Travel Archives - Page 2 of 5

2014 McDonald's Houston Children's Festival

March 31, 2014 by Emilee Evans

Disclosure: Our family received tickets to the event to facilitate our review. Regardless, all opinions are our own.
This past weekend we had the opportunity to attend The McDonald’s Houston Children’s Festival, the Largest Children’s Festival in the United States!
We always like to have a “plan of attack” in advance assuming we won’t be there for more than a couple of hours, which is pretty normal for our family given our special needs. Our number one “must see” was Sid the Science Kid, and it turned out that the whole science area was a blast! We played with different science experiments, robotics, and got information on science summer camps as well as homeschool programs!

We also got to see a few performances from the Big Top Circus. We watched a motorcycle on a high wire as well as motorcycles in a cage. It was so exciting! While we were watching them, we had a blast trying a new volcano drink. The kids loved that it looked like the drink was smoking like a volcano.

Something that is really nice, is that the McDonald’s Houston Children’s Festival not only is a fun time for families, but it also benefits a great cause as well! The McDonald’s Houston Children’s Festival benefits Child Advocates, Inc. The Festival has now raised over $4,700,000 for Child Advocates, Inc.!
There were various vendors, and each offered different activities, information, and more! It was a great way to check out some of the other businesses and find available events in the area that we hadn’t heard of before!
Food, drinks, and rides could be purchased with tickets, so you could just get tickets when you first go in and not have to worry about it again unless you choose to purchase from the individual vendors. It’s a convenient way to “pay” without getting your wallet out every time. All Day Fun Passes were also available for unlimited visits to the rides and games.

Some of the other highlights of the 2014 McDonald’s Children’s Festival included:

7 Stages of Music and Entertainment
Over 300 Activities
11 Big Family Adventure Zones
And More! Check out the full Highlights of the Houston Children’s Festival

The McDonald’s Houston Children’s Festival 2014 also featured: Debby Ryan – star of Disney Channel’s Jessie, China Anne McClain, from Disney Channel’s A.N.T. Farm, and Brobee from Yo Gabba Gabba!
Were you at the 2014 McDonald’s Houston Children’s Festival? What were the highlights for your family?
Didn’t make it this year? Or are you already ready for next year? Stay connected!
Connect with the McDonald’s Houston Children’s Festival on Facebook and Twitter.
Connect with Child Advocates, Inc. on Facebook and Twitter

Tips for Traveling with Kids

January 31, 2014 by Emilee Evans

This is a sponsored post written by me and brought to you by Holt FIAT. All opinions are my own.

One of the challenges that comes with parenting is transportation. Things that used to be affordable, like flying, aren’t so affordable when you have children. After they reach a certain age their ticket costs the same as an adult ticket. Paying for five airplane tickets just isn’t in our budget! So what are we to do? Take a road trip of course!
Something I love most about being a homeschooling family is that we can take our vacations whenever we choose! There aren’t any schedules tying us down! If we’re in need of a vacation or want to visit friends and family we can pack up and go! Of course, planning is always a necessity – particularly when you’re traveling with kids. In our case, we’re usually traveling with our mastiff as well! Sometimes I didn’t have a choice – like moving from the DC area to Texas. I had to travel with the three kids and our pup by myself! That definitely took a lot of planning! Here are some tips I’ve found that make traveling with kids a little easier:

Know Where and When to Stop

One of the most important parts of a successful trip with kids is knowing when and where to stop. Planning ahead is important. How long is the overall trip? How far can you drive in one stretch? Plan your nightly stops based on how long you know you can handle in one stretch, and should you arrive a little early, be prepared with information on the local area for family-friendly places to visit!
Likewise, if you’re planning a long trip, plan intentional stops along the way of fun and unique places you would like to visit. Road trips can be really fun and educational, too!

Pack Plenty of Snacks and Drinks

There is nothing worse than having grumpy kids that are hungry. Do you really want to buy overpriced junk food when you fuel up, though? Be prepared and pack a sufficient amount of healthy snacks and drinks that are “vehicle friendly.” Pack snacks that don’t make a lot of crumbs and aren’t otherwise messy to eat. Drinks are best with straws or a spout (particularly for the younger kids) to avoid spills. You don’t want to have to clean up a mess during one of your stops!

Have one Bag of Easily Accessible Items

Most of your bags will most likely be in the trunk or crammed between seats. Be sure you have one bag that is easily accessible that has essentials you may need before you stop somewhere such as: a first aid kit, a change of clothes for everyone (in case of spills or other mishaps), toys, reading material, wallets, diapers and wipes (if you have a baby or toddler) and your snacks and drinks.

Entertainment

Entertainment can make all the difference on a long trip. Many assume a TV is necessary, but there are many alternatives. In fact, you can find great entertainment in the form of educational apps or even games you can play together in the car such as “I Spy.” You can count objects or look for letters, colors and shapes. You can also sing a lot of fun songs! If the younger kids are getting tired, you can sing softer songs to help them fall asleep for a nap, which definitely makes the drive a little easier!

Dress in Comfortable Clothing

If you’re going to be on the road for a while, you will want to be comfortable. You will want to make sure your kids are comfortable, too! Dress is comfortable clothing like loose work-out pants or shorts and a t-shirt and loose pants or shorts and a t-shirt for the kids as well.
If you will be traveling in the winter it’s important to remember that your children should NOT be in bulky winter coats or suits as this poses a danger as you are unable to tighten the car seat straps securely. Be sure they’re dressed in comfortable long sleeve shirts and pants and cover them with a blanket OVER the seat belt to keep them warm. If you will be running the heater, though, you may want to keep in mind it could get too warm!

Have Fun!

Most of all – have fun! Instead of worrying about how stressful it may be, enjoy the extra time with your family and make it memorable!
A special thanks to our sponsor Holt FIAT. If you’ve been considering a new vehicle check out Holt FIAT which serves the DFW area. With years of experience and training, Holt FIAT sales and service team will get you into the FIAT that was built for you!
What are your go-to tips for traveling with kids?

Flying High at the Wings Over Houston Airshow Giveaway

October 13, 2013 by Emilee Evans

Disclosure: I received tickets to the event in exchange for event coverage. Regardless, all opinions are my own.
Did I mention one of the reasons I love that we moved back to Houston is because I love all the great events? One event we’re particularly looking forward to attending is the Wings Over Houston Airshow.

As a Disabled Army Veteran’s Wife (as of last week he was medically retired!) I have seen all kinds of military vehicles and equipment. We lived on Army installations and explored a variety of the museums full of history. I was glad I had the opportunity to explore The Old Guard museum before they decided to move it when my husband was a part of The Old Guard at Fort Myer and see the amazing history that is The Old Guard and the Arlington National Cemetery.
Needless to say, I appreciate their history! So, I love that the Wings Over Houston Airshow features a variety of military air crafts. In fact, they will have dozens of historic World War II, Korean, and Vietnam era aircrafts on display. You can even meet aviation and military legends and heroes and get their autographs and their Legends & Heroes Autograph Tent.
Plus, all those aircrafts on display aren’t just for “looking at,” either! You can get a full tour! This also appeals to me as a parent because our children will also learn something while they are having fun!

Did I mention fun?
Yes, I can’t forget the fun! Besides the wonderful history and educational opportunity, the Wings Over Houston Airshow is fun! Surprisingly, I’ve never been to an air show, but I hear Wings Over Houston is spectacular! There will be stunts, demos, and so much more! They have an amazing line-up of performers. I can’t wait to see them!

In addition to the stunts and tricks that will be fun for everyone, there is something special the kids will love! (OK, I’ll admit I’m pretty excited about it, too!) Dusty from Disney’s “Planes” will be there! He will be showing off his flying talent as well as interact with his “fans.” There will be a fun attraction featuring coloring sheets, tattoos, stickers, and more with all the characters from the movie! There will also be a “Planes” carnival tent where kids can play exclusive “Planes” carnival games and win exclusive “Planes” prizes! I know our kids are excited!!

Phew! And if that isn’t enough, you can also purchase Airplane and Helicopter Rides, see the United Freecycle Stunt Team (and learn the importance of wearing a helmet while riding your bike!), see Modern Aviation displays, and more! View the full Schedule.
The Wings Over Houston Airshow is October 26-27, 2013 at Ellington Airport. Gates open at 8am.

For More Information:

Visit the Wings Over Houston Airshow Website
Connect with Wings Over Houston Airshow on Facebook and Twitter

Giveaway!!!

Graphic by: Sparkles and a Stove
Would you like to attend the Wings Over Houston Airshow? Here is your chance to win one of three amazing prizes!

Grand Prize – Approximate value $650.00. The Grand Prize includes an Airplane ride ($300-400 value), two nights stay at the South Shore Resort and a family pack of tickets which are good for 2 adults and FOUR children! (Ride based on day of attendance and availability.)
Second Place Prize – Family pack of tickets which are good for 2 Adults and 4 children – value $45.00.
Third Place Prize – Two General Admission Tickets – value $40.00.

To enter simply use the Rafflecopter Form below! Good luck!
By entering this giveaway you must have read and agree to the full Terms and Conditions.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

All photos used with permission. All other rights reserved. Pea of Sweetness is not responsible for giveaway prize fulfillment.

Houston Vacation Highlights

August 30, 2013 by Emilee Evans

There were different posts for our awesome 4th of July mini vacation to Houston, but I wanted to share a wrap-up so you can see just how much you can enjoy in a few days in Houston!
Right now it’s about a 3 hour drive for us to visit Houston, so we left here on July 4th just before noon and arrived at the perfect time to check in at Hotel Sorella. It was pretty easy to find even though we didn’t know where it was before we took this trip. We also got a great parking spot in the parking garage.

We saw Studio Movie Grill was in the same parking garage, which was on our list! I guess we wouldn’t have a hard time finding it when we were ready to go there! We didn’t have time that evening, though, because we had dinner reservations at The Bistro and, of course, would be watching fireworks that evening! We had a wonderful dinner, and they were so accommodating!

We went back to our room to get ready to go out to the fireworks, but our youngest ended up totally crashing out. Luckily, though, we had an amazing view right from our room! It worked out perfectly! We didn’t have to deal with the crowds and still had a great view! I’m glad we stayed in our room.
The next morning we were ready to put our CityPASS to use! First we wanted to grab a bite to eat, though, because we missed breakfast. So we headed over to SmashBurger. It was our first time at a Smashburger, and they were so friendly and helpful! Plus the food was fantastic!

Once we had full bellies we were ready to go!
We knew we wanted to start at Space Center Houston. I hadn’t been there since before I was a teen, so I couldn’t wait to go again. Wow, has it changed! We really had a great time, and the kids LOVED the Space Angry Birds Matrix! It was REALLY crowded being a holiday weekend, so we enjoyed a few great highlights and were ready to head on to the next adventure!

Next, we went to Kemah Boardwalk which holds great memories for my husband and me. We used to go there frequently before we were married. It was such a great experience seeing it from the eyes of a family perspective. They have so many fun things for the kids to do that I didn’t even know were there! We rode a few fun rides and, of course, went on the train. Our little guy slept through the whole train ride! We used the Cool Zone for breaks to stay cool and headed out around dinner time.

We knew we had time left to visit the Downtown Aquarium as it is open fairly late. So, we went there next after grabbing dinner to go. We enjoyed looking at all the aquatic creatures as well as the white tiger and parrot. We also got to pet the stingrays, which the kids thought was really neat! We passed on the rides since we had just ridden a few rides at Kemah Boardwalk. It was a nice way to wind down.

The next day was our last day in Houston, and we had to make the 3 hour drive back home, so our time was limited. We didn’t get to do anything else on the CityPASS unfortunately. We did start with breakfast at the hotel before checking out. Then, the kids enjoyed some time running in the Plaza until our brunch reservations at Straits. We opted to sit outside and enjoy the nice day while we ate. It was so nice! Brunch was great, too!

After that it was time to head to Studio Movie Grill for Despicable Me 2. It was almost sold out already when we got there, but luckily there were 5 seats in a row left near the front. So, we snatched them up and waited to be seated. This was a new experience for all of us! We loved it! We didn’t order more than just popcorn and drinks since we just came from brunch, but it was so neat not having to wait in line to get them! The movie was great, too!

We sure felt like we did a lot in just a few days, and the kids had so much fun! They’ve been stir crazy ever since! haha Have you ever been to Houston? What are your favorite highlights?
Here is slideshow of our trip! If you are unable to see it you can also view the full photo album.