My new favorite online resource: Cheapflight's Kid’s Airport Diversion Guide

When you're a parent traveling with kids and your connecting plane has been delayed and you have already been traveling for some 12 hours, I can't tell you how wonderful it is to stumble upon an airport play area. It's like finding a pool of water in the middle of the desert--because you don't expect to find a family friendly oasis in the middle of a place that seems entirely geared toward business travelers.

I most recently came across a play area on a four-hour layover in Taipei, Taiwan, with my kids. They were excited to run about a fabulous playground with slides, tunnels, and all sorts of structures to climb around on. But now I have realized that I no longer have to stumble upon these place--I can now actively seek them out because I stumbled upon Cheapflights.com's new 2009 Kid’s Airport Diversion Guide. The downloadable guide details family activities in 24 major U.S. hubs as well as 10 international airports including Vancouver, B.C., Frankfurt, and Hong Kong.

Here's what the guide had to say about my local San Francisco airport:

San Francisco International: SFO’s secret gem is the San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library & Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum. This museum is free and showcases SFO’s rich history. Modeled after the 1937 waiting room at the airport, families will find aviation models and a cool Pan Am exhibit. There is also a nice aquarium in Boarding Level C, the Departures/Ticketing Level of Terminal 1. And for those families that crave something more interactive, visit SFO Kids’ Spot in post-security Terminal 3 near Gate 87A. The spot features a crawling apparatus and a plasma wall that shoots arcs of energized color activated by sound.

My kids and I have already visited the Aviation Museum--my son is a huge fan--but we have yet to check out the aquarium. Next time!

P.S. In the photo above, that's my son enjoying himself at a play area in the Philadelphia airport.

Planes, trains & automobiles Day 10: San Diego

The Rundown

High point of the day: We wake up on Easter morning and it's a glorious day. We drive to La Jolla where we sit outside on the patio at the Cottage restaurant and feast on French toast. Then we walk to the beach and the kids build a sand castle.

Low point of the day: We must return to San Francisco! The trip is over!

Photo of the day: Lovely La Jolla beach. Quote of the day: "I don't want to go home!"

Expenses
* $40.02 breakfast, Cottage, La Jolla
* $25.73 lunch, Quiznos, San Diego airport
* $5.83 gas
* $40 rental car
* $150 Best Western Hacienda
* $500 plane tickets, Southwest Airlines
* $45, taxi cab, San Francisco
Total expenses: $806.58

Slide show: Sea World, San Diego

Planes, Trains & Automobiles Day 9: San Diego

The Rundown

Low point of the day: I realize that I have too much work and stay back at the hotel while the kids and their dad go to Seaworld. The Hacienda offers free wi-fi--as do all Best Western Hotels--and it's a good connection.

High point of the day: My kids return from Seaworld--and they absolutely loved it. They share all of the details of the day. They got splashed by Shamu at the killer whale show, Believe, and they laughed hysterically at the sea lions and their zany trainers at the Clyde & Seamore's Risky Rescue show. And their dad bought them cotton candy!

Photo of the day: Shamu, the killer whale, in action.Quote of the day: "Mommy, I want a whale for a pet!"

Expenses

• $12 parking, Seaworld
• $140 one adult and two children's ticket, Seaworld
• $9.86 breakfast, Seaworld
• $31.36, lunch, Seaworld
  
• $3.99, cotton candy
  
• $40 rental car
• $43.63 dinner, Tower Two Cafe
• $150 Best Western Hacienda

Total expenses: $433.84

Planes, Trains & Automobiles Day 8: San Diego

The Rundown

Low point of the day: It's raining! We planned to go to Seaworld but decide to hold off until tomorrow.

High point of the day: The weather clears in the afternoon and we go to Seaport Village where we browse the tchotchke stores, watch a pirate show, and hop on a SEAL, which takes us on a wacky land and sea tour in an unusual vehicle that drives along the San Diego waterfront before plunging into the water. The boat (or is it a bus?) cruises past docks where sea lions lounge and blue herons and brown pelicans are scavenging for food. My children love every moment of the adventure and my husband and I learn a lot from the funny and entertaining tour guide, Terri, who is a former marine.

Photo of the day: The sword-eating pirate at Seaport Village.

Quote of the day: "Mommy, I don't want to be a pirate when I grow up!"

Expenses

• $14.74 breakfast
• $20.22 lunch, Super Cocina
• $40 rental car
• $90 SEAL tour
• $76.95 dinner, Zia Bistro
• $150 Best Western Hacienda

Total expenses: $391.91

Planes, trains & automobiles day 7: San Juan Capistrano to San Diego

The Rundown
Train departs: San Juan Capistrano, 1:38 p.m. (Leaves on time.)
Train arrives: San Diego, 3 p.m. (Arrives 10 minutes early.)
Total hours on train: 1 hour, 20 minutes

What we saw out the train window: For my son, the highlight is Camp Pendleton, where we spot marines in uniform running through the brush overlooking. They're carrying what look like guns. This gets my son excited. His eyes get really big and he says, "I think that's a war."

Photo of the day: This is a bad photo but it's the only one I took on day 7 and it shows you that we made it to our final destination: the San Diego train station. This was actually the most beautiful station we saw on our trip. It dates back to 1915 and the interior was adorned with gorgeous tilework.

Low point of the day: Anthony (my husband and my children's dad) is flying to meet us in San Diego. He calls from the airport to say that his plane has been canceled and he's being bumped to a later flight. I have been traveling alone with the kids for seven days and so I can hardly wait to see him--and let him watch the children. I'm disappointed when I hear the news...though I also find his nightmare air-travel story amusing since our experiences on the the train have been so lovely.

High point of the day: While we're on the Amtrak train from San Juan Capistrano to San Diego, Anthony calls to say that he was able to hop on an earlier flight so he won't be as late as expected. Yeah! Air travel isn't so bad after all. He meets us at the hotel in San Diego's Old Town, where we go for a family swim. I get to relax in the hot tub while Anthony throws the kids around in the pool. Then we walk into Old Town and grab dinner at a touristy Mexican restaurant where the food is bland but the margaritas humongous.

Quote of the day: "Mommy, this is the the best food I have ever had," my daughter says as she's happily noshing on a corn dog. (I should have ordered off the kids' menu!)

Expenses

• $30 one adult business class Amtrak ticket, includes snack and beverage
• $30 two child business class Amtrak tickets, includes snack and beverage
• $35 rental car
• $15 taxi from San Diego train station to hotel
• $73.95 dinner, Zocalo grill
• $150 Best Western Hacienda

Total expenses: $333.95

Best Western's Jump Start Promotion

Best Western just announced a new promotion so it's time for me to put on my spokesperson hat and help spread the word.

The world's largest hotel chain is offering Best Western Rewards members who stay at a hotel two times between April 6 and June 14, 2009, a $50 travel card to be redeemed at more than 4,000 Best Western hotels worldwide on their next vacation. To earn the $50 Travel Card, guests must register for the promotion at www.bestwestern.com/jump. In addition, promotion participants can earn 250 bonus points, up to a total of 500 points, each time they book their hotel online at www.bestwestern.com.

A magnificent sunset, a perfect kiss, and a lot of rocks

After a day at Legoland, we start driving on the I-5 back to our hotel in San Juan Capistrano. My kids get hungry so we pull off the freeway in San Clemente and eat dinner at a taqueria (read about our unbelievably cheap and tasty meal in a past post). Afterward, we drive a few blocks to the San Clemente Pier that juts out from a white sandy beach lined with palm trees. It's the perfect Southern California setting.

The kids and I play a game of tag and then my son, Dante, notices the rocks on the beach. They're everywhere. He starts to collect them and then his sister, Paris, joins in. They create a big pile.

The sun starts to sink into the ocean. The sky is pink and orange. Photographers--their cameras carefully perched on tripods--are capturing a magnificent sunset. A group of teenagers drinking beers claps and hollers after the sun completely disappears. The sky darkens and I say to my kids, "It's time to go back to the hotel."

"What about our rocks?"

"Let's leave the rocks."

My kids aren't going to take no for an answer; they want to keep their new collection. We finally negotiate a deal that they can bring what they can carry. Paris and Dante stuff rocks into the pockets in their pants and jackets. My son's cords are weighted down past his bottom. They walk up a flight of stairs, all the way back to the car, and never complain once. They are determined to haul their rocks.

That night back at the hotel, the kids wash their rocks in the hotel sink. They scrub them with a toothbrush and the hotel shampoo. They are amazed by how the rocks turn a shiny black color when wet. They think this is because of magic.

The best part of this story occurs the next day when we are waiting for the train in San Juan Capistrano. We're taking Amtrak to San Diego. My daughter is toting her rocks around in a cloth bag and my son is still carrying them in his pants. (I insist on them carrying their own stuff.). Dante walks up to a bench where an older woman is sitting and starts to unload his rocks, placing them neatly next to her. The rocks keep coming and coming and the lady says, "My oh my, you have a lot of rocks." Dante, who loves to chitchat with people, tells this woman all about his stones and how he found them in "Clemente." He tells her how he washed them and how they turned shiny.

Then the lady opens up the rolling suitcase at her feet and it's full of rocks--and small bottles of paint and lots of brushes. She pulls out a rock and it's painted with a dragonfly. This woman is an artist and she paints rocks. My daughter breaks out her rocks and some markers and my kids begin decorating their stones with this woman who is probably in her early 70s.

As we're waiting for the train, we get to know this woman who paints rocks. She pet sits--watches people's dogs when they go away on vacation. She has a son who lives in San Francisco. She says that she didn't get to see him last year and her face becomes sorrowful. I begin to worry that she might be lonely. I worry that her son never visits her. I form a sad picture of her life in my mind--an old woman who walks through life alone pulling a heavy load of painted rocks.

The train comes and we say our goodbyes. On board we sit in front of an elderly couple. They're on their way to see their great-grandkids in San Diego. Dante strikes up a conversation with the couple and bonds with them. They get a kick out of his rolling Scooby-Doo suitcase shaped like a van. But Dante is more interested in showing them his rock collection that's spread out all over his seat. He reaches into his pocket and hands them a rock. "This is for you," he says. They laugh. The man says that he used to play with rocks as a kid.

The train stops in San Diego and Dante scrambles to collect his rocks. He stuffs them in his pockets, and his pants start sagging again. I continue to insist that he can only keep them if he carries them himself. We barely make it off the train.

We're dragging ourselves into the station, a gorgeous historic building that dates back to 1915. The kids are tired. They're hauling their own luggage--and rocks. Paris flops down onto the ground and screams "I can't do this!" And then I look over and there's that woman, the first one we met who paints rocks. An older man walks up to her and greets her. They start to kiss. A long kiss like you see in the movies. He grabs her rolling suitcase full of rocks from her, carries it for her, and they stroll off hand in hand.

Cheap, tasty Mexican food in SoCal

"That's $4.55."

"Are you sure you got everything?"

"Yes. $4.55."

"I ordered two tacos and two burritos. Did you get the burritos?"

"$4.55."

I was shocked by the prices at La Tiendita, a hole-in-the-wall taqueria in San Clemente.

My kids and I pulled off the I-5 on our way from Legoland back to our hotel in San Juan Capistrano. The eatery wasn't much different from the burrito places I frequent in San Francisco's Mission District--Cancun, La Taqueria, La Cornetta--with faded pictures on the walls, a refrigerator full of Jarritos, and counter service. But when I ordered, I noticed one big difference: the prices were unbelievably low. The tacos were 99 cents each and the humongous bean-and-cheese burritos for my kids were also 99 cents each. In the Mission, my kids and I can eat out for $10 if they split a bean-and-cheese burrito and if I order a burrito with only beans, rice, cheese, and salsa.

When I bit into my tacos (pictured above)--juicy grilled chicken, chopped onions, cilantro, and hot salsa verde piled onto fresh grainy corn tortillas--I noticed another difference. The food tasted better. The tacos were more flavorful than those dished out at my favorite San Francisco taco truck that parks in a lot on the corner of Hayes and Polk. The meat was moist, not at all gristly or greasy.



We also sought out Mexican food in San Diego. A huge plus to renting a car was that we could seek out neighborhood restaurants. On Chowhound, I read about Super Cocina, a family-run place in City Heights. The lady behind the counter gave us tastes of several stews. We decided on a fragrant fish soup and chicken cooked in a spicy pumpkin seed sauce. And then we ordered the sopes (pictured above), tender little masa boats spread with a layer of refried beans and topped with sweet boiled chicken, crunchy cabbage, and rich cream. My 6-year-old daughter and I were fighting over them. We also ordered two plates of beans, rice and tortillas for the kids; a coke; and two bottles of water. Everything cost $20. I now realize why so many people live in SoCal. It's not the weather. It's the Mexican food.

Three cheers for Legoland

At most theme parks the focus is on thrills with death-defying rides that shock your system and make you scream. Legoland is based on a different premise. At this amusement park in Carlsbad, one hour south of Anaheim, the emphasis is on simple child pleasures: building, imagining, jumping, running, playing, laughing. The park is also aimed at a somewhat younger audience. Toddlers, preschoolers, kindergartners, children in elementary school--they'll have a ball here. At least this is what my 4-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter found on our recent visit.

We spent a day at Legoland as part of our train trip over spring break. We hopped off Amtrak in San Juan Capistrano and then rented a car and drove 20 minutes to Legoland. (You could also get off the train in Oceanside and take a bus or taxi cab to the park.) After struggling to find rides at Disneyland that weren't "scary," my kids and I were excited to give Legoland a try. We ended up having a great time and here are three reasons why:

1) Kids can get creative. The Imagination Zone was our favorite spot in the park. It's where you can get elbow deep in Legos and the bigger Duplos that toddlers can more easily handle. We built a village with houses, gardens, sidewalks, and people. While my kids snapped away, I hunted down the right colored bricks in bins scattered about the room. We worked in harmony for some two hours--until my son started stealing the green blocks my daughter was using to create a backyard for her house. I brought him over to the "shake table" where you can test the strength of your buildings in an "earthquake." My son's sky-scraper, which was taller than him, toppled to the ground in seconds.

2) The rides aren't scary. There are few rides in Legoland that tower above you or zoom past you. You won't hear children screaming at the top of their lungs. At Legoland, the rides are lower to the ground and quieter. They're outside in the bright sunlight--no creepy indoor spaces here. For my kids, this was a huge relief because they typically find amusement park rides "way too scary." The Lego horses simply make a circle around some trees but my two kids whooped with glee on the ride. Explore Village, a glorified playground with slides, mini houses, and climbing structures, was another hit. Also, many of the attractions are actually "kid powered." On the Kid Power Tower, for example, riders hoist themselves up with a pulley system before a brief, exciting free fall back down.

3) The shows are silly. Legoland shows are known for their slapstick comedy. My kids were laughing hysterically at the "The Big Test" show, which features lots of acrobatics and spraying water as a ragtag fire department tries to pass its fire-fighting test. The instructor invites the crowd to help and shout, "Put the wet stuff on the hot stuff!"

Have you been to Legoland? What did you like or not like about the park?

Trains, Planes & Automobiles day 6: Legoland

The Rundown

Arrive Legoland: 11 a.m. (Park opens at 9 a.m.)
Leave Legoland: 5 p.m. (Park closes at 6 p.m.)
Total hours in park: 6 hours

Photo of the day: The inauguration of President Barack Obama re-created with Legos.

Quote of the day: "Mommy, which one is Obama?" (Can you find Barack and Michelle? Hint: She's wearing a yellow dress.)

Low point of the day: Many of the Legoland rides such as the boats, are for two people. My kids are too young to ride alone and I can't go with one of them and leave the other back in line. We're all feeling a little frustrated. We see the cars, which the kids can drive by themselves, but the line is way too long.

High point of the day: We find the Imagination Zone and walk into a room full of Legos. We spend two hours creating a village with houses, sidewalks, gardens, and people. And then we discover the Lego horses, a ride the kids can go on solo. The line is short. They love it! We leave the park feeling happy and satisfied.

Expenses

• $58 one adult ticket
• $96 two child tickets
• $12 parking, Legoland
• $20 lunch, one pizza and one salad, Legoland
• $9 two ice creams, Legoland
• $4.55 dinner, two bean-and-cheese burritos and two chicken tacos, La Tiendita, San Clemente (cheapest meal ever and it's delicious!)
• $35 rental car
• $109 hotel, Best Western Capistrano Inn
  

Total expenses: $343.55

Planes, Trains & Automobiles Day 5: Anaheim to San Juan Capistrano

The Rundown

Train departs: Anaheim, 2:39 p.m. (Leaves on time.)
Train arrives: San Juan Capistrano, 3:18 p.m. (Arrives on time.)
Total hours on train: 40 minutes

What we saw out the train window: Track housing developments, orange groves, parking lots, the freeway clogged with traffic.

Low point of the day: I tell the train attendant that we're getting off in San Juan Capistrano so we can go to Legoland. She says, "You should stop in Oceanside further south. It's much closer to the park." And she's right: I made a major mistake when planning the trip. We should have stayed in Oceanside! But it's too late to change the hotel and car rental reservations.

High point of the day: We step off the train and we're in the heart of old town San Juan Capistrano. It's charming. The surrounding Los Rios neighborhood of funky bungalows overgrown with bougainvillaea is over 200 years old. We walk to the Mission, founded in 1776, where the garden is blooming with roses. We take a self-guided audio tour and my kids are enthralled with the story of the Mission's crumbling "Great Stone Church" that was destroyed in an earthquake in 1812. I'm glad I made a mistake in the trip planning.

Photo of the day: Mission San Juan Capistrano.

Quote of the day: "Mommy why did the Spanish people make the Indians build the Mission? It seems sort of mean, don't you think?"

Expenses

• $20 one adult business class Amtrak ticket
• $30 two child business class Amtrak tickets
• $17 breakfast, La Brea Bakery, Downtown Disney
• $12 lunch, Subway sandwiches, Anaheim
• $15 taxi cab, hotel to train station
• $17 admission, Mission
• $9.50 dinner, El Campeon Taqueria Y Tortilleria, two burritos, a grilled chicken taco, and fresh sliced mango (cheap tasty food!)
• $119 hotel

Total expenses: $239.50

Disneyland: In the pink

My kids and I went on a photo scavenger hunt at Disneyland. Throughout the day, we took pictures of anything and everything that was pink. This was a great way to pass time in line for the Alice and Wonderland ride.

A photo scavenger hunt is a great way to engage kids when you're traveling. You could easily do this at any theme park or at the zoo, in a big city, even on a road trip. Just pick a color or another sort of theme--things that grow, things that make noise--and keep your eye out for stuff to photograph. If your kids are old enough to operate a camera, you can let them snap the shots.

Planes, Trains & Automobiles Day 5: Disneyland

The Rundown

Arrive Disneyland: 8:30 a.m. (park opens at 8 a.m.)
Depart for motel swimming pool break: 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Return to Disneyland: 6 p.m. (We catch the parade at 6:30 p.m.; kids love it!)
Leave Disneyland: 9 p.m.
Total hours in park: 10 hours (A full day of fun!)

Photo of the day: The kids meet Mickey!
Quotes of the day:

My 4-year-old son says, "I love Mickey Mouse! I love Mickey Mouse! When I grow up I want to be Mickey Mouse!"

My 6-year-old daughter says, "Mommy I don't think that was really Mickey Mouse. I think it was someone dressed up in a costume. But I think it would have been mean if I said, 'You're not really Mickey Mouse.'"

High point of the day: Our first ride is It's A Small World, which was re-opened a month ago after a major refresh. The kids love it! They're smiling. They're happy. They're singing. I'm transported to my childhood. This was also my first Disneyland ride.

Low point of the day: It's A Small World is my kids favorite ride. We end up going on it four times. I fear the song will forever be running through my head.

Expenses

• $94 one adult park hopper ticket
• $168 two child park hopper tickets (Ouch! It's pricey)
• $13.25 breakfast, Riverbelle Terrace, one order pancakes and eggs to split between the three of us, orange juice
• $7.25 snack, Main St. Fruit Cart, fruit salad and two orange juices
• $17.38 lunch, Cucamonga Cocina, one child's burrito to split between kids and chicken tacos for mom
• $3 cotton candy
• $21 dinner, Pizza Port, three slices pizza
• $28 souvenirs, stuffed Marie cat from Aristocrats, Star Wars figurines (Thank you grandma for giving kids money to pay for these!)
• $99 hotel, Best Western Anaheim Inn

Total expenses: $450.88

Planes, Trains & Automobiles Day 3: SB to Anaheim

The Rundown

Train departs: Santa Barbara, 2 p.m. (Leaves on time.)
Train arrives: Anaheim, 6:30 p.m. (Arrives 45 minutes late.)
Total hours on train: 4 hours, 30 minutes

What we saw out the train window: beaches, sailboats, piers, palm trees, the Channel Islands, multi-million dollar beachfront homes, fields of sunflowers, graffiti, the Burbank airport, lots of L.A. traffic (enjoyable to watch when you're cruising along on a train).

Photo of the day: In business class on the Surfliner, we're excited about getting our own table that we can color on and hide under.
Quote of the day: "Mommy when will we be at Disneyland?" Five minutes later. "Mommy, when will we be at Disneyland?" Five minutes later. "Mommy, are we there yet?" Five minutes later. "Mommy, I want to be at Disneyland!"

Low point of the day: Debris on the track outside Ventura. One of the hoses on the train comes undone. Uh oh! There's a 15 minute delay! And then down the track in Los Angeles our engineer learns of another train that broke down. We wait 30 minutes to pick up the passengers. I learn that Amtrak isn't always on time.

High point of the day: We finally make it to the Anaheim station, where a line of taxi cabs is waiting. We hop in one, check into our motel, and walk to Downtown Disney, an outdoor shopping complex right next to the park. The kids want burritos so we try a place called Tortilla Jo's. I order a margarita, and it's surprisingly strong.

Expenses
$42 one adult business class train ticket with AAA discount, includes snack and beverage
$42 two child business class train tickets with AAA discount, includes snack and beverage
$14 cab from Anaheim station to our hotel
$44 dinner, Tortilla Jo's
$99 hotel, Best Western Anaheim Inn
Total expenses: $241

Santa Barbara on a budget with kids

Santa Barbara is where the Hollywood jet set goes for spa treatments, shopping sprees, and seafood dinners on the weekends. It’s where Oprah has a house. Rob Lowe too. It’s a luxuriously opulent town known for high-rollers with lots of money. But surprisingly this town that sits two hours north of Los Angeles and offers a year-round Mediterranean climate is also a place where families can enjoy a beach vacation on the cheap. Here are some ideas for where to stay, play, and eat based on my recent overnight stop here with my kids.

Stay: You can easily pay $500 a night to stay in one of the more luxurious hotels right on the beach. Or you can pay between $150 to $200 night to stay at the Best Western Beachside Inn that sits right across the street from the harbor. From here you can walk to the town’s commercial district, State Street.

Play: Kids will love Chase Palm Park with an antique carousel, grounds landscaped with native plants and ponds, and Shipwreck Playground with a boat and sea creatures to climb on. The only thing you'll have to pay for is the merry-go-round at $2 a ride. The best beach for kids is Leadbetter with clean, white sand and a palm-shaded grassy park. At the Ty Warner Sea Center right on the wharf ($5 kids, $8 adults), you'll find a big touch tank where kids can hold sea stars, hermit crabs, and sea cucumbers.

Eat: Where did Julia Child go for a taco? La Superica, where the tortillas are homemade (pictured left) and the guacamole made from avocados grown in the area’s orchards. Brophy Bros., right on the water, is known for its clam chowder and a bowl ($6.50) will fill you up at lunch. Kids can split an order of fish n chips. ($9.95).

Planes, Trains & Automobiles Day 2: SLO to SB

The Rundown

Train departs: San Luis Obispo, 2 p.m. (Train leaves right on time.)
Train arrives: Santa Barbara, 4:45 p.m. (Train arrives 15 minutes late.)
Total hours on train: 2 hours 45 minutes

What we saw out the train window: Vineyards, grazing cows, strawberry fields, rolling sand dunes, rustic barns, flocks of pelicans, piles of drift wood, fields of ice plants, lots and lots of ocean, beaches, and surfers catching waves.

Photo of the day: The ocean view outside the window of the Surfliner.
Quote of the day: "Mommy, can they stop the train so I can go down to the beach?"

High point of the day: The scenery outside the window of our train car is dazzling. It's a beautiful sunny day and the train skirts the coast almost the entire route between San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara.

Low point of the day: Our train attendant tells us that passengers have been spotting dolphins and whales outside the window. We look and look and look…but never see any. Next time!

Expenses
$40 one adult train ticket with AAA discount, includes snack and beverage
$40 two children train tickets with AAA discount, includes snack and beverages
$12 taxicab from hotel to SLO train station
$4 two tickets, carousel at Chase Palm Park
$20 dinner for four, La Superica
$190, Best Western Beachside Inn
Total expenses: $306

Best family entertainment: Hotels!

We could have gone into downtown San Luis Obispo and walked along the charming main drag.

I know that my kids would have loved to visit the two-story Tom’s Toy on Higuera Street or Bubble Gum Alley, a narrow thoroughfare whose walls are plastered with sticky mementos.

We could have checked out the Mission and walked along the San Luis Obispo Creek that runs right through town. We could have visited the newly renovated Children’s Museum where kids can create gigantic bubbles and test the strength of block structures on the shake table. We could have gone to the beach or for a hike.

All of these things would have been great ideas for family fun in San Luis Obispo, a town of about 45,000 halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

But what did we do? We stuck around the Best Western Royal Oak Hotel, which offered lots of family entertainment. The kids spent two hours running in between the hot tub and pool. They watched the Disney channel in the hotel room—a huge treat since we don’t have a TV at home. They ate waffles drowned in syrup at the free breakfast.

When we got a little antsy, we walked to Laguna Lake Park. The entrance was only one block from our hotel. We followed a path that wound through grassy fields and led us to a huge play structure that sat on a lake teeming with ducks and geese. After that it was back to the hotel for more swimming and TV.

When you're traveling with kids, sometimes it's nice to just hang out at the hotel.

6 reasons why the train is a great way to travel with kids

On our journey between Oakland and San Luis Obispo the kids and I fell in love with train travel. Our six-hour trip whizzed by as we enjoyed our room in the sleeper car, talked with other passengers, and savored chocolate ice cream in the dining car. Here are six reasons why I think trains are a great way to go when you're traveling with kids.

1) Friendly people who welcome children.
When my two kids, Paris age 6 and Dante age 4, boarded the train the conductor smiled and said, “Welcome Aboard.”

He checked our tickets. Looking at my daughter, Paris, he said, “Your sweatshirt says your name is Gap, but the ticket says Paris. What’s your name little girl?” Paris giggled. As we were walking to our sleeper car, she said, “People are really nice on the train, mama.”

But what surprised me even more were the other passengers. They were all delighted to see the kids. “What’s your name sweetie?” Where are you going?” “Are you going to visit grandma?” They all wanted to chit-chat with the children.

My kids made friends with a couple in the sleeper car next to ours. Mary and Wally Kamer entertained my kids while I worked on my laptop. They are veteran passengers and they frequently bring their grandkids, ages 7 and 8, on train trips. “They love it,” Mary says. “They just look out the train at all there is to see—and I get to relax.”

2) Lots of legroom.
Our car attendant named Santee led us to our room in the sleeper car. It seemed like a palace with its own bathroom, a sink, a garbage can, a closet, big picture window, a long couch, and a lounge chair. There was also an upper bunk bed if we wanted to take a nap. The kids dumped out their toys and played for hours while I read a book. Ahhh...the life!

3) Interesting scenery outside the window.
There are lots of interesting things to see outside the train window: backyards, junkyards, lumberyards, gravel mines, mountains of Morton Salt, gulls scavenging at a garbage dump, orchards of flowering trees, harbor seals lounging in the sun at the Elk Horn Slough, lots of rolling green hills dotted with oak trees, the San Andreas Fault, a deer running through a grassy field, and a former stage coach route.

4) On time schedule.
The Coast Starlight left Oakland right on time--and it arrived in San Luis Obispo 30 minutes early. In fact, over the past 12 months, the Starlight has been on time 87 percent of the time.

5) Electrical outlets.
On an airplane your kids throw a tantrum when the DVD player runs out of juice. On a train you plug your DVD player into an outlet.

6) Yummy food.
"Would you like French toast or an omelet? Or we have an egg sandwich with bacon?" our server said to us in the dining car where we had breakfast. "Here, why don’t you take a look at the menu.”

Menu! Yes, they have that on the train. Also, there are white tablecloths, red carnations in little vases, fresh green salads for lunch, chocolate Haagen Daazs ice cream for dessert, and scenic views outside your tableside window. Meals are included when you pay for the sleeper car.

Planes, Trains & Automobiles Day 1: Oakland to SLO

The Rundown

Train departs: Jack London Square Oakland, 8:50 a.m.
Train arrives: San Luis Obispo, 2:45 p.m.
Total hours on train: 6 hours

What we saw from the train window: Mountain of Morton Salt on San Francisco Bay wetland, garbage dump teeming with sea gulls, San Andreas Fault, harbor seals basking in the sun at the Elk Horn Slough, deer running through grassy field outside Paso Robles, a former stage coach route outside San Luis Obispo.

Picture of the day: The dining car onboard Amtrak’s Coast StarlightLow point of the day: We have to say goodbye to daddy who is staying behind…Mom’s heart sinks as she wonders, Can I handle these kids for six nights on my own?

High point of the day: We learn that our hotel, the Best Western Royal Oak, is a block from Laguna Lake Park. After relaxing in the hot tub at the hotel, we follow a trail that winds through grassy fields and leads us to a playground sitting right on a lake.

Quote of the day: “Mommy, can you tell them to make the train go faster.”

Expenses
$153 one adult train ticket with AAA discount, includes breakfast, lunch, beverages
$32 two children train tickets with AAA discount, includes breakfast, lunch, beverages
$10 tips
$11 taxicab from SLO train station to hotel
$135 Best Western Royal Oak Hotel, San Luis Obispo
$14 dinner, Sushi Kokku
Total expenses: $355

Planes, Trains & Automobiles: Adventure Begins

What's the best mode of travel for families? Planes, trains, or automobiles?

My two kids, 6-year-old Paris and 4-year-old Dante, and I will come up with an answer to that question. We're about to take off for a 10-day adventure that involves traveling on all modes of transportation.

We start in Oakland, Calif., where we hop on an Amtrak train. We're stopping over to see the sights in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Anaheim (yes, we're going to Disneyland!), and San Juan Capistrano (Legoland) and then we end in San Diego. In each of our destinations, we'll be taking taxis and buses, renting cars, and getting around on our own two feet—and then we return home by plane.

I will report back on the upsides and downsides to all these forms of transport and offer up all sorts of tips. Hopefully, our adventure goes more smoothly than a certain moving starting Steve Martin...