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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!

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The Best Family Vacation Spots in Florida

April 28, 2020      Destinations, Florida, 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.

I moved to Florida when I was four years old and didn’t move away until I was 21. Once I had children of my own I realized why my parents chose Florida to raise me and just like my parents I moved my family from New York City to South Florida. Florida is one of the best states for family vacations due to its great weather year round. Below are the best family vacation spots in Florida to enjoy the next time you visit the Sunshine State.

While we live in Florida and did these trips separately if you have extended time in the state you can do a Florida road trip. We’ve done three RV trips and absolutely loved them. You can read what it’s like vacationing in an RV here.

The Best Family Vacation Spots in Florida 

North Florida

Panama City Beach 

Sitting in the panhandle Panama City Beach, FL is closer to Atlanta and New Orleans than it is to South Florida. It’s a great beach destination with white sand and a turquoise ocean that is reminiscent of the Caribbean. A beach town with a great boardwalk it’s clear why it’s one of the best family vacation spots in Florida.

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

From the adventurous and interactive Pirate Cruise to the Shipwreck Water Park to learning how to make a professional sand castle the fun was nonstop. My daughter says it’s one of her favorite vacations we’ve been on and keeps asking to go back. You can read our full Panama City Beach with Kids article here.

West Florida

Fort Myers & Sanibel Island

Even though I grew up in South Florida, only two hours away from Fort Myers and Sanibel Island the first time I visited was with my own kids. We spent 5 days in Fort Myers and Sanibel staying at the Pink Shell Resort which is right on the beach. On the beach we were able to parasail, jet ski, and paddle board on the calm waters. You’ll most likely encounter plenty of sea life, especially dolphins which we saw a ton of.

If you love nature there is plenty of that at Lover’s Key State Park. We were able to go canoeing but there is much more to do there. From canoeing to hiking to shelling to fishing there is a lot to do in the park. It’s also very family friendly with playgrounds and shaded picnic areas.

Sanibel is quaint and the perfect place to rent a bike and explore that way. It along with Fort Myers also has some pretty nice restaurants with fresh seafood and amazing desserts. The Bubble Room is a must to satisfy your sweet tooth. Read all the things to do in Fort Myers and Sanibel with kids here.

Tampa

With Orlando just 45 minutes away from Tampa it can be easy to overlook but you shouldn’t. Tampa has its own amusement park, Busch Gardens and water park Adventure Island which are significantly cheaper than Orlando’s theme parks. Just because the prices are lower doesn’t mean there isn’t as much fun, Busch Gardens has some of the most thrilling roller coasters and also has a Sesame Street Safari of Fun section just for the smallest patrons.

Tampa is also home to one of the best zoo’s we’ve ever been to and yes I’ve been to San Diego Zoo. I loved that there is so much more than just looking at animals at this zoo with an entire area dedicated for kids. Our favorite for the tiger mini roller coaster! As Tampa is on the West Coast of Florida you’ll also be close to white sand beaches like Clearwater.

Not only is Tampa tons of fun it’s one of the most affordable family vacation spots in Florida. We saved so much money using the Tampa Bay CityPass which covered mostly all of the activities we did in the city. For our full itinerary that also includes hotel and restaurant recommendations click here.

Naples

It took me 32 years to get to Naples but I’m so glad I finally made it with my family in tow. Naples is gorgeous and there are plenty of things to do to keep kids busy. One of my girls favorite activities on our trip was shelling on Marco Island.

There is so much wildlife in Naples and we saw bunnies hopping around the Gordon River Greenway Park along with tortoises, dolphins, alligators and so many colorful birds. If you enjoy the outdoors Naples is definitely for you.

On this trip we rented an Airstream and stayed at the KOA Naples/Marco Island camp site. This was the perfect opportunity for them to enjoy the outdoors and their favorite dessert s’mores. You can read my entire article on all the things to do in Naples with kids here.

South Florida

Key West

Growing up my family went to Key West all the time. Even though it’s in Florida being 3 hours south of Miami and just 90 miles from Cuba it feels like another world. Historically Key West has been seen as an adult only destination and while Duval Street can get a little crazy after hours during the day it’s just fine.

In June 2019 we finally took our own kids to Key West after living in Florida for 3.5 years. They loved it, especially going snorkeling for the first time in crystal clear warm water. Another family favorite activity was our visit to the Butterfly Conservatory where we got to see the process of how butterflies come to be and then walk through an area with free roaming butterflies.

Since the whole family has a sweet tooth creating our own Key Lime Pie walking tour was one of the highlights of the trip. We had so much fun having our own little taste and not just of different Key Lime Pies. The restaurants in Key West are amazing and we enjoyed tasting various food stands conch fritters as well. You can read more about our trip to Key West with kids here.

Miami

We live in Miami and while most people think of it as a party destination there are so many families that live here. Our motto is if kids live there, kids can visit. So whether you visit Miami on the front or back end of a cruise (hopefully you’re visiting CocoCay) or visit on a standalone trip know there is plenty to do with kids.

One of our favorite family activities is strawberry picking which you’re able to do in the winter months in Miami. We love going to Knaus Berry Farm especially so we can enjoy all their fresh made treats before or after (milkshakes, cinnamon rolls and more). 

Your family can also take an airboat ride to see all the alligators we have in the Everglades, visit the waterpark at the JW Marriott and even visit an old “castle” at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. Plus Miami is close to neighboring cities like Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach which also have things to do with kids. Of course there are also tons of beaches and water activities for your family to enjoy

Central Florida

Orlando

When most people think of the best family vacation spots in Florida Orlando is always at the top of the list. That’s all thanks to Walt Disney and his great marketing skills. While our kids have been making trips to Disney since before they were two Orlando has a lot more to offer than Mickey Mouse. From chocolate making classes to comedy magic dinner shows to learning about astronauts there’s so many things to do in Orlando besides theme parks.

Our favorite resort there, Holiday Inn Club Vacations At Orange Lake Resort, makes it so you might not even want to leave to see what Orlando has to offer. On site there is mini golf, rock climbing, water slides and arcade and more. Read our full review here, we’ve stayed here at least six times. However, when traveling with our extended family, 14 people to be exact, we chose to rent a 6 bedroom house through Vacasa, read more here.

St. Augustine

We still haven’t been able to take our own kids to St. Augustine but not only did I grow up going there with my own family, I also took my husband while we were in college. We’re hoping it will be our next family vacation spot in Florida. Based on our previous trips we’re looking forward to taking our kids to the Fountain of Youth Park, on a ghost tour, to pirate school, and cooling down at Hyppo popsicles.

There’s a reason so many families flock to Florida during school breaks. I hope this article on the best family vacation spots in Florida gives you an idea of all the cities you can visit in addition to Orlando. If you found this article helpful, please share it!

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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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