Spring Break & Summer Must Do Fun at Newport Dunes #NewportDunes

Who is Ready for Spring Break ...and Summer Planning?

We are too!! My kids are asking daily... mom, when is spring break, are we off of school yet...? 

We are looking at a few options for mini outings and day play since our Spring Break is so late in the season it almost rolls into summer. 

 
 

Did you know that Newport Dunes is a 110 acre property with RV, Cabin cottages, Water Play, Water Sports and on site recreation?! 

 

 



Don't feel bad... I've lived here in OC for 39 years and I just found out how amazing this place is too!

The full season of fun opens Memorial day (open only weekends until then) and all water sports will be open daily through Labor Day.

Day Play or Stay and Play

With 10 Beach front cottages, 21 cottages total, and an RV agent on site for rentals, there's a few ways to enjoy an overnight stay or two or three or more!

 

There are bonfire pits throughout the beach to rent for public use too.
 



 
You can even rent a beach front one the sand canopy with tables and chairs.

Feeling Safe in the Mountains with our Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Test Drive #Jeep #TestDrive #OCJeep

First time Jeep Driver here! Test Drive Success.....

 

I love cars, trucks, suv's... but I had never driven a Jeep before and I fell head over heels or well snow boots for her!
 

 

Mountain Ready and Safety Confident

 



 

About 2 weeks ago we were set to hit the road and spend a few days momcationing in beautiful Idyllwild.

 

Basically packed and ready to go just days before our trip the road conditions, from the socal weather we've been having, gave in and left us with one route up and back.

 

This route is not only the longest but ita the most mountain driving of the 3 routes in. On top of that we were advised we may need chains and there may be snow in the roads where the plows have not gotten to.

 

 

Let's Do This...

 



 

Thanks to Orange Coast Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram in Orange County we were set up with two snow ready Jeep Rubicon beasts to take on the mountain saelfy and comfortably. All opinions are my own.

 



 

Momcation Getaway to Lindhaven 70's Cabin with Experience Idyllwild #ExperienceIdyllwild #CHMTravel

Have you ever been to Idyllwild California?

 

We love to visit and stay with Experience Idyllwild cabin rentals. Each cabin is unique and different to it's own yet perfect for a getaway in the southern California mountains.

 

Idyllwild... It's a sweet little gem of a spot under 2 hours away from Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego Counties and it's pretty much nestled in a quaint little spot in the San Bernardino mountains.

 

A town that hasn't changed over 40 years to me and one we've visited seasonally year round as a family.

 



 

This was our first moms trip up no kids and we loved Lindhaven, the 70s style cabin we stayed in!

 

Thanks to Experience Idyllwild for the cabin stay and ConnectHer Media Travel for the visit.. all opinions are my own.

 



 

 

Lindhaven 70's Cabin Retreat

 

Just about 1.5 miles to town center Lindhaven is beautiful!!

 

This sweet retro cabin sleeps 4 to 7 in my opinion maybe more. There's 3 rooms.

 



A Must Visit Idyllwild Bake and Brew - Small Town Feel with Huge Flavorfilled Bites #IdyllwildBakeandBrew

Idyllwild Bake and Brew the Town Just isn't Complete with out it...

 

Have you heard of Idyllwild Bakevand Brew basically in the center of Idyllwild?

 

This quaint foodie joint is amazingly tasty with every bite.

 



 

From a breakfast burrito the size of a football and specialty sandwiches hand crafted with garden fresh herbs and greens everything is delish.

 

I have to rave about the baked goods. The cinnamon rolls are to die for and melt in your mouth with each savory bite.

 





 

The amazing mini apple pies are perfection with house made fresh whipped cream. Seriously so good.

 



 

I cant forget the tots.. I mean build your own or pick a favorite off menu.. you will not be disappointed at all.

 



 

We enjoyed every bite and with so many windows all around you can look out to town while you enjoy your meal.

 

Grab a cold brew and pair it with anything... okay I'm a coffee lover to the day or night!

 



 

I loved everything about Idyllwild Bake and Brew.... what I have been told for over 35 years visiting Idyllwild by my parents... always support local and tourism dollars in a small mountain town like this are huge!

 

We hope you get to visit Idyllwild Bake and Brew soon and when you do let them know that Penny from OnTheGoOC said hello... the couple that owns it is super sweet and rightfully so since they do all the baking!!

 



 

Happy foodie travels. Keep up with our momcation fun with #ExperienceIdyllwild and #CHMTravel . 

Car-Ed.Com I Took The Quiz... So Should You! Plus #Giveaway

Car-Ed.Com The Quiz

 

Have you heard of Car-Ed.Com ?

 

It's okay neither had I until my trip this last weekend to attend the first ever A Girls Guide To Cars Conference in Greater Palm Springs.

 

See Pinterest Fun



 

All opinions are my own, thank you to A Girls Guide to Cars, Car-Ed.Com for the valuable and Car-Educational Info.

 

Event Room for A Girls Guide to Cars Conference at Miramonte Indian Wells Resort & Spa with Car-Ed.



 

Even if you are not in the market for a car, like me, and you just want to see what the quiz says... take it. It's fun, let me break it down for you.

 

While listening to the creators of Car-Ed.Com I realized they were right about a few things.

 

Did you know that most of the time the car that you want or dream of may not be the perfect car for for you and your lifestyle?!

Dare to Explore More On Board The Queen Mary This Fall #QueenMary

Celebrate Grand History, Harrowing Hauntings, and More Aboard The Iconic Queen Mary in Long Beach

 

Explore the vintage halls of the historically haunted ship and enjoy nightly shows, tours, attractions, dining and hotel packages

 



 

This Halloween season, venture aboard the legendary Queen Mary for the ultimate haunting experience where the spirits aboard set sail all year long with unique tours, nightly shows, delectable dining and hotel packages.

 

Check in to stateroom B340 to spend the night in the axiom of all alleged paranormal activity at the Queen Mary, or dive deep into the spirits of past and present with a series of tours and attractions that explore the haunted past and paranormal activity aboard the legendary vessel.

 

To purchase tickets or book your room today visit queenmary.com.

 

Deets on the Packages and more...

Portola Walk in La Habra Now Open - Plus Model Home Tour Video #PortolaWalk

I love where we live!! OC is the place for me…

 

Orange County has the best of both, well, all worlds, with the beach and mountains only a short drive away. La Habra is centrally located in North Orange County.

 

Thank you to Portola Walk for Inviting me out to tour the property and model homes - all opinions are my own.

 

Have you been to La Habra?

 

With roots of rich CA history, a children's museum, an old town feel with modern updates, and a community involvement, La Habra proves itself to be a wonderful city.

 

Situated at the center of the greatest La Habra has to offer; Portola Walk by Olson Homes boasts in-town living and a connected lifestyle.

 



 

Models Now Open and Tours offered daily…

 

After taking a 3 hour tour around Portola Walk, I was surprised at how long I was exploring the new homes.

 

Okay, so let's get into some of my favorite things about Portola Walk in La Habra!

 

Highlights of the beautiful quaint community and its homes… 

 

* Close to the East San Gabriel Valley and just moments away from Beach Boulevard. 10 min from the freeway and 30 minutes to beaches. Also, only 30 minutes to south county cities such as Mission Viejo.

* Close proximity to work and school, plus local access to neighborhood shops, restaurants and entertainment venues. New developments of specialty dining are popping up within close proximity, raising the value of social and local exploring to support the community. Also, I love museums and did you know La Habra has a children's museum!?

 

* Best of all—each of Portola Walk’s 50 (45 market rate and 5 affordable) townhomes feature energy efficient designs, created with quality craftsmanship that’s been perfected with over 25 years of homebuilding experience.

 

* Open and Welcoming Floor Plans. I love the feeling of being able to not only see what my kiddos are doing, but also ask them to help me out in the kitchen or offer them help on homework.

 



 

The open floor plan dining and living with an amazing kitchen island makes all the difference to me. I love being connected and spending time with family and friends! 

 



 

* Bright with Windows Everywhere! Each room is filled with natural sunlight. It's wonderful!

 



 

* Optional first floor bedroom or den in Plan 6. During my tour, I was able to really navigate through each of the model homes. Plan 5, the three bedroom floorplan, is just as magnificent and modernly equipped as Plan 6, the four bedroom floorplan.

 



 

I have to mention the Plan 6 home has access to an optional bedroom on the first floor through the garage or front door. This is great for an older teen or office but really stood out to me on a personal level. Having a room on the first floor makes it convenient for a grandparent or someone who may not be able to do stairs all the time.

 



 

There's an attached powder room as well, so it's also perfect for someone who may need to have access to daily living comfort or special needs capabilities, too.

 

 

Bonus...take a peek at my videos from the grand opening of Portola Walk this past weekend here and here! 

 

Double bonus...Portola Walk is less than 20 minutes from Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm!!

 

Portola Walk is also only a short drive from the beach and the mountains so you can hit the sand and the slopes in the winter!

 

If you are interested in pricing and availability, I can direct you here for more information!

 

Book a tour today and discover the ideal neighborhood for a connected life. Details here.

 

Happy house hunting, SoCal, and when you stop by the Portola Walk Welcome Center, let them know Penny from OnTheGoOC says hello!

 

Everything You Need To Know About GoRving! #GoRving #Camping

Why RV?! #GoRVing Is Perfect For Family Travel!

 

What do you know about RVing!? Right... me too.. well that is up until we spent an amazing 4 days at the Yosemite Lakes RV Resort at Thousand Trails Base Camp with GoRving!

 

Thanks to an amazing sponsored trip we were able to experience so many adventures outdoors!

 



 

Full recap of our Yosemite Lakes RV Resort stay with GoRving here.

 

For this recap I wanted for really give you all an insight on the GoRving options I didn't know there was...

 

Let's dive in to RV Types:

 

Trailers

You can pull some trailers with the family car and store it in your garage. Or, try one a little bit bigger that has a full kitchen and bath. Trailers start $6,000.

 

Motorhomes

Motorhomes are great for families that want to feel like they’re at home, even when riding down the road. Passengers often enjoy playing games at the dinette table, watching TV, or relaxing on the couch. Motorhomes have lots of storage space and come in all sizes and price ranges. Starts at $60,000 and can be financed up to 15 years OR rent one starting around $150 a day.

 

Park Model RV (this is what we stayed in... see recap and video here)

A great way to try camping is to stay in a park model RV, sometimes called Park Model Cabins. These are fully-loaded cabins built on an RV chassis and located in many campgrounds in the U.S. Most have A/C, heat, a full kitchen & bathroom, bedroom, grill, fire pit, porch and more – super comfortable and you still have access to all the campground activities. It’s also a great way for anyone with a disability to go camping. See our tour of this option here.

 

 



Loved Our Visit to Yosemite Lakes RV Resort with #GoRVing at #ThousandTrails ... We Are Ready to Go Back!

Thousand Trails at Yosemite Lakes RV Resort with #GoRVing is Just Amazing!

 

Thanks to GoRving we spent a phenomenal 4 day sponsored trip in a Park Model RV near Yosemite with Thousand Trails at Yosemite Lakes RV Resort!

 

*My review is purely my own opinion and hope it gives some insight on family travel... with and with out autism in tow.*

 



 

The Adventure...

 

My kids have been asking to take a trip to Yosemite for a few years, my husband has never been and I've wanted to revisit some of my childhood memories while creating new ones with my own little family!

 

There are so many options to staying at Yosemite Lakes RV Resort & Thousand Trails & with GoRving it was made so seamless.

 

I'm going to break down the RV Resort itself, camping friendly food, family friendly activities, Yosemite National Park, fishing, amenities, autism tips and more so let's get started!

 

There was so much to do and we really had such a great time traveling and playing while experiencing new adventures outdoors and there were 19 of us!! Yes 19 from ages 6 months to adult and every age in-between.

 

About 7 hours from Orange County we wanted to note that you probably want to get most of your grocery needs a few hours out and cooler them. The last main spot in Fresno area is a Wal-Mart with basic needs not a full store. Most reception is lost shortly after so load your map before this point too!

 

We also decided that with multi families going together we'd split up meals so that each family did pot luck style breakfast sharing and each family was responsible for one main dinner dish, a side and a dessert to compliment the other meals.

 

Meal planning was easy and such a great idea thanks to Mary at Let's Play OC and Angela at Queen Bee Latina! More on that below...

 

Let's recap the visit and hopefully give you some ideas on how to make the most of your visit when booking at a GoRving Thousand Trails location!

 

We Made it...

 

Our check in at Yosemite Lakes RV Resort was great. Check in is easy and you are provided with a gate code to come and go as you please.

 

A tour of the grounds can be given too and the information at front desk is handy so just ask away. Miguel (manager) and Tess (check in & ranger) are super friendly and even had dinner at our campsite one evening! It's refreshingly peaceful to feel connected to others over smores in nature.

 



 

There is a Family Center Base Camp and it's perfect for a break from the heat with access to a game room, toddler play area and lounge with light WiFi.

 



 

Oh, there is an adult only room with pool tables too. Here is a video recap of our tour.

Great Wolf Lodge Partners with Alex's Lemonade Stand for Spring-A-Palooza March 9th to April 15th! #SpringAPalooza #GreatWolfLodge #GWLSoCal #GWLSpring

Great Wolf Lodge Partners with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation This Spring to Raise Funds to Fight Pediatric Cancer Fundraising

Spring is in the air at Great Wolf Lodge as the annual Spring-a-Palooza celebration returns March 9- April 15.

Have you been to Great Wolf Lodge? The Wolf Pack over there is always working hard to keep seasonal festivities fresh and super fun for everyone.

Last year we took a tour of the event and loved that everyone has the opportunity to get involved in Spring-A-Palooza! Young little ones will love the activities while older kids will love exploring the grounds with attractions like Magi Quest.

From spring picnics and bubble dance parties in the Grand Lobby to character-inspired flower gardens and more, Spring-a-Palooza is the perfect way for families to celebrate the changing of the season.

 

A highlight this year, for the first time Great Wolf Lodge is partnering with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation at all 14 U.S. Great Wolf Lodge locations to generate funds and raise awareness to help end childhood cancer.

 



Exciting Groundbreaking News for LEGOLAND CA Resort in 2017

RAISE YOUR SWORD AND SHIELD AS LEGOLAND®CALIFORNIA RESORT BREAKS GROUND ON FIRST LEGOLAND CASTLE HOTEL IN NORTH AMERICA!

There are so many changes coming to LEGOLAND CA in this new year!

2017 is going to bring massive bricktastic fun, additions and so much more to the love of all things LEGOLAND CA...

Are you ready?

Here is what we know so far...

Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid Review

Go hybrid with the Hyundai Sonata plug in limited edition.

I loved life a bit more spending less money on gas...

This super Sleek Hyundai Sonata hybrid amazed me from the inside and out.

The four-door body style is super attractive on the outside and very spacious and roomy on the inside.

I couldn't believe how quiet it was to drive and how I really enjoyed being able to hear myself think when I was alone in the car enjoying it's extremely smooth maneuverability and drive.

So here is the scoop on my lovely week of Hyundai drive fun...

Summer Days Lead to Cool Night at SeaWorld San Diego

Summer is Splashing up a Fun Storm over at SeaWorld in San Diego!

SeaWorld Reverberates with Summer Vibes and Much More

A diverse lineup of performing artists, nighttime animal shows and fireworks make SeaWorld the place to be this summer

SeaWorld® San Diego has a summer full of good times and good vibrations that will transform the park with extended hours, dazzling live entertainment, nighttime animal shows, spectacular fireworks and more! Starting May 28 and running through Sept. 5, SeaWorld stays open late on select nights. The party kicks into high gear June 25 when Summer Vibes performances reverberate throughout the park’s Mission Bay Theater.

Alvin and the Chipmunks Live Musical Review - Why we feel it's a Must See!

Alvin, Simon Theodore - Live, with Music, Dancing, Singing and much more!

Thank you to the Grove of Anaheim and Alvin & his gang for the tickets

This was our fist time attending an Alvin and the Chipmunks live show. The musical was very entertaining and fun to be in the audience for. 

All the Chipmunks and Chipettes Take the Stage!

There was moments where the audience was involved or there was confetti tossed out into us. My daughter and I really enjoyed it. I know my son would have loved it and the music level was good enough where I think he would have sat and watched, especially the singing. 

As the Chipmunks and Chippettes went along on their road trip across many states and places, they were bringing it all to live with lights, action and so many familiar faces from the movies. It was a real treat to see this all live! 

My daughters 5 most favorite moments:
* Seeing the whole gang on stage singing and dancing together - all 6 of them!

* That there was a lot of singing and scenery changed often and a lot of the time with it a song.

* The stage could be seen from any seat, we sat in the wrong seats further back at first and then got into our seats, both just as good as one another. 

* Songs that are familiar to everyone. Today's hits and yesterday's favorites are used in the musical. That is perfect. Everybody just have a good time....Ain't nothing but a hound dog! Of course my favorite, We love rock n roll!

Good old Ian is back, or Should I say Bad old Ian?!

I thought it was perfect for all ages and I also loved that it was at the Grove or Anaheim, such a beautiful venue.

If you get a chance to see it, check it out! All the Details on the show dates and stops here!

Merchandise of all sizes and sorts are available for a range of prices. 

#Alvin #Chipmunks #Chippets #Live #Musical #MustSee #LovedIt #ThingsToDo #OCFun #KidsFun #theGrove #anaheim #travel #adventure #spon