Overland Park Kansas is the site of one of the biggest malls in the area, the Overland Park mall. It is an above average mall and there are lots of good shops and activities for the kids. For those with daughters this mall has one of the American Girl stores which is a favorite of our 10 year old daughter. That alone would make this mall a worthwhile trip. They also have a double decker carousel that the kids can buy tickets for. Shops are located on two levels, with all the regular stores you would expect in a mall. Specifically for the kids, they have a Disney store and a very big Barnes and Nobles. Overall, this is a very nice mall and offers great shopping for the entire family.

Zona Rosa is an outdoor shopping center in Kansas City, Missouri with numerous stores and restaurants. It is not an outlet mall, just a regular mall with normal stores. it is located just a few miles from the Kansas City airport and about 15 minutes from downtown Kansas City. Because it is an outdoor mall, it is very important to check the weather before you spend some time. Not much there that is specifically for the kids outside some nice ice cream shops and normal kid related clothing stores. They sometimes have entertainment outside one of the restaurants, called Bravo, which is an Italian eatery. There website will provide a calender of events if you are looking for something to do with the kids.

The last time we visited southern California, we visited Disneyland and worked our way down to San Diego. We are huge zoo fans, so we looked for some local zoos near Anaheim that we could visit. We found the Santa Ana zoo and decided to give it a try. To begin with, there was hardly anyone there, just a few others besides our family. Secondly, it is a very small zoo. There is not too much to see, so you can be done with your visit in just about an hour, maybe two if you took your time. here is a short train ride near the kids area and the kids will enjoy. However if you are big fans of zoos, do not have big expectations if you decide to take the family to the Santa Ana zoo.

When we were stationed at Fort Leavenworth Kansas in the United States Army, the nearest shopping area to us was Legends outlet in Kansas City, about 30 minutes from our home on base. It is a standard outdoor shopping mall and is located next to the Kansas Speedway, which hosts NASCAR races during the season. They have a very nice movie theater and all the shops and restaurants you would expect for an outdoor outlet mall. It is also next to a Great Wolf Lodge, so if you are staying there, you have options for food and shopping. Our daughters favorite places include Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and a frozen custard shop called Sheridan's. Very yummy ice cream. Overall, an average mall.

St George, Utah is the nearest big town when traveling to Zion National Park. The park is about 45-60 minutes from st George. If you are visiting the park, but want to stay close to a town, then St George is your best bet. There are several options for hotels in the area. We are Marriott fans, so we decided to stay at the TownePlace Suites in St George. It turned out to be a good experience for the family. It is conveniently located off of the interstate and is close proximity to all the shopping and dining that you need. The rooms are comfortable as well. The biggest hit for our family was the pool. They have a very nice pool, with a waterfall that the kids will enjoy. It gets real hot in St George in the summer, so a pool is a must if you are staying there.

During our visits to Yellowstone National Park, we always stay in West Yellowstone. It is about 30-45 minutes from the main part of the park but it has all the amenities you need during your stay. We stay at the Days Inn in West Yellowstone. It is a fairly decent place for families. Its is convenient because it is walking distance to everything in West Yellowstone, to include dining and shopping. The best part of this hotel are two things. First, they have an indoor swimming pool, which is great for the kids, especially when they need to release some energy. Second, they have a nice restaurant in the hotel that is fairly inexpensive. The breakfast is especially good and a great way to start your day before traveling into the park. Overall, not a bad place to stay if you are visiting Yellowstone National Park.

The views at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone are absolutely spectacular and well worth a stop during your visit to Yellowstone National Park. There are several stops along the trails that you can get great views of this canyon and there is not too much hiking involved. You have to make it a point to specifically stop at the trails that will lead you to the upper falls and the lower falls. Another great vantage point of the canyon is a place known as inspiration point. It is not too long of a hike. These trails can be a little difficult with a stroller, so it may not be too fun with the little ones. the best investment you can make when visiting Yellowstone National park with babies is a good baby backpack. It will make hiking easier and you will get to see much more of the park and area like the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

There is so much to do at Yellowstone National Park. Because of its size, it is best to spend at least two days exploring the park. apart from the famous sites, such as Old Faithful, there are places like Fountain Paint Pot nature Trail that are just as educational and fun for the kids. This is a very beautiful area to explore. There are wooden walkways around this area and as you explore it, the family will see lots of interesting colors in the water holes. There are plenty of signs along the way that will explain this awesome scene of nature. It will take about an hour to explore this site, but it is well worth the time spent to stop here and take a good stroll around it. Make sure you add this to your itinerary when you visit Yellowstone National Park.

Tuacahn outdoor amphitheater is our favorite place to see a live musical. Located against the backdrop of the beautiful red rock mountains near St George, Utah this was the first place we took our daughter to see a musical. We visited in 2008 and saw two shows that were playing that summer The Sound of Music and Les Miserables. Both were incredible. What makes this place special is the fact that it is outdoors and they use the scenery as part of the musicals. Our daughter loved The Sound of Music and the actors used the rocks behind the stage as part of the production. They produce new shows each season so check their website and buy tickets early.

My daughters are in love with American Girl dolls. When we moved to central Texas and they found out there was one in Dallas, we had to do a weekend trip. We have previously been to stores in LA, New York and Kansas City. The American Girl store in Dallas, Texas is a medium size store. it has lots of shopping for the kids and also includes a hair salon for the dolls and a bistro cafe. This is a hot with the girls because the staff takes care of both the girls andt heir dolls. They got to sit with their dolls and the dolls were even served some drinks. The food was very average, but our daughters did not care. It was more about the environment and the American Girl brand. The prices are the same no matter what American Girl store you go to. They tend to be high and there are never any sales. If your daughter likes American Girl, then a visit to the Dallas store will be nice.