Frugalicious Mommies

The Oregon Zoo made a lasting impression on me when I was 8 years old. It was our family vacation to Oregon visiting our Aunt. It was so big and green. Trees everywhere. It rained the whole time but I didn't care.

Growing up my brother, sister and I all loved animals. We grew up raising all sorts of animals. The Zoo was always a great place to go. When we moved to Oregon 2 years after that visit I remember asking to go to the Zoo all the time. It was one of the only field trips in school I truly enjoyed.

My favorite exhibit I would have to say was and still it the penguins. They look so cute and they always interacted with me.

Now that I am a mother I can't wait to take my little girl. She loves animals mostly the reptilian type. If your in the area or plan on visiting the area there is some info below. Please visits http://www.oregonzoo.org/ for all the info.  KM

Zoo Hours

WINTER
Jan. 1 - Feb. 28
Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Grounds stay open
until 5 p.m.
SPRING
March 1 - May 27
Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Grounds stay open
until 5 p.m.
SUMMER
May 28 - Sept. 5
Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Grounds stay open
until 7 p.m.
FALL
Sept. 6 - Dec. 31
Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Grounds stay open
until 5 p.m.

The train is my husbands favorite. When your there you have to check it out. 

Zoo Loop The Zoo Loop is a one-mile route around the perimeter of the zoo grounds. The train operates weekends only from Feb. 19 through March 18 (first train at 11 a.m.), with daily runs beginning on March 19. From April 16 through May 28, the train will make the Zoo Loop circuit on weekdays and the Washington Park Run on weekends. All train runs are weather dependent. Call 503-226-1561 to check the daily schedule.
	General Ticket Prices	Group Prices
General Admission	$3.50	$2.80
Member	$3
Infants | under age 3	Free	Free

The dreaded words every experienced parent loves to hate. Family Vacation/travel.

Every now and then growing up my parents got the itch to pack up and head out for the weekend. I loved heading to the mountains, the beaches and to visit family in California. I love to travel I couldn't sit still and to this day my pore husband has to deal with it. I think there is maybe one day a week if he is lucky that I just want to sit at home and do nothing.

From the day my little girl was born she was destined to be well traveled. Every summer my husband and his fathers side of the family pack up for a weekend and head to the Sisters Rodeo. The heat, the dust and might I mention the cowboys wearing Wranglers. We love going and our little girl was 2 1/2 months old when she went to her first. She was so cute. Watching the rodeo and yes she was checking out the little cowboys her age. Mommy was so proud. :) First camping trip and rodeo was down all at once. The whole trip cost us less the $200. We camped in the back of our SUV. It fit all 3 of us perfectly. No one got cold.

Just a week later my parents decided to do a little road trip to Cali. Baby girl and her cousin just 4 days younger (that's for a different post.) had to go visit their great and great great grand parents. My mom and dad along with me in the back seat of their Buick between two infant car-seats. That was a long ride. Headed down I5 to sunny California. Between breastfeeding my girl and bottle feeding my nephew I was ready for some sleep. We made it and might I mention I only spent 50 bucks most of which was on trinkets with my little ones name on them. She got to visit the whole family and meet one of my best friends since I was 5 years old.

To top it all off she was 3 months old and had her first air plane ride. Baby girl got to go to Reno Nevada to watch her daddy bowl in the National Bowling Tournament.  She slept the hour and 20 min ride. From take off to landing. On the way home she ate pretty much the whole time. Now there really isn't much you can do in Reno with an infant but we made the most of it. We only spent $200. Most of which was on snakes and playing the slots. Being part of the Bowling tournament we got booklets filled with coupons for free play, food and other stuff. I even got a booklet to play the kids games at Circus Circus and tried to win her a stuffed animal. I did not so I ended up going to the gift shop and buying her one with a coupon a lady gave me because she felt bad I didn't win. Needless to say I bought her the cutest stuffed pig I could find and she loves it still. The flight and hotel room were Christmas gifts from his mom. So that is how we got away with the whole trip costing only $200.

This is just a tidbit of my Family Friendly Travel, Frugalicious Style. I will be posting local area attractions and places to visit. Ways to save money when taking the family out and how to make the most out of what little money you have to spend. We have done so much more and the stories are worth telling another time. I hope that you enjoyed our first post of Family Friendly Travel, Frugalicious style. Tell next time.

Kelly