https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 23 May 2026 19:40:52 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/guided-tripstours#post-2809489 Tue, 13 Mar 2018 10:35:42 +0000 808love 2809489@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>National Parks and/or a guided tour sound like they are right up your alley. Another option is a train between two walkable cities. So for example, Seattle-Pikes Place and Seattle Center connect by monorail and you can get a train/bus ride to Whistler, Canada where it is completely walkable and beautiful. So you get city and nature. I often wish I had time to share on a travel blog. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/guided-tripstours#post-2809375 Mon, 12 Mar 2018 19:13:19 +0000 lamariniere 2809375@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven’t done one, and I probably wouldn’t until the kids are older (mine are now 7 and 4). It’s just so nice to have the flexibility to stop when you need to and not have to be on a schedule, or even totally change plans if someone is having a meltdown or needs a nap. Now, I would do a guided tour of a specific place or something like a morning group excursion, but at this stage I wouldn’t sign up for a whole tour. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/guided-tripstours#post-2808901 Sat, 10 Mar 2018 03:54:42 +0000 Ms.Mermaid 2808901@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband and I both love to travel but we have found that since having our three year old, our travel style has shifted a bit. Neither of us wants to spend all of our time getting to a destination and we don't want to spend all our time driving once we get there. (My kiddo doesn't handle long car trips well. 3 hours is her max.) I'm also finding I don't really have the bandwidth to plan excursions and vacations, and we need to stay flexible once we are there, but then sometimes we aren't using our time very efficiently. </p> <p>I've been wondering about bus tours, bike excursions, train trips, or other kinds of guided vacations. In the past I've never been into the idea but I find it appealing to me more. My daughter loves riding on buses, I like the idea of not driving, and while I've always been concerned about being tied to somebody else's schedule and planning, at this point in our life it feels like it would be a relief to skip at least some of the emotional labor. Anyone done one? I'm thinking to do one that goes through a couple of the big national parks in the southwest. Any recommendations for specific companies that might be more family friendly? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/things-to-do-with-small-kids-to-la-area#post-2807286 Fri, 02 Mar 2018 16:38:24 +0000 AB810 2807286@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went to LA last year with my two kids who were 1.5 and 3.5 at the time. They both loved Travel Town (<a href="https://www.traveltown.org/" rel="nofollow">https://www.traveltown.org/</a>) which is a train museum (free!) and the Kidspace Museum (<a href="http://www.kidspacemuseum.org/" rel="nofollow">http://www.kidspacemuseum.org/</a>). My oldest still talks about both! We also explored Griffith Park which was really nice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/things-to-do-with-small-kids-to-la-area#post-2807060 Thu, 01 Mar 2018 18:40:18 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 2807060@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: Lol oh I love Palm Springs in the winter! We've gone the last 3 years in a row over winter break - the airbnb's are super cheap, modern, and beautiful with heated pools so we spend our days swimming and lounging. And my kids love going up the tram to San Jacinto Mtn. We went to The Living Desert this past December and the kids loved feeding giraffes and riding the camels. Palm Springs is easily a family favorite.. when the conditions are right. ;) I'm just a weaksauce with hot weather!</p> <p>Ok ok so sorry for derailing the thread with all the Palm Springs talk!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/things-to-do-with-small-kids-to-la-area#post-2807058 Thu, 01 Mar 2018 18:33:27 +0000 agold 2807058@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@birdofafeather: @Mrs. High Heels: I'm laughing over here because maybe I'm just the cheapest person in the world. But I love Palm Springs in the winter. (I will admit the one time I went while I was pregnant, I went in May as opposed to July when I normally go.) We spend all day in the pool and the evenings are great!</p> <p>ETA: I will agree that an outdoor summer wedding in palm springs with no shade is brutal! But its just too expensive to stay there at the nice places or even the nicer VRBOs during the high season. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/things-to-do-with-small-kids-to-la-area#post-2807056 Thu, 01 Mar 2018 18:30:51 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 2807056@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JennyPenny: Here's a great post Mrs. Schoolbus wrote awhile back about things to do in The OC! <a href="http://www.hellobee.com/2015/06/16/vacationing-in-the-oc/" rel="nofollow">http://www.hellobee.com/2015/06/16/vacationing-in-the-oc/</a></p> <p>Seriously, tons of options and very family friendly here. Have fun and enjoy the sun! July is a great time to come... I'd say our hottest months are actually Sept/Oct so it's not even that hot then unless there's a fluke heat wave going on or something! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/things-to-do-with-small-kids-to-la-area#post-2807055 Thu, 01 Mar 2018 18:27:17 +0000 birdofafeather 2807055@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. High Heels: i've photographed weddings there in september and wanted to die. </p> <p>late Oct-April is the best time for Palm Springs! sorry for the derailment of the thread! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/things-to-do-with-small-kids-to-la-area#post-2807053 Thu, 01 Mar 2018 18:24:28 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 2807053@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@birdofafeather: Palm springs in July is a no for me too. I went one year in June for a conference, and even the water in our swimming pool was hot. Couldn't even cool down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/things-to-do-with-small-kids-to-la-area#post-2807050 Thu, 01 Mar 2018 18:17:43 +0000 birdofafeather 2807050@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. High Heels: yes, the drive from LAX to San Bernardino would be brutal! maybe even fly into ontario and out of john wayne?</p> <p>i would not go to palm springs in july. SO HOT!!</p> <p>i would definitely stick to close to the beach in orange county: huntington, newport, laguna. you can get an airbnb that would suit your family.</p> <p>probably disneyland, a baseball game at angel stadium? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/things-to-do-with-small-kids-to-la-area#post-2807022 Thu, 01 Mar 2018 15:27:59 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 2807022@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LAX to San Bernardino is a pretty far drive. Maybe you can look into flights into John Wayne or Ontario or even Long Beach (LB would be ideal if you want to explore the heart of LA and you have to be in SB because it's most in-between) and see if they're price competitive? San Bernardino isn't too far from Orange County and there is tons of things for families in Orange County!</p> <p>- Discovery Cube<br /> - Disneyland<br /> - Lots of indoor play spaces<br /> - Lots of parks<br /> - Great beaches (Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Corona del Mar, Huntington Beach, etc.)</p> <p>More towards LA:<br /> - Santa Monica Pier and 3rd street promenade<br /> - Redondo Beach and Pier<br /> - La Brea Tar Pits<br /> - Griffith Observatory </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/things-to-do-with-small-kids-to-la-area#post-2807018 Thu, 01 Mar 2018 15:15:25 +0000 agold 2807018@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JennyPenny: I love Palm Springs in the summer! Pretty cheap, great pools. Dry heat. There is a gondola up to a mountain that is fun. There is the "living desert" zoo that is amazing. The iconic two giant dinosaurs. And if you stay some where on a golf course, its great to let kids run around the golf course at dusk when there are no more golfers if you can walk to a fairway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/things-to-do-with-small-kids-to-la-area#post-2806996 Thu, 01 Mar 2018 14:24:50 +0000 JennyPenny 2806996@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're also up for ideas on where to even stay. I had thought maybe a few days in Palm Springs but it sounds like that will be way too hot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/things-to-do-with-small-kids-to-la-area#post-2806982 Thu, 01 Mar 2018 14:03:44 +0000 Autumnmama79 2806982@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There are some great beaches just outside of LA. We especially liked renting a family cruiser bike thing in Santa Monica! Lovely beach, clean and beautiful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/things-to-do-with-small-kids-to-la-area#post-2806971 Thu, 01 Mar 2018 13:46:23 +0000 agold 2806971@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds like a fun trip! A lot of people I know have been going to the "Museum of Ice Cream". Check it out on instagram. Looks fun. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/things-to-do-with-small-kids-to-la-area#post-2806968 Thu, 01 Mar 2018 13:43:46 +0000 JennyPenny 2806968@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're planning on attending a wedding in the Redlands, San Bernardino area of California in July. We're flying from the east coast with our kids who will be 15 months and just about to turn 4 at the time of the trip. Since its a big trip we were thinking of adding a few days but we're not sure what we should consider doing in that area with the ages of our kids. We plan on flying in and out of LAX and getting a rental car. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/its-five-degrees-and-i-want-to-be-on-a-beach#post-2675969 Sun, 08 Jan 2017 10:56:50 +0000 looch 2675969@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Things to do...I think this is one thing where I learned the hard way. If we're going to the beach, I pack a collapsible bucket, a shovel of some sort and a bag to carry them in. Since he's an only child, I try to bring a second shovel so that he can ask other kids to play with him.</p> <p>I also bring him a ton of stuff to do by the pool, like coloring books, stickers, markers, story cubes, some card games. I always buy him a surprise new game for trips, he really loves that.</p> <p>I also pack food, I know my husband hates it, but it's so much less stress on me when my son gets hungry, which is often. I always have something to give him. And meds. I always have advil and bandaids for kids and adults! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/its-five-degrees-and-i-want-to-be-on-a-beach#post-2675966 Sun, 08 Jan 2017 10:46:32 +0000 SweetiePie 2675966@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Separate bedroom and childcare - Either a drop off daycare or in room. Both are a must for us. </p> <p>We did Nizuc in Mexico when he was 15 months and it was heaven. They provided a highchair, fridge, crib, babysitters, and a kids club so we could drop him off and go to the pool for a bit. Heaven!<br /> Not a must but VERY nice to have is a plunge pool off of the room. We had a balcony with a private plunge pool - so when he napped we could still have pool time!</p> <p>We also did a VRBO condo in Grand Cayman which was great. It didn't have all the amazing amenities that Nizuc had, but it was awesome to have a full kitchen, separate bedrooms and living space, and a washer/dryer. The condo was on the beach and had a pool. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/its-five-degrees-and-i-want-to-be-on-a-beach#post-2675960 Sun, 08 Jan 2017 10:38:48 +0000 808love 2675960@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Teachermama: I've been to both- Red Roof and Aulani. LOL! :) Thumbs up for both. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/its-five-degrees-and-i-want-to-be-on-a-beach#post-2675943 Sun, 08 Jan 2017 09:47:31 +0000 KayKay 2675943@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Now that we have more than one LO, my preference is to vrbo a house with a pool, even if we are somewhere with a beach. It's so great not to have to schlep everything to the pool and back all the time, plus if one kid wants to swim and one wants to play (or needs to nap!) everyone can still be together. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/its-five-degrees-and-i-want-to-be-on-a-beach#post-2675816 Sat, 07 Jan 2017 15:33:57 +0000 sapphire 2675816@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Separate bedroom, kitchenette, balcony, pool. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/its-five-degrees-and-i-want-to-be-on-a-beach#post-2675772 Sat, 07 Jan 2017 13:25:51 +0000 Teachermama 2675772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kpc324: yes we went last yr. Got a 2 bdrm villa, split cost with inlaws, so made it a good deal. Pools are great, even for babies and adults. Aunties beach house is a perfect place to send the kids when adults want an evening out or a massage at the spa. Plus having the disney characters is also fun. Costco had a promo at the time we booked, we got a $150 resort credit. We went in Nov and it wasn't busy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/its-five-degrees-and-i-want-to-be-on-a-beach#post-2675735 Sat, 07 Jan 2017 11:34:15 +0000 kpc324 2675735@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Teachermama: that resort looks amazing! Have you been? We are semi-planning a Disney trip, but I'm honestly so overwhelmed that Ive thought about just taking us there instead...for about the same price we'd get the Disney experience, plus a beach in Hawaii! Win-win for everyone! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/its-five-degrees-and-i-want-to-be-on-a-beach#post-2675732 Sat, 07 Jan 2017 11:29:29 +0000 kpc324 2675732@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cole: yes to a red roof inn anywhere warm, haha! I never thought about proximity to a playground, but that makes a lot of sense! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/its-five-degrees-and-i-want-to-be-on-a-beach#post-2675730 Sat, 07 Jan 2017 11:28:02 +0000 kpc324 2675730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: so jealous of you right now!! I've always wanted to try an all inclusive, just the idea of not having to meal plan or cook for a week is a vacation in itself!! I've heard st Lucia is amazing too!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/its-five-degrees-and-i-want-to-be-on-a-beach#post-2675540 Fri, 06 Jan 2017 20:27:50 +0000 Teachermama 2675540@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A villa with a washer dryer so we don't need to pack alot of clothes. I like Disney Aulani resort on Oahu. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/its-five-degrees-and-i-want-to-be-on-a-beach#post-2675475 Fri, 06 Jan 2017 18:00:25 +0000 Cole 2675475@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was totally searching for last minute fares yesterday. I'll spend a week at a red roof inn if it's warm there! I'm so over winter! </p> <p>My biggest must is at least a fridge and microwave, ideally a kitchen. Separate bedroom is ideal but for a long weekend we can make do in one of the bedroom living room type hotels where there's only a half wall. I realized after a trip to Portland, Or when we stayed downtown that I need access to play space outside. The pool we nice but we needed a place to run around and parks are scarce and shady there. In Pittsburgh we stayed two blocks from a park ave it was awesome to run her over there for twenty minutes while one of us showered or packed up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/its-five-degrees-and-i-want-to-be-on-a-beach#post-2675469 Fri, 06 Jan 2017 17:54:32 +0000 erinbaderin 2675469@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's 7 here but we leave Sunday for St Lucia! I'm 50% excited 50% terrified - a 3 year old and a 10 month old in one room for a week! But it's an all inclusive with a kids club (although there is zero chance B will go to it) so I'm hopeful that it's going to be a good time. At the very least there won't be a wind chill factor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/its-five-degrees-and-i-want-to-be-on-a-beach#post-2675466 Fri, 06 Jan 2017 17:24:22 +0000 hellobeeboston 2675466@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Kitchen/kitchenette is key! We did a beach vaca with our son when he was 2.5. It was a suite style room so separate room was great, and it had a great sized kitchen with a stove so we could make a lot of meals in the room! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/its-five-degrees-and-i-want-to-be-on-a-beach#post-2675462 Fri, 06 Jan 2017 17:18:33 +0000 PawPrints 2675462@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Separate bedroom, kitchenette of some kind, and some way for us to keep having fun after toddler bedtime, like a balcony with a hot tub, or other entertainment possible within the reach of the monitor </p>