M O M 2 . 0

Five Free Things To Do In Boise

2011-09-21T20:49:00.000-07:00

Boise is the City of Trees. I’ve lived here for two years now, having moved from Los Angeles, where I grew up. While I miss the diversity of food, I definitely do not miss the traffic. Despite its size, there is so much to do in Boise, especially with your children.

The Reluctant Disney Geek

2011-09-15T20:50:00.000-07:00

Last year, I went to Disney World in Florida with about thirty or so other Traveling Moms from the TravelingMom.com blogger network, of which I have been a part for 3 years now.

I had mixed feelings about going to Disney World.

I’m the youngest of three (although, now in my wee 40s) and have, since I was a kid, incorporated the cynicism from my older siblings. Disney is a packaged deal. And most people love it. Me, I like to create my own fun and not have people tell me how much fun their pre-packaged deal is going to be. When I got the invitation to go to Disney World last February, I saw that there was a scavenger hunt listed in the activities. Cue: eye roll. Seriously, I thought, a bunch of grown women running around Epcot Center on a scavenger hunt? Very unappealing. Even more unappealing was the idea of being with a bunch of people who thought that would be a lot of fun.

The Truth: The long weekend at Disney World totally exceeded my expectations: from the seriously good food at our hotel (Animal Kingdom Lodge) to the… well, the whole Disneyness of it. I was drinking their Kool-aid! In fact, I was actually drinking a delicious South African Syrah that was served at the inaugurations of both President Obama and Nelson Mandela, but I digress.

I enjoyed the fireworks over the Magic Kingdom to the tune of “When You Wish Upon a Star.” I freaked out and became an eight year old when I saw Mary Poppins walking around the park – but did you know that they literally paint faces on these ‘cast members’ so that this women was the (scary) spitting image of Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins. Still, fascinating and totally satisfying.
And then we got to the scavenger hunt. By this time, I had been at Disney three days and I was chugging their Kool-Aid: I became a scavenger hunt maniac.

Truth be told, everyone on my team was a bit of a maniac (you know who you are). We toyed with the idea of bagging the scavenger hunt and grabbing a cocktail (we were without our kids!), but then we thought we should at least give it a little bit of a go. And then we got hooked.

We figured out whose strength lay where: someone was a Disney aficionado, another had a good sense of direction, she speaks another language, this one has an external battery pack for when our smart phones ran low, that one’s a bossy lady – well, there were many bossy ladies.
That’s why we understood each other. With our tasks delegated, we were smokin’ this scavenger hunt. Long story short: we won. By a point.

Although we were thirsty, tired and knew the prizes were not a trip to Hawaii, we persevered. We bonded.

A bunch of travel writers (moms!) from around the country, running around Epcot Center yelling, pointing, taking photos and shoving a stuffed animal next to hidden Mickeys. We had fun. We made our own fun at Disney. It doesn’t all have to be pre-packaged.

Best Thai Food Outside of Thailand?

2011-08-31T20:53:00.000-07:00

I’ve been to Jitlada Thai now, twice. My LA friends kept telling me that it was even better than Lotus of Siam in Las Vegas. Now, Lotus of Siam is pretty damn great. If you’ve been to Thailand, you can still go to Lotus of Siam and be sated. But my friends were telling me thatJitlada blew to the roof off of LOS. Hunh? Must test.

I grabbed as many friends as I could (so that I could taste as much as possible) to come along for the tasting a year ago. But there was a glitch: half of the table were not so into spicy food. Lloyd, my Jitlada guru, was understandably put out. Why go to the best Thai food outside of Thailand if you’re not into spicy? And anyway, U.S. spicy is Thai mild. On our honeymoon, my husband and I would be blowing our noses and wiping our brows during our meals and the proprietor of the restaurant (at more than one location) told us that what we were eating was barely spicy – nothing to the Thai. (Quien es mas macho?)

Still, we ordered the Morning Glory Salad,

the Crying Tiger Beef,

Green Mussel Curry: Fresh New Zealand mussels in a southern curry with pineapples,

and Pang-Pond Kai Kamin: Deep fried chicken (bone in) with turmeric garlic sauce,

In the middle of the meal, we all entered a chili coma, but it was nothing that some plain white (brown?) rice couldn’t beat back. Felt like a honeymoon in there!

The verdict: Jitlada did beat the roof off of Lotus of Siam, but in LOS’s defense, I’ve never been there with more than a party of four. That’s a distinct disadvantage. Still, the freshness, complexity, ingenuity at Jitlada was a dream come true. Only, I no longer live in Los Angeles. Why did I have to discover it AFTER I left? Doh!

Best Ice Cream Ever? Sweet Rose Creamery in Santa Monica

2011-08-24T20:50:00.000-07:00

“This is the BEST ice cream EVER.” My friend Nikki was leaving no room for lowering my expectations of Sweet Rose Creamery. “The salted-caramel ice cream is TO DIE FOR!” OK. Fine. I’ve had salted caramel ice cream. When is it bad?

So I tasted the salted caramel ice cream and it was terrific. But not terrific like, you would keel over and never stop extolling the greatness. It was great. Fine.

The greatness of Sweet Rose Creamery is all about the flavors that other ice cream makers don’t touch, can’t come close to. Once I started experimenting with tastes (metal spoon, not disposable – nice touch), that’s when my taste buds wanted to jump and shout superlatives. Mint ice cream was like eating a bunch of mint leaves, ripped off the plant. Black sesame ice cream was a total revelation – how do they get that toasted flavor in there? It’s not that that is my favorite flavor, but to taste something like black sesame in ice cream – it’s so unexpected that it’s thrilling.
What Nikki was trying to tell me is that this was a thrilling ice cream parlor – that’s true. Where else can you taste Early Grey or Summer Corn ice cream? What they really need to do is have a sample platter: all you get is a quarter size bite of every flavor they have that day. Because as much as I was enjoying the freshness of the mint ice cream, I got tired of it halfway through. I was greedy for more explosive and unexpected tastes. I had mastered the mint. Bring on the Yellow Nectarine Sorbet!

PS: They also have non-dairy desserts, frozen bananas, and popsicles. Expensive and worth it. (Especially if you don’t live in Santa Monica)

Family Friendly North Central Idaho -- Lewis & Clark Country

2011-08-19T20:56:00.000-07:00

Where is the most remote place on earth you have been? No cell reception, no good food, no Starbucks? No, not the Aswan High Dam, but the Northwest Passage Scenic Byway All American Road -- what a mouthful! This is Nez Perce (Lewis and Clark) country. The drive was along the Clearwater River was some of the most spectacular scenery I’ve seen in the Lower 48.

Best part: no one is here. Idaho is empty. You can come during high season and you won’t feel crowded. You are off the beaten path, my friend. This area of the country is difficult to get to so you really have to enjoy road trips. I’ve been on many myself and no exagerration, aside from my children arguing in the back seat, this was one of the most enjoyable. I’ve been on the 17 Mile Road in Carmel and truthfully, this drive, on Highway 12, which follows the Clearwater River, is so much more enjoyable because it’s neither too windy nor too steep. You will develop an appreciation of how difficult Lewis and Clark had it because the area has hardly been developed since that time. Sure, there’s a road and a few people floating down the river, but not much else between the remote and tiny towns.

The NCITA (North Central Idaho Travel Association) has audio tours that you can download to your MP3 player to listen to while you’re on the road.

We drove from White Bird, Idaho and ended up in Clarkston, WA, which is just across the Snake River from Lewiston, ID. With all of our stops, it took about 4 hours -- about 100 miles. It was a Sunday, so not much was open, although we did go to the Dworshak Fish Hatchery and take a parking lot tour of the correctional facility -- prison -- in Orofino. That was the part where we gave our kids a lecture for not listening to us, telling (begging) them not to argue.

Please remember that this is Idaho and not Italy: that means that the food is... not so great. We went to a supermarket and bought food for a picnic along the Clearwater River. So lovely and I'm sure the food was better than any diner we passed. (That said, please let me know if I'm wrong -- we did eat in restaurants a bit on this trip.)

In Clarkston, WA (just across the river from Lewiston, ID), we stayed at the Quality Inn and Suites on the Snake River and although it was not nearly as eccentric as our B&B stayin White Bird, it fit our needs:

It was super clean
There was a pool that my non-swimming five year old could stand in (it was 100 degrees outside - the pool was IMPORTANT!)
We had a cool view of the mountains, framing the Marina
Service was outstanding

For dinner, we ate at Rooster’s Waterfront Restaurant, walking distance from the hotel.
This is a turbo-charged, family-friendly restaurant that serves enormous portions and has a fantastic outdoor deck to sit on (when it’s not 100 degrees outside), overlooking the Snake River. Kids’ meals are quite inexpensive and happy hour is a deal and a half. They have half a dozen local beers on tap (!) and I ate a delicious, wild salmon.

Although there are lots of activities that you can do in Clarkston, (it is another entry point for Hell’s Canyon tours), we moved on the next day into Walla Walla, which is a little less than two hours away.

Walla Walla has a charm that extends beyond its population of thirty thousand. This is Washington wine country and the town boasts a plethora of good restaurants, tasting rooms and fun shops that cater to tourists. It doesn’t feel like a touristy town; it feels like Sonoma or Napa. OK, maybe that is touristy -- but with a super high level of sophistication (especially for Eastern Washington). I had an A+ iced latte at Olive Marketplace & Cafe. Walla Walla is a great half-way point between Seattle and Boise.

When I go back without my kids, there will be more to say about Walla Walla...

Author's Note: This was a sponsored trip. I received food and lodging.

Zip Lining in Missouri -- Safe for the Whole Family

2011-08-02T21:00:00.000-07:00

Why was I nervous about Zip Lining? I’m someone who has jumped off a cliff -- hang gliding (OK, it was tandem) -- above the Atlantic Ocean in Rio de Janeiro in my younger, pre-kid days, to the beach down below. I even did it twice!

Went to the Meramec Caverns outside of St. Louis. Although it was only the first week of June, it was 96 and humid.

Perfect weather for Caveman Zip Lining!

You see, the heat and humidity make you kind of lethargic. Hard to tense up when you’re schvitzing like a schmendrick (translation: sweating profusely like… an idiot who is zip lining in 96 degree humidity). Also helped that our two super cute guides distracted us during the in between moments by quizzing us on our favorite movie lines and songs. Yeah, I knew what they were up to. But they were so pleased with themselves that we were wracking our brains for lines like: “Let’s start at the very beginning. A very good place to start.”

First off, they gave us (The Mommy Insider and me) an instructional and safety course. This is not brain surgery. It’s pretty basic and we became competent (in theory) inside of 10 minutes. There are only two basic things to learn: how to slow yourself down and how to straighten yourself out if you start twisting. Oh yeah, and how to bring yourself back to the tower if, for some reason, you stop in the middle. You would have to really not pay attention to the first two lessons to get to this point. Truthfully, at Meramec Caverns, they go to great lengths to make sure that we felt comfortable with their safety precautions. Mommy Insider loves (LOVES) to worry and I heard nary a word of doubt from her on the safety issue. (I say this with love.)

At Meramec Caverns, there are four zip line runs – twice across the river of lengths varying from 250 to twelve hundred feet! Sometimes you’re in the clear above the river, other times, you’re wondering how you’re going to clear that huge tree branch. Very George of the Jungle. The speed of the zip can be up to 50 MPH! This is where the blessing of the heat and humidity come in to calm you down.

It can take up to two hours to get trained and do the course. It’s terrific to be outside and I felt very accomplished after I was done. I don’t know that I need to zipline again, but I’m glad I did it – especially at Meramec Caverns. My kids (5 and 7 years old) are too young to Zip Line. Still, Zip Lining can be a family friendly activity. Check out their website to see if your kids are big enough and you are small enough – there are weight restrictions.

Please note: This trip was sponsored by the St. Louis CVC.

Hell's Canyon: Twice as Deep as the Grand Canyon

2011-07-26T21:02:00.000-07:00

When you go to North Central Idaho (located below the panhandle and north of… Boise), you go for the outdoors. This is not spa country. The restaurants are just OK at best, there are not many fabulous accommodations. We came up here from Boise (about 3 ½ hours), primarily to go on aJet Boat Tour of Hell’s Canyon. If this video doesn’t convince you to come, nothing will:

To take that video, they dropped me off on a rock by the side of the river. Seriously. I wasn't sure how I was going to get back on the boat since I figured he wouldn't be able to maneuver in a way that I could easily climb back on. After I took the video -- knowing that my husband and two precious kids were on that boat -- the driver maneuvered the boat to within three inches of me and the rock, like he was extending his hand to me. Incredible.

We decided to take our children, 5 and 7, on a jet boat tour instead of a float down the river. We figured that since the jet boat was bigger, they would feel more secure. We didn’t want to get stuck on the river with panicky kids. We rode with Killgore Adventures– a family run operation. Kurt, the son, has been piloting the boat for the past ten years. Kurt’s mom, Heather and his sister, Courtney are deck hands. Some benefits of taking the tour with Killgore:

Perfect safety record
Sun cover over the boat (six hours in the blazing sun in Hell’s Canyon would be Hell, truly)
Killgore provides the only six hour tour that goes all the way to the Dam at the top of Hell’s Canyon

You will get wet. Your heart will palpitate. Your adrenaline will course throughout your body.

You will have a great time.

To get on the boat, you can drive to Pittsburg Landing yourself or you can take the shuttle with Kilgore. It’s a technical, steep, non-paved road. It’s doable, but if you are an insecure driver, take the shuttle. That said, our Prius did fine on the unpaved road. Killgore provides lunch, water, soda.

Here’s what you should bring:

Hat with a cord so that it doesn’t fly away (it will, my son’s hat did)
Sunglasses – for the sun as well as the wind
Sunblock – lots of it
Camera with video

We made many stops, one at Kirkwood Historic Ranch, and from the boat saw big horn sheep and mountain goats. Kurt told us to keep an eye out for bears. Bears? Mercy. We saw none.

There was an 87 year old grandmother on our boat (yes, the same boat you saw in the video going through the gnarly rapids) and she was having a grand time getting drenched and contributing to the peels of laughter and screams all around as we went through the rapids.

Hell’s Canyon is twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, the Snake River gets to about 69 degrees in the summer (read: swimmable) and the scenery is as rugged as it was when Lewis and Clark laid eyes on it. It’s true Americana not to be missed in your lifetime. You will probably only go once, but you must make sure to get there. It’s a remote part of the world that is truly off the beaten path -- even for Idaho.

After six hours on the river and another 45 minute drive back to the highway, we were beat. We ate at the ONLY restaurant in White Bird (population: 150): Mac’s Supper Club – best dish was the house smoked BBQ chicken – and went back to our lodging at White Bird Summit Lodge.

Terri Schmitz runs the White Bird Summit Lodge. She and her husband, Frank, hunt and fish. If you are an ethical vegetarian (or say, from San Francisco or Carroll Gardens), you might not want to stay here. There are hundreds of stuffed and mounted animal heads on the wall. Full animals, too! From bears to alligators to fish to deer to wild boar to... giraffe. Truthfully, it took some getting used to. Surprisingly, my kids’ first insinct was to pet the grizzly bear and poke its claws.

The place was super clean, Terri cooked a terrific breakfast, (in stark comparison to the local fare) and although we were still a little overwhelmed by the heads (buffalo! mountain goat!), we liked staying there. The lodge is a bed and breakfast, terrific for groups. We stayed in a family room with 2 bunk beds, the bottom of one was a double bed. Best part: the shower had a steam function built in. I like that -- even in summer.

White Bird Summit Lodge is directly between White Bird and Graingeville, which has, really, no good restaurants. (names omitted to protect the guilty) Know this: you are not here to eat good food. You are here to see the stunning scenery and get on the river. Maybe someday, you will be able to combine the two, but not yet. Remember, it’s Idaho, not Italy.

Next up: We drive the Northwest Passage Scenic Byway All American Road (they couldn’t make it more pithy?)

Note: This trip was sponsored by the North Central Idaho Travel Association

Rookie Camping: McCall, Idaho

2011-07-20T21:06:00.000-07:00

As we left the Oldtime National Fiddlers’ Contest in Weiser, we drove for a little less than two hours through some of the remotest areas of Idaho to get to McCall. That’s saying something for a State of only 1.6 million.

Initially, we yearned to be in the Ponderosa campground because of its proximity to town – you can ride your bikes there via bike trails. When we neglected to make a reservation (rookies, to be sure) and there was no vacancy, I was miffed.

Still, we went to see if there was a chance of availability and we discovered that the Ponderosa was indeed a busy campground: full of RVs humming with generators and dwarfing the few tents that braved it out. It almost seemed urban. We were turned away.

So we headed north to the Northwest Passage Campground: first come, first served. Hmpht!

It was only a twenty-two campsite campground that was half full! There was a little beach along the river that flowed into the Payette and

if we wanted to get into town, it was a 5-10 minute drive. No big deal.

Our kids (5 & 7) could ride their bikes around without much supervision, and we walked paths leading into the woods from the campground. Our kids played on the beach with some other little kids. Those kids even shared their sand toys. (see: rookies) Just glad I remembered bathing suits.

One of the days, we drove into town for lunch. I know, we were camping, but we also wanted to see the town of McCall. Had lunch at Toll Station Pizza and Pastabecause my friend told us there was a good salad bar. She was right. The pizza for the kids was fine – nothing extraordinary. But we’re in Idaho, not Italy – remember. Then we walked around the “downtown.” Not much there, but some shops and a marina next to the “City Beach.”

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Around McCall, there is also a fish hatchery. It’s open to the public, no fee and very interesting for the kids. We saw salmon in all stages: from the tiny ones to the teenagers. Fun and educational – no official tour: you just walk around and read the signs to your kids. Quickly, because they walk away (the kids, not the fish).

We spent two nights at the campground this time (a record, for us) and the new item that made it all bearable – the cots! -- because frankly, it was cold, even in June. Yes, I’m an LA woman, thin blood. Instead of sleeping on the ground, we got cots. One third the price of thermarest pads and super comfortable.

On the way back to Boise, we drove 20 minutes out of McCall and then stopped at the Gold Fork Hot Springs, near Donnelly. One of the most beautifully built out hot springs in Idaho, it’s probably even more delightful when there is snow on the ground. Cost about $25 to get the whole family in and they don’t want you wearing lotion sun screen – only spray. Too lazy to ask why. But they’ll sell you spray at the store. They have ascending pools – from cool to super hot. If you like hot water, you’ll love this place.

McCall to Boise is a little less than a two hour drive and the scenery is stunning.

PS: My parents just came back from Alaska and when they saw our Red Fish Lake photosfrom a couple of weeks ago, they felt like they schlepped all the way to Alaska for the same scenery. Pristine mountains, isolated lakes, crisp air -- beautiful American wilderness. All in the lower 48. How about that!

Weiser, Idaho: Chocolate & Fiddles

2011-07-13T21:10:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in an earlier post, this is the Summer of Idaho. My family is exploring the glory of Idaho each weekend this summer.

The last weekend in June, we went to Weiser, Idaho (on the Oregon border) to check out the National Oldtime Fiddlers’ Contest. Whenever I asked one of my Boise friends if they had been to the fiddle festival, EVERYONE said, “Oh, I want to do that.” But they still haven’t. Everyone heard it was fun. Get off your asses, my friends. Weiser is only an hour and fifteen minutes from Boise.

Boise Getaway: Sun Valley/Redfish Lake

2011-07-07T21:14:00.000-07:00

Summer of Idaho continues! Where else can you ice skate on an OUTDOOR rink in July? In America? Sun Valley Resort! It’s a true treat to be able to ice skate without freezing or even having to wear gloves – although there were some glove wearers. Affect or custom? But hear this: ice skating outdoors in July does not come cheap.

Warhawk Museum, Nampa Idaho (Near Boise)

2011-06-30T21:22:00.000-07:00

It’s still the summer of Idaho and my family and I are hell bent on learning about our new home state. Here’s a pithy lesson: don’t try to discover Nampa, Idaho on a Sunday. The town is D E A D. Closed. Rolled up. TheFlying M Coffee Garage was open. I’m used to the one in downtown Boise: hipsters, great gift shop, local art – and you have to be New-York-aggressive to find a place to sit.

In Nampa, there is plenty of space (well, especially on a Sunday) to stretch out, plug in your laptop and get to work. Same great coffee and pastries. And hipsters. Much cooler and expansive space.

Our purpose in Nampa was to go to the Warhawk Air Museum, inside a hangar at the Nampa airport. The mission of the museum is to teach and preserve America’s history during times of war from the home front to the war front and aviation history from the advent of flight through the space age. The museum has two of only a few remaining Curtiss P-40 World War II Fighter Airplanes left in the world and a very rare World War II P-51C Mustang Fighter Airplane. It’s got lots of actual planes that you can’t touch and plenty of memorabilia if you are an aviation history buff.

Here’s the rub: my family includes no aviation history buffs. My 5 and 7 year olds were plenty put out at not being able to touch the airplanes. Still, if aviation history is your thing, you should definitely come to the museum. You will be in good company. We were the interlopers. Also, to get us all in the door, it cost $28 – kind of steep for a half hour of “fun.”

My daughter decided that she would practice her on-camera presence, as she has seen mommy do many times. I'll let you see how she's coming along. She's 5 1/2:

After a lap at the museum, you can watch planes take off and land at the Blue Sky Café at the Nampa Airport. It’s a burger and sandwich kind of place and its view of the runway is top notch. We saw a tiny little airplane (see, no technical knowledge have I) take off and then buzz the runway before disappearing into the wild blue yonder. That was free. And that was FUN.

Family Friendly Restaurants in St. Louis

2011-06-29T21:17:00.000-07:00

Root Beer Floats at Fitz's!

Just got back from a fabulous press trip to St. Louis. What was truly amazing was how many free attractions there are – next to Washington, DC, St. Louis is the place to go to get a free and fun history lesson about this great country of ours.

But baby’s gotta eat, right? You need something that will satisfy both your children and you: it’s a two-way street.

We had an incredible meal at Pi Pizzeria. There are three locations in St. Louis (and one coming to Washington, DC); we went to the original. They have both thin crust and deep dish pizzas – as well as vegan and gluten-free options. (Truly, you can have a gluten, dairy free pizza. They say it tastes great, but I have no earthy idea about this and hope never to taste this.)

I prefer thin crust – we devoured the Lincoln Park, and North Beach Classico -- but I must say that we tasted the deep dish, Chicago style pizza and I finally figured out why people like this. The deep dish pizza at Pi was truly delicious. Never understood all that kind of topping until I sank my teeth into the tomatoes at the brink of this pizza. I get it, now.

There are some good salads and even hummus – I’m telling you, they have a diverse family covered!

Best of all, there was Apple Pi for dessert with cinnamon ice cream. This was way above average apple pie – with delicious cornmeal crust. We also had salty caramel ice cream with a Cookie Pi. The Cookie Pi was a little much, but the caramel ice cream was perfect.

A great place for lunch is Fitz’s American Grill & Bottling Works. The original owner just bought back

the place from the corporate types that bought him out years ago and he is busy restoring it to its original
glory. Retooling the menu, owner Michael Alter takes great pride in making his restaurant a place that you want to come back to. I almost never drink soda and I’m telling you, Fitz’s Cream Soda is better than Dr. Brown’s. Maybe knowing that it was just created on the vintage bottling assembly line that you can see in process behind the glass panels affects the way I think about it. But I’m still thinking about it two weeks later. Not only did I drink a glass of cream soda, then I had a cream soda float (root beer is not my thing – but the root beer, if it’s anything like the cream soda…)

But back to lunch: I had a Greek Salad and a bowl of Gumbo. I can’t eat pizza and burgers for every meal, but if that’s what you’re hankering for, Fitz’s has you covered. They also have sandwiches, salads and a long list of kids’ menu items.

The waitresses are pretty and nice and who doesn’t want to see that root beer float sweating it out in front of you? What’s not to like?

The restaurant is located in the historic Delmar Loop are of St. Louis, iste of the St. Louis Walk of Fame. In the summer of 2011, a statue of Chuck Berry will be installed just outside Fitz’s restaurant. Chuck plays once a month across the street at Blueberry Hill. This neighborhood is fun – and necessary -- to walk around after you stuff yourself at Fitz’s.

I had one of the best coffee’s I’ve had in a long time at Messhugah Café. Don’t know what they did to it, but Starbucks can’t hold a candle to the simple pleasure of a drip coffee in this local café.

Lastly, we went to a local favorite, Ted Drew’s, where we got a “Concrete” which is like a blizzard at DQ. But wait! Ted Drew’s is better, creamier, has longer lines, more passionate customers than DQ. This location has been here since 1941! (The line moves fast.) Everyone knows about Ted Drew’s. You can’t go to St. Louis without going there. I got banana/oreo mixed into my concrete and it sat there in my stomach just like concrete oughta. Delicious.

Note: This trip was sponsored by the St. Louis CVB.

Camping Close to Home: A Rookie's Experience

2011-06-22T21:25:00.000-07:00

My family has designated this summer as the summer of Idaho. We are determined to figure out our new state and enjoy it as best we can. My daughter's school had a group campout at Greyback Gulch, just this side ofIdaho City and less than an hour from Boise. Less than an hour away is terrific for kids who fight in the car. So much less time for that!

Admittedly, we are rookie campers, so we like the proximity to home as well as to Idaho City, in case anything went awry. This time, we remembered to bring our chairs, our insect repellant and ice. Our food stayed fresh! Although we rememberedmarshmallows, we forgot graham crackers, Hershey bars and (clean) skewers -- but our friends had them. Camping with a group has a lot of advantages (for rookie campers).

It was just an overnight, but as this was our first time out for the year, it was a great trial run. We need to take more ziplock bags next time. And clean our camping gear now, as opposed to when we pack it. Otherwise, we were pretty much on point.

Make a checklist when you camp! Why are you taking advice from a rookie?

Free in St. Louis: Family Friendly Activities!

2011-06-14T14:08:00.000-07:00

WHERE CAN YOU GO FOR FREE? In most cities, not far. But things are a lot different in St. Louis. Here, you'll find dozens of interesting places to go and things to do that won't cost you a dime. These free attractions are some of the best, most popular places around.

Here's a sampling of what you can do for free in St. Louis:

Underneath the Gateway Arch, the Museum of Westward Expansion offers a chance to relive the Old West. Visitors can get a glimpse into the land that Lewis and Clark explored and see how mountain men lived in the 1800s. There are rare Indian Peace Medals, weapons of survival and an authentic tipi, and the historic tale is by the voices of life-like "animatronic" figures. And by the way, get thee to the Gateway Arch. You do have to pay to go up in the elevator, but when else are you ever going to be there and do it! Go on!

City Garden: One of St. Louis’ newest downtown attractions is Citygarden. Framed by office towers and surrounded by the hustle and bustle of downtown, Citygarden is a free, 2.9 acre sculpture park that incorporates a unique design of water, stone, architecture and modern artwork by world-renowned artists. I've seen people SWIMMING in the fountains. The guard did not seem to mind. Just saying... it gets pretty hot and humid in St. Louis in the summer.

Old CourthouseThere's more free history at the Old Courthouse, part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. The Old Courthouse served as the site of many historic trials, including those associated with the Dred Scott slavery trial. If your timing is right, you might be able to participate in a courtroom trial reenactment.

Then head for Forest Park and a visit to the Missouri History Museum and a host of exhibits detailing St. Louis' diverse history. Check out exhibits on everything from Charles "Lucky" Lindbergh and dozens of local breweries to more artifacts from explorers Lewis & Clark and a look at the storied 1904 World's Fair.

Another Forest Park freebie is the Saint Louis Science Center and its 700-plus hands-on exhibits. Visitors of all ages can explore the "gene scene" and cast their vote on the ethical issues of genetic engineering, or build a replica of the Gateway Arch. Get a feel for what it's like to live, work and play on the International Boeing Space Station, then use radar guns to clock the speed of cars zooming beneath the enclosed bridge spanning I-64.St. Louis Art Museum Atop Forest Park's Art Hill is theSaint Louis Art Museum, the only building that remains from the 1904 World's Fair. Built to house priceless artwork from countries around the world during the Fair, the museum continues the tradition today, with an extensive collection of 30,000 objects from ancient to contemporary. In fact, the museum's pre-Columbian and German Expressionist collections are considered among the best in the world.

The Saint Louis Zoo has more than 6,000 exotic animals, many of them rare and endangered, from the major continents and habitats of the world. Wander through the Jungle of the Apes and the River's Edge for a look at the elephants, cheetahs, mongooses and hyenas. Other attractions include the cool Penguin & Puffin Coast habitat and Fragile Forest, home of the great apes. In the Zoo's Living World center, hands-on, interactive exhibits teach lessons on man's relationship to the animal world, while creepy, crawly critters and beautiful butterflies call the Monsanto Insectarium home.

While there's no general admission charged at St. Louis' Zoo, Art Museum and Missouri History Museum, the institutions frequently host special exhibitions that require an admission fee. But all offer days and times when these fees are waived. Daily from 9 - 10 a.m. at the Saint Louis Zoo, visitors can enter the special Children's Zoo for free, and enjoy a variety of animal shows and programs, and educational play activities. Fees for special exhibits at the Missouri History Museum are waived every Tuesday when museum hours expand to 8 p.m., and on Fridays, the Saint Louis Art Museum stays open until 9 p.m., with no charge to tour special exhibits. Free, docent-led tours of the collection are offered Tuesday through Sunday between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

There are even more free museums in the Grand Center arts and entertainment district.

The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts, open on Wednesdays and Saturdays, highlights contemporary art and architecture, and the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis offers free admission to visitors each Thursday. Nearby, the Saint Louis University Museum of Artfeatures collections of Asian Decorative Arts, collections of the western Jesuit missions, and a gallery of modern and contemporary arts.

Or head west forLaumeier Sculpture Park for free art of another kind. The open air "museum" features a fascinating - and sometimes whimsical - world-class collection of more than 70 modern sculptures. The 105-acre campus includes indoor galleries and exhibitions of paintings, ceramics, glass and photography related to the outdoor sculpture program, as well as an outdoor garden.

Get Electrified at The Magic House - St. Louis Children's Museum holds "Target Free Family Nights"every third Friday of the month from 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm. These special nights enable a family (no more than two adults and four of their own children) to enjoy the more than 100 hands-on exhibits in the museum.

Spend a day in the "country," at Grant's Farm, the former homestead of President Ulysses S. Grant, and family estate of the beer-making Busch family. In 1848, Grant married a St. Louis girl and built a small cabin in 1848 he nicknamed "Hardscrabble." In addition to the cabin, Grant's Farm also features a 281-acre wildlife preserve with more than a 1,000 animals from six continents, including the Budweiser Clydesdale breeding and training facilities. There's also a petting zoo, animal shows, tram rides through the Deer Park, and the Bauernhof - German for ‘farmstead' - which houses the Busch family's renowned carriage collection.

Across the road, the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site features another of Grant's St. Louis homes - historic White Haven. The National Historic Site includes the Main House, built in 1816, an interpretive museum in the historic stables and a Visitor Center that frequently hosts a variety of Grant-related touring exhibits.

Speaking of Anheuser-Busch, you can see how beer is made with a free tour of the Anheuser-Busch Brewery. The tour includes the historic Brew House, Budweiser Clydesdale stables, lager cellar and packaging plant. At the end of the tour, visitors are rewarded for their rapt attention with a visit to the Hospitality Room for free samples, along with sodas and salty snacks.

Schlafly Bottleworks: Complimentary tours on a smaller but no-less-interesting scale are served up at Schlafly Bottleworks, a microbrewery that produces a litany of Schlafly ales, stouts and specialty brews. The tour includes a video about St. Louis' brewing history and manufacturing as well as a look at some "antique" advertising memorabilia.

Learn all about the mighty Mississippi at the National Great Rivers Museum located at the Melvin Price Locks and Dam in nearby Alton, IL, and then get a look at the breathtaking view atConfluence Point State Park. The park offers a bird's eye view of the merger of two mighty American rivers, as the Mississippi and the Missouri join forces. There's a collection of outdoor exhibits that detail the role both rivers played in the Lewis and Clark Expedition, along with the history of the rivers.

Explore an ancient civilization at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site. Located just minutes from downtown St. Louis, Cahokia Mounds has been designated a World Heritage Site for its importance to the understanding of the prehistory of North America. The 2,200-acre tract features the remnants of a prehistoric native civilization that lived in the complex community known as the Land of the Sun, which vanished after 1400 AD. It includes the 100-foot tall Monks Mound, the largest prehistoric earthen structure in the New World.

Get some kicks. Even if you're not old enough to remember the legendary Route 66 or the famous TV show, you'll enjoy a trek toRoute 66 State Park. There are miles of trails for walking and biking and a free museum with memorabilia from the days when Route 66 was America's Main Street. Afterwards, experience the historic Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, which was once Route 66's link between Illinois and Missouri. Today, it serves as America's longest pedestrian bridge, and is open daily to hikers and bikers.

Shakespeare in the Park: Late spring brings free theatre to Forest Park during the annual Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis.For two weeks in early June, The Bard's works enjoy a lively display under the stars, much to the delight of the picnicking audience members.

The Muny: Across the park at The Muny, 1,500 free seats are available on a first come, first serve basis for each evening's performance. The outdoor theater offers Broadway musicals during its season, which runs from mid-June through mid-August.

These are just a few of the many freebies awaiting visitors to St. Louis. So plan a visit soon and see how many things you can pack in for free.

Did you know that St. Louis is no more than a day drive from one third of the US population? What are you waiting for! Get going.

Surf the Boise River!

2011-05-31T13:07:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, we (husband, kids and me) were bicycling on the Boise Greenbelt and lo and behold! There were some surfers, going against the rapids -- surfing. Surfing the Boise River. Four words you'd never think would go together. I got the video to prove it!

And I'm not talking kayak surfing -- I'm talking about surf board surfing. There is TONS of water, gushing in the Boise River -- so these guys are whitewater surfing. Surfing the rapids. I still sound surprised, right? This was the raddest Boise image I've seen since I've been here. Guys in full wetsuits (hot), dropping into the rapids. I was STOKED. Watch here:

Boise is in the process of building a Recreation Park near this spot in Garden City. But they were talking kayaks. Hey kayakers: get on your feet!

Free Audiobooks For Your Kids!

2011-05-23T14:12:00.000-07:00

The next 10 people to "like" Audiobooks For Your Kids on our Facebook page will receive a promo code for a free download. No brainer. Make sure to comment so that we know who the first 10 likers are.

30 books of classic children's literature for 99 cents -- if you miss this opportunity.

Get on it! Think of all you can do with the money you save!

Denver Aquarium Has Mermaids!

2011-05-19T13:48:00.000-07:00

Back in Boulder/Denver last weekend to visit the in-laws. We do lots of watery stuff there -- funny, since Colorado could not be more land-locked.

eBay Negative Feedback -- Whether to Rescind

2011-05-18T10:32:00.000-07:00

I bought what I figured to be a counterfeit Shu Uemura eyelash curler on eBay. It only cost me $3.50, including shipping. I have the product, but I needed the refill and they don't sell them in the US anymore.

When the package arrived, it looked hinky -- no plastic wrap, no extra pad (as advertised), but still, the cost was low. I rinsed it off and put it around my eyelashes and squeezed.

It cut off the ends of my eyelashes! Thankfully, I have long eyelashes and so I don't look too strange, but it was very disconcerting to get a trim like that.

I went to the feedback section of eBay and wrote a negative review of my purchase, explaining that the item was counterfeit (I have the real kind and they are plenty different, side to side) and that my eyelashes were cut off.

The seller contacted me and begged me to rescind the feedback. He would refund my money, he told me.

I thanked him for the offer, but told him that in good conscience, I couldn't rescind the feedback because I had read his feedback before buying and there is nary a mention of an inferior product. I can't imagine I'm the only one with the issue. I told him to keep his money and get better products to sell.

He refunded me my money, asking again if I would rescind my feedback. Again, I told him no.

I don't know what the consequences will be on eBay for me. I'm not a power seller (or buyer for that matter), but it seems that no one wants to get this bad feedback and will do almost anything to get it rescinded.

Am I the only person (or one of a teeny, tiny group) who puts negative feedback on eBay?

Hipster Boise: Modern Art at the Modern Hotel

2011-05-09T13:41:00.000-07:00

Save the date! First Thursday in May, 2012 (May 3):

Modern Art at the Modern Hotel in Boise, Idaho. Yes: Boise.

Last week, Cinco de Mayo AND First Thursday in Boise, we went to "Modern Art 2011" at the Modern Hotel.

It's a great concept whereby the hotel invites local artists to be their guest and transform the design hotel’s 38 Mid-Century modern rooms into everything from...
mini-gallery spaces to
interactive pieces to
full scale installations.

What does this mean? A crowd of art-hungry Boiseans descend on the Modern Hotel where artists show their art on the walls, the bed, above the toilet.

We tried to get there early, knowing how crowded it can get -- who knew there were so many groovy people in Boise? We went in and out of rooms (and bathrooms) where we saw:

Bruce Maurey's work: (yes, it's in the bathroom -- my camera flash kind of ruins the dark, gothy, dia de los muertos aspect)

Some very interesting pieces by Tom Bennick where everything was made of paper -- this photo doesn't do it justice. This was very cool stuff -- and you can commission pieces...

At this point, I was too busy chasing my kids, so I didn't grab the artists' cards. My apologies...

And then there was the performance art room. Slightly spooky for the kids: a room full of people, dressed in white and chanting:

Yes, there is mariachi music in the background. I like this kind of performance/installation art. Gets you thinking on a different level than everyday life. The whole world is family? How come only one of them has their eyes open? Why wear white? What do YOU think?

Then, there was Ben, who thought it was super cool to have my kids look at his art. Isaac posed on the bathtub with Ben:

And another of Ben's pieces: (in addition to the photo at the top)

Some Swedish lady tucked my son into bed. It was very exciting for him. He got to take off his shoes. She explained how it had something to do with Sweden and Honesty. Honestly, I couldn't follow her reasoning. (Even though it's written out on the sheet!) But she was very nice to my kids.

When my kids had had enough of the art, for a mere $2, they got to go fish:

Who knew there were so many interesting artists in Boise? I did. Now, you do.

The Flip is Dead: Long Live PlayTouch!

2011-04-28T19:51:00.000-07:00

I won a Kodak PlayTouch off of a TravelingMom.com Twitter Party. I'm not sure how, but showing up was a big part of it. They give away great swag. When I first used it -- before I won it -- at the TravelingMom.com conference at Disney World in Orlando, I didn't really understand why it was so great. Now that I own it, it took me about five minutes total to figure it out. It's super easy to use. I've been using my new camera, which is sort of like Kodak's version of the Flip, on my recent travels.

When I was skiing in Schweitzer, I would just whip it out of my pocket on the slopes and the buttons were big enough that my frozen hands (after taking off my gloves to operate the camera), could maneuver.

There's something about the touch of this camera (hence the name?) that I really like. I like that it's... vertical. I know that's hard to appreciate when reading online, but I would encourage people who are buying new cameras not only to do online research, but also to go into a store and touch the camera. How does it feel? Is the interface easy for you to use? What about transferring your photos after you get back to your computer? This is just as important as price and theorizing about important features.

One of the best things about the camera, that seemed trivial when I first saw it, is that it has a USB connection built in. How many times have you had to search for the cable to your camera to download your photos? That annoyance is gone with the Kodak Playtouch.

I will say that I wish the LCD screen was bigger, but it's not a deal-killer for me. Still shots are just so-so, but hey, it's a pure consumer camera. This camera is for the video equivalent of snapshots -- and the video part is great.

How to Sync Your Data: Android, Gmail, Cloud Computing

2011-04-15T20:29:00.000-07:00

Until about three months ago, I used an iPhone, even though my desktop is a PC. I would sync everything through Outlook -- connected with a wire. Problem was, if I forgot to sync at my desk, I would be without some important information on certain days. I also got an out-of-my-home office. Remembering to sync all of my tasks/notes/calendar items started to become crucial. If I forgot, it became a real problem.

By means of some goading from my husband, I made the switch to Gmail as my primary source of email/calendar/tasks/notes/life. I did not change my email address: I just got a gmail account and had my existing email pop into that account. I could answer my emails from either the new gmail or the existing account.

Now, the good stuff: because I've switched entirely from Outlook (Calendar, notes, tasks, email), I have all my information in real time, synched anywhere I go. Because all of my information lives in the cloud, I no longer depend on getting back to my desktop so that my phone/notebook/desktop all have the same information. They just do, because I'm doing everything with Google.

I used to be as sharp as a tack. I'm a little duller now (I blame the kids). I would like to take as many duties off my plate as possible. By having my data live in the cloud, it's one less thing I have to think about.

Admittedly, the Google package is not as elegant as Outlook: getting graphics on signatures is less than easy, the calendar doesn't have color coding like Outlook and the tasks are surprisingly awkward. Still, they all work and only take a little getting used to. I have augmented some of the things that are lacking by picking up anEvernote and a Reqall account, to manage Notes and Tasks, respectively on my computer as well as my phone.

I just got a flashy new Android G2 phone, very geeked out, still easy to use. When I switched from my old Android Phone to this new one, I didn't have to load in my information. All I did was tell it my gmail account and brilliantly, it was all there. Because it lives in the cloud. (Are you still confused about this "cloud"? Clickhere.)

If you travel, or even if you have both home and work offices, this is the way to go. Let me rephrase that: this is the way you will eventually go, so you might as well start testing out the waters. You could also have your documents live either on Google Docs or on Evernote.

You want more reasons to abandon your current tools:

Outlook is very difficult to back up, especially as your data grows. What would happen if you lose your archived emails?
Yahoo mail gets hacked a LOT, not to mention it's very ad-centric (yes, Google survives on ads, but not in your email, like Yahoo)
MobileMe is extremely buggy, as of this writing. My's husband's IT service business struggles on a daily basis with its clients' issues with their MobileMe accounts.
Gmail search engine is quite robust in finding archived emails
Gmail has its own hardware: The Android Phone -- this means that the software and the hardware are meant to work together and there are added fluencies if you are on gmail and use the android
Android phones are much less expensive than iPhones and have the same apps -- the app issue is over.

If you take away anything from this blog, I would hope it's this: DUMP OUTLOOK/yahoo/mobileme/hotmail and get on the Gmail package. (Google does not pay me. But listen up Google: I'm not above getting paid.)

Never be without your information again!

ESRB: Choose the Right Video Game For Your Child

2011-04-14T19:42:00.000-07:00

Do your children play video games. Does a Hawaiian vacay sound perfect right around now?

Although I am the tech tips traveling mom, I am loathe to spend an extra two seconds even talking about video games with my 7 year old son. Nothing interests me less.

But here's the reality:I have to get interested (very soon!) because there will be a lot more tension in our house if this boy doesn't get some video games. And I don't want him going to the neighbor's house for video games because I have no idea what they're playing over there. I'd rather have him play a game we can pick out together. Yes, it's a dialogue -- even with a 7 year old.

So, I can do all of the research I want to, but when I'm in the store with him, I need a quick education. If I'm on the fence about buying him a game, I need some answers -- fast. Can't rely on a 7 year old to tell me what's appropriate for him with regard to a video game, right?

The ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) has had a mobile app since 2008, but it just got a lot easier to use with photo recognition software. I just take a photo of the box of the game and it connects me to a ratings summary. NOT reviews, just whether or not this game will be appropriate for my kid.

Of course the box has a rating already on it, but if I care more about mature content than foul language, I might not care if the rating is high solely because of language. The ESRB rating explains why each game got its rating. This is crucial information.

The app is free, easy to use and... just get it while you're reading this and thinking about it. You'll forget later. Takes 2 minutes.

Ski Lake Tahoe for Mother's Day!

2011-04-12T19:41:00.000-07:00

This year, there has been such an incredible amount of snow that skiing and snowboarding at Squaw Valley continues through May 30! Skiing in California in May is astounding. I like to plan for Mother's Day. Squaw Creek Resort in Lake Tahoe is offering The Momentous Mother's Day Escape!

Wake Up Call: Alarm Clock App For the Android!

2011-04-01T20:27:00.000-07:00

To paraphrase Aretha: I have never loved a phone the way I, I love my Android. I like having an alarm better than setting up an appointment ("wake up") on my calendar. More reassuring. Can't trust the hotel wake up call 100%, am I right? In the Android Market, I like twofree alarm apps. I'll tell you which one I like best:

Alarm Clock Xtreme! Because all alarm clocks should be extreme, right? Anyway, the reason I like it is because I can choose songs from my playlists on my phone to wake me up. OR, I could (and I tested this), record my voice saying "Wake up Elizabeth!" Not that I want to wake up that way, but knowing I could wake up to just about anything makes me feel very powerful.

I also like AlarmDroid, which has some snazzy features whereby you shake the phone to go to snooze. It has a power nap mode so that you can set the alarm to go off in 1 hour and 12 minutes and 5 seconds -- if you can't deal with figuring out the time, I guess. It also let's you record your voice and stuff like that. Why is this one number 2 in my book? Honestly, who can remember? As I write and play with this version, I'm liking it more than Xtreme.

It's FREE! Get both.

There are paid versions of these apps as well, but you really have to geek out to care. I just want it to work. And they do.