story and photos by Jamie Rector
When you’ve got the kids and want to give them an overview of the city, some of the various modes of transportation can double as an outing.
Boat Ferries
The most fun option would be one of the boat ferries. You can ferry all day for 75 Baht. As the ferry meanders from port to port throughout town, you can sit back and watch the sites glide past you without all the work of toting the kids all over. Besides being able to spot the royal palace and many of the temples, you’ll get to see more of the rustic side. The neighborhoods line up along the waterfront. Though it’s a touristy event for you, it’s just another day for the Thais. You’ll see people relaxing on their porch, or hanging up clothes to dry. Children bathe and play in the water. I wouldn’t let this encourage your kids to do the same
the water doesn’t appear to be very clean. People dangle their feet over the edge of a wall or dock and toss their fishing lines out into the water below.
Covered Boat Tours
If you want a more organized approach, you can take a covered boat tour and as you pass by all these places, you will have a guide to help you understand what you are seeing. This tour runs 500 Baht. Quite a bit of difference, but you’ll gain the insight of your guide and protection from the sun or rain.
Tuk Tuks
For a change of pace, you can take a ride on a Tuk, Tuk. It’s an experience! There’s only room for about 4 and you’ll want to make sure the kids hang on. The Tuk Tuk is similar to a golf cart in shape. It is a motorized tricycle rickshaw. The drivers tend to be pretty aggressive so everyone should hang on, but a ride in one of these unique vehicles should be part of the experience.
Sky Train
The sky train is Bangkok’s answer to the metro system, only this one hangs high above the city. You’ll enjoy seeing the sights from the sky train as much as the kids. Not only is it a good place to people watch, but also the views of the city are amazing. You’ll see the rooftops of vast neighborhoods during part of your trip and then you’ll move into a more business and commercial area. You can hop on and off the sky train as you check out some of your destinations along the way.
Intercity Trains
Regular trains can be a fun adventure for the kids as well. This might be good if you are planning to check out neighboring cities. The seating is spacious and can fit all the family together. The windows open and as you move out of town, you’ll see the change of landscape go from city center, out to the more rural, and then into the countryside. It’s a great way to see the variety in the land.
If you’re going far, there are sleeper cars available. Make sure to bring 
some warm clothing as your ride might be warm and stuffy, or they may have the air conditioning cranked up to bring icicles to your room. Keep in mind too, that there are different toilets. There’s the standard western toilet and then there are the squatters. It’s basically a hole in the ground. Not as bad as it sounds, except it can be a challenge on a moving train.
Vendors move through the cabin with snacks and drinks, but it may be just as easy to bring your own as you leave Bangkok.
Travel Methods to Avoid with Kids
There are some modes of transportation that I would also NOT recommend, especially with kids. I would avoid motorcycle taxis. First of all, they are extremely aggressive drivers and it’s merely a motorcycle. It’s one of the cheapest ways to get around and makes sense when you’re solo and the traffic is stopped in every direction. These guys can weave through anything. Though it is tremendously scary and there are indeed horrible accidents, there are not nearly as many as you would expect when you see hundreds of these cycles weaving through each other and in a seemingly random manner.
I also would not recommend the buses, especially for trips to other cities. They can get very hot and crowded. Some are decently cared for, but others are dirtier and can even smell putrid. For the cheap backpacker, it can be an economic way to go, but be prepared for anything. Sometimes the lights are broken, so have a flashlight. Bring a book because even though they offer to show a movie, the TV may or may not work. And bring a cloth to cover your face if necessary. I’m not kidding about the smell. Not all of them are like this, some are pleasant, but it’s a roll of the dice. If possible, ask for a newer bus. On the bright side, it’s a great way to see the countryside. You’ll get to stop in local places for rest stops. There is food offered at these places, but it might be a good idea to have food with you as well. Just in case nothing looks appetizing.
Cabs will get you around, but there’s nothing unique about it, other than the horrendous traffic. The clock keeps ticking, even if you don’t move. So go with an alternative, such as the sky train, if possible. If you take a cab, make sure they use their meter, because some like to raise the prices for tourists, especially around big events, such as the Thai boxing matches or other tourist drawing places.
In the end, some of the modes of transportation can not only be fun, but also provide an educational experience in being able to see the less touristy side of Bangkok. Some places you’ll see, you wouldn’t want to be walking around with the kids in tow, but you’ll still get a glimpse while being safely inside some transport.
People often think about going to see a movie when the weather gets bad, and Hollywood certainly has its share of unique movie palaces. The three gems of Hollywood Boulevard, Grauman’s Chinese, the Egyptian and El Capitan, were all conceived and built by the development team of Sid Grauman and Charles Toberman in the 1920s. While any of the three will give you a glimpse into the Hollywood of old, if you’re traveling with kids, El Capitan is the place you want to be.
Seeing a Disney movie in Disney’s flagship movie theatre is not like going to a Disney movie in your home town. At El Capitan you may feel like you are in the movie, because they’ve decorated the theatre with set decorations and props from a scene in the movie; or you may be greeted with a song and dance number by costumed characters from the film. You never know what the creative minds at Disney will come up with to enhance your movie-going experience.
in any case, you’re likely to be welcomed with an organ concert by one of El Capitan’s house organists on the gilded 4/37 Wurlitzer pipe organ at center stage. The 1929 Wurlitzer has four keyboards to operate its 2500 pipes arranged in 37 ranks on both sides of the theatre. Each rank represents a different musical instrument. Arrive at the theatre 45 minutes to an hour before the movie is scheduled to enjoy all the pre-show entertainment.
After the movie, stop by the Disney Soda Fountain and Studio Store next door for some ice cream, a malt or an old time phosphate. There’s an entrance to the Soda Fountain from the El Capitan lobby, so if it’s raining, you don’t even have to go out in the street. Prepare kids ahead of time with your shopping limits, because you have to walk through the Studio Store past all the tempting Disney movie merchandise to get to the Soda Fountain. There is seating at the counter of the old fashioned soda fountain, or at tables. There is also an ice cream cone window to the street.
The Disney Soda Fountain has a sundae for any size crowd from the $4.75 Junior Sundae to the $24.95 Mickey’s Masterpiece with 8 scoops of ice cream and lots of toppings served in a Sorcerer’s Apprentice dish that looks like a wizard’s hat. Some dishes are served in souvenir Disney bowls. The Soda Fountain serves home-made ice cream delivered weekly from the Dewar’s Ice Cream and Candy Shop in Bakersfield, California
In addition to the ice cream options, there are a few kid-friendly food options including a hot dog, a grilled cheese sandwich or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich shaped like Mickey Mouse. Adult selections are more limited with options changing month to month.
El Capitan Theatre
If you’re traveling with kids and they’ve had their fill of Guadalajara’s colonial history, head over to neighboring Zapopan to El Trompo Mágico, the Magic Top, for an indoor play day for the whole family. This interactive museum, which opened in 2003, has activities for kids of all ages. It’s not uncommon to see adults on their own or groups of seniors visiting Trompo Mágico as well.
The Museum was designed as an educational enhancement to school curricula, but it won’t feel like school. The mission of Trompo Mágico is to develop a learning environment that will “uphold universal values while empowering people committed to a better world.” There are exhibits reflecting the themes of peace, diversity, equality and tolerance, but if you don’t speak Spanish you might mistake them for just more fun and eye candy.
The museum is filled with helpful Nei’wáma (plural for Nei’wá, meaning friend, companion or guide in the Huichol language) to facilitate the learning experience. They can be identified by their brightly colored vests. Many of the Nei’wá are students from local colleges doing required community service hours.
You enter the museum into a large lobby with a cutout globe around a yellow spinning top overhead. After buying your tickets, most of what you want to see and do is through the Voy Derecho (Straight Ahead) Hall of Children’s Rights, filled with touchable sculptures by local artist Rodolfo Padilla, and around the circular courtyard (or across if it’s not raining) to the Pabellón Mágico (Magic Pavilion).
From the entrance of the Pabellón Mágico, to the far right is Maroma (Summersault), a children’s role play area. Here little ones can don the appropriate garb and get to work making tortillas and selling vegetables in a child-size market; creating and stamping letters at a mini post office; administering shots and listening for baby doll heartbeats at the hospital; cooking up and serving some yummy play food at the restaurant; or building something monumental at the construction site.
Behind Maroma to the left is Burbujas, the bubble area. I have seen a lot of cool bubble exhibits at science museums around the U.S., but this is by far the best I’ve come across. I am not quite sure how making giant soap bubbles teaches responsible consumption of water. The message gets lost in the fun of creating a giant string of bubble that stretches across the room; using teamwork to wrap a huge bubble from two long soapy poles; putting your soapy hand in and out of a sheet of bubble without breaking it, or, best of all, getting inside a massive tube of bubble.
In the Garabato (Scribble) exhibit, you might expect something to do with painting, or drawing, but in reality, you’ll find a variety of high tech exhibits on modern cultural expression demonstrating how art and science come together in daily life. On the low tech end, you can join in a drum circle with traditional Brazilian drums. If you want to go more high tech, you can sit in on a jam session with electronic musical instruments. Children and adults can learn how a radio station broadcasts; create your own film and learn to edit it; experiment with four different ways of creating animated films; try your hand at digital photography; and learn how a newspaper is put together.
biodiversity of the planet. Learn how a tornado is formed or take a virtual reality submarine tour. The final area, Eureka, has hands-on and interactive computer exhibits allowing you to operate robots, take trip into space and explore telecommunications possibilities. This area also includes the IBM Try Science exhibit, a computer game that gives you points for learning the science behind the action.
The Mediateca(Computer Room) offers dozens of computer terminals with fun and educational programs for all ages designed by the in-house educational media team. Off the main lobby is the Museum store and the temporary exhibit hall with rotating exhibits. Through February 2006, an exhibit on Charreria, Mexico’s cowboy and rodeo tradition, includes regularly scheduled 
roping demonstrations. At the other end of the building, three workshops provide hands-on arts and science projects for children, teens and parents. Upstairs, a gallery between the administrative offices and the circular conference room hosts art exhibits.
explore. Three playgrounds with age-appropriate equipment for pre-school, elementary and secondary students are near the cafeteria. On the opposite side, the Peace Labrynth is a circular maze where various activities are held promoting non-violent conflict resolution. Beyond that, on weekends and holidays you’ll find Voy que Vuelo (I can fly), which includes a sky diving simulator and canopy ride (additional fee).