Winner of Christmas Train at Irvine Park

Drumroll please..... the winner of this week's giveaway of 4 tickets to Irvine Park Railroad's Christmas train which was randomly selected by random.org is comment #4 - The Jacobs who wrote"Hooray for Christmas! If only it weren't 90* outside, maybe it would feel more holiday season-ish". Send me an email with your info at mom@daytrippingmom.com and I will try to send those out by tomorrow. Enjoy!! Stay tuned I have a giveaway later on today for a fun DVD that will be perfect for Holiday Drives and don't forget about entering the Disney on Ice giveaway which ends this weekend. Good luck!!

Disney on Ice: High School Musical and another fun Daytrippingmom Giveaway

The holidays are upon us and this usually means shopping, shopping and more shopping, but it also means a holiday break. I'm always looking for fun stuff to do with the kids during breaks and I found something that you must pencil in. Coming to an arena near you is Disney on Ice: High School Musical which is coming to the Southland from Dec 18-21 at the Staples Center, Dec 23-28th at the Honda Center in Anaheim and Jan 2-4 2009at the Long Beach Arena. I don't know about you but there is definitely High School Musical Mania at my house. I love the Disney on Ice shows because they are just so much fun. It's a perfect night of family entertainment. The shows are exciting and really capture the kiddos' attention. Ice Skating + anything Disney= Great time!! Trust me on this your kiddos will love it and so will you. For additional information click here or www.highschoolmusicaltheicetour.com. You can purchase tickets through Ticketmaster or by calling 213-480-3232. The best part is that one lucky reader will win a family four pack to the location of your choice. All you have to do is leave a comment-any comment will do at the end of the post and you will be automatically entered to win. Contest ends Dec 10. The winner will be announced Dec 11th. As with any show make sure to buy your tickets as soon as possible to make sure you will get a good seat.

Daytrippingmom Giveaway!!!!!!!! Irvine Park Annual Christmas Train

The Holiday season is just around the corner- it officially kicks off next Friday and I wanted to start it off with a Daytrippingmom giveaway. I love the Irvine Park Railroad and so do my kids. We had the opportunity to visit last year and meet with Santa Claus and we had a blast. This year to celebrate I'm giving a family 4 pack - All you have to do is leave a comment any comment with this post and you will automatically be entered to win. The contest will end this Saturday the 23rd. Let me tell you a little about the Irvien Park Christmas Railroad. IRVINE PARK RAILROAD’S 13TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TRAIN It’s the season, once again for Irvine Park Railroad’s annual Christmas Train. Come with family and friends and take the enchanting night ride through historic Irvine Regional Park to meet Santa Claus. The train will depart from the brightly-lit Train Station and drop passengers off at Santa’s Village. New for this year, Christmas Train tickets may be purchased in advance to board the train at 5:00, 6:00, 7:00 or 8:00 PM -- get in line when it is your time to board the train. And, while waiting for your boarding time, there are many activities for children to enjoy in the Party Pavilions located next to the train station. Story Time with Mrs. Claus Christmas Cookie Decorating Moon Bounce Christmas Coloring Picture Stands Prices for activities vary; for additional information and costs, visit www.irvineparkrailroad.com. At Santa’s Village, visitors may purchase coffee, hot chocolate, freshly-popped popcorn and cookies from the Elf House Snack Bar. A full kitchen menu is also available at the Train Station. Visitors may take their own pictures with Santa or you may purchase a picture taken by Irvine Park Railroad. After visiting with Santa, hop back aboard the train and enjoy the colorful Christmas lights and decorations, as well as the magical “Tunnel of Lights”, on the ride back to the station house. When visiting the Christmas Train, remember to dress warmly, bring a camera and film and arrive early to avoid crowds. The Irvine Park Railroad Christmas Train is open from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM on the following dates: November 28th, 29th and 30th December 5th, 6th and 7th December 11th – December 23rd The cost to ride the Christmas Train is $8.00 per person. Children younger than 24 months ride free. The parking for Irvine Regional Park is $3.00 per vehicle on weekdays and $5.00 per vehicle on weekends. Parking for the Christmas Train is free after 5:00 PM. Annual Irvine Park Railroad events include the Christmas Train, Anniversary Celebration, Easter Eggstravaganza and Pumpkin Patch. Irvine Park Railroad is located inside of Irvine Regional Park. The address is: Irvine Park Railroad 1 Irvine Park Road Orange, CA 92869 For pricing, park directions and complete details, please visit www.irvineparkrailroad.com. Make sure to post a comment to enter the contest and good luck!!!

Los Angeles Fire Department Museum

This past weekend we had the pleasure of daytripping in San Pedro and we discovered a little gem of a museum. It's the Los Angeles Fire Department Museum and your little ones are going to love it. There are actually two fire department museums - one in Hollywood and the other in San Pedro. The San Pedro museums is located across the street from the Los Angeles Maritime museum and is only open on Saturday from 10am to 3pm. The Hollywood museum is also only open on Saturdays from 10 am to 4pm. The Hollywood museum is located near the Walk of Fame and the Hollywood Bowl. The Hollywood museum (Old Fire Station 27) is housed in what was once the largest fire station west of the Mississippi. With more than 20,000 square feet of space, a number of famous pieces of firefighting apparatus, and hundreds of artifacts on display, there’s something for the entire family. If you're interested in local L.A. history then you must visit the San Pedro Harbor Museum (Old Fire Station 36). There is no better place to get the genuine feeling of what it was like to work in a small community fire station. Much of the interior is just as it was 75 years ago. Not only that, but inside, you'll find a perfectly restored 1923 Seagrave Fire Engine that actually served at 36s in the early 1900s. The museums have a group of dedicated, friendly retired firefighter docents who can show you around, tell you a story or two. It's a great little place and all the little ones will leave with their very own fire fighter hat which they will love!! If you visit the one in San Pedro hop on the red car and make a day of it by visiting the maritime museum and the water show. Trust me your kiddos will love it. San Pedro Museum 638 Beacon Street San Pedro, CA 90731 323-464-2727 Open Saturday 10am to 3pm Hollywood Museum 1355 N Cahuenga Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90028 323-464-2727 Open Saturday 10am to 4pm

Port of Los Angeles Waterfront Red Car Line

This past Saturday our family had the opportunity to take a little excursion to San Pedro and ride a red car. What is a red car you might be wondering? Well let me tell you- For sixty years, the Los Angeles area was served by a vast network of electric railway lines operated by the Pacific Electric Railway. Affectionately known as “Red Cars”, the Pacific Electric’s trolleys and interurban cars blanketed the Los Angeles area on more than 1000 miles of rail lines. The last remnant of the system was abandoned in 1961. Forty-two years later, a small piece of the system has been resurrected in San Pedro, as the Port of Los Angeles Waterfront Red Car Line. We first spent some time at the Los Angeles Maritime Museum which I will be posting about tomorrow and soon after started our ride on one of the historic red cars. The one and a half mile route connects the cruise ship terminal with the maritime museum and ports o'call village. We rode the train from the start of the route to the end of the route and back again. The kids had so much fun. The conductor gave them their very own conductor hats and coloring book that they were both thrilled with. It's a great little adventure for the little ones. Parking is plentiful and free next to the maritime museum and in the ports o'call village. Children 6 and under are free and adult fare is $1.00 with unlimited rides all day. The red car operates Friday through Monday from noon to 9pm. P.S. Make sure to make a pit stop at the Fanfare at the San Pedro Gateway. It's a great water show- kind of like a smaller version of the Bellagio water fountain show and also a stop at the cruise center to view the big cruise ships. Your kids will love it!! We had a great time and I know your family will also!! For additional information click here

Winner!!

Jane who posted pick me PICK ME. My family would LOVE, LOVE to go and I would also invite my parents. We are all big DOG lovers...! I have two LABS and my parents have a Lasa Apso {can't spell}.THANKS for the chance.. was randomly selected and won a 4 pack to the AKC/Eukanuba National Dog Championship and Dog Show- email me at mom@daytrippingmom.com with your info :)

Free - Shark Lagoon nights

Just a little reminder with Friday almost upon us - If you're looking for something fun and free here it is- Shark Lagoon Friday nights are back on. The public is invited to get up close with the ocean’s ultimate predators at the Aquarium of the Pacific for FREE during Shark Lagoon Nights. Guests will have the opportunity to touch bamboo sharks and see large sharks such as sandtigers as well as rays in the Aquarium’s Shark Lagoon. Shark Lagoon nights will be held every Friday night from 6-9pm for additional info click here Aquarium of the Pacific 100 Aquarium Way Long Beach, CA 90802

Roundhouse Aquarium- Manhattan Beach

My kiddos love animals and my son in particular loves sea life. We are always looking for aquariums to visit and we found one that is not to far from us. It's the Roadhouse Aquarium in Manhattan Beach. The Roadhouse Aquarium is located at the end of the Manhattan Beach pier and offers storytime, a touch tank where your kiddos can get up close and personal with the various marine life and the best shark feedings!!The staff is fun and friendly and always open to answering questions that you and your kiddos might have. The aquarium is open on weekdays from 3pm to sunset and on weekends from 10am to sunset. The best part is that this great little place is absolutely Free!! Donations are always welcome and suggested. For additional information click here