Category Archives: Kid Activities

12 Best Wooden Toys for Christmas

November 23, 2015

With my oldest being eight years old, I feel like we have gone through just about every toy on the market. Many don’t last and hour, and some we have had an enjoyed for years. My favorite toys are the ones that both look great and are fun for my kids to play with. I enjoy well designed toys that when they are out, don’t look like an eye sore.

I wanted to pass along a few of our very favorite toys that we have had for years that we love.

With Christmas around the corner, I hope this will help you in making some easy decisions, plus many of the toys are currently on sale!

12 best wooden toys for children Hape Toys Melissa & Doug

Affiliate links are used in this post

Hape Toys Wooden All Seasons Furnished Doll House | Hape Toys Fire Station | Melissa & Doug Fold and Go Barn | Barbarossa Wooden Pirate Ship

Wooden Toys Rocket Ship Pretend Play Play Kitchen

Kid Kraft Kitchen | Hape Toys Parking Garage | Hape Toys Cash Register | Hape Toys Rocket Ship

Melissa and Doug Playdough Set | Plan Toys Parking Garage | Hape Toys Pull Crocodile | Melissa and Doug Wooden Tool Set | West Elm Console

I hope you enjoyed my top picks for wooden toys. Hopefully this will help you with your Christmas shopping and you can give some Christmas gifts that will last for years like ours have!

Family Travel // Medieval Times

November 20, 2015

One of the highlights on our recent trip to Southern California was being able to go to Medieval Times. Blame the movie the Cable Guy, but I have just always wanted to go, ha!

We walked into the castle and were greeted immediately by the Kings Court and crowned with our very own crowns. We had a little time before the show, so the kids were able to go check out the horses. When the doors opened we were taken by our wench to our seats. The seats are all in a row with a long table in front. The kids were excited for the show with a lot of cheering and clapping. We were seated in the yellow section and asked to cheer on our yellow knight.

We were served hot bread and soup while the show began. The riders and horses were very impressive, and my kids were mesmerized. The jousting tournament was my personal favorite, and the horse riding in general. We were entertained and engaged throughout the show. It was a great family friendly dinner show, and overall great entertainment experience!

Things to know about Medieval Times Buena Park:

There is Free Parking on-site.
If you go early, you can get your picture taken with the royals, (costs extra) and you can go visit the horses that they use in the show (free).
I was pleasantly surprised with the food. It was much better than I expected it to be. You aren’t given any utensils, but I believe if you’d like plastic silverware for your children they will bring you some. They also provided wet towelettes to clean your hands at the end.
My family liked the food at Medieval Times more than the Pirate’s Dinner Adventure, but both are good.
Be prepared for the arena to smell a bit like a horse arena. It wouldn’t normally be something I would notice, but you are eating dinner there.
If you have young toddlers, you may want to sit towards to top or at the end of a row, since it may be hard to get in and out. The seats are like movie theater seats that fold up and down when you get up. My kids messed around a bit before the show started on the seats, but luckily didn’t fall through the back.
Children under the age of 3 are free, but must sit in a parents lap and share their dinner.
The show was about 1.5 hours long.
You can receive a free admission the month of your birthday if you sign up for their Birthday Fellowship.
The portions for the food are large, they do offer to-go boxes if you would like to bring any of the food you didn’t get to eat home with you.
The menu included: Tomato Soup, Garlic Bread, Roasted Chicken, Herb Roasted Potato, Sweet Corn on the Cob, and pastry of the castle, and a drink. Vegetarian Meals are offered.
Be sure to stick around after the show, the Knights and King and Princess are available to take pictures with you.
For special discounts and rates, check out their website. Currently it looks like they are having $20 for adults and $6 for children.

We gave the dinner and show two thumbs up! Definitely worth taking the family to if you are ever in the area!

Thanks Medieval Times Buena Park for hosting us for the Dinner and show! (All thoughts and opinions are my own)

Be sure to check out our other adventures while visiting Buena Park California:

Pirate’s Dinner Adventure in Buena Park, and our hotel details.

Knott’s Berry Farm

For other ideas, and things to do in Buena Park California, be sure to check out www.VisitBuenaPark.com for more ideas and resources.

Family Travel // Knott’s Berry Farm

November 18, 2015

During our stay in Buena Park California, we were able to spend the day at Knott’s Berry Farm on my husband’s birthday! Both my husband and I haven’t been since we were kids, and it was so much fun to re-live some fond memories we had of going there as children with our own children!

Things have changed a lot since I was at Knott’s last, and they had so many amazing family rides and rollercoasters. I was a total kid again on the Xcelerator. I even rode it by myself, because I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t. Seriously, one of the best roller coasters I have been on in a while! I couldn’t stop smiling after I got off. What a rush!! I loved every second of it. If you’re looking for a good mix of rollercoaster and rides for kids, I would strongly recommend Knott’s. The best of both worlds!

The kids were so excited to go, they had their Snoopy ears ready at the hotel early in the morning, and couldn’t wait to head out for the day. I was surprised that there were so many rides for my kids, especially in Camp Snoopy. My oldest and I had a great time on some of the rollercoasters. We braved Montezooma’s Revenge together. I totally remember it being the BIG one when I was a kid!

The kids ran around, went on rides, ate junk food, watched a wild west show, met Snoopy and Linus. They really had the time of their lives! My kids probably rode the little drop Woodstock’s Airmail ride at minimum of eight times in a row. They were in heaven!

Things to know about visiting Knott’s Berry Farm:

You can purchase tickets online, or check out hotel packages that include admission to the park.
Parking for the day is $17. It is a little bit of a walk to your car, so be sure to bring everything you need with you. We left our jackets in the car, and when it got chilly later it was a bit of a walk to go grab them. They have lockers if you need to store any items you don’t want to carry around.
There are several kid’s options in Camp Snoopy if you are going with young children.
There are also a good variety of legit Roller Coasters! Most of the height requirements are 48 inches, but there are a few over 52 inches. Which is why I rode the Xcelerator alone, ha! I think my oldest was a little relieved that he didn’t quite make the cut.
Check the show schedule. My kids enjoyed one of their Wild West shows, they only do the shows are certain times throughout the day, so be sure to check the schedule.
There are a lot of dining options inside the park with different varieties. There is also the famous Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant just outside the park.
Knott’s Berry Farm honors Military with Free Military Days Nov 21-Dec 20, 2015. Applies for all US Veterans or active duty and a guest.
For discounted admission tickets, head to visitBuenaPark.com

Outfit Details: (affiliate links included)

Cardigan: Tai Pan Trading

Shirt: Tai Pan Trading

Necklace: Tai Pan Trading

Black High-waisted Rockstar Jeans: Old Navy

Crossbody Bag: Baggallini

Shoes: Nike (similar)

Thomas

T-shirt: Design Life Kids

H&M Sweats

Shoes: Converse All-Star

Norah

Jumpsuit: Gap Kids (similar)

Jean Jacket: Gap Kids

Shoes: Old Navy (similar)

Ezra

T-Shirt: Loved by Hannah and Eli

Shorts: H&M

Shoes: Puma

Snoopy Ears, of course!

Thanks so much for the fun day Knott’s Berry Farm! (All thoughts and opinions are my own)

Be sure to check out our blog post from our Pirate’s Dinner Adventure in Buena Park, including our hotel details as well as all you need to know before you go to Medieval Times.

For other ideas, and things to do in Buena Park California, be sure to check out www.VisitBuenaPark.com for more ideas and resources.

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