The Best Places to Get Your Photo Taken with Santa

by Beth SheaNovember 11, 2022

From malls and parks to drive-worthy experiences, here are the best places to take photos with Santa in San Diego—some will even pose with your pet

There are so many fun, family activities happening this time of year, whether you’re shopping for your Christmas tree in San Diego, wandering around town to catch all the must-see holiday lights nearby, or seeing which favorite holiday show should be on your wish-list this year. Of course don’t forget to make time to mingle with good ole St. Nick. The sun might be out (with no snow in sight) but Santa Claus is coming to town, and chances are, you’re looking for some memory-making photo ops. From malls and parks to an entire village dedicated to the man, we’ve rounded up our must-go spots to see Santa near San Diego.

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A post shared by SkyPark at Santa's Village (@skyparksantasvillage)

1. Santa's Village at SkyPark

If you haven't ever done it, we definitely recommend heading up to SkyPark at Santa’s Village, at least once in your lifetime. The whole village comes into its own and lights up for a jolly good time. From breakfast with Santa to tea with Mrs. Claus, you can get as little or as much Santa in your life as you want. For photo-ops, make a reservation online to save your spot and prevent disappointments. Of course, that’s not all—there’s ice skating and a dazzling light show that takes place at the park as well. You might even get snow while your here—a true Christmas miracle for SoCal residents.

Dates: Nov. 17-Jan. 8

28950 California 18
Skyforest
Online: skyparksantasvillage.com

2. Photos with Santa at Seaport Village

Capture the magic of the holiday season in a photo with Seaport’s resident Santa Claus in a delightful San Diego waterfront setting on the harbor. Families can strike a pose with jolly Kris Kringle—in front of the Chris Harvey Gallery—no appointment necessary. This spot also has 54 retail shops—get your Christmas shopping done while you're here.

Dates: Nov. 19-Dec. 24; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

849 W Harbor Dr.
San Diego
Online: seaportvillage.com

3. San Diego Zoo's Jungle Bells

The San Diego Zoo's holiday celebration, Jungle Bells (Dec. 9-Jan. 1), has all the Christmas fixings you might be looking for: holiday photos with Dr. Harry Lion, Churchill Polar Bear, and Sydney Koala, a juggling Jack Frost, live holiday music, acrobatic elves, strolling Holiday Troubadours, and, of course, photos with the big guy. You'll find Santa (and his factory), in the Lost Forest—at the Price Education Center, to be specific.

Dates: Nov. 25-27, Dec. 3-4 and 24; 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Dec. 9-23, 25; noon-8 p.m.

2920 Zoo Dr.
San Diego
Online: zoo.sandiegozoo.org/jungle-bells

4. Santa's Treehouse

Skip the lines and spend some quality time with Mr. and Mrs. Claus in their treehouse. In addition to the professional photo session with Santa, kids will have time to chat about what's on their wish lists, tour the tree house, sit by the fire place, and even have a seat in the big man's chair. Claim your spot at this popular event—offered by reservation only.

Good to Know: This is a fundraising event so the proceeds help sponsor families in need.

Dates: Reservations are now open. Photos take place Sat. & Sun only beginning Nov. 26-Dec. 18

15263 Lawson Valley Rd.
Jamul
Online: everaftersandiego.com

5. Surfin Santa at Seaport Village

Old St. Nick is ditching the heavy red suit and will be breaking out his board shorts and Hawaiian shirt for the 15th annual Surfin’ Santa celebration at Seaport Village. If your family would like to take some not-so-wintery photos with the jolly surfer himself, he'll be hanging in his lifeguard tower, ready to snap a few poses. Photos with Santa start at 1:45 p.m. Named one of the 10 best Santa sightings by USA Today, the event begins at noon with live music and entertainment

Date: Nov. 26; 1:45 p.m. to 5 p.m.

849 W Harbor Dr.
San Diego
Online: seaportvillage.com

6. Santa Visits the Forum

Every Sat. and Sun. through Dec. 18, you can stop by to see Santa at The Forum Carlsbad. Find St. Nick in the Garden Area between YETI and Allbirds, and bring your camera. Visits are complimentary. Guests can also enjoy holiday characters on Sat. and strolling carolers on Sun. from 1-4 p.m.

Dates: Dec. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, and 18; 1-5 p.m.

1923 Calle Barcelona
Carlsbad
Online: theforumcarlsbad.com

7. Santa Cares Day at The Shoppes at Carlsbad

Children within all spectrums of special needs and their families are welcome to visit Santa during Santa Cares Day at The Shoppes at Carlsbad. The event takes place before the mall opens on Dec. 4 for a sensory-friendly, less hectic event to experience the time-honored tradition of a visit and photos with Santa. This unique opportunity is specially designed to create a comfortable and inviting environment so all children can feel comfortable with Santa. Reservations are encouraged.

Date: Dec. 4; 9-10 a.m.

2525 El Camino Real
Carlsbad
Online: theshoppesatcarlsbad.com

8. Santa Paws Pet Night at Westfield UTC

Santa is available for photos throughout the month (beginning Nov. 17-Dec. 24) but on special nights, he'd love to meet your favorite four-legged pal. Westfield UTC invites families to enjoy the the special Santa Paws Pet Night, a fun, furry twist on the time-honored tradition of taking photos with the man in the big red suit—although everyone is welcome, even without pets. The mall will also collect donations these evenings on behalf of The Humane Society. Reservations recommended.

Dates: Dec. 5, 12, and 19; 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

4545 La Jolla Village Dr., Suite E-25
San Diego
Online: westfield.com

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9. Photos with Santa at Hotel del Coronado

If you are looking for a more refined setting to meet with Old St. Nick this holiday season, visit him at the sprawling Hotel Del Coronado. Here you can take a picture with him in the charming Garden Patio that sits in the central courtyard of a majestic Victorian building. For those that simply can't wait to see the big guy, head over to the hotel's holiday festival on Dec. 7. Online reservations required.

Dates: Dec. 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, and 24; Times vary

1500 Orange Ave.
Coronado
Online: hoteldel.com

10. Christmas in the Park

Don’t miss your chance to visit with Santa at Old Poway Park. This free event will take you back in time with caroling, live music, and horse-drawn hayrides. You can also purchase holiday treats, shop at the craft boutique, or board the Poway Midland Railroad for a night-time ride around the park. Free shuttles to and from the event will be available from two locations: Poway City Hall parking lot and Poway Adult School parking lot.

Dates: Dec. 9; 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., and Dec. 10; 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

14134 Midland Road
Poway
Online: poway.org

Need 20+ Minutes of Quiet Time? Study Says These Crafts Are Your Best Bet

by Karly WoodMarch 25, 2022

Desperate for some “me time” with the kids being home more often than usual? You’re not alone.

In an effort to find out which activities keep kiddos entertained the longest so parents can get their hands on a little alone time, experts at DIYs.com performed a quick study. The company sent 1,635 parents of children ages six to 10 years old a variety of craft activities and asked them to record the time and noise level of their kids while crafting.

photo: Sigmund via Unsplash

In addition to the variety of 27 common crafts sent to parents, DIYs.com also sent them a timer and a sound level meter so they could track the noise level and how far it reached. Once it reached 60 decibels, the level of an average conversation, they were asked to stop the timer, as the noise indicated the child was likely no longer engrossed in the activity.

Good news parents: there are a plethora of activities that will keep the kiddos entertained and quiet for at least half an hour! The results show that paper weaving, slime, origami and jewelry making all equaled 30+ minutes of quiet time.

data from DIYs.com

The study also shed light on the activities that sound good in theory, but really don’t equal a ton of alone time. Crafts like printing shapes, finger painting and lanyards are great for a quick activity, but not if you’re looking for an extended amount of quiet.

While not all activities are equal when it comes to keeping your kiddo’s attention span active, there are many benefits to crafting regardless. Stefan Gheorghe at DIYS.com shares that the activity enhances children’s decision-making skills, improves self-esteem and provides a source of relaxation––something we can all use now and then.

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Want Your Kid to Eat Healthier? There’s a Research-Backed Hack For That

by Sarah ShebekJuly 1, 2021

Struggling to get a little green on your kid’s plate? You’re not alone! Researchers at Penn State studied tactics to promote increased vegetable consumption—and what they found was surprising.

The trick? Doubling the portion of vegetables on the plate. That tactic increased veggie intake by 68%! The study involved lunch servings at childcare centers once a week for four weeks. 67 children from ages three to five participated and received broccoli and corn, along with classic preschool favorites like fish sticks, rice and ketchup. Researchers weighed the meals to determine intake and served the vegetables plain, or enhanced with butter and salt. They also varied the veggie portion to be a regular size or double size.

Surprisingly, adding “enhancements” did nothing to affect vegetable consumption. When asked to rate the taste, preschoolers had a similar liking for both plain and enhanced versions of the broccoli and corn. They also ate just as much of the rest of their meal with a double veggie portion, as opposed to a regular portion.

“It’s important to serve your kids a lot of vegetables, but it’s also important to serve them ones they like because they have to compete with the other foods on the plate,” said Barbara Rolls, Helen A. Guthrie Chair and director of the Laboratory for the Study of Human Ingestive Behavior at Penn State. “Parents can ease into this by gradually exposing kids to new vegetables, cooking them in a way their child enjoys, and experimenting with different flavors and seasonings as you familiarize them.”

So the next time you’re cooking dinner, put a little extra scoop of the vegetable on your kid’s plate and see what happens!

—Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Naomi Shi/Pexels

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Disney Is Lighting Up the Sky with 2 Brand New Spectaculars

by Karly WoodJune 24, 2021

Can you believe Walt Disney World is turning 50? In honor of the momentous occasion (which perfectly pairs with the diminished pandemic), the theme park is celebrating with two brand new nighttime spectacular shows.

Starting Oct. 1, park guests can catch “Disney Enchantment” and “Harmonious” as part of “The World’s Most Magical Celebration.” The shows will debut at Magic Kingdom Park and EPCOT and pack a spectacular punch.

Head to Magic Kingdom Park to watch “Disney Enchantment,” which features first time immersive projection effects from Cinderella Castle. The show also incorporates stunning music and enhanced lighting.

Over at EPCOT, one of the largest spectaculars ever, “Harmonious” will combine songs and stories at the World Showcase Lagoon. The lighting, media, moving fountains and pyrotechnics are fabulous enough to entertain even your youngest and wiggliest kiddos.

To make the event pack even more punch, the show will highlight new interpretations of your fave Disney songs that have been translated into more than a dozen languages by over 200 artists around the globe.

Both shows will kick off Oct. 1, in perfect harmony with “The World’s Most Magical Celebration.”

––Karly Wood

All photos: Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

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Dunkin’s Popping Bubbles Release Has Us Bursting With Joy

by Sarah ShebekJune 17, 2021

Once you pop you can’t stop—not a Dunkin’ slogan but it’s just popping to mind. That’s because the company just announced Popping Bubbles, strawberry bursting bubbles that can be added to any cold drink. And there’s a fun contest in store, too!

Starting June 23, you can try this fun add-on to your frosty beverage of choice. It’s made with color sourced from plants and the strawberry flavor adds a fruity twist perfect for summertime. All beverages with the bubbles will come with a new pink and orange wide paper straw to fully enhance the popping experience.

The launch pairs with a new instant win online game that rolls out on July 2. Follow Dunkin’ on Instagram for the game link, which allows you to pop virtual bubbles to reveal if you’ve won one of thousands of gift cards or other rewards, like inflatable pool rafts or a cash grand prize. Make sure you’re on it, because you can only play during the month of July.

If you’re pondering which bev to add your bubbles to, Lemonade Refreshers launched this spring and would give you that color contrast for the ‘Gram. But you could also be bold and add it to a frozen matcha latte or a Dunkaccino. The options are endless!

––Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Dunkin’

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How to Choose a Child Care Facility When You Can’t Tour

By Joy Turner

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

January 18, 2021

Photo: Charles Deluvio on Unsplash

While there have been many downsides to the global pandemic, one convenience that has been born is the growing availability of virtual experiences and services. In the child care industry, many have started offering virtual tours in lieu of bringing parents and children into the facility in person. Whether you’re unable to personally visit a child care facility due to coronavirus precautions or another reason, I recently asked Sharon Lytwynec, Senior Vice President of Operations at Kiddie Academy® Education Child Care, to provide some suggestions on how to get the most out of a virtual tour and she says, “It is absolutely possible to research, tour, and select a child care option for your children without going in person. It’s a little unconventional, but as with many things we’ve experienced and had to pivot during the pandemic, it’s becoming more sophisticated and seamless. Right now, it’s the new normal at most of our Academies.”

What to Look for during a Virtual Tour

Is there a personalized connection? Does the person hosting the virtual tour make an effort to engage with you and customize the tour to address you and your family’s unique needs? Does the tour feel like a stock tour that could be given to anyone? The answers may help you get a feel for what your overall experience as a customer will be like.

The person hosting your virtual tour should try to make a personal connection with and learn what’s most important to you and what your expectations are so that they can speak to that during the tour.
The child care center’s representative shouldn’t simply list off all of the features of their school. Instead, they should find out what’s most important to you and focus on that.
They should use your name and your child’s name throughout the tour.
The director or owner of the center should follow up with you after the tour concludes to ensure all your questions were addresses and answer any lingering questions you may have after the fact.

Important Points to Remember

It’s important to pay attention to the professional appearance of anyone that is introduced during the tour. Does it look like they made an effort to impress you?
Did everyone that was speaking during the virtual tour make eye contact? Even though it’s virtual doesn’t mean people shouldn’t be looking into the camera when speaking.
Were they on time? Ideally, someone from the center would be logged on before anyone else joins so they can greet new-comers.
Were you introduced to your child(ren)’s potential teacher during the virtual tour?
Are they receptive to your child(ren) joining the virtual meeting? You can tell a lot about someone by how they interact with your child(ren). This is also a good opportunity for your child(ren) to meet their teacher(s) for the first time, which can help with the possible first-day jitters.

Virtual Tour Tips

Try to schedule a virtual tour during normal business hours and ask to take a sneak peek in the classroom(s) your child(ren) would be in. It’s much easier to get an idea of whether the children are actively engaged in learning or not. Even better—try to schedule a virtual tour during mealtimes and transition periods such as drop-off and pick up. Even though these times tend to be more chaotic, it’s a great way to see how the school is implementing enhanced safety protocols around COVID-19.

It’s also crucial to ask what type of training and operational changes were made around COVID-19 and make sure you and your family are comfortable with these changes. Look for evidence during the tour that those enhanced health and safety protocols are happening and effective.

At Kiddie Academy® Educational Child Care, we made our COVID-19 recommendations available to the public for full transparency and to encourage other providers to borrow and practice what we know to be the best operating procedures during this time.

As with all video calls, it’s important to do a dry run on the platform and ensure there are no snags in the process and internet connection is strong. This will avoid precious time being spent on troubleshooting and instead focus on the tour.

Finally, ask for current customer references. Incorporating a fellow parent’s opinions and answers to your questions may help you make the best decision for your family.

This post originally appeared on Kiddie Academy Family Essentials.

Joy Turner

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Joy has over 20 years of experience in early childhood education. As Vice President of Education at Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care, she oversees all things curriculum, assessment, training and more. Joy earned a B.S. in Education from Salisbury University.

Yabba Dabba Do Try This New Pebbles Creamer from International Delight

by Jennifer SwartvagherJanuary 8, 2021

Head back to the stone age. International Delight is making breakfast time even more fun with new Fruity PEBBLES and Cocoa PEBBLES Coffee Creamers. Find them now at retailers nationwide for a limited time.

International Delight Fruity Pebbles Coffee Creamer

This month, in celebration of PEBBLES cereal’s milestone 50th birthday year in 2021, the coffee creamer brand is bringing the signature flavors of the classic PEBBLES cereals from the bowl to the coffee mug. With the new International Delight PEBBLES creamers, fans can join the celebration and get even more of the classic flavors they love with a splash in their morning coffee. Whether fans prefer Cocoa or Fruity, they can enjoy their favorite PEBBLES cereal and coffee creamer to feel transported back to Bedrock.

“At International Delight, we are always looking to give our fans innovative, can’t-get-it-anywhere-else flavors to enhance their coffee,” said Marie Dobson, Marketing Director for International Delight. “We want to make that first cup of joe a delicious and fun experience – which is why we are excited to partner with PEBBLES cereal to bring these favorite flavors from your bowl to your cup. We hope coffee lovers everywhere shout ‘Yabba Dabba Doo!’ with every sip!”

“The International Delight team did a great job of capturing the craveable flavors of Fruity and Cocoa PEBBLES cereals in these new coffee creamers,” said Leah Broeders, Head of Licensing at Post Consumer Brands. “The PEBBLES cereal brand has been sparking imagination and bringing joy to fans for 50 years, and we think the new coffee creamers are another fun way for fans to enjoy the flavors beyond the cereal bowl.”

International Delight Fruity PEBBLES Coffee Creamer delivers a sweet, fruity flavor, while Cocoa PEBBLES Coffee Creamer is perfect for anyone who wants to start their day the chocolatey way. Both creamers deliver a bowl’s worth of flavor in every sip.

International Delight Fruity PEBBLES and Cocoa PEBBLES Coffee Creamers are sold in 32 oz. bottles with celebratory PEBBLES packaging for a suggested retail price of $3.29.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of International Delight

Disney World Is Bringing Back Its Park Hopper Pass With Some Modifications

by Jennifer SwartvagherNovember 20, 2020

Walt Disney World fans rejoice! As the phased reopening of the resort continues guests will be happy to know that the Park Hopper option will be returning in the new year. According to the Disney Blog, starting Jan. 1, 2021, guests who purchased a ticket or annual pass with Park Hopper benefits will be able to visit more than one park per day, with a few modifications.

Guests must make a Disney Park Pass reservation for the first park they plan to visit and enter that park first prior to visiting another. Currently a park reservation is not required after the first park, however reservation requirements are subject to change.

The resort will set specific Park Hopper hours during which this option will be available. Park Hopper hours will begin at 2 p.m. each day and end at the park’s scheduled close time. Guests will soon be able to check DisneyWorld.com/ParkHours and the My Disney Experience app for the most up-to-date Park Hopper hours, as they could start earlier at a later date, depending on the day and park. The ability to visit another park will be subject to the park’s capacity limitations.

These modifications are designed to help the resort to continue managing attendance in a way that fosters physical distancing. Additionally, other enhanced health and safety measures remain in effect. Face coverings are required for all guests ages two and up.

If you have any questions, visit the Know Before You Go page on DisneyWorld.com, call the Disney Reservation Center, contact your travel professional or reach out to planDisney to get helpful tips and information on your upcoming Disney vacation.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo:

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Lindt Is Releasing Hot Cocoa Truffles & They Are Available Exclusively at Target

by Jennifer SwartvagherNovember 5, 2020

Winter is fast approaching. With colder weather, and dare we say, snow days in our future, we can warm up with the newest creation from the Lindt Master Chocolatiers. The Lindor Hot Cocoa Dark Chocolate Truffle is bound to be your new favorite holiday treat.

While there are no mini marshmallows included, the truffle features a signature smooth dark chocolate shell and white chocolate truffle filling enhanced by the subtle addition of vanilla for a deliciously satisfying hot cocoa taste experience made to melt you this season.

The Lindor Hot Cocoa Dark Chocolate Truffle is available exclusively at Target. The six ounce bag retails for $4.79 and will be on store shelves on or about Nov. 7.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Lindt

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A Recent Study by Travelocity Predicts Most Families Aren’t Going Home This Holiday Season

by Jennifer SwartvagherOctober 13, 2020

As the holiday season approaches you may find yourself humming along to the popular carol, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” The holidays usually see the year’s biggest uptick in travel, but with COVID-19 still active, a recent survey by Travelocity found that almost 60% of Americans report they won’t be traveling this year. Nearly one-in-three said they won’t celebrate the holidays at all.

That doesn’t mean people are staying at home entirely either. The Travelocity 2020 Holiday Outlook survey conducted in mid-September, found that travelers are feeling surprisingly optimistic when it comes to leisure travel for the remainder of the year. One-in-four respondents said they have a personal vacation planned later this year, and nearly half of family travelers with kids under the age of 18 are taking a leisure trip before the year’s end.

Travelocity is predicting the following trends based on the data collected:

Stay at a Hotel this Holiday: More travelers (43%) say they plan to stay at a hotel or vacation rental this year, with hotels being the slightly more popular option.
Get Road Trip Ready: Nearly 80% of respondents plan to drive for November and December holidays, and 1-in-5 will fly.
Pack for a Long Weekend: Holiday travelers say they’ll stay through the long weekend. More than half (53%) plan to stay between 1-4 days opposed to shorter day trips.
Celebrate Close to Home: Two-thirds of holidaymakers plan to travel 250 miles or less.

How-To Holiday Away from Home:

Keep travel plans flexible: The controlled spread of COVID-19 in a travelers’ origin or destination is now the top consideration in determining whether to travel. Because travel plans can change, search for hotels with free cancellation and flights without change fees.
Find hotels using enhanced cleaning filters: One-third of travelers say that safe accommodations at their travel destination will determine whether or not they travel this holiday season. Travelocity provides an enhanced cleaning search filter to make finding hotels and activities easy.
Search for flights with safety in mind: More than half of travelers who booked flights this holiday season (53%) said they are worried about flying right now. With new flight badging on Travelocity.com, it’s easy to know which airlines require masks, temperature checks and more.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Marissa Daeger on Unsplash

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