Coming Soon: Babbit the Big City Rabbit

For Christmas, James gave me a girls-only four-day trip to New York City to share with my friend Marcie, and Babbit has opted to tag along. We head out very early on March 31st and return late on April 3rd. We're all so excited to visit the big city -- none of us have ever been. I've been researching our touristy options, and while we each have access to reasonable travel budgets, Marcie and I are both super thrifty and would love to prove that a trip to NYC doesn't have to break the bank. (Secretly, I think if I can prove that to the hubs, he'll let me go back again really soon.)

I have some things in mind that I would like to do and have been looking for the most cost-effective way to do them. We've considered purchasing the City Pass, but I've learned about Free and Pay What You Wish options for museums and think that may be the better way to go. To fully embrace my personal challenge of NYC on a dime, I've downloaded the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs guide that lists loads of inexpensive cultural offerings. I've set up a separate travel e-mail account to subscribe to Groupon and Living Social for NYC deals, and I plan to watch for the 90% off sale at Restaurant.com. Also, the Entertainment book for NYC is only $20 shipped. We save so much in DFW with our Entertainment Book, I can't imagine the savings in NYC would be any less remarkable. I've only just begun building a list of must-see things with prices posted. Here's what I have so far:


Free/Cheap Places to Go in New York City

Brooklyn Bridge – FREE
Brooklyn Heights Historic District – FREE
New York Public Library – FREE
9/11 Memorial Preview Site – FREE
Central Park – FREE
Metropolitan Museum of Art – FREE, BoA "Museums on Us"
Guggenheim Museum – Pay What You Wish on Saturday
Museum of Modern Art – FREE on Target Free Friday nights
Museum of the City of New York – FREE, BoA "Museums on Us"
Statue of Liberty – FREE ferry tour, $12.00 for crown tour
Opera at the Met – $20/$25 last minute tickets at Box Office
Theatre – FREE, or inexpensive last minute tickets at Box Office
New York Philharmonic – Student Rush Tickets, $12.50 each
Chinatown – FREE to explore, $$ for shopping on Canal Street


Cheap Places to Eat in New York City

Papaya King Hot Dog Stands – Chelsea (Under $5)
Dumpling House – Chinatown (Under $5)
Café Edison – Times Square in Edison Hotel (Under $10)
** We're excited to try inexpensive little hole-in-the-wall places, preferably ethnic ones **


Despite my planning and bargain hunting, this is a daunting task and I would really appreciate some insider tips from those of you who have been there/done that. Favorite restaurants? Best way to buy show tickets? Number one way to save on souvenirs? Your insight is invaluable to me.



photo credit: howard models

Go West, Young Babbit: Road Trip 2010 -- It's Official!

A summer baby in 2009 meant no vacation, which means Babbit the Blue Rabbit is more than ready to hit the road! Gas money has been saved, hotels have been reserved, and landmarks are being mapped -- Road Trip 2010 is official. In precisely six weeks, Babbit will leave Texas for a grand adventure. Twelve states in eighteen days makes for one very happy bunny.

Babbit the Blue Rabbit Goes to Vegas

Babbit just returned from a lovely few days in "The Entertainment Capital of the World," otherwise known as Las Vegas. In preparation for the impending addition to our family, James and I decided a little getaway was in order. We tossed around a few ideas with regards to travel plans, and after having gone to the beach twice in the last ten months (Florida and Hawaii), we opted for something a bit different.

We thought we'd go to NYC, but after considering all the walking I'd be doing in light of the weekly injections I take to prevent preterm labor, we decided that wasn't a very good idea. Instead, we opted for Vegas where there is so much less walking. *snort* (Note: We did rent a car, but considering that our hotel alone had over 4,000 rooms, a lot of walking was still required.)

The kids stayed with my mom, the dog went to the kennel, and James and I flew out very early on Saturday morning. Unfortunately, on Friday before we left home, the weather changed dramatically and I left Texas with a head cold as a carry-on. I was hopeful the drier, warmer Nevada weather would dry up my congestion, and it might have were it not for the fact that every other human being in the entire state was a walking smoke stack. Needless to say, I carried Kleenex everywhere and ate Benedryl like Lemonheads.

Because of my seasonal/smoke allergy fogginess and the resulting lack of creativity or care, Babbit made it out for only a few candid shots. He saw the Stratosphere, the Eiffel Tower at Paris, Freemont Street, New York/New York, and the Las Vegas Strip at dusk.

At the Luxor, they have on exhibit things pulled from the wreckage of the sunken Titanic. While we didn't go through the exhibit, I did check out the gift shop. There Babbit saw the World's Tackiest Souvenir: a paperweight comprised of a floating Titanic and the iceberg that sunk it. Touching.


I, on the other hand, saw something at the Stratoshere that made me oh-so-thankful to be pregnant and incapable of taking on amusement park rides. See this ride hanging off of the side of the tower? As if the Stratosphere roller coaster perched about a thousand miles in the air isn't bad enough, now you get to pay good money to dangle inches from your perilous death. Were I not pregnant, it might be an inescapable challenge.


Instead of tempting fate, James and I took the time to take naps, see a couple of movies, and check out Trader Joe's in Summerlin. We went to see Carrot Top at the Luxor and the Mac King Comedy Magic Show at Harrah's. We ate breakfast in Paris, shopped on the Miracle Mile, went to the falls at the Wynn, and saw the biggest butterflies in the gardens at the Bellagio. It was a lovely trip, and we had a great time escaping reality together.

Aloha, O'ahu (and in that, I mean "goodbye")

We left Hawaii last night around sunset. The breeze spilling into the open-aired Honolulu International Airport was as warm as ever, and we stayed out in it until boarding was inevitable. Only James was ready to go home.

The flight back to Texas was crowded and uncomfortable, and I spent most of the very long journey peeling Gracie off the sleeping stranger to her left. Though James and I were up most all night, we were fortunate that both kids slept nearly the whole way. Once in Texas, we were greeted by rain and the normally welcomed chilly Fall weather. I guess it's time to return to reality.

Oh Hawaii, I miss you already (though I am a tiny bit glad to be home).

An under dressed Gracie trying to stay warm

Babbit the Aloha Rabbit: Day Eight

On our eighth and final day in Hawaii, James celebrated his 38th birthday. (Happy Birthday, Honey!) We stayed at the hotel, beginning the day with brunch followed by some time at the shark and manna ray pools.





After returning to our room to ready our bags for departure, we went back to the lagoon where the kids flew finger kites and built the world's biggest "sandcastle" (term used loosely) with James.




As they frolicked and cavorted, I snuck away to a nearby resort that stocked a supply of ice cream cakes. The kids and I had been planning to surprise James long before we ever left Texas, and we were fortunate that everything worked out. The kids were so excited to bring Daddy a cake, and though we were without plates and proper flatware, we made do and enjoyed it all the same.

Babbit the Aloha Rabbit: Day Seven

Let me preface this post by saying that we are not hikers. That's why it's still a little unbelievable to me that the morning of day seven in Hawaii, we climbed Diamond Head, the most famous volcanic crater in the world. I am not kidding.

Babbit enjoying the ride to Diamond Head


Ready to go!


And here, son, is where we're likely to die...

James and the kids went into the hike in very good spirits. I, on the other hand, was not so excited. I'd not planned for much more than some light walking in Hawaii and didn't pack shoes appropriate for hiking. After the whole blister-to-crutches fiasco over the summer, I was quite concerned about the condition of my feet after scaling a volcano.

As a precaution, I layered bandages over more sensitive parts of my feet and toes, wore socks under my sandals, and hoped for the best. Also, after having already spent six days baking under the equatorial sun, I opted to hike in long sleeves and a hat. Let me tell you, I looked KLASSY. (But there's good news: I didn't burn and my feet are fine. Looking dorkish pays off from time to time.)

My Gorgeous Hiking Ensemble


Wait up!


In one of the tunnels


We're going up there?


At the beginning of the steep (and scary!) 99 steps,
the second of four stairways after a very long hike


Looking Back


Babbit finally made it to the top...


... when I realized I left Bub's ADHD meds in the car
waaaaaaay down in the bowl of the crater.


Honolulu from atop Diamond Head

After lunch and one last shaved ice, we went back to the resort. Instead of heading straight to the lagoons, the kids and I walked to a section of natural beach just outside of Marriott property that Gracie called "the wild ocean." There we explored the tide pools and counted crabs and little fishies. We were hoping to wait out the honu (sea turtles) we were told beached there every evening, but the tide came in to quickly and too fiercely for my personal comfort. We explored for about an hour or so before returning to calmer waters.






We let the kids stay in the lagoon until sunset, and then we all swam in the hotel pool for another half-hour or so. After swimming, we went back to the room to have dinner. When we finished eating, we heard a loud Kaboom just outside. The neighboring resort was having a fireworks show, and we had a direct view! The kids insist that the whole island was celebrating James whose birthday was the next day. James has yet to correct them...

Babbit the Aloha Rabbit: Day Six

On Day Six in Hawaii, we did a little of this...


... a little of that...


... and a little floating around in the middle of the lagoon.


Gracie buried strangers in the sand.
(Actually, she's a little girl from Orlando named Emma.
They became "best friends" as they bonded in the ocean.)


After an entire day in the sun and water,
we went to the Aloha Tower Marketplace in Honolulu...


... where Babbit accepted a little luau love...


... Gracie posed with a hula girl...


... and we went to a sushi buffet at Makino Chayo.



Though it looked lovely, we were disappointed with the taste of the sushi. The Waygu beef, though, was fantastic, as was the lemon shrimp and the fresh crepe bar.

Babbit the Aloha Rabbit: Day Five

Our fifth day in Hawaii was spent in the pool at a neighboring resort. A short walk around the pool gave us access to a super kid-friendly swimming area complete with one of the few sand-bottomed pools in the state, a playground, and nets for both basketball and volleyball.

James and the kids spent the entire morning in the water (with the exception of two or three work calls -- the leash never truly comes off), while I stayed poolside to read and nap. In general, I have a rule about no sleeping in public, but when it comes to crashing waves, tropical breezes, warm sunlight, perfumed air, and a really comfortable lounge chair, I'm forced to slumber. As a result, the supply of morning pictures is limited...

Frolicing in the Sandy Pool


Shootin' some hoops



Making new friends
(Gracie and Katie exchanged addresses
and plan to become pen pals)


Back to Work


In the evening, we walked to nearby Paradise Cove for a luau. Every luau claims to be "the best," and while we know Paradise Cove is not the best, it is the most convenient. The food is mediocre, but the luau is very close to our hotel. Also, the staff really make concession for children by providing arts, crafts, and games in advance of the show, then room to stand -- even play -- while the show's going on. That makes for a true party atmosphere, in my opinion.


Taking a ride in a mololo.


Fire Dancer


Hula Dancers


My lil' hula girl dancing on stage


Scenes from the Day
(click to enlarge)