Picture it- white sand beaches that are baby soft to the touch, fresh seafood straight from the source and more kid-friendly entertainment than you thought one beach town could handle. Excited? Us too.
This is what we found when we travelled to Panama City Beach, Florida.
No matter your budget, there are plenty of things to do whether you crave lazy beach days with the kids, nature reserves, sunset cruises or shop-til-you-drop mornings.
So, what are you waiting for? Let’s dive into the best things to do in PCB with kids.
PCB BEACHES
Any town with the name “beach” in it pretty much demands that you check out the waterfront. Beaches are free and one of our favorite things to do with kids. With 27 miles of sandy beaches and nearly 100 access points, PCB offers endless opportunities for affordable family-fun experiences.
Go for a swim or snorkel to discover an abundance of underwater wildlife or hop on a fishing trip. You can also search for dolphins on a sunset cruise, try out parasailing or jet skiing like we did. There are loads of water-based activities in Panama City Beach to fill your days that go beyond splashing in the waves and building sand castles (although we love doing that too).
SHELL ISLAND
Truly, one of the top attractions in Panama City Beach is Shell Island. We got to experience Florida in its most natural element along this seven-mile barrier island between St. Andrews Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.
My favorite moment? When my 5-year-old son got to see indigenous seashells, like sand dollars, moon snails, conch shells, pin shells, periwinkles, whelk and olive shells, in their natural habitat. He loved that there was no limit to the number of these one-of-a-kind souvenirs he could take home, as long as there were no creatures living in them.
You can rent a pontoon boat, jet skis, private boats or even take the Shell Island Shuttle to get out to the island for a few hours or even a full day of fun.
SEA DRAGON PIRATE CRUISE
Sightseeing while pretending to be pirates on a life-size ship is a dream come true for many kids and even adults. My son couldn’t get enough of singing pirate songs, partaking in pretend sword fights, cleaning the deck, and even looking for sunken treasure during our two-hour Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise.
SHIPWRECK ISLAND WATERPARK
Shipwreck Island Waterpark is filled with fun, and not just for kids. All ages, even parents and grandparents, will have something to do here.
Jump waves in the 500,000-gallon wave pool or float down the 660-foot lazy river. From a kiddy area to exhilarating slides, Shipwreck Island has activities and water fun for visitors of all ages.
RACE CITY AMUSEMENT PARK
Race City Amusement Park is definitely home to some of the most exhilarating Panama City Beach attractions for kids.The PCB 500 is the city’s fastest, steepest and tallest go-kart track. It’s a must-do activity for speed lovers.
For the little ones in your group, there is a smaller go-kart course that they can conquer. My son was able to take his first spin on the Little Speedy track and cannot stop talking about it.
And don’t worry, if go-karts aren’t your speed, there are also roller coasters, bumper boats, an arcade, and many more of your favorite amusement park rides and activities at Race City.
COCONUT CREEK FAMILY FUN PARK
Mini-golf is one of those family-friendly activities that everyone, no matter how young or old, can enjoy together. You could easily spend an entire day at the Coconut Creek Family Fun Park– Laguna Beach conquering their 18-hole mini golf course. The tropical theme plays perfectly into a beach vacation.
Got older kids? They will love getting lost in the giant maze next to the golf course.
With the unlimited games package, you can play mini-golf and wander the maze over and over again. We spent several hours here in the evening after a long day in the sun swimming at the beach.
PIER PARK
Pier Park offers visitors an endless array of food options, entertainment and shopping.We found it to be the perfect place to pick up a few souvenirs and explore locally-owned boutiques.
It’s also an easy spot to grab a meal, enjoy ice cream or even pick up a pineapple-flavored drink to cool down. As a family traveling together, I loved that after lunch my son could enjoy a train ride with his daddy, while I snuck off to do some more shopping.
SKYWHEEL PANAMA CITY BEACH
Don’t be confused by the name– SkyWheel Panama City Beach is an entertainment complex packed with family fun. Soar over the city to enjoy unforgettable panoramic views of Panama City Beach in the fully-enclosed, climate-controlled gondolas.
SkyWheel’s close proximity to Pier Park provides a sightseeing experience for families with babies and toddlers up to tweens and teens.
After travelling to over 8 countries and taking several long haul flights with my son when he was baby to now when he is a kindergartner, I have come across several brands and products that I have loved and hated. We parents on our travel come across so many hiccups like a frantic airport terminal, rogue luggage carts, judgmental passengers and thousands other possible hiccups that can make daily parenting battles a bit more strenuous? So being prepared with the right travel gear and travelling light has become my mantra for traveling!
The key to successfully flying with kids boils down to three things:
Getting to the airport early, planning, and packing light and the right gear. And extra snacks always help.
Below is a list of items I recommend for travelling with toddlers.
1.) JetKids BedBox
I highly recommend this JetKids Bedbox to all parents who are traveling with their kids in flights especially on long haul flights. We got this for our 23 hour journey to India in 2019 and I knew that it would simplify traveling for me and my son. Vir has been using it for more than 2 years now. Its an investment and has saved us with the long walks, flight delay related tantrums and exhaustion etc. while traveling.
This suitcase comes with adjustable strap, two sheets of decorative stickers and a mattress with seat extension.
Although Vir was only 3 and his feet weren’t touching the floor then, he comfortably sat on it while I pulled the jet-box around the airport. The mattress is convenient to extend the seat in the flight and turn it into a bed. It is great for keeping little children’s feet up and also gives space to stretch especially on long flights. Now Vir’s feet cannot be straight like the below pics as he is much taller.
Also I recommend getting an economy plus or the front row seats for more leg room if your are traveling coach. The jetbox also had ample of storage space to hold some snacks, books, iPad and headphones . When my son didn’t feel like sitting on it while we were waking around the airport, he enjoyed pulling it . We also used the JetKids Bedbox in a train chair car from Kota to Delhi which was a 7 hours journey! And I seriously felt I hit the jackpot as my son slept comfortably on it. Also there was way more leg space than in a flight.
2. Ride Safer Travel Vest- ((Updated 8/14/2021) I was introduced to this vest by my friend Pattie and after researching and trying this myself on our recent trip to Hawaii in April 2021 and Panama City Beach in May,2021 I had to add this to my list of travel must have for parents. We love it and also now have been using it regularly.
With RideSafer you won’t need to haul that heavy car seat through airport security or while you’re rushing through the terminal to make it to your gate on time.. We have a large carseat for our 5 year old which we love however it is not ideal for air travel, Uber, cabs, etc.
Lightweight and compact, the RideSafer® Travel Vest easily stows away in your luggage or even on your child’s backpack. It is simple to pull out and use SAFELY once you arrive at your destination!
As a FMVSS 213 certified child restraint, RideSaferis a legalchild restraint when used according to manufacturer’s instructions. We loved keeping in our carryon and having available as soon as we reached the destination without the hassle of carrying a bulky car seat. Note- Technically the RideSafer is rated starting at 3 years old and 30 pounds.
Note, it has few more steps to get the child in the vest than a typical car seat. So it can take a few minutes to tie it correctly. I like to offer my son a neck pillow on long rides. You can learn more here.
3.A Busy Bag
In my previous post I shared a lot of ideas for toys and activities you need to have ready in case your in flight entertainment is not going as you preferred. I added below items on my list. With growing kids, we need activities that keeps them interested and occupied.
Water Wow color book – If you don’t already know about it, the Water Wow! is pretty much the greatest coloring book ever invented. I love that there is no hassle of taking markers, paints, or crayons. I bought 2 new books for Vir to keep him busy!
Play dough with new shapes and cutters.
New books -We love reading and so I got some new Pete the Cat books for my son. For older kids I recommend some cultural books that can educate them more about the destination. Please send me recommendations if you have any for India.
4. Fold–able earphones
We have the J Buddies folding headphones that are east to pack in a bag and not bulky. Also they aren’t too expensive so I am not worried about misplacing them.
5.Tablet
We can’t leave without one anywhere. And the tablet or ipad is absolutely a must when locked in an aircraft. I took it out only when Vir was done with everything else or when I needed to catch a nap for atleast 1 hour. We took the youtube subscription where you can download the videos in offline mode. I also downloaded his favorite Nat Geo animal documentary series and many games. I highly recommend having a variety of age appropriate games to keep them busy. And one tip, definitely download some new games and videos that you think the kids will enjoy.
6. Fold-able potty seat
We are still working on potty training so I made sure we had a convenient potty seat that I can carry with me anywhere. Thanks to my cousin I was introduced to this easy to carry potty seat that came with liners and a carry bag. And yes it was so convenient than buying a potty seat in India and carrying it within the cities I was going too.
7.Hand sanitizer and wipes + ( Masks ) 2021 update
We cant do without wipes, but we carried a big and small pack for lots of cleaning. The hand sanitizer is very important on travels. I didn’t want Vir to be sick for any reason and was almost sanitizing hands almost every few hours in flight and outdoors.
8. Adjustable face mask lanyards for kids
The lanyards are comfortable and easy to adjust when needed. The variety of colors is great too. We have lost several masks on our travel and so has our son. These lanyards are great to keep the mask safe and we are using them everywhere especially at school now.
9.Blanket and sleeping toy
I definitely recommend carrying your child’s favorite blanket and plush toy. Its is especially helpful in a long flight and also when you are sleeping in new places and beds. My son slept comfortably with his Pooh everywhere and I carried it with me on flight and in train too.
10. Collapsible bottle
One of my favorite gift items and must have item for people on the go. This collapsible bottle from Hydaway is truly the best. It is ultra portable, easy to pack , non toxic and leak proof. This is one of the portable bottles that have a spout , so my son was able to sip easily. I carry it with me everywhere, and the best part is that there is no need to carry any plastic bottles that take space in a backpack or bag.
11.Insulated food jar and water bottle.
This jar has saved us so many times. If your baby or toddler is eating solids but is picky, likes warm snacks, or is just not into eating restaurant food yet (and you aren’t too keen on always giving them jars of pre-packaged food), I would bring along one of these Thermos insulated jars. and bottles too
12. Kid’s Travel Neck Pillow
We got this neck pillow last year on our road trip from Houston to Breckenridge, Colorado. This neck pillow was the perfect accessory we needed for the journey and is now a must have on all our trips.. The surface of the cloth is like a honeycomb, which is more breathable, dry. Not easy to deformation, no pilling, 100% washable.
Wow! Kauai lived up to our Hawaiian dreams with its lush mountains, dramatic sea cliffs, plunging waterfalls, and stunning beaches. Finally, after 14 months our family took our first flight post our vaccination to the beautiful island of Kauai, Hawaii. This place is extremely kid friendly and there are so many activities you can do with your kids. Traveling with a kid looks a lot different at age 4. Vir was very excited, comfortable and cooperative on the journey. He wore masks for almost 14 hours non stop one way from the airports , to flights to shuttles to car rental service.
My idea for travel for this family vacation was a combination of relaxation and adventure for total 10 days while being completely logged out of office mails and calls. Kauai checked off every box and that is how we new it was the place to be. We chose the island of Kauai in Hawaii over other islands ( have also visited Big Island in 2010 for our honeymoon) because of its far more relaxed, natural environment. Here is a video on our hikes.
Sailing to Napali coast, hiking in multi-colored canyons and along coastal trails, frequent sightings of whales, dolphins, and snorkeling with turtles (and not forgetting the wild chickens that roam the island) was just what we needed for our souls. We found a real sense of solitude here due to its great outdoors and lack of major developments. You can reconnect with nature, lots of local culture and explore uncluttered sites.
It was such a refreshing and rejuvenating trip and a perfect birthday gift for me.
Note on April 5, 2021 Kauai rejoined Hawaii’s Pre-Travel Testing program which allows visitors to avoid a 10-day quarantine by taking a test before arrival. Visitors from the mainland US (and now Canada, Japan and Korea) will be able to avoid the mandatory 10-day quarantine by providing proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of the final leg of departure. The test must be taken with one of these trusted testing partners.
Note: Only kids under 5 don’t need the test. So Vir didn’t have the RT PCR test.
The situation is constantly changing so check the County of Kauai website for the latest news.
Currently, proof of vaccination is not a recognized exemption from quarantine or pre-travel testing, but the state government is looking into it and it is possible that vaccine passports may be used by the summer.
We had to fill in the Safe Travels travel and health form online and upload negative test results before boarding our flight to Hawaii. Everyone will have their temperature taken on arrival.
NOTE : Once screened at airport you will need an updated QR code to get to your car rental and to also enter your condo/ vacation rental. Make sure you have it updated right at airport, as several people at the car rental didn’t have the QR updated and had to go all the way back to the airport to get it checked.
Note wearing a mask is mandatory in Hawaii in indoor public places and outdoors when social distancing isn’t possible. Please travel responsibly.
Different islands have their own rules in addition to the pre-travel test so please check accordingly.
For in Island travel you will need a rental car. Most of the car rentals are at the Lihue airport only. There are also island taxis available, but I do not recommend relying on them. The island is not huge—you can drive from one side to the other in a few hours—but there is plenty to keep you occupied. We rented a Jeep for off roading experience.
Also, if you plan to book any tours, I recommend booking them in advance as due to new health protocols on the island lots of tour companies are running on limited capacity and get filled very quick or still not operational.
Our Stay in Kauai.
We split our stay on the island and lived in Poipu on the south shore and Princeville on the north shore to avoid long drives. This was a great decision.
Sunset views at Poipu from our airbnb condo
Things to do in South of Kauai.
Poipu Beaches
I chose the South side for first half of the trip as it is sunnier and drier most of the year. The ocean is calm and was swimmable. There was easy access to beaches from our condo. Plus, there is a wide range of accommodation including some of the best hotels in Kauai (resorts and condos). Also, lots of restaurants and cafés to get good food.
We loved our stay in Poipu, our son had such a great time on the beach. The beaches have areas that are perfect for kids and has no waves.
We also saw monk seals soaking the sun.
Kids beach at Poipu
Monk seals at Poipu Beach
I had an amazing time snorkeling here. The reefs are very close to the beach, so you do not have to swim too far or get a boat to get to snorkeling spots. The best place to snorkel in Kauai.
The Mahaulepu Heritage Trail at Shipwreck beach is a great hike to explore the otherwise inaccessible coastline. Strong shore break can make this beach a dangerous spot to swim. Best for beachcombing and sunsets.
Go to Port Allen for sailing tours. We did the 4-hour Sunset Napali coast catamaran tour from Captain Andy’s. The sailing experience was not great for us as we three had sea sickness all the time. Yet we some how managed to see a pod of dolphins close to the boat and watch a mama and baby whale breaching. The Napali coast is seriously stunning, and I think it is a must do!
I recommend sitting in the front of the boat and having some Dramamine before and on the boat. (I learned my lesson the hard way).
If you have kids younger than 4 I won’t recommend it, our son is 4 and he threw up a lot and slept 80 percent of the time.
Catamaran boat tour to Napali Coast.
Makauwahi Cave Reserve trail A beautiful hike along a well-marked trailed with stunning ocean views (and access) leads to this ancient cave holding many fossils and delightful history. You do have to crawl through a narrow entry at the base of a sink hole to enter this magical place. I highly recommend this and recommend taking the long route and not short one. There is also a farm right next to the cave where you can go and see the male and female turtles. We had a great experience here.
Tortoise farm near Makauwahi Cave Reserve trail
Glass Beach is not the most spectacular on Kauai but is closer to Port Allen and you can see it on the way. It’s too rocky for swimming and small in size. Right behind you is an oil storage facility that provides a not so pleasing industrial backdrop. We couldn’t find enough glass here so I recommend to skip unless you have time to just have a look.
Glass Beach in Kauai.
From Poipu we also drove to the West Side of the island and explored:
Waimea Canyon State Park. The area is remote and less developed. You can stop at different viewpoints to enjoy the beautiful canyon scenery. Traveling across the Waimea Canyon will take you approximately two hours if you spend some time at each stop. If you are planning to travel through the canyon without breaks, you will finish the journey in an hour. There are several lookouts dotted across the rim of the canyon, providing you with beautiful views throughout the hike.
Lookout point at Waimea Canyon State Park
The lookout above Kalalau Valley on the Na Pali Coast, provides one of the most fantastic views on the island and considered by many to be a must see. At 4,000 feet above sea level, the Kalalau Lookout is the highest elevation you will reach in Kauai by road alone. The air is much cooler at this level and it’s a good idea to bring a coat or sweatshirt. Kalalau Valley is part of the Na Pali Coast and there are no roads to it. The closest you can get to it by car is this overlook. The valley itself is two miles wide and one the widest on Kauai’s west side.
The lookout above Kalalau Valley on the Na Pali Coast
Pihea & Alakai Swamp Trail – The start of the Pihea Trail skirts the back of Kalalau Valley offering views into the valley that are incredible. The trail dives into the Alakai Swamp, and eventually intersects the Alakai Swamp Trail.
After 4 days of living in Poipu we moved to the most stunning part of the island the north shore in Hanalei, Princeville.
The North Shore is the most beautiful part of the island and one of the best places to stay in Kauai. We loved the mountain scenery, beaches, and cool town of Hanalei. This was by our favorite place to stay at any destination ever! (Ok close match to Santorini, Greece)
Anini Beach at Northshore of Kauai
Things to do near in North of Kauai, Hanalei.
Princeville is just stunning. We loved to walk to the Sunset look out point from our cottage on the lush green trails with the backdrop of the Makai golf course and stunning mountains. There is also a beach access, but parking is very tricky as there is no street parking and extremely limited public parking available to go to the beach.
We timed our trips to Hanalei almost daily and visited when the roads were open. In March 2021 there was a landslide which has led to limited road access to Hanalei (single lane at certain times of day). To visit Hanalei from Princeville we kept checking the latest news on the Hawaii Department of Transportation
Hanalei Beach and Hanalei Pier are one of the best places on the island to watch the sunset and enjoy the beach. You can rent SUP boards and kayaks too there. We visited this place thrice on our trip
Hanalei Pier
Limahuli Garden and Preserve– We explored this preserve and enjoyed the self-guided tour on one of our last days in Kauai. A bit off the beaten path, well, nearly the end of the line, by road, this was a great place for a leisurely walk into native and evasive plants found on Kauai.
Limahuli Garden and Preserve
Tunnels Beach It was my favorite beach. The snorkeling is incredible – the reef is home to a multitude of beautiful fish, and there are almost always sea turtles! The mountains make for a gorgeous backdrop as well for family pictures. The parking can get tricky, so your best bet is to park at the public side and walk to Tunnels beach.
Anini Beach is a great for simply relaxing with a book, fishing from shore or paddle boarding above the lively reef and perfect for kids. The deeper and clearer water can be enticing, and I swam right close to few turtles here and got some great shots on my Go pro. The Beach Park has multiple campsites with permits, shade trees, picnic tables, pavilions, restrooms and showers. We went here thrice on our trip
Snorkeling with turtles at Anini beach
As we spent almost 7 days at Princeville, we drove to the East side to explore, shop, and eat.
Kauai Hindu Monastery and the Rudraksha Grove –We were overwhelmed with emotions upon seeing the beauty of this Hindu monastery in Kauai. Beautiful outdoor monastery and new temple being built near Wailua River Falls. Statues and grounds are amazing. Make sure you get a reservation if you want to visit the inside of the temples. The Rudraksha grove is very close to the temple and a must visit. We spent over an hour here mesmerized by color and beauty of the holy grove. You should not miss going here.
Rudraksha grove in Kauai near the Kauai Hindu Monastery
The Wailua falls can be seen from a viewpoint and cannot be hiked so these 2 locations can be done on same day.
Kauai Plantation Railway in Lihue– We wanted to do the railway tour. Unfortunately, it was closed. Seemed great for kids. You can check them out and call and book in advance.
Luau Feast -A trip to Hawaii would not be complete without taking part in a traditional luau (feast). This luau experience at Kilohana Plantation on Kauai includes the convenience of round-trip hotel transport (if option selected), a lei greeting and champagne on arrival, and a 4-course dinner of local specialties. Unfortunately, all Luau on Kauai, were closed during our visit. You can check ahead of time if you travel.
Local Farmer’s Markets are also great places to go to see the local cuisines, art and fruits. I recommend checking online while or before travelling when and where are the farmer’s market in the are you stay or close by. We visited to one in Hanalei.
In my next blog post I will be sharing our favorite places to eat, and things I packed for our 10-day trip.
Note: Hawaii is not cheap or budget friendly, you will have to decide what to prioritize: ocean views, beach access, fantastic pool, kitchen, onsite restaurants, access to sights or whatever is best for your family. I believe on the East Side, you’ll get the best value for money, but you won’t have the views of the North Shore or as easy access to sights as in the South.
You might also consider splitting your time between two areas to avoid long day trips as we did.
If you plan anytime to travel to Kauai, I wish you have a wonderful time. Do not forget to be updated on local island travel guidelines. You can ask me a question in comments below or DM me on my Instagram and I will reply you as soon as I can.
Traveling looks much different right now than it looked last summer. My husband and I talked for a week before we decided about the trip and it was not an easy decision to make. We decided to go with the idea that we’d be diligent, overly cautious, and not take any unnecessary risks.
My family just finished a 2300 miles road trip from Houston, Texas to Breckenridge, Colorado. One-way drive from Houston to Breckenridge was 18 hours and 1150 miles. This was the first time ever we decided to go on a long road trip with our son and dog. The longest road trip ( 7 hours) with our son was to New Orleans in December 2019.
Honestly there was a guilt of traveling in pandemic, the time away from our house was much needed for our mental health. We’d all been cooped up together for 5 months, and it’s been a real challenge working from home and keeping Vir active and engaged for so many months. The summer in Houston is always hot and humid with temperatures touching 102 degrees on some days.
This act of taking this road trip was a luxury for us even though it wasn’t a luxurious one. I realize we are extremely fortunate to both have jobs at a time when so many Americans are looking for work. And we are so grateful of the ability to take time off from work and stay out of our home for 10 days.
Please note – any decisions to travel are highly personal and I encourage you to take note of the risks. Please do your research, take your doctor’s advice, assess the health of your family and make an informed choice. The information I am sharing here cannot guarantee anyone’s health or safety and is not meant to be divisive or comprehensive. Please do not travel through Indigenous communities currently.
On my Instagram page I shared with you all details on my road trip and was flooded with questions on several topics. I will be sharing my tips and experiences on this post and will be happy to answer any questions either here on the post in my comments section or you can DM me on my IG page. Note- I approached our road trip planning with an overabundance of caution.
Covid Related Road Safety Precaution.
Tip- Plan you breaks ahead of time. Find the biggest rest stops that wouldn’t have a dingy bathroom.
Gas station
While stopping for gas, we took extra precautions. We wore hand gloves and a mask while pumping gas. I wiped the card down after inserting it into the card reader everytime. Also trashed the gloves immediately before entering the car.
Restroom
Our one-way trip was 18 hours so we broke up our trip in to 2 stops. 1 in Amarillo and 1 in New Mexico for the first phase of the drive.
However while returning from Colorado we drove 9 hours to Amarillo . (Pit stop at Sand Dune National Park) and straight to Houston next day.
On our entire road trip we ended up having total 3 restroom breaks. Stopping at hotels helped minimize public restrooms usage too.
Post using the restroom we used hand sanitizers immediately. We didn’t use any rest room that someone did before. I also carried sanitizing wipes and used on doorknobs and toilet seat before using. We wore masks all the time! Vir wasn’t allowed to touch anything.
Tip – With younger kids I recommend bringing a small, portable toilet to use. And be open to roadside bathroom break depending where it is allowed. Carry all toilet essentials.
On Road meals
I packed lot of snacks for the entire trip and a cooked meals that could easily stay fresh for few hours . We carried lots of water, juices to avoid any stops in an ice box. However we did stop at Starbucks and Mc donalds only to grab coffee, snacks and food. We wore masks all the time while getting our food from drive through.
Note none of these restaurants has restrooms open for public.
Staying in Hotels
We dint want to make this our first camping and RVing experience and so we decided the best option for us will be hotels. So far the hotels we stayed in took fantastic precautions. Everyone was wearing masks and it was enforced for all guests even kids. There were face shields between customers and front desk. The check in was smooth. The breakfast places were closed and food was only to go. Some places pools were closed too, while at our Colorado hotel, the pool had to be booked in advance . And only 2 families were allowed for an hour. We stayed in a condo in Colorado at Marriot Inn Breckenridge. Since we had our dog we had only pet friendly hotel options.
Tip – Take the first-floor hotel room next to the exit door to avoid getting in elevators and corridors with others. Call in before booking to check for covid measures taken at the property and booking room on 1st floor.
I carried a bag of cleaning supplies like lysol spray, paper towels , sanitizers and cleaned all the surfaces that would be touched before Vir entered the room.
We found that staying in a hotel and getting food to go felt perfectly safe with the excessive protective measures in place. Yet we booked a condo in Colorado with a kitchen and cooked some meals there too. I carried some ready to eat food like (pasta, pasta sauce, frozen paranthas( stuffed tortillas) noodles etc.
There was no room service until we stayed. For change of linen and towels we called the reception and left the stuff out of the room. Same with trash. It was replaced by the staff in few minutes.
Great Sand Dunes National Park
National Park Visits on the way
Note: Some National parks are requiring reservations via advance ticket purchases.
We stopped on our way to Colorado at Paulo Duro Canyon in Amarilo. We checked ahead of time if the parks were open and what were the Covid restrictions. The tickets needed to be purchased in advance. We drove around the canyon and didn’t get out as it was 100 degrees that day.
On our way back from Colorado we stopped at Great Sand Dunes National park. Here the tickets were not needed in advance and was first come first serve basis. We wore masks throughout our trail and social distancing was relatively easy as it wasn’t crowded people were respectful of space.
Road trip Entertainment.
Spotify was the only source of entertainment for us. Apart from listening to my playlist we were hooked on to True Crime Podcast.
6) Other essentials like – Mints, gum, chap-stick, pain killers, eye mask, flip flops to get in and out of car comfortably., scarf, glasses, caps, hairbrush, ties.
7) UV window shades
8) Cooler bag to keep food, water cold. Thermos. Tupperware
9) Swiss army knife, emergency window hammer and flashlight
10) Small reusable tote bag/ backapack with essentials for getting out of car and on trails or restroom.
I had always wanted to go to Bali but the thought of traveling for almost 30 hours door to door from Houston, Texas would take away the fun. However, things finally fell into place and like most of my travels this year I planned a trip to Bali out of the blue. You can click here to read more on my recent trips to San Antonio, Cancun and San Francisco . Thanks to my husband who wanted to travel to India this year and so we worked out the perfect plan where he traveled with my son to India to his parent’s house in Delhi and I traveled directly to Bali and joined my family later in India after 6 days to celebrate Diwali.
I love that I can break a trip solo or with family to another Asian country while traveling to India. I plan to do that more often now as I mostly end up traveling to Europe, Mexico and South America from US every year. This time on my travels I got to experience the gorgeous island of Bali with my cousin who joined me in Taiwan,where both of our flights had a layover. This was a perfect girl’s trip I could have imagined!
You can check out my Instagram Page for all the spots I visited in Bali. It is saved under Highlights on my feed!
One of the first things you hear and read about Bali is the amazing hospitality, the hotels, villas and the most instagrammable resorts. Since mine was a short trip I knew I will have to change base to experience one 2-3 sides of the island. And so, I went ahead and booked a small cottage on Airbnb in Ubud for our first few days of travels and then changed base in Seminyak. This was a great decision and I highly recommend my readers to keep maximum one or two bases for your trip to avoid the hopping around with luggage’s. Our cottage was so cute and had the most gorgeous views from the pool. We were served fresh breakfast daily and the hospitality was great. The property was amazing and there were more villas around, so it felt safe.
Day 1 Ubud
Ubud is the place one needs to stay in Bali to truly the experience the culture and character of the island. Also, most of the tours start from Ubud, so it’s easier to travel around. We stayed for 3 days in Ubud and were able to accomplish a lot than we had thought. One of the most important things to note is that you need a driver in Bali to travel. Its convenient and safe and relaxing as the traffic can get crazy in peak hours. Our driver was so helpful and trust worthy, he was recommended by a friend and I am happy to share his information in cased anyone wants it. (Pl email me) All our tours were organized by him and after comparing the costs online and on Fb chat groups we know those were the best prices offered. The Bali Life Fb page is one of the best resources to seek help and advice on any topic. It is a huge community of travelers who are so helpful in answering any questions.
1) Tegalalang Rice Terrace, one of the most visited tourist attractions in Ubud. I had never seen anything like it before so had to make a stop. Tegalalang rice fields is a series of rice paddies located in the centre of Bali, famous for its terraced layout. This is a traditional Balinese irrigation system known as subak. Although the fields had no water in it as we went in October the fields look stunning. You must give a small donation to enter but to experience the Bali swing and some other spots there is a small fee. We weren’t into the swing experience maybe because we prefer roller coasters 😊
2) With so many beautiful waterfalls to choose from in Bali, it is hard to decide which one to visit. We visited Tukad Cepung Waterfall. A few hundred stairs down the cliff is worth the effort once you arrive at the destination. The circular cliffs give you the feeling of being in a cave, while the open sky right from where the waterfall emerges, gives you the most enchanting view. To avoid lines, we made sure we visited it at 9am. Also carry swim suits and waterproof shoes. The hike up and down can be hard for younger kids. Also, on our way up we enjoyed the breakfast on a swing. The entry is IDR 10,000 per person
3) Cantik Agriculture Coffee Plantation apart from offering the famed Luwak coffee, also explores different flavors to create a variety of unique products including teas, chili chocolates and flavored coffee. The plantation offers educational tours that suit any ages. This was one of my favorite and most unique experiences in Bali. We tasted 15 different types of coffee and teas. I loved the simple set up and bought some coffee and chocolate as souvenirs from the trip. The tour is free you can tip your guide and support the farm by buying some coffee.
4) Ubud Palace– After our long drive to the above 3 places on out first day we made it back from our road trip and tours back to Ubud by 3pm, relaxed and enjoyed some delicious Indian food at Ganesha Restaurant tasted some local ice cream and headed to Ubud Palace for a stroll. Originally built in the 1800s by the late Ida Tjokorda Putu Kandel. The Ubud Palace, which is also known as Puri Saren, is a must-visit on any tour itinerary to the Ubud area. It is spectacular and is free to enter. We couldn’t make it to the evening cultural performance as we were tired and jetlagged. But I can imagine how stunning it must be to experience it.
5) Pura Taman Saraswati Temple in Ubud is slightly different from other temples in Bali. The temple has ponds with pink lotus flowers and neatly arranged water parks. It was one of the most majestic sights ever. We sat there for some time to soak in all the beauty.
Day 2 Trip to Nusa Penida
Just 45 minutes from Bali by boat, Nusa Penida has beautiful views, stunning landscapes, and one of the most gorgeous beaches. We started early at 7 am from Ubud to catch the speed boat and arrived at Nusa Penida. I recommend hiring a driver if you don’t plan to stay back at the island. The roads are bad and hiring a scooter isn’t a good idea. We honestly focused on snorkeling and had limited time to explore the island so lost some opportunities there. Also it turned out to be an extremely taxing day as there was so much travel within the island as well. I recommend staying here a night to truly experience all of the majestic beaches.
1)Manta Ray snorkeling: The giant manta rays are usually present throughout the year, but we had no luck in Nusa Penida that day and couldn’t find any at the Manta Ray point which was a bit sad. Especially as we spent a lot of time on snorkeling transfers and on boat. However, we visited 3 other snorkeling spots and I got to snorkel for hours and it was fun especially as I snorkeled after a year.
2)Kelingking ‘T-Rex– This was truly an amazing sight. My desktop wallpaper just came to life. The Instagram famous coastal cliff, which truly does look like a T-rex was just spectacular. I still remember the moment I laid eyes on the beach below with crystal clear water. Stood there for a while to soak in all the beauty. We were tired to hike down the cliff to really enjoy the beach also itb was extremely hot and I felt my skin was burning. There are some small cafes where you can stop and grab a drink and cool down. I was a bit scared of getting a picture near the cliff as it was seriously too high but made it.
3)Nusa Penida Treehouse was a huge miss due to the limited time we had on the island as we gave to take the ferry back at 4 pm and most of our time was gone in snorkeling. The Tree House (Rumah Pohon) is perched up on the mountain at Thousand Island (Pulau Seribu) viewpoint near Atuh Beach. It is part of the Thousand Island viewpoint area costing only 10,000 rupiah to park and enter, which is less than $1 USD.
Day 3 Ubud
This was a relaxing day where I wanted to just enjoy the cafe culture and shopping in the city and just take it slow. Unfortunately, the second half of my trip I had severe nausea and vomiting due to which I lost an entire evening to enjoy in Seminyak. Bali Belly is real guys, I think something I ate dint suit me and my system just wanted everything out! So, after 6 hours of vomiting I could hardly move and rested to get better.
1) Ubud Monkey Forest The monkey forest demonstrates the coexistence of humans and nature. Several temple festivals are held within the grounds of the monkey forest. The area enclosed by the temple walls and the forest area around it is considered sacred. We left our belongings at the reception as the monkeys can take your stuff so it’s important one is careful. As I entered the forest a monkey came towards me and gently pulled my skirt. I was a bit scared, but it was smooth from then on. Just keep a safe distance from the monkeys. Entrance fees for adults is 80,000 Indonesian Rupiahs which is roughly $6 and children 60,000 rupiahs $4.50.
2)Ubud Art Market – I love to take some time out to shop and honestly Bali has some beautiful things for home décor, fashion and jewelry. We spent hours strolling through stores and looking for unique pieces and gifts for friend’s and family. After shopping at Seminiyak I can say Ubud market is much cheaper and has more traditional items.
3)Spa and Wellness – One can’t leave Bali without a good spa session. And honestly a good 1-hour massage is very cheap and so relaxing. Almost every area in the city has massage parlors and spas. I was not really looking for a flower bath so dint venture for a fancy place and stuck to nice local small shops. The massage can range from IDR 50,000 to 300,000 depending on the place and service you request.
4) Lazy Cats Cafe – A cafe, bar, and gallery, Lazy Cats’ architecture combines industrial bohemian with classy decor. They also have a mix of art, lush vegetation, and vintage furniture. We spent 2 hours lounging there and enjoying our lunch and some drinks. I just wished there was some air conditioning there as it was one of the hottest days in Ubud in October.
Day 4 Seminyak
Seminyak has a more urban look and feel unlike Ubud. It’s very chill and I liked the vibe there especially if you are looking to party and enjoy the beach bars and cafes. We booked our hotel here from Hotels.com(I use this site to book all my hotels when I travel. After 10 nights I get a free night at a hotel of my choice!) Our hotel was central to everything. Seminyak sits a little way along the coast from the famous Kuta Beach in Bali. This part is more focused on beach clubs where you can sip a drink with your feet in the sand, although there are also some clubs to be found in the area. Also, Seminyak is known for its shopping with some of the biggest names in Bali. We rented a scooter here. It was easy to ride around the area, and parking was available easily everywhere. We spent IDR 60,000 on the scooter for a day.
1) Floating Brunch at Cabina Bali: I wanted to experience the floating brunch in the pool in Bali as I knew it wouldn’t be something I won’t get to do elsewhere. So, I researched and came across Cabina Bali a gorgeous cafe to indulge and enjoy with friends or family. The pastel pink walls, tall palm trees, aqua sunbeds, and cacti lining the walls were so IG worthy. The food was delicious, and we spent almost 2 hours lounging in the pool. The staff is extremely friendly. Note: You need to make a reservation to go to this cafe. We booked weeks in advance.
2) Chill at La Plancha – I had not imagined such a magical sunset setting, with a mango lassi or a mai tai in hand, lazing amongst a field of rainbow beanbags on the beach. We spent 4-5 hours just lazing here, enjoying the live DJ music, hitting the beach and finally enjoying the sun set views. If you find yourself in Seminyak, be sure to check out La Plancha during your search for that perfect beach resting spot. Don’t miss a sunset here, you won’t regret it!
3)Party in the night at Motel Mexicola- After so long I went dancing and Motel Mexicola was so much fun. The place is a boisterous, Mexican-inspired restaurant in day and at night it’s a big bar. The music is fantastic and the energy too. People were dancing on tables and there is no cover also the best part is you can get some late night tacos too.
Day 5 Seminyak
1) Mount Batur Sunrise Treak and Breakfast with a view. One of my most recommended experience of Bali will be the sunrise trek to Mt. Batur. This was my first time hiking a volcano and it was majestic. Mount Batur is situated in the Bangli region on the island of Bali, Indonesia. You can hike it to watch the sunrise over nearby volcanoes Mount Agung and Mount Agang. The hike is two hours (for most, quicker if you need fewer breaks) and remember you are hiking a volcano which is 1,717 meters, or 5,633 feet, above sea level. I started at 2 am from Seminyak by car. The hike starts at 3:30 am from the meeting point. So, it’s a night out plan.
For me the hike was easy as I have been training for a half marathon, so as per your fitness level you can decide to hike and see the timing to finish. The main issue was the volcanic rubble which was making everyone slip. Note: the temperature and climate will be different from one night to the next and changes throughout the hike. I wore comfortable leggings, trainers and layered with a jacket and workout top only. Also carried a small back pack of the gear I needed.
I booked my hike with my driver for a private hike as I was coming from Semniyak which is an hour and half drive at night. It costed me $120. This includes everything, including pickup and drop off from Seminyak, local guide up the mountain, water, flashlights, simple breakfast at the top. It’s cheaper if you are doing it with someone, also recommend doing it from Ubud as its closer. If you like to hike the mountain, I recommend booking through Airbnb tours.
2) Bruch at The Junction House- Right after I returned from the hike, I wanted to indulge in a brunch experience! And I don’t think there could have been a better way to end the Bali trip. The Junction House is an urban-styled Haussmann Parisian House. The French elegance, tall windows, the chic color coded and modern interior resembled a cozy Parisian apartment
This House is not a place, it’s a feeling! I loved the delicious tropical acai bowl, avocado toast and had 2 cups of latte with the gorgeous Bali Latte art. The staff was so friendly and gave us great recommendations for choice of food. The latte was strong just the way I like it and by far this was our best meal of the entire trip!
3) Shopping at Seminyak: The streets of this beach town are lined with some of Bali’s hottest stores. From sleek home ware, delicate silk dresses and cool craft work Seminyak has some of the coolest designer and boutique stores to shop from. At the Seminyak Village shopping mall you can find all major designer brands, great pubs and restaurants and some good views of the beach from the mall terrace. I bought some souvenirs and gifts for family from the local shops and art market. Note you must bargain at local shops to get a good price.
I hope you find this guide useful. You can DM me on my Instagram to have a faster response for any of your questions here.
Traveling with kids can be such a rewarding experience. And making some unique memories on a road trip that will last a lifetime is worthwhile. We have an unforgettable memory from our Texas Wild safari trip at San Antonio this summer where the ostriches stuck their head into the car windows to get some food. There was a lot of yelling and excitement involved and that is one of the coolest experiences I have had in the car lately!
I love how our toddler is excited to spot a trailer truck , motorbike or an eighteen wheeler on the road, how he has made a game of his own called “Where is the moon” on night drives and how recently on our very recent road trip in San Francisco he enjoyed, sang and memorized the lines from his current favorite song Senorita by Shawn Mendes!
But it can be easy to forget about all those joys when you’re three plus hours into what probably feels like the longest drive of your life. We’ve all been there. And to help keep your sanity I am sharing my 4Ps for an enjoyable and stress-free road trip with kids.
1) Planning
Time to Go: I like to plan the best time to drive with kids ahead of time, so all unfinished tasks and last-minute shopping or stops can be avoided. Night time works best if kids are younger or under 2 or 3, they sleep well as per schedule, stay in diapers and that also meant uninterrupted conversations with your partner.
Or leaving bright in the day, early morning works best too for a lot of parents especially of you are on a 6+ hours trip. Making sure the person driving is well rested is very important on long road trips, so time to go is one of the first steps to having a stress-free road trip.
2) Play Stops
Mapping out the entire route before you travel gives a good sense of breaks you can take for food or restrooms. We also like to find interesting places to stop for like historic sites, museums, charming towns, and beautiful places for picnics, including state parks, lakes or even a playground. This helps burn of some energy on the road trip. Another tip I have is to book a hotel/motel with a pool if you are on a very loooong drive. Something the kids can look forward to while great for cooling down.
3) Packing
Important Gear for Family
Phone charger, Battery pack, Tablet, First aid kit, Mosquito repellant, Sunscreen lotion, Water, Snacks, Dryer sheets for the car to smell fresh. I also make a small backpack of important items that I might need immediately and keep in the passenger seat. Few trash bags to collect all trash and clean up.
Gear for Kids
Activity books, stickers, toys, crayons and a car seat organizer help too. I usually make a busy bag for my son for flights and now use that for road trips too. I highly recommend getting magnetic games for the car. Also, surprising kids with a new toys ensures less tantrums. Worked for us. I always grab some new toys from Target $1 aisle or Dollar store and introduce them to my son when he listens or when the tears won’t stop. You can hunt for some on amazon too. A kid friendly playlist is great for bonding and learning some new rhymes, so I make one on Spotify. For older kids’ audio booksis a great idea. And when everything fails, I give my son his tablet to plays some fun and educational games or cartoons that you can download from Netflix and you tube kids. We also carry a scoter for our son, so he can get out and ride it on a long drive. Try including a fun activity on a long drive where you end up taking more than 2 plus breaks. Bring on the snacks, try carrying new variety of crackers, cheese, candy, cookies that your kids can enjoy or be excited about. Don’t forget fruits, juices and milk. Also buying a snack at a gas station can be helpful to calm the situation at times. I always carry a blanket and a stuff toy for my son as it helps him sleep.
Also I found these Road side games online. Great for older kids 3+ . Going to use them on your next trip.
There will be potty emergencies, snack breaks, tantrums, but there will also be magic on these long drives. If I have learned one thing about being on the road with a baby, then toddler, it’s that nothing will ever go as planned. There will be delays, you might forget your kid’s favorite toy or something else. This is already life with a three-year-old. Just embrace the chaos. Above all, bring your sense of humor and patience fully intact. Road trips are fun, and they are hard. Keep your partner calm, sing and avoid arguing and stressful moments by taking some deep breaths and putting your favorite track from the 90s.
There’s no shortage of fun to be had in this gorgeous city with tons of exciting landmarks and family-friendly attractions. We have been to San Fran over 3 times before Vir was born and this time we were able to experience the city differently. My mom was here visiting us and so we planned to travel to San Fran for a 5 day trip this summer. We also did a road trip San Antonio t just few weeks before San Francisco and were glad to have so many different experiences and a big change in scenery. (Read more here)
One of the most important things about exploring San Fran is planning the places you want to visit in the city itself or downtown, and spend those days close by to avoid traffic.
We stayed at the Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel and it was such a great decision. Right in the belly of busy, high-rise downtown, the hotel is conveniently close to the famous Powell-Hyde cable car turnaround, bus tours at Union Square and public transport on Market Street. The interior of the hotel is unique especially the lobby which is so creative in designs and furniture elements. Since there were 4 of us travelling, we booked the 2-queen room suite. I was surprised to see that our room was so spacious compared to the hotels I have stayed earlier in NYC. The interior of the room provided such a relief from the city streets, especially loved the pastel colors like lavender, peaches and lilac colors apart from the fabulous sky line views. We always book hotels that serve a good breakfast spread or buffet and the Clift has a great selection of dishes that can’t be missed.
The Redwood room at the Clift
On our trip to SFO we also celebrated our 9th marriage anniversary and the legendary Redwood Room Bar in the Clift was the perfect and glamorous venue to enjoy drinks with my husband while Vir and my mom rested in the room. We were so impressed with the interior features -the original redwood paneling and enormous bar, which, legend has, was carved from a single redwood tree! The ambiance is so classic and rich, and I highly recommend going there!
Here’s what we did in San Francisco with a toddler!
Powell-Hyde Cable Car Ride: It was extremely convenient to take the cable car as our hotel the Clift was very close to the turnaround. We left in the morning at 9am to avoid the long lines. The Powell-Hyde cable car cruises from the wharf past the top of Lombard Street, through Chinatown, past Union Square and ultimately ends at Market Street downtown. Bring cash (exact change not required), so you can quickly pay the operator for your trip. You can buy a one-day pass for use on all the city’s public transportation ($20), or just a one-way cable car pass ($7) which we opted for. Vir was so excited all through the way, it was his second time sitting in a cable car (we sat in few on our tip to Portugal a year and half back)
Pier 39/Fisherman’s Wharf : It is a must do if you visit the city. It’s a captivating destination to visit with children. Travelers can easily spend a full day visiting. The famous sea lions that took up residence on the docks of Pier 39 in 1990 and now rarely ever leave. These creatures play, splash, and sometimes even fight, all while hundreds of tourists look on. It’s an amazing animal encounter that is hard to have in the busy city without visiting a zoo. We also did a boat tour( highly recommend doing one), few carousel rides shopping and had some delicious crepes.
Golden Gate Bridge and Sausalito : This was our second time back here and even though it was very foggy the day we choose to visit, we were able to get some fantastic clicks and views from the Battery Spencer.(just wait for the fog to pass, it comes and goes every few minutes) Vir took a nap on the drive and missed it but my mom enjoyed the postcard views and city skyline. We drove just a few minutes further north and found ourselves in the seaside city of Sausalito. This little seaside town in SF’s back yard has unbelievable scenery, protected “banana belt” weather, and a laid-back Mediterranean atmosphere. Apart from enjoying a stroll around the city, grabbing lunch at some boutique restaurants you can also enjoy the 30-minute Sausalito ferry ride. It is better, more interesting, and less expensive than tour boat rides. In fact, it is the second most exciting ferry boat ride in the world.
China Town: It’s easy to spend a day here, exploring the streets and alleys, browsing the shops and enjoying the authentic Chinese food. I have fallen in love with this area! The sights, sounds, smells and culture are just amazing!! Look down every ally for the talent of artist and murals. Try the foods! The shops are perfect for souvenirs. A must see! Walk through and just take it all in!
Stanford and Palo Alto neighborhood: Vir and my mom on this trip also got to visit my husband’s Grad school. This was a day trip where we spent our time at the Stanford campus, shopping at the college shop, exploring the campus and facilities. Deep was so happy to return to his school and share some fun memories from his past with Vir. This is a good trip for kids as there is splash pad in the schools, big parks to have a picnic and some cool spots and buildings. It is open to public. Pl check the website before you visit.
We had lunch at Palo Alto downtown and took a stroll around. Vir also participated in a small activity at the Apple store for kids, I don’t think he understood much (as it was 5 and up) but was very intrigued. Don’t miss grabbing a coffee at the gorgeous
Roaring Camp Steam Train Through Santa Cruz Redwood: We planned a road trip to Roaring Camp train ride, and it was one of the best things we did in a while with Vir. The Steam Engine added to the fun, as in modern times steam engines are obsolete and their hiss, puff and whistles adds extra excitement for kids. Train ride goes through Redwood forests, and train driver talked about some interesting facts about Redwoods. Train ride is not just a train ride but gets you closer to nature. I would recommend it for family with kids for sure. Love the setting of the place just like an old town with small shops and activities for kids. Recommend booking tickets ahead of time as it guarantees your spot and your choice of departure time; rides often sell out, especially in the summer.
Santa Cruz Boardwalk: We drove from San Francisco to Santa Cruz to spend 2 days there. And stayed right near the Santa Cruz boardwalk. What a great place to spend the day! There is no admission fee. The boardwalk has so many fun things to do, excellent food selection and access to the beach. My family had a great time here! Vir enjoyed some toddler rides while I went on a roller coaster ride!
Seymour Marine Discovery Center: We stopped at the discovery center on our road trip for 30 minutes. There are 2 giant whale skeleton exhibits that you can’t miss the blue Whale and the gray whale. The 87-foot blue whale skeleton is one of the largest skeletons of any kind, displayed anywhere in the world. These skeletons are outside of the center and can be seen for free. There is also an aquarium, touch pools and small marine exhibit inside, which was closed as we visited after 5 pm.
Capitola Village : One of the artsy, secluded spots close by, but away from the crowds of Santa Cruz. This is a wonderful little beach and small town. There are pastel colored houses next to the beach and many restaurants have outdoor seating looking toward them. The beach is small and paid parking is limited. We all enjoyed spending a few hours in the town and grabbing pizza and ice cream. Do visit if you have time.
Sand City : On our drive to Monterey we came across a spectacular sand dune and took an exit to see where this came from? These dunes are the highest found on California’s Central Coast. Me and my husband parked the car to hike the dune and check what’s the view like on the top. Once above the dunes, we saw a sky full of paragliders. Sand City is one of the prime spots in the state for paragliding. The winds are perfect, the launch area ideal — and the view is incredible. I wish we had more time and I would have loved to explore it more. For next time!
For our 5 day trip we had the comfortable, powerful and stylish Toyota Highlander Hybrid . I love that we made so many amazing memories with my mom in this car while exploring the city and neighboring areas. Supreme ride comfort, a smooth and punchy V6 drive train and spacious interior accommodations for people in the first two rows. This SUV has an upscale cabin with an abundance of safety features. We loved it !
Monterey, Carmel and 17-Mile Drive: It is must do for any visitor especially if you have time. This was our second time on the drive, and it was spectacular! The 17-Mile Drive is a road that passes through an exclusive neighborhood. And you must pay an entrance fee just to drive on it. You can spend close to 3 hours here. We made a few stops here and enjoyed the looking at Point Joe, Bird Rock, The lone cypress, seals and the restless sea among other things.
These fun things to do in San Francisco will only enhance your trip to a great city. Add some of these to your itinerary especially if traveling with kids and to the must do things in San Francisco and you will find yourself having so much to do!
Dining with kids on a vacation can be a daunting task, especially if you have a lot of places to visit and cover. When mealtime rolls on a trip, instead of dragging everyone back to the hotel to eat, we look for the nearest kid-friendly restaurant or cafe.
And on our recent trip to San Antonio, we were delighted to learn that there were tons of kid-friendly places to eat at almost all main attractions we visited. One could easily spend a three- to four-day trip eating your way through vibrant San Antonio. It’s the perfect place to introduce any kid – toddler to teen – to healthy, tasty, unique and flavorful eats. From Mexican food joints and handmade ice cream to adorable cafes!
One of the things we are very particular about is vegetarian food, since I am a vegetarian, my husband eats chicken, and Vir is trying to eat chicken but prefers a vegetarian meal. So, we always look at the menus online before we hit the place. I also love to check out on Instagram how the restaurant looks and feels, and if it’s a casual and kid-friendly place, too.
The Bottling Department Food Hallat Pearl is a one-stop place for everything from beer, cocktails, donuts, ramen , hamburgers, garden bowls and more. The emerging local chefs are truly the heart and soul of San Antonio’s rich and growing reputation as a culinary destination, and their mix of ingredients, tastes and styles all combine to create a community united by culture and rooted in well-crafted, high-quality food. I loved the prickly pear margarita I had at the pub there. It was one of the best drinks I had in the city! The Good Kind restaurant offers some of the healthiest food in the city. They have a great variety of bowls, cold-pressed juices and smoothies, too. For our drive back home, we also packed some Maybelle’s donuts.
Bakery Lorraine– We ate here twice, and love it! I wish they would come to Houston soon. One of the few bakeries I have been where the breakfast and lunch menu is as wide as the bakery menu. Their coffee is very good and food items are healthy and flavorful. Vir ate mac and cheese and croissants, while we enjoyed the tomato soup, sandwiches, and avocado toast. You must stop at the Pearl to sit at the bakery and grab some food to go, as well! And shout out to Doseum Museum for having bakery Lorraine instead of a fast food chain!
La Margarita Restaurant & Oyster Bar at the Historic Market Square offers excellent food and great margaritas in a charming, Old World setting. The Tex-Mex dishes and the sizzling fajitas were too good. The service is excellent, and the food is amazing. The live Mariachis was also great, Vir loved the vibe there and for us, the margaritas were spot-on. After shopping at the market square, this is a great place to get some rest, grab some delicious food and head for the next destination. They have outdoor sitting, too.
Ocho– Location and elegance!! The café is inside Hotel Havana and is situated in a glass conservatory overlooking the River Walk. It is one of the most beautiful cafes I have been to in a while. They serve breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night snacks indoors and outdoors. I love that they offer complimentary wifi and serve Stumptown espresso drinks. We had our morning breakfast there, and it was a short walk from our hotel.
La Gloriais in Pearl Brewery and hasa great atmosphere, great food with excellent service and staff! The outside patio is right by the River Walk and it’s covered and has fans! It was a perfect spot to cool down and enjoy some snacks and drinks while overlooking the river. The menu is Mexican; we ate some tacos and got a side of rice and beans for Vir. They also have live music like most of the other Mexican restaurants.
Paleteria – A Popsicle and ice cream store at the Hemisfair park is a must-visit for everyone. The local husband and wife-owned store offers wholesome treats made with fresh, natural and organic ingredients. If you take the kids to the splash pad or park, you must visit this store and surprise yourself to a unique flavor popsicle. Their popsicles are priced very reasonably, from $3 onward. We got the Tamarind water-based popsicle , while Vir had the mango- and milk-based popsicle.
For family friendly spots in San Antonio, you can’t miss check our my last post here.
I hope you get to enjoy these restaurants and cafes, and do share with me your favorite spots to eat in San Antonio if you stay or have visited the place. If you haven’t yet visited the city. Check my post here why you should travel there this year!
XOXO
This post was produced in partnership with Visit San Antonio and Travel Mindset.
Without a doubt, San Antonio is one of the most tourist-friendly cities of Texas! And I love how it has so much to offer every time we come back.
Our family has been in Houston, Texas, for more than 9 years now, and San Antonio is one of our favorite destinations to go for a long weekend road trip with friends or family visiting us. It is also a great place to chill and enjoy a mini couple getaway. This was our fifth visit, while it was our son’s first time in the vibrant city.
Our recent road trip to San Antonio was completely different than the previous ones! I guess it is the beauty of traveling with kids. The place is the same but the memories we make and the adventures we have are different every time!
The last time we traveled to San Antonio was around 3 years back, when my cousin and her husband visited us in Houston from Chicago. The two of us were pregnant then, and we enjoyed our trip by shopping and eating on the famous River Walk. One cannot miss the River Walk if in San Antonio, and I can’t get enough of it every time we go! I just love how lively it is throughout the day.
We ate at the restaurants on River Walk every night on this visit, too. (Note: Usually there is 20-30 minute at most of the restaurants, so we put our names on the list at 2 different spots and explored the place until we got a call for a table that opened for us on either of the restaurants). Also for the first time, we got a full tour on the boat ride, as Vir was super excited to go on it!
Vir was in awe of the river walk.
I have to say, I am seriously blown away with the number of things we were able to do with our toddler in three days. From splash parks, to boat rides, historic markets to a museum and more! In this post, I will be sharing a guide to all the must visit places and to do activities in San Antonio with your little ones! I am also sharing some fun family clicks from our family trip. Hope you enjoy them and like these recommendations:
Location: The Pearl
The Pearl Experience – I like to call it an experience, as there is so much in one spot for everyone. You can spend half a day here eating, relaxing, shopping and letting your kids run around in a huge park while enjoying the splash pad. From amazing food, a farmer’s market, and night concerts to boutique shopping and a splash pad located right in the center, the Pearl Brewery has something for everyone. I love the industrial architecture mixed with urban style. This is one of the coolest spots to be in Texas for sure. If you visit on the weekend, plan to go to the farmer’s market.
Historic Market Square
Shops at the square
Historic Market Square– We loved the bright sights and flavors of old Mexico at Historic Market Square. Shopping is one of my favorite things to do at any trip, and we loved exploring at the locally owned shops and stalls, all at a festive indoor mall famously described as the largest Mexican market outside Mexico. If you like Talavera pottery, exotic curios and handcrafted works of art, you will love it here. I bargained and got a lamp and some outfits! Vir got some wooden cars while my mom and Deep enjoyed some flavorful local street food. Do try the Tamarind flavor popsicle!! It was out of this world.
The Doeseum
The Doseum
The Doseum
The DoSeum, San Antonio’s museum for kids was such a great afternoon affair. We spent $14 on tickets per person, parked conveniently in front of the museum and got to stay away from the Texas heat while staying indoors and checking out the interesting and fun exhibits. Vir had so much fun at the bubble area, and I like to say we all did, too. We made giant bubbles for an hour!
The Little Town was by far one of the coolest towns Vir must have been to! Ha ! He sat on an excavator, drove a food truck, changed the tires of a car and even went shopping on his own. I loved the educational experience. Also, the Sensations Studio is a must visit exhibit for kids of any age. They can make sound and light come alive by playing with a wide variety of light and sound phenomena! I loved how Vir got to explore the intersection between science and art! We must have spent close to 3 hours there and still couldn’t complete all the exhibits! I was so happy to the see the yummy and kid-friendly food from Bakery Lorraine at the museum! As vegetarians, that was a big win for us.
Hemisfair Park – On one of the evenings, we hit the delightful Hemisfair park. I was very impressed with the water gardens, kid-designed wood and sand playground, which includes a castle and space tunnel! We spent more than two hours here chatting and watching Vir enjoy and make new friends. A must-see! Love that the park was so clean and has something for younger and older kids, too. It’s a great spot to have a family picnic
Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch – On our way back to Houston, we stopped at an African Safari with a Texan Twist just 30 minutes away from San Antonio! Truly one of the best experiences we have had in awhile! Imagine seeing more than 500 animals representing more than 40 species from all over the world in the comfort of your own car. We fed ostriches, goats, buffalo, zebras, gazelles and more! This was a winner really. I can’t believe we waited so long to go there. But, well, it was perfect! The weather was terrific, it was cloudy and breezy, and we loved spending close to four hours feeding animals and exploring the 450 acres! It didn’t feel like we were in Texas at all! There were hills! I am so glad we had the Toyota RAV4 for this trip. My son and I took full advantage of it to watch the giraffes and find the deer and kiwis. I loved how the ostriches stuck their necks inside the car for food! Some amazing unforgettable memories were made in this car and trip! Also, there is a petting zoo, a restaurant and a cute store!
You can bring you own food and have a picnic there! We got some snacks and sandwiches, packed for our drive and had lunch there. The tickets are fairly priced to $24.50 per adult, $22 for senior citizen and $15.50 for kids 3 -11 years. If you are a local or live in the neighboring cities, I highly recommend getting any annual pass. We plan to go back again in winters!
Natural Bridge Caverns– Although we didn’t go there on this trip with Vir I wanted to include it in my list here, as it is definitely a great place to visit with older kids. We have been here twice already in our past trips to San Antonio. I found it to be a very unique attraction, honestly a geographic wonder underneath Texas! There are different tour options to choose from. All tours are guided, and tickets can be bought online. We have done the Discovery Tour and Hidden Passages tour. Both the tours were wonderful, and the guides were quite knowledgeable and engaging. Hidden Passages tour is slightly longer than the Discovery Tour.
Source: Natural Bridge Caverns
The former involves more stairs and probably goes deeper down. The latter covers more area and passes through some gigantic stalactites and stalagmites formations, including the Watchtower, a majestic 15-meter formation which is the largest column of the tour. Wear waterproof shoes if you can and active wear or shorts. Tickets range from $18-$25 depending on the day you visit. Buy ahead of time and save. There are also zip lines and other fun activities for older kids.
If you have enough time, I recommend doing the Natural Bridge Safari and Caverns on same day as they are just a few miles from each other.
I hope you find this guide useful to travel with your kids to San Antonio! For places to eat with kids in San Antonio click here
XOXO
**This post was produced in partnership with Visit San Antonio and Travel Mindset**
One country or city that I have been returning every year for a vacation is Cancun, Mexico. Of course, the proximity and cheap flights from Houston is a huge advantage! The place is a haven for the conventional beach goer looking to lounge by the turquoise water or the emerald green waters in Playa Del Carmen, but the unique and remarkable experiences Cancun has to offer is amazing. The three times I have been to Cancun earlier I not only relaxed at the beaches but got the opportunity to truly experience the nature, history and ecotourism of the place.
The last family vacation the three of us took outside of US was to Portugal in Sept 2017. Although I travel a lot for work and recently got back from India on a 2-week vacation with my son, me and my husband and my son needed to go on a full family trip together. I had been craving this family getaway a lot and so just 3 days prior to our travel, I went and booked everything for my birthday weekend in April.
Yes just 3 days ahead of booking and planning is not very efficient as I like it to be, but I have realized spontaneous plans have their own fulfillment and excitement even after having a toddler. Having been to Cancun before I knew what to expect in terms of logistics and so it was tad bit easier to plan a 4-day itinerary. Our focus of the vacation was to relax and enjoy the simple moments. So, it simply meant avoiding any huge water parks, historic sites, or long drives with our son unlike our previous trips.
We simply choose to relax at our favorite All Inclusive hotel Sandos Caracol that has been our top choice for staying in Cancun and also in Los Cabo. You can read my previous post on our Cabo getaway here. We loved the Cancun resort too when we stayed there 4 years back when our son wasn’t born and were truly impressed by the amount of activities it had for children. It was a no brainier that we wanted to stay at this property with our son this year too. I love it so much that my review for the property got selected in the online Trivago magazine. Also, when travelling with kids it is easier to go for all inclusive restaurants as there is no worry about meals and meal prep and we being vegetarians always check the cuisines available at any resort and see their menu too before booking. Sandos Caracol was rated by Expedia as the first place in the world to spend an eco-friendly vacation.
Flights
We booked our flights from Kayak.com it gives you excellent pricing comparisons with several airlines and is extremely easy to navigate. I often put price alerts on it for destinations I plan to travel in future and get a great deal. Cheapoair and Google flights are also other sites where I like to compare and explore pricing. Google flights has a fantastic map capability that shows you where all you can travel for the filters you put in at the time of your search.
Local Transport
For local travel within the city I recommend booking cabs at the hotel or at the airport itself. They are legit and give you best pricing. Our hotel pick up and drop off 1 way costed $100. It depends where you are staying. We stayed in Playa Del Carmen which is 45 mins away from the airport. Also we have always traveled locally in a cab or in the tourist buses for any activity or excursions we signed for. They pick and drop you at the hotel, are safe and you also become friends with other travelers.
Important Things to carry
While travelling with children you end up carrying a lot of gear. However, minimizing it has become key if you travel a lot. This time I chose not to carry any stroller. It really depends what stage your child is in and what you prefer, and are comfortable with. As Vir is growing I have got him the habit of using the Micro Scooter more often to travel in parks and on sidewalks at a controlled speed. One of us is constantly jogging with him or navigating him as he is still learning the sense of direction. The scooter was very useful in the resort, especially for exploring new sites and we also used it as an activity in the evening. The resorts are very big, and kids tend to get tired. Umbrella strollers help a lot in such cases too.
I also ensured we had only one suitcase with all our stuff in it and 1 backpack for each one of us without any carry on luggage. I only carried Horizon milk packs for my son as I wanted Vir to drink the same milk he has at home. They are convenient to carry everywhere. We also packed some snacks for the flight but apart from that we didn’t worry about his food. At our resort there were 4 restaurants that had a full buffet every day with a kid’s section too and of course a huge spread of desserts.
Things we did
Honestly this family vacation was all about less hassle more fun. And from our previous trips I have realized planning long itineraries and things to do takes away all the fun. So, we relaxed for 4 full days in our resort and didn’t step out at all! One of the reasons was also because of the weather , we couldn’t make it to the swimming with the dolphin activity on the last day as it started to rain. Yet we don’t think we missed anything.
Beach and the Swimming Pools
Seriously Sandos Caracol has so much to do!! From heading to the beach every day and to lounging in the different pools in the afternoon, we made sure we spent the most time outside. Vir is at an age where he is not yet ready to go in the water and preferred playing in the sand. So while he got to play in sand, I also got to catch up on beach Zumba and sports throughout our trip and my husband got to read.
Animal Farm
One of our top things from the hotel was the little animal farm. We went there at least 5 times a day as Vir is such an animal lover. They have donkeys, pigs, sheep, ducks, deer and even peacocks and peahens. The birds were free to roam around and were not in any cages and were very friendly as well. Vir fed the ducks and even the peacock. Also, there were monkeys iguana, raccoons and herds of coati that roamed freely in the resort and didn’t bother anyone.
Cycling to Mayan Sites
There were free bikes for adults and kids and with toddler seats too. We biked twice around the biking trails in the resort and stopped at 2 historic Mayan ruin sites.
Cenotes and Eco tours
I love how Cancun have so many Eco tours and excursions to offer and there is a huge list if you look here. But with a toddler we were limited to some activities only. I am glad I did soo much in my earlier trips with excursions, but I also got to a take a dip and experience the cenote in the resort and spot turtles and fishes while snorkeling. The gear was provided for free and was open to adults and kids of a certain age.
Daily Shows
If you followed my IG stories we landed on my birthday at the resort and I was so glad they had a Dream Girls show that night and it was perfect way to end the night with some dance and music. The resorts literally have its own theater where every evening there was a new show. For kids they had a superheroes show which I found hilarious! My son had a blast. However, our favorite is the elaborate Mayan show with elaborate costumes, music and great performances in a great atmosphere outdoor with an open buffet.
SPA
No trip end without a good spa break. Me and my husband did an alternate day of getting some deep tissue massage therapy during our son’s naptime in afternoon. It was reasonably priced. They also had some specials every day, and I also got a body scrub for free!
I feel like there was soo much to do already at resort we didn’t even think of venturing outside. However, we plan to go back soon and hopefully by then Vir will be able to join us in some excursions and fun activities and sports. Next thing on my list to do in Cancun is to swim with the Whale Sharks. They are gentle creatures and are, for the most part, solitary by nature. In contrast, during the summer months from June through September, the area just north of Isla Mujeres attracts a huge number of whale sharks gathering together to enjoy the plankton-rich waters.
Where are you planning to go this summer with your kids?
The first time I traveled to India or outside US with my son was, when he was almost 8 months old. My husband also accompanied me on that trip as we were nervous first-time parents flying with a tiny human ocean apart. During that visit we only stayed in Delhi and avoided any local travels within the country. You can read my experience on taking the long-haul flight with a baby here. There are some tips, tricks and details that might help you plan your flight experiences with an infant.
This trip was planned almost 2 weeks before I booked my tickets, as I found the perfect travel window and dates to take leave from my work. My family was very excited to see Vir as they hadn’t met him since our last visit and was so eager to see him all grown up. With all the excitement also came a lot of planning.
I wanted to make sure we visited Mumbai, Kota and Delhi on these two and a half weeks visit, so my son can meet my immediate and extended family as well my in-laws. I wasn’t sure when I will go next, so I did my best to cover as much I could on this vacation.
The thought of travelling to India can often make parents filled with dread or awe or possibly with a combination of both. The last time I traveled my son got sick and lost a lot of weight, he even stopped breast feeding and it turned out to be an emotional experience to see my baby in that position. Yet I knew this is the perfect age to take him, as now his immunity was way better from going to the school and that now I had better control of his diet and hygiene. I followed the recommendations and tips from a Pediatrician onthis post .
Booking flights for smooth travel
This is one of the most important steps to a stress-free trip. I booked our flights with Turkish Airlines from Houston since I wanted a red eye flight where Vir can sleep in most of the commute. I categorically stuck to this airline, because it was a 13-hour journey one way. I wanted to break the journey with a short 3-hour layover before we hop on the second flight which was another 7 hours to give us a break from flying while also not spending too much time at the airport. Also, since I had planned my journey within India to major cities Mumbai and Delhi, I booked my return tickets from Delhi. This fit perfectly in plan and dint have a huge difference in fare.
My Top Kid’s Travel Gear recommendations
For details on how I kept my son busy in flight, at the airports and on my Top items for travelling with kids read here
Preparing your toddler for the travel
Once I booked the tickets I started preparing Vir that he will be travelling with only mummy and going in a very big airplane to visit Nani, Mama and Mami. Every night I would talk to him about the fun he is going to have there from sitting in a train, to seeing some animals to visiting new places.
Repeating this daily helped him be mentally ready to travel without daddy, meet new faces and most of all be excited about the long-haul flight. This worked wonders as he didn’t shed a tear while my husband dropped us off. He was in a good mood at the airport spotting airplanes and enjoying the in flight experience on the way to India and this really helped me stay stress free.
My In Flight & Layover Experience during arrival and departure.
46 hours of flight travel is way too much especially if you are doing it alone. I was nervous and was really praying everything goes well. I packed extremely light and kept a small backpack for myself for all the necessities, a busy bag for Vir and a JetKids Bed Box for converting Vir’s seat into a bed and ditched the umbrella stroller. Read my full review here on the JetKids Bed box and Top items to travel with here
As we sat in our 1st 23-hour flight to India, Vir deleted the you tube app which had all downloaded videos!! Awesome I said to myself while fearing the start already but hey I had a plan B – The Busy Bagrescued me.
Vir hardly saw the Tv in flight although he enjoyed pressing all the buttons. He slept most of the way to Istanbul and then to Mumbai. I packed lots of snacks that kept him entertained and full. I got to use the restroom once in flight and asked an attendant to watch over Vir and changed his diaper on the seat only when he was asleep to avoid all the hassle. (I did the same while coming back too)
BUSY BAG Ideas
Both the times are layover was in Istanbul and although it was tiring to be out of the plane and go through another round of security. We stopped at Starbucks to have some snacks and at the duty free to buy him a car. The new car was a reward for good behavior and hope for keeping him occupied in the 2nd flight to our destination. This tactic worked on our return journey to Houston too.
Although on our way back Vir was more grumpy than usual, it seemed like his excitement for being in an airplane had faded away. However, I made sure we have ample number of videos and games on iPad to keep him busy. At one-point Vir was frustrated with the iPad and so I bought the WiFi in flight and allowed him to see some new cartoons. The person sitting next to me was kind enough to entertain him for an hour, so I could get a break from all the whining and it did help a lot!
How to overcome Jet lag with toddler
My only worry on this travel was jet lag and so I made sure we stayed longer in Mumbai for our first stop in the country to be well rested. It took Vir 5 days to recover and be back to a normal schedule. He would sleep at 6 pm and wake at 3am for the first 2 days. From the third day I started to push his sleeping time to 7pm, following by 8pm and 9pm and within 5 days he was started getting 10 hours of sleep at a stretch. His afternoon naps started off with 4 hours and slowly brought it down to 2 hours from day 3 of arrival. We tried staying in the sun most of the day. My brother’s society had an amazing open space, pool and play area for kids. In evenings we took short Auto rickshaw rides that my son was obsessed with. Staying active, eating sufficiently and really waiting it out with my son helped us overcome jet lag.
Honestly the first week I must have slept for an average of 5 hours daily.
Best way to travel within the country
Cars/ Uber/Taxis – I didn’t carry a car seat. And I don’t advice on not taking one. Please choose as per your comfort and discretion. We mostly took Uber within the country or auto rickshaws, carrying a car seat didn’t seem practical as we dint have our own car. My son sat in my lap and honestly it wasn’t as easy as I thought since we two weren’t used to it and he would try to stand up most of the time. I only traveled in cars when it was needed, but we stayed at home most of the time. If you are planning to travel to India for a long time and have your own transportation, pl do carry a car seat or buy one there.
Trains I love the Indian railways and I was so excited for Vir to experience it again. Vir has been lucky to experience the Swiss Golden Pass when he was one year old and now the Indian Railways. He just loved being in a train and watching the train tracks and engines pass by. We traveled by AC first as it was most convenient and safe from Mumbai to Kota. We took special care of sanitizing hands and avoided eating in train.
Adjusting to Co sleeping while traveling
My son slept on his crib since he was 3-month-old and we rarely co slept as that was the arrangement I wanted, due to my monthly work travels. This was the first time I traveled somewhere without worrying about having a crib or pack and play for my son to sleep in. I knew we were going to co-sleep and was looking forward to seeing how it went. Being a light sleeper, I woke up several times in the night when Vir moved, but within a few days we both were loving the cuddles and the idea of sharing the same bed. However, I can’t remember the amount of time I was punched and kicked while sleeping by a toddler!
Getting the kids back to original sleeping schedule at home
Once we were back, I made sure my son had the same routine. I sent him to school the next day and picked him up within 5 hours. It really helped get him back to sleeping at night for longer hours. I also kept the same bedtime routine of having a bubble bath right before he sleeps, our favorite story time and a body massage. All this prepared my son, that he will be sleeping back in his crib. Staying in his room and assuring him I am there helped him sleep in his crib from the very first day we came back. I stayed there for at least thirty minutes. He did wake up in the night and came to our room for the first few days, but I remained consistent and put him back in his bed. The key is staying consistent. Within five days Vir was back to the same sleep schedule of sleeping at 9pm and waking up at 8am.
Hope this post helps all parents travelling with their kids .
Please use the comment thread to share, ask or recommend anything related to the topic.
Happy Holidays Friends! I love this time of the year as it is so bright and cheerful everywhere. This year my in-laws decided to visit us from India, making it an even more cheerful holiday season. I love it when our family visits us from back home. We miss them so much. These visits are even more joyful now because we get to see our son make lovely memories with his grandparents and learn couple of new words and sentences in our native language, Hindi.
Since the schools were closed and we were able to take few days off from work, me and my husband planned to take our family for a mini getaway out of Houston. We skipped hopping into flights and avoided the holiday airport madness for a 3 and half hour road trip to Texas Hill Country. The Upscale Horseshoe Bay Resort resting on the shores of lake LBJ was our home away from home for 2 days.
We had already been to this hill country retreat last year in summer with our friends and so it seemed perfect to also enjoy the hospitality in the winter months with our family. We are obviously big fans of this place and in this post I wanted to share with you all, a glimpse to our fun getaway.
Stay: We stayed in the 2 bedroom and 2 bathroom Palm Villas. It is perfect for families and groups looking for more space. The villas have contemporary decor and comfortable living, sleeping and dining areas. A full kitchen is always crucial for our trips especially because most of us our vegetarian and prefer to cook few meals and breakfast. Me and my mom in law were very pleased with the huge kitchen .Throughout our stay we also got to enjoy the resort’s amenities and concierge services, as well as the restaurants, lounges, finesses centers , pools and more.
Activities: The most important reason why we chose this stay cation was for the number of things to do within and around the resort. Apart from enjoying the heated pools, tennis courts, golf course and dock fishing, I love that they had so many activities for kids and families. Our favorite this time of the year was the 18 hole Whitewater Putting Course. Vir enjoyed the experience and so did my in laws. The scenery is beautiful and I highly recommend this activity. The resort also has beautiful trails one can’t miss, we loved walking around the resort on a crisp sunny day and spotting some turtles, ducks and birds on our way.
The resort also has large fire pits where they host camping with s’mores events , I saw it was huge hit with kids especially after pool time. Make sure to look at their events calendar before booking. We missed out on sampling some of the amenities like the Spa and water sports due to weather and time. Definitely on my list to do for next time.
RESTAURANTS. The restaurants at the resort are fantastic. There are upscale restaurants like the Yacht Club with gorgeous lake views and outdoor seating. You need to make reservations here and also note there is a dress code. The other Family friendly restaurants like Lantana and Cafe Del Sol have large tables and patio seating. There are gigantic TV’s scaling the walls and outdoor seating to which helped our son relax and enjoy lunch/dinner without a fuss. Also they had heaters everywhere to keep it warm and cozy. You can explore more restaurants and sports bars here.
The Jungle Kids Club
This place was one of the new additions from our last visit and an excellent one ! The Jungle Kids Club is a two-story jungle gym featuring a tunnel slide and is included as one of the room amenities. Vir loved it and spent more than an hour playing here. He also tried the rock climbing wall finally. I saw some older kids enjoying the art, craft and block activities with the staff. BTW you can also reserve a kids night out here !
Special Events
RING IN THE NEW YEAR AT HORSESHOE BAY RESORT. On 31st Dec at 9:30 pm, the ballroom at the resort will open and The Argyles will keep the dance floor packed all night with an incredible live music performance to ring in 2019!! Find more information here . Highly recommend it for families as you can drop off your kids at the Kid’s club for their own party while you enjoy yours! I really hoped we could stay for this one, but my in-laws fly out on 1st Jan and so we had to head back home to finish a few things.
Local Must See : Sunset Cruises- Definitely recommend the Sunset Cruise on the beautiful Lake LBJ. You can also get your own wine and some snacks.
Explore the Vineyards-Take a tour of wineries, taste world class vintages, and discover the rich wine making traditions of the Texas Hill Country. Best is to drive up to the local vineyards.
Head to Fredricksburg-On our way back home we took a short detour to Fredricksburg. An hour long drive from the resort we visited the Main Street in Fredericksburg. I love the window shopping here and the German vibe. There are some great wine tasting shops where you have to stop. It was beautifully decorated for Christmas and also had 30 ft Christmas tree and ice rink this time of the year
We have the 
We are still working on potty training so I made sure we had a convenient potty seat that I can carry with me anywhere. Thanks to my cousin I was introduced to this 
One of my favorite gift items and must have item for people on the go. This 
This jar has saved us so many times. If your baby or toddler is eating solids but is picky, likes warm snacks, or is just not into eating restaurant food yet (and you aren’t too keen on always giving them jars of pre-packaged food), I would bring along one of these 
We stayed at the 
Stanford and Palo Alto neighborhood: Vir and my mom on this trip also got to visit my husband’s Grad school. This was a day trip where we spent our time at the Stanford campus, shopping at the college shop, exploring the campus and facilities. Deep was so happy to return to his school and share some fun memories from his past with Vir. This is a good trip for kids as there is splash pad in the schools, big parks to have a picnic and some cool spots and buildings. It is open to public. Pl check the website before you visit.
The Snazzy Mom Blog by Arushi Garg 