Central Park with Kids

Posted on April 8, 2017January 20, 2025 by gigis ramblings

When you are in New York City, it is a given, you must visit Central Park. Your trip is not complete without treating your family to the Central Park experience. Whether you plan on doing a self-guided tour or taking part in many of the tours that are offered throughout the park, this article will cover some of the must-see attractions that your kids will love.

The History of Central Park

Construction on Central Park began in 1857, becoming the first urban park in the United States. The design was the brainchild of superintendent Frederick Law Olmsted and architect Calvert Vaux. It took more than 10 years to come to life, costing the city of New York millions of dollars. More than 1,500 residents lost their homes and land to make way for the expansive 840-acre construction.

During the early years, Central Park was most frequented by the wealthy, but over the years it evolved into a park of the people. The last century has brought more practical uses to the park. Today, it is the main outdoor recreation hub for New Yorkers.

Experiencing Central Park

There is so much to see and do, that families may be at a loss for where to start. We have a few suggestions for the best ways to see the park when you have children in tow.

Central Park Rickshaw Tours. Rickshaw tours are a fantastic way for families with children to explore the park. One-hour tours are available along the lower loop where you will find some of the best kid-friendly attractions, including the carousel, the Chess and Checkers House, Heckscher Playground, Wollman Rink, Umpire Rock, Bow Bridge and the Children’s Zoo. If you would like to explore a little more, there is also a two-hour tour that covers everything in the one-hour tour plus attractions like the Great Lawn, Belvedere Castle, Turtle Pond, the Museum of Natural History and the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir. If you prefer to see the entire park, your family can reserve a private 3-hour tour.

Horse and Carriage Rides. Horse and carriage rides are another idea for touring Central Park. You will find several options available throughout the grounds that vary by length and price. Generally speaking, when on a carriage tour you can expect to see sites, such as The Lake, Heckscher Playground, Tavern on the Green, the Upper West Side and Bethesda Fountain.

Bike Tours. If you are looking to get a little exercise, bike rentals and tours are an option. Adult bikes, children’s bikes, tandem bikes, baby seats and baby trailers are all available. You can choose from guided or self-guided tours. If you choose to have a guide, you can expect to see popular attractions, such as Belvedere Castle, Wollman Rink, Gapstow Bridge, Conservatory Garden, Shakespeare Garden, the Loeb Boathouse and more.

Kid-friendly Attractions in Central Park

Once you’ve taken in all the sites on your Central Park tour make sure you check out these popular kid-friendly attractions:

Central Park Zoo
Alice in Wonderland statue
Belvedere Castle
Heckscher Playground
Umpire Rock
The Carousel
Wollman Rink
The Boat Pond
The Dairy

Lisa Crow contributed to this article. She is a travel writer and lifestyle blogger based in Waco, Texas. Lisa is the Head of Content at Gigi’s Ramblings. She spends her free time traveling when she can and making memories with her large family which consists of six children and fifteen grandchildren.

Wonderful Venice Hotels for Families with Kids

Posted on February 8, 2017January 20, 2025 by gigis ramblings

Venice, Italy, a World Heritage Site, is a beautiful city built on 117 small islands in the Venetian Lagoon of the Adriatic Sea. Separated by canals between the islands and linked by bridges, Venice has only water transportation. Here are five great family-friendly hotels in Venice, some of which were palaces during the Renaissance! All of these have babysitting services or a kids’ club so you can also have some time alone.

The Belmond Hotel Cipriani Venice is located on the Giudecca Island with breathtaking views of the Lagoon and the Doge’s Palace and is a four-minute boat trip to St. Mark’s Square. A private boat can take you on tours of the Venetian Islands. The hotel has a big heated filtered sea-water swimming pool, pampering spa, fitness center, boutique and an on-site family-friendly restaurant with high chairs and kids’ menu, and can also accommodate large families. Kid-friendly amenities include a children’s pool open from May to September, a children’s welcome kit with DVDs, slippers and bathrobes, children’s and teens’ treatments at the Casanova Wellness Centre, and the Smile Club. The Smile Club operates between April and September and offers supervised fun activities for kids. This kids’ Smile Club plus the babysitting services will give you the chance to pamper yourself in the Cassanova Spa, work out in the fitness center, play tennis or have an evening out.

The Residence Corte Grimani is a 17^th century refurbished Venetian palace in the heart of Venice that offers non-smoking family-friendly apartments with amenities such as a washing machine and dryer and a fully equipped kitchen with refrigerator and dishwasher. Apartments are suitable for large families and children through age five stay for free in an apartment with their parents. Babysitting services allow you to have some time alone. Corte Grimani is walking distance to St. Mark’s Square Piazza San Marco, the Rialto Bridge, and market. Corte Grimani has its own dock so it is very convenient for traveling about with water taxis.

The Hotel Antiche Figure is a 15^th century palace that overlooks the Grand Canal and is adjacent to an old gondola workshop. It can also accommodate large families. You will appreciate starting the day with a complimentary breakfast before setting out with the kids to explore Venice. The hotel is walking distance to many famous sites like the Basilica dei Frari, Scuola Grande di S. Rocco, the Jewish Ghetto, the Rialto Bridge and the modern Art Museum of Ca’ Pesaro. St. Mark’s Square is a 30-minute walk or you can ride a vaporetto water bus. The hotel can arrange gondola and other tours. Kid-friendly amenities include babysitting services. The hotel is conveniently located across from the Santa Lucia Train Station.

The Palazzo Odoni is a historic 15th-century palace that has been refurbished with modern conveniences located in the heart of Venice. From here you can take a fascinating gondola tour or walk to St. Mark’s Square and to many of the historical buildings and art attractions like Scuola Grande di S. Rocco and the Ca’ Rezzonico Museum – Museum of 18th century Venice. Besides the homemade pastries and biscuits served at breakfast, some of the foods like jam, eggs, and yogurt come from organic farms. Kid-friendly amenities include babysitting services. The hotel is near the train station and the dock for cruise ships.

The Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido Resort is built in Moorish Renaissance style and is located right on the beautiful Lido Beach with its kid-friendly shallow water. Besides the luxurious private beach with cabanas, there is a large heated outdoor swimming pool, gym, tennis court, golf course and boutique. The rooms and suites, which can accommodate large families, have a view of the sea, the Lagoon or a beautiful Moorish courtyard garden and fountain. On-site gourmet restaurants specialize in Mediterranean cuisine. Kid-friendly amenities include babysitting services and a Kids’ Club for ages 4-12 from 10am to 6:30pm that will allow you time alone. The hotel offers all-day free shuttle boat service to and from St. Mark’s Square Piazza San Marco.

5-Day Clean Eating Challenge

Posted on March 16, 2016January 20, 2025 by gigis ramblings

So today is day one of clean eating for me this week. So far so good! I stuck to the plan like a champ. Now, let’s see if I can keep it up for the next 4 days. I have an amazing support system so I know I will be fine!

My Beachbody coach started a private challenge group trying to get her team motivated. That is one of the greatest rewards of being a part of a Beachbody team, somebody is always there to lift you up and push you to be your best. I have never met so many wonderful, unified people in my life.

I started off by meal prepping Sunday afternoon. That always seems to get me pumped for the upcoming week. Having everything already prepared takes away the urge to eat on a whim. It also saves so much time spent in the kitchen.

We are keeping our diet very simple this week. I can’t wait to see the results! Just in case anybody wants to see what these Beachbody challenges look like, I have included a copy of our meal plan.

Courtesy of Road Warrior Momma

As I said before, we are keeping it simple, but I still expect great results. Not only should I lose a couple of pounds (at least 3 I hope), but I should start feeling better soon. I’ve been in a vicious fast-food cycle lately. I feel so sluggish and just plain yuck! I know after a few days of eating clean and exercise I will feel like a new girl!

If you are thinking of starting on your own wellness and fitness journey, don’t do it on your own! I would love to help you along the way. I love sharing what I know and watching others take that info and make major transformations. If you join my team you will have all the support you will need right at your fingertips! Don’t put it off any longer. Get started today!

10 Companies That Allow You To Work From Home

Posted on March 14, 2016January 20, 2025 by gigis ramblings

With today’s cutting-edge technology, the dream of being able to work from home has become a reality for 1 in 5 Americans, and that number continues to rise. There has been a 105% increase in telecommuters since 2005.

I must warn readers to beware of scams, there are a plethora of them out there. If it seems too good to be true…it is! Do not fall prey to the get-rich-quick schemes. A legitimate job offer will not require paying any money upfront.

The companies covered in this article are well-known companies, many have been around for decades. Most people are not even aware that working from home is even an option for these businesses. When compiling this list I wanted to provide job-seekers with a selection of trusted companies that have integrated telecommuting opportunities into their hiring practices.

Apple– offers a great opportunity for At-Home Advisors.
3M– offers many different telecommuting positions.
Dell– offers many remote positions around the nation.
Xerox– currently employs more than 8,000 in-home employees.
IBM– offers select opportunities to work from home.
Convergys– offers thousands of work-from-home positions throughout the U.S.
TeleTech– looking for educated and driven individuals to join our team of associates working from their homes located across the U.S.
Salesforce– offers tons of remote employment opportunities around the globe.
K12– offers various remote positions in education.
American Express– offers a variety of virtual home-based positions across the U.S.

If you are considering a career working from home, these are all legitimate companies looking for people like yourself.

Lisa Crow contributed to this article. She is a travel writer and lifestyle blogger based in Waco, Texas. Lisa is the Head of Content at Gigi’s Ramblings and L&S Freelance Writers. She spends her free time traveling when she can and making memories with her large family which consists of six children and ten grandchildren.