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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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12 Places to See Sand Dunes in the United States

August 13, 2021      California, Colorado, Destinations, North America, Utah

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.

My first time seeing a sand dune was in the Sahara Desert in Morocco. I know lots of people have also seen them in Dubai. However, if you’re an American like me you don’t have to leave the country to see sand dunes and have the same experiences others have abroad. There are 9 places to see sand dunes in the United States. Here is where you can go! 

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

By far the most popular sand dunes in the United States are the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado. They are also the tallest ones in North America. The dunes are located 4 hours from Denver but you can fly into the smaller airport Alamosa which United Airlines flies to. 

It costs $25 per vehicle to enter the park which grants you access for seven consecutive days. If you visit National Parks often it makes more sense to get the America the Beautiful annual pass for $80 which grants you access to every National Park. The park is open 365 but fees are only charged when the entrance station is open in the spring, summer and fall or when the visitors center is open in the winter. 

You’re able to hike, sand board and sled the dunes here! The National Park itself does not rent sand sleds or sand boards so be sure to pick these up before coming into the park. The nearest location at 4 miles from the Visitor’s Center is the Oasis Store but it’s only open March 1st -October 31st. Additional options are Spin Drift Sand Board Rentals (March-October), Sand Dunes Swimming Pool and Recreation (year round),  Kristi Mountain Sports (year round) and Spanish Peaks Outfitters (year round). Also since it’s a National Park kids can earn a Jr. Ranger badge.

Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area

Sometimes called the Algodones Dunes, these California sand dunes are located two and a half hours East of San Diego. If you’re in the San Diego area and interested in other local attractions, click here to save up to 40% on some of San Diego’s most popular destinations. Some scenes from Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Hedi were actually filmed here. Permits are required to visit these sand dunes from October 1-April 15th and cost $35 in advance but the price increases to $50 if you buy it on site. They are also valid for 7 days. 

Sand boarding, sledding, horseback riding, hiking, camping and ATVing and Dirt Biking can all be done here. You can rent sand boards from Gilmore Off Road or Sweet Maries. There are also a few places that offer ATV tours like Glamis Dunes Rentals.

White Sands National Park

Previously White Sands National Monument, these sand dunes became a National Park in 2019. Located in the Northern Chihuahuan Desert in New Mexico these sand dunes are made from gypsum rather than quartz which gives them their crisp white color. It’s a 3 hours and 20 minute drive from Albuquerque and a 3 hour and 44 minute drive from Santa Fe. The entrance fee to this national park is also $25 including reentry for seven consecutive days. 

As with all sand dunes you can sandboard and sled these too. The gift shop in the park doesn’t rent them but you can buy them with an option to sell it back. They cost $10-$15 and you’ll recoup $3-$5 if you return it. An alternative is to pick one up from the nearby Walmart or Big 5.

One unique thing about these sand dunes in the United States is besides walking up them or sand boarding/sledding down there is actually a scenic drive. It’s 8 miles and typically takes about 45 minutes to complete. Unfortunately if you’re looking for more thrills than this it won’t be at this park, ATVs are also not allowed here.

Bruneau Sand Dunes State Park

If you’re visiting Idaho, just one hour south of Boise is Bruneau Sand Dunes State Park. These dunes are up to 470 feet tall! The park costs $7 to enter per vehicle and sand boards are available to rent in the Visitors Center Nature Store for $15/day.

Jockey’s Ridge State Park

Located in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Jockey’s Ridge State Park has the tallest dunes on the East Coast. The park is open year round with the exception of Christmas Day and unlike other parks it does have opening and closing hours so be sure to check those but it is free to enjoy!

Besides sandboarding which is obviously one of the most popular things to do on sand dunes you can go hang gliding here and even take lessons at Kitty Hawk Kites! Talk about an amazing sand dune experience and yes kids can take lessons here too and they’ve taught kids as young as 4! They also rent sandboards for $25 for 1-4 hour use of $40 for the entire day.

Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park

The Coral Pink Sand Dunes are located in Kanab, Utah, just one hour from Zion National Park and 90 minutes from Bryce Canyon National Park so I highly recommend adding it to trips to either place. Kanab, Utah the city it’s in also offers tons of activities and you can easily spend an entire week here.

The entrance fee into these sand dunes in the United States is $10 per vehicle per day. If you want to camp here that will cost you $25-$35 dollars per night depending on if you need hookups or not. 

You can hike, sand board, sled or ATV the dunes here. Sand board and sand sled rentals are available at the visitor’s center for $25 for the day. There is only one company, Coral Pink ATV  Tours, that is allowed to offer ATV tours inside the park. Others have it listed on their site but they take you to nearby dunes that are grassy.

girl on sand board in coral pink sand dunes

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area

The Oregon Dunes National Recreation area is located in Reedsport, Oregon, three and a half miles Southwest of Portland. The closest airport is Southwest Oregon Regional Airport, 33 miles away. 

Open year round, these are one of the most diverse sand dunes in the United States. Here you have open dunes and beaches and you can have a variety of OHV riding experiences, hiking, paddling by the dunes, sand boarding, birding and camping. If you want to sand board the dunes the best place to do so is at Sand Master Park. The entrance fee into these dunes is only $5.

Dumont Dunes

Just 40 minutes outside of Baker, California are the Dumont Dunes, an area of the Mojave Desert. Here you can go off-roading, hiking, camping and even rock climbing. Weekly passes to the dunes are $30 during non-holidays and $40 if the week includes a holiday and they consider holidays Halloween, Thanksgiving, New Years, MLK and Presidents Day. 

Everyone says you have to visit the “North Pole” when in Dumont Dunes. The Dumont Dunes are known as being one the most steep sand dunes in the United States and some feel they aren’t great for kids. With that in mind Little Dumont is a great area for families with smaller dunes.

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes

Just two hours outside of Las Vegas is Death Valley National Park. Within the park you’ll find a few sand dunes but the most popular because it’s the most accessible is Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. These dunes along with the Saline Valley Dunes are the only dunes in the park you can go sand boarding on. There are no places to rent sand boards or sand sleds in the park so plan ahead and bring your own. The entrance fee into Death Valley to see these dunes is $30 per vehicle for seven consecutive days of entry.

Little Sahara State Park in Oklahoma

Little Sahara State Park, with a name play on the Sahara Desert has 1,600+ acres of rideable 25′-75′ sand dunes. Locates in Waynoka, OK, roughly 2 hours from Oklahoma City this park has it all from RV sites to tent sites to picnic areas to showers. You can dune buggy and ATV these dunes by bringing your own or renting one from an off-site vendor. To join in on the fun it’s only $10 per person. The park is open daily 24/hrs a day but the park office is only open from 8:00 am- 4:00 pm.

Kelso Dunes in Mojave National Preserve

The Kelso Dunes are located in the Mojave Desert which is near Baker, California. open to the public 24 hours a day and there is no entrance fee. The best time to visit is October-May as summer temperatures reach 120 degrees and the sand is extremely hot. There is also a hiking trail of the dunes here that is 3 miles but unshaded so best to hike in the spring and fall. Camping is allowed at the established campsites and all sites are first come, first serve. Off-roading is not allowed at these Dunes but you can go sandboarding! These dunes are over 600 feet tall so they are really beautiful dunes.

Sleeping Bear Dunes in Michigan

Sand dunes in the United State on the beach? If you visit Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore this is exactly what you’ll find as the dunes are right on Lake Michigan. The entrance fee to the park is $25 per vehicle. Since it’s on the water in addition to climbing the dunes you can also bike, hike, kayak or canoe here. For a 6 hour tour of Sleeping Bear Dunes, click here.

While international travel is amazing you can see lots of impressive sand dunes in the United States. Tell us in the comments how many of these sand dunes you’ve been to! If you found 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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