All posts by Papa Bear

Papa Bear is constantly trying to keep his family entertained. He loves sports, martial arts, and any physical activity. Always looking for an opportunity to take his family on a road trip and build bonds through shared experiences.

Everybody loves Mermaids!

Seems everyone loves Mermaids. While in Las Vegas you can swing by the Silverton Casino where there aquarium features a free live mermaid showing at specified times throughout the day. While swimming they interact with the children and audience making heart bubbles and other fun tricks. Also they have the Bass Pro Shop adjacent to the aquarium so it is a great way to keep the kids busy in Vegas on a budget.

SeaWorld Worth the Trip


Over the summer took my kids to SeaWorld in San Diego and it was a blast. So many interactive shows and exhibits, my kids really enjoyed feeding the batrays, seals, and flamingos. There is an additional cost to purchase the food. The shows were great as well including the Orca Encounters show and Dolphin Days show that will get you soaked if you are sitting in the soak zone.

Other shows include the Sealion and Otter comedy show which was funny and entertaining, but this past summer they had the Cirque Electrique show that was amazing. Only showing at night, these acts performed in the amphitheater that faced the bay and the performers had incredible circus stunts over the water.

Tips: We purchased the weekday ticket to save money and avoid the crowds. We also got the All You Can Eat dining pass, which allows you to get an entree, dessert, and drink once every hour.

Ziplines and Hanging Bridges, Oh My!


At our port stop on the Carnival Cruise in Ensenada, Mexico, we went to the Las Canadas Canopy Tour that included ziplines and hanging bridges. There are 5 ziplines and 5 hanging bridges and take about a little over an hour depending on your pace. Some of the bridges are surprisingly difficult, especially the single boards which require quite a bit of balance. Also, what they may not tell you is that it requires a manual switch of your carabiners in the middle of the bridge, if done incorrectly you put yourself at a very high risk.

Overall, this was definitely one of the highlights of our visit to Mexico. Fun and challenging experience with an affordable price. We ended up paying $55/person which included the tour of La Bufadora, the zipline/hanging bridges at Las Canadas Campgrounds, and transportation to and from downtown Ensenada. Definitely worth the price and highly recommended.

Aquarium of the Pacific Membership


If you live in Southern California, the Aquarium of the Pacific inn Long Beach has to be one of the best deals for your family. The annual membership pass gives you plenty of time to enjoy all that the Aquarium offers throughout the year. Their exhibits ranges from Sharks, Sealions, Otters, Penguins, Rays, and so much more. We have been members for numerous years and they often offer exclusive member events like Adult Prom which is a dress up evening event for Adults only.

Tip: Lorikeet birds cost an additional fee, but if you go at 10am when that part of the exhibit opens, you will be swarmed by flocks of hungry Lorikeet parakeets. Fun and a little bit scary…enjoy!

La Jolla Cave Beach and Sea Lions

We went to the La Jolla Cave beach and was surprised by sea lions so nearby on the beach. They swim just off the shore and relax on nearby rocks. Be careful as the waves and rocks can be dangerous for swimming so if you want to go snorkeling you will need to move just a little bit off to the side where the rocks are less of a concern. Sea lions appear playful and cute but keep your distance as they are wild animals and are not meant to be touched or petted.

Waterfront Park on San Diego

During our visit to San Diego, we walked around the streets and discovered this great playground for the kids. Located adjacent to the ocean it is fun and free way to let your kids be themselves. Playground with unique slides and wall climbing but on hot and sunny days, which is pretty much year round, they can stay cool in the shallow water play yard.

We stayed at the Homewood Suites which is walking distance and perfect for families. These suites have separate area for a living room and where the kids can watch their TV shows separate from the parents. Kitchen with all the necessities is also provided if you wanted to save money and provide your own food. It is located just a block from Little Italy which gives you so many dining options.

The Westin Lake Las Vegas Review

Most people come to Las Vegas for the bright lights and fast paced action at the casinos. However, for those with families and kids, sometimes you want to get away from the busy city life and relax a bit. We recently stayed at the Westin Lake Las Vegas hotel in Henderson, NV and it provided a more resort-like feel as opposed to the typical casino hotels you find on the strip.

Located adjacent to Lake Las Vegas there is an amazing view of the lake from the property. With multiple swimming pools, the lower pool tends to be more kid oriented with a 3 story water slide. A big perk if you are staying at the hotel is they provide free kayak rentals that you can choose to stay within the bay or venture out onto the open lake. During the summer time on weekends, they also offer a movie night which they project a kids movie on a giant screen and the families could swim and watch at the same time.


There are so many activities to keep the kids busy which includes a basketball court, ping pong tables, giant checkers and chess set and more. Remember, the busier the kids are the more the parents can chill and relax. Though they have a restaurant out by the pool that you can order food and drinks from, there are a couple of nice restaurants located inside the hotel that provide finer dining as well.

Overall the facilities and views are gorgeous. Some rooms can be a little dated but it is the amenities and activities that keep you wanting to stay longer. After all that time relaxing, if you choose to head over to the Strip, it is just a 20 minute drive away from the glitz and the glamour.

More info: The Westin Lake Las Vegas