Howdy Ya’ll? Well this past weekend we took a trip to the awesome Dinosaur Valley State Park. We had actually been planning since last year to go when we visited the Fossil Rim Wildlife with Azlan, but we just had so much to do in between we weren’t able to until now. My husband is leaving next week and it had been a while since we had taken Azlan out so we decided to just go for a while and take a look at what all the hype was about. Its end of July and It was 100+ degrees and definitely a terrible idea to get out that day so we didn’t walk around a lot but we definitely plan to get out there again during the cooler months. Also, I think its not much of a place for toddlers , Azlan loves watching dinosaurs on television and did enjoy seeing the big dummies of dinosaurs but of course he is not into dinosaur footprints lol but my husband and I really enjoyed them. If you plan to go with kids I think its good for ages 4 and up where they ‘ll really be able to understand whats going on. There is a gift store as well , it has snacks, drinks and gift items for purchase. There is a separate picnic area with play area for kids.
I hope you guys enjoyed this post, photographs and the video tour. I will definitely edit this post later on if we get the chance to go again.
PHOTOGRAPHS HAVE BEEN REDUCED IN SIZE FOR FASTER LOADING.
Hey everyone, I hope you guys are having a great week. Summer is almost coming to and end and the Texas heat doesn’t seem to stop so how do you plan to stay cool and have fun with the kids. Well if you stay in the DFW area or if you are visiting from a different state , don’t forget to head on over to Fort Worth Zoo. Fort Worth Zoo is a must visit if you are in the area not only because it was ranked in the top 5 Zoo is North America by USA today but because it has everything that you need to have fun. I ‘ll definitely do a whole blog post on the zoo but this one is dedicated to my experience at the Safari Splash.
So what is Safari Splash? Well, Safari Splash is water fun for kids under the age of 12 and yes including toddlers and babies. Safari Splash is zero-depth water so you never have to worry about your kids drowning or anything unfortunate like that. They have slides , water fall , water canons and separate toddler area. Chaise lounge chairs and other chairs are available but if it gets crowded you might not get a seat. Go early as possible so you can enjoy in peace but it does start to get crowded fast.
Price:
The price to enter is 5$ each Adults+Kids , Toddlers under 2 are free. You can’t purchase the Safari Splash tickets at the zoo entrance it has to be at the entrance of Safari Splash.
Safety:
No life guard is on duty because of zero depth. First aid is available , they do have workers keeping an eye on the area who make sure kids are sliding one by one and stuff like that but they do ask that you always keep your kids under supervision.
Hours:
Opens July 2nd till October 28th (2018) 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
Dress Code:
Family appropriate dress code is required. Toddlers who aren’t potty trained should wear a swim diaper. Azlan isn’t potty trained yet so I had his swim diaper with me , you can also purchase it at the merchandise store on location.
Cabana Rental:
Since we went with family , we thought it would be nice to have a bit of privacy so we rented a small Cabana. They have three small cabanas and one big one. Small one is priced at 40$ and it accommodates 10 people. ( 15$ for each extra hour ) Small cabana comes with three chaise lounge chairs and 4 chairs with a table.
We went with our family which included 5 adults , three kids under the age of 12 and my toddler Azlan under the age of 2. Azlan didn’t enjoy much because he didn’t like water being dumped on him, instead he kept trying to go and sit inside the slides where water was being held. So yeah of course you are not allowed to go in there because kids coming off the slides can hurt you. Staff was pretty friendly, I asked ’em if i could take Azlan on the slides since he is a toddler , they said its up to me a lot of parents do walk their kids up to the top. We tried that…Azlan went through with it but he was scared at the end and cried for a few seconds.lol The cabana was a really nice addition for us because we got to sit together as a family and enjoy snacks because its hard to find seats together on the “free” chairs. I did have some expectations of it being a lot more fun but I don’t think it met that expectation but i think its great for a little while even babies young as 6 months were enjoying. But I don’t think you would want to spend more then an hour or two here. But we did have a wonderful time and we would definitely go back next year. Don’t forget the photographs and video tour below.
” The face you make when you find out your momma ate all your chips lol “
Video Tour
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Fossil Rim Wildlife & Safari park is an endangered species research and conservation center located in Glen Rose, Texas. About an hour drive from Fort Worth and includes over 1,000 animals from 50 species. Great place to take kids and adults, you can drive your on vehicle or take a guided tour.Prices vary from 20- 25$ depending on day of the week, children under 2 are free. Food for animals is 7$ per vehicle. More information at https://fossilrim.org
Don’t forget to Donate before you leave ! <3
Enjoy!
Fossil Rim Cafe At The Top
WATCH THE TRAVEL VIDEO
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Alohaaaa my beautiful people ! This blog is long overdue I know , life has been pretty busy lately.I am still working on the video travel diary which will be available soon , I want it to be perfect which is why I am taking my time hehe. Thank you to everyone who read and watched my Ritz Carlton blog. You guys are the best and if you haven’t you can read it by clicking here. Also, you are always welcome to leave your feedback below in the comments , I would love to see what you guys think.
Anyways all that aside let me take you on a beautiful journey to one of the incredibly beautiful places on this earth Hawaii! Hawaii is made up of 8 Islands , my husband and I visited Maui for our honeymoon ( read it here ) which is known as “The Valley Isle,” and is the second largest Hawaiian island.It is a recommended Island for honeymooners because its less noisy and has a secluded feel to it. This time for our 5th year engagement anniversary , we visited Oahu which is known as the “Heart of Hawaii”. It is the third largest Hawaiian island and is home to the majority of Hawaii’s diverse population, different cultures and also home to the state capital of Hawaii, Honolulu.
So , it was our first time leaving Azlan with my parents for more then 1 day, so I was kind of worried how he will react. He was only 6 months ,turned out he doesn’t care about me lol jk but he enjoyed staying with my parents and didn’t give them a hard time at all but since it was his first time without us, we did keep our trip short to 3-4 days.My husband surprised me with the tickets a few days before and asked me to create a little itinerary of the places I would like to see. Shaka Oahu app is a great way to have a to godrivingmap of all the tourist spots.It uses your location to let you know about all the interesting spots as you drive around. If you don’t have a lot of time on your hands to create an itinerary, I would definitely recommend this.
So there are two sides to the Island .. Waikiki,Honolulu has all the city views and North Shore has all the natural landscapes. Both sides are short drives away from each other and are amazing in their own ways so do plan to see both. We rented our car from Hertz , definitely recommend renting a car because you get to stop and explore on your own whenever you want, which is what exploring is all about.
“If You Want To Share Please Give Credit With The Picture Or Ask For Permission. Thankyou”
Leaving From DFW Airport
“If you are wondering about using your DSLR during your flight, this should give you the answer.”
” 8 hour non-stop flight from DFW Airport , finally arriving over the Islands of Hawaii “
Views Of Downtown Honolulu From Our Hotel The Ritz Carlton Waikiki
Lookouts
Breath taking lookouts of Oahu are definitely a must see when visiting the Island. These lookouts aren’t just beautiful but some of them have plenty of history behind them as well.
Nu‘uanu Pali Lookout
” It does get very windy up here so hold on tight to your stuff & your wife lol :p “
Tantalus Lookout
“So this lookout is what I considered my win win view instead of doing the Diamond Head hike.”
Puʻu ʻUalakaʻa State Wayside
“Keep driving up once you arrive at Tantalus Lookout & You’ll end up at this beautiful sight”
” Hi Hunny <3 _ <3 “
Hālona Blowhole Lookout
If you are in Oahu and don’t come here , you really missed out. The Hālona Blowhole is one of Hawaii’s natural wonders , the sea water comes gushing out in the air through the rock formation created thousand of year ago by volcanic eruptions. It was definitely very windy when we were there, I am not sure what its usually like and it also started raining again so yeah bummer because my photographs came all blurry.This blowhole not only offers great views of the ocean but the Koko Crater is located right behind it as well. The Halona Beach Cove is located right underneath it as well , one of Hawaii’s iconic beaches.
” Then came the rainbow “
Sunset View
We were told by one of the staff of Ritz Carlton to stop by this lookout on our way back from the Halona blowhole. it doesn’t really have a name but it was near Hanauma Bay. You ‘ll see cars parked in the lookout parking and thats just how we found it and enjoyed the sunset.
Makapuu Lookout
Definitely another must see , plenty of parking and beautiful views. Great place to view humpback whales if you come in winter.
Hiking
Manoa Falls Trail
I really wanted to do a hike this time in Hawaii but because I had never hiked before. Since I had developed back pain after my pregnancy I wasn’t too sure if I would be able to do it. Its not everyday that you get to go to Hawaii , so I really didn’t want to have any regrets. I decided to go for it and after some research decided to choose between Manoa Falls or The Diamond Head Crater. Obviously, Majority of people go for the Diamond Head because it is the most popular attraction/hike of Oahu. I read that you get really sweaty and you have to leave early morning otherwise it gets very crowded. I absolutely hate crowds ! When I think of Hawaii, I think of peace , nature , relaxation and none of that crowd, sweaty business.
Both hikes are 0.8 miles (one way) both are estimated to take about 2 hours but if you are in good health it wont take two hours. It took my husband and I barely 25 min to get to the fall. Elevation change for Manoa Trail – 800 ft vs Diamond Head 560 ft. I went for Manoa Falls because its surrounded in nature and I get a view of the beautiful fall up close , I wasn’t really interested in the views offered by the diamond head which I got to see through another place anyway without doing that hike so win win for me. ( I ‘ll talk about that next ) Another reason I chose this trail was because some of the scenes from one of my favorite show Lost were shot here .
We arrived around 9:00 AM , parked our car in the parking lot . There is a guy walking around to whom you have to pay the money for parking.(Cash) I believe it was 5-10$ , don’t remember for sure. Then you have to walk up to the entrance and begin your journey. God really wanted me to have the full nature experience , it started sprinkling lightly as we began and ahhh the fresh air , muddy trail, sounds of birds chirping and water stream , absolutely beautiful. Make sure you have proper clothes and sturdy sneakers on , a light jacket and plenty of water bottles. The trail does get muddy and slippery specially if its rainy , you never know when it’ll start raining.There are some steep slopes along the way , better to take it slow and grab on to the giant rocks to climb.
“The Banyan Tree”
Charlie from Lost was hanged at the Banyan Tree in episode 1.11 “All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues”
( Plenty of other scenes were shot here , this is just one example )
“The earlier you go the lesser the crowd and more enjoyable for you”
Other Hiking Spots To Consider
Koko Head
Diamond Head
Makapuu Lighthouse
Waimea Falls
Maunawili Falls
Haiku Stairs – Stairway to Heaven ( Illegal & Closed to public for now )
Kualoa Ranch
So here I go another location that I wanted to visit because “Lost” was shot here.heheh But hey even if you have never heard of the show or you just don’t like for some weird reason like my husband Ahem.. This has been THE LOCATION for plenty of your favorite movies and tv series such as Jumanji, 50 First Dates, Jurassic Park etc. Plenty of things to do here , they have got tour packages for you to choose from and plenty of activities as well. Do keep the opening hours in mind before you go and plan ahead, you might want to spend a whole day here who knows. 😉
( of course I was searching for my losties 😀 )
” Some of these horses have been in movies “
“View of Chinaman’s Hat from the ranch”
Ahupua’a O Kahana State Park
Well we just landed on this gem randomly but I loved it because no one was here. I love it when there is nobody else at the beach but me lol Its peaceful and hey I even found something that looked like a coconut maybe it was but I am unsure. Even-though the pictures look gloomy because of the cloudy and rainy weather , I still think it was amazing and breathtaking.
“one of my favorite pictures , taken on our drive back from the beach”
The North Shore
The north shore is your destination to get out of the city life and enjoy a gorgeous scenic drive in the north side of Oahu. We actually went for Manoa Falls hike first and then left for the north shore drive right after. You ‘ll just have to stop and see everything that will come your way. Plenty of beaches , farmer’s markets and activities to do here . If you are planning for some activities such as diving with sharks ( you know you want to ) hehe so search and call ahead of time to confirm your booking.
” Stopped here to take a lunch break and sip on that yummy fresh organic Hawaiian Coconut “
Turtle Beach” at Laniakea.
You ‘ve just got to stop by and meet these cuties .
“please follow the rules and do not touch them. Let them enjoy as well.”
“Other location to view turtles will be at Kaena Point side of Ali’i Beach Park ( Haleiwa )”
Sunset Beach
“Known for big waves surfing”
” how sweet is my husband ya’ll …. thanks hun” 😀
Food
Doraku Izakaya and Sushi
Located inside the Royal Hawaiian Center , pretty nice staff and great tasting food.
Bombay Palace
Located on Ala Moana Blvd in heart of Waikiki. We walked from our hotel Ritz Carlton instead of driving and it was definitely a good idea to walk but not so much after eating though haha. I don’t know why for some reason every time I have eaten Desi food in Hawaii, It has been AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS. That should just some it up for you , obviously its Hawaii so its a bit on the pricy side side but totally worth it.Yummmmyyy!!
SPA LATHER
The Ritz-Carlton Spa was completely booked for the time we were there , So we decided to go to a different one. The concierge at Ritz-Carlton recommended and booked us with Spa Lather at the Modern Honolulu. Great environment and staff,I decided to get the LOMI-LOMI Massage + The hot stone therapy . The lady that worked with me was wonderful and understanding specially because I told her about my back pain after pregnancy. Therefore she paid extra attention to my back, definitely worth the money,
Snorkeling
The best spot in Oahu to snorkel is Hanauma Bay located on the southeast coast. We couldn’t go because of the rainy and chilly weather but that is definitely a recommended place to visit. Parking is limited and there is a fee , best thing to do is leave early as possible. It is closed on Tuesday because they like to give the reef some break.
So thats it for now. Watch my Oahu Travel Diary Video Below.
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Aloha everyone ! I am back with another great post for you guys. This past May my husband and I celebrated our 5th engagement anniversary , so he surprised me with a trip to Honolulu. We have been to Hawaii before to the Island of Maui , you can read more about that trip by clicking here. Hawaii is absolutely gorgeous and I never get tired of it but each Island has its own unique places and experiences as well. You can read more about our whole trip and the places we went to by clicking here (coming soon).
So , we had the pleasure of staying at the gorgeous Ritz Carlton Residences Waikiki Beach. As soon as we arrived the staff came to welcome us and presented us with fresh Lei flowers.Then they collected our luggage and took us to the lobby. The lobby has a gorgeous view of the ocean and downtown Waikiki. They presented us with a fresh drink while they signed us in for our room. The hotel was very clean and tidy , and the staff was just amazing. With such an amazing and friendly staff , your stay becomes even more extraordinary.
Once we got to our room , a small gift awaited us with a card signed by the staff wishing us happy anniversary. We were very grateful for that. The room was great , we had a deluxe suite with an ocean view. So, one little thing that we were really hoping for was a room with a view of the diamond head, unfortunately that view is only available from a two bedroom suite or its one of the residential rooms one of the above. Thats really a bummer because we later checked out that hotel such as Westin have great diamond head views available for on but anyways. A lot of other things made up for that such as the great room with unique features and what could top the great staff.
Our deluxe suite had a full kitchen with coffee machines , dishwasher , washer & dryer , blender , cutlery , pots and pans etc basically everything you need to feel right at home. Great open room and bathroom equipped with large mirrors, shower, bath tubs and Toto Washlet toilets which is a toilet with unique features you can use with a remote, you can adjust the seat’s temperature up or down, you can turn on water to wash your bottom rear or front even a dryer to dry your bottom.
Also, there is a free Waikiki Fireworks show every Friday night. The fireworks are done each Friday evening by the Hilton Hawaiian Village, the show usually begins at 7:45pm and lasts about ten minutes. When we were there the fireworks show didn’t happen on Friday because of the rainy weather which is why the fireworks took place on Saturday evening instead. So if you are near Waikiki beach be sure to keep the fireworks in mind. The Ritz Carlton balcony offered us a splendid view of the fireworks right from our room.
I hope if Ritz-Carlton Waikiki was on your list , this article made it easier for you to choose and answered any questions you might have had regarding Ritz Carlton Waikiki. Don’t forget to share and like.
I hope you enjoy your stay at Ritz Carlton Waikiki until then enjoy the gorgeous photographs from my collection as well as the tour video below !
Watch The Complete Ritz Carlton Tour Video
I hope you have enjoyed this post . Comment below and share your experience of the Ritz Carlton Waikiki.
“The Banyan Tree”
” Some of these horses have been in movies “
