Search Results for: blog a family trip to the zoo

How to Score Free Day Trips

Need some fun getaway ideas? How about scoring a free day trip? It isn’t as hard as you might think. 1. Check out national parks and museums Many national parks and museums are free to the public. You can donate any amount you wish to help support the museum or park, but what you pay, or even if you pay at all, is up to you. Out of 397 national parks, 264 for them never charge a fee. The others offer “free admission days” to visitors. The same goes for private museums. Take a look at the websites for your … Continue reading →

A Family Outing

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It is not often that we have family outings. Typically I take the kids on outings with my sister’s or with friends. My husband rarely accompanies us on our fun trips to play and see interesting things. After working until one in the morning four days a week, I try to give him as much time as possible to work on his dissertation by taking the kids out without him. Today was different. I decided that we needed to do something fun as a family. Right after breakfast I got the kids dressed and the camera packed and we headed … Continue reading →

A Day at the Zoo Part I

We have a zoo in our city. It is not a big zoo by any means, but it does have more than enough animals to entertain a toddler. I am not a particular fan of animals; I remember going to this same zoo as a child and being scared to death especially by the goats in the petting part of the zoo. The cost of admission to this zoo is more than a movie ticket (something my husband and I never spend money on). Thanks to my very generous in-laws, we have a year long family pass to the zoo … Continue reading →

More Family-Friendly Spring Break Vacation Hot Spots

There’s nothing like including your kids in your bucket list. I do it all the time. I have a list of places I want to travel to and explore before I die and I’d like to take my daughter with me to as many of them as possible. With spring break just around the corner, now is the time for us to start crossing items off the list, including visiting some of the world’s most family-friendly travel destinations: Washington, D.C.: Ideally, I would love to visit the tourist hot spot during the cherry blossom festival, but with so much to … Continue reading →

Discovering New Places: The Really Big Field Trip

This month, we went on a Really Big Field Trip to Costa Rica. It was wet, it was windy, it was…well, the weather was actually quite similar to our usual weather in the Pacific Northwest, except that it was a lot lighter and a fair bit warmer. Being in a new environment is another big part of going on a Really Big Field Trip. A lot of what I value about travel is the physical memory of being in a place. It’s not always about the culture. It’s also about the feeling of standing in a certain place and getting … Continue reading →

Giants of the Savanna at the Dallas Zoo

On October 1st the girls and I went to the Dallas Zoo with my mom’s group, MetroMoms. The trip to the zoo was a Stroller Safari through the Giants of the Savanna exhibit. After we walked through the exhibit we met back at picnic grounds so our children could decorate pumpkins and eat a pizza lunch. We had so much fun. The weather was wonderful. The last time we went to the Zoo was for Stroller Safari and Egg Hunt and it rained. It was hot, humid, miserable, and wet then and to top it off I had a flat … Continue reading →

Zoo-rific Summer Travel Ideas

What a zoo! Life can get pretty chaotic, especially if you are juggling kids, a house, pets and a paying job. But with summer just around the corner, why not consider taking a break from your personal zoo to visit some of the best animal facilities in the country. A number of top-rated zoos are featuring special exhibits this summer—-everything from Mammoths to Micronesian kingfishers. If you are looking for super summer fun without having to travel abroad, then check out what’s new at the following zoos: MINNESOTA The Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley is debuting a $1 million, nature-based … Continue reading →

Making Time for Family

Being a busy single parent it is difficult to find the time to do the things that you want to do. It seems like most days fly right by because you are so extra busy. When you do get time off it is important to let some things slide once in a while and make time for fun. With the summer months fast approaching plan some special weekends when you feel that you can let some of your responsibilities take the back seat in order to put your family first. Plan to take 2 to 3 days during the month … Continue reading →

Family Travel: Cheap Thrills in Washington, D.C.

Who says you have to mortgage your home to pay for a family vacation? With the skyrocketing price of gas and the exorbitant cost of airfare most families would agree that taking a trip these days requires some major financial wrangling. However, there are ways you can make the most of a family getaway—-no matter how cash strapped you may be–if you look in the right places. For example, Washington, D.C. is loaded with free and cheap attractions that will appeal to everyone in your clan. Many of the area’s museums, monuments and other star attractions are run by the … Continue reading →

Photographing a Trip to the Zoo

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my. They are just a few of the hairy creatures waiting to be photographed on your next trip to the zoo. Here are some tips to follow to ensure you are making the most of your photo ops: Get Close. Get in as close as possible to your subjects. If your zoo has a petting area for kids be sure to focus on your child’s face and the reactions he or she is displaying while making friends with the zoo’s four-legged residents. Getting up close also allows you to capture a goat’s shaggy coat … Continue reading →