It was his first time visiting the city of San Francisco, and the look on his face shows it.

My oldest son and I took a weekend trip to San Francisco, just the two of us — although we spent time with friends during our stay. It was a different experience, and while we missed the rest of the family it was nice to have the time together. More to come!

This post is part of the UpTake Friday Family Series.

Photo: W. Honea

We talk a lot about the Disney theme parks on here — hey, they’re the ultimate family vacations destination, we couldn’t avoid them if we wanted to. Luckily, we don’t want to.

There is a lot happening in the Disney parks right now, and to make sure you’re in the loop I’ve compiled a list of interesting items that you might find magical. I’m good like that.

Disney Park Updates

Disney’s California Adventure is getting close to the opening of Cars Land! (courtesy Disney Parks Blog)

President Obama and Disney –  yesterday Mr. Obama became the fourth sitting president to visit a Disney park. Can you imagine the security? (courtesy Disney Parks Blog)

Disney Cruise Line is like a theme park resort on the ocean, and here’s five reasons why. (courtesy of Disney Parks Blog)

Disneyland Paris Resort is getting rats… on purpose! Ratatouille is going home. (courtesy of The Disney Blog)

A bunch of people you thought were dead will be headlining the concert series at the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival. (courtesy of The Disney Blog)

It’s a Jolly Holiday Bakery (even if Mary isn’t with you) at Disneyland. Also, no bobsleds for you (for now). (courtesy of Micechat)

Time for a mad tea party (and other adult beverages) at Disney’s California Adventure. (courtesy of the L.A. Times)

Ghirardelli to open up shop inside Disney’s California Adventure. (courtesy of Stitch Kingdom)

That’s all for now. Come back again for more updates on Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort, Disney Cruise Line and the other Disney parks.

See you real soon!

Photo: W. Honea

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the enormously popular and magical addition to Orlando’s Universal Studios Resort, is coming to Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles, California. It’s like Manifest Destiny for wizards and the muggles that love them (you know who you are).

Don’t worry, Florida, your version of  The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is going to be significantly expanded. It is unclear if the new Hollywood version will include the pending Orlando expansions.
From the good people at Universal Studios:

“The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood will be as impressive as what has been created in Orlando – and is expected to transform tourism in Los Angeles for decades to come. It will be a fully immersive environment for the entire family that brings the stories of Harry Potter to life and is faithful to the visual landscape of the films, including a majestic Hogwarts castle to serve as the centerpiece of the themed environment.  The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood will be created with the same commitment to authenticity and the same level of talent and resources as its Orlando counterpart.”

From the good person that created Harry Potter, author J.K. Rowling:

“I am delighted that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has been so popular with fans since the opening in Orlando last year and I am sure that the teams at Universal and Warner Bros. will bring their expertise and attention to detail to Hollywood to make this new experience equally as exciting.”

I’m pretty excited about the news. I haven’t been to the Orlando version (there’s a story there), but I live in L.A. and that increases my chances of visiting by about a billion percent (give or take).

Now who do I talk to about getting a Hollywood version of the Spider Man ride?

Have you been to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter? What do you think?

Photo Credit: Kevin Kolczynski, Universal Orlando Resort

Even Sleeping Beauty can’t rest with all of this awesomeness going on! The holidays at Disneyland are all about the details, people. Don’t worry, those icicles are secured with fairy magic.

Enjoy the holidays at the Disneyland Resort through January 8, 2011.

This is a Wordless Wednesday entry, but I tend to ramble.

Photo: Disneyland Resort

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. You know the rest. The holidays at Disneyland are in go mode, people. As in, GO!

The tree above (not really growing) is in Town Square between the gate and Main Street. You can’t miss it.

This post is a Wordless Wednesday entry. The words are my gift to you. Happy holidays!

Photo: Disneyland Resort

A Seaport Village Sunset

Looking for a getaway to warmer climes this winter, for you and your significant other? Consider San Diego, California! You can have a FANTASTIC time for around $300! That includes lodging, meals, and entertainment – if you drive, you’ll have to figure in the price of gas. If you fly, you’ll have to figure in the price of airfare and vehicle rental. This is for a two-night stay, including two breakfasts/lunches/dinners, and two days of activities.

Here’s where you stay:

I used Expedia to find hotel rates at around $80 per night – trust me, there are a TON of them. The Best Western Mission Bay and the Wyndham Garden San Diego are each a couple of blocks from Mission Bay, and fifteen minutes from the Gaslamp District or the ocean. The Pacific Shores Inn is a mere 100 yards from the Pacific ocean and San Diego’s famed boardwalk.

Total Cost: about $175

Here’s where you eat:

Breakfast:
Each of the hotels above offer complimentary breakfast – for this budget to work, you need to count on eating a free morning meal at your hotel of choice.

Lunch:
Day One: The Boardwalk Bistro (on Mission Beach) – grab two lunch combos (salad, soup and 1/2 sandwich) and a drink for $10.00 each.
Day Two: Greek Island Cafe (Seaport Village) – share a Combo Platter which includes Gyros, Souvlaki, Salad, Pita, Dolma, and Spanikopita. Add a couple of drinks and get out of there for under $20.

Dinner:
Day One: Split a pizza and a house salad at the Sidebar in the Gaslamp District. Throw in a couple of glasses of wine and spend about $35.
Day Two: Time to spoil yourselves a little bit! Indulge in dinner at the Coronado Boathouse – seafood entrees are about $25 per person, so if you add drinks you’ll probably spend about $65.

Breakfast = $0
Lunch = $40
Dinner = $100

Total Cost: about $140

Here’s what you do:

Day One: Hit Mission Beach and the Oceanfront Boardwalk. People watch, wander shoeless in the sand, soak up the sun, and be lulled by the sound of the waves. In the evening enjoy the culture and vivacity of the historic Downtown Gaslamp Quarter.

Day Two: Check out Seaport Village during the day – watch the boats meander about, window shop, and enjoy the fresh sea air. In the evening cross the bridge over to Coronado Island and experience the energetic yet serene island atmosphere.

Total Cost: The $35 you have left in spending money! The perfect amount for some San Diego themed souvenirs!

Photo credit:

- Seaport Village by Jay Martinez on Flickr Creative Commons.

There is no lack of art and culture in San Francisco, one of the best cities that America has to offer (no, I don’t work for their department of tourism), but should you want to see something off the beaten path then take a walk through Chinatown. You’re probably going there anyway.

This original Banksy has been preserved by someone who understands great art isn’t just hanging on museum walls — sometimes it’s in the form of graffiti. Believe it.

This post is part of the UpTake Public Art Series. If you see an interesting piece of public art, snap a picture and send it in. We’ll feature it on UpTake!

We’ve been inspired! This series usually showcases various pieces of commissioned public art, and we’ll continue to do so, but for the next few weeks we’re going to look at some awesome street art, too.

Photo: sfslim via Flickr

The Walt Disney Family Museum is located within the beautiful confines of San Francisco’s famous Presidio. They found a pretty nice spot. Breathtaking, really.

In fact, one of the best exhibits in the museum isn’t an exhibit at all. It’s a window. As you are walking from one of the many rooms to the next there is a hallway with nothing but a bench and a view. The Golden Gate Bridge sits on the other side. That experience alone may be worth the price of admission. Hence the picture above.

So what else do you get for your ticket? Quite a bit. There are family movies, personal letters, awards (including the famous Snow White Oscar), behind the scenes footage and a level of detail that some may find overwhelming and others will recognize as the way Walt would have wanted it.

I was traveling alone in San Francisco (stayed at the awesome Crescent San Francisco Hotel) and having a family of Disney fans at home I was reluctant to visit the museum by myself. I’m glad that I did. While there are plenty of interactive activities throughout the winding maze of the museum, few of them are designed to hold the attention of young children — especially those that can’t accept the fact that this Disney attraction doesn’t twirl, fly or hug them for pictures. There are no churros. I’m sure that my boys would have had fun, but it would have come at a price, that being my chance to stroll leisurely through years of Disney history.

And that is what the museum does best, it provides a timeline of Walt Disney’s life and invites you to walk along it. You can stop at points of your choosing and dive deeper into the moments that interest you most, or you can stand back and marvel at the blending of history and the modern technology with which it is presented. But you can’t take photos. Snapshots may only be of the mental variety.

The purpose of the Walt Disney Family Museum, at least my impression of it, is not only to reflect upon the accomplishments that have been made, but also to teach and to marvel, and hopefully, inspire. It starts, as it should, with the birth of a man, and it ends accordingly, with words of his passing. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room, which I know for a fact. I was standing there alone.

For those visiting the San Francisco area, the public transportation options are many, but getting to the Presidio is a bit difficult. If you are traveling without a car (as I was) there are buses that will get you fairly close to the museum, but you are at the mercy of schedules and bus drivers that don’t announce each stop location, which led to me missing mine by a few miles. It was sunny out, I walked the rest of the way. However, the next time I visit the museum it will be by cab.

This post is part of the UpTake Monday Museums, Monuments and Memorials Series.

Photo: HarshLight via Flickr.

Sand angels are snow angels’ dirty cousins, but they’re warmer, so there’s that.

You don’t need hot summer days to enjoy some fun at the beach, but you do need some imagination and a carefree attitude — also, acceptance of subsequent baths.

The ocean doesn’t go south for the winter, so visit it!

This post is part of UpTake’s Friday Family Series. If you would like to see your family vacation photo here please submit it via the contact link in the sidebar, subject line: Family Photo.

Photo:  Whit Honea

The day was not crisp. In fact, it was rather warm. There was a light rain in the afternoon. It could have passed for spring.

The end of September was the winding down of whirlwinds and the precipice of a free fall into holiday excitement and the trappings thereof. We decided to blur the line all the sooner.

We took a trip to Disneyland for Mickey’s Halloween Party and suddenly fall was in the air.

The event requires a separate ticket, but don’t fret — admission to Mickey’s Halloween Party actually allows ticket holders to enter Disneyland a few hours prior to the park closing (the Halloween event happens after the park is closed) so that they can enjoy a bit more of the magic. For dates, times and pricing please visit Disneyland.com/halloween. (Walt Disney World offers Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party)

While kids are able to wear costumes to Disneyland whenever they please (assuming it also pleases their parents), adults are usually not allowed to do so. I know, we’ve all seen some adult characters in the parks, but that’s actually their normal thing. Don’t judge. The beauty of Mickey’s Halloween Party is that everyone can dress up, and they do!

Families dress as the characters from their favorite Disney movie, superhero team, television show, etc. — the originality and cleverness that people put into their costumes is pretty darn impressive. However, you don’t need to be a costume designer to enjoy the fun. You don’t even need to dress up, but come on, why wouldn’t you?

Mickey’s Halloween Party offers the opportunity to take photos with your favorite Disney Villains and other Disney characters in their own Halloween costumes. There are special treat stations (candy and healthy options) throughout the park for all of your trick or treating needs (Disney doesn’t run out of candy!), live music and dance parties (Buzz Lightyear’s Intergalactic Space Jam in Tomorrowland Terrace, and Piratepalooza in the Ranch del Zocalo Restaurante), plus lots more fun for boys and girls of all ages.

There is also a Halloween parade called Mickey’s Costume Party Cavalcade, and holiday-themed attractions like the very awesome Haunted Mansion Holiday with a Nightmare Before Christmas overlay (not scary) and the Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy (pretty scary!). Most of the other attractions in Disneyland are also open for guests to enjoy.

The highlight of the event, as far as my family was concerned, was the Halloween Screams Firework Spectacular (below). It was one of the best fireworks displays I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen a few.

We left Mickey’s Halloween Party and headed back to our room at the Disneyland Hotel (which I can’t recommend enough) because the kids were too tired to continue. They changed out of their costumes, washed their faces and fell asleep somewhere between recaps of the evening and failed candy negotiations. They woke mid-sentence, and their words were full of magic.

Photos and video: W. Honea

Disclaimer: My family and I were guests of Disneyland for the Mickey’s Halloween Party event. We would have gone anyway (but don’t tell Disney that!). I paid for the room myself.