THE PERFECT FAMILY VACATION

BY DONNITA CAGLE BASSINGER, CTC, MCC

If you love animals, San Diego is the place for you. The San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park is home to over 3,700 animals on 100 acres. The San Diego Safari Park (formerly called Wild Animal Park) is 35 miles north of San Diego. It is a wildlife sanctuary on 1800 acres with over 2600 animals. Both are wonderful places to learn about animals in natural surroundings. One of my all-time favorite experiences was taking a behind-the-scenes tour with a knowledgeable guide at the San Diego Zoo. This two-hour experience can be reserved for $90 per person (in addition to regular admission).

The additions at LEGOLAND have made it worthy of a two- to three-day visit. LEGOLAND is located in Carlsbad, about 30 miles north of San Diego. The parks are perfect for kids ages 2 to 13 and are well-planned and interactive, for both kids and adults. They also have the Sea Life Aquarium and a waterpark open from March to October. Check the website as the days that each park is open vary throughout the year. The best value is to get a multi-day ticket for all three parks.

And for almost everything in San Diego, you will need a rental car with navigation as things are spread out. Be aware that parking can be expensive as some theme parks charge $30 per day.

EDUCATION & ENTERTAINMENT

One of the best things about visiting San Diego is you can learn so much while having fun. I suggest you spend at least one day at beautiful Balboa Park where you can choose from 16 museums to visit as well as numerous trails, gardens, playgrounds and sport venues. They offer passes if you want to get the most out of your visit. A Limited Explorer Pass allows you to visit up to four museums in one day for $56 for adults and $35 for ages 3 to 12. The Parkwide Pass offers admission to all of the Balboa Park museums over seven consecutive days for $67 for adults and $43 for ages 3 to 12.

The downtown waterfront area is a fun place to spend the day. You can start with the USS Midway Museum which is a giant aircraft carrier with over 25 restored aircraft onboard. If you want to learn more, the Maritime Museum is made up of two submarines, the Star of India sailing ship and six other vessels. You can take various boat rides and enjoy the street performers and vendors as you stroll down to Seaport Village which offers live music, shopping and lovely views. The Old Town Trolley is a hop-on, hop-off tour of San Diego with narration that brings history alive.

Whether you can only get away for a long weekend or if you have a whole week to spend, there’s something for everyone in San Diego. Contact your favorite travel agent to start planning today.

Meet Vacation Mom Tm

Airlines Serving The Eugene Airport

Alaska Airlines: AlaskaAir.com

Allegiant: Allegiantair.com

American Airlines: AA.com

Avelo Airlines: Aveloair.com

Delta: Delta.com

Southwest: Southwest.com United: United.com

Vacation MOM is brought to you in partnership with Eugene Airport

Donnita Bassinger has been a travel agent for three decades and she enjoys sending families on vacations around the world. She is a mom to three boys and has taken her family to San Diego numerous times. She is the owner of VIP Vacations, Inc. and she is happy to chat with you about your travel plans.

Contact Donnita at 541-913-5272

@VacationMOMpage

You started out the school year thinking you’d do like those influencers with their adorable flower-shaped sandwiches and bento boxes…then real life set in.

Now as we near the end of the school year, your enthusiasm for packing school lunches has run as dry as that PB&J your kid keeps bringing home uneaten. Use these main course ideas to carry you to summer break. They can all be made the day before, are reasonably healthy and are easy on your budget.

Pinwheel wraps

Flour tortillas: try the sun-dried tomato basil ones for something different

Deli turkey

Cheese slices of your choosing

Lettuce

Hummus

Optional: pepper or other seasoning like Everything But the Bagel

Lay out a tortilla and spread with hummus. Layer the meat and cheese, then add lettuce. If your kid likes a little seasoning, shake it on.

Roll up the tortilla snug, then cut into 2-inch circles. Lay each pinwheel flat in a lunch container.

Are you kidding?

No one does this.

At least, no one we know in real life. How would this even survive a backpack transport to school?

Kid-friendly quesadillas

8 large flour tortillas

2 - 3 cups shredded chedder cheese

2 cans of black beans, rinsed and drained

1 tsp basil

1 tsp oregano

½ tsp salt

Put black beans in a microwave-safe container, then stir in basil, oregano and salt. Cover and microwave on high for two minutes, stopping midway to stir. Set aside. Heat a pan on medium and coat with cooking spray. Place a tortilla in the pan, then immediately add ¼ cup black beans and about ⅓ cup shredded cheese to one side of the tortilla. Flip the tortilla closed and press with a spatula to make a seal as the cheese melts. Turn the quesadilla over to heat the other side. These cook quickly, and while it’s tempting to turn up the heat, don’t: it makes burn spots.

Repeat this process until all have been made. Use a pizza cutter to divide them into thirds, then refrigerate. If your child likes salsa, add a small side of it to their lunch box.

10 LITTLE TOES...

10 BIG REASONS TO HAVE YOUR BABY AT MCKENZIE-WILLAMETTE MEDICAL CENTER.

ALL IN ONE, LABOR, DELIVER & RECOVERY ROOMS (INCLUDING JACUZZI TUBS)

STATE-OF-THE-ART NEWBORN SAFETY SYSTEM

24/7 IN-HOUSE LABORISTS (OB)

24/7 ON-CALL CERTIFIED NURSE M IDWIVES

24/7 ON-CALL PEDIATRIC HOSPITALISTS

24/7 ON-CALL LACTATION SPECIALISTS

LEVEL II SPECIAL CARE NURSERY

MATERNITY CARE COORDINATOR

CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION/CLASSES

DIY lunchables

Cubed salami or summer sausage

Cheese sliced into squares

Whole-wheat crackers

Dried mango or pear slices

Pre-peeled clementine

Arrange each item into a divided container.

We like these...

10

Rubbermaid’s LunchBlox offer sturdy reusability. We like how they snap into their ice tray: no more jumbled up items that don’t get properly cooled.

10 big reasons to have your baby at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center:

• All-in-one labor, delivery & recover rooms (including whirlpool tubs)

• Water birth available

• State-of-the-art newborn safety system

• 24/7 in-house laborists (OB)

COMING SOON NITROUS OXIDE OPTION DURING LABOR VISIT MCKWEB.COM, MATERNITY SERVICES FOR MORE INFORMATION

• 24/7 on-call certified nurse midwives and lactation services

• 24/7 on-call pediatric hospitalists

• Level II special care nursery

• Maternity Care Coordinator

• Childbirth education/classes

• Nitrous oxide option during