Watch the kids unbox and play with their first drone. This is especially a good choice, not just because they are Star Wars fans, but it is a great entry level drone that is made of foam and handles crashes well as your kids learn to operate it. Also, the propellors are well shielded around the sides to prevent most injuries from occurring. Just don’t be sticking your fingers in there or getting your hair caught so always be cautious.
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Re-create the Lego Star Wars Hoth Battle Scene
Kids have an amazing imagination when they play with their toys. Create a short movie scene with their favorite toys which is much easier today with the help of smartphones and the various video apps available today.
We created our favorite scene from Star Wars the Empire Strikes Back with my son’s Lego sets and added our own special touch. Using our iPhone and with the help of the Action Movie FX and Videorama apps, we had a blast playing together and creating memories we can share and watch over the years.
Redondo Beach Boat Tour
Had a chance to take the kids on a boat tour at the Redondo Beach pier with a windows on the bottom level that gives an underwater view. The tour costs $15/adult and $10/children and last about 40 minutes in the harbor.
First they will feed the fish from above and draw the fish to the viewing area which you can watch from below the deck. The tour continues through the harbor to an up-close look at the sea lion dock and you can watch them play/fight and bark at each other. Overall a good experience and would recommend this as a quick tour that doesn’t require too much planning or time commitment.
Check out the Looking Glass Semi-Submarine
T-Rex Restaurant at Downtown Disney in Orlando
While walking through Downtown Disney in Orlando, Florida we came upon a dinosaur themed restaurant called T-REX. Found out it is from the creators of the Rainforest Cafe franchise, except this one featured prehistoric animals and a meteor shower during your meals that light up the ceiling and the Ice Cave.
An adjacent gift shop adds to the experience but they also have an outdoor area where kids can dig for dino bones like a paleontologist. Food is so-so and pretty standard from what you would expect from a themed restaurant. Can get very crowded so come with patience and enjoy all that the experience brings.
Omni Orlando Resort at Champions Gate Review.
While visiting Orlando, Florida we stayed at the Omni Resort at Champions Gate. It is around 20 min away from Disney World, but you can avoid the crowds and makes up for it in the resort setting. The hotel has a lavish lobby and beautiful and spacious decor. Also, attached golf course and an amazing view from your room in any direction.
Of course the highlight of the place is the swimming area which the entire family will enjoy. A main pool with water slide, a formal swimming pool, a fantastic lazy river with water cannons and fountains, and 2 jacuzzis to relax your muscles. You can spend so much time here its like a vacation within itself. During summer time pool stays open till 11pm which is great for night swimming on those hot summer days.
Another plus for families is a nearby market just down the street and some fast food options if needed. The restaurant itself has a couple of fine dining restaurants that delivered in food quality and atmosphere. Overall, this hotel is highly recommended for families and very reasonable pricing through sites like Expedia.
Anna & Elsa’s Boutique at Downtown Disney
For all the fans of Disney Frozen, and we know there are a lot of them, Downtown Disney has a unique store that features the Disney Princesses Anna and Elsa. It is a store covered wall to wall with apparel, toys, and other merchandise still running strong. They also have a makeup area where young girls can wear their hair and makeup inspired by the movie.
Knott’s Berry Farm Videos
It’s summer vacation and what to do with the kids. This summer we got an annual pass at Knott’s Berry Farm for our family which runs approx $100 per person. It has a wide range of rides that covers the gamut of ages. You have some extreme roller coasters like the Silver Bullet and Xcelerator to more family friendly rides like the Jaguar roller coaster and new 4D experience, Iron Reef, which is like a video game/movie/ride.
I have children that range from 9-17 and they thoroughly share the enjoyment. Even if you have younger children, Camp Snoopy offers rides that are for younger children as well. During the summer, park opens at 10am daily but if you are a season pass holder a portion of the park opens earlier around 9:15-ish and you can get on some rides with a minimal wait time.
Tips: Food and drink are extremely expensive, so I suggest packing your own lunch and maybe getting one of their souvenir refillable cups to save on drinks. Also if you are going to get a season pass, get a parking pass as well which is approx the costs of parking 4 times.
A Visit to the LA Angels of Anaheim Stadium
Had a chance to go to a baseball game to watch the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at their stadium. It is a family friendly place with a lot of great options for food from 3rd party vendors. Check out the video walkthrough if you are looking for fun activities with the kids in the summer.
Can You Beat Our Pinball Scores?
We had a chance to visit the Pinball Hall of Fame in Las Vegas after reading a previous blog by Jace, Read it here! It was definitely worth the visit and we had a challenge among our family to see who could get the highest score on some pinball machines, can you beat our scores?
Family Guy High Score: 10,404,810
The Simpsons Pinball Party High Score: 2,320,230
The Simpsons High Score: 1,134,340
Have Fun!
Parent’s Night Out: Giada Vegas
On a recent trip to Las Vegas, had a chance to have a babysitter watch the kids at the hotel while the parents were able to get a night out. We went to Giada Vegas restaurant located at the Cromwell hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. The presentation of the decor and the food was excellent.
The pricing is steep for the amount of food, the taste is simple and light focusing on fresh and healthy ingredients. The dinner is definitely an experience as opposed to just a meal. Enjoy the decor and view of the Strip, and best of all a night of freedom from kids.
Tip: This place can get really busy so recommend making reservations which are available through OpenTable app.
More info about Giada Vegas