked me every day leading up to going if today was the day… I couldn’t wait to tell her that “YES, today’s the day!”
I have to tell you, the excitement of them walking up to the location and going inside to see the fish in the tanks was enough to make my heart so happy. Then, them racing up the escalator, barely pausing enough to let it work, with zero time for a photo, with my husband clutching their little hands, was pretty precious.
It was nice to be able to go and not have to rush or worry about the time, or somewhere we had to go. We got to enjoy the exhibit and also our time together.
There were little (actually big) fish along the way with fun, interactive games for families to play, and of course the usual suspects made their appearances sprinkled in with some new fish and sea life.
If you desire to go into the tank with the fish, they have a sea experience, which you get to put on a suit and get into the tank like you were diving in the open ocean with them. And let me tell you, as someone who’s done that, (see this video on Youtube), this seems MUCH safer and controlled. And these fancy helmets make it seem super safe.
The sting rays are always a sight to see, and in the open tanks, you can put your hands in and ‘pet’ them(supervised by a staff member of course).
Of all the times we’ve visited, we’ve never seen a penguin outside of their habitat, and for a second, we got to see one! We happened upon it when they were getting ready to put her back up, and she did NOT want to go!
She wanted to come back and play with the kiddos, which was so cute and awesome to see.
We ended down on the lower level and finished the tour saying ‘Hi’ to ALL of the Nemos and learning about the different types of Clown Fish.
Finlee, to this day, still doesn’t understand that the Dory’s are in a different tank, and that we did see them. Alas, she still said bye to both Nemo and Dory when we left this area.
To be that innocent again…. I can’t even imagine. But I also don’t know how to break that in her? I’m open to all suggestions!
Then on to the Jelly Fish tank, which I thought maybe I was the only one fascinated by them, but it appears my entire crew shares the same sort of fascination as I do. I mean, look at them, you can see right through them – their organs, everything. Yet they have the power to potentially kill you. Anyone else think that is just amazing? And they are so graceful on top of it!
Last but not least, I got to see my favorite fish of all time – the Angel Fish. They only live in Salt water otherwise I might have started a fish tank full of them at my house.
I’ve always been amazed by these amazing fish. I can’t explain it, maybe it’s like Finlee’s obsession with the Clown Fish (Nemo). They are so graceful and most often, they don’t break that trailing thing on top of them, which I maybe envy a bit. If I were a fish, I’d love to be one of these Angel Fish.
And we couldn’t escape without someone asking for a toy and trying to get a good picture 🙂
Finlee didn’t take a nap and it was a lot of walking for her, close to bedtime, so this was as good as it got! And telling her we weren’t getting any toys after the photo didn’t work in our favor either…. oh well! We got memories of going and spending the time together as a family.
Monster Fish was such a fun exhibit, we can’t wait to go back and see the big fish again and their friends!
Check their hours and grab your tickets ahead of time HERE to avoid the line and get right in the door. I recommend getting a yearly pass as it is MUCH cheaper if you plan to visit more than once (wish I would have done this the first visit 🙁 )
Yep, the travel bug has bit and is full on happening right now for me.
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It literally comes as no surprise that after my husband and I started talking about traveling somewhere last month, I’ve finally edited the videos we took on our Go Pro… Almost 3 years ago to French Polynesia, specifically Moorea and Bora Bora.
And in sharing those videos, which you can watch HERE (link is our Parasailing trip, which my hubby was TERRIFIED to do 🙂 ), I’ve received collaborations from companies around the world to help promote their travel brands. I found this really great website that allows you to book a stay at several AMAZING places around the world, at a fraction of the cost you’d normally pay! Check out all the amazing places to visit and see for yourself the prices are much lower at BookVIP than anywhere else! Check it out HERE! Many of the stays offer multiple days, making it a NO BRAINER to spend the entire week there! Here’s a quick snapshot of their weekly deals right on their website:
Weekly deals on BookVIP.com (Click the photo to visit the site!
BookVIP is for those who want to visit a country and stay in a hotel or villa, which is what I’ve always done when traveling before.
If you are looking for a service that’s a one stop shop for travel (think room/accomodations, car or transportation, cruises, and any activities) you need to check out Tripnado. They are constantly improving and making their membership services better to accommodate your travel. I am excited to book a whole trip with them soon.
However, I’ve been made aware of brands and companies who offer Home Swapping all around the world (literally thought this was just in the movies!) which you can visit and join their free Facebook group HERE. I love that you can connect and swap with ‘neighbors’ from another country and travel when ever and where ever you want!
Imagine waking up to your own private pool and house in Australia!
Or being able to walk to see this view each morning in Italy !
I know I will be looking into this when its time to plan Bali!
When we purchased our new home, my intention from the beginning was to rent it out. I wanted to allow others to enjoy the amazing experiences the greater Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona has to offer. I thought maybe just a Airbnb would be the best I could do. However, how cool would it be to be able to explore another part of the country or the world. At the same time, someone could do the same where I live?
Or what about taking my work completely online and pulling our kids out of school and traveling to create those memories while they are still young to other cultures and lands?
So these all sound great, but how do I get to them, Amy?
Pretty glad you asked, because I found a site that looks for that for you too! It’s called Scott’s Cheap Flights –> Great play on words, I thought so too! What this site offers is a free version with ways to get your flights, what airlines are offering, and how to book them. If you want the paid version, for about $40 a year, (totes worth it!) you get multiple alerts of locations and pick your home airport each day. And you get your flight at WAY less than the normal cost. Take a look for yourself HERE. Why pay more for flights and hotels when the whole reason you are visiting a location is to explore? And to explore, and do the things take money!? Smarter travel is available, lets do it!
These things are real possibilities that could happen now because I simply stated and put the effort and energy behind wanting to travel more.
I’m not special, you can do the exact same thing too!
Like with anything, if you want it bad enough, you will figure out a way to make it happen. Since senior year of high school (2005 folks hollar!) I knew I was meant to do and see more than the little Indiana town I grew up in. I never questioned the when, the how, or why but kept believing I was supposed to see and do more.
Fast forward to now. We went to an amazing place on our honeymoon; went to Cancun for a trip with a direct sales business; right now we live in Arizona, which is a paradise in itself; and have traveled many great places with our girls. I know it’s not over and I have been following more and more digital nomads and people who travel full time. I know I’m drawn to them because I know its for me.
I’m a Sagittarius for goodness sakes! I’m a wanderer at heart, and love a good adventure if you are along for the ride. It feels like now is the time to fly. And I know that because I have put this out there, it will happen.
I’m drawn to the water, because it feels like home. It’s calming to me. I also can appreciate pretty architecture and buildings, something I passed along to my oldest <3. So I know that where ever we go and end up, it is part of my journey and I will do everything in my power to keep it coming.
Are you wanting to travel too but don’t know how to do it? Start looking for the signs. Start paying attention to what you are drawn to, and bring more of that around.
traveling. Offers silent environment for your analytical thinking.The pieces are stress-free to differentiate. The Chess set has an attractive wrapping with rules of the chess game available inside the box. Every distinct piece of the chessboard has a magnetic pull to the playing field of the 64-square chessboard, and light magnetic attraction would create it steady to play while not solid to transfer the pieces at the time of playing in stormy weather, out-of-doors or traveling. Small enough for travel in a backpack or bag, but large enough surface area for easy play.
technology, phones, or
py. Then, them racing up the escalator, barely pausing enough to let it work, with zero time for a photo, with my husband clutching their little hands, was pretty precious.
their appearances sprinkled in with some new fish and sea life.
it when they were getting ready to put her back up, and she did NOT want to go!
We ended down on the lower level and finished the tour saying ‘Hi’ to ALL of the Nemos and learning about the different types of Clown Fish.
Last but not least, I got to see my favorite fish of all time – the Angel Fish. They only live in Salt water otherwise I might have started a fish tank full of them at my house.
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