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As someone who is so Type A and always planning ev As someone who is so Type A and always planning every detail of our trip, it was so nice to let the stress of planning go and let @JetBlueVacations handle everything! 

We bundled our flight, hotel and airport transfer and our local insider booked our excursion. I was finally able to relax before and during my vacation knowing everything was taken care of for us. My fellow planners, take a break and let JetBlue Vacations handle everything for you! 

Use code: HAMBRICK for $200 off flights + hotel!
Book by 12/10/23 for travel 12/15/23-11/1/24 Min. $3,500 spend & terms apply
Plus there were options to Johannesburg, Mumbai, S Plus there were options to Johannesburg, Mumbai, Seychelles, Hong Kong, & Manilla for like $250RT from not only JFK but Chicago, Dallas, DC, San Fran & LAX. 

Definitely the best flight deal I’ve ever booked but since then I have gotten some other amazing ones. $540RT to Sydney, $400RT to Marrakech, $60RT to Denver, $150RT to Guatemala. Love a points deal too, 70k Skymiles RT to Tokyo, 60k miles RT to Egypt & more!

So where can you find these deals?

Going: A subscription based site that emails you immediately anytime a deal pops up. It has 3 levels: Limited deals (free), Premium ($49/yr), & Elite ($199/yr). Comment LINK & I’ll send you a link for $25 off Premium or Elite!

Secretflying.com: For my international community this is the best site for you. They provide deals daily from every country in the world but you have to search for them.

Google Flights: You have to search yourself here by typing in the airport you want to fly from but you can put an entire region (Europe, Caribbean, Africa) and the dates you can travel and the map will populate with the prices in all those places so you can see the cheapest places to go.

Skyscanner: This site allows you to put your home airport, select anywhere as your destination to find the cheapest flights during the dates you can travel or you can put your home airport & destination you want to travel & find the cheapest dates to fly there. This is my favorite site to use for school/work holidays.

Theflightdeal.com: Just like secretflying but only for flights from the US.

What’s the best flight deal you’ve booked? Any other places you use to find deals? Comment LINK & I’ll send you a link for $25 off Going on their Premium or Elite levels!

#flightdeals #pointsandmiles
The thoughts that go through my head on flights ar The thoughts that go through my head on flights are irrational! Don’t even get me started on what happens if there is any bit of turbulence 😭😭.

If you sit next to me on a plane just know the likely hood of me grabbing your hand at some point is extremely high whether I know you or not 😅. 

I can’t be the only one, can I? And listen I will take all the tips because I have tried everything but seeking professional help, but maybe I need to!

Flight anxiety, fear of flying
Please do not tell me “but we’re only sleeping Please do not tell me “but we’re only sleeping there, we’ll be out all day”. When I get in after a long day I need to be comfortable and not afraid to touch things! In my 20s it did not matter but I’m too old now, I like what I like! 

Have you ever checked into a hotel and then got to your room and immediately checked out 👀?

1. Team book anything, I’m just sleeping there!
2. Team the hotel matters no matter how long the stay 
3. Team I’m somewhere in between

#hotelmatters #travelhumor
It’s the most wonderful time of the year!! Match It’s the most wonderful time of the year!! Matching holiday pajama time that is and @littlesleepies has picture perfect options for you to wear for your holiday card photo shoots! I love how soft they are and that they come in a wide range of prints and sizes from preemie to 3X. And yes they even have matching prints for your pets! Every purchase gives back to Alex’s Lemonade Stand, a foundation for childhood cancer. Y’all know matching PJs sell out QUICK for the holidays so hurry up and order now! 

Use code TravelingChild15 for 15% off regular priced items. So when are you bringing out the holiday decorations 👀?

#LittleSleepiesPartner #matchingpjs #matchingpajamas
Everything you need to know about Rainbow Mountain Everything you need to know about Rainbow Mountain (save + share this post):

1. Rainbow Mountain is a 3 hour drive from Cusco. 

2. The majority of tours leave at 3am but I like sleep & booked with a company that has 7:30am tours. This was much better as when we arrived most groups were walking down from the mountain so when we reached the top the crowds were minimal.

3. Rainbow Mountain’s elevation is 17,000 feet. It’s imperative you stay in Cusco (11,151ft in elevation) a few days prior so your body gets used to the altitude. 

4. The hike is roughly 4.5 miles RT, most of it is flat but the last stretch is steep and you will get short of breath, needing breaks. I def thought I wasn’t going to make it!

5. Wear lots of layers. It was warm at the base of the mountain but towards the top & especially when the wind came through it’s cold! 

6. The best time to hike Rainbow Mountain is the dry season April-Oct.

7. You can rent a horse for the majority of the hike, but the steep part you have to hike yourself as horses aren’t allowed there. The cost is about 70 soles (roughly $17 at the time of this post).

8. Vendors at the base of the mountain will stamp your passport for 2 soles. They actually do this at Machu Picchu too but I forgot to get mine stamped there.

9. If you traveled to Peru 10 years ago you would not have been able to do this hike because Rainbow Mountain was just uncovered around 2015. Prior to it was always covered by snow but global warming has caused the temperatures to rise & the snow to melt.

10. Most popularly called Rainbow Mountain the original name is Vinicunca, which comes from the native Quechua word meaning mountain of colors. The 7 colors of this mountain come from mineral compositions and depending on if it rained recently or not the colors vary in their brightness.

Have you heard of Rainbow Mountain? Would you do this hike?

#rainbowmountain #solotravels #bucketlistadventures
There are so many beautiful places on this earth t There are so many beautiful places on this earth to see. #VSP_Partner. Often, our eye health is overlooked, but it is important to keep your eyes top of mind so you can see the world through healthy eyes and clear vision. To help you see a new part of the world, I’ve partnered with @vspvisioncare to give away travel items to put towards your next trip:

✈️ $2,000 in gift cards to Hotels.com, Southwest, and VISA

✈️Two (2) pairs of sunglasses to wear on vacation

This giveaway runs from November 3–10, 2023 and the winner will ONLY be announced via DMs from the @vspvisioncare account on November 10, 2023. Be on the lookout for scammers!

How to Enter:

🏆 Like this post

🏆 Follow these accounts @vspvisioncare and @thetravelingchild

🏆 Tag two (2) friends that you want to take on this trip! (More tags = more entries.)

🏆 Fill out the entry form at the link in my bio. (Entry form will be hosted on Rafflecopter.)

*Eligibility: Must be located within the 50 United States and District of Columbia and be 18 years of age or older at the time of entry. See full terms and conditions at the link in my bio.

#Sweepstakes

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California Road Trip with Kids: A Family Learning Adventure

December 12, 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.

Looking to go on a California road trip with kids? We’ve done two this year alone, our first a Southern California road trip done via an RV visiting Huntington Beach, Oceanside, and Anza Borrego park. Now we’ve completed a Northern California road trip, specifically the Family Learning Adventure from Visit California’s 50 Amazing Road Trips. This road trip was completed on Veteran’s Day weekend as my eldest daughter who is in Elementary School had a day off giving us a three-day weekend. Utilizing holiday’s is one way to travel frequently with full-time jobs and school. 

This post is sponsored by Visit California but as always, all opinions are mine and true. This article also contains affiliate links where I may earn a small commission on sales at no additional cost to you. Thank you so much for your help in keeping this site running!

California Road Trip with Kids: Our Family Learning Adventure Itinerary

We started our road trip by flying into San Jose and leaving from San Francisco but you can do the trip in reverse taking into account best flight times and costs. You can also fly round-trip into either airport instead of flying into one and departing from another as the airport are only an hour from each other. However, with our short weekend we decided it was best to maximize our time in our destinations versus driving to a farther airport. Traveling with kids means additional costs so we use these sites to find the best flight deals leaving more funds for the fun stuff.

Once we landed at San Jose International Airport we picked up our rental car and then made our way to Hotel Valencia where we’d be staying for the night. The hotel is on Santana Row, a lively area filled with shops and restaurants. This made it very convenient to find dinner after landing late at night. Check out more reviews of Hotel Valencia here and book here for the best rates.

California Road Trip with Kids: Day One of Our Family Learning Adventure 

The Tech Interactive Museum

After having breakfast at the complimentary buffet at Hotel Valencia it was time to kick off the fun. We started the first day of our California road trip with kids at the Tech Interactive Museum. This museum is heaven for anyone interested in or who wants to be introduced to STEM education. My daughters were able to learn how to build their own robot, created to pick up trash from the ocean floor. They are true beach bums so it was amazing seeing them being educated on something so important.

 

Other highlights of the museum was the earthquake simulator and space exhibit. My daughters are still talking about how much fun they had at this museum, it was definitely the highlight of the trip for them and literal tears were shed when I said it was time to go! The museum is open from 10AM-5PM and tickets range from $20-$25 for general admission. It’s important to note that the museum is closed annually for maintenance, this year that was September 3-13th so be sure to check on this prior to solidifying your dates.

Lunch at Olla Cocina

Five minutes drive from the Tech Interactive is Olla Cocina, where we had lunch. The food was excellent and the portions were plentiful! Just a heads up your children can 100% percentage share a kids meal. The kids burrito was about the size of two Chipotle burritos put together and the quesadilla had 4-5 huge pieces. My salmon was cooked to perfection and seasoned so well, we had a great meal here.

The Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose

After stuffing our faces we headed to the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose. It’s a must on any Northern California road trip with kids. The museum is two floors of non-stop fun. My girls enjoyed learning about other cultures in the international food market, becoming an artist in the art studio and dressing up as firefighters and driving the fire truck the museum has. The museum is open anywhere from 10AM-5PM depending on the day of the week but closed every Monday. Adults and kids are $15 with infants under one being free.

california road trip with kids two girls dressed up as firefighters standing on the side of a fire truck at children's discovery museum of San Jose

After spending a few hours at the museum it was time to leave San Jose and drive to Monterey. Lucky for me the girls had a busy day so I didn’t have to worry much about entertaining them on the drive as they napped the entire way. When we arrived we headed to Fisherman’s Wharf where we had dinner. The wharf is lined with restaurants, chocolate shops, and whale watching tours!

 

California Road Trip with Kids: Day Two of Our Family Learning Adventure 

We kicked off our morning in Monterey by cheering on the runners of the Monterey Half Marathon. We didn’t know anyone racing but it was so much fun watching them accomplish such an amazing feat. I highly recommend always checking out the local events going on in the cities you’re visiting. When we were in Oceanside we found out there was a surf competition during our time visiting, something we never get to see at home.

A Visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium

After watching people as young as 8 and as old as 80 complete a 13.1 mile run we headed to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It is by far the best aquarium I’ve ever been too and it was just as magical this visit as it was on my first. We immediately went to the Splash Zone on the second floor. You cannot skip this area when visiting the aquarium with kids. As soon as they walk into the Coral Reef Kingdom section they will be greeted by a tank filled with “Dory’s and Nemo’s. The excitement on my daughters faces and in their voice is a moment I’ll never forget.

The best part of this area are all of the interactive sections for kids. There are multiple touch tanks where they can feel the animals, play games, see penguins get fed and even a playground. They did not want to leave here at all, I had to drag them out so we could check out the jellyfish. The aquarium is open everyday except Christmas with adult admission costing $49.95, children 3-17 $29.95, and kids under three free. Most days the aquarium is open 10AM-5PM but on random weekends they open 9:30AM-6PM so check here before you go.

Even on a road trip with kids parents have to have some fun too. Watching the jellyfish has always been my favorite part of aquariums. I find staring at them so calming and peaceful. The variety of jellyfish at the Monterey Bay Aquarium is so large. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.

 

Lunch at the Fish Hopper

After taking in all the beautiful underwater creatures we walked down Cannery Row to have lunch. We attempted to eat Bubba Gump Shrimp but the wait was an hour and just not doable with two toddlers. If you want to eat here I suggest making a reservation in advance if they take them. We ended up at the Fish Hopper and were happy with the gorgeous water view and great seafood.

Enjoying the Beach on Cannery Row

Before getting on the road to San Francisco, a two and a half to three hour drive the best thing to do on your California road trip with kids is to tire them out! So I did just that by letting them run around and play in the sand. 

Dinner at Dumpling Time

When we arrived in San Francisco, it was time for dinner. Dumpling Time is where we were dining and while it opens at 5PM on Sunday there was already a line forming by 4:45. After we ate I knew exactly why, the food here is phenomenal. My favorite dish was the seafood gyoza.

Hotel Zephyr: Our San Francisco Hotel

After dinner we checked into our hotel Hotel Zephyr. It’s a super chic hotel 5 minutes walking distance from Pier 39. The rooms are modern and the lobby has so much to offer. There is a huge game room with a pool table, ping pong table, board games, and TVs. To top that off there is an amazing outdoor space with three fire pits, a life size connect four game and the cutest airstream coffee shop. Check out more reviews of Hotel Zephyr here and book here for the best rates.

California Road Trip with Kids: Day Three of Our Family Learning Adventure 

Bay Cruise

It was our last day in California and we kicked off the day taking a Bay Cruise on the Red and White Fleet. The cruise leaves from Pier 43 ½ and lasts one hour. You’ll first cruise to the Golden Gate Bridge where you can admire it from up close and below. Then you’ll sail past Alcatraz all while getting the opportunity to see wildlife in the sea. Adults are $34pp, kids are $25 and kids under 5 are free.

california road trip with kids mother and daughter on a boat under the golden gate bridge

Enjoying Pier 39

After a wonderful cruise we headed to Pier 39. The Pier is filled with shops, restaurants, an aquarium, carousel and even a free magic show! The girls favorite part was watching the sea lions from there pier. There have to be at least 100 of them sunbathing and they love listening to the noises they make and singing back at them in return.

Lunch at Pier Market

If you get hungry while at Pier 30 like we did and want a nice sit-down lunch I recommend dining at the Pier Market. The kids menu has healthy options like salmon as well as kids favorites like chicken nuggets. 

California Academy of Sciences

After lunch we left Pier 39 to drive to the California Academy of Sciences. It has a rainforest, planetarium, aquarium and more. Our favorite was definitely the rainforest. You walk into a secure area which is about 4-5 stories high. You walk up a ramp and as you do you see animals at each level. There are butterflies flying around, yellow frogs, snakes, crickets, and various birds. It’s climate controlled and humid just like the rainforest so keep your jackets off while in here. These tickets give you access to the California Academy of Sciences.

Unfortunately we missed the last planetarium show as we ended up staying in the rainforest for quite a while. We did get to roam through the aquarium though as well as walk through the open exhibit. The California Academy of Sciences is open Monday – Saturday: 9:30 am – 5 pm and Sunday: 11 am – 5 pm. They have variable pricing, meaning depending on the day/time of year admission rates vary so it’s best to check here directly to see the pice for the dates you plan to visit.

If the kids need a break after exploring there is a huge playground if you make a right coming out of the parking garage, about 3 minutes drive down.

Sunset at Baker Beach

If you want a nice place to watch the sunset Baker Beach is it. With amazing views of the ocean, the mountains of Sausalito, and the Golden Gate Bridge. Bring a blanket and some snacks and relax as the sun goes down!

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

Unfortunately our California road trip with kids was coming to an end. We were catching a red-eye back to Miami so we did still have some time before we had to be at the airport. There are a few museums open late which was great for our late departure. Between Madam Tussauds and the Museum of 3D Illusions we chose the latter. The museum is open from 10am-10pm and costs $25 for adults, $12 for kids 6-12 and kids 5 and under are free. Look how cool the painting are, it looks like my daughter is actually sitting on the seat on a train but it’s a painting on the wall.

After the museum we headed to the airport to return our car rental and check in. We had the most amazing California road trip with kids exploring the Family Learning Adventure in the Bay Area. Since we only had a 3 day weekend for our trip we did the shortened version. However, if you have more time you can complete the entire 6 day itinerary, check it out here. If you’re interested in other California destinations check out my baecation itinerary from my Santa Barbara trip and my ski trip in Lake Tahoe.  Did you find this article helpful? Please share it!

The Traveling Child is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

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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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