family travel Archives - Jen is on a Journey

Plan a Winter Weekend in Lake Tahoe with Kids

November 29, 2017 by The Mom Jen 3 Comments

There are two places in the world that I’d love to have a vacation home if I could afford it. One is ANYWHERE in Hawaii, and the other is in South Lake Tahoe! We spent a long weekend with two of our three kids on a fun family getaway to Lake Tahoe and it was such a great time, I already want to go back! With work, school, and extra curricular activities it’s tough to get the family together at the same time now that they’re getting older. It was also hard not bringing our oldest daughter but her responsibilities of school and work come first and we look forward to that next time!

A winter weekend in Lake Tahoe with the kids is easy, there is just so much to do and see, here’s how you can have a memorable trip!

Plan a Winter Weekend in Lake Tahoe with Kids

1. Book a Condo at Lakeshore Lodge and Spa

With Safeway nearby, plenty of restaurants and shops, and just down the road from Stateline, Tahoe Lakeshore Lodge and Spa is a perfect home base for the whole family. Each room and condo has a lake view and booking a condo on the lake is like a home away from home with all the space, privacy, and ability to save money by cooking during your stay! Our two bedroom, two full bath condo had everything including a full kitchen, dining area, living area, wood burning stove, balcony, two stories, and even a bonus nook that my 11 year old loved!

We cooked breakfast a few mornings to save us money (although Heidi’s and Glazed and Confused donuts are just a short walk away), we enjoyed Christmas movies in the main living area together, and also had hours to relax in privacy during our long weekend. Teens and tweens need that break even on vacation and the condo provides more space than a traditional hotel room. But, there was also a place and time to play a game we found in the closet, happened to be one of my husband’s favorite as a child!

Mornings and evenings on the balcony overlooking the beach provided the best views and sunsets. The beach with the waves lapping at the shore was phenomenal, and with the hot tub open, you can enjoy the warmth on a cool evening or a drink by the firepit. Set back about a block from Hwy 50, there is no noise but the soft quacking and honking of the ducks and geese that gather each morning at the shore.

2. Go Bowling at Tahoe Bowl

Evenings get mighty cold in the late fall and winter in Tahoe, so activities indoors with the kids are bonus! Tahoe Bowl has to be our favorite year-round pasttime with the kids and we stop in and bowl every single trip without fail for some friendly competition. Prices are reasonable and you can find discount coupons in many of the local newspapers and magazines at the Lodge and just about anywhere. 11th Frame Diner offers snacks and pizza, plus Lane 17 Sports Bar has cocktails to enjoy as you play.

Tahoe Bowl is just a few blocks away from the condo at 1030 Fremont Ave.

3. Side trip to Carson City for the Polar Express Train Ride

If you’ve seen the movie, The Polar Express and loved it, you must take a side trip from Lake Tahoe to Carson City and experience the The Polar Express™ train ride with V & T Railroad. Just 33 miles and about a 50 minute trip via Hwy 50, it runs Thursday’s through Sunday’s, is an hour long magical family experience that will stay in your hearts forever! The train is decorated for Christmas and the comfortable seats allow you enjoy the whole experience from start to finish. The ride includes a keepsake silver bell, hot chocolate and a cookie, live entertainment, and a reading of The Polar Express book. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a glimpse of Santa at the North Pole and on the train!

My kids were 11 and 16, they still had huge smiles on their faces, joined in when singing the “hot chocolate song,” and had a wonderful time! My husband and I also had a fun experience and wished we’d started a yearly tradition when the children were younger. Well who’s to say you can’t start later, maybe we can do it from now on and then with our grandchildren!?

A gift shop is available with tons of great souvenirs, find V & T Railroad at Eastgate Siding Rd, Carson City, NV 89701

4. Visit the Arcade at Harrah’s Stateline

Growing up, my parents loved to try their luck in the casinos at Stateline and I enjoyed trying mine in the arcade! The Harrah’s hotel and casino has one of the best arcades in the area. We dropped our kids off for about an hour and they had a great time bonding while they played ski-ball, air hockey, plus games you’d see at carnivals and other fun video games. The kids collect tickets and then redeem them for prizes. Typically the kids come home with more than the parents, but fun for everyone, plus it’s something to do to get out of the cold for a few hours!

The arcade/casino is located exactly at Stateline in south Lake Tahoe across the street from Harvey’s.

5. Ride the Heavenly Gondola

Already promising my son we’d be back to learn how to snowboard, we jumped on the Gondola in Heavenly Village as tourists for a 2.5 mile ride up Heavenly mountain and stopped at the observation deck for a walk around. The view of the entire lake is available from over 9000 ft. elevation and believe me, it’s stunning.

My daughter enjoyed her first snowball fight with her brother and we stopped in the gift shop to look around and warm up. Make sure you pack gloves and scarf because winds can get you pretty uncomfortable if you’re unprepared, but the shop also has some for sale if needed! Your chance for photos here only happens on the way up the mountain, so it’s worth it to get out and explore. There’s a cafe available for warm drinks and snacks to keep little ones happy.

Once you’ve looked around, get back on the Gondola and make it to the top. Skiers and snowboards will find ski school, Big Easy and Tamarack Express chair lifts here, casual observers like ourselves head to Tamarack Lodge for more snacks and drinks. There’s an area where kids are sledding and my daughter found some space to do cartwheels and leg stretches, so it’s a neat place to check out.

Get tickets for the Gondola in Heavenly Village, 4080 Lake Tahoe Blvd.

6. Make Time for Food

Like I mentioned, Safeway is just down the street, so we stocked the kitchen up with snacks and drinks to our liking. It’s one thing that we need to keep on top of at home and traveling because teens and tweens eat A LOT and OFTEN!But there are so many great restaurants in driving and walking distance that you’re never going to go hungry! Some of our favorites are:

Basecamp Pizza, Blue Dog Pizza, Coldwater Brewery, IHOP, Denny’s (open 24 hours), Heidi’s, Glazed and Confused Donuts (inside the Tahoe Beach Retreat), Lake Tahoe Aleworx, Olive Garden (Carson City), and of course Starbucks!

Tahoe will always have a special place in my heart, and I hope this love is passed onto my children as well.

Our hotel stay and tickets for the Gondola and Polar Express were hosted for this media visit, bowling, food, and arcade were on our own. All opinions are 100% ours.

Best Family Trips

November 25, 2016 by The Mom Jen Leave a Comment

Traveling with kids in tow and trying to find the best place to plant you and your family down for a week? Though this may seem like a task in itself, especially if you have children of varying ages, there are some great location options that have enough fun to spread around and enough things to do and see to keep everyone happy and grinning the entire time. To help you find your way, here’s a short list of some of the best family trips around.

Punta Cana

If you love the idea of spending your time switching between fun outdoor activities and laying on the sand doing absolutely nothing, then a trip to the beautiful Caribbean Island of the Dominican Republic is in order. Though the entire island is beautiful, you’ll want to focus your attention on the popular Punta Cana resort area. Here you’ll find several great all-inclusive resorts in addition to lots of different activity choices, from snorkeling and scuba diving to cruising around on a cruise as you watch the sunset. Kids will find lots to do as well with many of the resorts offering kids clubs and fun, kid appropriate activities. A trip here nearly ensures that every member of the family will have a great time.

Florida

Serving as a prized vacation destination that caters to families, the state of Florida is home to numerous theme parks alongside beautiful beaches and spas that will leave you feeling better than you ever have before. Because the state is home to the city of Orlando, visitors will find great accommodation options, lots of different dining choices serving dishes from around the world and a few fantastic theme parks that range from culturally enthused to all about Disney. If you’re traveling with kids who love the beach, you’ll find two long coasts to explore, in addition the Florida Keys, home of great fishing and snorkeling opportunities. So whether you’re traveling with a toddler or a teenager, or maybe even both, you’ll find that a short drive in any direction will lead to fun activities that are suited well to every family member.

Costa Rica

Known as the most biodiverse country in the world, Costa Rica is not only beautiful and green,but a great choice for families seeking adventure at every turn. Though not all of the adventure activities within this country are suited for young ones, you’ll find that there are still a number of great options where you can include your little ones. Some of these options include a short trek (on the path) in Manual Antonio Park, a visit to the Monte Verde Cloud Forest or a trip to pretty much any beach. Because the county is so diverse in wildlife, a trip here is not only fun, but educational as well.

As you can see, there are some pretty awesome family trips to choose from, all of which are great for those with children of different ages, as well as adults. Once you’ve visited one location, make sure to keep the others on your list for future visits, as each trip is designed to be the best in every way.

Family Travel Tips to Enjoy Spring Break

March 6, 2015 by The Mom Jen 1 Comment

Planning a get-away during spring break that involves family members with a wide mixture of ages, interests, and activities can be a challenge. Here’s how to plan a trip that’s enjoyable for each person from grandpa to baby.

Pick a special place that caters to all interests
Explore big cities like Los Angeles and San Diego because they offer zoos, museums, beaches, shopping and a variety of dining possibilities — special places and options that appeal to every traveler.

After picking the place, ask each family member to write down the activities they want to do, whether it’s going for a hike, a leisure day at the beach, visit the zoo, or spending the day at the museum.

With that information, the person planning is ready to design the itinerary. The challenge of planning an enjoyable trip for all is eliminated because you’re now planning exactly what each person wants to do. The activities can merge to enjoy another’s recommendations.

Consider the weather conditions
Remember that spring break is susceptible to colder and rainier days. Even the experienced and prepared travelers can’t control the weather. Don’t let rain spoil your hard-earned family vacation.

When headed to a rainy locale, prepare for stray showers when outdoors at a park or zoo. Carry easy to ‘fold and stow’ ponchos which is more convenient than carrying umbrellas. They cost next to nothing and best thing is they’re reusable and last many years.

Take the camera but pack it in a water-proof carrier or zip lock plastic bag.

Visit a bay beach where young children can explore tide pools and search for crabs and seashells. No one will care that it’s raining, you’ll be grateful to be outdoors!

Spend time with the adults
You love your children but need to spend time alone with your parents. Don’t worry about hiring a babysitter while on vacation. Go to the web and hire a caregiver to look after the children while you enjoy special time away with the older family members.

Sitters that offer respite care for adults are put through a rigorous screening process that includes an entrance exam, in-person interview and reference check from past employers. The caregivers come with theft protection and professional liability insurance to the tune of $2 million. Safety of clients is very serious to them.

You simply want time to bond with your parents while on vacation and HomeHero.org allows you to do exactly that.

Schedule some time alone
Everyone needs a break and time away from the other family members. Every day,each person needs a nice respite to nap or read a book. The children can spend time drawing or coloring. If you don’t, your trip will decline, and the older adults can get as cranky as young children.

Take group photos every chance you get
Hiring a professional photographer would be best but if you can’t afford it, recruit the help of a fellow tourist you’ve met on the trip. Be natural and let the pose follow its own course. The pose could be of the group gazing into the sunset or laughing with one another.

It doesn’t matter as long as the photo captures the memory of a family enjoying spring break together. This is what life is all about.

Partnered post provided to Jen is on a Journey.

United Airlines from SFO to Honolulu Review

August 23, 2011 by The Mom Jen Leave a Comment

On our recent family trip to Oahu, we flew United Airlines from San Francisco International Airport to Honolulu in a direct flight. We flew on a Boeing 777, nearly 2400 miles in a 5 hour and 12 minute trip. We planned to leave our car at long-term parking in San Francisco, so we got an early start on a Monday morning. Getting to the airport with an hour and a half before our flight, we left our car and proceeded to check-in at the United counter. Let me tell you that Monday mornings at any airport, especially SFO in this case, is a zoo. We waited in a line for 40 minutes to get our bags checked and boarding passes. Luckily a kind man ushered us to the “family” line for security otherwise we would have missed our flight. Once through security we had to walk really fast to get to our gate which was already boarding, huffing and puffing we made it on our plane. Here’s the rest of the reasons to fly United Airlines from SFO to Honolulu.

Accommodations
Reservations were made for us by the Oahu’s Visitor’s Bureau and we were happy to have 5 seats in a row on the flight to the island. The seating configuration is 5 seats in the middle in economy class with two on either end of the plane near the window. Having the whole middle row was perfect for our family, made it simpler to manage food, drinks, naps, and activities on the flight. It was convenient to not have to bother strangers when we needed to get up and stretch or use the restroom. Unlike on our flight to Maui on Hawaiian Airlines, meals were not included in the price of the ticket, but food and snacks were available for a fee. We had hoped to grab breakfast in the airport, but due to the long lines and rush, we needed to purchase food on the plane. On both flights, we were happy to see blankets in sealed plastic for use. No matter how you dress, the air-conditioned cabin is cold, the blankets helped the kids and even me who brings extra socks to wear around the plane!

Food and Drink
Turkey sandwiches come on a pretzel roll with cheese and are a good size but will set you back $7 each! Also, their snack boxes are around the same price but offer treats for the family. On the flight to and from Honolulu, I’m sure we spent about $80 for meals and snacks, make sure you plan accordingly. Drinks such as soda, water, coffee, juices, and tea is offered for free and on a 5 hour flight, the cart comes around twice. Water, tea, and coffee is walked around about 2 times between carts as well. Items for purchase are easily paid for now with your credit or debit card, United no longer accepts cash, making it convenient.

Entertainment
Music and television shows are offered on the flight the entire flight which is nice. Earphones are provided in each seat-back pocket for free and plug easily into the arm rest. Music is provided by Zune and about 20 different music varieties are available to choose from. On both flights there was a time at takeoff and landing where you could tune into the captain’s quarters to hear their conversation with the airport towers, my husband enjoyed that! Comedy TV shows like “Parks and Recreation” and “Big Bang Theory” were shown which we all loved and laughed to. On the flight to Hawaii the movie presentation was “Arthur” with Russell Brand, and to my children’s utter delight, “Rio” was shown on the flight home. Music and video really keeps kids and parents help pass the time, I rarely saw my kids aged 5, 10, and 12 pull out their personal electronics due to being kept busy thanks to United!

Hemispheres
Along with the SkyMall catalog that just got my two older kids chatting the entire trip about all their unique gifts, Hemispheres is United’s magazine filled with a mix of news,
technology, fashion, business, lifestyle and in-depth features. You can also find crossword puzzles, games, and menus in the magazine along with the TV, music station, and movie guide at the back of issue. Like SkyMall you can take the magazine with you if you wish.

Overall we had wonderful airline hosts during our trip, there was always an abundance (8, if I remember correctly) and were available for questions and needs. Both flights were smooth, little turbulence, and gentle landings. My son and husband are thankful for the smooth ride, but also were dosed with Dramamine due to motion sickness. We did feel that this airline was competitive with their prices, our family paid about $500 for a RT to Honolulu which was about $125 less than competitor prices at the time of booking! It was a pleasure to fly with United and I’d look to them again.

My flight was hosted, we purchased four RT tickets for our family. All opinions are our own.