Ride UTA ~ Field Trip Friday

Last Friday, my boys and I we had the oppotunity to ride UTA (Utah Transportation Authority) brand new rail line from History Gardner Village to Daybreak. Growing Up in Oregon I waa always riding the pubic rail sytem, with Oregon's freeways and insane Traffic as a teenage, riding MAX (that is what its called in Oregon) was a great way to get from point A (my house) to point B (downtown Portland). It was safe and inexpensive.

When UTA came up with the concept of letting bloggers and their families ride and try/test out the new rail line, I couldn't resist. I don't know about you, but Me and My Three Boys in the Car ~ can get a little CrAzy!! The rail line was like a breath of fresh air. No seat belts or car seats, lots scenery and room to move. My two older boys happily boarded the train, picked their seats and chatted about the scenery.

The train is pretty, clean and smooth. The stops along the way are are all convient and have easy access on and off. The Gardner Village stop is awesome, right accross the street from Archibald's. I can tell already that is going to be a busy stop. Our last stop was on the backside of Daybreak ~ which isn't super close to the Daybreak shops or where my friends live, but if I asked I'm sure they would come and pick me up!!

GiVeAwAy!! Want to try and new rail yourself! It opens August 8th to the public. Leave a comment here (on this post) and you'll be entered to win a family 4 pass to ride the train. Giveaway ends one week from today: July 30th at midnight. Good Luck!

Lagoon ~ Field Trip Friday

 For my husband's work summer party they treated the employees to a day at Lagoon.

 It was the perfect day, warm enough for a few hours at Lagoon-a-beach, and no jacket once the sun went down.

 Hands down our favorite ride was Wicked!

Ragnar Relay ~ Field Trip Friday

The weekend of Father's Day, I ran in the Wasatch Back ~ Ragnar Relay. I got to spend 2 amazing days sweating, cheering and running with 5 of the best ladies I know. 35 + hours in a van, 15 all terrain miles and some of the most beautiful scenery in Utah!!

Saturday Morning 10:30 ish....Jordanelle Reservoir.

Finish Line: Park City High School.

Cabela's ~ Field Trip Friday

We love visiting Cabela's, we have one not far from our house and it is the only one in Utah. Cabela's is a "boys wonderland" especially for the Big Boy in our family. Guns, fishing, camping, clothing, shooting range and candy shop, you could get lost and spend an entire afternoon.

Shooting Range, bang! bang!

They have three major "natural animal habitat" to enjoy: Africa, Snowy Mountian Top (pictured above), and America Forrest. They also have an impressive aquarium and a large selection of trophy mounts. Cabelas is free to the public and if you get a hungry you can always stop by their restaurant and order some wild boar or visit the candy shop for a treat.

Salt Lake Real Soccer Game ~ Field Trip Fridays

We have a professional soccer team in Salt Lake City. In 2009, the Salt Lake Real (RSL) won the MLS Cup Championships. So needless to say we have a great team, even a few of our members played for the US national team in the World Cup last summer. On Tuesday night, my boys had the opportunity to see  teh Semi-final CONCACAF game against Saprissa. RSL won 2-0 and my boys had a blast...crazy fans, smoke machines, great gooooooals and of course the concessions.

Any Major League teams where you live?

Snow Castle ~ Field Trip Fridays

I'm not sure what signs of spring are in your neck of the woods, but here the daffodils and crocus are beginning to sprout, the days are lasting longer and my yard has completely melted of snow.  That is why last Saturday we pulled on our snow bibs, strapped on our boots, shoved on our gloves and headed up the nearest canyon for a snow day! Once we found our spot, we happened upon a totally awesome SNOW CASTLE (or in other words: snow cave!). A little boy's dream! We spent the next 3 hours digging around and playing in our snow castle. We drank hot chocolate (not as good as Hatch's) , looked at animal prints in the snow and of course became kings of our snow castle. Here are just a few of the highlights:

3 musketeers

peek-a-boo!

i'm stuck!

king of the snow castle!

inside our snow castle

yum!

Bowling at U of U ~ Field Trip Fridays

We love the University of Utah's Bowling Alley. It is small (10 lanes), never busy, kid friendly, inexpensive and super fun. We come up and bowl pretty regularly, especially on rainy Saturdays when we need to let loose. I love college campuses.....they have such a great energy and the U of U is no exception. The bowling alley is located in the basement of the Union Building and it has several pool tables, arcade games and a big flat screen to watch sports.

 What boy doesn't love to huck a big heavy ball at something!!

The bowling Alley has great group rates for parties, if I remember correctly it was ($200 for 2 hrs.) call to make sure. My birthday is coming up and I may be celebrating it at the U of U Bowling Alley!

Hatch Family Chocolates ~ Field Trip Friday

Over President's Day Weekend we took a day trip to SLC. Having lived in Salt Lake when my husband and I were first married visiting and hitting our favorite spots is a must. The weather was cold and raining but we stopped by Hatch's Family Chocolates to warm up with some hot coco.

If you've never been Hatch's it is a must!! They have the most delicious Hot Chocolate: milk, dark or half and half ....you'll never go wrong. I personally am not a hot chocolate fan, but I love Hatch's. I image it tastes like the chocolate river in Willie Wonka's Factory: warm chocolate flowing down to your tummy with deliciousness. If I were Augustus Gloop I would have jumped right in!!

They also sell hand-dipped chocolates, carmel apples, coffee, espressos, ice cream and other sugary confections you can't live without.

Hatch Family Chocolates

390 East 4th Avenue

Salt Lake City, UT

11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

From their purple checker board floor to their light and airy seating, Hatch's is a great place to sit, stay and hang out. I love that they are open until 10 p.m. perfect for popping in for a treat after hours. 

Ever been? Love it? Let me know!

Disneyland Wrap-Up

For my Disneyland Wrap-Up I just wanted to point out a few other great things about Christmas. Disney's Believe...in Holiday Magic night time show is so worth the trip. Camp out and get a great spot. Sleeping Beauty Castle is stunning: the snow, the icicles, the lights! At night when the fireworks are blasting off,  the castle is all a glow, the streets are sprinkling snow and as the finale they play "White Christmas". It is beautiful.

Here is a great video showing Sleeping Beauty's Castle. Better than anything we recorded.

Here are a few other bloggers with great Disney Tips:

Marie: Make and Takes
Kelly: Just Spotted
Lisa: Babes in Disneyland
Ride Max

Have a great weekend everyone!

Midway Mania ~ Field Trip Fridays

Toy Story 3

My favorite ride at California is Midway Mania. It is the interactive 3-DToy Story Ride. We waited in line 1 1/2 hrs to take our turn. We waited so long in line, I actually got out of line, picked up dinner, brought it back, and ate dinner in line: Burritos, Hot Dogs, and Popcorn.

Midway Mania is a great family ride. My five year old and nine year loved it, but lets be honest, I loved it the most. One reason is: they let me ride and play the games while I carried the baby in his sling/carrier. As soon as we were off the ride, everyone was talking, comparing games and scores. Second reason I loved this ride: I won! best score in the family.

For more Disney Info on Midway Mania click here. Without question, we would have ridden over and over again, if not for the 1 1/2 hour long line. Next time we go; Midway Mania is our first stop.

You get to wear these fun 3-D glasses while riding/playing. Once you have your glasses you know you are almost there. To help pass the time here are three games we played to keep the kids busy:

I-Spy. With so much to do and see at Disneyland. I-Spy was a great game to keep the kids excited.

Line Competition. We played little competitions with the kids. ex. who can stand on one foot, the longest. Who can hold their breathe, the longest. Who can balance on the rail without their hands. Last man standing won. The line moves every couple minutes, even though it is almost a half a mile long! We played simple, small, physical activities that could be played and finished every couple minutes kept them entertained.

Roshambo. Thumb Wars, Arm Wrestling, Getting to Know other families in Line and Back Rubs. Ahhhh!

The funs not over yet! After riding, take a photo opp in the toy box!

Fast Pass

Upon entering the park it is critical to start your fast passes. Our family rule is Mom or Dad keep track/hold of the park tickets and fast passes. The sooner you start getting your fast passes, the sooner you'll get more. For more info on Fast Passes and which rides offer fast passes click here. We always get on-line before visiting and check which rides offer fast passes.

Lots of rides run out of fast passes before the day is over, so make sure you get fast passes early for the rides you can't leave the park without riding. Cross your fingers the other rides will still have passes available later in the day. We missed out on Tower of Terror, they said they ran out of fast passes by 2 p.m.. Also, even though a ride says you have to come back between this time and this time, you don't. As long as you use your pass after the time stated they will accept the fast pass, even if it is hours after the time you were suppose to return.

Questions, Questions, Question! Disney's Website is great at answering anything and everything.

Christmas Time at Disneyland ~ Field Trip Friday

The day we visited Disneyland was a picture perfect day. Blue skies, warm 60+ degree weather, big crowds and Christmas!! Upon enter the magic kingdom you are greeting with the most breath taking Christmas Tree. The presents, poinsettias, wreathes and garlands all accumulate in the view of Disney's Christmas Tree. The "Tree" was spectacular. Town Square looked like a postcard from Christmas in the 1950's and my dreams. Walking into the Magic Kingdom and seeing the "Tree" I knew the today would be special.

As usually, Disney spares no expense and Christmas is no different. Visit at Christmas is a must see and well worth the trip. The ambiance, music, decorations and celebrations are all wrapped into a picture perfect snap shot.

Just a few of the larger than life (or at least larger than my head!) ornaments:

Santa

Gingerbread man

Toy Soldier

Musical Instruments

Stars, Balls, Bells, Bows

Birds

The kids had a complete blast. The whole family cannot wait to come back again at Christmas Time.

View down Mainstreet. Even at 9 am the crowds were forming!!

Poinsettias Galore!!

I am really grateful to Disney for complimentary passes to see, explore and experience Disneyland and California Adventure at Christmas!! Due to terrible weather in SoCal the week prior to our visit (on 12/27) Disneyland was packed. We were told by multiple cast members that they were expecting a larger volume of visitors (more than normal for Christmas) because of the rains the week before. I am not sure how many more people were actually visiting Disneyland but I personally had never seen it sooo congested. Long ride lines and stand still traffic was the order of the day.

That being said......We had a great time. It was magical and memorable and I would do it again in a heart beat.

Next Friday ~ Tips and Tricks to using the Fast Pass and what we thought of the Toy Story 3 ride!!

California Adventure ~ Field Trip Friday

Hello! We are still on vacation for Field Trip Friday, this time in Anaheim, CA. Disney gave my family and I complimentary day passes to visit and blog about Disneyland at Christmas Time. For the next several Fridays I am going to be posting all about Disneyland. It should be alot of fun, Stay Tuned!!

California Adventure

Pawn Stars ~ Field Trip Fridays

Seriously, my family (kids included) love to watch Pawn Stars. If you've never checked it out, I would highly recommend. Chumlee is our favorite, "and after 21 years you never know what's going to walk through that door." (from ~ Rick) My five year old walks around the house quoting this line from the opening credits.

How much do we love Pawn Stars? Well, we love it so much this Field Trip Friday we are traveling all the way to Vegas, Baby!! On our way, (to California for Christmas) we spent the night in Vegas. Bright and early Thursday morning (8:30 a.m.) we stopped by see "the real" Pawn Stars.

Once we got in there, they had signs posted everywhere to not take pictures, which was a bummer. But I did sneak one photo of Chumlee's biggest fan by the pin ball machine. He kept walking around the store yelling: "Where is Chumlee?".

Over all they had alot more t.v. show merchandise then "pawn stuff", but it was memorable and we even got to glimpse "The Old Man" walk right through the front door.

Tahoe = Terrrain

At the beginning of the summer I was given the opportunity to test drive a GMC Terrain for 2 weeks to go on a summer vacation. Instantly, I was happy with glee and then secondly I thought of our annual summer trip to North Tahoe in late July. Being 7 months pregnant riding in a new, roomy, sporty SUV sounded like a great way to spend a vacation.

About 15 miles East of Wendover, Nevada

The Terrain has many excellent/innovative features that made our trip so easy. Just to name a few:

DVD Player

Navigational system

Adjustable back seat

Camera view for assisting in backing up

Remote control liftgate ~ hands free

Large trunk for storing cargo

Touch screen for radio, dvd and GPS

Amazing on Gas

We were so spoiled traveling in our GMC Terrain. To start off, GMC delivered the Terrain to My Driveway (I repeat, my driveway!) with a full tank of gas. Getting ready for our trip...shopping, packing, cleaning, organizing (you know the drill!) with all that to do having the Terrain delivered was so hospitable and accommodating of GMC. Thank You!!! (I should also add they picked the Terrain up from my driveway as well)

Two Thumbs Way Up from my boys.

Favorite Features:

DVD Player: In my everyday car (also, our vacation car) I do not have a DVD player, so the kids and I loved having this feature in the Terrain. It was so nice to sit back, relax and have an adult conversation without the kids butting in saying: "Are we there yet?" They were fully occupied and happy putting in a movie and passing the time. The headphones were a quiet bonus.

Remote Control Liftgate:  Just today my eight year old asked "Why can't our car have a remote control for the trunk (liftgate)." I couldn't agree more. Our next car definitely needs to have this feature, maybe we will even get a Terrain! With all our "stuff" we take on vacation it was so nice to have the liftgate open and close at the touch of a button.

SUV:  I miss our old SUV and having one again for this trip was fun. The GMC Terrain could take us anywhere and get us everywhere. I loved being higher off the ground, which made it easy for getting my big belly in and out of the driver seat. I loved the big tires and great road/sand control while driving. Even though the Terrain is big and tough it had great handling and was easy to maneuver.

Gas: In my everyday car, I get exceptional gas mileage and I was really worried about spending alot more in gas this trip with the Terrain BUT, it couldn't have been more the opposite. The Terrain gave us great gas mileage whether we were running errands around town or zooming down the highway. In North Tahoe gas is quite a bit more spendy then lets say Reno (closest major city), and I was afraid the around town miles would have us guzzling gas right and left, but the Terrain does so great on gas, stopping and filling up never crossed my mind.

Are you as Tough as the Terrain?? Yes!

parked behind the Char Pit in King's Beach

Thank you GMC  for letting us test drive your Terrain for a few weeks. We loved the experience and we loved the Terrain. With baby number three almost here....we have considered getting a bigger car. If so, the Terrain will definitely be added to the list of possibilities.