Designer Florence Wetterwald knows good knits. Her company Blabla creates snuggly products for children, including hats, sweaters, booties, blankets, finger puppets, stuffed toys and backpacks, all out of natural fibers created by Peruvian artisans. Pack a bunch of Blabla's cozy gear and hit the road in style and comfort.
One of the most spectacular children's gardens that I've ever experienced can be found tucked away in a corner of the 240-acre Na Aina Kai Botanical Gardens on the island of Kauai.
Kauai as a whole is a fantastic place to take children. I grew up going to Kauai, and have since established the tradition with my family. This wasn't as easy as I thought it would be -- my husband (who is a native of New York City) took some convincing. His grew up with the idea that Hawaii was just a destination for folks who've won prizes on game shows. But 6 years ago that all changed when we traveled to Hawaii for a family event, and he's been hooked ever since. Now we go every year, and love it.
Kauai is a small island, and the most beautiful of the Hawaiian islands in my opinion. I like the scale of it, and there's plenty to do. My children are happy to spend the entire day at the beach, just digging in the sand. But I get a bit restless. The guide books are okay, (my favorite is the Ultimate Kauai Guidebook), but they don't give you much information on what to do in Kauai with kids. So two years ago, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I hit Google, and found an entry on a maze at Na Aina Kai. I had been to the other gardens on the island, but had never even heard of this one (it's not listed in the index of my favorite guide book, but they do mention it on a map...). I thought it would be fun to take my daughter there, so I signed us up for a "family tour." Our tour focused on a small section of the garden's extensive grounds, paying particular attention to the extensive collection of bronzes (the children loved these!). We enjoyed the tour so much that we ended up with only a few minutes left by the time we reached the "children's garden," which was a big mistake.
The children's garden is amazing. Filled with wonders that would delight a child of any age. Highlights include a 16-foot Jack and the Giant Beanstalk fountain that trickles cool water into a shallow wading pool that children are invited to "swim" in, a wooden train complete with bells and horns, a giant tree house, two log cabins with slides, a full-size covered wagon with bronze horses (and yes! they let the kids climb up and ride in it!).
Needless to say, each time we've been back to Kauai we've visited Na Aina Kai, and with each trip our "tour" of the main garden has shortened. Just last week we were there, and when I made our reservation I asked to go straight to the children's garden, and they created a special tour for us -- we got two hours just in that area. And the best part about Na Aina Kai is that you practically have the place to yourself. Word may slowly be getting out. But it's still one of Kauai's best kept secrets.
This past weekend my family and I enjoyed wide open spaces, fresh air and joys of sleeping under the stars (albeit under the security of our domed tent). We packed ourselves and a whole mess of gear (see check list below) into our car and headed up north to Henry W. Coe State Park. California's largest state park, and its best kept secret, Coe is an annual tradition with my father's side of the family. Every year for the past twenty-some-odd he and a group of his best friends and their children have congregated in the same campsite (number 5). I've missed a good many of the recent years--busy life, having babies, etc.--but I was determined this year to get back into the tradition, and share it with my own children. Until this trip, they had never had the pleasure of roasting marshmallows over a roaring fire, listening to ghost stories as the sky turned dark, sleeping in a tent, or peeing in a port-o-potty--all important rites of passage.
To get ready for the trip we needed to get some serious gear. We turned to REI, since we love the company and a new store just opened in Santa Monica. On a Saturday afternoon, the whole family trekked over there, and we outfitted the kids with sleeping bags, hiking shoes, lots of fleece, personal flashlights, rain gear, folding camp chairs, and battery-powered inflatable air mattresses. We were set. This particular trip was an easy first trip for us as a family. We were going with other VERY experienced campers who have a lot of gear (barbecues, camp stoves, specialized water bottles, lots of fancy coolers, hammocks, cots, foam beds, you name it), and because they had it already we didn't have to bring any of it. Also, because we were in a group, each family or couple was responsible for only one meal, additionally you just brought personal drinks, or particular snacks. This simplifies things dramatically, and frees you up to do other things like hike down to the river, swim or fly fish (they make children's rods!) in the nearby swimming hole, play Frisbee golf, look for snakes and lizards, or splash in the puddles. (Yup, on the last day of our trip it rained and rained. While the adults huddled under a makeshift shelter--those experienced campers rigged up four large tarps over the picnic tables in no time--the children all donned rain boots and had a ball sploshing around the increasingly muddy campsite.)
At the end of three days, we were grubby, tired, yet full of smiles, and had acquired a very healthy appreciation for life in the slow lane. We crafted memories to cherish, and who knows, we may even be back for more next year!
*Special note. If you're not an experienced camper or going with a group and sharing in the gear and meal responsibilities, you may want to ease into camping. Check out Woodall's North American Campground Directory. There are sites that are more accessible, have more amenities, or even lodges! Otherwise, be prepared, camping is a big ordeal, and takes a lot of forethought and organization. If you don't believe me, check out the never ending list from www.familycampinggear.com (a very worthwhile site if your contemplating a camping trip):
| Cooking Gear Check List |
Ice Chest Stove Fuel Fuel Funnel Griddle Fire Grid BBQ Grill Charcoal Fire Starter/lighter Fluid Pots Frying Pan Baking Pans Plates Bowls Cups Silverware Steak Knives Spatula Serving Spoon Ladle Kitchen Knife Can Opener Cork Screw Bottle Opener Tongs Pot Gripper Pliers Pot holders Measuring Cup Cutting Board Reflector Oven Baking Oven Dutch Oven Coffee Pot Wash Tub Dish Towel Paper Towels Dish Soap Scouring Pads Sponge Matches (strike anywhere) Stove Igniter Aluminum Foil Trash Bags Stove Stand Table Cloth Collapsible Water Jugs Water Purifying Tablets Water Filtering Pump |
Everyone knows what a pain it is to get through the airport these days -- the lines are long and so is the hassle factor. And it's even worse when you are schlepping small children and all of their required paraphernalia. Well, apparently in some airports, such as LAX, there are services that you that can hire which will escort you from curb to plane seat with first class treatment. I have not personally used the service I am about to endorse, but one of my best friends has, and I trust her implicitly. (On my last trip with children I tried to engage them, but called too close to the date of departure -- you must book in advance!) Apparently the woman to call in Los Angeles is Linda J. Rippel of LJR & Associates. She's located in Redondo Beach (sorry no website!), and she or one of her associates will meet you at the curb, whisk you right through check in (no lines!), zip through security (no lines again!), and deposit you in the red carpet club until it's time to board. And you guessed it, when you're getting on the plane somehow there are no lines again! (Or at least minimal...) My friend said it's like being a celebrity, and it's all for a very reasonable price of $100 (this fee may vary with number of travelers in your party). I'm dying to try the service, and guess I will need to find a similar service on the other end! If one such company exists, my guess is that there are others!
LJR & Associates
Linda J. Rippel
1000 S. Catalina Avenue
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
310-316-2279
Okay, this is a bit of a twist on my usual entry, instead of writing about clothes to pack for trips, I'm going to talk about clothes that travel to you. I'm referring to trunk shows, which typically happen at numerous locations around the country two times per year (spring and fall), and you order for the following season. There are two children's brands that I highly recommend getting on their trunk show circuit.
The first is Papo D'Anjo, a company that creates classic European clothing, made the old fashioned way in ateliers in Lisbon. Started by a mother who wanted simple fashions made of gorgeous fabrics (cottons and wools from France, Italy, Spain and Scotland), Papo D'Anjo does just that and delivers its products at a reasonable price. The other thing I love about Papo is that they offer wonderful basics as well as fun items like peasant dresses in Liberty cotton prints. With all the traveling my children do, it's nice to have the versatility of Papo's line. The company's website is not terribly robust, because most of their business through trunk shows, but it's good to check it occasionally, because they do sell off their extra stock at discounted prices.
The other company with clothes that are worth the wait, is Kule. Designed by Nikki Kule, another enterprising mother, these clothes are preppy, well-made and very wearable. Nikki describes her style as "part bazooka, part root beer, a little bit of Nantucket, a pinch of tretorns, and a dab of everything that was cool in prep school 20 years ago." Basically her clothes are a twist on some of our old favorites. I love her stuff for my son, it's hard to find great clothes for boys. The only bummer is that Nikki doesn't do layette sizes (her smallest is 12 months), but she does design things for women, just in case you find yourself wishing you could fit in a certain sweater! Kule has a much more fleshed out website, with more product, so if they don't come to your neck of the woods, you can still order.
And even though this entry wasn't specifically about traveling, remember that when you go on a trip, and I'm going to quote Laurie Berkner
(one of my daughter's new favorite singers), "the most important thing is that you bring your
clothes."
Saturdays are adventure day for my family -- we like to try new things as well as revisit old haunts. As we live in Los Angeles, there are many day trips available to us, and one of our preferred places to explore is Pasadena. There are many ways to spend an incredibly fantastic day as a family in Pasadena. One of our perennial favorites is the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. We happen to be members, so it is an easy solution for us, and there is a ton of options that are good for both children and adults.
Highlights of the Huntington include: the Japanese Garden, Rose Garden, Desert Garden, a Gutenberg Bible, a manuscript of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, Gainsborough's Blue Boy and Lawrence's Pinkie. (The art is not always a draw for young patrons, but there are many other things to attract their attention).
(Water Bells in the Huntington Children's Garden)
My daughter's two favorite places at the Huntington are the Japanese Garden (with it's koi ponds, bonsai tree gardens and tea house), and the newly completed Children's Garden. A bit of fantasy, mixed with the wonder of nature, the children's garden is a blend of landscape elements and interactive sculptures, such as the pebble chime, fog grotto, metallic sand, and water bells.
(Rainbow Room in the Huntington Children's Garden)
It's a pity the whole place only stays open until 4pm, because we never seem to have enough time here.
The
Huntington Library,
Art Collections, and
Botanical Gardens 1151
Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
(626) 405-2100
Another popular destination for families, and a new particular favorite of ours, is Kidspace Children's Museum -- dubbed an "interactive learning environment promoting exploration, investigation and expression through the arts, sciences and humanities where kids can feed bugs, create an earthquake, and climb raindrops!" It's an apt description.
Most memorable for me was the climbing -- the S. Mark Taper Foundation Rainbow Climber (shown above) is an enclosed glass tower that rises 35 feet up into the air. Both adults and children scramble from one circular glass platform to another until you reach the top, from which you can look out over the entire Kidspace. The outside is as impressive as the inside, with an outdoor amphitheater, climbing wall, tricycle arena, and gardens. Another place to easily while away a day.
Kidspace Children's Museum
480 N. Arroyo Blvd Pasadena, CA 91103  |
After the museums close, we usually head over to Old Pasadena, and stroll around the 22-block historic district looking for a restaurant that strikes our fancy. The main artery through the old town is Colorado Boulevard. Situated on the boulevard and in the surrounding area are more than 200 shops and restaurants, including child-friendly options such as Barnes & Noble, Papillion, and Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop. We've tried lots of restaurants on and off of Colorado, and one of our favorites is Nonya. Not necessarily a kid-oriented eatery, Nonya is a cuisine that creatively combines Chinese, Malay and Indonesian ingredients and cooking techniques. The result in my opinion is absolutely delicious. My kids love it too, but they do have adventuresome palates. If your kids don't like the food, there's always plain rice, and as distraction there's a large pot with goldfish!
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These Hable Construction totes are amazingly light and totally totable. I'm not a big fan of diaper bags, they are too heavy and full of too many compartments, so much so that you can't fit in your gear! I especially recommend these bags for when you fly -- you need room for the usual suspects, plus snacks, a change of clothes, and tons of toys! And once you get to your location you can use the bag for the beach, or keeping dirty clothes organized.
This Weekender Tote is the largest "basket" style tote Hable makes, and comes in a variety of durable linen/cotton blend fabrics. (My favorite is the "Espresso Bean," shown above, but also comes in "Navy Shells" and "Key Lime Cosmos".) Hable's site charges $190, but you can find slightly discounted at other sites, such as Giggle's, or See Jane Work which charge $175.
I just love these City Baby books. This particular edition is for New York City, but they also publish one for Los Angeles. They are written for and by locals, but I have to say that I recommend browsing, if not buying, these guides if you're going to spend longer than a week in one of the cities covered. Filled with insider tips and parenting advice on all sorts of topics -- from choosing an obstetrician and finding prenatal yoga classes to hiring a nanny and buying baby gear -- City Baby guides cover the market exhaustively. The sections that are especially good for travelers are: "Indoor Activities," "Outdoor Activities," "Kid-Friendly Restaurants" and "Traveling Tips." Also if you want to shop for baby items while visiting there is a very comprehensive shopping section complete with boutiques, resale shops and kid-friendly malls. And when you're done with your trip, you could pass the book on to your host, donate it to your hotel's "library," or give it to a friendly family met while exploring the city's recommended attractions.
On weekends my family usually looks for adventures to partake in around town. Last month I suggested we take a trip down to Marina Del Rey to see the boats and have dinner. (My nearly two-year-old son Oliver is captivated by anything to do with boats...) After a bit of research we found a restaurant called Tony P's Dockside Grill which sounded promising. Zagat's gives it a 16 for food, 17 for decor, 17 for service and $23 for price. The write-up did raise a few flags: namely "sports bar" and "so-so service" comments -- but there were also some positives: such as "dockside dining" and "patio overlooking the Marina," which carried more weight.
The evening turned out to be perfect, and definitely repeatable! Parking was easy, Tony P's has a big lot, from which you can walk right out onto the Marina. There were tons of boats to see, and even a school of little fishies which entertained the kids until our table was ready. Once inside we succeeded in getting a table on the patio. Even though we were there in early March and the weather was blustery, the deck was cozy -- enclosed by thick see-through plastic, warmed by outdoor heaters, and illuminated with twinkling lights -- and had an incredible view of lots of boats, so close they were within spitting distance (don't worry, we abstained).
The food was perfectly adequate, and the children's menu was quite extensive and affordable, with starters such as "Cup-O-Chowder" or "The Wedge" salad at $1.95 each, and entrees including "Nicolette's Lots-O-Cheese Pizza" or "Mom's Charbroiled Chicken Breast" at $3.95 each. Another bonus, the kids are greeted with bags of goodies (small rulers with stencils, crayons, mini puzzles, etc.) and a whole activity "book" of things to color, trace, and decipher while they wait. And we didn't have to wait or want for much; contrary to Zagat's, I did not think the service was so-so, our waiter was very attentive and friendly.
Next time we go, we might make a whole day of it, and actually ride on a boat beforehand. According to Tony P, Marina Boat Rentals offers everything from kayaks to private charters.
Tony P's Dockside Grill
4445 Admiralty Way
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
310.823.4534
These Take & Toss Spill-Proof 10oz Cups from The First Years are perfect for travel as well as everyday at home. They are billed as disposable, but I actually reuse them, and even toss them in the diswasher! They are very inexpensive ($3.39 for 4 at Drugstore.com), and seem to work better than most "permanent" sippy cups. (My kids actually take these cups filled with water to bed at night -- the tops don't usually leak...) Another bonus: they pack well, with cups and tops stacking neatly. And if you can't fit them in the suitcase for the return trip, they're so cheap that you don't mind leaving them behind.
Thinking broadly, the company also makes other take & toss items, including snack cups, infant bowls, spoons, and cups in larger sizes and with straw tops for older children.
My other favorite source for inexpensive children's tableware suitable for travel is IKEA -- the Kalas collection offers everything you need to feed kids, including plates, bowls, cups and silverware (this 18-piece flatware set is $1.49 -- can't really beat that!). 
