(Image by William Hook)

There are so many new smart phone products on the market every day. It’s difficult to keep up, let along sift through it all to find the family-friendly gems. Most of the parents I know have a growing list of questions and concerns about the increasing role that technology is playing in our everyday family life, especially where kids are concerned. But whether you’re gung-ho or on the fence, this is a trend that here to stay. Luckily there are a lot of great resources to help parents make informed choices.

It was an interest in mobile technology “for parents, by parents” that led me to co-found Moms with Apps, a community of parents developing mobile applications for families and kids. Our philosophy has always been to support collaboration and honest information sharing among parents as a means to create truly exceptional (and truly family-friendly) mobile applications. It’s been exciting to watch our group flourish over the last two years and to see the diversity and creativity of our members at work. Applications span reading (PicPocketBooks, Tales2Go, AppyZoo  Duck Duck Moose), learning (Math Girl Number Garden, Arithmaroo Counting, Kids Time Fun – Learn to Tell Time),  fun and creativity (Faces iMake, Cupcakes!, Build a Zoo, Snow Globe Maker), as well as road trips and travel (My Little Suitcase, Sunday Drive, Road Trip Bingo). My app, Mom Maps, helps parents find and share their favorite kid-friendly locations from parks to playgrounds, indoor play places, museums and restaurants (more than 24,000 kid spots and counting).

But this is just the tip of the iceberg. For parents taking the smart phone plunge (or just thinking about it), here are some of my  favorite links and resources for navigating the world of smart phones and a few links for those interested in developing their own app.

• The iPhone Mom and Crazy Mike’s Apps provide helpful reviews, especially for family-friendly apps.
• “Top 50 iPhone Apps for Moms” (Babble.com)
• Visit the Moms With Apps website on Fridays for app giveaways and freebies.
• “Parenting While Plugged In” (New York Times)
• “When Your Brother Was Your Age” (Lisa Belkin tackles the question ‘how old is old enough for a cell phone’ on the New York Times “Motherlode” Blog)
• “Tech Savvy Moms, Setting Rules” (New York Times “Motherlode” Blog)
• Apps for kids with special needs:  ”App Resources for Special Needs” by Eric Sailers and “Characteristics of  Great Apps for Kids with Autism” by Shannon Des Roches Rosa: mother, writer, and advocate for children with autism and special needs.
• Apps for parents, by parents:  ”Building Apps for Children a Profitable Niche” (Washington Post)
• Tips for marketing an app from Robleh Jama, star Dad developer from the team at Tiny Hearts: “App Marketing Rules“

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Jill Seman is a San Francisco Bay mom, the creator of Mom Maps and one of the co-counders of Moms with Apps. She has over 15 years of engineering and management experience with media processing companies like Nvidia, S3, Cirrus Logic and Chips and Technologies.

(Image by iMax)

It hasn’t escaped our notice that artisan  ice cream and other frozen treats are among the hottest trends across the country. Think local ingredients, classic and adventurous flavors — traditional ice cream, bubble tea, frozen yogurt, frozen custard, shave ice, popsicles and other cool treats. Yes, we’re enthusiastic supporters of this trend! As summer heads into the home stretch, here are hot spots for cool treats from the SF Bay to the ATL – hand-picked from the growing list of kid-friendly places mapped on Mom Maps by our great community of moms and dads, family travel experts and parent bloggers. Just say yum!

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A Visit to Humphry Slocombe Ice Cream in San Francisco’s Mission District

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Atlanta: Sarah Jean’s Ice Cream (Marietta), Morelli’s Gourmet Ice Cream (Atlanta), The Yogurt Tap (Decatur)

Austin: Amy’s Ice Creams, Spoons Yogurt (College Station), Marble Slab Creamery (Sunset Valley)

Boston: Lizzy’s (Waltham), Bedford Farms (Bedford), Mad Maggie’s (North Reading)

Chicago: Bobtail Ice Cream, Paciugo Gelato, Scooter’s Frozen Custard

Grand Rapids, MI: Jersey Junction Ice Cream Parlor

Hawaii: Aoki’s Shave Ice (Haleiwa/Oahu), Papalani Gelato (Koloa/Kauai), Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice (Lahaina/Maui)

Minneapolis: Izzy’s Ice Cream (St. Paul), Pumphouse Creamery, Sebastian Joe’s Ice Cream

New York City: Chinatown Ice Cream Factory (Manhattan), Yogurtland (Manhattan), Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory

Pacific Northwest: Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream (Seattle), Theno’s Dairy / Vivian’s Pride Ice Cream (Redmond),  Cool Moon Ice Cream (Portland, OR)

Phoenix: Aloha Yogurt (Tempe), Grateful Spoon Gelato, Mary Coyle Ol’ Fashion Ice Cream

San Francisco Bay Area: Tucker’s Super Creamed Ice Cream (Alameda), Ici Ice Cream (Berkeley), Humphry Slocombe Ice Cream (San Francisco), Bi-Rite Creamery

Southern California: CeFiore Frozen Yogurt (Los Angeles), Mariposa Homemade Ice Cream (San Diego), Italia Vito’s Pasticceria (Laguna HIlls)

Washington DC: Boccato Gelato & Espresso (Arlington), Max’s Best Ice Cream, Tangysweet Frozen Yogurt

Sweet treat lovers unite! Have you been to one of these tasty stops? Got a hot tip you’d love to share? We love to hear about your favorites – comment, add a review on Mom Maps or Tweet us @mommaps.

Mom Maps has now mapped more than 2,000 kid-friendly spots in the greater New York City area (and 23,000 across the US, and counting!). Find something new in your neighborhood or feel like a local when you’re just visiting — Find parks, playgrounds, museums, indoor play places and restaurants.

Of course, we couldn’t find all these great places without our wonderful community of Mappers: moms and dads, family travel experts, parent bloggers who love to share their favorite places for family fun. Shira, a NYC mom (and Mom Mapper), shares 3 of her favorite Manhattan playgrounds (find these and more NYC play places on the Mom Maps website .

Bryant Park: “A great park with a large lawn, an awesome carousel ($2 a ride) and a kids reading area (open spring through fall). All at the back of the main New York Public Library.”

Tompkins Square Playground: ”A newly renovated playground with swings, sandbox, and everything a kid needs… within a nice large square/park.”

Union Square Playground: ”A great large playground in the north side of Union Square. divided to a younger toddlers area with sandbox and swings and a wide space for bigger toddlers/kids. Brand new playground with cool facilities.”

(Photos: Bryant Park by ktylerconk, Tompkins Square by edenpictures, Union Square by timstock_nyc)

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AND… when you’re in need of a sitter in the Big Apple, we recommend Creative Sitters. They focus on weaving creativity through your child’s everyday routine in order for them to have a positive and happier childcare experience. Serving the New York City and Hoboken areas. Mention “Mom Maps” when you book a sitter and you’ll receive a 15% discount on your first sitting.

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Our friend Amy Whitley at Pitstops for Kids has been on whirlwind, multi-state family road trip this summer. Her “Pit Stop A Day” series follows her 22-day “mega” road trip, touring four national parks, six family-friendly resorts, eight states. Luckily for the rest of us, we can go along for the ride (without all the potty stops) and take advantage of her many tips and recommendations when planning more modest itineraries. Visit her site to read the whole series and browse her reviews and recommendations for kid-friendly pitstops across the US.

Easy Hikes and Great Views at Arches National Park

UTAH — Moab is home to both Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, which showcase some of the most stunning geological formations we’ve ever seen! Arches in particular is breathtaking, and offers many easy hikes and vista points for kids to explore. (General Tip: whatever your activity, get up and go early; later in the day, temperatures can be unbearable in summer.) Read the full story on Pitstops for Kids.

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Ancient Cliff Dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park

COLORADO — With so much to see, families can easily plan to spend 2-3 days exploring this park! Mesa Verde is home to more than 600 ancient cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home for over 700 years, from A.D. 600 to A.D. 1300. Kids can hike right down to the ruins (some self-guided, some in group tours) and walk through ancient doorways, climb wooden ladders, and see how Mesa Verde’s first inhabitants lived firsthand. (General Tip: don’t let the high desert landscape fool you; Mesa Verde is at high elevation. Be sure to bring jackets and watch for altitude sickness when spending the day out in the elements.) Read the full story on Pitstops for Kids.

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Hiking at Zion National Park

UTAH — The Emerald Pools is a great hike for kids because you can adjust it to your needs/abilities. There are three pools on the trail: the lower pool is only .6 mile from the trailhead (although it does climb quite a bit), or the second pool is only 1 mile. From either of these, ambitious families can continue to the third pool (another .5 mile) or return. When we visited in July, the pools weren’t much to look at, but the dripping water from the overhangs of rock were very impressive (and a great way to cool off!).Weeping Rock is another easy hike for kids. This trail is short (.4 mile) but steep, and very beautiful. Definitely worth a stop! Read the full story on Pitstops for Kids.

Our friend Amy Whitley at Pitstops for Kids has been on whirlwind, multi-state family road trip this summer. Her”Pit Stop A Day” series follows her 22-day “mega” road trip, touring four national parks, six family-friendly resorts, eight states. Luckily for the rest of us, we can go along for the ride (without all the potty stops) and take advantage of her many tips and recommendations when planning more modest itineraries. Visit her site to read the whole series and browse her reviews and recommendations for kid-friendly pitstops across the US.

Zion National Park

A unique hike kids will love: “We hiked the short Riverside Walk (paved and fairly even terrain) to the start of the ‘Narrows’. At this location, the trail simply ends and you continue up the canyon by wading through the river. It’s slow going, but tons of fun. The kids loved this style of ‘hiking’ because they had to pick and choose their own route up the river, and every step was an adventure.”

Glacier National Park

Kid-friendly activities galore at the historic Many Glacier Hotel: “Beautiful views in every direction. Over 700 miles of hiking trails criss-cross Glacier National Park, many of which fan out directly from the hotel. We sampled six miles of them, and saw a moose, rabbits, and bighorn sheep! Boat tours of Swiftcurrent Lake and other surrounding lakes depart regularly from the hotel’s dock. Also on-site is a stable and a kiosk at the dock where you can rent canoes, kayaks, and rowboats. At the front of the hotel is a departure location for the park’s famed Red Bus Tours.

Yellowstone National Park

An easy hike for kids: At Artists’ Paintpots, you’ll find a well-maintained loop trail taking you to steaming and bubbling ’pots’ in the earth, as well as mud-holes that gurgle and spew (my kids’ favorite!). The hike is easy, and you get much closer to these interesting geothermal wonders than you can at nearby Geyser Basin.”

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Collaborating with adventurous real-world parents like Amy is the heart and soul of what Mom Maps is all about. We’re proud to offer you the inside scoop on family fun and kids’ activities: what to do, where to eat and what’s cool – all for parents, by parents. Use Mom Maps on the web or download our free iPhone app. Join our great community of Mom Mappers (dads too!) and share some of your favorite kid-friendly places.

Thrills and Splashes at Raging Waters in San Jose

Recently on Father’s Day, I treated myself and two children to an afternoon at the Raging Waters water park in San Jose.  Raging Waters is a large water park located in Lake Cunningham Regional Park.  The park has many rides and amusements, all of which are a great way to cool down during hot summer days. The park has several water slides of varying heights and thrills, as well as a wave pool for older kids and water-based playgrounds and wading pools for younger kids.

My 3-year old daughter’s favorite activities were playing in the little dipper bubble pool and floating down the endless river with me on an inner tube.  My 6-year old son enjoyed Slide Creek Falls and the activity pools.   The park is easy to visit, offering convenient parking, changing rooms and lockers to store your valuables, as well as several on site food and concession stands.

- by Michael Coleman, San Francisco Bay Area dad

Deals from Southern California Water Parks

Wild Rivers, Irvine (8770 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine CA 92618-4200)

Get a discount of $5 dollars on general admission tickets. Click here for a coupon: www.wildriversfun.com/fun2 or enter the promo code: FUN2 when you purchase the ticket online.

Raging Waters, San Dimas (111 Raging Waters Drive, San Dimas CA 91773)

Get a discount of $7 on general admission tickets purchased online purchase, or $5 off a general admission ticket purchase at the park. Click here for a coupon http://myragingwaters.com/rw1067. Enter coupon code 1067 for online purchase.

Top 10 Water Parks in SF Bay Area

* Raging Waters, San Jose

* Aqua Adventure, Fremont

* San Ramon Water Park, San Ramon

* Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area/The Rapids Waterslides at Shadow Cliffs, Pleasanton

* Antioch Water Park, Antioch

Top Water Parks Southern California

* Wild Rivers, Irvine

* Raging Waters, San Dimas

* Knott’s Soak City – 3 locations: Palm Springs, Bueno Park & San Diego

* Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, Valencia

* Splash Canyon, Temecula

Have tips, advice and recommendations? We invite you to share your favorite water parks and summer adventure spots with other parents, by adding a kid spot, review or picture on www.kidsplayguide.com. Download the Free Mom Maps iPhone app and bring 20,000 kid-friendly places and parent reviews with you on the go!

Zeum: Hands-On, Multimedia, Arts and Technology for Kids

If you haven’t experienced Zeum, July is great time to check it out. The exhibits explore animation, digital arts, special effects, music videos, and workshop activities and are designed to be fun while building media literacy, motor skills, problem solving, and teamwork.During the Month of July, they’re offering MomMaps users 25% off youth admission and $50 off Themed Birthday Parties.

For a preview of what’s in store at Zeum, check out their virtual tour:

Bay Area Discovery Museum: Come Play Until 8 Under the Golden Gate During Summer Sunsets 7/23 & 8/13

Get a $1 off each advance purchase ticket. Use discount code: mommaps

Open late by popular demand! This summer, stop by on select Fridays to enjoy an evening of fun for the whole family. The Museum will reopen from 5 – 8 p.m. for creative play in all of their exhibitions, plus special performers in one of three fun themes. Bring a blanket to picnic on in Festival Plaza while the performers entertain you. Enjoy a themed dinner purchased from our Cafe. Come in costume if you wish. Click here for more event details.

Meet Dread Pyrate Gregory and Swap Tales of the Sea

Celebrate Space Travel with a Retro Evening of Fun

Members $5; General $8 (Includes Museum admission & performances). Get $1 off each advance ticket when you use the discount code: mommaps. Please note: this evening event requires a separate admission ticket. Same day admission during the regular 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. hours does not include admission to this evening event. Discount code is valid on advance ticket purchases only.

BUY TICKETS

Stern Grove Festival: Free Summer Concerts 6/20 thru 8/22

Summer Sundays at 2pm, Stern Grove is the place to be. Enjoy picnicking and free music in a gorgeous outdoor setting. It’s been a San Francisco tradition since 1938, and it’s the oldest admission-free festival of its kind in America. 2010 season highlights include the San Francisco Symphony, Rickie Lee Jones, Maceo Parker and They might Be Giants. Click here for the full line up.

We recommend getting there early to claim your picnic space. They have bathrooms, wheelchair accessible shuttle service, and plenty of space for running around outside the concert area. More info including parking, and transportation: Stern Grove Festival Guide.

Find More Summer Fun and Deals on PlayPlanit

PlayPlanit was founded in January of 2010 by Laurel Kellam & Allison Howard, two San Francisco career women who found themselves as stay-at-home moms looking for things to do with their newborns. They knew there were tons of businesses out there that had fun events for moms to gather & babies to play — there just wasn’t an easy way to find or remember them. They created Playplanit.com to help parents find local happenings.

PlayPlanit’s initial focus is San Francisco for the five & younger crowd, but they are continuing to build a comprehensive calendar with the goal of serving moms everywhere with kids of every age.

]]> http://kidsplayguide.com/mommapsblog/2010/06/summer-in-san-francisco-family-fun-and-discounts/feed/ 0 http://kidsplayguide.com/mommapsblog/2010/06/moms-pick-family-friendly-dining-in-los-angeles-and-san-diego/ http://kidsplayguide.com/mommapsblog/2010/06/moms-pick-family-friendly-dining-in-los-angeles-and-san-diego/#comments Wed, 23 Jun 2010 23:56:23 +0000 admin http://www.mommaps.com/mommapsblog/?p=335 We love our Mom Mappers, they’re discovering great things to do, and in this case to eat, all around the US. That means the rest of us can just can just sit back and impress our friends (and look like absolute playdate geniuses) when we always manage to have the inside scoop! Here are some of our Mom Mappers’ favorite family-friendly restaurants in Southern California.

San Diego: Travelmamas
Corvette Diner
Rubio’s Mexican Grill
Pizza Port Brewing Company
The Fish Market
The Eggery

Los Angeles- West side Santa Monica: See Jane Fly
Spitfire Grill
RIVA
Marix Tex Mex
R&D Kitchen

Los Angeles – East Side: See Jane Fly
Yard House
Bottega Louie – Italian
Cat and Fiddle – burger type staples with fountain outside
uWink – super kid friendly restaurant with lots of games
Original Pantry Cafe

Of course this is only a teeny, tiny scratch in the surface of delicious, kid-friendly dining. You can find plenty more great places to eat with your family in Southern California and beyond by browsing mommaps.com or our handy (and FREE) iPhone app. We know you’ve got favorite spots you that love to tell your friends about. Drop us a line and let us know what spots you love, what we’ve missed, and what kind of kid-friendly places you’re on the lookout for.

Geek Dad
You can count on the “Geek Dad” blog form Wired magazine to bring you some of the coolest gadgets, how-tos and product reviews around. Lot’s of good stuff from hooking up your guitar to your iPhone, to fun with dry ice, and classic games for simple outdoor play.

The Poop
There’s a team of moms and dads who contribute to this parenting blog for sfgate.com, but you can be assured that The Poop has plenty of humor and sage advice from a dad’s point of view. Some of the funniest and most entertaining reads about parenthood that I’ve come across.

Buzz Bishop’s Dad Camp
A place for creative parents based in Canada. Buzz created an online community for dads that I found out about during a visit to Canada for the Olympics. An online forum geared towards dads and their gadgets.

Jim’s Pancakes
This dad’s dedication to making amazing pancake creations for his daughter is nothing short of impressive. You’ve got to see these pancakes to believe them.

My criteria has changed of course. Now I deeply appreciate places that can accommodate strollers and friendly staff that don’t sweat the inevitable spills. And a little preparation by us parents doesn’t hurt either. By preempting the dinner rush, being ready to order quickly when you’re seated and having some emergency crayons or ‘quiet toys” tucked away in your purse, you can often avert meltdown and actually enjoy a family night out.

And here’s more sage advice from other parents who’ve been there:

But none of this matters if the food doesn’t make the cut. Why go to all this effort and trouble for just so-so grub? And this is where getting the inside scoop makes all the difference. Ask all your foodie friends about their favorite family dining spots and you’re guaranteed to find out-of-the-way neighborhood gems that welcome families and serve up tasty fare. You can also browse Mom Maps online or with your iPhone to find hundreds of restaurants (as well as parks, museums and playgrounds) mapped and reviewed by other parents. A great resource to find something new where you live or to locate primo spots while you’re on the road. Best yet, share some of your own favorites!

This post was written by Stacie Dong, also a contributor to A Little Yumminess.