With our summer coming to a close and the start of school (and First Grade for Rex!) looming in a few weeks, Grizz and I have been researching places for one last family getaway trip. One of the destinations that popped up on our radar as we planned our final summer “hurrah” is Northern California’s capital and often overlooked city to visit – Sacramento! I have to admit even we forget the thriving family friendly River City is just a short 2 hour drive from San Francisco.

After a little research we found it to not only be a stones throw from us but also filled with kid-family attractions, museums, playgrounds, outdoor festivals all rich in culture. Who would have thought right?

Trekaroo, a one-stop site for everything related to traveling with a young family proved to be an invaluable resource of great tips and inside information during our reasearch There is a wealth of useful tips for traveling with kids, a place to post a travel question and get real answers from other parents and you can even purchase gear and book hotels directly from their site. If you’re traveling anywhere any time, I recommend checking them out for great information all geared towards traveling as a family.

So how would you like to explore the beautiful city of Sacramento, family style? You would be shacking up at the gorgeous Residence Inn at Capitol Park located in the heart of downtown Sacramento!
(photo credit Marriott International)

I’m so excited to share with you that we are partnering with Trekaroo and The Design Confidential to host a giveaway packed with these premium accommodations, delicious meals at Cafe Bernardo and BarWest Burgers and Wings and fun family activities at Fairytale Town, Sacramento Zoo and California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento.

This giveaway package for ONE lucky winner is valued at $700! It includes -

•  2 night stay at Residence Inn Sacramento Downtown at Capitol Park*
• Family pack of tickets to Fairytale Town valid for one day
• Family pack of tickets to Sacramento Zoo valid for one day
• Family pack of tickets to California State Railroad Museum valid for one day
• $50 at Cafe Bernardo on 10th & K
• $60 at BarWest Burgers and Wings

*The blackout dates for the hotel are August 9, 10, 11, 2012 and December 31, 2012.
All prizes expire August 10, 2013
Contest is open to US Residents only
Deadline to enter is Sunday, August 5, 2012 at 11:59pm PST 

So, how do you win this awesome prize? You have 24 ways to do it. Yes TWENTY FOUR! Definitely use all of them!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

By the way, have you visited our other partner in this giveaway the Design Confidential? It’s a gem of a site with an abundance of design ideas for everything from print to wood. So many DIY inspirations with detailed plans and instructions. Rayan, Design Confidential’s founder is one talented young mommy!

And for you San Francisco area readers of my blog, this is your perfect chance to get away from our summer fog for the weekend! So please use all the opportunities listed above to enter to win this wonderful package!