Keeps Me Smiling Blog Posts
Lorraine Akemann is co-founder of My Busy Kit which makes travel activities for kids. She is a mother of two, and formerly worked in Silicon Valley's technology sector. She enjoys traveling with her family (New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nova Scotia, and Alaska were some of their recent destinations), and focuses on making products that help keep children creatively engaged while out and about. Lorraine blogs at Keeps Me Smiling, sharing stories and tips to provide resources for family travel.
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- Napa (1)
- Honolulu (5)
- San Francisco (5)
- Half Moon Bay (2)
- Santa Rosa (2)
- Lake Tahoe (1)
- Juneau (2)
- Truckee (1)
- Walnut Creek (1)
- Sausalito (1)
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Displaying posts 1 - 20 of 25 in total
The Ultimate Roadside Picnic
Family Vacation in Sausalito
2010-03-02 - Pick a beautiful place within an hour of your home. Add a picnic, a few chairs, extra clothes, a frisbee and a trail map. Voila! You just might end up with a perfectly fun day on relatively few dol...
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The Art Museum
Things To Do in San Francisco
2010-02-25 - We could look, but we couldn't touch. We could walk, but we couldn't run. We could talk, but we couldn't shout or whine. Civilization - at last! Fine art museums have many rules, but that shouldn't...
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Night and Day: Honolulu
Hotel Review in Honolulu
2010-02-11 - View from the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Grand Waikikian Tower, Honolulu, HI. Big cities on small islands are nothing new, but it's still a bit odd when you find yourself actually on one. Dining on t...
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Juneau, Alaska
Family Vacation in Juneau
2010-01-21 - From downtown to the local hilltops, Juneau was a sight to see. Colorful gift shops, an impressive port, treks with views of the inside passage, and little blond bears made a daytrip worth remember...
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Model Trains at the Conservatory of Flowers, San Francisco
Things To Do in San Francisco
2010-01-07 - So the week after Christmas, when everyone was headed to the Cal Academy of Sciences, we detoured from the crowds and visited the other side of Golden Gate Park - the Conservatory of Flowers. I had...
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Tobogganing With Kids
Things To Do in Truckee
2010-02-04 - If you can get the right setting (winter cabin), the right horsepower (strong & motivated friend), and the right velocity (hill full of snow), the outcome can be cheerful for all involved. These gi...
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Skiing With Kids
Family Vacation in Lake Tahoe
2009-12-23 - Gear. Weather. Travel. Expense. All things to consider as you lug heavy equipment around a ski resort with a mini Michelin man at your heels. Nearby, children are crying and adults are in heated co...
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Go Climb a Rock!
Things To Do in Walnut Creek
2010-02-18 - Inspired by this post from Amie at Ciao Bambino, we headed to Mt. Diablo over Presidents Day weekend. What's the big deal about Mt. Diablo? Well, based in the Bay Area of Northern California, it's ...
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Hanauma Bay (or any other crowded place) With Kids!
Family Vacation in Honolulu
2009-08-27 - Hanauma Bay on the island of Oahu is a snorkeler's paradise. Given that I have a thing for fish, it was a must-see on our recent trip to Waikiki. I took some notes from Carolina over at Kids Go Wes...
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Holiday Travel's Greatest Hits
Family Vacation
2009-12-15 - I've been reading blogs to get caught up, and wanted to summarize these tips for a festive holiday travel season. Enjoy!
Travels With Children's insights on why we travel with our kids
Kids Go We...
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Travel Activities for the Road Trip Home
Family Vacation
2009-12-26 - Whether you are wrapping up your holiday travels, or heading out for winter break, here are ideas for making your own activity kit. Our COLOR PLAY CREATE DISCOVER formula has been used in over 4000...
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Alaska's Glaciers
Things To Do in Juneau
2010-01-18 - In August of 2008 we took the kids on an Alaska Cruise, and these are some of the photos from Glacier Bay. The first two photographs are of the Margerie Glacier, which is advancing and calving into...
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One Fine Day On The Golden Gate Bridge
Things To Do in San Francisco
2009-11-22 - I was dreaming, as Mara encourages us to do, about a family outing to change the scene. I envisioned a short drive, clear fall weather, a picnic lunch, and something fun for everyone. So here's my ...
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Coastal Trails in Half Moon Bay
Family Vacation in Half Moon Bay
2009-11-11 - Part of our strategy to avoid H1N1 this season is to increase outdoor activity and decrease crowded, indoor events. Half Moon Bay comes in handy for these purposes, especially when you get to team ...
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Kailua Beach: Oahu's Gem
Family Vacation in Honolulu
2009-11-11 - What started as a drive to the other side of the island, ended up as my favorite destination on Oahu. Thanks to my cousins for their recommendation, Kailua Beach was a huge hit! Stunning scenery ov...
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Sailing Beyond the Golden Gate
Family Vacation in San Francisco
2009-09-27 - It's historic, adventuresome, exhilarating, and requires swift skill and navigation. It takes place in unbiased and merciless territory. And it's really, really fun - especially when you have acces...
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Tips on Traveling with Kids
Family Vacation
2009-09-06 - One summer. Two kids. Four road trips. Eight airplane rides. This is what I learned:
ARMIES MARCH ON THEIR STOMACHS: Bring healthy snacks along, everywhere. Airlines don't offer complimentary food...
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Is Your Family Vacation...Kid-Friendly?
Family Vacation
2009-08-23 - During our last family trip of the summer, I had a blast listening to what made my kids excited and happy about traveling. I've concluded that while grownups might be interested in sightseeing, kid...
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Our New Aquarium
Family Vacation in San Francisco
2009-06-05 - In this photograph you can just see the living roof on top of the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, California. We visited over Memorial Day Weekend and had a fantastic time explorin...
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Why Waikiki?
Family Vacation in Honolulu
2009-08-21 - It's crowded. The beach is shrinking. It's too touristy. It's expensive. It's hot, especially in August.
Then WHY? Why would you choose Waikiki Beach in Oahu rather than Maui, Kauai, or the Big I...
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