Question: Can you tell me how to get… how to get to Sesame Street.
Answer: I can, but then I’d have to kill you.

See, what I did there? I took an innocent theme song to a classic children’s show and added a twist of cliched adult humor. That’s why I get the big bucks.

This is not the real Sesame Street, but rather a mock version that was set up in San Diego at BlogHer 11. My kids weren’t with us, but we still had fun. Heck, I’ve watched more Sesame Street than they have. Stupid cable channels.

While I can’t really tell you how to get to Sesame Street I can remind you that SeaWorld features many of the show’s characters, but hurry, summers are ending fast!

This post is part of the UpTake Friday Family Series.

Photo: W. Honea

These are great seats!

Spring is in the air, and with it the promise of breaks and vacations. Also, the pending closeness of summer, which for everyone shopping in the kid section is synonymous with vacation. Doesn’t seem fair, really.

One of our favorite places to visit with (or without) the family is SeaWorld. And there is nobody bigger at SeaWorld than Shamu (I know, not really a fish). By bigger I mean both size and star power. Shamu is a double threat.

Personally, the Sea World park in San Diego is my favorite, but that doesn’t mean it has to be yours. There are also SeaWorld parks in Orlando and San Antonio, which makes a family trip all the easier.

Which SeaWorld do you go (or want to go) to? What’s your favorite part?

For more family-friendly travel photos visit DeliciousBaby’s Photo Fridays.

Photo by Stig Nygaard via Flickr.

The following guide is a guest post written by Kara Mayer Robinson, Amy Querido of The Q Family Adventures Travel Blog, and Jen Close of Two Kids and a Map.

Family Vacations for Everyone!

It doesn’t matter if you’re a fan of the mouse or not, Orlando is a no-brainer when it comes to pleasing the whole family. This kid-centric city makes little ones so happy that it brings smiles to everyone on board, making family trips run super-smooth.

There are endless activity options for kids in and around Orlando. You may feel a bit rushed, but it is possible to visit two Disney parks in one day. Walt Disney World is comprised of 4 theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom) and 2 water parks (Disney’s Blizzard Beach, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon). Allow plenty of time for he shuttle to take you to each park. If you will be in Orlando for more than four days, purchase a pass and visit one park each day.

If you didn’t bring a stroller, rent one even if your children are no strolling age – they will thank you later in the day! Also, purchase your souvenirs at a local Wal-Mart or Target before you get to the park; your kids will still be excited about them (you can still make them a surprise) and you’ll be excited about all the money you save. Read More »

Orlando Family Vacations

Orlando, Florida is well known as a family vacation destination.  However, one of the common misconceptions I hear from families is that they have to wait until the kids are “old enough to appreciate it” before they can invest in a family trip to the theme park capital of the world.

To a certain extent, I agree.  Places like Universal Studios and even Disney World are not great for kids under five.  They can’t go on roller coasters and a lot of young children are terrified of the rides that are supposed to be made for them.  My daughter was so scared of Magic Kingdom’s Snow White ride that we had to leave through one of the emergency exits.  And don’t even get me started on Universal Studio’s 3D Shrek experience.  (Note to attraction designers: small children are scared of the dark AND graveyards AND ghosts.  Duh.)

It makes sense to avoid these places until your children are old enough to appreciate the hundreds of dollars you’ll be spending in admission prices.

But what if you have one kid who is the perfect age to experience these things and another much younger child?  Can you plan an Orlando vacation that includes activities for younger children?

Absolutely.

Read More »