I'm a writer and editor specializing in design, art and fashion, advertising and marketing and of course, travel. I started this kiddieuptravel as a resource for parents like me—those who love to travel and don't want to dumb it down just because they have kids. Kiddieup is all about inspired and inspiring vacations the whole family will love. Kiddieup and go!
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Relaxing at Tranquility Bay, Florida. Just one of the Gulf area getaways you’ll find in Kiddieuptravel’s latest newsletter.
I’ve rounded up some of my favorite Gulf Area getaways in my late summer ‘10 newsletter. If for some crazy reason you haven’t subscribed to the kiddieuptravel newsletter, well, sign up below. And since you missed this one, you can read it here.
You, and the kids, are going to flip over this deal.
We all know how kids and parents love the ideas of kids clubs. It gives kids a chance to be people who are actually fun, and it allows parents a break from entertaining the kiddos for a few hours. The down side is that all that entertainment can be a bit pricey. But there are bargains to be had. Like the fabulous deal at the Aston Kaanapali Shores where they’re offering kids clubs for $25 dollars per session. And with tickets running about $300-400 round trip to Maui (from the West Coast) this summer, it’s time to go hawaiian.
The kids club activities have a lot of island flavor. Activities on offer are hula instruction, ukulele lessons and lei making, as well as the usual beach activities and arts and crafts.
Yes, Kaanapali is a very touristy area. But it’s Maui, and in my opinion, pretty much any location is beautiful paradise or even more beautiful paradise. I stayed in this area on my honeymoon (in the big pink hotel) and was completely happy with the location. And there are swanker areas or more boho areas, but the condo/hotels are a great option for families. They’re not super fancy, but they’re big, they have kitchens, they’re a good deal and you can’t beat the views.
Click HERE for more information and booking.
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photo from tripadvisor.com
Okay, I know you’ve all probably been on kiddieuptravel’s FACEBOOK page already to see the winner of our first annual DILF contest, but it’s time to announce it here as well. Feast your eyes on this hot baby daddy, Mr. Phil Malcolm of Minneapolis, Minnesota, who wins an amazing KIMMELKIDS tote bag filled with goodies. I totally wanted to keep it for myself, but I am far too much of a professional for those sorts of shenanigans.
Our winner was chosen by photo director extraordinaire and my colleague from my *SURFACE magazine days, Victoria Kelly. Today she’s the kick-butt new media director for LA’s eco-friendly child boutique (and my fave store) THE LITTLE SEED. Be sure to check out all the bo-hunks at kiddieup’s DILF PHOTO ALBUM. Thanks to everyone who entered and be sure to start snapping your hotties in anticipation for next year’s competition.
I just started thinking…why should my husband be the only one having all the fun, parading around shirtless in the glory of that, “I used to have time to work out and cook amazing meals before I had kids and now am living on a steal-two-hours a week run and peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich diet bod,” on my postings. So now I’m asking you to send pics of your hot husbands (aka DILFs) in for a chance to strut their stuff on kiddieuptravel’s FACEBOOK page.
I’ll be taking submissions between now and Thursday JUNE 17 and announce the winner Friday, June 18th, in time for Father’s Day.
The lucky DILF, I mean, Dad, will receive a cool KIMMELKIDS tote filled with amazing eco/craft/cool kids stuff. Here it is:
The giftbag.
The bag flowers are a bit fluorescent, but not this bright, or this rippled around the edges…anyways, I took this picture because my dress matches the print. And now you can rip this amazing gift bag out of my hot little hands!
That’s more like it…you’ll get the awesome orange one on the right.
The bag is very similar to the one given away at the last KimmelKids craft weekend extravaganza at the ACE HOTEL in Palm Springs. Inside you’ll find:
Converse Sneakers/Undefeated t-shirt/Further liquid hand soap/Pop chips/Smart Water/Tasty Baby Gummy treats/Kind snack bar/Sun print kit/Envirosac reusable tote/Smith Row spin top/Yummy Fun Kooking DVD/Parents Magazine/Urbanic notepad & coupon/Two Plums crafting kit/Geoff McFetridge wallpaper/print by Pottuk/American Apparel adult tee/33 Things to Know About Raising Creative Kids
It’s practically ready to hit the beach. And the tote is really cool and super-sturdy. Yes, the print is a tad fluorescent, but in the best possible way. I can’t believe I’m not keeping this for myself. But I am indeed giving it away. Here’s how to win:
• Post your favorite hot daddy on facebook.com/kiddieuptravel
• The dad must be showing a bit of skin
• He has to have a kid in the picture as well—he’s got to be actively parenting or it doesn’t count
• Being on vacation can’t hurt your chances, but it’s not necessary
So send in pictures of your DILF for all the world—not just you, the kiddos and his mom—to love. One lucky person will receive this amazing gift bag!And I'll kick it off with my favorite DILF, here on vacation at the FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT CABIN in Wisconsin.
Get to FACEBOOK.COM/KIDDIEUPTRAVEL and enter your favorite DILF today!
Still kicking yourself for missing the KimmelKids/Art of Exchange crafting weekend at the ACE HOTEL, PALM SPRINGS? Well, you should be. Check out these pictures. A fun, artsy time was had by all.
Succulent gardens in progress.
Potato print flags flying proudly.
Customizing the Converse. I was way less inventive when I was a kid, I just used a black sharpie.
I’m sure they’ll host another weekend of crafting, artwork, pool time and just Palm Springs fun. Another weekend crazy with macramé, disco pinatas, underwater photography, taco nights, more s’mores. Okay, enough daydreaming…click HERE for more info and updates on the next event.
AND WATCH THIS SPACE FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A KIMMELKIDS GIFT BAG.
Movie night. Or a rave. No, wait, definitely movie night.
Confetti System pinatas. I’m semi-obsessed with these.
S’mores!
A snap from the underwater photography session.
A UTAH VACATION THAT REALLY ROCKS: FAMILY-LED FOSSIL HUNT AND GEMSTONE DIG, JUNE 27, 28 & 29
Utah Summer Fossil Dig and Gemstone Hunt WEBSITE
Live out your Indie fantasies (Indiana Jones, that is, not your dream of being the next coming of Pavement/The Shins/Le Tigre) in this 3 day trek organized by Dinosaur Rock founders Neil Brown and Leslie Freund. The husband and wife duo guarantee you and your kid will unearth buried treasure during on this annual edu-tational dig in the spectacular Utah desert. And you’re sure to discover how much fun hanging with the kids can be.
DINNER FOR YOU, WII FOR THEM. EVERYONE’S HAPPY THANKS TO THE WEEKEND FAMILY GETAWAY SPECIAL FROM THIS THIS NASHVILLE BOUTIQUE HOTEL.
Hutton Hotel FAMILY SPECIAL
Nashville’s swank Hutton Hotel has a deal that is sure to speak to the hearts of parents needing just a little down (and alone) time. Their weekend family deal has everything you need for the whole family to thoroughly enjoy an urban, boutique-hotel weekend getaway. Imagine this, two adjoining rooms for the weekend. In theirs: a Wii (set up),complementary movie and $50 in-room dining credit. For you: a $100 dining credit at the hotel’s delish 18o8 Grille. (Babysitter not included.)
The gorgeous lobby. Nothing too breakable here, right?
You could leave them here. (Don’t worry, they’ll be so engrossed in the Wii they won’t even know you’re gone).
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photo credits: black and white photo by H. MICHAEL KARSHIS, all other photos, huttonhotel.com
KIDS ART WEEKEND AT THE ACE HOTEL, PALM SPRINGS
EVENT INFO WEBSITE
MARK YOUR CALENDAR AND GET OUT YOUR CRAFT APRONS AND CRAFTANS FOR THE ACE’S FAMILY ART RETREAT APRIL 23-25, 2010
As if it couldn’t get any better for families at the Ace Hotel, it just did. They’re hosting an extraordinary arts event April 23-25, led by artist, (and how I first knew her), owner of the now shuttered LA boutique, K-Bond, Karen Kimmel. She’s rounded up a stellar roster of her artsy friends to lead a weekend of arts, sun and fun. Treat yourself, I mean your child, to a weekend of classes and interactive workshops led by artists David Alvarez, Clare Crespo, Confetti System, Elizabeth Halpern, Erik Ian and Geoff McFetridge.
Besides creating projects like dioramas, macramé, miniature gardens and knitting, the retreat will feature poolside barbecues, outdoor movies and s’mores and a takeaway tote by Kimmel Kids.
I know, could you just die. I can. Scoot over, kids. Make room for mom to macramé with an A-list artist.
The package rate of $650 for the weekend includes 2 nights stay, art instruction and supplies, Friday night s’mores, Saturday night movie and popcorn and takeaway tote. Oh, and also memories that will last a lifetime.
Segue into mindless blathering: I was trying to remember where I knew Karen Kimmel from, then I remembered that I had covered her when I was an editor at Surface magazine, all those years ago. And that my friend Brent Haas had one of the launches for his perfume, spacescent there. I still have the evian rubber ducks we were giving away.
I agree with FREE WINE (who took this shot), “call me old fashioned, but I think kids need a good paddling from time to time.”
Crazy nights of debauchery and excess. Shallow social interactions. Parents gifting kids with tawdry designer goods in lieu of real emotional investments. Questionable moral choices being exhibited at every turn.
All of the things you love about the O.C. (at least the O.C, as seen on TV) are not part of this deal.
Instead, you can teach your children a little bit about caring for the environment, the delicate balance of our ecosystem and the wealth of wildlife on our gorgeous planet.
The Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort, a gorgeous stretch of beachfront property where you can rent cabins, tent and RV spots—and probably the only place you’ll get a decent vacation rental with a view for under $100 anywhere in the area—has just announced guided eco kayak tours of the 750-acre wildlife preserve adjoining the resort.
Starting April 2010, The Newport Dunes is taking over kayak tours from Newport Bay Naturalists & Friends and they’re pretty excited to offer this activity to their already exhaustive list of family activities available at the resort (Volleyball tournament or Rice Krispie decorating anyone? Movies on the beach? Tie-dying? Limbo contest?…) These kayak tours will showcase a decidedly un-augmented side of Orange County as you paddle among the preserve’s over 200 plant and wildlife species. So, no, you’re not going to spot a frolicking Kardashian or a Lohan, and probably not even a Real Housewife (but no guarantees on that one), but you will be up to your oars in a ‘water saturated riparian coastline’ I’m looking that one up right now..not exactly sure what ‘riparian’ means, but it sure sounds exciting!
at these prices we can go, and bring all our friends!
As if it couldn’t get any better, it did. YMCA of the Rockies have these unbelievable 2+1 rates for the season:
Estes Park Center – November 1, 2009 to May 27, 2010 – Stay 2 nights and get the 3rd night free! (excludes holiday periods and March 2010)
Snow Mountain Ranch – October 1, 2009 to May 27, 2010 – Stay 2 nights and get the 3rd night free! (excludes holiday periods and March 2010)
Free activities for guests include: mini-golf, swimming, roller skating, guided hikes, age appropriate family programming, fishing, horseshoes, library, museum, basketball, sand volleyball, tennis, ice skating… and more.
Activities with a fee include: zip line, climbing wall, horseback riding, challenge course, high ropes course, craft center activities…