Living In America ..You say Goodbye, I say Hello, ...

[kickassangel]

New Thread.

hi guys! been lurking around a bit, but also busy in RL.

weather is fantastic for easter - over 75F. yippee!!

saw a psychiatrist today who is going to help dd learn how to swallow tablets AND encourage her to try new foods, so may actually be able to give her medicine soon. have to go every week, though, but she says it should only take a month or so!!

i know she's the professional, but i'm a little as dd is SO resistant to taking med. still, worth a try.

i'm feeling all spring like & happy - how are other doing?

Thanks Dooney, I've had a look at Mapquest- just what I wanted!
I've only got one DS age 4 and a half.
Another thing I'm pondering is how to get from SF to Portland...would it be a good road trip?

Hi. We have to go look at houses tonight, so I'll get back to you tomorrow, I promise.

SF to Portland isn't my idea of a road trip. I think the journey is around 10 hours or so, the traffic in SF is horrible, depending on what time you're there, and the freeway in California has to be about the most boring stretch of road I've ever been on in America. And while we don't drive to a lot of destinations, we usually fly and then get a car and put a lot of miles on it.

If you wanted to take several days and go up highway 1, it is pretty and there are some cute little towns, but the road is pretty windy and adds a lot of time to the trip. For me, even if I did that, it wouldn't be worth it. There really isn't much you're missing except for a view.

I have a very few minutes before we go. I have a 4 and 6 year old, so I'm happy that's the age range of your DS.

Oregon Zoo If it is a nice day, you can ride the train to Washington Park

In the same parking lot as the zoo is the Portland Childrens Museum I think the place is kind of lame and run down compared to other children's museums we've been to, but the kids LOVE it.

OMSI There's rotating big exhibits and some of the permanent ones are kind of lame, but they have a play place upstairs that caters to kids under 6, and some of the permanent exhibits are really fun for all of us.

Hope Expat's visit goes well.

Hello everybody.

Happy Easter.

Thanks Dooney that's great info. I didn't want to do it as a road trip if it wasn't worth it, so i'll look into flights.

I'm going to slightly cop out and give you a link of listings for stuff to do in Portland here. I feel awful today, and even my eye sockets hurt. I will say that my kids really love going to Mt St. Helens, (although depending when you're coming it might still be chilly), out the Columbia river gorge and Bonneville Dam, Forest Park and the Audubon Society, the Japanese Garden, the Evergreen Aviation Museum and Crystal Springs

IMHO, Portland is a great place to live, but slightly different than a lot of big cities (because we're a pretty small big city) to visit because there aren't a lot of big, touristy things to do.

Thanks Dooney that's all great stuff...sorry you're feeling so poorly. Hope you're on the mend.
Another random question for you living in America....my DS is Dairy and Soya intolerant...is that an easy thing to deal with in the U.S.? Does anyone know if they sell Oatley, an oat based drink that he has in place of milk?
Just asking in case anyone on this thread has experience of this..

I never found Oatley in the US but you CAN get rice and almond 'milk' in Trader Joes and Whole Foods so it is possible. Being dairy-free in the US is not too much of a problem but the soya thing makes it more tricky. I'm amazed that soya seems to be in SO many things.

Happy Easter

Thanks Super I wonder can you take stuff like cartons of Oatley into the country on the plane? Been so long since I've been abroad I can't remember if you're allowed or not. Can't bear the thought of arriving in D.C all jet lagged and no milk for a stroppy four year old! Also D.C. isn't exactly a hippy town; will I find even Almond Milk and Rice milk?

Hi, haven't posted for ages on here, so hope you are all ok and had a great Easter! Thinking of doing a bit of a road-trip in the summer from Central Oregon to Lake Tahoe, San Francisco and Crescent City. Does anyone have any advice on what is good for 2 and 4 year olds in these destinations? Thanks in advance!

Peasoup, you should be able to find those things, I think. Rice milk, at least, is available in pretty much every major supermarket around here in the health food section. (Although I guess Portland is kind of a hippy town in a way.)

Hmm, Napa sounds interesting though I am not sure I can give it its true credit with two little ones in tow! Not heard of Lassen volcanic park so will look that up. We've got lots of dormant volcanoes round here though none with hot mud so that could be interesting, thank you!

Thanks Madam that does sound cool. We may have to plan that for another time now as the kids are really into Thomas and he's appearing in Snoqualmie Falls, WA the week we have off! Anyone know much about Seattle and the surrounding area? I flew into there when we moved to the States but haven't been back since. Any recommendations?

San Francisco is one of my favourite cities. Book the Alcatraz Tour - it is fantastic. Even though your children are quite young to fully appreciate it they will enjoy the boat ride and there is plenty of space to run around. If you are looking for somewhere to stay for a few days try this dude ranch. It has been run by the same family for hundreds of years and it is so relaxing - there is no liquor license so all of the guests bring there own and at 6pm the Ranch lay out snacks, take your children away to entertain them whilst you sit and chat and share your drinks with everyone. There is absolutely no electronics there and it is all very "down home" - if you know what I mean!

Thanks Madam and Lily!

Tadjenny I'm looking for stuff to do with a 4 year old in San Fran and surrounding area and Oregan too so all this is useful ino so thanks Lily and Madam
Dude ranch looks cool though none of us ride, but might still be fun.
I'd love to hear about more good child friendly places to stay in the area. Anyone know any by Santa Cruz or in Big Sur or in San Fran itself or near Portland?
Also we are starting oit our trip on the East coast so good stuff in D.C. and New York much appreciated, though we have accomodation sorted there.
What about good trips into New England from New York? Good places to stay in New England?

I quite like Ashland and nearby Jacksonville in Southern Oregon, peasoup. Ashland has a world famous Shakespeare festival going on most of the year and Jacksonville is a little goldrush town. I wouldn't stay long there, necessarily but it would be a nice stop on the way from San Fran to Portland. OMSI in Portland is fabulous for little ones with a massive play area and lots of little science rooms. The zoo is also great but I haven't seen much of anything else in Portland yet!

Is Ghirardelli Square anything to do with chocolate, Madam?

I love Alcatraz. Did the sealions return to San Fran? The Cannery/ Ghiradelli square is good too. Can't think of anything else.

New England - New Haven is pretty but not much there, just Yale, but it's a nice little town to visit. They often have free concerts on in the park in summer (I saw The New York Metropolitan Opera, Shaka Khan, Lady Smith Black Mambaza (sp?) and various others). Cape Cod is fab but quite a long drive from New York... depends how long you are going for.