DisneyLand- the happiest place on earth. Now it may be smaller than Disney World, but it’s still as extravagant and it’s every kid’s dream come true when you say the magic words of, “We’re going to Disney!” Since this is the week of the birthday girl, I’ll fill you in on her most recent favorite trip to Disneyland.

Phillip had a long run of shows out in California. We were in LA and spent some time in the city, exploring and hitting our favorite restaurants in between shows. When we go to LA, we usually always stay at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills. The kids were with us, so we decided that we couldn’t be in LA without making a quick trip to Disney which is only about 45 minutes by bus. We parked the bus at a nearby hotel and then took the shuttle to Disneyland. We did the park hopper which allowed us to do both the Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park.

Penelopi and I have been in deep discussion and our top five recommendations for things to do and see at Disneyland are below.

1) Cars Land
My favorite kids ride is definitely the Car’s ride. The whole Cars Land looks and feels like you are in the actual movie. The famous characters, Lightning McQueen and Mater are seen throughout the park actually driving around and the kids freak out about this! The best part for us adults – they serve adult lemonade and by this time, you are more than due for drink or two.

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2) The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo Boutique
Every little girl gets a Fairy Godmother, Tinkerbell makes her outfit and then they get to pick whatever princess they want to be. They do their hair and makeup and they don’t let them see themselves until the very end so when they look in the mirror it’s magic. The look on their sweet faces is priceless. Be prepared for A LOT of “fairy dust”.

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3) Jungle Cruise
Penelopi loves the Jungle Cruise because she likes to pretend that we are explorers, exploring the jungle. The cast member that is the guide makes funny jokes and really gets into the storyline and Penelopi describes the overall experience as if you’re in a cartoon. Plus, there are always  some funny elephants and gorillas that entertain us throughout! The guide is also very interactive which allows the kids to ask questions and they are usually responded with a quick and witty answer.

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4) Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple
In light of the recent movie release and the popular buzz around Star Wars, this one is a MUST. Their is a stage in the middle of a food pavilion, so you can eat lunch while catching an entertaining show. A Jedi comes out and beckons the Jedis in training to come down to participate. They give them a lightsaber, teach them how to use the force, and then they actually get to fight Darth Vader.

5) Electric Parade
At the end of each evening, this parade takes place on Main Street and it goes all around the park. They have a lot of characters that are dancing around the elaborate floats with beautiful light effects. I love how interactive this parade is with the kids too. The dancers come over to the kids, dance with them and then you can get some kind of little fun snack. Main Street also has a bunch of little restaurants to find your favorite treat in! After the parade, it’s a great opportunity to easily transition out of the park and head home.

Have you ever been to Disneyland or Disney World? What are some of your favorite things to do?

Penelopi and I recently took a trip to the corn capital of the world – the great state of Iowa. After a day on the bus and with some restless children, we decided it was time to explore the beautiful farm town of Ames, located in the center of the state. After some intensive research (or rather just a quick Yelp!) we found the nearby Center Grove Orchard. We gathered up the kiddos and set off for a fall-filled day at this local, family operated apple orchard. Between the orchard, the corn maze, pumpkin patch and the abundance of fall flavored treats, this spontaneous and festive adventure was a complete success.

My favorite part about this place was that it was family-run, owned and operated by the Larry D. and Pat Black Family since 1994. Sadly, Larry passed away in 1999, but his vision for the farm lives on today by providing locals, visitors and families an enjoyable and educational experience in a peaceful country setting.

We started the day with the corn maze which was surprisingly challenging. The maze was set up like a mini quiz show, where we had to answer questions for the right directions. Funny enough, we somehow backtracked ourselves and ended the maze where we began. We just looked at each other and laughed, but at least we finished – one way or another!

The huge Honeycrisp and McIntosh apples were two of my favorites from the orchard. I made sure to stock up on them so I could fill the bus and the house! The orchard was known for their special apple cider slushie, and with apples THAT tasty,  I could only imagine what this dream slush would taste like. It was a little taste of Heaven. Now, I might have to try this with my apple cider recipe.

The rest of the day progressed as the perfect Fall day would – with one too many sweets, fall activities and a family gathering around a crackling fire pit. While this may come across as your typical or average festive day, it meant so much more than that to me. The day was one filled with so many new memories, that I will reminisce on each Fall season. I have the Center Grove Orchard in Ames, IA to thank for this unforgettable day with my family and friends.