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Floradise

A lifestyle blog by Marette Flora

Free in Chicago: Lincoln Park Zoo and Conservatory

I’ve wanted to visit Lincoln Park Conservatory since we moved to Chicago three and a half years ago, but I didn’t make it until this summer. My cousins visited for a week recently and I thought they’d enjoy Lincoln Park Zoo.

The Lincoln Park Zoo and the Lincoln Park Conservatory are both free. I would suggest both to visitors and locals looking for affordable things to do in Chicago, especially for families. You can pack lunches and enjoy your food just about anywhere, and you can save by either taking public transit or using SpotHero to find a lower-cost parking spot nearby. (Parking at the zoo is a bit expensive at $20-$35.) Use my SpotHero link and you can get a $7 credit!

There are upgrades happening at the zoo right now, including improvements to the lion enclosure. It was a 90-degree and humid day, so after strolling along and enjoying shaved ice, I suggested going into the conservatory for some shade.

I could have spent a lot longer wandering around the conservatory and the zoo if it weren’t too warm for the baby to be outside that long. I suggest that you have kiddos in strollers you bring a clip-on fan and plenty of sun protection during the summer. We took many breaks in the shade, too.

The conservatory is beautiful and peaceful.

You can find plenty of picnic and photo opportunities outside of the Lincoln Park Conservatory, too! I love finding new views of the city that I haven’t seen before.

 

Have you visited the Lincoln Park Zoo or Conservatory? Add it to your Chicago list!

Related posts:

Lincoln Park Zoo Visit

Lincoln Park Zoo, Take 2

Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago

 

 

Add Boating to Your Summer Plans

** This post is sponsored by Discover Boating but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

I have shared quite frequently that I love being on or near water. Turns out I am not alone in that: 142 million Americans go boating each year, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association. And summer is the best time to spend on a boat! There’s just something so relaxing about being on the water. It feels like you’re on vacation, even when you’re not. You get to experience a familiar or new place in another fun way! That’s why Graham and I try to make boating a part of our travels wherever we go.

Examples of how to incorporate boating in your travels:

In Hawaii, you can charter a boat and hire a guide to spend the day whale watching and swimming with dolphins. There’s so much to do on a boat in the state!

In San Francisco you can take in a different view of the city, especially the Golden Gate bridge, while on a sailboat. You don’t need to stay on land to explore a new place.

In Chicago you can take your boat (or boat rental) down the river or spend a day in the “play pen,” where you can interact with other Chicagoans on the water. Or you can cruise in a yacht and soak in the sunset and skyline views. That is one of our favorite things to do in the summer.

You can find ways to spend time on a boat, whether at home in your city or many miles away, by checking out Discover Boating’s Go Boating Today tool that generates local options for boat rentals, classes, charters and more, by simply entering a city or ZIP code. I searched for boating opportunities in Chicago and found many options. Examples in Chicago include renting an island party boat on Lake Michigan! How fun does that sound?!

You don’t need to own a boat to experience what it’s like to have a vacation on the water, but if you’re ready to explore buying your own, Discover Boating’s Boat Selector tool lets you find what type of boat fits your lifestyle and budget. Discover Boating also has information on youth boating programs, classes and lots more!

Do you have any plans to go boating? Let me know in the comments!

Related posts:

5 Boating Activities in Chicago
Chicago Summer Goal: Get On The Water

Connect with Discover Boating:

Discover Boating Website

An Unforgettable Hawaii Beach Day | False Ballistic Missile Threat

When you wake up one morning, grab breakfast and begin to get ready for a beach day, you don’t expect to hear what sounds like an Amber Alert ringing on your phone. I looked at my screen and read aloud the words I was seeing:

Extreme alert

BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.”

This is not a drill. How could this be? I immediately suspected a hack. It had to be! I looked over at my husband, though, and his face said he didn’t think so at all.

We grabbed the remote and flipped through the channels, looking for any sort of news. We picked up the hotel room phone and called the front desk only to hear a busy message. I scrolled through Twitter looking for any sign of whether this was a real alert, but I only found tweets asking the same.

What were we supposed to do? Were we in danger?

After notifying a few family members, just in case, we decided to head downstairs to see what others were doing. From our balcony we had seen both people running toward the lobby and others lounging on their chairs, soaking up the sun.

On the elevator, a man told us he was headed to his room because “what else can you do?”

No one seemed to know whether to actually be concerned. Most figured a ballistic missile would be directed at Oahu vs. the Big Island, which is maybe true but doesn’t make the situation any less scary.

A small crowd had started to gather around the concierge desk, one of many throughout the sprawling resort, which had many towers. A maintenance/resort worker called out that anyone who wanted to follow him to the basement was free to do so. He unlocked a door and many of us followed him down the stairs to a service tunnel, where we spent the next, I don’t know, 25 minutes?

A woman came over to us and handed V a snack. Some people laughed nervously while others stared at their phones. You could see the stress in my husband’s eyes.

It wasn’t until then that we were notified by a manager that we were never in any real danger, and that he apologized for what we experienced.

It wasn’t until 38 minutes after the initial alert at 8:07 a.m. local time that a correction was sent out.

There is no missile threat or danger to the State of Hawaii. Repeat. False Alarm.”

By then we were in our room again. It’s weird, though, I didn’t feel any sort of anxiety until I knew it wasn’t real. But from then on, I was on edge. All day long. It was then that I thought, What if it were real? How can people live under this ever-present threat?

As you can imagine, I was reminded yet again how lucky I am for so many things.

We did end up going to the beach and you can watch the video below. While it looks like a magical, gorgeous day — and it was — just know that behind every social media post is a story. It’s not all rainbows!

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Related posts:

EXPLORING HILO, HAWAII
PU’UHONUA O HONAUNAU NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK IN HAWAII

 

Family-Friendly Snorkeling at Kahaluu Beach Park

When we decided to visit the Big Island again, I wondered if the beaches would be suitable for a toddler. Many of the beaches we had visited during our Hawaii honeymoon in 2014 were rocky and the waves were sometimes rough. We were pleasantly surprised by how family-friendly Kahaluu Beach Park, a popular snorkeling beach in Hawaii, turned out to be.

The park doesn’t have a huge chunk of sand, but it has food trucks, picnic tables, a snack shop and restrooms. We spent our last full day on the Big Island at this beach. I relaxed and snacked on nachos (about $6) while G and V swam with the fish and turtles. Tip: Bring water shoes! (You can also rent snorkel gear and get reef-safe sunscreen, though on the day we visited rentals were halted due to the water conditions.) V had a wonderful time in the water and then making sand castles with me. Tip: We purchased a sand castle toy set for about $9 at an ABC Store in Kailua-Kona and we brought it back home with us. A life jacket was also super helpful for us. You can save money by bringing your own beverages and snacks vs. buying from a food truck.

One part of the beach is for surfing and the other is for snorkeling, so be aware of where you are swimming. (Lifeguards were on duty when we were there.)

The Kahaluu Beach Park parking lot filled up quickly, but we found that if you drove around someone was always leaving.

Have you visited Kahaluu Beach Park or the Big Island? What was your favorite snorkeling spot?

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Related posts:

Big Island Fun: Rainbow Falls in Hilo, Hawaii
EXPLORING HILO, HAWAII
PU’UHONUA O HONAUNAU NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK IN HAWAII

 

 

 

Cheap Family-Friendly Things to Do in San Francisco

I hadn’t been to the Bay Area since I was a child, so when my great aunt hinted that we should visit, I jumped at the chance. I really don’t know why it’s been this long since I reconnected with my family in the Oakland and Union City area, but I’m glad I finally took the opportunity. It was also a perfect time for Victoria to meet family members she had never met before, like her great, great grandfather!  In just one short weekend we were able to see and do so much in San Francisco. We did splurge on a couple of meals, but mostly our trip was affordable. We found that San Francisco has plenty of things you can do without spending a lot of money. The most costly expenses were typically parking (if you wanted to be close to the attraction) and dining. Luckily my great aunt hosted us so we didn’t have to pay for lodging and our flights were purchased with credits we had from canceling our Puerto Rico trip last year. Today I’m sharing cheap family-friendly things to do in San Francisco!

Cheap things to do in the Bay Area with kids:

  • Visit Ghirardelli Square and get your free sample. We also purchased chocolate but you can save by sticking to the samples.

  • Drive or walk down Lombard Street (the Crooked Street).

  • Walk through Boudin Museum. See how the sourdough is made!

  • Walk around Pier 39, soak in the view of Alcatraz and say hello to the seals. Take in the street performances at Fisherman’s Wharf. We paid $10 to ride the carousel at the pier.

  • See the view of the Golden Gate Bridge and the city from the Marin Headlands. Drive, walk or ride a bike across the Golden Gate Bridge.

  • Picnic at Golden Gate Park. We stopped to admire the bison. I loved people-watching as people ran, walked, and just hung out.

  • Hike Muir Woods. (You do have to pay admission, but kids age 15 and younger enter free. Save by bringing your food and taking the shuttle or carpooling.)

Muir Woods National Monument

  • Search for the Full House facade house. I had no idea this was a different house than the Painted Lady, but it was cool to see.

  • Hang out Alamo Square in front of the Painted Ladies. We visited the city on an absolutely gorgeous weekend. People brought their snacks and drinks and took in the views from the park.

  • Walk around Chinatown. You don’t need to buy anything, just take in the sights, sounds and smells. We visited before the new year; it would have been nice to catch the celebrations.

Have you visited San Francisco? Also, are you a “Full House” fan? I pretty much had the theme song in my head the entire time.

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Big Island Fun: Rainbow Falls in Hilo, Hawaii

Rainbow Falls in Hilo, Hawaii

Rainbow Falls in Hilo, Hawaii, seems be a popular attraction on the Big Island. It’s easily accessible and free, so visitors of all ages can see its beauty. Even if you’ve been there before, Rainbow Falls is worth revisiting because you just might catch a glimpse of a rainbow in front of the waterfall, depending on the weather.

We first went to Rainbow Falls during our honeymoon on the Big Island in 2014. We had stopped by for a refreshing beverage at the Rainbow Falls Cafe across the street, but sadly it was closed during our most recent trip. This time we explored the same areas as before with V. She loved running around in front of the banyan tree, which is just as beautiful as I remember. We plan to hang a print of our photos in our home to remind us our time in Hawaii.

Rainbow Falls in Hilo, Hawaii

Rainbow Falls in Hilo, Hawaii

Rainbow Falls in Hilo, Hawaii

Whether you have 15 minutes or hours, you have plenty of time for Rainbow Falls. You can simply admire the waterfall, or if you can walk up the steps to the Banyan tree area. Some people climb on the rocks to the top of the waterfall from here, but I am not certain this is a good idea. It seems kind of dangerous to me!

Sometimes you’ll see tour buses drop off tourists, but these visitors are often only there for a short time. We have had good luck finding parking when we arrive in the morning.

In case you’re wondering, Hilo is about an hour and a half from the Kona side of the island. You can easily fit this park in on the same day as a visit to Akaka Falls. We spent time here after our recent helicopter tour.

Have you been to Rainbow Falls or the Big Island?

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Rainbow Falls in Hilo, Hawaii

 

 

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Related posts:

Exploring Hilo, Hawaii
Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park in Hawaii

Muir Woods National Monument With a Toddler

Muir Woods National Monument

When we booked a last-minute weekend trip to the Bay Area recently, we had only two must-dos on our list besides seeing our family. One of them was visiting Muir Woods National Monument. We’ve been fans of redwood trees for a long time as nature lovers, so we couldn’t wait to see them in person.

Muir Woods recently enacted a new parking and shuttle service, which means you must make a parking or shuttle reservation BEFORE your visit. I am glad my great aunt told me about this new rule, because I was able to log on the website and book a spot for the earliest slot available, 8 a.m. You must arrive during your 30-minute arrival window but you can stay in the park as long as you’d like until the park closes at sunset. The drive from where we were staying in the Union City area was about 45 minutes. Tip: Print or screenshot directions to the park and your reservation ahead of time because service is limited in the area.

The lot attendants will scan the barcode on your reservation (which you can show on your phone) and then you are free to park and enter Muir Woods. You can add an alternate name to your reservation. Admission to the national park was $10 per adult in addition to the $8 parking fee. Tip: Arrive early to explore the woods with few people around. It gets more crowded as the day goes on and the lots fill up.

We took the Hillside Trail loop around the park and it was easy enough for pregnant person and 3-year-old to do. Take your time and admire the views of the majestic trees. Note: This is a quiet trail. If your toddler can’t be quiet for long enough, it may not be the best idea, although we encountered plenty of adults who couldn’t abide by this rule, while V could.

In the middle of the loop we branched off to check out the beginning of the trail into the adjacent Mount Tamalpais State Park. We ventured too far into the state park because we were starting to work up an appetite, but it’s worth a side trip while at Muir Woods. Next we went to the cafe for lunch. The choices were a bit limited (most of the salads were sold out), but I we chose from what was left, ordering an egg salad sandwich, a PB&J and a hot dog. Most (if not all) of the options are organic, grass fed and made with local ingredients, though. We also made a pit stop in the gift shop to continue our tradition of picking up an ornament on our travels.

 

You can easily spend an entire day here, but we decided to also check out nearby Muir Beach. It’s only 3 miles down the same road as the park. We were told we’d have to circle around looking for parking, but we lucked out and found a spot immediately. It was super full and a line was forming by the time we left, though, so arrive early! V enjoyed playing at the edge of the water. A man nearby was blowing bubbles for the kiddos, and she also really liked that. It was a nice little day trip.

 

Have you visited Muir Woods National Monument or Muir Beach?

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Toddler-Friendly Visit to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

 

There’s plenty for families to do at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island. You can still take in the sites and explore with a toddler. We recently spent a day visiting the park for our second time. (Our first trip to the island of Hawaii was in 2014 on our honeymoon.) You could spend days here, or you can squeeze in quite a bit of adventure in just part of one day.

What we did at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park with a toddler:

  • Thurston Lava Tube. Though the walk is somewhat dark, it was easy for V to walk through it. It isn’t long at all. (You can find other lava tubes to visit, but they might not be suitable for toddlers.) Hold your toddler’s hand in any wet areas. Rain boots wouldn’t be a bad idea.
  • Admire the craters/views from the viewpoints. Bring snacks and water!
  • Drive to sea arch and grab ice pops from the stand next to the ranger station. Along the drive you can stop and see the craters and lava rocks. At the end of the drive you park and walk toward the sea arch. It isn’t a long walk. You have to keep an eye on your children here because the barrier wall does not extend all the way. Then grab some popsicles for $6 each (It’s worth it on a hot day.) for the drive back. There are restrooms here as well.
  • Lunch at Volcano House. We admired a view of the volcano from our table. Our toddler loved looking out the window at the smoke.

Have you been to the Big Island or Hawaii Volcanoes National Park?

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Lava and Rainforests Adventure with Paradise Helicopters

** This post has been sponsored by Paradise Helicopters of Hawaii. All opinions and images are my own.

Big Island Hawaii Lava and Rainforests Adventure with Paradise Helicopters

I’ve crossed off something that’s been on my bucket list for a long time during our Big Island vacation: seeing lava! During our honeymoon in 2014 Graham and I had hoped to see the lava but we weren’t able to; at the time it wasn’t flowing toward the ocean and we could only see the crater and billowing smoke at an overlook in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Thanks to Paradise Helicopters, which sponsored my ticket for the Lava and Rainforests Adventure tour, I was finally able to make that dream a reality!

Our Lava and Rainforests Helicopter Tour on Big Island of Hawaii:

I have been looking forward to our 45-minute doors-on helicopter tour with Paradise Helicopters from Hilo Airport for months! At the time of booking, we had planned to stay in Hilo for a night or two, but we eventually decided to only stay on the Kona side of the island. That meant that we awoke bright and early one morning for our one and a half hour drive to Hilo. The directions were simple: Park in Hilo Airport’s main terminal public parking and the check-in desk is directly across the street under the Paradise Helicopters sign. Hilo Airport is small, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding Lobby 2. They first weigh each member of the party (wearing anything you’re bringing on the tour, like your camera) and then you hear the safety restrictions. You are free to use the restroom or hang out in the lounge while you wait for the safety briefing, during which you learn how to wear use your headset, plus hear other important information about where to walk on the runway, as well as many volcano puns. haha (FYI: You may not bring extendable camera sticks!) The briefing includes a seat assignment; our flight was scheduled to have four passengers.

After our safety briefing we had some sad news: Our tour was canceled because of bad weather that was hampering visibility in the area where we would be flying to see the lava. Tip: Try to plan your Paradise Helicopters tour in the beginning of your trip so that you can reschedule for another time or day if needed because of the weather, which is ever-changing and unpredictable.

Don’t worry, though, we were able to rebook for Sunday morning! Plus, when we arrived back at check-in we found out we would be the only passengers on our flight. At the last minute we decided to make it a partial doors-off tour to appease the birthday guy in our group. 😉 I requested to keep my door on because I am terrified of heights! The ground crew was so nice and helpful, and V didn’t seem afraid at all as they buckled her into her seat.

 

 

 

Paradise Helicopters in Hilo, Hawaii
Be sure to walk along the painted lines as you head toward the helicopter. Follow the instructions from the ground crew.
Doors-Off Helicopter Tour of Hawaii Lava and Rainforests
A doors-off Paradise Helicopters tour was also leaving from Hilo Airport at the same time.

Our pilot Pete flew us south toward and over the various lava flows that have occurred over the years before we made it to the active crater.

It’s amazing to see how the trees are left lying on the black hardened lava rock.

You can also see a portion of a road that is still visible after it was cut off from the rest of the island during a lava flow.

Old Hawaii Road Cut Off By Lava

 

I was in awe of the patches of forest I would see among the black rock.

Hawaii Lava Rock and Rainforest

Lava is currently erupting from Kīlauea at its summit and from the Puʻu ʻŌʻō vent on the East Rift Zone. The lava activity is constantly changing, so if seeing the lava flow into the ocean is your goal, be aware that it isn’t always happening. The Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park website constantly provides updates. As you can see in the video and photos I took, lava flow is scattered across the plains.

Seeing the red snaking lava flow was surreal.

Lava Helicopter Tour with Paradise Helicopters

I was impressed our pilot could see the lava so easily in the brightness.

It’s a bit tricky to snap photos of the lava from a moving helicopter, but the pilot will circle around so you can get your shot.

Lava and Rainforests Adventure with Paradise Helicopters in Hawaii, Big Island

After circling the crater while listening to “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash, we heading back north over the forests and toward the ocean. Our pilot wanted to fly over water since we had those handy floatation devices attached to us anyway. The remaining part of the helicopter tour was a flyover above Hilo and some of its waterfalls, including Rainbow Falls. We also passed over Hilo Bay and some of its surrounding hotels before heading back to Hilo Airport.

Lava and Rainforests Adventure with Paradise Helicopters, Big Island, Hawaii

Hilo Waterfalls from Paradise Helicopters Tour

FYI: You can tip the pilot and staff in envelopes at the check-in desk. Also, parking is not validated, so be prepared for that.

Tips for Paradise Helicopters tour with toddler and while pregnant:

  • Check with your doctor to make sure you are OK to fly. If you’re feeling nauseous you might not enjoy the flight and it may not be a good idea.
  • Be aware that the vibration of the helicopter could affect your lower back pain, if you have any. Again, check with your doctor.
  • Our toddler wanted to sit with me halfway through the flight and was sad she couldn’t. We should have asked which parent she wanted to sit with to avoid any crying.
  • It gets super windy, especially if you take the doors-off flight. Bring a jacket and wear pants and closed toe shoes!
  • A ground crew member will buckle the child into his/her seat, or you may do so if you’re more comfortable.
  • It’s best if your child can grasp how to use the microphone/headset system. V started crying because we couldn’t hear her until she figured out how to push to talk to us. Then she was happy!

 

 

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Is seeing the lava in Hawaii on your bucket list as well? Have you ever done a helicopter tour? What did you think? Let me know in the comments!

Connect with Paradise Helicopters:

Paradise Helicopter Tours Hawaii

Related post:

Exploring Hilo, Hawaii

Great Falls Park | Virginia Trip

Great Falls Park, Virginia

We spent much of our time catching up and eating when I visited my friend Charlsy in Virginia earlier this month, but we also did some exploring in the area, including visiting Great Falls Park on the last day of my weekend trip. Great Falls Park was an easy and less than 30 minute drive from Alexandria on the beautiful George Washington Memorial Parkway.

Drive to Great Falls Park

It was a peaceful and scenic drive to the park, with one exception. We saw a near collision between a semi and what we thought was a hawk, which certainly got our hearts racing as we pulled into the Great Falls parking area. It was intense! By the way, the fee for parking/admission was $10.

It was a gorgeous, sunny day to walk along the trails and see the powerful Potomac River rushing below us. Great Falls Park separates Virginia and Maryland, and you can see beautiful fall foliage on either side. You can hear the power of the water, and you’ll see many signs warning you not to try to swim in it.

Great Falls Park, VirginiaGreat Falls Park, Virginia Great Falls Park, Virginia Great Falls Park, Virginia

Our walk was an easy stroll, but you can make the hike what you want. We stopped at the different viewpoints for photos and to take in the scenery. We even saw a brave soul rappelling. It’s also a good idea to bring along snacks or a picnic lunch!

Great Falls Park, Virginia Great Falls Park, Virginia

Great Falls Park makes a fun and quick day trip if you’re in the D.C. area and want to do more than visit national monuments. On our way back we stopped for ramen at Jinya in Fairfax, a perfect sendoff from my trip.

Have you visited Great Falls Park in Virginia?

Related post:

D.C./Virginia Eats | Vegetarian and Pescatarian Options

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