Some destinations have a way of putting you in vacation mode the second you arrive. San Diego KOA Resort is one of these places. The moment we pulled into the campground, the sight of shimmering pool water, luxury cabins, rustic tent sites, and colorful RVs put me in a state of happy relaxation.

My recent fall getaway to the KOA began when we checked into a spacious Deluxe Cabin overlooking the pool. With enough room to sleep six people, the cabin came with a full bedroom, a small room with bunk beds, a loft with a bed, a bathroom with tub and shower, and full kitchen with fridge, microwave, coffee maker, stove and oven, pots and pans, silverware, and a small bar with chairs.

The cabin, which was more “glamping” than camping, also boasted a large wooden porch with couch and chairs, and a side yard with fire pit and a gas BBQ with a full tank of propane.

When not relaxing in the cabin, we had fun playing around the 40-acre campground, which offered everything we needed for a mini, three-day glamping adventure. We enjoyed renting a four-wheel bike, jumping on a giant bouncy pillow, mining for treasures, playing in a kiddie playground, sipping local beer, and lounging by the huge swimming pool.

Located a few steps from our cabin porch, the resort swimming pool was an oasis. The area is surrounded by lush trees and features a shallow walk-in ramp into the water that is perfect for little kids. The area also offers private cabanas and two Jacuzzis. Right behind the pool is a playground with sand, slides and a big play structure.

Next to the pool is the Kids Club, where parents can purchase fun arts and crafts for the little ones. This is where we rented a four-wheel surrey bike to thoroughly explore the campsite. For an hour each morning, we pedaled around the property admiring beautiful, new RVs and stopping to chat with friendly fellow campers. The bike has a steering wheel, four sets of pedals and enough seats for four adults and two small kids up front. Not only is the bike fun for the whole family, but it is also a great workout for the legs!

Another exciting adventure at KOA San Diego is the Beach Treasure Dig, a realistic little mining operation where kids can hunt for treasures. As water rushes down two ming flumes into tracks filled with sand, kids use sifters to find precious gems and other valuables. In our case, I hid some coins in the sand that my son was super thrilled to find.

After mining, we walked a few feet to the Sand Castle Cafe for fresh pizza and cold local beer. Featuring al fresco dining with a farm-to-table Southern California flare, the cafe serves warm baked goods, pancake breakfast, breakfast burritos, burgers, gourmet pizza, farm fresh salads and treats.

While eating I overheard two gentlemen behind us talking about the campsite and its history. They turned out to be Ted Bell and his son Mike, the owners of the KOA San Diego. Ted, who is 92 now, founded the campsite in 1968, while working as a police officer for the City of Chula Vista. Back then the camp was five acres with only a few dozen sites.

“When we opened up in 1968 we were kind of an outdoor motel for tourists coming to San Diego,” says Mike Bell. “But in the late 80s into the 90 we started transitioning into recreation and family resort focused. And a lot of people that come to the campground these days come to stay and spend all of their time in the park. They are not going to Sea World or the zoo or the beaches.”

Bell says that his guests now come from literally all over the world to experience San Diego weather and KOA comfort and outdoor charm.

After talking with the Bell’s we walked across the campsite to the giant red and yellow bouncy pillow. Measuring about 30 feet long by 15 feet wide, the air-filled pillow is like a big trampoline that makes you feel like you are jumping on mars. Next to here is a basketball court where I played a pick-up game with fellow campers.

Back at the cabin, we fired up the BBQ that came fully-equipped with a tank of propane. For dinner we grilled baby back ribs, potatoes, beans and veggies. We then had a memorable meal outside on our patio. After dinner, we threw some wood in the firepit, grabbed some extra long skewers, and made smores with marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate bars.

Whether you have an RV, a camper van, or a tent, or want to sleep in a deluxe cabin or a rustic hut, the San Diego KOA Campground is one of San Diego’s most popular camping resorts and is a top-rated destination for family fun. The campground is located about 20 minutes from major San Diego attractions such as Sea World, The San Diego ZOO and San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park. The campsite is also pet-friendly and boasts a 7000 square-foot dog park.

The San Diego KOA Resort is located at 111 North 2nd Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91910. For reservations call 888-566-1165 or visit: www.koa.com/campgrounds/san-diego

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Schwinn Krate EVO

The Schwinn Krate EVO is truly a beautiful bike. It’s stylish, sleek while some might notice the nostalgic elements such as the seat, it features all the modern updates to make the bike comfortable and a perfect fit for most children between ages 3-7 (38-48” tall). It comes with training wheels and can be used without as well. It is available in blue, red, black, yellow and pink, the bike retails for $169 at Walmart, Target and SchwinnBikes.com.

Bullseye Bow — Bow & Arrow

The Bullseye Bow is sturdy, fun and made in the USA. The set includes the bow, a removable quiver, three foam tipped arrows, and a cut-out target. Easy to use, they can reach distances of up to 60 feet or more. The arrow guide is positioned in the handle for a straight, accurate shot every time.  Just click the arrow nock to the string, pull back, and release.  A target is included too. It is a great toy for enhancing fine motor skills. It is super fun for adults too, and is a great stress reliever as you have to focus on the process and not on anything else.

The V-tech Video Camera

Get out of the box, and into a blast of creativity with the KidiZoom Creator Cam. It is a great starter camera for kids who want to delve into producing their own videos. It includes a green screen with over 20 animated backgrounds. Kids can host a dance party, get chased by a T-Rex, venture into outer space. It includes a tripod and has a built in microphone as well as on screen editing tools and creativity tools to help your kid become the new big Hollywood producer. The camera has a microSD card to increase storage.

Dance Charades

Keep a fun family vibe going as you dance the night away with Dance Charades. Simply pop the CD in a player or and pick one of the charades card and get silly. The CD gives a 40 second clip so you can dance out whatever the card you pick says to do. Great for kids and adults.

Please join my mailing list for the latest relaxation techniques, natural products, greatest toys and activities for adults and kids and more. Would be great to hear from you so please connect with me! #schwinn #bike #dance #charades #vtech #camera #fun #adventure #family #charades #stayhome #activekids #kids #outdoor #happy

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The Mobo Mity Sport is a fabulous bike option for your little ones. This sturdy and innovative three-wheeled cruiser is designed for children 3-7 years old. Not only is it stylish, but it features a comfortable seat, chainless chassis, comfortable air tires and a sturdy, adjustable frame the that grows with your child.

The bike helps kids build their coordination, as it uses both upper and lower body strength. I appreciate that it is low to the ground, which seems to be a safer option when your child is speeding off.

This well made bike is super simple to assemble and it took me less than five minutes to do so. They come in several sizes, for preschoolers, kids and adults.

Minnidip : The First Designer Inflatable Pool

Warm weather is just around the corner in many places. A great option for either an indoor or outdoor activity is the Minnidip, a sturdy well made inflatable swimming pool. If you are staying indoors — it might be the perfect place to fill with plastic balls or pillows and create your own play place/fort.

For those who are fortunate enough to have a yard, simply fill with water and splash around. It’s big enough for at least 3 adults or a few little kids can easily play in it.

What I appreciate is that is comes with a fabulous air pump — simply plug into the wall and in minutes your pool is ready for action. Minnidip also creates extra big beach balls filled with rose gold or gold silver confetti as well as pool floats which are super fun, well made and enhance any pool experience.

Additionally, they have a collection of smaller pools called The Minni Minni which were created for little ones and they come in animal print and lemon print.

Crayola’s Glitter Dot Sparkle Signs

Both boys an girls love shiny and glittery objects and Crayola’s Glitter Dots are an innovative glitter-infused dot that sticks to a variety of surfaces. While there are plenty of options for kits I like the Glitter Dot Sparkle Signs because they are both fun to make and have positive happy messages that you can hang in the window, a bedroom or give as a gift to friends.

Glitter Dots also stick to a variety of different surfaces so kids can experiment on paper, wood, felt, papier-mâché, fabrics, foam board, and more.

The kit Includes 42 Glitter Dots, 5 Signs, 5 Washable Pip Squeaks Skinnies Markers, 5 Metallic Strings, and Instruction Sheet.

Haba Hubelino Basic Set / Marble Game

This is a super creative well designed marble game that fosters creativity, ingenuity and is fun for both kids and parents to construct. The kit contains 123 pieces, base places, run elements, building blocks and marbles. What I like is that the instructions give ideas on how to create super interesting runs, and once you get the hang of it, there are plenty of ways to design your own way to construct a marble tower. It is great for younger kids who can use their imagination to build, and for older kids will enjoy following the process and constructing super cool runs.

Tyrannosaurus Rex

Schleich has created a sturdy and scary super fun Tyrannosaurus Rex for kids to play with and create their own prehistoric stories. This two legged predatory dinosaur looked quite threatening, but it could hardly use its front legs armed with just two claws since they did not even reach his mouth.

However, this Dino is able to open his mouth — so beware if you seat him at the table with your kids, he might just motivate your little ones to feed him too. A quality item, kids with imagination will have fun with their new friend.

Please join my mailing list for the latest greatest toys and activities for kids as well as special treats for parents. I will also be posting any helpful hints to stay safe/ and international stories of what others around the globe are experiencing. Stay Safe.

#bikes #threewheels #crayola #creative #kids #mable #build #minnidip #inflatablepools #spring #summeractivities #funwithkids

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This very ingenious (should I call it an apparatus?) comes from the inventive mind of Eric Staller, an American living in Amsterdam, Holland. Four years in development, this innovative means of travel has six people pedaling while one steers the contraption. Each bike is hand crafted in Germany and weighs in at 400 pounds. Asking the owner of our bike tour in Dresden what each unit cost, he took my breath away by saying it was more than a small car – around 9,500 Euros, or about $12,750.   I Googled “Cost of Conference Bikes” and saw a wide range of prices. The company that makes these incredible machines only produces them in attention getting red.

Trying to describe to one’s friends what it’s like to actually ride this bike for seven, is something of a challenge – and the description I liked best is the one given to us by our Munich guide. “It’s like walking while driving or, conversely, driving while walking.” Right! The bike has 4 wheels, and 7 comfortable seats situated around a circular handlebar that everyone grasps for stability while the driver, and in our case our guide, sits in the back facing forward and does the actual steering – we provided the pedal and motion power.

I must own up to the fact that I liked “the intense interest getting aspect” of riding these odd looking, but very comfortable, machines. Because they’re so, well, unique, when you start pedaling down the streets and highways of the city you’re in, everyone (well, just about everyone!) stops to stare and then gives you the Hi Five sign of happiness. In short, you and your friends are a tourist attraction in your own right!

Their popularity has skyrocketed, as they’re now enjoyed in 16 countries. It’s a tour bike in Berlin, Moscow and Budapest. In San Diego it’s used as a tool for corporate team building, and (now get this clever idea) a way for blind people to bike in Dublin. It’s in theme parks in Japan and Spain, and how about this, in Jerusalem it’s on display at the Science Museum, and in France at the “Pavilion des Sciences.” Whatever you call it – tool, vehicle, bike – it’s a super way to literally “bring folks together.”

Consider: Use it to be a huge hit with your business colleagues, or, as a unique way to bring in new clients that’ll give you a gigantic head start over your competition. Check out the Conference Bike website here.

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