Visiting Yellowstone with Kids

For back ground, see the first post in the series! In summer 2019, our vacation was a two and a half week trip that included Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park and Glacier National Park. We decided to fly after looking at the drive time (22 hours from Glacier NP to Santa Barbara!). If you want the detailed drive plan though, look at the upcoming Grand Teton post. We chose to fly to Bozeman, Montana since it was between the three places and our longest drive day was 9 hours from Grand Teton in Wyoming to West Glacier, Montanta. It was long but do-able.

Day 1: Fly to Bozeman, MT from LAX. We also gathered supplies this day since we still camped for most of the trip. Most of the supplies came from Target or Bob Ward's Outdoor, conveniently located next door. Another location we got supplies second hand was Twice Treasured. In Bozeman, we stayed at Bozeman Ramada by Wyndham which has a very fun waterslide at the pool!

Awesome waterslide

Day 2: Drive to Yellowstone (2.5 hours) and set up camp. We stayed at Madison Campground (because it is at the lowest elevation--hopefully warmest--for tent camping). If we had stayed in a lodge, we would have chosen Canyon Lodge since it is centrally located. As you drive, you pass through the town of West Yellowstone, home to the Grizzly Museum where you can see Grizzly bears up close.

Camping

Day 3: Take in the Old Faithful geyser which erupts every 90 minutes. The rangers speak frequently and the visitor center is interesting and there are several wooden, walking paths around the area including a one mile and a 2.4 mile loop. We also took in the nearby Grand Prismatic Springs which also have wooden, walking paths to best very the alien looking, colorful pools. After driving the Firehole Lake Drive, we walked the Fountain Paints Pots Loop. This was a big walking day, so you may have to pace yourself with kids.

Grand Prismatic Spring

Day 4: Drive to the Roosevelt Arch near Gardiner, MT (Eat pizza at K-Bar Pizza and restock supplies). Visit Mammoth Hot Springs and walk the area. There are many connecting paths and (you can choose how much you are up for that day (1-2 miles). The nearby Albright Visitor Center is interesting if you have time. The swim in Boiling River is fun and worth the short trek (.5 mile/1 mile roundtrip). 

Mammoth Hot Springs

Day 5: Hike Artist's Paint Pots (about 1 mile roundtrip). Drive to the Canyon Visitor Center for a quick look then explore the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Much can be seen from the road but pick some view points to get out of the car to take in the scope of the canyon. Hike Uncle Tom's Trail (.6 mile) or part of the North Rim Trail (up to 6 miles). Pass through the Grand Canyon to the Lamar Valley. Wildlife is best viewed in the early morning or at dusk so we drove through had dinner in Cooke City, then back through at dusk.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Day 6: Drive through the Hayden Valley to see wild life. Wildlife is best viewed in the early morning or at dusk, but we saw a lot even driving through during the day. Continue down to Yellowstone Lake and hike West Thumb Geyser Basin (.5 miles).

We drove to Grand Teton Day 7, but we did take time to swim in the Firehole River.  We could have taken time to do another partial day. Other items that showed up on several lists that we did not have time for: the Norris Geyser Basin including Porcelain and Back Basins (2 mile hike), Mystic Falls (2.4 mile hike), Fossil Forest (3 miles) and Trout Lake (1 mile).

Firehole River

Resources:

National Parks with Kids https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/047018406X/
https://www.yellowstonepark.com/things-to-do/top-10-kid-activities
https://hikeitbaby.com/blog/10-fun-things-to-do-with-kids-in-yellowstone/

Fall Leaves Or How to Find Fall in Santa Barbara

Cambridge Dr December 2019

I love Santa Barbara. I am a native so I don't miss the real feeling of fall here. I did take a truly amazing trip to Maine to see family in mid-October many years back and was beautiful. For those of you who miss the feel of fall, this may just be a taste, but here are some places to find leaves falling and covering the ground that may make you feel better. Thanks to my Facebook friends for making my list longer! What are your favorites? Leave a comment or message me on Facebook!

Santa Barbara
Grove Lane

Student Affairs Administrative Service Building at the bus loop at UCSB

Noleta

Huntington Dr
Kellogg Ave
Bike path off Turnpike Rd 

Goleta
Encina Rd
Cambridge Dr
Carlo Dr 

Valdez Ave

Vacation National Park Trips

Glacier National Park

This is my 200th post, y'all! Who knew our little park hunt would turn into an ongoing blog?

One of the things we love to do as a family is visit National Parks. We did a huge one this past summer (2019) to Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Glacier National Park. We have also visited Zion, Bryce and the North Rim Grand Canyon (2015), Yosemite (2016) and Sequoia/Kings Canyon (every year).

There two things worth mentioning. When you have a 4th grade child, you can print out a free national parks pass to exchange at a park for the actual pass (good September through August, but it is the honor system). Do print it out ahead of time. It is worth the $80 pass price currently. For you Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, there is a special patch you can earn, logging about 10 hours in parks. Any Jr Ranger booklets, talks and guided hikes counted for us.

During the school year, I plan to post about these trips as much as I documented and can remember. I hope it helps someone plan their next adventure!

National Parks (Est. Post Date)
Bryce Canyon
Glacier
Grand Canyon -- North Rim 
Grand Teton
Kings Canyon (April)
Sequoia (April)
Yellowstone
Yosemite (March)
Zion

Fall Events 2019

Apple Picking at SLO Creek Farms

Fall brings its own fun in Santa Barbara. Although we can't really enjoy the leaves or crisp weather, there are some fun events!

All Month Long:
Lane Farms has a pumpkin patch with hay ride and corn maze open from the last weekend in September through Halloween. Hours are 9am-9pm (corn maze closes 1 hour before the patch closes and opens at 3pm weekdays).

Big Wave Dave's has kids games and plenty of pumpkins. It is open through Halloween.

The Fillmore Railway has a Pumpkin Liner every Saturday and Sunday in October 10:30-5.

San Luis Obispo's Avila Valley Farm has a fall festival too!

Apple Picking at SLO Creek Farms

Moorpark's Underwood Family Farms has a fall festival worth checking out. Starting the last weekend in September, they are open 9-6 and have a tractor ride, corn maze, pig races, an animal center and much more. $6 per person weekdays/$15 per person weekends.

Local Events:
Boo at the Zoo takes place October 18, 19 and 20 and is special hours from 4:30/5:30-7:30/8:30. There are characters and animals roaming the grounds, a hay bale maze, costume parades, themed train rides and of course trick or treating.

Earl Warrren hosts the Haunt and Harvest Festival on October 18-20, 4-11, 12-11, 12-10.

The Knox School is hosting a Spooktacular Hallow-STEAM evening Friday October 18 5:30-7:30.
----
The YMCA has a fall festival from 4-7 on Friday October 25 with a haunted house, train ride, rock wall, pumpkin decorating candy and prizes.

Mesa Fall Trunk or Treat at Santa Barbara City College Friday October 25 5-7pm Trunk or Treat, games and costume contest

MOXI Member event with costumes, experiments and trick/treats throughout Saturday 10/26 8:30-10.

The Montecito Country Mart has a Halloween Festival Saturday October 26 from 10-4.

St Andrew's Preschool is having a festival Saturday October 26 from 11-2. There are games, pony rides, bouncy slides, face painting, a magician and more!

Free Methodist Church of Santa Barbara has a fall festival Saturday October 26 11:30-2:30 with trunk or treat 12-1:30. There are also games, crafts, face painting and bounce houses.

There is a Thrills and Chills Dance event at the Sunken Gardens Saturday October 26 from 2-4.

Community Covenant Church of Goleta hosts a free fall festival Saturday October 26 from 4-6:30. There are jumphouses, hay rides, mazes and more!

Dia de Los Muertos craft event at Casa de la Guerra Sunday October 27 12-3.

Dia de los Muertos Family Day at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art Sunday October 27 1-4 FREE

Spooky Train and Haunted Depot at the South Coast Railroad Museum on Sunday October 27 4-7pm. It is free with trick or treating, the decorated depot and train rides.
--------
HALLOWEEN

Trick or Treat at Calle Real Shopping Center Thursday October 31 from 3-6pm

Trick or Treat in Downtown Santa Barbara Thursday October 31 from 3-6pm

Trick or Treat at La Cumbre Plaza Thursday October 31 from 4-6pm

Trunk or Treat at Anthem Chapel in Goleta Thursday October 31 from 5-7.

Franklin Fall Festival at Franklin School (Hosted by Calvary Chapel SB) Thursday October 31 from 3-6
--------
Dia de los Muertos event at the Natural History Museum Thursday October 31 10-5 and Friday November 1 10-5. 

Restoration Church (Goleta Valley Church) is having Trunk or Treat on Thursday October 31 5-7pm with with games, prizes, trick or treating and more.

Dia de los Muertos event at Pershing Park Saturday November 2 11-4

**** These events happened in past years and I updated the dates, but am not sure if they are happening. I will update as I see more info and feel free to comment below. ****

** Trick or Treat On Milpas Ave Thursday October 31 from 2-5pm

Quest 2019 Update

It's time for my yearly update of the summer quest! It was an ambitious goal to go to lots of museums. My kids (6 and 9 now) can go to museums and do well, but it was a once a week at most activity. We visited some and will continue to visit more, but I didn't go as many as I would have liked. Perhaps some day we will tackle have summer of the museums part 2.

It is always fun to have a goal and although this one was a bit ambitious, I am glad we got the more museums than we would have tried otherwise, but I would have loved more!

Main Museums
MOXI Museum of Exploration and Innovation
Old Mission Santa Barbara
Rancho La Patera & Stow House
Santa Barbara Carriage and Western Arts Museum
Santa Barbara Historical Museum (El Presidio)
Santa Barbara Maritime Museum
Santa Barbara Museum of Art
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
Santa Barbara Sea Center
South Coast Railroad Museum

Lesser Known in Santa Barbara
Ablitt House
Bellosguardo Estate
Casa del Herrero
Casa Dolores
Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum
Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara
Reagan Ranch Center
Ridley Tree Museum of Art (Westmont College)
Santa Barbara Art Museum (UCSB)
Santa Barbara Surfing Museum
Santa Barbara Veterans Museum
Susan Quinlan's Doll & Teddy Bear Museum
UCSB Multicultural Center

Farther Away

Carpinteria Valley Museum of History
Elveroj Museum of History and Art
Guadelupe-Nipomo Dunes Center
Guadelupe Cultural Arts Center
La Purissima Mission
Neal Taylor Nature Center (Lake Cachuma)
Santa Maria Discovery Museum
Santa Maria Museum of Flight
Santa Maria Valley Historical Railway Museum
Wilding Art Museum

Summer 2019 Snapshot

Life Hack: Pool Bag
This summer we went to the pool and beach. A lot. I finally kept a swim bag packed all the time with the basics: suits, towels, hats, sunblock and packaged snacks. It was handy to just be able to grab it and go.

New Product I Love: Target Plates and Utensils
We recently we on a road trip and needed to buy supplies after flying there. These Target plates and utensils were so perfect we brought them home in our suitcases to put with our camping supplies.

Last Book I Finished: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens was an amazing read. Set in 1950's North Carolina, Kya is the Marsh Girl mostly self raised and occasionally interacting with the locals in the nearby town. Readers grow to love her tenacity and love of nature. When a suspicious death occurs in the marsh, the blame falls on Kya. The story is told jumping back and forth between the past and present as Kya is brought to trial. The story is engaging and the descriptions are beautifully painted. 5 stars.

Life Project: Summer of the Museums and launching a moms group for mothers of elementary aged kids called MOMSnext.

Related Links:

Fall 2020 Snapshot

Summer 2020 Snapshot

Spring 2020 Snapshot

Winter 2020 Snapshot

Fall 2019 Snapshot

Summer 2019 Snapshot

Winter 2019 Snapshot

Fall 2018 Snapshot

Spring 2018 Snapshot

40 Year Bucket List

MOXI

The MOXI, the Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation, is a new addition to the museums in Santa Barbara. Opening in early 2017, there has been fixed exhibits and some rotating spaces as well. The ground level has sounds exhibits

Favorites: interactive water area (5 year old), air machine that chutes yarn balls to a new location (8 year old), and Rube Goldberg machine (mom).

Hours: 10am-5pm Daily (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas eve and Christmas)

During COVID and Summer 2021 reservations are recommended.
Time: 1 hour- 90 minutes
Price: Adults $15 and kids $10
Membership: Family memberships start at $135
Parking: The public lot at the nearby train station has free parking for 75 minutes and $1.50 each hour thereafter.
Location: The museums is located on State St near the waterfront. (We take 101S to Garden St. Turn right on Garden St, then right on Yanonali St. Continue into the parking lot by the train station.)
More Info: http://www.moxi.org/
Nearby: East Beach, West Beach, Sea Center and Maritime Museum
Special Events: early member hours one Saturday a month, birthday parties, New Year's Eve celebration

Entryway

Car Competition

Innovation Workshop

Rotating Exhibits

Rube Goldberg Machine

Sound and Waves