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3 places to see Mt. Fuji (save + share this post): 3 places to see Mt. Fuji (save + share this post):

If you don’t have enough time to spend days in Hakone visiting Mt. Fuji it’s easy to take a day trip here from Tokyo. It’s only about 90 minutes by car and we spent the day exploring the area. There is a swing at the top for an additional fee where you literally swing into Mt. Fuji and they have a souvenir shop and small food vendor to purchase snacks.

Location 1: Mt. Fuji Panorama Ropeway which cost ¥900 for adults and ¥450 for children for a roundtrip ride on the cable car. They do sell one way cable car tickets if you want to hike down the mountain.

Location 2: Kawaguchi Asama Shrine, there is a small fee of ¥100 per person but children are free. This place is really only for pictures besides the view there isn’t anything else to do. They have it set up with a line to capture photos in front of the tori gate and each group has 3 minutes to take pictures, yes they actually time you, to make sure the line keeps moving.

Location 3: Arakurayama Sengen Park where you’ll need to climb 398 stairs or take the curved paved path to the top for views of the mountain and Chuerito Pagoda. The stairs are a straight shot but the path makes it accessible for strollers and wheelchairs.

We were truly blessed to be able to see Mt. Fuji as it’s often not visible. When I visited in 2015 we made the trip here and it was gloomy and cloudy and we couldn’t see anything. We did go to the base of the mountain on that trip and do the ice cave exploration so all wasn’t lost but I am so happy Jordyn and I got to see the full mountain with our own two eyes on this trip!

There are lots of other places you can view Mt. Fuji but with only one day we couldn’t visit them all. The other 7 best places to see Mt. Fuji are on a boat tour on any of the 5 lakes that surround the mountain (Kawaguchi, Yamanakako, Saiko, Shojiko, or Motosuko), Koyo-Dai Lookout Platform, Sanko-Dai Lookout Platform, Oshino Hakkai Springs, Fuji Q Highland Amusement Park, Rooftop of Fujisan Station, Shin-Fuji Station Platform and in Hakone.

Have you ever seen Mt. Fuji’s beauty? Would you add this to your Japan itinerary if you haven’t?

#mtfuji #lakekawaguchiko
How we spent 48 hours in Kyoto (save + share this How we spent 48 hours in Kyoto (save + share this post):

1. Start your day at Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. We arrived here at 7:30am and there were quite a few people here already. We didn’t visit but in Arshiyama you can also visit the Monkey Park to see the Japanese Macaques (snow monkeys).

2. Head to Kinkaku-ji to see this stunning Temple of the Golden Pavilion. They open at 9am and we arrived at 8:45am and by time the opened the door at 9am the line was extremely long.

3. Walk through the gorgeous Tori Gates at Fushimi Inari Taisha. Before or after your visit be sure to walk through the street vendors for some amazing food. We tried noodles, mochi and just enjoyed learning more about the local foods. We visited here around 11am and even though it was so crowded if you want photos without people wait until you’re walking through the gates to exit and there are often moments where the area is empty, just be a little patient. 

4. Book a session at @kyoto_samurai_experience to learn about the history of the Samurai, watch a demonstration and get to try your hand at using the samurai sword yourself.

5. Eat your way through Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka. You will be able to walk through these narrow streets (with some hills) and try ice cream flavors such a matcha, green tea, white peach, Sakura (if in season), Black sesame, caramel and more and yes, we tried them all! There’s also tons of mochi and other treats. You’ll find the Starbucks with a traditional Japanese home interior here as well as Yasaka Pagoda and Kiyomizu-dera Temple, be sure to visit.

6. Walk around Gion and catch a Kabuki show at Minamiza Theatre.

7. Visit Daigo-ji temple, it’s not frequented by a lot of tourists so it’s rarely crowded and you can have a moment on zen here!

While we didn’t have time this visit as the weather altered some of our plans on my last visit to Kyoto in 2015 I also visited Ginkaku-ji (the Silver Pavilion), Nijo Castle which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ryoanji Temple and highly recommend going. 

Some other things we were interested in but just didn’t have time for were a calligraphy class and if you are into manga you can visit the Kyoto International Manga Museum.
This is your sign to rent a kimono in Kyoto! It wa This is your sign to rent a kimono in Kyoto! It was an honor to be dressed by Japanese women & taught about the Kimono. Here’s everything you need to know about renting a kimono & a tiny history lesson on them(save + share this post):

1. Originally kimono was the Japanese word for clothing but is now used to refer specifically to traditional Japanese clothing. Kimono’s date back to the Heian period of 794-1185 and were every day wear until western culture was brought to Japan.

2. There are 8 layers in a kimono in addition to the Tabi (white socks) which are specifically made to wear with Jori (traditional Japanese shoes). Even though there are 8 layers it doesn’t take long to be dressed.

3. Today kimonos are mostly worn for special occasions such as NYE, weddings, gradations, tea ceremonies & summer festivals. But geishas, maikos, kabuki actors and a few traditional professions wear them every day.

4. We rented our Kimono’s from this shop https://kyoto-kimonorental.com/kimono/. It’s less than a 5 minute walk from Hokan-ji. We made a reservation in advance but you will find kimono rental shops all over Kyoto. They open at 9 and you have to return the Kimono’s by 5.

5. They offer multiple packages which vary in the type of material the kimono is. The package I got was the ¥4,900 ($37.50) one and Jordyn’s child price was ¥3,900 ($29.87). You can get your hair and makeup done for an additional ¥1,200. The value of the yen is down now so be sure to check exchange rates whenever you make it to Japan for accuracy.

6. This shop offers photo packages directly through them or you can take your own or hire a separate photographer.

7. If you’re worried about renting a kimono and wearing it in Japan being seen as cultural appropriation, don’t be. I obviously can’t speak for every Japanese person but from hearing it first hand from Japanese people in Japan and the large amount of Kimono rental shops all over Japan encouraging visitors to try kimonos, the Japanese are so excited to see foreigners embracing their culture and wearing kimonos respectfully! We received so many compliments from the local community as we explored Kyoto this day.

📍Daigo-ji temple & Hokan-ji
After spending 48 hours in Osaka we went to Kyoto. After spending 48 hours in Osaka we went to Kyoto. Here’s how to get here and where we stayed (save + share this post):

1. You can take the Shinkansen (bullet) train from Shin-Osaka Station to Kyoto Station if you have the JR Pass and it will only take you 15 minutes. If you don’t have a JR Pass the Shinkansen ticket costs about 1,420 yen (right now that’s about $11). 

2. If you don’t have the JR Pass you can take the Hankyu Kyoto Line or Keihan Main Line. These are regular non express trains and will increase your travel time to from 15 minutes to 45-55 minutes but they only cost 400 yen (about $3) so you can save money, especially for a large group.

3. There is also a bus that leaves picks up at Hotel Keihan Universal Tower, Universal Studios Japan and Namba and goes to Kyoto Station. I’m not sure of the costs.

4. If you flew into Osaka you can also take the Haruka Express train from the airport to Kyoto Station. 

In Kyoto we stayed at The Chaper Kyoto which is a Marriott property. The rooms are on the small side but the hotel is clean and modern. There is a bus stop down the block which we could take to get to Gion in 9 minutes. The room was about $240/night since it’s busy season.

The weather this time of year is pretty sporadic. Some days it was hot and sunny and some days cool and gloomy so definitely pack a variety of attire and bring some layers and the weather changes throughout the day. Will be sharing our itinerary soon.

Have you been to Kyoto? If you have other accommodation recommendations please share them below to help others!

📍Fushimi Inari Taisha
Want to visit Super Nintendo World at Universal St Want to visit Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan? You need to know this (save + share this post):

1. Just because you have tickets to the park doesn’t mean you’ll get into Super Nintendo World, it requires a timed entry ticket. These do run out so it’s not a guarantee you’ll be able to enter! If you get your park tickets in advance you might be able to grab an advanced booking in the app but if these are all gone by time you get your tickets you’ll need an area timed entry ticket. These are only available the day you’re visiting & you can only attempt to get it once you’re actually in the park! We got to the park when they opened at 8am & there were only two entry times left so arrive early! You can get them on the app (you must grant the app permission to see your location so they know you’re inside) or you can go to one of the ticket kiosks.

2. To really enjoy you’ll need a power band which are sold for about $35. If you don’t have one you can walk around & go on the 2 rides but you can’t play the games & collect coins.

3. The wait times for both rides are usually 1-3 hours! To avoid this you can purchase an Express Pass (most people said this reduces wait times to a mere 15 minutes). Express Passes were sold out the day we went so we only got to ride Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge but not Yoshi’s Adventure. To avoid the 2 hour wait for Mario Kart we actually went through the singles line. We did end up in two different karts but we only waited 20 minutes to ride instead of 2 hours. Yo Shi’a Adventure doesn’t have a singles line or we would have done that too!

4. If you want to eat at Kinopio’s Cafe you also need a timed entry ticket so be sure to grab this as soon as you get inside Super Nintendo World. It’s usually a 1-2 hour wait once you get your timed entry ticket.

5. Once you leave you cannot reenter (if timed entry tickets are required at the time) so be sure to do everything you want before leaving.

Universal Studio Japan is extremely popular & tickets do sell out often so buy in advance. The most popular sites to buy them are Klook (where we bought ours) & KKDay.

Hope this helps! Who has Super Nintendo World on their list?
How We Spent 48 Hours in Osaka (save + share this How We Spent 48 Hours in Osaka (save + share this post):

1. Kicked off the day trying soufflé pancakes, you’ll find restaurants all over the city that sell these. We personally had them at Belle-ville Pancakes.

2. Visit the Cup of Noodles Museum where you can make your own Cup of Noodles logo and then customize the flavor and toppings for your noodles. They also offer a ramen making class here in addition to the museum where you can learn the history of the company.

3. If you’re visiting in March check to see if the March Sumo Wrestling Tournament is taking place at Edion Arena Osaka. If so def try to get tickets in advance (they go on sale a month prior) or arrive early to get same day tickets. It’s a fun afternoon.

4. We also did a Tea Ceremony class but photos/videos weren’t allowed.

5. End the first day getting cheesecake at the infamous Rikuro’s for their jiggly Cheesecake.

6. The other day spend at Universal Studios Japan for thrilling rides, shows and to relive your childhood at Super Nintendo World.

Where to stay in Osaka? The W Osaka is gorgeous but a little pricey and the Fairfield by Marriott is more budget friendly with nice, modern clean rooms just less amenities and smaller rooms (will post stories of both so you can see).

How to get to Osaka from Tokyo: We took the Shinkansen bullet train which takes 3 hours but is such an experience as it goes up to 199mph. Be sure to sit of the right side of the train for views of Mt. Fuji. You can also take a quick flight!

Other things to do in Osaka we didn’t travel time for:

1. Visit the Osaka Castle

2. Go to the top of the Umeda Sky Building

3. Go out in the Dotonbori

4. Walk around Kuromon Market

5. Watch a show at the National Bunraku Theater

6. Explore the Sumiyoshi Shrine

Which activity would you most want to do? If you’ve been to Osaka before what other recommendations do you have?

#osakajapan #travellingwithkids #cupofnoodles #universalstudiosjapan
6 Ways to Earn Delta Skymiles without flying! (SAV 6 Ways to Earn Delta Skymiles without flying! (SAVE + SHARE this post):

1. Link your Lyft and Skymiles accounts to earn 1 mile per $1 on US rides and 2miles per $1 on airport rides.

2. When booking Airbnb stays go to delta.com/Airbnb instead and you’ll earn 1 mile per $1 spent on airbnbs.

3. Order groceries online with instacart? Go to instacart.com/delta to link your accounts and earn 1.5 miles per $1 spent. If you’re new to instacart you can also get 3 months free.

4. Link your Starbucks account with your Skymiles account at delta Starbucks.com and you’ll earn 1 mile per $1 spent at Starbucks. Plus on days your flying with Delta, you’ll earn DOUBLE stars at Starbucks.

5. Sign up for SkyMiles dining at  Skymilesdining.com and is link your credit or debit card. Every time you use your card at a participating bar or restaurant, you’ll earn between 1-5 miles per $1 spent.

6. And nope you don’t have to use a Delta credit card to get miles for any of the above, no matter how you pay you’ll earn BUT is you do pay for them with a Delta co-branded credit card (there are several and depending on which one you have) you can earn anywhere from a additional 1-5 miles per dollar spent on purchases, even if they aren’t Delta airline tickets.

The cash price for the flight we took to Tokyo was $2,600pp so it would have cost me over $5,000 for this since it’s peak travel to Japan (never in my life would I pay that, we would have went somewhere else). Instead I only paid $118 total by using all of these ways to earn Delta miles over the past few years which gave me enough miles to redeem even though we don’t get to fly Delta on a regular since they don’t have the strongest presence at MIA airport as it’s American’s hub.

Do you use travel credit cards and/or points and miles from loyalty programs to offset the cost of travel? If so what are your favorite ones? Let’s all travel for less!

The Traveling Child

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Things to Do in Huntington Beach: A Complete Two Day Itinerary

June 28, 2019      California, Destinations, North America

This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more information. All opinions are my own.

After going on our first RV road trip last year we were itching for another one. Thankfully our partnership with Visit California and Go RVing gave us that opportunity. We headed out on a six day Southern California RV road trip visiting Huntington Beach, Oceanside, and Anza-Borrego. Here are things to do in Huntington Beach, a complete guide to Surf City USA.

How to Get to Huntington Beach + Tips on Renting an RV

Even though we were going on an RV road trip we don’t own one so we rented from Outdoorsy (sign up here for $50 off) We also live in Florida so we would first be fly from Miami to California. Based on the location of the RV we rented we flew in and out of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).  However, Huntington Beach is located 50 minutes from LAX or 90 minutes from San Diego International Airport and based on the 3 cities we visited you can either arrive and depart from the same airport or fly into one and depart from the other.

 

I remember our first RV trip and it can seem overwhelming but it’s not. Here are tips for first time RVers as well as what to expect when vacationing in an RV. Wondering why we chose an RV instead of road tripping in a car? Here’s why road trips with kids are better in an RV.

You May Be Interested in Reading: The Ultimate Guide to Planning a California Road Trip

Things to Do in Huntington Beach with Two Days in Surf City USA

Things to Do in Huntington Beach Day One: Pacific Hideaway, Havaianas, & Duke’s

After setting up at our RV Park we had lunch at Pacific Hideaway which is located inside the Kimpton Shorebreak Resort. If you aren’t towing a vehicle and need to drive your RV downtown there is RV parking at the beach a few blocks away.

Lunch was exquisite! We started with the stick wings and chips and guacamole and were extremely tempted to order more. Luckily we didn’t because our main entrees were just as good! The pineapple relish on the mahi mahi tacos made were perfection!  None of us could keep our hands off the hand cut fries even when we were beyond stuffed. My dad ordered the Baja Striped Bass and as someone who is constantly complaining about his food orders he surprisingly complimented the fish multiple times.

fish tacos, fries, lettuce, sea bass and an alcoholic beverage

After eating way too much good food we walked to Havaianas which is a sandal brand created in 1962. Here we got the opportunity to make our own sandals and it was by far my three year olds favorite activity. She had such a good time she even convinced the employees to let her remake her sandals about 6 times because she didn’t want to stop. You’re able to pick out color of the soles, straps, and then can customize them even more by adding a special charm to the straps.

girl making flip flops
Making her own flip flops was one of Kennedy’s favorite things to do in Huntington Beach.

Across the street from Havaianas is the Pier Plaza Art Afaire. It’s an outdoor market of about 50 vendors who sell unique, hand-made gifts. We came across an artist drawing caricatures had to get ours done.

The Pier Plaza Art-A-Faire sits at the start of the Huntington Beach Pier which is the perfect place to watch the sunset. Since we had some time before the sun set we walked along the pier to get a closer look at the surfers in the water. There were literally hundreds of them and it was so much fun watching them catch the waves. Then when the sun was finally setting we witnessed one of the most beautiful sunsets we’ve seen.

mom and daughter watching sunset
Be sure to add watching the sunset from the pier on your list of things to do in Huntington Beach.

You May Be Interested in Reading: Tips for Taking Family Vacation Photos

After sunset we had dinner at Duke’s Huntington Beach which conveniently sits at the start of the pier. With ocean view seating be sure to make a reservation and request a table near the windows. They specialize in traditional Hawaiian dishes.

After dinner we headed back to our RV park. One thing we learned from our last RV trip is how nice everyone is at RV parks. That even though no one if your permanent neighbor it feels like such a community. When we pulled up our neighbors noticed Kennedy and with four kids of their own invited us over. They were about to make s’mores and play some games. Kennedy was so happy to make a friend!

Things to Do in Huntington Beach Day Two: Surf Lessons, Beach Bonfire, & More

We started our second day in Huntington Beach having breakfast at a local favorite, Mama’s on 39. It’s a large shopping plaza and the parking spaces don’t have the concrete dividers so we were able to just take up two spots to park our RV.

It was a Saturday morning and we arrived at 8:25AM, a few minutes before they open. There was a line of people and we knew we were in for a good meal. They are famous for their bacon biscuits but since we don’t eat pork we opted for the original ones, still they were delicious. I got the french toast which was really good and my dad enjoyed oatmeal and an omelette.

pancakes, french toast, eggs, biscuits

When looking at things to do in Huntington Beach surf lessons are at the top of everyone’s list. So after breakfast we headed to the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa where I met my surf instructor at Toes of the Nose. Again we parked our RV across the street at the beach, which does give you in and out privileges with your one day parking pass.

I took a one hour lesson with Johnny and I highly recommend him. He was very patient and encouraging. I was even able to stand up and catch a wave before my lesson ended. While my three-year-old was too young to participate as kids must be at least eight she hung out on the beach making sand castles and watching my lesson.

After my surf lesson we had we ate at Pete’s Sunset Grill which is right across the walkway from Toes on the Nose. With your hour surf lesson lunch here is included. While you can’t select from the entire menu there are quite a few options including mahi mahi tacos and burgers. Plus your lunch comes with a beer or glass of wine with your meal. If you don’t take lessons like my dad and daughter you can just place your order and pay the menu price.

Once we stuffed our faces we headed back to our RV park, Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina. Here we enjoyed an afternoon in the pool.

Swimming in the pool all afternoon worked up our appetites. We headed back into town to have dinner at Ola Mexican Kitchen, which is right across from the beach RV parking lot. The restaurant is located in the outdoor shopping mall Pacific City. This restaurant seems to be a very popular spot so I highly recommend making a reservation in advance.

After dinner it was time for dessert. We headed to the beach for a bonfire and s’mores. The Hilton Huntington Beach offers full blow beach bonfire packages. They set up nice chairs in front of a fire pit which they provide the wood for and keep the fire lit until you’re ready to leave. There is also a table with the ingredients needed for s’mores along with sticks to roast marshmallows. Drinks, both soda and water were also provided in a cooler with ice. The best part is they take care of all the clean-up! Arrive right before sunset for beautiful sunset views on the beach.

beach bonfire huntington beach, california
Having a bonfire on the beach is one of the unique things to do in Huntington Beach.

We returned to our RV park for our last night in Huntington Beach. The next morning we made breakfast in our RV before heading to the next stop of our Southern California road trip. Oceanside was a short 60 mile drive from Huntington Beach.

Other Things to Do in Huntington Beach

Of course we weren’t able to do everything in Huntington Beach. Here are some things we considered that we just didn’t have time for:

  • Huntington Beach State Park: Here you can go swimming, fishing and basketball and volleyball courts.
  • International Surfing Museum: What’s Surf City USA without a surfing museum, check out all the greats here.
  • Whale Watching: Depending on the time of year you visit Huntington Beach you’ll have the chance to see Blue Whales, Gray Whales, Common Dolphin, Bottlenose Dolphin, Fin Whales, Minke Whales, Mola Mola, Mako Shark, and Great White Sharks

The Best RV Park in Huntington Beach

While looking for the best Huntington Beach RV Parks we came across Sunset Vista and Bolsa Chica State Beach. However, both of them were 100% occupied during our two night stay. We ended up staying at Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina, just 15 minutes away. The location was very convenient to reaching all the things to do in Huntington Beach. We were actually very happy we ended up booking here as it’s one of the nicest RV park we’ve ever stayed in. 

One of Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina most notable features are it’s lake view RV spots! The RV resort is very family friendly with it’s playground and kids rec area. Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina also has a laundry room that doesn’t require coins, you can use your credit card!

We really enjoyed our time in Huntington Beach and hope to return soon. Did you find our post on things to do in Huntington Beach helpful? Please share this article!

 

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Hi! We’re The Hambricks

Hi! We’re The Hambricks

If kids live there, kids can visit! That's our motto and you'll often find us exploring destinations most don't find "kid friendly". We've traveled to 35 countries on 6 continents with our children since they were 10 weeks old and share tips to make it easier and affordable. But mom and dad are people too so we also write about solo travel, baecations and girlfriend getaways.

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