I read an article in the Washington Post about urban beaches and it brought back memories of hitting Cony Island when I was living in the New York City area. We had not been to the beach in years, well except when we were in Jacksonville and San Diego, but we've not done the trek up the coast to visit the local beaches here for some time. My friend reminded me of Sandy Point, right before you cross the Bay Bridge. The last time Fred and I had discussed it was before we had kids when he was looking for a local place to launch for windsurfing and I had since forgotten about it.
One steamy Monday morning, we packed my car with all of our beach gear and three kiddos and headed out to the beach. What a warm welcome we received when we arrived and the gentleman collecting our $3 for entering--yes, $3, only $3--was so friendly and helpful. We pulled up and found parking without a problem. There was a playground right on the beach for the kids to hit, ample picnic tables, accessible showers and restrooms and snack bars. It made for a lovely afternoon and we were able to picnic, play on the playground and the spacious beach before hitting the road again, where we were able to avoid traffic getting back into DC even at 4:00! Definitely the another visit is needed a few more times this summer. I've not tried it on a weekend, but it is a weekday treasure to keep in mind when you need to get away, but not too far away.
Sandy Point State Park is located Anne Arundel County, at the western terminus of the Bay Bridge, off U.S. Routes 50/301 at exit 32.
Sandy Point State Park
1100 East College Parkway
Annapolis MD 21409
GPS 3900 48.81N 7624 07.95W
Contact Sandy Point
Main Office: 410-974-2149
E-mail: sandypoint@dnr.state.md.us Marina: 410-974-2772
Reservations: 1-888-432-2267
Hours of Operation
7 a.m. to Sunset, January 1-March 31
6 a.m. to Sunset, April 1-October 31
7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Nov. 1-Dec. 31
Fishing - 24 hr. access Jan. to mid-Nov.
Boating - 24 hr. access year-round
Admission Prices and Park Hours
When the Contact Station is not staffed, the automatic toll will be in operation. Effective April 1, 2010 the automatic toll machine accepts exact change only in the form of $1’s, quarters, MasterCard and VISA credit cards.
Sandy Point State Park may fill to capacity on busy, nice weather days, especially holiday weekends. Visitors will not be admitted to the park during the closure. Anyone who leaves the park during the closure will not be permitted to re-enter until the park reopens. There are no other public swimming beaches in the area.
Weekends and Holidays
January 1st until mid-April -- $3.00 per vehicle
Mid April until end of October -- $5.00 per person for Maryland resident -- $6.00 per person for non-Maryland resident
November 1st until December 31st -- $3.00 per vehicle
Weekdays (not including holidays that fall on a weekday)
January 1st until Memorial Day -- $3.00 per vehicle
Memorial Day through end of September -- $4.00 per person for Maryland resident -- $5.00 per person for non-Maryland resident
October 1st until December 31st -- $3.00 per vehicle
Sunset to Sunrise – Boating & Fishing
Year round -- $3.00 per vehicle (Excluding special events and when the contact station is staffed. See prices above)
Park Hours: Day Use
January 1 through March 31 -- 7 a.m. to sunset
April 1 through October 31 -- 6 a.m. to sunset
November 1 through December 31 -- 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Fishing -- 24 hour access January through mid-November
What to do when it is hot, hot, hot? We decided to try out duckpin bowling at White Oaks Lane.
Let me start by saying that the kids did have fun, but the staff wasn't exactly the most friendly. Actually, only one of the two members of the staff who were working there that day was not thrilled we were there. We went with some friends that had a peanut allergy, so we had to call to see if they could accommodate us if we ate there. We learned that they could not guarantee that their food was peanut free, which is fine, but when we asked if we could bring our own food, we were told no. When we arrived the gentleman who gave us our shoes was very friendly and helpful, but the lady did not seem to like having us there. Most of the patrons were retirees in leagues. They all seemed to love us and would come over to visit with the kiddos, so at least the patrons made us feel welcome, but you could feel that the staff wasn't thrilled with us. It was the first time our boys had been to a bowling alley, so we had to explain a few things. Our little guys twice sent the bowling ball back up the return and once a ball rolled into an unused lane, but other than that I thought they did well. I took a few pics, but was asked to stop and I of course complied, but just the tone and her energy made us feel that she was visibly annoyed with the kiddos and us. We ended up playing for less than an hour, but it was enough to get the boys out for some fun. Maybe it was a bad day for them and perhaps we will try it again, but this is the first time I am posting a negative review. But us mommies need to know where to go and where we are welcome.
Bottom line-fun for the kiddos and a very affordable, no frills venue, but just go in with thick skin and concentrate on the goal--fun and a break from the sun.
What an advantage we had being so close to the ferries, so we had to do a trip to the San Juan Islands and hit the main island of San Juan, starting at Friday Harbor. It was about an hour ride from Anacortes to Friday Harbor in the ferry and the kids loved driving onto the ferry and then walking around upstairs. We started at Friday Harbor and made a trip around the island, hitting Whale Watch Park” (Lime Kiln Point State Park). There we were able to have another picnic lunch while looking for whales. Keep in mind that there are cliffs with drop offs, but we were able to find an area that was safe for the kids, but we were on guard the whole time. The only whale we did see that day was the whale mile marker that Liam noticed when we hiked back to our car and also the Orca statue by the restrooms. I must say, the restrooms there were the cleanest public restrooms I have ever seen. I wish I had taken a picture (strange, I know), but the toilets were some environmental sound systems that were just huge holes that ran down into some sort of "recycling" system AND it didn't smell. AT ALL. I was totally intrigued, but so afraid that one of my kids would fall down them--I could have fallen in too! Anyhow, the whole park was fun filled-whales or not.
From there were started our circle around the island and hit an Krystal Acres alpaca farm. One of my friends from elementary school still lives in Washington and owns several, so I guess this is the area for alpacas. My son and cousin thought they were amazing and it was nice to stop and let the kids out to run a bit.
From there we headed towards the English Camp. Apparently, there was a battle between the Americans and the English over a pig. Who knew! Anyhow, the English Camp was along the water and had a beautiful English garden. Another perfect way to burn off some energy. I was thankful for having our rain boots for this park though, so think about packing them and a change of clothes!
We then drove to Roche Harbor and attempted to have ice cream, but the kids fell asleep. And we also had to drive past the Westcott Bay Sculpture Park, featuring over 100 sculptures on 19 acres. I want to go back and visit and my heart ached as the curator seemed to get excited that we stopped, then we quickly left realizing that opening the doors might wake up the kids and they so badly needed that nap. I owe them a donation!
We then circled around and were hoping to get a glass of wine at the San Juan vineyards tasting room, but it was closed, which I guess never happens-lucky us. I should also mention that across the road from the vineyard is a camel...yes a camel. Just another fun thing for the kiddos and definitely a conversation piece.
So back toward Friday Harbor we went. My sis and I went into the market for some ice cream and we headed back to the ferry for an ice cream feast on the way home. Note: the ferries have very little food, so load up before you go! There is a cute market right in the middle of Friday Harbor and across from the visitor center where you can pick up delish picnic items and aforementioned San Juan ice cream!
A wonderful day trip, but we were exhausted. There is a lot more to see and I look forward to another trip there soon. Make sure to plan ahead and take a look at the ferry schedule. Nothing is worse than missing the ferry with cranky kids but we were there from about 9 am until 5 pm and with little cat naps here and there, it was a perfect trip. My sister and I even got in a little shopping too!
We went out to visit my sister in Washington state again, but this time it was with my parents and my two kids in tow-hubby had to stay home. It was just as well as my sister's husband is a naval pilot and deployed and not home either. Poor Liam and my Dad had to endure a lot of girl power that week, but they survived.
We arrived in Seattle and went straight out to Anacortes. We were out there for the Mother's Day weekend and took the moms, including my sister's mother-in-law to Guemes Island to a quaint restaurant, Anderson's General Store. We took over the whole outdoor seating area since we had just missed the lunch rush and it was perfect. We had a view of the water, the kids had plenty of room to "move, " and the staff was terrific!
We also met my mother's family and our kids met their great-grandmother, great-aunt and great-uncle. We had a picnic lunch at Deception Pass State Park. Deception Pass is a strait separating Whidbey Island from Fidalgo Island and connects Skagit Bay with the Straits of Juan de Fuca. We drove, but you can walk across the bridge and see the site. I had to look up why it is dubbed as being deceiving and learned that it appeared to be a narrow bay instead of a strait, and it became infamous because many Chinese immigrants were smuggled in here for labor back in the late 1800s.
We drove across the bridge and then had lunch along the water with the family. It was a bit breezy and chilly, but we were able to enjoy lunch and let the kids play.
From there we took off to see if we could see the last of the tulips at Skagits Tulip Festival. There are several farms near Mount Vernon, Washington and we were luck enough to see the tulips in bloom the very last day. It was like we were in Holland and the kids had a blast running around the windmill and the beautiful mazes and paths.
So this isn't about traveling, but we will be bringing this books on the plane with us on our trip to Seattle. You should get one too for your next trip!
Our very dear friend, Elanna Allen created a delightful, charming tale in Itsy, Mitsy Runs Away. We love it and it hits home with Liam, who also hating bedtime. Check it out! We bought a bunch of them, so everyone is getting them for their birthdays over here.
Spread the word and the love!
"this runaway story [is] a runaway hit!" * Kirkus Review of Books STARRED REVIEW
"Debut talent Allen...has a breezy drawing style and a cheery disdain for logic... The freewheeling art stays anchored by Allen's very funny text." * Publisher's Weekly STARRED REVIEW
The last time I was in south of France visiting my brother-in-law and his family I was about five months preggers. Now with a babe and 3 ½ year old tow, and my husband acting as pack mule (bless his heart), we descended Cote d Azur not knowing what to expect. We took the red-eye to Heathrow airport then connected into Nice. We had done the same thing with my son from Hawaii and it wasn’t the best plan then, but this time around the red-eye worked out and both kiddos, and they slept like the sweet little babes they are, and woke up just before we touched down in London. Customs was a breeze in Nice, with very short lines. We got those smart carts to help with the luggage and the car seats. The only pain was that we rented our car through Avis, which made you take a bus to terminal 2. It took us a while to figure that out at the empty Avis desk, right outside baggage claim. All the other rental companies had people at their desks, so I don’t know why Avis didn’t. We did get a great deal on the car and got a USAA discount, so I guess I can’t complain. Make sure to book early as cars with automatic transmission are hard to find. My husband and I know how to drive manual, but with the hills and distractions that come with the kiddos in the back, who needs more to worry about, ya know. We got the Premium size and the BMW 3 series fit us perfectly and also fit the roads perfectly. I did pack relatively lightly: a small suitcase for the kids clothes, a medium suitcase for my husband and my clothes, and two carry-ons each, plus the car seats, but we fit with all the bags and nothing had to be at our kids’ feet. We headed out of the airport through a series of traffic circles (most area uses these circles—A LOT) going off in the wrong direction, but the toll booth guy was happy to tell us how to turn around. Make sure you have euros for the tolls before you leave the airport as the tolls averaged about €6 and you want to account for any wrong turns. Also, try to get directions to your destination from a local. Our google maps lead us astray by cutting out three traffic circles and causing us to aimlessly drive down narrow streets where sometimes we had to back up since the roads are often not big enough for cars two cars. Another thing to note is that even though you set your mobile phone to have international coverage, don’t count on it. We were never able call anyone but my sister, who lives in Washington state, the whole trip. That was convenient since her birthday was during our vacation, but not beneficial since we couldn’t connect to anyone else, especially my brother-in-law, whose house we were trying to find. Thankfully, my broken French, plus the kindness of the locals to break out in great English after my efforts to speak was enough to get us to our destination.
We stayed at the Resort & Spa Château de Camiole and it was lovely. Our relatives told us about the place and we found them on hotels.com. I can't believe how inexpensive it was. For some reason, hotels.com had very, very low rates. Too good to believe, but in this case it was exceptional!
Resort & Spa Château de Camiole Road 56 Route de Fayence, Callian 83440 France 866-538-0187
My brother-in-law works for the Four Season there, and we almost stayed there, but the Camiole Resort proved to be so much more kid friendly and very, very nice. We got the 2P room, which had one master bed room with a double bed, and another bedroom with a set of bunk beds. I loved that we had a full kitchen and the playground there was like an enchanted forest with fun equipment.
Here are a few pics of the place.
Things to know about this resort, which aren't a big deal, but would have been good to know ahead of time.
There isn't someone at the desk 24/7, in fact they don't open until 9:00 am (something we didn't know when we needed to check out and leave for the airport)
You need to do all the dishes and put them away upon check-out. Leaving them washed in the dishwasher is not the same thing.
You have to take your trash out yourself, which is near the Kid's Club
You need to request new towels and it is an additional cost to get new ones.
No one tidies up the rooms and there isn't a broom in the units, so you may want to request one, especially cheerios, goldfish and kids!
All the above aren't negatives, just things we've learned and wanted to pass on to make the visit even better. We really liked staying at the Chateau de Camiole and plan on staying there again for future visits.
As for our activities, we hung out at our families beautiful home in Callian and also took the kids around for some fun. Fayence is a neighboring town and they are known for their gliders-the gliding capital of Provence. The kids really loved watching the gliders get pulled up by a small prop plane and then released. We were able to take scooters and bikes to ride down to the runway and watch up close the planes taking off. There is also a nice cafe connected to L'aerodrome de Fayence, where we stopped to get drinks and some refreshments, which was very kid-friendly. I would sip on the Orangina and then chase the kids around in the fields, with the owners looking on approvingly. http://www.aapca.net/
Here is a video (not a good one) of the planes taking off with the gliders. Del said that people take off from there and can glide to Switzerland and stay up for 8 hours! There was this cool experimental helicopter too. Something I might have been brave enough to try before I had kids, but no longer!
We also went to Frejus to the beach and then a playground area called Base Nature. They had everything there from bike trails, many playgrounds, trikes, scooters with ramps, roller skating, sports fields, and an indoor swimming pool. The kids loved it.
We also dined at an amazing restaurant in downtown Callian that was in the center of the town next to a gorgeous fountain. I think it was the Bellevue,but I will double check. The food was delicious, portions were surprising large, and rather reasonable. Keep in mind that dining in France is a delight and not rushed. We enjoyed the views and the food a little too long with our three year old, who had his only tantrum of the trip as we were finishing our cafe au lait. But the food was worth the tantrum! Needless to say, I got no pictures of the restaurant or the charming town of Callian since I was wrangling my son back to the car. I did get one pic of him mesmerized by the fountain that was next to our table.
It was a very quick five days vacation and I wished we had more time, but I know we will be back there many, many times in the future.
The weather was so spectacular this weekend that we opted to go to a new venue in Philly rather than be indoors at Please Touch. So after we tried getting a family shot at the church where my husband and I were married, we had lunch at the Cassidys and then we drove down my favorite, Kelly Drive through Fairmoount Park to get to SMITH. We've driven past this place a million times when we lived in Philly, but the Cassidys let us know that they had just renovated and reopened the outdoor play space. The grounds are marked with an amazingly huge mansion that also has an indoor play area. That too is being renovated. SMITH was started by Sarah and Richard Smith in the 1890s when the health and welfare of urban children become a big priority. Supervised play was encouraged and so SMITH built this amazing area for kids to play in Philadelphia. There is an indoor play space within the Smith mansion and it is 24,000 square feet! We didn't go in, but it's supposed to be great. I think they are renovating the inside and updating quite a bit, but it's good now for a rainy day, and I am sure it will be spectacular when they are finished updating. Here is a link that gives a virtual tour. http://www.youtube.com/user/SmithKidsPlayPlace The outdoor play area is newly renovated and is incredible! It is the size of six football fields and has equipment and play areas for kids of all ages! The site says it has over 50 piece of state of the art equipment, and I'd completely agree. My son's favorite was the renovated wooden slide. Per the SMITH Web site--"The Giant Wooden Slide was added to the Playground in 1905. In 2005 through a generous gift from Ida Newman, who used to play at SMITH in the 1920s, the Slide was restored and dedicated in memory of her daughter Ann Newman. The one-of-a –kind Ann Newman Giant Wooden Slide is 39’ long and 13’ wide." The slide looks like a large sloped wooden floor and when you get on that burlap sack, you really fly! There is also a little tots play area with equipment perfect for the smallest of our babes to age 5 and then the rest of the amazing playground goes up to ages 10 and is packed with the best equipment and play structures I've ever seen. We packed it in and headed home after our visit to Smith and said farewell to our friends, but we immediately started planning our next trip to come back and check out the other hidden treasures in the playhouse. What a fabulous place and we love that the people of the community started it and have maintained this wondeful play space. You must visit and support this place too! Days and Hours of Operation Playground (for children 10 and under)
Tuesday – Sunday 10am – 4pm (April – October)
10am – 7pm (Saturdays and Sundays ONLY; last weekend of June – last weekend of August)
Playhouse (for children 5 and under) Tuesday – Sunday 10am – 4pm (year round)
How to Get to SMITH SMITH is located in East Fairmount Park just above Kelly Drive near 33rd and Oxford Streets. For printable directions, please click here. There is plenty of FREE parking on site and SMITH is also easily accessible by public transportation. From Center City Philadelphia: •Take Kelly Drive away from Center City •Turn right at the equestrian statue of General Grant (Fountain Green Drive) •Take first right onto Mt. Pleasant Drive •Turn right at stop sign onto Reservoir Drive •Bear right into Smith’s circular drive From 76 (Schuylkill) East or West •Take the Girard Avenue/Zoo exit •Cross over the Girard Avenue Bridge •Turn left at the end of the Bridge onto 33rd Street •Proceed to the next traffic light and make a left (33rd and Oxford) •Drive 1/3 mile and turn left into Smith’s circular drive Public Transportation Take SEPTA bus #32 to 33rd and Oxford. Walk 1/3 mile into Fairmount Park. Smith will be on your left. OR Take #3 bus to 33rd & Cecil B. Moore walk one block south to 33rd & Oxford St. Walk 1/3 mile into Fairmount Park. Smith will be on your left. Please note that GPS or any Internet direction sites will not provide accurate directions to Smith.
