Obon Festival - unique family adventure

Looking for something different for a family outing?

From my friend, Naomi, who has helped many, many teens to grow into fine adults has let me know about the ancient Buddhist Obon festivals to honor and remember one's ancestors that includes joyous folk dancing, religious observances and traditional Japanese foods. Apparently this festival is the most authentic cultural event remaining in Japanese America.

Festivals occur at different times at various communities around the world. Seems like a really fun street party with colorful dancers and lots to see the learn about.

Here is the 2010 calendar of Obon events in the Southland. Here is the link to a big West Los Angeles Obon Festival.

Anyone else been to one of these festivals? Share your experiences.

Free Balloon Rides in Orange County, CA

I have always wanted to take a balloon ride. I'm pretty sure my desire to do so comes from the scene in the Wizard of Oz where the "no-longer Great and Powerful Oz" flies away. I was always sooo upset with Dorothy for missing that ride.

Now, you don't have to miss the ride and you can do it for FREE!!

Get this. There is a Great Park being constructed in Orange County. It is on the site of the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro in Irvine, California which is half way between Los Angeles and SanDiego. The Park is being promoted as the First Great Metropolitan Park of the 21st Century and is planned to be twice as large as Central Park in New York City. The design of the park has a great emphasis on sustainability with plans to generate and demonstrate cutting edge technology to inspire people to make changes in their lives.

You can read about The Great Park Design here.

Meanwhile, they have gotten their first attraction up and running. It is the Great Park Balloon ride... kind of like the one the Wizard flew off in, but not exactly.

This balloon is tethered to the ground so it won't go flying away. It's max height is 500 feet (which is plenty to see the planned park with a 360 degree view.) The balloon is not hot air, it is a giant helium balloon and is environmentally safe, non-polluting and virtually silent.

Rides are first come, first fly. The balloon only flies Thursday through Sunday and won't fly at all if it is too windy. The balloon will hold up to 30 people and can accommodate wheel chairs.

For times and directions click here. For more information about the Great Park Balloon and flight conditions, you can call the Visitor Center at their toll free number (866) 829-3829.

If you are looking for a unique first date idea, I'd certainly consider this.

Restaurants Where Kids Eat for Free

One way to save money when you are traveling with children is to go to restaurants that feature "Kids Eat Free" days. Most of the major chain restaurants have this special day to attract customers. Unfortunately, most of the chains allow their local manager/owners to set which day of the week they will designate for this special.

Still, it is easy to do a bit of preplanning and take advantage of this savings. Just go to the website of the home company. (click on links below) Type in the location where you will be. Get the phone number for the restaurant closest to where you will be vacationing/traveling and give them a call. Ask what day of the week they have the "kids eat free" special. Make note of that day and then plan to eat there on that day during your trip. You might even be able to find a coupon for that same restaurant and perhaps get a double discount (many places don't let you "double dip," but it's worth a try.)

Most of these deals have some limits such as what ages they consider to still be a child, what the child meals include (some don't include drinks) and if you need one adult for each kid. You must ask - don't assume.

Here is a list of some of the major restaurant chains that offer "Kids Eat Free" days. I'm sure there are others. Feel free to write a comment with more restaurants that you know of that offer this special. I would especially like to hear if anyone knows of any restaurants that feature non-processed foods or organic foods. Hey, I can dream can't I?

Applebee's

Bennigan's

Buffalo Wild Wings

Captin D's Seafood Kitchen

Cody's Original Roadhouse

Dennys

IHOP

Lone Star Steakhouse

Moe's

Perkins

Steak 'n Shake

Texas Roadhouse

TGIFriday's

Valentino's

Maker Faire - a rave review

I just got back from one of the most remarkable weekends of my life. I took my family to the 2nd Annual Maker Faire in the San Francisco area. (www.makerfaire.com)

This was an event that attracted "Makers" of all kinds to one venue to share their newest inventions and passions. Each booth was another porthole into vast as-yet-uncharted territory for all of us.

There is just too much to try and explain here, but there is tons of information on their site along with pictures of this past weekend's event.

The highlights for us were:

1. My husband and son watched hours of the Combat Robots competition and now they want to build robots and compete with them.

2. My daughter and I spent hours at one of the felt making booths and learned to felt. (Thanks Moxie!) This has opening a whole new area of art for both of us.

3. My son also purchased a fabulous radio control car and will be getting up to competition level with this.

4. My daughter and I were able to carry around a prototype camera purse and take candid pictures of the fair that are on line on the flickr site.

5. We learned about TONS of new technology in the internet world, got a great tip on how to set up a photography studio for cheap, learned to hand spin yarn, discovered an new and free 3D program that can be downloaded from the net, made some very cool jewelry out of recycled materials, found out about an awesome fundraising tool and of course.... walked the hamster wheel to power the giant nose picking sculpture.

6. We met lots of great people, get a zillion new ideas and were generally happier than pigs in the mud all weekend.

All this for a $20 ticket for the entire weekend for adults, $15 for students and $5 for 12 and under. Talk about a bargain.

I'm sure that everyone in my family learned more this weekend than they would have learned in an entire year of Science, Technology and Art classes.

We WILL be attending next year's faire. Check this out. For anyone who LOVES to MAKE things and is interested in what others are doing... this is THE place to be.