Visiting the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art with kids
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side·track (sīd´trăk): n. 1. A diversion from the main course.  2. A detour taken with children that you would never, ever take without them.
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Photography is permitted outside only. During the show, it's a no-no with dire consequences.

Who:
Travel Savvy Mom founder Jamie Pearson, her husband, and their children (then 6 and 8.  Yes, it took me awhile to write this post).

What and Where:
Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art.  Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.

Why:
We were in the area for a family vacation to Spain and didn’t figure the kids would be overjoyed to tour a sherry house.  Plus, the horse thing was indoors, which is a huge selling point in Andalusia in July.

The Low Point:
10 minutes into this 90-minute show entitled, ““Como bailan los Caballos Andaluces” (How the Andalusian Horses Dance) my husband turned to me and said, “I get it. The horses can dance.” It was more of a cross between limping and hopping, really.

The organizers made it clear that anyone who took a photo would be taken out back and dispatched with a firing squad, but my husband decided to risk it.   I spent the rest of the show terrified that we would be thrown out as the ushers gave us stink eye.

Pretty colors. Shade. Happy kids.

The Kids’ Take:
Thumbs up for the dancing horses.  They were, however, disturbed by the horses that leaped, with all four feet in the air.  The trainers were snapping whips and it seemed mean.

The Bottom Line:
Well worth a visit with kids older than, say, four.  If you can book the “Preference” tickets (in rows one and two), do it.  If not, “General” is fine.  Absolutely make advance reservations, because the shows do sell out.

Compared to a lot of the more touristy towns we visited in Andalusia (which were nice, don’t get me wrong), Jerez de la Frontera felt like a real town.  It’s a nice place to spend a day and a night.

Swing through the Mayan Riviera with a family-friendly excursion at Selvatica
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side·track (sīd´trăk): n. 1. A diversion from the main course. 2. A detour taken with children that you would never, ever take without them.
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Who:

Chet, myself and a  group of 20 fellow travelers aged 4 to 62.

What and Where:

Who wouldn’t love an Extreme Canopy Adventure?  You can find that and more at Selvatica, a family-friendly ziplining and Cenote-swimming park in the heart of the Mexican Riviera.

Why:
During a trip to Dreams Cancun Riviera earlier in the year, my hosts invited us to swing around at Selvatica.  I had an amazing time.  And after learning that kids as young as 4 could partake in the adventure, I knew I’d be bringing my own little adrenaline junkie on by as soon as I could.

The High Points:
I’m not sure how much I should elaborate here because, uh, it’s ZIPLINING!  And, it’s a big thrill.

Still, I think the high points include a well-trained, enthusiastic and English-speaking staff that make everyone feel comfortable.  I’d love to say that I ziplined with Chet.  But, the truth is, one of the guides took him off my hands straight from go and he merrily went swinging on without me.

We enjoyed zipping across 12 lines in the park of various heights and speeds.  Afterwards, the guides took us to a nearby Tarzan swing, where I watched my son happily jump off a 40-foot platform with no hesitation.

After swinging and zipping in the Mexican summer, we worked up quite a sweat.  The tour finishes at a local cenote, or natural underground pool, where you can zipline again into the cool, fresh water.  It was a lot of fun–and we weren’t the only ones who enjoyed it.  Our tour group was a wide mix of folks of all ages, activity levels and backgrounds.  Everyone had a great time.

The Low Point:
Suiting up in a harness and helmet in the hot Mexican sun is not always a pleasant experience.  Removing said accoutrements after an hour of ziplining may be even worse.

The Kids’ Take:
Chet LOVED it.  Seriously, I couldn’t have gotten that kid off the lines if I had tried.

The Bottom Line:
I’ve gone twice and am already dreaming of going again.  Chet asks regularly to return–or for me to hook up a zipline in the backyard instead.  It’s truly an adventure that everyone in the family can enjoy.

The Extreme Canopy Adventure costs $99 for adults and $49 for kids–a good deal for a half day adventure including a meal.  All gear is included–but, trust me, you will be tempted to buy a commemorative t-shirt, photo or video.  And you probably won’t be able to resist after such a big adrenaline rush so bring some extra cash.

Top and middle photo courtesy of Selvatica MX.

Most people don’t go to France to see alligators.  We are not most people.
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side·track (sīd´trăk): n. 1. A diversion from the main course.  2. A detour taken with children that you would never, ever take without them.

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Who:
Travel Savvy Mom founder Jamie Pearson, her husband, and their children (then 1 and 3, so set your time machines to “way back”).  This was our first ever sidetrack.

What and Where:
Le Reptilarium Mont St Michel (since renamed “Alligator Bay”).  Normandy, France.  A reptile zoo with tortoises, snakes, and (according to their breathless brochure copy) the biggest group of alligators in Europe. At least that’s what we think it said, it was in French.

Why:
Mont St Michel is one of those absolutely gorgeous, but entirely pointless, destinations that are so depressingly common in Europe (see also: Carcassone, San Gimignano, and Montmartre).  You go.  You admire it from afar.  You make the fatal mistake of actually entering it, and instantly regret it.

Maybe you love these places.  If so, we’re going to have to agree to disagree.

After battling the huge crowds on this rocky tidal island (formerly a monastery, now wall-to-wall souvenir shops and restaurants serving obscenely overpriced omelets), we carried our exhausted kids through the city gates and back to our car.

We had driven two hours to get there, and were done in twenty minutes.  Then we saw a billboard for Le Reptilarium, and our fate was sealed.

The Low Point:
Being dressed in winter clothing in a warm, steamy, stinky, crowded place for two hours.  Did I mention it smelled bad?

The Kids’ Take:
Ten thumbs up!  Approximately 1,000 times better than stupid omelet island.

The Bottom Line:
If you think your kids would enjoy crawling through plexiglass tunnels that allow them to get up close and personal with boa constrictors, this is the place for you.

During the tortoise feeding, they can also go into the pen and give lettuce to giant reptiles.

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A taste of Africa, except in Ohio
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side·track (sīd´trăk): n. 1. A diversion from the main course. 2. A detour taken with children that you would never, ever take without them.
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Who and What:
My good friends Todd and Diana and their two children who take really cool trips, but refuse to be bullied into writing for my website.  For this post, I had to just interview them.

African Safari Wildlife Park in Port Clinton, Ohio.  A drive-through an animal safari park where you can feed the animals: either food out of a cup or carrots, depending on the animal.  This is both exhilarating and terrifying.  Admission includes unlimited trips through the safari as well as admission to their zoo, pony rides, camel rides (in Ohio!) and their animal show.

These are not big carnivores.  Most of the animals are ruminants, with a few tortoises, ocelots, warthogs, and gibbons in the mix (and these are in another area).

Why:
Todd’s family lives in Ohio and they go back every summer, so they’ve pretty much ferreted out all the weird things to do within a 200-mile radius of Toledo.

The High Point:
Animals sticking their entire heads in the car.  Feeding a giraffe a carrot through the sunroof.

The Low Point:
Explaining to Todd’s father why his whole car was smeared with buffalo snot.

The Kids’ Take:
Awesome and scary.

The  Bottom Line:
A great place to spend the day if your kids love animals.   Be sure to stay for the animal show–you’ll get to pet a porcupine and a raccoon and put a snake around your neck.  Good times.

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Come home from our nation’s capital with more than just memories

When you visit Washington D.C., you’re going to take a lot of family pictures. They may as well be in good places. Here are four funny shots to consider.

1. Newseum

The top floor of this fabulous museum has a balcony, where you get killer views of the Capitol. Good enough for our holiday photo. Just try to crop out the Canadian flags in the foreground – their embassy is right next door (eh!).

Or for a newsy angle, get in front of the camera at Newseum and read a prepared news or weather script. You’ll look like a regular on CNN.

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