D23 Expo- The Ultimate Disney Fan Experience

Have you heard of D23? If you haven't, let me tell you about this amazing family expo that the folks at Disney will be bringing to the Anaheim Convention Center September 10-13. D23 is the ultimate Disney Fan Experience. The convention will feature the upcoming Disney features, including a full screening of Toy Story and Toy Story 2 in 3D. I can't wait to take my kiddos to the screening. The expo will feature everything Disney from meet and greets with the popular Disney shows to all you ever wanted to know about your favorite Disneyland attraction. One that is sure to be on my list(probably not on my kids) is Lost University. If you are a fan of the the show, you definitely do not want to miss out! Still not convinced... how about you will be able to sneak a peak at movies like Alice from Tim Burton (with rumored guest Johnny Depp)? I swoon just thinking about it or how about learning all about the expansion at Disney's California Adventure? I'm not the biggest Dancing with the Star fan but if you, then you must head over as there will be a few sneak performances from the popular show. There will be fun for the whole family at the Disney Creativity Center hosted by Crayola, the Disney Princess Story time and Royal Manners event, the Baby Einstein World of Discovery Center and a magnificent live LEGO building event of Disney characters with the help of Master Builders. I really could write for hours about all of the fun things that will be featured at the convention. There is so much to see and do! I can't wait. I'm literally counting down the days to head over for a Magical Convention and first one of it's kind. I hope you can all make it! For a schedule of events head here. 1 day tickets for adults are $37 and $27 for children. Adult 4 day tickets are $111 and $81 for kids. To learn more about the expo and to purchase your tickets in advanced head on over here.

Disney Sunday- A little bit of Pixie Dust- Guest Blog

This week's installment of Disney Sunday comes from Katie, from the fun blog OCMomactivities. She is a Disney Fanatic like me and had some great tips on your next visit to Disneyland or Disney's California Adventure. She writes... One of the things I love most about Disneyland is the amount of layers of magic the Imagineers work to create. It leaves people wondering if all things are intentional or just plain coincidence. I’m sure it’s intentional, but I love to think it is coincidence with a sprinkle of pixie dust magic! Pay close attention to everything and explore, but in the meantime here are a few of my favorite elements that are often missed by first time visitors (or sometimes even regulars) to the parks: Did you know that Disneyland and California Adventure are home to a number of resident cats? If you look closely you can see the little cat houses while riding the Disneyland Railroad after going past the Hungry Bear. We’ve been greeted by several of the cats as we sat on the bottom level of the Hungry Bear in the back corner. I’ve been told there is also a cat house behind the train that Bur-r-r Bank Ice Cream is in and on the right as you head towards Soarin’ over California. The cats are reported by castmembers to have Disney themed names. I think it’s safe to say that the cats are there to cut down on rodent problems. Those sure are lucky cats that get to call Disneyland and California Adventure home! Did you know that if you eat something at one of the restaurants at the Disney theme parks, that you can ask for the recipe and they will bring it to you? How cool is that! There are some great salad dressings at the Pizza Port and some great sandwiches over in New Orleans Square. Imagine bringing a dish to a pot luck and being able to call it “Pizza Port Salad” or “New Orleans Square Po Boy Sandwiches”, talk about a conversation starter! Have you ever noticed the hidden Mickey Mouse on the face of the golf ball that comes flying at you in Soarin’ Over California? I bet once you do, you’ll never - not see it again! Have you ever wondered what the room is above the Fire Station on Main Street in Disneyland? Walt Disney had an apartment built for himself above the Fire Station for him to stay in. There is even a private veranda for him to wander where he could quietly see guests wandering the park. The apartment is exactly the same as the way he left it years ago (cleaned and refurbished!). A light is left on for him in the front window and hasn’t gone out since he passed away. So the next time you pass by, take a minute to remember Walt and all that he built. Did you know that all of the plants in Tomorrowland are edible? Well, in theory they are, but the actual ones planted aren’t meant to be actually eaten! But I have personally seen rosemary bushes, chili pepper plants, cabbage plants, lettuce plants, bell pepper plans among others as we wait in the lines. Did you know that you can get a “Death Certificate” at the Haunted Mansion? I didn’t know this one until recently. Be aware that not all the castmembers working the ride will know what you are talking about, so you many have to ask a couple of different ones, but ask as you are entering the buggies and one will be waiting for you at the end of the ride. That’s pretty funny. And last but not least, my personal favorite… Are you in on the Goat Trick on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad? If you’ve done the trick right, you know it. If not, it’s actually pretty simple. The next time you’re on the ride ask for the back rows (rows 11- 15 are ideal). On the second climb up (the one with the turtles and snakes on the left), position yourself at a right looking angle so you are looking out the right side of the train comfortably. As you begin to crest the hill, notice the billy goat on the right hand side in the center of the curve. Stare at the goat and DON’T STOP until you literally can’t look anymore. You’ll find yourself dizzy and disoriented and it makes the rest of the ride just a bit more fun. If you didn’t get it right, ride the ride again because it’s just plain fun!

Katie is a working mother of two active boys and lives in South Orange County. She’s made it her passion to fill her children’s lives with fun adventures . She chronicles their adventures at OCMomActivities.com in hopes of inspiring other parents to do the same.

Annual Passes and Memberships that offer payment options

We love to discover new places and it can get a bit expensive sometimes. It would be almost impossible for my family to afford the various memberships and annual passes we have if it wasn't for payment plan options. The payment plan option allows my family to budget our entertainment slot for the month. We currently have passes to Disneyland, Sea World and the Discovery Science Center. I'm planning on adding Legoland to our list. Basically the payment plan option allows you to buy a year membership or pass in payments. For example our Sea World passes cost us about 24 months for all 3 passes, while our Discovery Science Center membership was paid on a $40 down payment and 4 monthly payments of $14.75. The best part is that payment plan options never charge you interest as opposed to a credit card. It's a great deal! Below are the payments options for each venue

• Discovery Science Center - Family Membership Easy Pay Plan-For only $40 down and four monthly payments of $14.75, you can purchase a family membership and visit Discovery Science Center for free for an entire year- For additional info head here
• Sea World EZ Pay Option - EZ pay is a simple monthly payment program that makes Sea World membership affordable. Available for Silver and Platinum Passports, pay only the first month payment on your first visit. The silver plan is $8.25 a month. For additional info head here
• Legoland - Membership Plus- Monthly payments of $11.95 or $9.95 for children. Pay only the first monthly payment on your first visit. For additional info head here.
• Disneyland/Disney's California Adventure - purchase your pass at the Main Entrance Ticket Booth at the Resort. You pay for the 1 day ticket-$72.00 and pay as little as $5.42 a month for the rest of the year. For additional info head here.

California Science Center- revisited and yes it's free!

If you grew up in Southern California, you might recall the commercials for the Museum of Science and Industry. I have fond memories of visiting with my family as a child. Well time has been very kind to the museum and it's now called the California Science Center. I've been meaning to visit with the kids for quite some time now and was finally able to make the trip this weekend. We packed a bag Saturday afternoon and headed off for a visit to the Science Center. The Science is Center is located in Exposition Park and is the West Coast's largest hands on science center. It boasts 3 floors, which holds 4 permanent exhibits and a special exhibit gallery which showcases popular exhibits from museums around the world. The four permanent exhibits are The Creative World Exhibit, The World of Life Exhibit, Air and Space Exhibit and the Science court. The first exhibit we toured was The Creative World , which showcases advances humans have made in communication, architecture and transportation. My kids loved the exhibit. My daughter was fascinated with the communication section of the exhibit. The second and final exhibit we toured was the World of Life exhibit. My kids were in heaven. They did not want to budge from the gallery. They loved the the Life Source gallery which featured a chicken hatchery. The absolute highlight of the trip for them was a visit to the Discovery Room. If you have kids under 5 this is probably where you will spend most of your time. Your children will be able to see frogs, spiders, crabs, turtles, birds and snakes close up. There is a fantastic toddler area. My son Michael who is only a year old was entertained for at least an hour. We had planned to visit the Air and Space Exhibit but we ran out of time. If you are planning a visit make sure you allow for plenty of time. I can't tell you enough how much we all loved the museum. I would arrive early to make the best of your visit. I would visit the second floor first and explore The Creative World Exhibit and The World of Life exhibit. I would then stop to have lunch at either McDonald's or Taco Bell Express, which are located on the first floor of the museum. After lunch I would head out to explore the third floor and the Air and Space Wing. We will be heading out to explore the Air and Space exhibit next weekend and I can't wait to share our experience with you. Trust me your family will love this place. California Science Center - Exposition Park, 700 State Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90037 The California Science Center is open daily from 10am to 5pm- closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas and New Year's Day Admission to the Science Center's permanent exhibit galleries is FREE!! Parking is $8 per car- cash only! For additional information click here

A Mission a month- Ventura Mission

This is the first of monthly posts where I will feature one of the twenty missions that line up our beautiful state. I have always wanted to visit all twenty one missions and this would be a great way to challenge myself to visit them all. I figured if I have to feature one a month on the blog, it would MAKE me get out and explore each one. This month I wanted to feature the San Buenaventura Mission, also known informally as the Ventura Mission. We had the opportunity to visit last week as a family and wanted to share with you our experience. The Ventura Mission is a smaller mission and one of the last missions to be founded by Father Junipero Serra. It was founded in 1782 and is located at the northern end of Main Street. You can ark on the street in front of the Mission or turn right on Palm and left into the parking lot area next to the Mission. Donation for the Museum and a self-guided tour is $2.00 for adults and 50 cents for children. You enter the museum through the gift shop, which is adjacent to the mission. We spent about thirty minutes exploring the museum and grounds as this is a pretty small mission. The kiddos loved playing in the courtyard and checking out the artifacts in the museum. My four year old loved everything about the church. She walked in with my husband and asked many questions about the mission, church and the grounds. My two year old was happy playing in the courtyard's water fountain. I tried to take him inside but he is still a bit young to be interested in learning about the missions. He was however in love with the courtyard and the beautiful landscaping. Next time you are heading up the coast or are in Ventura, make sure to take some time and explore the grounds. I would love for you to join in the challenge. If you take this challenge please email me your pictures! I would love to share.

Play Daily Giveaway

Could the first 4 people who commented under the last post please email me at mom@daytrippingmom.com. I have 2 4 packs of tickets to giveaway and two fun dvds. Your pick. Please email me. Thanks!

A fun event- Play Daily

I wanted to share with you a fun event that will be coming up this Saturday morning and is perfect for the kiddos. Be one of the first 4 to leave a comment and you will receive a 4 pack admission for Play Daily. PlayDaily is a series of family-oriented events that circulate around a theme that encourages discovery, inquiry, and supports the development of critical thinking through unstructured play. The first theme explored is Light and Shadow. As participants enter the space, visitors will be greeted by dark rooms, illuminated with tools for interaction, self discovery, and play. There are opportunities to interact with both white and black light. This includes glow-in-the-

dark puppets, x-ray materials, light tables and fluorescent balloons as well as white light, flashlights and shadow play. All of this is designed to stimulate and promote questioning and a new kind of fun. The actual event will operate like an open house from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, giving families the opportunity to revolve in and out of the day’s engaging activities and play at their own convenience-- before or after a trip to the farmer’s market, or around nap time. There are healthy snacks served in addition to the opportunity for kids to show off their dance moves to tunes spun by a DJ. Advanced tickets at $7 per walking being - $10 at the door http://playdaily.eventbrite.com/

PlayDaily- Los Angeles August 29, 2009 9:30 am to 12:30 pm CineSpace 6356 Hollywood Blvd, 2nd level Los Angeles, CA 323.817.FILM

Chase Palm Park in Santa Barbara

Last weekend while we were spending some time in Santa Barbara, I wanted to visit places that were either free or didn't cost much money. Michele, of the fabulous site, Fun Orange County Parks, recommended that I visit Chase Palm Park in Santa Barbara. I'm so glad we followed her recommendation because my kids absolutely loved the park and we had an amazing time! Chase Palm Park is a beautiful park nestled right across from East Beach in Santa Barbara. Chase Palm Park is also referred to as "Shipwreck Park" and is a must on your visit to Santa Barbara. The park entrance is located on Cabrillo and Garden Street. We parked right across from the park at the public parking lot and crossed on over(parking was only $3). You are greeted at the entrance with a beautiful courtyard and a fun carousel. The park features fountains, creeks, a skate park, a snack bar and a Shipwreck Playground modeled after an ocean schooner from the turn of the century. We strolled the grounds and tried to take it all in but the kiddos were mostly interested in one thing and one thing only- the Shipwreck playground. My kiddos could have spent hours and hours on end playing in this amazing playground. The playground features a ship to climb, an adobe village where my kids played for what seemed an hour, "caves" where they would hide from each other, an amazing little slide made of faux wood that my son squealed in delight every time he slid on down, whales that squirt out water, and a traditional monkey bar area. We stayed at the park for about two hours and we could have easily stayed longer. It's the perfect place to pack a picnic, enjoy the beautiful grounds and let the kiddos play. Next time you are in Santa Barbara make sure to make a pit stop at Chase Palm Park. If you are an Orange County mom or dad make sure to check out Fun Orange County Parks it's a fun and informative website that features all you ever wanted to know about where to take the kiddos to play in Orange County.

Disney Sunday- Mickey's Trick or Treat Party at Disney's California Adventure

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend. In this week's Disney Sunday Post - I wanted to write about Mickey's Trick or Treat Party at Disney's California Adventure. This October, Disney's California Adventure will hold it's fifth year of Mickey's Trick or Treat party, a special ticketed event. The park adds additional decoration, special entertainment and trick or treat stations throughout DCA as it closes the park to the general public. In the Sun Plaza, there is a giant candy corn and a DJ playing music that you can dance to and several other dance party stations. We have had the opportunity to attend almost every year and have had a blast. One of my favorite parts of Mickey's Trick or Treat Party is that there are several character greet and meet photo locations throughout the park. Our daughter's dream came true last year as she was able to meet Cinderella, who took her hand, posed with her and walked around a bit of the park with her. Needless to say it made her night and she was thrilled. Be prepared for a couple of bagfuls of candy. You are given a bag at the entrance of the park and you will easy fill it up. My kids love trick or treating and this was definitely the highlight for them. Of course the fact that the park limits the amount of guests and it is closed down to the general public doesn't hurt to the appeal. It's my favorite part of the evening. Here is a tip -if you can, make sure to buy tickets for a weeknight. I've gone on both a weekend and a weeknight and we had a better experience on the weeknight. There are less crowds and the party has more of an exclusive feel to it. This event invariably sells out every single year. Tickets go on sale in the beginning of summer and are usually sold out by the end of September. It is an amazing event for the kiddos. Kiddos and adults are encouraged to wear their Halloween costume to the park. I love it because it allows the kiddos to wear their costume on more than one night. It runs for four hours either from 6:30 to 10:30 or 7:30 to 11:30 PM depending on the night of the week. If you have never had the opportunity to attend Mickey's Trick or Treat Party, make this the year. Your kiddos are going to love it! Ticket Prices and Event Dates* Advance purchase by Annual Passholders, Disney Vacation Club Members and Disney Visa card holders for selected dates: $26.00 Annual Passholder/DVC/Disney Visa discount is available for the following dates: October 2, 8, 15, 21, 22, 28 Advanced Purchase Ticket Prices $32 Regular Admission Price for These Dates — October 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29 Day-of-Event Ticket Prices $39 If Purchased and Used on These Dates — October 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29 $42 If Purchased and Used on These Dates — October 30 and 31 Ages Two and Under: No Charge For additional information head over here

Pretend City- A New Children's Museum in Irvine

I had the opportunity to take a sneak peek at Pretend City, a new and AMAZING Children's Museum that will be opening to the public on August 30. Pretend City is a place where Imagination and Education come to Play! Your kiddos are going to love everything about Pretend City.

Pretend City Children's Museum is an interconnected city designed for children ranging from infant to eight years old and their families. The city is comprised of a grocery store, farm, doctor's offices, art studio, amphitheater, beach, marina, construction site, cafe and much much more. Children will learn through role-play based on real world exhibits as they dress up as a police officer, deliver the mail, create art or put out a fire.

What I love about the museum is that all of the exhibits are connected and every exhibit is hands on. Pretend City is a unique museum and I have seen nothing quite like it. Your kids are going to love it! I can't rave about this place enough! I can guarantee that your kiddos will have an incredible time at Pretend City. For additional information head over here. I'm planning on buying a membership and trying to make a visit at least once a week. I hope you can all go out and enjoy this amazing place with your family.

Pretend City

29 Hubble

Irvine, CA 92618

Admission

Infant to 12 months $2

Child $10

Adult $10

Military and Family Members $8

Hours

Monday 10am -1pm

Tue-Sun 10am -5pm

Everyday 9am-10am Members only

Channel Islands Visitor Center

We had the opportunity to head up the coast this past weekend. I have wanted to take the kiddos to the Channel Islands National Park for some time now and decided to head over to the Visitor Center to learn more about the park. The Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center is open daily from 8:30am to 5pm and is free to the public. The Visitors Center features a tide pool exhibit that my kiddos absolutely went bonkers for, a native plant garden that they ran through, exhibits that feature the character of each park, an amazing observation deck and a 25 minute park movie "A Treasure in the Sea". It's a great place to explore and the best part is that it's free. It's a fantastic place to visit with the kiddos and a great place to learn about the Channel Islands. Next time you are in the area take an hour to check this little gem out. You are going to love it! We had a great time learning all about the park and are planning to head to one of the islands-Anacapa Island next Saturday. I can't wait to head out and share my experience with you. Channel Islands National park 1901 Spinnaker Dr. Ventura 93001 805-658-5730 www.nps.gov/chis/

Disney Live! Rockin' Road Show

I love Disney Shows and there is one heading our way in a couple of weeks that would be perfect for the entire family. Disney Live! Rockin' Road Show is coming to the Southland and will be sure to delight your kiddos.Get ready to dim the lights and raise the curtain – Mickey Mouse is in the house and he’s setting the stage for fun - just for you! But first he’ll need to find some amazing acts to put in his show. Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Donald all head off on an adventure and find some great friends to help them out. You’ll get to sing along to cool songs, jump out of your seat to dance to the beat and laugh out loud with Buzz and Woody from Toy Story Cinderella, Tigger, and more of your Disney friends at this show-stopping, zany, on-stage adventure. You can save $3 by using the word “LIVE” as the promotional code during check out. You can also use this code when purchasing from the arena box offices.

Southland Performance Schedule LONG BEACH – Terrace Theatre (300 E Ocean Blvd Long Beach, CA 90802-4825) Sunday, September 20^th: 12:00PM, 3:00PM, 6:00PM THOUSAND OAKS - Fred Kavli Theatre at Thousand Oaks Civic Auditorium (2100 E. Thousand Oaks, 91362) Friday, September 25^th: 3:00PM, 6:00PM NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE (777 Chick Hearn Ct. Los Angeles, 90015) Saturday, September 26^th: 12:00PM, 3:00PM, 6:00PM Sunday, September 27^th: 12:00PM, 3:00PM Ticket Prices: $65.00 / $35.00 / $25.00 / $20.00 To order tickets by phone: 800-745-3000 Online: www.disneylive.com OR www.ticketmaster.com

Our stay at the Country Inn and Suites Port Hueneme

This past weekend we had the opportunity to spend a couple of days up the coast in the Ventura /Santa Barbara area and we had such a great time. The wonderful people at Country Inn and Suites by Carlson invited us to stay at the Country Inn and Suites Port Hueneme and we couldn't have stayed at a better place. Our stay was incredible. We were greeted with a friendly smile and fresh chocolate chip cookies. The kids were in heaven!! We headed up to our spacious room. We had a suite which featured a separate living area room with a pull out bed, a kitchen area and a fireplace. The kids immediately claimed the whole room. I don't know what it is about kiddos but it seems every kid I know loves to stay at hotel rooms. We were also greeted with a fun welcome gift basket, filled with plenty of goodies. What I love about Country Inn and Suites is that they cater to families. Every morning you can head down to the breakfast area and take in a delicious and hot breakfast buffet and it's included with your stay. The hotel also features a complimentary evening reception with free drinks and snacks. This can mean huge savings for a family. There is also a Read it and Return library which allows the kiddos to check out books during your stay. I almost forgot to mention that our hotel was only about a block and a half away from the beach. Point Hueneme State Beach is a really nice beach that was practically empty. If you like nice, clean and uncrowded beaches this is the place for you. We loved our stay at the Country Inn and Suites Port Hueneme and I can't wait to head back!

A late edition of Disney Sunday- All you ever wanted to know about FASTPASS!

I know I'm a little late with my Disney Sunday post but I still wanted to squeeze in a Disney post before the end of the week. In this week's installment I wanted to write about Disneyland/Disney's California Adventure FASTPASS. Basically a Disney FASTPASS allows you to cut your wait time at certain attractions by standing in line for you electronically. The FASTPASS system is included with your admission/annual pass and one that you will want to use whenever you are heading over to the Disneyland resort. Here is how it works- You head over to one of the rides(I included a list at the end of the post) that uses the FASTPASS system. Once you are there look for the distribution area near the entrance of the attraction. Check the return time (be sure to get your passes early because on very busy days they run out!) and insert your ticket or annual pass into the FASTPASS machine. Once you insert your ticket/annual pass a ticket will print out with your return time. When it's time to return to the attraction enter through the FASTPASS line/queue and you will avoid the long wait. It's simple, painless and will save you time!Once you have your ticket in hand head out to enjoy the other attractions. We usually grab a FASTPASS and catch a show or ride an attraction with a minimal wait line. Here are two things that you should also know about FASTPASS.

• You can only have one FASTPASS ticket to one attraction at a time. This means you can't head over to Splash Mountain and pick up a FASTPASS then walk over to Big Tunder Railroad and pick up another while you wait. You can grab another FASTPASS as soon as your return time comes up.
• Your FASTPASS tickets don't expire. I met my sisters at the park a little late last week only to find them complaining about their FASTPASS tickets expiring. There is no such thing. Your recommended time is printed on your ticket but you are always welcome to come after that time on the day of your visit.

Here is the list of attractions at both parks that utilize the FASTPASS system.

Disneyland Autopia Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters Indiana Jones Haunted Mansion(holidays) Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin Splash Mountain Space Mountain Disney's California Adventure California Screamin Grizzly River Run Mulholland Madness Soarin Over California The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror Have a terrific rest of the day and use a FASTPASS next time you are heading over to the parks!

Legally Blonde The Musical

I had the opportunity to attend Legally Blonde The Musical last week and I can't recommend it enough. I love fun and fast paced musicals and Legally Blonde definitely hits the mark. The music is catchy and you will find yourself singing some of the songs for days after. What I loved about the show is that it's perfect for the family. If you have little girls that love the movie they will definitely love the show.

The best part is that tickets are affordable. My sisters and I are planning on returning tomorrow since we can pick up some tickets for $20 with the discount code. The show will play until September 6 - so you still have time to make it. Just remember to make sure to purchase your tickets before August 22nd. All you have to do is use is special offer code OMGX2 when you purchase tickets and you can save up to $20. You can purchase tickets

Online: http://www.broadwayla.org/

OMGPhone: 800-982-ARTS (2787)

In Person: Pantages Box Office

6233 Hollywood Blvd.,

open daily 10am-6pm

The Discount applies to evening shows on Tue, Wed or Thu.

Have fun!!

A break the past couple of days

I have been taking a very nice break in Santa Barbara and Ventura for the past couple of days. Will be posting tonight about our fun adventures. Hope you all had a fabulous weekend and are having a great day! :)

Robots vs Humans Chess Game at the Discovery Science Center

If you are looking for something fun and very unique or you are a chess aficionado you have to check out this way cool event at the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana.

Robotic chess pieces that can communicate with each other will play humans in a giant game of chess at Taco Bell Discovery Science Center this weekend. The event is open to the public and free with paid admission to the Science Center.

Public games will take place on Saturday & Sunday, August 15 & 16, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

As part of the summer exhibition “Robots & Us,” now in its final weeks at Taco Bell Discovery Science Center, an amazing display of cutting-edge robot technology will take place this weekend. Robotic chess pieces will play human chess pieces on a 16’x16’ chess board at the Science Center.

Games with members of the public versus the robotic chess players will take place throughout the weekend.

Where: Taco Bell Discovery Science Center, 2500 N. Main St., Santa Ana, CA 92705 http://www.discoverycube.org

The Autry National Center of The American West Revisited

My family had the opportunity to revisit The Autry National Center of The American West a couple of weeks ago and we had such a good time. We were able to explore a couple of sections that we did not have the opportunity to explore last time. The kiddos had a fantastic time playing in the Sparkle & Twang exhibit, which will only be at the Autry for another week. It is well worth the visit! Your kiddos will love pretending they are a famous country stars(my kids were absolutely giddy with excitement as they took the stage) and the adults will love learning the story of country music icon Marty Stuart's personal experiences with some of the most famous stars of American music. The exhibit will only be around until August 23rd. Your family will love exploring the Family Discovery Gallery. In this special gallery, families step back in time to discover what life was like for the See family, a Chinese American family in the 1930s. You will explore the family’s antique store, restaurant, and home. This was the coolest little exhibit I have ever explored with my family. I could not tear the kids apart from the restaurant and home section. They played for at least an hour in the restaurant section. They loved "cooking and serving us". It was also a blast to play house with them inside the replica California Bungalow. We had so much fun and I'm sure your kiddos will too. The museums offers Free Admission the Second Tuesday of the mom and is currently hosting sizzling Summer nights every Thursday night through the end of the month.

The Autry's annual Sizzling Summer Nights outdoor dance party returns to Griffith Park with the scintillating sounds of live mambo, son, Latin jazz, and Afro-Cuban beats. Admission is $7 on Thursday nights.

If you are looking for something to do with your family - give the Autry a try. Your family will love it! I promise!

Autry National Center of the American West

700 Western Heritage Way

Los Angeles, CA, 90027-1462

T. 323.667.2000

F. 323.660.5721

Admission

$9.00 for Adults

$5.00 for students (13-18) and seniors

(60+)$5.00 Adult Students (18 and over with ID)

$3.00 for children (3-12)

Free for children under 3

For additional information click here

Help support a great cause- OC Walk to remember

The OC Walk to Remember is a nonprofit organization that supports parents who have lost a baby in pregnancy or infancy. The mission of the OC Walk to Remember is to raise money for local organizations that support parents who have experienced miscarriage, pregnancy loss, or infant loss of any kind, as well as be a resource center for parents, doctors, nurses, hospitals, support groups, and anyone in need of support or information.

Nearly two million babies die each year due to miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth, SIDS and other types of pregnancy and infant loss, so the need for support is tremendous. Money donated to the organization supports nine local hospitals and four support groups in their efforts to help parents who have experienced the devastating loss of their baby or babies. Just a few examples of how the money raised has been used: photo printers and cameras were donated to hospitals, so parents have photos of their child; we've sent nurses to training seminars for specialty training on how to care for parents who have had a baby or babies die in the hospital; we've donated thousands of dollars so memory boxes filled with photos, blankets, footprints and other momentos of their child can be sent home with parents who have given birth to a baby who has died.

On October 10, a memorial service and walk will take place at the University of California, Irvine. Registration begins at 8 a.m., and the memorial service begins at 9:15 a.m. The name of every baby being remembered will be read. Pregnancy and infant loss merchandise will be available for purchase and a picnic in the park will conclude the event. Please come join us as we walk for the steps our babies never got to take. To register, to donate, or for more information about the OC Walk to Remember: www.ocwalktoremember.org; (800) 714-9320

Haunted Mansion Celebrates it's 40th year!

The Haunted Mansion celebrates 40 years of Happy Haunts and I wanted to share a fun short video about this favorite attraction! Enjoy!

UCI Observatory

Did you know that UCI has it's own observatory? The Observatory at the University of California, Irvine, is located in the fields on the outskirts of campus. The observatory has a large computer-controlled telescope and numerous other smaller, portable, telescopes. The observatory hosts Visitor Nights, which are free and open to the general public, approximately 5 times per year. The next visitors night will be held on Saturday August 22nd from 8-10pm. You can use their telescopes to see Saturn, the Ring Nebula, open and globular star clusters. You can also listen to a lecture entitled "Star Clusters in the Milky Way" by Carol Thornton. The Observatory is located on the UCI campus. Visitors should park in the ICS/Engineering Parking Structure at the corner of E. Peltason and Anteater Drives for a $7 fee. Free shuttle buses will transport you between the Parking Structure and the gravel road to the Observatory. Shuttles will depart every 10 minutes starting a half hour before and ending a half hour after the event. Only in the unlikely event of rain will Visitor Night be canceled, and a notice will be posted on their website by 3 pm that day. To learn more about the observatory and visitors night head on over here. Visitors Night UCI Observatory Saturday Aug 22nd 8pm-10pm

Free Crafts Every Saturday at Lakeshore Learning Stores

I just found about this and had to share- Did you know that all Lakeshore Learning Stores offer free crafts EVERY SATURDAY afternoon from 11am to 3pm? I didn't know but I can't wait to head there and take the kiddos. Every Saturday from 11am to 3pm you and the kiddos can drop in anytime and take part in arts and craft classes. All supplies are provided, and a staff member guides kids through a different project every week. The best part is that of course it's free and geared towards kiddos aged 3 and up. Stores are located throughout the Southern California area. To find a store near you click here. To learn more about the program head over here. Who says you can't get anything for Free anymore?

Summer Courtyard Kids Festival

I know it's only Tuesday but before you know it the weekend will be here and you won't want to miss taking your kiddos to the Summer Courtyard Kids Festival at The Japanese American Museum in Little Tokyo. The Summer Courtyard Kids Festival will feature whimsical arts and crafts, a toddler area, a carnival, origami, live entertainment, face painting and so much more. The best part is that admission to the museum and the carnival is FREE!!! Free, Fun and educational means you can't miss this great event. Some of the featured events include: Inspired by the Japanese tradition of using paper lanterns in summer festivals, make a decorative paper lantern of your own. Schedule: 12 :00 – 4:00 PM – Get your face painted! 2:00 PM – Learn about Taiko and how to hit the giant drums from Kyodo Taiko! 3:00 PM – Enjoy a Special Kyodo Taiko performance! 4:00 PM – Learn how to do an obon dance! 4:30 PM – Come listen to the exciting sounds of Progressive Taiko! This program is sponsored in part by the generous support of the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs. We are going to try to make this - If you are there and spot me please come over and say Hello- I would love to meet all of you! For additional info head over here Japanese American National Museum

Location

JAPANESE AMERICAN NATIONAL MUSEUM 369 East First Street Los Angeles, California 90012 phone: 213.625.0414 Event begins at 11am and yes it's FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Winners of giveaways!

It's that time to pick two winners for last week's giveaways. The winner of the Comic- Con Swag bag is Result: 36 Powered by RANDOM.ORG Comment 36 is

Amanda who said...

i love checking your site..it gives me such great ideas of things to do with my much younger sister!!

The winner of the The Legally Blonde The Musical tickets is Result: 2 Powered by RANDOM.ORG Comment 2 is

Kathleen Switzer said...

During the school year I teach high school theatre and my husband runs the media program at our school. WE juggle our careers while trying to raise our 2 year old son. As a result, we give all our energy to everyone around us. We never had time for dates. This would be a wonderful opportunity for us to go on a date together to see a musical that my husband actually LOVES the concept of. I would love to surprise him with the tickets.

Email me with your info at mom@daytrippingmom.com

Thanks for participating and stay tuned! I have a couple of fun giveaways coming up!

Disney Sunday - Part 2- Parking at the Happiest Place on Earth

I spent the entire day at both parks yesterday(and a few evenings last week) and it inspired a couple of posts. I hope you don't mind two Disney posts in one week. I love going to Disneyland and DCA, as you have probably figured out. The one thing that I do not like is having to deal with parking. I usually don't mind parking in the Mickey and Friends parking lot(the big structure) unless it is a busy day. On busy days parking and then riding the tram to the entrance of the resort can feel like a bad nightmare. I can't tell you how many times I have seen people almost scuffle over their place in the "stroller line". The stroller line is found on the very first car of the tram and the very last car. It allows you to ride without having to fold your stroller. It is very popular and the wait for a spot in the first or last car is usually long. In fact the wait on a busy days for a tram can take a long long time. It is definitely not what you want to be doing when you have tired and cranky kids and have to be around other cranky people. It's just not a good combination. Here are a couple of alternatives to parking in the Mickey and Friends parking lot and taking the tram. My favorite option for parking on nights when I know that I will be spending less than 3 hours is to park in Downtown Disney. If I'm heading over for the evening- I will usually park in the Downtown Disney lot. Parking is free for the first 3 hours. When I park in the DD parking lot I either take the monorail to Disneyland or walk through the Grand Californian Hotel to the DCA hotel entrance. It's easy, painless and only a short walk. My second option would be to park in the Mickey and Friends parking structure. Take the tram in but on the way out, only have the driver in your party head on the tram(they will usually be able to squeeze right on to a tram). The rest of the party will head over to the 15 minute parking on Harbor blvd(just follow the walkway to Harbor Blvd- it's the parking lot on the right hand side) and be picked up from there. This is what we usually do on a busy day. The last option is to park in the Mickey and Friends parking structure. Take the tram on your way in and at the end of the night, walk the path back to the structure. It's a nice walk and on a busy night you will get to your car faster walking, then waiting and loading for the tram.

Disney Sunday Part 1 - Disney's Electrical Parade

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you are all having a fantastic Sunday with plenty of fun and relaxation. For this week's installment of Disney Sunday I wanted to write about my favorite parade - Disney's Electrical Parade in Disney's California Adventure. The parade is back this summer big and better than ever. Among the new surprises is the new lead float featuring Tinkerbell. She sprinkles her pixie dust along the parade path and it can be seen sparkling along the sides of many of the floats. Another fabulous feature is the return of the Pinocchio floats and the Seven Dwarf's mine float. Both of these went MIA after the parade's visit to Tokyo Disneyland. If you are a fan of the Parade you will also notice that the music has a new layer on the background and I think it's better than ever. We found some terrific seats just outside the Golden Vine Winery facing the Fisherman's Wharf area, just 30 minutes before showtime. I've usually caught it at the entrance of California Adventure and it usually one of the busiest locations to catch a glimpse. If you head further down the parade route there are plenty of seats and in my opinion a better view. We sat down and waited for a few minutes for the parade and as we waited you could feel the anticipation and excitement in the crowd. There is nothing quite like experiencing the parade up close with the kiddos. My family loved every single minute of it. I want to hear from you. Do you love the parade? If you do what is your favorite part of it? Where do you usually sit? Would you love to see it return to Disneyland? The parade is running nightly through August 23, 2009. It's the perfect excuse to head over to California Adventure. It then will go on a hiatus for a time. Rumor has it that it could wind up back at Disneyland next year as part of the 55th park anniversary. We'll have to wait and see.

Children's Festival of the Arts

If you are looking for something to do with your kiddos this weekend that is fun and free check out the Hollywood Art's Council Children's Festival of the Arts. It's a free event at the Paramount Film Studios on Sunday August 9th from 12pm to 430pm. There will be family art workshops, face painting, dancing from around the world and much much more. Children's Festival of the Arts Sunday August 9th 12pm to 430pm Paramount Studios 5555 Melrose Avenue Hollywood 90038 For additional info head over here.

Legally Blonde The Musical Giveaway and Discount code

Happy Friday Everyone! Do you love musicals? Are you looking to take your family to a show that is family friendly and of course fun? Then you have to check out Legally Blonde The Musical. The show is celebrating its Los Angeles Premiere at the Pantages Theatre for four weeks only, August 12-September 6. LEGALLY BLONDE follows sorority star Elle Woods, an underestimated blonde who doesn't take "no" for an answer. When her boyfriend dumps her for someone more "serious," Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books, and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard Law. Along the way, Elle proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style. After turning Broadway and MTV hot pink, this “Feel-Good Song and Dance Juggernaut” (New York Magazine) was proclaimed “The Best New Musical Around!” (WOR). If you have wanted to head out to the theater but think it might be expensive, think again- you can buy tickets starting at $20 for select performances. All you have to do is use is special offer code OMGX2 when you purchase tickets and you can save up to $20. This would be perfect for a birthday, Mommy/Daddy/daughter night out or as a fun date. You can purchase tickets Online: www.BroadwayLA.org/OMG Phone: 800-982-ARTS (2787) In Person: Pantages Box Office 6233 Hollywood Blvd., open daily 10am-6pm You must purchase your tickets by Aug 22nd to receive the special discount. The Discount applies to evening shows on Tue, Wed or Thu. Here is the best part- I have a pair of tickets to give away to one lucky reader. All you have to do is leave a comment on why you need a night out and you might just win. Winner will be selected at random. You have until Monday night to enter. Tickets are for August 13th's performance at 8pm. Good luck!