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Vacations

Visiting Disney World… with a Child with Autism

by Jill Jarvis Leave a Comment

From Houston Mom, Ashley Ann:

I went on a wild trip this week, to Walt Disney World, with my family of five: Russell (husband), Patton (6yrs), Crosby (4yrs-Autistic) and Hannah (15 months).

When we were planning, my first thought we had was, “How on earth are we going to fly?”. Well I have to tell you it was amazingly EASY! And the best part is that I did it alone with all three kids because my husband was already in Orlando.

So here is my secret to making it great: Wings for All. We went to IAH a month before our trip for the airport walk through for special needs kids. We went through check-in, security, and got on an actual plane. It’s an amazing tool in preparation for any travel and it’s FREE!!!!

Our next question was, “How are we going to do a Disney park with Crosby?”. The accommodations far surpassed any of our expectations!

We rented a double stroller so that all 3 kids could take turns riding throughout the day.

Upon arrival to Disney World on our first day we went to guest services. We explained that Crosby has Autism and that we may have some trouble with waiting for long periods of time and that we may need to contain him during wait times in the stroller.

We were given a wheelchair tag for our stroller which meant that we could bring the stroller with us to the entrance of all rides instead of leaving it at the beginning of the line. This was invaluable.

Once we figured out the kinks of the system we were set. A disability designation on your bracelet is similar to a fast pass but in my opinion is better, you don’t have to actually stand in line and it’s unlimited!

So when we scan Crosby’s bracelet and tell the cast member we have a disability, they tell you a time to come back, and then you walk away. Simple right?! We took that time to go eat, potty, or just sit. With some rides with the wheelchair tag we walked right onto a ride because they had a separate entrance.

Now, am I saying it was a perfect day all day? No. But we’re we able to enjoy the huge number of wins we had each day because of the Disney Magic? You betcha!

On day one we went to Hollywood Studios and just mostly walked around and met characters. Toy Story Land is where we were able to just walk onto a ride with no wait with only the disability tag. If Crosby seemed too excited, I warned the characters that he had autism and may be a little nervous or grabby.

We never felt rushed at anytime with any of the characters. In this park we met: Buzz, Woody, BoPeep, Vampirina, Doc McStuffins, Darth Vader, Mike and Sully. Mickey’s Dance Party was not nearly as big of a hit as we thought it would be with Crosby but Patton and Hannah loved it. Mickey, Vampirina, and Doc McStuffins show up and sang their theme songs.

Day two we spent our morning around the hotel, Art of Animation, so we could attend the character drawing class in the lobby, we drew Stitch. This was a huge hit with Patton because he is really into drawing.

Since all Disney resorts have playgrounds we blew off some steam first before our class. Then we hit the arcade and the boys loved it. It had a ton of flashing lights and is pretty noisy but I think it was no worse than a typical day at Chuck E Cheese.

We booked a late lunch character meal inside the Magic Kingdom for our second park day. We saw Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, and Eeyore. The boys loved it! Hannah not so much. The buffet was very good but for the price, we may wait until Hannah is old enough for princesses before we do a character meal again.

Since we had a late lunch with Pooh and the gang, we walked right into the park in the middle of the parade which was perfect because we saw all of the pretty floats and characters without having to meet any of them.

Russell and Patton went off to do big boy things so Crosby, Hannah and I went to ride “It’s a Small World”. This was the one ride I thought would be a hit but was not.

I apparently underestimated his refusal to ride on a boat. The characters were overwhelming because he didn’t know where to look and it was super intense because we were on the first row. Luckily Hannah was super into it and was getting in Crosby’s face and making him smile. By the end of it he said he enjoyed it but would not ride it again.

In all honesty the only ride we did successfully without issue was the carousel.

Even with the lack of riding pretty much anything, we filled our days but just walking around, meeting characters, and walking the shops. Almost every time I offered to walk in a shop Crosby would say yes. He loved naming all of the characters items that he recognized.

All in all it was an absolutely perfect vacation! Would I recommend going to Disney with an autistic child? Magic Kingdom, absolutely! Hollywood Studios was a bust in my opinion… but it made my husband and Patton happy so it works.

A few things I recommend to have:

  • A pair of affiliate Boise cancelling headphone. We only needed them for the fireworks but it was a great crutch just in case.
  • A fidget toy. Typically we don’t give them to either of the boys but Crosby absolutely needed it. I found small Mr Potato Head Toy Story characters where the eyes and ears did not come off, only the costumes were removable. It had maybe 4 parts to each character which was plenty for him to feel satisfied.
  • Glow sticks. All three kids completely loved having glow sticks to play with on dark rides like Pirates of the Caribbean.
  • A stroller. There are services that will drop off a stroller to your hotel and pick it up on your last day. It was $50 for 4 days for a double stroller and it could leave the park with us. If you rent at Disney you have to return it every day when you leave and it’s $30+ a day for a double.
  • Buy the photo package. I was apprehensive because of the cost but it is invaluable when you are alone with two kids and need to interact and can’t get your camera. All characters have a photographer. You scan your bracelet and all of your pictures are compiled in the app. I wish some pictures would have been a little better angles or they would have tried to get everyone’s attention. But when you are talking about 3 kids and one is autistic, any picture where everyone is looking at the camera is a good picture.

And lastly, just know that you can do it!

We were so busy thinking of all the bad things that could happen that it took us until the end of the first day to realize nothing bad had happened.

I can’t wait to go back to Disney World when Hannah is 10, Crosby 14, and Patton 16! I’m sure there will be a whole other set of worries or issues by then but I know for sure that it will be worth it!

Filed Under: All, Roadtrips, Travel, Vacations November 20, 2019

Where to stop between Houston and Pensacola Beach

by Jill Jarvis 4 Comments

Roadtrip! Here’s where to stop between Houston and Pensacola Beach… with kids!

Where to stop between Houston and Pensacola Beach
I asked my kids where they wanted to go on a roadtrip and they were absolutely certain they needed to go to the beach in Florida. I don’t know why exactly… but I think they had heard stories of the white sand beaches and clear blue water.

So, I looked at the map, and since I was going to be driving alone, agreed to slowly drive from Houston, Texas to Pensacola Beach, Florida… just inside the Florida state line.

Over eight days, we drove from Houston (through Beaumont, Lake Charles and Lafayette) to Baton Rouge. Then we drove from Baton Rouge to Biloxi (driving along the Mississippi coastline). Then from Biloxi (through Mobile) to Pensacola Beach. On the return trip back to Houston, we swung through New Orleans.

The drive from Houston to Pensacola Beach is about eight hours in each direction, but we did a lot of short drives and a lot of sightseeing.

Before the trip, I had asked YOU for recommendations on where to stop between Houston and Pensacola Beach, and I have listed them below. Also, the map is at the bottom. (I’ve highlighted the places we went to with “*”!)

I’ve already promised my kids we would take this trip again soon… so if you have more recommendations for what to see between Houston and Pensacola Beach, let us know!

Where to Stop between Houston and Pensacola Beach:

What to see in Beaumont:

  • Spindletop Museum
  • Gator Country
  • Beaumont Children’s Museum
  • Fire Museum of Texas
  • Edison Museum
  • Texas Energy Museum

What to see in Lake Charles/Sulphur:

  • Louisiana Welcome Center (At LA State line… but it was closed for renovations when we were there.)
  • Millennium Park
  • The Children’s Museum of Lake Charles
  • Creole Nature Trail (Sulphur)
  • Brimstone Museum (Sulphur)
  • Sulphur Park Waterpark (Sulphur)
  • Golden Nugget/Casinos (Stretch your legs and eat at the buffet.)
  • Hollier’s Cajun Kitchen(Sulphur)
  • Steamboat Bills
  • Mr. Bills Seafood Express
  • Darrell’s Poboys

What to see in Lafayette:

  • Prehistoric Park (in Henderson)
  • Bon Temps Grill
  • Best Stop (for Cracklins)
  • TCoons

What to see in Avery Island:

  • Tabasco Museum and Factory

What to see in Baton Rouge:

In Baton Rouge we stayed downtown, within walking distance of the USS Kidd and Old State Capital (and a longer walk to the State Capital).

  • USS Kidd* (In the old ship bathrooms, all the toilets are just lined up with no privacy. My little boy cannot stop talking about this. (Insert sigh and smile here.)
  • Old State Capital* (This is free to visit and looks like a castle!)
  • State Capital* (This is free to visit and you can take the elevator to the top observation deck!)
  • Rural Life Museum
  • LSU*
  • Baton Rouge Zoo

What to see in New Orleans:

In New Orleans we stayed in the French Quarter and went to the City Park on the way out of town. Hotel reservations were a little hard to get, so we planned our trip around the New Orleans hotel.

  • French Quarter*
  • Jackson Square*
  • Carriage Rides* (This was expensive… but good way to see the French Quarter and learn a lot of history!)
  • Louisiana Children’s Museum* (Free with Children’s Museum of Houston membership!)
  • WWII Museum
  • Mardi Gras World
  • Audubon Park
  • Audubon Zoo
  • Audubon Aquarium
  • Insectarium
  • Central Grocery*
  • Street Car
  • City Park*
  • Story Land Park* (This playground has lots of storybook characters and my little girl loved it! You do have to pay to get in.)

What to see in Pearlington:

  • Infinity Space Center

What to see in Gulfport:

  • Seabee Museum
  • Ship Island Excursions

What to see in Biloxi:

We stayed on the west side of Biloxi, right along the beach. The sand was white and the boardwalk was nice to walk along. (The water is still the same Mississippi-mud color as Galveston.)

The beach was pretty quiet (which is great for us) and it looked like more people were in the beaches in the center of Biloxi.

  • Beach*
  • Boardwalk*

What to see in Mobile:

  • Downtown*
  • USS Alabama*
  • Bellingrath Gardens
  • Gulf Coast Exploreum
  • Buc-ee’s* (Just outside Mobile is a new Buc-ee’s! And it was insanely busy. Just think of a busy Texas Buc-ee’s and multiply the business by three. But we still went twice!)

What to see in Orange Beach:

  • Beach

What to see in Pensacola:

  • National Naval Aviation Museum
  • Pensacola Lighthouse and Museum
  • Gulf Breeze Zoo
  • Panhandle Butterfly House
  • Red Slipper Cafe

What to see in Pensacola Beach:

In Pensacola Beach, we stayed on the west side of the small island. Holiday Inn Express was just remodeled, had direct access to the beach and every room had a balcony towards the gulf.

At Pensacola Beach, the sand was white and the water was blue. Somewhere after Mobile Bay, the water changed from Mississippi-mud to blue!

The west side of the island was pretty quiet and perfect for us. On the middle of the island, near the pier, is where the college kids hung out for spring break.

On Pensacola Beach, we spent several days digging in the sand, walking up and down the island jog/bike path and watching the waves from the balcony.

We took one little trip to the old Fort Pickens and one over the bridge to Gulf Breeze to find a sports field (because I don’t think there is any grass on the island)… but the rest of the time was spent at the beach!

  • Beach*
  • Pier* (It costs a couple of dollars to walk on the pier and more to fish.)
  • Fort Pickens*
  • Free Trolley (in the summer)

Update:  Thanks to MCT for the reminder in the comments! The bridge from Pensacola to Pensacola Beach is out due to hurricane damage. The target date for re-open is currently March 2021. You can still access Pensacola Beach, but you’ll need to plan an alternate route around Pensacola on I-10 and down through the Garcon bridge into Gulf Breeze.

Take a look at more pictures below… and if you have more suggestions for where to stop between Houston and Pensacola Beach, be sure to let us know for the next trip!

Roadtrip Map… Where to Stop between Houston and Pensacola Beach:

Pictures… Where to Stop between Houston and Pensacola Beach:

Where to stop between Houston and Pensacola Beach... Baton Rouge

Old State Capital, Baton Rouge

Where to stop between Houston and Pensacola Beach... New Orleans

Story Land Park, New Orleans

What to see between Houston and Pensacola Beach.. Biloxi

Biloxi Boardwalk

USS Alabama, Mobile

Where to stop between Houston and Pensacola Beach

Pensacola Beach

Where to stop between Houston and Pensacola Beach... Baton Rouge

USS Kidd, Baton Rouge

What to see between Houston and Pensacola Beach... New Orleans

Jackson Square, New Orleans

Where to stop between Houston and Pensacola Beach... New Orleans

Story Land Park, New Orleans

What to see between Houston and Pensacola Beach... Biloxi

Biloxi Beach

Fort Pickens in Pensacola Beach

Fort Pickens, Pensacola Beach

Playing at Pensacola Beach

Pensacola Beach

Holiday Inn Pensacola Beach

Holiday Inn Express, Pensacola Beach

View from hotel at Pensacola Beach

Pensacola Beach

Filed Under: All, Roadtrips, Travel, Vacations Tagged With: Baton Rouge, Beaumont, Biloxi, Houston, Lafayette, Lake Charles, New Orleans, Pensacola Beach April 7, 2019

Things to do in Port Aransas, with kids!

by Jill Jarvis 3 Comments

We recently had a chance to spend a couple days in Port Aransas, Texas. I am certainly not an expert on all there is to do… but we did our best to explore this small town on Mustang Island by Corpus Christi!

Here are our favorite things to do… with a map at the bottom. I also added the reader recommendations for our next trip.

Tell us what to add!

 

1. Port Aransas Ferry – To get to the island, we took the ferry. It is a super short ride (just a couple minutes), but we did see a couple dolphins in the water!

On the way to the island, the wait was 45 minutes (on a Sunday). On the way home, it was 20 minutes. You can see current wait times HERE.

 

2. Roberts Point Park – Located right next to the ferry landing, this was our favorite spot. There was a cool pirate ship playground and from the pier we saw sea turtles and dolphins!

This park also has pavilions, restrooms, an observation tower and a lighted fishing pier.

 

3. Nueces County Park Beach – This giant beach has free parking and lots of room to play! We first went to a beach at the end of Avenue G (by our hotel) but had not picked up the $12 permit from the local shops… so we kept looking and found this one.

No permit was required at this county beach… and there were tons of shells and lots of space to play. These beaches were also prettier than most by Houston… lighter sand and bluer water!

 

4. Golf Carts – I kept on looking for a downtown pedestrian area… but never found one. That’s when I figured out why everyone had rented golf carts. They rented houses and hotels and then took their golf carts anywhere they wanted to go.

We did not rent one, but we might have been the only ones.

 

5. MacDaddy’s Family Kitchen – We ate at MacDaddy’s and it was cool and family friendly. I’d say that Houston does BBQ better… but it was a good stop. See some other reader suggestions below!

 

6. What Else to Try – Here’s what others have recommended for our next trip!

  • Winston’s Island Candy
  • Seafood and Spaghetti Works
  • Dolphin Tours
  • Pirate Ship Tours
  • Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center
  • Port Aransas Museum
  • Mustang Island Horseback Riding
  • San Jose Island (Ferry ride from Port Aransas)

 

Filed Under: All, Roadtrips, Things to do, Travel, Vacations July 5, 2017

Things to do in Lincoln, Nebraska, with kids!

by Jill Jarvis Leave a Comment

I moved a lot as a kid. I went from Nebraska to Wisconsin, back to Nebraska, out to Connecticut, then to New York, California and finally Texas. If someone asks where I am from, and presses for one answer, I say I am from Nebraska… and Lincoln is where I was born.

I moved out of Lincoln when I was little, but I went back regularly to see my grandma until college. I used to tour the Lincoln zoo, museums and parks with my grandmother… and now I take my kids to do the same.

We were just there last week to visit family and as we were driving around, my dad said, “I do not regret moving around, but Lincoln is a really good place to be.”. I agree… and my kids are counting down the days to the next trip!

If you are looking for things to do in Lincoln, here are our favorites! Scroll to the bottom for the map. (And if you have more suggestions, tell us for our next trip!)

 

Museums/Zoo:

Lincoln Children’s Zoo:  My grandma and I would go to the zoo every time I was in Lincoln. It started out small, expanded as I got older… and has been expanding ever since.

My favorite thing as a kid was Leo the Paper Eating Lion… and it is still there! This lion vacuums up all your trash… and it is now my 5 year old’s favorite thing!

The zoo now has over 400 animals, a great nature play area and the pony rides I remember from my childhood. Plus, peacocks roam around the sidewalks… so as you tour, you’ll probably have one walk up right next to you!

With my Houston Zoo membership, I got 50% off admission to the Lincoln Zoo.

 

Lincoln Children’s Museum: The first Lincoln Children’s Museum was a small storefront… now it’s three floors with 40 exhibits! A lot has changed since I was a kid… and my kids approve! I am pretty sure they would have spent all day in the Clock Tower, which is three stories with conveyor belts and building blocks, but we insisted they see all of the museum.

This museum is a little smaller than Houston’s Children’s Museum… but that’s a good thing. It’s a little less crazy and there is a lot to do! Some Lincoln specific exhibits are… the Johnny Carson Theater, the little grocery store is named HyVee (and not HEB) and the water station teaches about the Nebraska aquifer.

One note is that our Houston Children’s Museum/Health Museum membership did not work here. It’s on another museum network!

 

University State Museum – Morrill Hall:  In elementary school, we used to load up the school bus and drive 2.5 hours from Norfolk to Lincoln. I still remember this field trip and decided my kids should probably head to the same natural history museum.

The kids loved the giant mammoths and the interactive play room.

As a bonus, entrance was free with my Houston Children’s Museum/Health Museum memberships!

 

Gardens/Parks:

Sunken Gardens:  Located across from the Lincoln Zoo, the Sunken Gardens were a regular stop for my grandma and me. It has over 30,000 individual annual plans and ALWAYS looks amazing. If I lived in Lincoln, I’d get all our family photos taken here.

 

More Parks:  Lincoln has a lot of great parks. Woods Park was where I spent a lot of time… but there are many more! See them HERE.

 

More to Do:

Haymarket:  This warehouse district has been revitalized and is one of my favorite places to walk around. Here there are shops, restaurants and University of Nebraska Basketball Stadium. My kids love the train and the small train play structure… and that it’s close to the Children’s Museum!

 

Nebraska State Capital:  Another stop on our elementary school field trip was the Nebraska State Capital. I can still remember taking the elevators to the top and peeking out at Lincoln from the observation deck.

This capital building was constructed from 1922 to 1932. It can be seen from miles away and has a four hundred foot domed tower. Inside there are mosaics and sculptures representing the natural, social and political development of Nebraska.

The building is open to the public and tours are given each hour.

We stopped in and were able to roam around. There were no signs, but I remembered going to the top, so we found the elevators and were able to head up to the observation deck.

What I didn’t remember was how tiny and how old the elevators were. I can’t believe we packed my class into these elevators… but we did… and I did the same with my kids 30 years later.

 

Memorial Stadium:  I am pretty sure that most of my extended family has their heart skip a beat when they see the University of Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium. The Huskers won the National Championship twice when my dad was in school at UNL and twice again when I was in high school.

Nebraskans love football and the Huskers.

 

University of Nebraska: And speaking of school pride… just think what it would look like if all the Texas, Aggie, Cougar, Texan and Astros pride was combined to support one team? In Lincoln, the big “N” is everywhere. Cars, shirts, hats, weddings, stores, restaurants… even Walmarts are decorated with Husker banners.

Go big red!

More to Do:  Visit Lincoln has you covered!

 

Restaurants:

Runza:  Oh, I love Runza. I could eat at this fast food restaurant for ever single meal. The “Runza” is made from beef, cabbage and onion baked in homemade bread.

 

Valentino’s: Keep in mind that Nebraska is not super Italian. There are a lot of Czech and German communities… but my mother-in-law’s Italian cooking is not something I had growing up. That said, Valentino’s is the pizza to order in Lincoln (or the restaurant to visit).

 

See the map of Lincoln below! Compared to Houston, it is a small city and easy to navigate!

 

Filed Under: All, Roadtrips, Things to do, Travel, Vacations July 4, 2017

The Best Stay-cation at The Woodlands Resort… Tips for Visiting with Kids!

by JillBJarvis.com Sponsored Post 2 Comments

Every year when school starts to wind down, my kids start to ask about The Woodlands Resort.

They get thoughts of the lazy river, water slides, splashpad, under water music, smores and poolside movies in their heads… and it’s all they can talk about. In fact, three years in a row, they have opted to visit the resort instead of hosting birthday bashes at home.

Lucky for all of us, the resort invited us out again this year and the kids got to spend two days hoping between pools, slides and poolside activities. AND I finally figured out the best time to go to The Woodlands Resort.

We had been to the resort on the busy weekend and we had been on an empty rainy weekend… but this year we went on sunny, not-at-all-crowded, have-the-pools-to-yourself, weekdays.

During the summer, The Woodlands Resort has activities by the pool. I thought these were scheduled only on the weekends… but there are activities ALL week long!

Each day there are crafts and games poolside and each evening their are smores and dive in movies. On the weekends, they add more like face painting and balloon artists. (Find the schedule for 2017 HERE.)

Every trip to the resort has been great, but going on a weekday was AMAZING. There were fewer activities, but there were also fewer people. The kids went down the slides at least 100 times, with no waiting in line. We went around the lazy river dozens of times, saying hello to just a couple other families along the way.

We would play, grab (free) water from the cafe, run to the room for sunscreen and a rest and do it all again. The resort was all ours, so we could do what we wanted, when we wanted!

So, what is new this year? Well, we have a new baby so we spent a lot of time at the baby pool and splashpad.

While we were here, the big kids were in the nearby big pool, diving down to the treasure chest (at the bottom of the pool) and listening to the underwater music.

I should also mention that it is much easier to watch multiple kids at The Woodlands Resort than at a big water park. You have to pay attention but there is a lot to do and it’s not too huge. (That said, all my big kids can swim, but I make the 5 year old wear a vest so I am more comfortable with 4 kids at the pool.)

Also new this year, it looks like the resort has made a few changes for adults. There is a second poolside cafe… and you must be over 12 to enter. (There is still the main Cool Water Cafe for everyone!)  Also, the hot tub now says “Adults Only”… which is probably good because I had seen a lot of canon balls in the past.

 

At The Woodlands Resort, all of the activities are included in the price of the room (which starts at $199 in the summer)… hotel room, pools, crafts, activities, face painting, s’mores and movies.

Also, The Woodlands Resort keeps the pools open during the rain and will only close them because of lightning or really severe weather. And since the point of swimming is to get wet, the scattered showers were really no big deal.

 

If you plan to visit the resort, here are some quick tips to help you plan your trip… 

  • The resort will close the pools for very severe weather… but will stay open in the rain.
  • If it is too wet, the crafts, activities and movies will move in to the ballroom.
  • There a lot of activities on weekends… but weekdays in the summer still have games, smores and dive in movies! Check with the resort when you are booking your trip.
  • The pools include a lazy river, shallow baby pool, splashpad, giant waterfall pool and the big pool with beach entry, palm tree island, underwater music and water slides. All around the pools are lounge chairs and poolside food and drink service.
  • If you want a quieter/less busy spot, walk along the Lazy River. Even on busy days, these lounge chairs are often open and the “secret” water slide has fewer kids in line.
  • There are no lifeguards on duty. The staff is great with helping you enjoy your trip, but you must plan to watch your kids in the water.
  • Floaties and toys are allowed. Feel free to bring noodles and small water toys, but no balls or water guns.
  • Tubes are provided for the lazy river. My 5 year old slipped through (often on purpose)… so if yours truly want to float down the river, bring a small innertube.
  • Bring your life vests if you need them… but if you forget, ask the staff. Some might be available behind the bar.
  • Wear sandals when it’s sunny! The sidewalks can be super hot in the middle of the day.
  • To use the slides, kids need to be 42″. Depending on the staff on duty, this can be 42″ with spiky hair or a solid 43″.
  • No outside food is allowed by the pools… but we brought our own groceries for snacks and a light lunch to eat in the room (which has a mini fridge). We also brought in gallons of water to be sure we stayed hydrated.
  • The poolside restaurant has coolers of ice water for everyone to drink.
  • Bring lots of sunscreen and run back to your room every hour to reapply, get a drink and eat a snack.
  • Mornings are very quiet at the resort. If you want the pools to yourself, try going at 8:00am, when the open.
  • Weekdays are AMAZING, but weekends are great too. There is a buzz at the resort with all the activity… so if that is the only time you can go… do it!
  • If you have multiple swimsuits, bring them! If you run to the room for a rest, you might like a dry (warm) suit to put on!
  • For more tips from our last sunny visit, go HERE!

Find more pictures below… and if you go, tell us about it! If you are looking for more easy roadtrip ideas, go HERE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Filed Under: All, Roadtrips, Things to do, Travel, Vacations June 5, 2017

Things to do in Lake Charles and Sulphur, Louisiana, with kids… Festivals, Museums and Parks!

by Jill Jarvis 1 Comment

Locals, with kids, give the best advice on what to do with kids.

When we travel, we can find lots of advertisements and suggestions on where to spend our time and money… but those spots are necessarily parent tested. So, when we decided to take a roadtrip from Houston to Sulphur and Lake Charles, Louisiana, I asked a local for tips on the things to do with kids.

In her own words, here are Ashley’s tips for what to do in Lake Charles and Sulphur with kids… including festivals, museums and parks!

I grew up in the small city of Sulphur, Louisiana. My husband and I moved to Houston 8 years ago and now we reside in Katy with our two sons (Patton 4 and Crosby 2) and two dogs (Leela and Roux). After all this time we still miss the food, the Cajun culture, and the people!

The Lake Charles and Sulphur area is rich with culture, history and heritage of the Cajun/Creole people who still live there. Almost every month of the year there is a festival or a parade that celebrates our people. The Lake area is known for its casino resorts which are actually very family friendly; Lauberge du Lac, Golden Nugget, and Isle of Capri. But if you look outside the resorts, there is a whole lot of Louisiana to see!

From the very start January through April have events like the Southwest District Livestock and Rodeo, 4-H and FFA Livestock Show, Black Heritage Festival, Sulphur Mines Festival, and Louisiana Railroad Days Festival. And I don’t think I need to remind everyone about MARDI GRAS! Between Lake Charles and Sulphur there are 5 different parades!

In May the festivals continue with Contraband Days Festival & Parade (first 2 weeks). Next is the Red, White, Blue and Oval Car Show. St. Margaret Catholic Church Crawfish & Music Festival and American Craft Brew Week at Crying Eagle Brewing are a few more things that can make the May heat a little more bearable.

Close by is also the Starks Mayhaw Festival. If you love live music, then heading to Downtown at Sundown may be your thing. And best of all, the Sulphur Parks and Recreation (SPAR) Water Park opens!

June brings the Trinity Baptist Church Frogging Tournament, Louisiana High School Rodeo Finals, Gulf Coast Shrimp & Jazz Festival. Then in July is the Cajun Music Festival, Red, White, Blue and You and the Marshland Festival. In both months there is more Downtown at Sundown and Sulphur Parks and Recreation Water Park too!

August through December have their fair share of festivals too as the cooler weather rolls on in. There is the Lake Area Music Festival, St. Theresa’s Bon Ton Festival, Cal-Cam Fair, and Flea Fest. Don’t get stressed shopping for Christmas at Mistletoe and Moss Holiday Market and go to The Holiday House at Christmas Under the Oaks at the Brimstone Museum (first weekend) is there with everything you could hope for!

  • January/February:  Southwest District Livestock and Rodeo
  • February: MARDI GRAS!
  • March:  Black Heritage Festival, Sulphur Mines Festival
  • April: Louisiana Railroad Days Festival
  • May: Contraband Days Festival & Parade, Red, White, Blue and Oval Car Show, St. Margaret Catholic Church Crawfish & Music Festival, American Craft Brew Week at Crying Eagle Brewing, Starks Mayhaw Festival, Downtown at Sundown
  • June: Trinity Baptist Church Frogging Tournament, Louisiana High School Rodeo Finals, Gulf Coast Shrimp & Jazz Festival,
  • July: Cajun Music Festival, Marshland Festival, Red, White, Blue and You
  • August:
  • September: St. Theresa’s Bon Ton Festival,
  • October: Flea Fest
  • November/December: The Holiday House at Christmas Under the Oaks, Mistletoe and Moss Holiday Market

Here are a list of the wonderful museums to help beat the heat on those hot summer days while visiting the Lake area:

  • Imperial Calcasieu Museum
  • Mardi Gras Museum
  • Brimstone Museum
  • DeQuincy Railroad Museum
  • Children’s Museum
  • USS Orleck Naval Museum

If being outside is more your thing, there are plenty of parks to keep you busy.

  • Creole Nature Trail (with alligators!)
  • Sam Houston Jones State Park (which is great for hiking, biking camping and picnics)
  • Niblett’s Bluff Park (great for camp outs and boating)
  • Millennium Park (giant sized pirate ship playground and splash pad complex at the Lake Charles Civic Center)
  • Sulphur Parks and Recreation (SPAR) (Not only has a large water park, but also a public golf course. SPAR baseball and softball complexes host Louisiana state tournaments too!)

It’s easy to get outdoors because there are actually more than 20 parks in the Lake area!!!

And don’t even get me started on the food!!! Authentic Cajun and Creole cuisine that will knock your socks off!

EVERYTHING you do in Lake Charles and Sulphur welcomes you to enjoy that “at home” feeling. So when you are thinking about booking your next trip, think about heading over to Louisiana and see what exciting things are in store for your family.

For more information go HERE!

Filed Under: All, Things to do, Travel, Vacations June 4, 2017

Things to do in Louisiana with kids… Roadtrip along I10

by Jill Jarvis 6 Comments

We were planning a long drive through Louisiana… but did not any of the things to do in Louisiana with kids. That’s when Louisiana native, Ashley Ann, spoke up with these highlights for road tripping families!

Check out these stops, from west to east, across Louisiana… and scroll to the bottom for a map. (And these are some some of the favorites… tell us what else you like to do along I10!)

Things to do in Louisiana with kids
Also, if you have memberships to Houston Museums or the Zoo, be sure to ask about reciprocity programs. You could get free or discounted admission to the zoos and museums in Louisiana (and all over the world).

Things to do in Louisiana with Kids:

Sulphur / Lake Charles:

  • Restaurants:
    • Hollier’s
    • Steamboat Bills
    • Mr. Bills
    • Darrell’s
  • Brimstone Museum
  • Sulphur Parks and Recreation (SPAR) Waterpark
  • Creole Nature Trail
  • Children’s Museum of Lake Charles
  • Millennium Park
  • For even more to do, go HERE!!

Lafayette Area:

  • Best Stop (for cracklins)
  • T-Coons Restaurant
  • University of Louisiana Lafayette Campus
  • Annual Event: The last full week of April is Festival International de Louisiane… a free music festival with amazing food, music and people.

Baton Rouge Area:

  • LSU Campus
  • Baton Rouge Zoo
  • USS Kidd
  • Plantation Homes (Lots of them!)
  • Louisiana State Capital
  • Old State Capital Building

Avery Island (Where they make Tabasco!)

New Orleans:

  • Restaurants:
    • Cafe du Monde (Beignets)
    • Pat O’Brien’s Bar (Hurricanes, drinks and food)
    • Central Grocery and Deli (Best muffulettas ever!)
  • French Quarter
  • House of Blues
  • Horse Drawn Carriage Tours
  • Take the Trolley up Canal Street (See the historic homes)
  • Shopping in the French Quarter
  • Annual Events: Jazz Fest and Voodoo Fest

Things to do in Louisiana with Kids:

Louisiana with Kids

Filed Under: All, Roadtrips, Things to do, Travel, Vacations May 12, 2017

Western New York: More Things to Do with Kids!

by Jill Jarvis Leave a Comment

“Do you know the best part about [Western] New York? You never have to go inside or go to the store. You just play, and when you are hungry, you pick something from the garden.”

This is what my kids told me, and it’s true.

We just got back from another trip to grandma’s in Western New York and ate buckets of blueberries we had picked, apricots from the roadside stand, and vegetables from the garden. We cooked over the bonfire, ran in and out through the slamming screen door and spent the days in the cool Great Lakes summer weather.

I’ve written about the Things to Do in Western, New York, with kids before… so be sure to look HERE before planning your trip. Watching water tumble over a wide waterfalls, figuring out what created the falls and learning how boats could possibly move up and down this Niagara Escarpment is really quite amazing.

This year we repeated our favorite things to do… plus we found a few more summer time activities! See them below… and scroll to the bottom for a map!

Hamlin Beach State Park Lake Ontario
1. Hamlin Beach State Park:  If you have not seen the Great Lakes before, this is what you need to know… they look like oceans from the shore. They are huge! On Lake Ontario, you can almost see Canada in the distance… but there is a lot of water in between. Each year my kids wonder why they are called lakes when they are so big!

Much of the access to the lake is rock, but some spots have a beach. One of these places is Hamlin Beach State Park. Here the water is blue, lifeguards watch the beach and a lot of families are playing, picnicking, hiking and camping.

We took in a picnic, cooked hamburgers, played at the play grounds, dug in the sand and swam in the water!

 

The Strand Movie Theater in Brockport New York
2. Brockport, New York: Brockport is a college town, on the Erie Canal, with a cool little downtown. This walk-able strip of shops and restaurants has an old theater with 3 screens and an amazing bookstore called Lift Gate Book Store.

 

Fantasy Island Train Station Western New York
3. Fantasy Island: We do not do many amusement parks… but this one has nostalgic appeal. My husband used to visit as a kid.

So, just think old wooden roller coaster, old fashioned kiddie rides and some new rides and a small water park mixed in. Coolers are allowed inside and, as was true 30 years ago, families can still leave them by the picnic tables and come back to eat after they play.

As with most parks, I think it’s easiest with 2 adults… 1 to watch the kids over 48″ on the bigger rides and 1 to watch the little kids. No matter how big the kids are, there is a lot to do!

 

Pick Your Own Blueberries Bucket
4. Fruit, Ice Cream & Beef on Weck:  Like my kids said, there is a lot of eating to be done in Western New York… and much of it is fresh from the farm.

If you drive along Lake Ontario, from Olcott towards Hamlin Beach State Park (and I’m sure a lot of other places), you will pass pick-your-own blueberries and cherries, farm stands and ice cream parlors. Stop at as many as you can!

If you are in Western New York, you also need to try the Beef on Weck. It’s  roast beef on a kummelweck (salt) roll and my husband always makes a point to find one. So, when in Western New York with a Western New Yorker… you find a Beef on Weck!

 

Be sure to also see the post about Niagara Falls, Lewiston, Lockport, Olcott and camping along Lake Ontario HERE! If you have more you like to do in Western New York, with kids… tell us about it. We are always looking for new things to do!

 

Hamlin Beach State Park New York Beach
Hamlin Beach State Park
 

Lift Bridge Bookshop Brockport New York
Brockport, New York
 

Fantasy Island Beanstock Western New York
Fantasy Island
 

Lake Ontario Light House Camp Western New York
Lake Ontario
 

Blueberry Picking in Western New York
Blueberry Picking
 

Niagara Falls from New York Side
Niagara Falls
 

Jill and Boys at Niagara Falls New York
Niagara Falls
 

Filed Under: All, Travel, Vacations August 14, 2016

Blue skies, clear water, exciting water slides, dolphins, sharks, pools… Paradise Island in the Bahamas!

by Juliette Leave a Comment

Want a taste of Paradise? Then come with us to Paradise Island in the Bahamas!

Last winter, I made the mistake (or not!) to show my son a commercial video for the Atlantis Resort in Paradise Island. It shows blue sky, clear water, exciting water slides, dolphins, sharks, pools… and he was sold! He just loved it so much that it was all he could talk about so I started looking into it for a summer vacation.

Paradise Island Clear Water
Along the way, I tried to sell him other destinations maybe closer to Texas and every time he asked the same questions: Can you swim with dolphins? Can you take a water slide in a shark tank? Can you snorkel in crystal clear water? Invariably, I had to say no to one of these questions and so we always went back to Atlantis!

Paradise Island Bahamas in the Water with Fish
The Atlantis resort is only 3 hours away by plane but you will feel like a world away. It is huge and absolutely beautiful, lush, clean and with views of turquoise water everywhere. They offer different hotel towers ranging from moderate to luxury. I will mention the prices in a little bit but first let’s focus on the dreamy paradisiac part!!

When we first arrived, we felt like we were never going to find our way around but no matter what wrong way we took we were sure to find some great aquariums or pools! Aquaventure is their water park that is open from 10am until 7pm and it has 8 water slides, a lazy river and a rapids river. The Leap of Faith slide is the craziest of all and we enjoyed watching people screaming and proud to have done it! My husband did it twice and I knew that there was no way I would slide almost vertically into a tunnel in a shark aquarium!

Paradise Island Shark
They have fairly strict rules for the rides so your child has to be 48 inches minimum. For the little ones, they have small slides and 3 fun kids’ pools with games and structures. Then you have the Paradise Lagoon with sand and clear water so you can see colorful fish swim around you. My son absolutely loved this! He wore a life jacket (free and found everywhere throughout the resort) so he could wander around the lagoon with my husband while I sat on a beach chair in the water surrounded by white or yellow fish. You can buy fish food but they let us feed them bread crusts or crackers. It was amazing to hand feed the fish. It was the first time for me and our son to do that and it was as incredible as I thought.

Paradise Island Bahamas Feet in Sand with Fish in Clear Water
And then, if that is not enough, they have 3 beaches with white sand and clear water. One had strong waves and was quickly deep, one had medium size waves and our favorite one was completely calm and had a slow slope where you could watch the fish. As a matter of fact, we also saw a sea turtle there! The resort was crowded but the beach was mostly quiet and we almost felt like the only ones there as you can see on the picture!

Paradise Island Atlantis Resort
Once you are done with the water fun, walk around the resort and discover all their aquariums. The Dig is an underground adventure which takes you into the world of Atlantis. The Predator lagoon takes you through caves-like aquariums and a tunnel where sharks swim over you. They have so many fish, so many ponds, so many aquariums that it is sure to keep you entertained. They went all out with the details and it is really beautiful to walk through the resort. Dolphin Cay is another lagoon with dolphins and you can book your interactions with them. (The dolphins were rescued from the New Orleans Aquarium when Katrina hit.) My husband and son did the shallow-water interaction and loved their dolphin who was so friendly and fun. It was their best moment and most unforgettable one.

Paradise Island Bahamas Palm Trees
[Read more…] about Blue skies, clear water, exciting water slides, dolphins, sharks, pools… Paradise Island in the Bahamas!

Filed Under: All, Things to do, Travel, Vacations August 4, 2016

Airplanes, Swimming, Eating and Sleeping… Marriott at George Bush Intercontinental Airport!

by Jill Jarvis Leave a Comment

Marriott IAH Building
Address:  18700 John F Kennedy Blvd, Houston, TX 77032

Do we want to spend the weekend at the airport, swimming in the pool, eating at the restaurant and watching giant airplanes? Well, yes, yes we do.

We won a 2 night stay at the Marriott at George Bush Intercontinental Airport and did just this!

Marriott IAH View of Airplanes
I had driven by this round hotel a hundred times before, but never knew what was inside. It turns out that this funny looking building is actually pretty sleek and modern inside. And, whatever they have done to sound proof it, really works well.

The lobby, restaurant and rooms are all remodeled and very clean and comfortable.

Marriott IAH Lobby
The hotel has two towers. The round part has reception, the restaurant and 3 floors of rooms above it. You can also take the elevator up to the very top where there are 2 floors of meeting/event rooms. (I hear the restaurant used to be at the top… which would have been cool for watching planes!)

Our room was in the round part, right by the courtyard with the pool. In the courtyard, you could hear the planes pulling up to the gate.

Marriott IAH Pool
The pool was well maintained and we mostly had it to ourselves. There are noodles at the pool and the staff had given all the kids beach balls at check in!

Just steps away from the pool was our room… and here you could not hear the airplanes. I honestly only heard one plane take off during our two night stay.

Marriott IAH Beach Ball
Each morning we ate a giant breakfast at the restaurant and were full until dinner time. They had fruit, pastries, cereal, oatmeal, hot food and made-to-order omelets.

Also, the wait staff was very friendly and treated us just as well as all the business travelers and non-kid groups.

Marriott IAH Breakfast Buffet
From the hotel we could see airplanes coming and going from the gates. Also, as we came and left, we could see them take off. The best spots for seeing more action are HERE from Fun2Go Misters!

Marriott IAH Popcorn
Free self parking is available in the garage next to the hotel. There were a lot of spots… likely because most of the guests are flying in and out. (Without a room key, it is $26/day.)

Check out is 1:00pm, which I really like. I bet a lot of people check out at 4:00am for early flights, making the late check out do-able for the hotel.

The rates look quite reasonable for this remodeled hotel… but I’ll let you decide for yourself. We really enjoyed the weekend by the airplanes and were able to come and go as we wanted… watching the planes the whole time. And if you or a guest has an early morning flight, the Marriott at IAH is a very very convenient place to stay!

Flight Lounge Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Filed Under: All, Things to do, Travel, Vacations July 18, 2016

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jill-jarvis-bigkidsmallcity-circle-300 Welcome!  JillBJarvis.com is the go-to blog for things to do in Houston with kids!  It is upbeat and dedicated to making our big city feel small.   START HERE!    

On this website you will find a full list of Houston weekly events, things to do around the city, travel ideas and resources for parents.

I know just what it’s like to be overwhelmed by work, life and family. I spent a lot of years traveling for work, missing big milestones for my kids and feeling bad about everything.

I started this website to make a list of all the events happening around Houston and then pick one to enjoy with my kids. And instead of thinking of all the things I was missing, I started to enjoy the things we were doing together.

If you are a parent that is feeling overwhelmed by all the things you could be doing in Houston… please just use our weekly lists and daily posts as suggestions. Pick one thing to do with your family and intentionally ignore the rest!

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