SeaWorld San Antonio - Family fun...yes, even with a teenager in tow

Confession:

I take my kids out of school early every year for Spring Break.

Why?

I am a people person but not in large Disney World size quantities.

We loaded up the car and got ourselves into full road trip mode. Headed out to San Antonio which is about a 3 hour -ish drive from our town.

I'm not sure how many times my family visited San Antonio when I was a kid but I do know that I cherish the memories from the times we were there. Especially my memories at SeaWorld in San Antonio.
I have always loved the water whether it was a pool or the ocean I never had any fears. Sharks, sting rays, manta rays, drowning....I knew these things existed, I understood they could hurt me and I took precautions but I don't remember ever feeling fearful of the water.
But SeaWorld San Antonio truly sparked my interest in marine life when I was a kid. I can remember being mesmerized by Beluga whales and the smiles they wore on their faces. I recall being completely happy watching the dolphins and feeding them fish from the little paper trays. I used to wait around before and after the shows, lurking....hoping and praying that I would get picked for some sort of interaction with the animals. I never was picked for any interaction with the animals...I'm not sure why because I was pretty snazzy in my high side ponytail, Hyper color t shirt and neon shorts.
My love for marine life has not waned although I never did go on to be a marine biologist like I wanted to....and my grandfather likes to remind me of this in a loving way. I'm assuming that I talked about it a lot.
So, taking my own children to SeaWorld to spark their own love for the place seems natural. My husband and I first took our oldest to SeaWorld in the sweltering heat of a normal Texas summer when he was just 18 months old. A little young because, honestly he could have cared less. The next time we took the trip was when we had three children. And it was much better.
Reason one: we have vowed to each other to never visit in the summertime again. Don't get me wrong, SeaWorld San Antonio has some amazing things happening in the summer but I just can't comprehend traipsing through the whole park in 100 degree weather while dragging three sweaty, hungry and thirsty kids. So that is our secret to travel success....early Spring traveling.
The park was pretty much empty when we arrived last Thursday and it was beautiful outside! We dressed in layers and as the day went on I shoved every one's hoodies in to the backpack (Sea World essential #1).
SeaWorld San Antonio really has something for everyone and the shows are enjoyed by all ages. If a sea lion can make my 14 year old laugh than I can promise you that it will make everyone in your family happy.

 

 

 

We enjoyed every show the park had to offer that day....with no lines and no time restraints other than closing time we took on whatever the day brought.

The Beluga show, Azul, was amazing with all of the high flying aerobatics and colorful costumes I think the whole family was engaged. The Shamu show, One Ocean was magical as always. It seemed shorter for some reason but still --just a wonder to see the size of the creatures and the beauty they hold.

 

 

 

 Cannery Row Caper, the sea lion show, was hilarious. Everyone was cracking up and when the gigantic walrus showed up we were just in awe of his size.

Dolphin Cove, is still one of my favorite places to be in Sea World. Just that little bit of interaction and the chance to see these beautiful animals up close and personal makes you feel good inside. We ended up at Dolphin Cove twice during the day.

I missed out on The Great White this time but I promise to make it next time. The Steel Eel is always thrilling and never disappoints a roller coaster enthusiast. My 6 year old was so excited that he was finally old enough to hop on....his face from the roller coaster cam was priceless. We also love the smaller rides over at Sesame Street Bay of Play so that my youngest can explore everything and not be hindered by height requirements. A lot of the rides are a bit too babyish for him already...he's a pretty adventurous kiddo and the slow moving stuff just isn't his thing. But the boat ride, carousel and Shamu Express roller coaster that's nearby are the perfect speed.

The staff at SeaWorld San Antonio was just amazing.....extremely friendly and helpful. The picture of all three of us feeding the dolphins....wasn't taken by my husband (he and the oldest went to see the sharks while we hung out with the dolphins) it was taken by one of the Dolphin Cove staff! She took my camera after seeing me struggle to take pictures while doling out fish to the kiddos to feed the hungry dolphins. She took so many great shots and it was nice to actually be in the picture to remember my own day at SeaWorld instead of being the photographer.

We had a sneak peek at Aquatica while we were walking around...and I can not wait to try it out! It opened on March 2nd but I wasn't brave enough to test out the cold water even if the weather was perfect. We are planning on making it a weekend trip when the weather warms up a bit more. My must try....hanging out with the sting rays....how cool will that be?!

 

 

A few tips for SeaWorld:

• Bring a backpack so that you and your travel partners can take turns hauling all of your hoodies, snacks and wallets.
• SeaWorld San Antonio allows a 6 pack size lunchbox or cooler. No straws. I have a diabetic husband so we definitely packed a few chocolate covered granola bars just in case. When the kids were younger we packed more but now that they're older they don't need to snack as much. We ate a huge breakfast at the hotel before heading to SeaWorld and we knew where we were having dinner that night so the only meal we planned on having in the park was lunch. Kid menu prices are very reasonable.
• Pack a hand towel and wipes for any sticky or messy accidents with seats, drinks, etc.
• Give the kiddos a limit on souvenirs. We told the kids they had $10 each to spend. I know this doesn't seem like much but let's be honest here....eventually all of those treasured souvenirs become garage sale pieces in about a year...don't go overboard.
• That money you saved in souvenirs....use it to feed the dolphins (or any other animal). It's an experience! Make memories!
• Wear comfy shoes and dress in layers (depending on the weather). I wore my trusty TOMS and they were fine for a full day of walking but others might disagree. Pack flip flops in that backpack! I forgot to throw my youngest son's flip flops in the bag before we left and I regretted it all day. He could have been in the Splash Zone more often if I wouldn't have been worried about him going on strike after walking in wet shoes and socks.
• Throw a few Band aids in the bag..those little ones get excited and start running and concrete does not feel too great on elbows and knees.

Be sure to check out all that SeaWorld San Antonio has to offer for every season....Spring Nights are happening NOW. I really wish we lived closer so that frequent weekend trips to San Antonio were possible. This would be a great time to experience all of the cool nighttime shows. SeaWorld San Antonio is great place to reconnect with your family and get away from the mundane day to day activities. Get outside, explore, experience and make memories with your family. They grow up too fast...there is no perfect time to take a road trip, take the time you have.

We did receive passes to Sea World San Antonio for this trip....all opinions are always my own. And all fun had is completely honest. We love it here.

Home sweet home.....

Over 12 hours of driving yesterday....through Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and finally Texas.  3 kiddos, one parent.  Totally outnumbered. I'm pretty sure they got the vibe of the trip....get home and get home quickly. 

The way there is always more fun.  You're excited and hopeful and have plenty of time to spare so the rugrats can stretch their legs and yell and scream and the driver can crack their back 9 different ways so they don't risk being paralyzed from lack of movement.

The way home is always bittersweet.  At least for me it is.  With all of my extended family in Alabama it's always hard to leave.  But when B flew home Monday I missed him.  He is my partner in crime, the other half of my tag team, my relief shift.  So, when he's gone....I notice.  Let's just keep all of that between us, shall we?  In Alabama things are just different. 

B and I always talk about how it feels like we've gone back in time when we're there.  Culturally, there is just differences.  Some good, some bad.  Things move a bit slower and people are a bit nicer.  Yes, Texas is the South.  There's a difference though, I promise.  As much as I hate to leave my grandfather, aunts and uncles, family friends...it's  nice to be home.  Even I have to get back to reality.

I have been MIA this past week...taking a bloggy break from our vacation posts to enjoy time with the fam.  We were at my aunt and uncle's house while T attended Auburn Soccer Camp and we had a ton of fun.  First of all....there was HUGE lunch waiting for us when we arrived Sunday afternoon.  Home cooking I was so desperately craving.  Vacations are fun but after a while you get tired of the restaurants and vacation food...no matter how good it all is. 
My aunt had a spread waiting for us....a huge ham, corn casserole, sweet potato casserole, green beans, squash, fresh tomatoes...yum.  It felt so good to get some veggies!!

My aunt is an avid antique hunter....and she likes to restore what she finds.  I would like to think I have that kind of imagination but I don't.  But I did find some awesome things when we were browsing the Antique Mall.  And they all made it home safe and sound.  My next project....making room in my kitchen cabinets for these amazing finds. The album will be proudly displayed in the family room. 

Pyrex love

finally an 8x8 pan! and check out that Corningware.....

Score!

Good Housekeeping's Book of Menus, Recipes, and Household Discoveries  copyright 1922 Fourth Edition ... the handwritten notes and scattered flour dried through out the pages made me smile.

I am now officially hooked on searching through antique/thrift stores. 

We had a blast on vacation and now that we're home it's back to reality.  The laundry and dishes wait for no one.  Even me and my road trip lag.  Yes, I know it's jet lag but I swear when I unfolded myself from the car yesterday I felt like I might have been turned into an 80 year old woman with really bad arthritis. 

Here's to recouping!

Road Trip Kits.....how to survive a road trip

We are in full packing mode around here today.  Which means, I am finding things to do that really don't matter but I'm in such a frenzy that I'm doing it anyway. 
As you guys know, we have three kiddos.  T is 13, R is 10 and G is 5.  A lot of movies won't satisfy all three at the same time (although there are many that will) and staring out the window for a 12 hour road trip just isn't a possibility. 
Road Trip Kit to the rescue!  This trip to Alabama is pretty much ingrained in my head, I've been making this trip since I was 6 years old and we moved to Texas.  My grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins...they all lived in Alabama so that's where we loaded up and went during the summer.  B and I started making this trek right after we were married and then continued with the kids when we could.  It's now like a summer tradition where we visit the family in Alabama and then head to Florida for beach time. 
Although we're used to the drive, 12 hours is still a long time to be stuck in the car.  I usually pack a large tote filled with things for the kids to do, especially with some new suprises to keep them occupied for a little longer.  On our trip to Colorado, I had a bag of little surprises that I passed out during the trip, every few hours.  They all really enjoyed it.
I played off of that idea and made the Road Trip Kits for the kiddos.  We are sticking to the Surprise Route for G because he's 5 and LOVES suprises.  But B and I decided that making this little kit for the big kids for them to have in their own seat would be a better idea. 
Here's what it looks like:

That little tray?  Cute, right? I was hoping to find a something with a little more personality than khaki but nothing would have satisfied both the boys and R.  I found the awesome idea for these over at Cleverly Inspired and loved the idea.  This way the kiddos can have their own little area for eating, drawing, playing, whatever.  All you need is a cookie sheet (which I grabbed for a buck each at the Dolloar Tree!) and a vinyl tablecloth and glue.  We had to use Super Glue because we didn't have any other fancy glue to use.  B made these last night. (such a good daddy)

In the kits:

A vacation journal (aka notebook)
along with

• pens (various colors of ink)
• pencils (mechnical so you don't have to worry about sharpening)
• tape
• markers
• stickers
• post-its

This way they can tape whatever they want to in the pages (ticket stubs, menus from restauraunts along the way or favorites we find in the city we visit, brochures, etc.  They can do the same with the post its and stickers.  Think of it like a mixed media memory book.

• Puzzle books

• Magazines

• Dollar goodies! (glow in the dark Slinky, glow sticks, deck of trick cards, travel tic-tac-toe, coloring books)

I still have my large tote and it's filled with things for the whole family. 

• Mad Libs (that I found on clearance at the book store)
• little cans of Play-Doh
• Mad Gab cards
• a brand spankin' new DVD of a movie they haven't seen yet

G has all of the same things as the big kids, he'll just receive it at intervals except for the journal. 

I hope this helps you guys prepare for your own road trips.  As stressful as it can be to pack and prepare for a vacation, once you're stuck in the car for the long haul, you might as well make it fun and worthwile.  I also printed up a fun Road Trip Questionnaire for B and I to ask each other when we get completely bored. I actually printed up questions 8-50 because I ran out of paper. No worries.  That seems like a whole lot of talking to each other anyway. 

Happy Summer everyone!  I'll be checking in soon.

A vacation on vacation....

This morning we woke up whenever we wanted...no alarm needed!  And....the first kid chose 6am to wake up!  After shooing him back to bed, we all got up and moving around 9.  We were determined to make it to the Ouray Hot Springs Pool today.
We were all really excited about this while planning our trip to Ouray....that was before R broke her wrist and had a cast put on.  I have to say, our day would have been much more fun if she would have been her normal self...or at least had a waterproof cast.  Walking up to the Hot Springs, you are very welcomed.  There is the cutest park and the mountains that are a constant backdrop don't hurt either. 
We didn't plan ahead as well as we should have so....we didn't have any towels to take other than the bath towels in the cottage.  No good.  So, luckily they rent towels to people like us!  The unprepared people of the world.  We also rented a locker to stuff all of our clothes and my camera bag in.  Then we shivered our way to the pool. 
The warm, steaming...pool.  R was glad there was a rim all the way around the springs so she was able to relax too.  We did wrap her arm up like it was being sent to Alcatraz but....we failed.  She still had a bit of water in the baggie.  The kids were bummed that the slides were closed for winter but they still managed to swim and enjoy themselves.  The water really does feel amazing.  Soothing and warm, the shallow part of the pool we stayed in was 99 degrees today.  
G loved it....he was swimming all over the place, chubby face flushed with the warmth from the waters.  The big kids tired of the Hot Springs a little quicker....I know for R it was her cast that was the problem.  She even asked if we could just take it off and let her swim!  T could have ventured all over the pool but stayed with us....I have a feeling he was up late texting a certain girl back home. 
The water was wonderful though.  We stayed a few hours and headed back to the cabin.  While we were eating leftover pizza (from the Ouray Convenience Store last night-killer pizza! and better prices than anywhere else in town)....I looked at B and asked him if he felt super tired and if his muscles felt all...loopy.  He said, "Yeah, you're relaxed."  Wow.  It's been so long since I have felt relaxed that I just thought I was a little off.  My shoulders were all tensed up this morning from sleeping on the super soft beds here in the cabin...I guess I just can't hang with a soft bed....but now they are loose and feel great.  We all seemed to be in a trance after the Hot Springs and lunch...and I'm assuming the hot, soothing water had something to do with it.  
Anything that relaxes my kids.....I am willing to try again and again.  My boys wake up going full speed and do not stop until they finally just....pass out. 

B headed out to the boys. They are in the shallow end at 99 degrees.  The lanes were 77 degrees and the hottest area was 106!

We have enjoyed our cabin so much, being able to spread out and have use of a full refrigerator has been a life saver.  The Elkhorn Cabins are very spacious and open, the high windows show off the mountains behind us.  We also have a companion in the house....Root Beer the Elk.  I find him a bit sad, you know with only half of a body and all.  But the kids still named him.  The loft in the cabin is huge....3 beds, a bathroom and plenty of room for play.  Even though we have all of those beds...only one of the kids is sleeping upstairs.  The younger two decided that the couch bed downstairs would be much more comfortable....I have a feeling it is because Mom and Dad are downstairs too.  The stairs have come in handy at drying all of our snow gear and the gas stove that heats the entire house is amazing.  Remember, if you mention my blog you can receive 15% off on the rental of an Elkhorn cabin for your own family adventures.  I really should have taken pictures of the cabin before we uh....settled in.  Now, it just looks like home, scattered with hoodies, books, games and blankets.  Blankets are a must because my kids are native Texans through and through they are used to stripping down the moment they walk through the door and not thinking a thing about it.  They have come to the realization that they may be able to strip down but they will most definitely need a blanket at the ready. 

G catching up on a little work....

The snowgear hanger....

Family Adventure Day #4....Snowbound....in a good way.

I have so many pictures from today, it is unreal.  We went to the Ouray Ice Park this morning, with the sun shining bright and the kids decked out in snow gear.  First we had to meet with our guide, Matt, at the San Juan Mountain Guides office..which is located downstairs at the super hip Backstreet Bistro and coffee shop.  I knew I wouldn't be climbing today, poor R is in a cast because of her broken wrist and I didn't want her to be the only one not ice climbing.  Ice climbing would usually be on the "not going to do it" list for her, but after she saw the boys climbing up, she was actually bummed that she couldn't.  The guys got hooked up with the climbing gear and we headed out to meet Matt at the Ice Park. 
We took about a 1 minute drive out of town, we arrived at the Ouray Ice Park, parked and walked up the winding road to the park. 

If you have not thought about putting ice climbing on a list of things you would like your kids to try...please just do it.  The boys thoroughly enjoyed it.  I know it has to do a lot with our guide, who was amazing with the kids (and the Hubs).  He was patient and calm and let everyone go at their own pace while pushing them as far as he thought they could go. 
G, our 5 year old, is now destined to be an ice climber.  After his third climb up (!) he mentioned that he was going to "be an ice climber and move to Ouray".  The Ice Park itself is a pretty amazing place, it's completely free and sought after by ice climbers worldwide.  Take some time and read their story and see how determined these climbers are. 
They have plenty of options for climbers from kids to advanced.  You don't have to climb to visit the park, you can park yourself on either side of the bridge and watch the climbers  in the gorge.  I was amazed by the strength and determination climbers have. 

My 3 hard heads...

Super Guide, Matt...helping G up to climb

He made it to the top!

Thanks, Matt!

T heading up!

T made it up too!

Even B gave it a try!

My little bystander and her Daddy

2nd climb for G

2nd climb of the day for T

Pow!

The view....

We will all remember this ice climbing adventure forever and the boys now have supreme bragging rights....if you ever make your way to Ouray definitely check out the Ouray Ice Park and I highly recommend using the San Juan Mountain Guides, educated and experienced (and work great with kids and beginners). 
After our adventures on the ice....we stopped off at Duckett's Market for some deli meat and bread and came home and ate the best sandwiches ever.  You know how good a sandwich is while you're at the beach?  Same feeling here.  The boys ate like that sandwich was about to get up and walk away.  Stuffed but still not tired (how are they never tired?!)...they talked B into a snowball fight. 
We then made our way across the street to the Uncompaghre River Walk, a 2 mile loop of land that you can stroll on.  We chose to hang in one spot though and play, play, play.  Snowmen and snowballs.  They were in heaven.  Those moments that you look up and realize that some people get to look at this scenery everyday....just blows me away.  Spectacular mountains surround you everywhere you go in town.  B says he's ready to pack up and move.  T has other plans.....he's decided that he likes the snow but he's glad he's a Texas boy.  His hands felt like they were about to fall off after making a snowman and bombarding his dad with about 100 snowballs. 
Tomorrow, we are going to the Ouray Hot Springs Pool and the kids can not wait.  I figured that one day break from the snow wouldn't hurt.  And lazing the day away in 100 degree water doesn't sound so bad either.