Category Archives: Places To Go

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

Bonelli Park and Puddingstone Lake

As a child my parents had taken me to Bonelli park and Puddingstone lake a couple of times. I had a chance to take my kids there recently and there was some good and some bad. First we went there to see how the fishing would be, though they had fishing docks it wasn’t a good sign when we noticed signs posted that said do not eat the fish as they are not safe to eat…ewww.

However, we were able to spend the rest of the morning exploring the wonderful hikes they have in the hills alongside and within the park territories. We took a short hike up the top of the hill with a gorgeous view of Puddingstone lake. Horseriding rentals are also nearby for longer trails around the surrounding mountainside.

For the kids, the playgrounds were impressive, they had a variety of them for different age levels and interaction. An interesting one was a playground that featured rope bridges that kids can traverse across or climb with playground-like bouldering.

There is a $10 entrance fee at the gates. They no longer offer boat or jet skis rentals on site, but they do allow you to bring your own watercraft for a launching fee. In the summer, a part of the lake is open for beach swimming but it can get extremely crowded.

Tip: Go early and avoid the crowds during the summer times. Even if you choose not to walk the mountain trails, the park is huge and offer nice walking/jogging along the lake that is flat and easily accessible.

More info: http://www.bonellipark.org/

Kid’s Blog: The Awesome Pinball Hall of Fame


The Pinball Hall of Fame is a great place to play pinball and arcade games in Las Vegas – View Map. There you will be able to play old, classic arcade games like Qbert, Mario Bros., and Ms. Pacman. You will also be able to play old and new pinball machines including Shrek, the Simpsons, and Family Guy.

If your parents are wondering if there is an admission fee, then tell them there is NO fee! However, you will need money to play. The amount of money that I would recommend you should bring is around $20 for a family of 4. My mom, sister, and I got $20 in quarters and had $5 leftover after playing for over an hour before it closed. We played the games together as a family and competed against each other.

When you get to the Pinball Hall of Fame arcade, you should first change your bills for quarters. You will then want to look for games that are good to play with your family. First of all, I would recommend looking for good pinball deals like 50 cents for 5 balls. Also, some pinball machines have extra value deals like $1.50 or $2 for 3 credits. These machines aren’t cheap and are a good deal.

There are also classic arcade games like Qbert, Ms. Pacman, Asteroids, etc. for only 25₵. We tried Qbert and Ms. Pacman which was difficult but extremely fun. My mom did the best. I also played air hockey against my mom and sister and beat them both! The best pinball machine that I would recommend for you and your family to play is The Simpsons and Family Guy.

For the most fun, I would recommend coming to the Pinball Hall of Fame in the evening with your family. It is great for all ages and especially, if you make a friendly competition among you and your family members. It is a terrific way to bond and make memories.

Directions to Pinball Hall of Fame

Kid’s Blog: The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is very educational for kids and good exercise for your family. The wall is thousands of miles long but I recommend walking 2-4 miles when visiting. We visited the Mutianyu location here. The souvenirs we bought there were awesome because it was a wooden sword that I could battle with my brother.

There is a fun entrance and exit. The entrance is a ski lift that is kind of scary but also very exciting. The view has beautiful trees and mountains to look at and admire. Remember do not wear Crocs because mine almost fell off on the way up.

The exit is fun too because you can ride on a “cart slide” called a Toboggan down the mountainside. Please be careful because you can crash if you go too fast. I recommend having adults with you if you are under 12 years old and use the double-seater. For older kids and adults you can use the single-seater.

Everything at the Great Wall of China was very magnificent. There are many old buildings and towers there to explore. I also saw some cannons too which were used hundreds of years ago to defend against the Mongolians. My favorite part was the Toboggan and I wish I could ride it again.

Battle on the Great Wall

Tips: Be warned there are many bugs. Most of them you can’t see and may attack you. So bring bug spray just in case of mosquitoes and other insects.

More info: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/china_great_wall/scene/beijing/mutianyu.htm

Kids’ Blog: Los Angeles Zoo Experience

The Los Angeles zoo is a great place to boost your kid’s happiness. Surprise your son by going to the reptile exhibit or surprise your daughter with the Gray seal exhibit. Or give yourself a boost.

The only thing you should worry about is the traffic. I recommend leaving 10:00 AM or sooner. If you live farther away then I recommend 9:00 AM. So remember to come to the zoo early.

If you live in California then I recommend one of the memberships. If you have a family then try the Family Membership which costs about $126. With the family membership you can grab discounts and get free 2 day guest passes. So you can grab a friend or a relative to come with you.

I would recommend visiting the African Alligator they have. The only sad thing about this alligator was it doesn’t move much. My favorite exhibit was the reptile exhibit, called the Lair. Watch for the snakes, they look really cool. One animal surprised me though it was a funny looking turtle.

One of my favorite parts was the petting zoo where I got to pet the animals. Be careful, do not make them get mad or else they could bite or attack. Also, remember to not step on their poo or pee. It’s disgusting!

My favorite part is when I get to spend family-time with my family. And don’t forget, as your leaving the zoo visit the alligator again to see how much he had moved since you came to the zoo.

Parent Note: We went around noon time and the traffic was jammed. Took over an hour to find parking which is why the Author is suggesting you go early morning. Also, I think early morning animals will likely be more active.

Lego Travel Adventures is Worth the Visit at Discovery Cube

The Discovery museum  in Orange County is a fantastic place to get a family membership to keep the kids entertained.  They have new exhibits every 2-3 months and definitely worth considering the membership.  As with most kid-crazy place you want to get there early in the morning to avoid parking and crowd headaches.

Currently they have a Lego Travel Adventures exhibit that runs through May 2, and if your kids need to get their Lego fix, or secretly you need a Lego fix, this is a average size exhibit that will eat up about 30-45 min of your visit.  The theme is traveling and most of the displays are of popular transportation methods set across different cities throughout America.

Lego by land, sea, and air

There are a couple of interactive areas where you can build cars and race them down a track similar to what is found outside many Lego stores.  These however, use Duplo blocks so they are bigger and more friendly to younger audience.  Most of the other Lego displays are mainly used for photo opportunities.

The rest of the time can be spent exploring the myriad of learning and discovery exhibits and can take hours of your time. My kids really enjoy the upstairs grocery shopping experience and the recycling contest. The Dino discovery outdoors is decent but you will need to pay an additional fee.  We go every couple of months so I like to spend about 2-3 hours there and then head home with plenty of time left in the day for myself or the fam.

Tip: Construction is still in progress as they are expanding and parking lot is limited. Save yourself some time and money and just park at the Santa Ana mall across the street and walk over.

http://www.discoverycube.org/oc/