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Let’s Review! Coaster train ride to Oceanside!

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  4/5 stars Great thing to do! Ages: All Timeframe: All day or just an afternoon Websites: https://visitoceanside.org/blog/tips-for-taking-the-coaster/ Let’s ride the train!  We took a day trip, riding the coaster train from Santa Fe up to Oceanside and back. (1 hour each way) The kids had a blast climbing aboard sitting on the second story, watching the view roll past and simply being on a train.  It was a cloudy day when we went and the views of the beach were not as exciting as I had expected them to be (why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5). There is a good portion of the ride inland, and when you do get near the beach it isn’t actually that close. Still a bit of a distance from the train.  The train has open seating so you find an empty seat and it’s yours. Snag the left side for the ride up and the right side for the ride south for the beach views.   *Note, you will want to get on the train in Santa Fe (downtown San Diego) it is the first stop and you will more likely be able to ge
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Let's Review! Aerospace museum Gillespie field Annex

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⭐⭐⭐✰✰  3/5 stars ok place to visit! All ages 1-2 hours Website:  https://sandiegoairandspace.org/museum/gillespie-field-annex      We drove out one Saturday morning to the Air and Space Museum annex. We enjoyed the museum in Balboa and so thought to check this one out as well. I gave it 3 out of 4 stars because it's mostly just a parking lot for old planes. But my kids actually really enjoyed visiting. So don't let the low rating deter you, especially if you're a plane lover. You also can't beat the price $5 per adult kids are free.  It's ok volunteer run, and they all have stories to tell or information about airplanes to share if you ask them.  There is one hangar with some beautiful planes and memorabilia on the walls, then two long outdoor rows of military and private planes parked some you can go right up to and touch, climb inside   I'm the front is a nice bench and about 5 or 6 little tricycle airplanes littles can peddle around in. My 6-year-old was a li
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Let's Review! Pumpkin Station; in Rancho Bernardo

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⭐⭐⭐⭐✰  4/5 stars Good place to visit  Ages: 6 and under Time: 2 hours Website:  https://www.pumpkinstation.com/ Today we went on a preschool field trip to the Pumpkin Station. Arrived about 9 am and there was only one or two other families with littles there other than our field trip class. Take note that by 10:30 three other school busses showed up and dropped off field trippers from other preschools and kindergartens and lines formed making it harder for the single families to get to everything. Go early if you can. Also take note that their website says, "giant slides" and "inflatables" but these were not at the Rancho Bernardo location. Maybe some of their other locations have more activities that older kids would enjoy. I did not bring my stroller in because I knew some of the activities would not be stroller friendly (hayride, train ride, pumpkin patch, sunflower cutting) but the main area is flat, and I did see a family there with a stroller.  Just know you w
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Newport, RI: Housing Options

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 Helpful Links: Naval Station Newport Housing Info & Resources | MilitaryINSTALLATIONS (militaryonesource.mil) NAVSTA Newport Homes | Rental Homes in Middletown, RI NAVSTA Newport Homes | Rental Homes in Middletown, RI | Floor Plans Housing at a Glance: Coddington Cove:   All ranks;  military retirees; DOD employees; general public, 3-4 bedrooms Farragut field:  All ranks;  military retirees; DOD employees; general public Fort Adams:  All ranks;  military retirees; DOD employees; general public     Near downtown Newport Greene Lane:  All ranks;  military retirees; DOD employees; general public     Near Middletown RI, 10-15 min commute to base Hart Field:  All ranks;  military retirees; DOD employees; general public Melville:  North: All ranks;  military retirees; DOD employees; general public; 3 Bedrooms                        South: E9 , O4, O5 (4-bed) & O6 (4 and 5-bed)     Near Portsmouth, RI 15 min commute to base     Naval Hospital: O6, 5 bedrooms Coasters Harbor Island:
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Newport, RI: Places to See and Do

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Newport Polo Green Animals Topiary Garden Bristal Car show Rail Explorers Melville Ponds hike Escobar Farm (Fall Corn Maze, 4th of July fireworks) Roger Williams Park Zoo Glen Park Father Travassos Park (Splash Pad) Freetown Splash Pad Colt State Park Blithwold Masion Buttonwood Park Zoo Southwicks Zoo Mystic Aquarium Seagulls baseball games Cars and Coffee Cliff Walk 2nd beach (great for littles) Newport beach Naval Base sailboat rentals Newport Car Museum Providence Childrens Museum Boston Aquarium Boston Tea Party Ship/Harbor Save the Bay exploration center Newport Masions Restaurant Week Newport Library RI Comic Con
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San Diego, Murphy Canyon, Grocery Shopping

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           For those who live in the Murphy Canyon/Tierrasanta area, here is a list of grocery stores commonly frequented. Also check out our google maps list HERE Situated between two commissaries, about a 15-minute drive north or south.        -32nd street: Larger, busy on the weekends and afternoons, best time to go is during the week in the mornings.  The entrance ID check can get quite backed up; large number of retirees shop here as well.     - Miramar Commissary a little smaller, and less crowded on average.  Drive through Starbucks plus some fast food close by.  Beginning of 2022 their gas prices were consistently lower than anywhere else in San Diego County.   -Tierrasanta shopping center has UPS store, goodwill donation center, Starbucks (No Drivethru), rite aid, and smart and final. -Costco, Ikea and Lowes are close together off of the friars road exit. -Target has a few different locations.  My favorite is the one at Grossmont (two stories not very crowded, but it is a bit
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San Diego: Privatized Military Housing

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 Helpful Links: Naval Base San Diego Housing Info & Resources | MilitaryINSTALLATIONS (militaryonesource.mil) Family Housing (NBSD) (navylifesw.com) Apply Now | San Diego (Naval Complex) (livelmh.com)     The privatized military housing in San Diego is run by Liberty Military Housing (Be Aware this was Formerly called "Lincoln Military Housing"; the housing company that was in the news for mold and other lovely housing issues.  Just be aware of what you are getting into.  That being said, I am currently in this housing (1 year, and have not had any major issues).      Housing at a Glance: E1-E6 Aero Ridge :  E1-E9, Pet Friendly, Off Base     Floor Plans: Floor Plans | Aero Ridge (livelmh.com) Orleck Heights:   E1-E9, Pet Friendly, Off Base     Floor Plans: Santo Terrace:  E1-E9, Pet Friendly, Off Base      Floor Plans:     Commute Time:                 32nd Street: 20-                 North Island: 20-                 Miramar: 15-                 Point Loma: 20- Chestert
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