Uploaded October 2024 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Join us for a heartwarming glimpse into the final days of Sacramento Zoo, a beloved institution that has been a part of the community for over 90 years. As the zoo prepares to close its doors in five years, we've captured this special moment of giraffe feeding time.
Watch as these majestic creatures gracefully reach for their leafy treats, their long necks swaying against the backdrop of the zoo's familiar surroundings. This video serves as a tribute to the countless memories made within these walls, a testament to the zoo's enduring legacy.
As we anticipate the exciting arrival of the new zoo in Elk Grove, let's cherish the unique charm and history of Sacramento Zoo. This video is a heartfelt reminder of the joy, wonder, and connection that this beloved institution has brought to so many.
Join us for a heartwarming glimpse into the final days of Sacramento Zoo, a beloved institution that has been a part of the community for over 90 years. As the zoo prepares to close its doors in five years, we've captured this special moment of giraffe feeding time.
Watch as these majestic creatures gracefully reach for their leafy treats, their long necks swaying against the backdrop of the zoo's familiar surroundings. This video serves as a tribute to the countless memories made within these walls, a testament to the zoo's enduring legacy.
As we anticipate the exciting arrival of the new zoo in Elk Grove, let's cherish the unique charm and history of Sacramento Zoo. This video is a heartfelt reminder of the joy, wonder, and connection that this beloved institution has brought to so many.
![Family Guide To Japan (A 12 Days Itinerary)
How do you plan a Japan family trip when everyone wants something different? My wife wanted relaxation. My teen daughter wanted Pokémon. And I just wanted to make everyone happy — without spending a fortune.
In this video, I walk you through how we pulled off a 12-day Japan family trip that covered Hakone onsen hotels, multiple Pokémon Centers, the Ghibli Museum, and even scored access to Tokyo DisneySea on the opening day of Fantasy Springs. I also share how we used hotel reward points to get free nights, a free upgrade, and free breakfast in Tokyo. This is the intro to our full Japan travel series — stay tuned for deeper dives into each destination!
Your Questions About Our Japan Family Trip!
Q: How did you try to plan for a relaxing vacation? A: My main idea for relaxation was to visit Hakone. I had a feeling it would be a perfect place for my wife to enjoy some quiet time at a nice onsen (hot spring) hotel [00:23]. I actually booked two different hotels there, just in case the style of the first one wasnt her preference [00:28]. I also used our credit card rewards to book our Tokyo hotel, which worked out really well in Japan. It got us free nights, an upgrade, and free breakfast [03:36]!
Q: What about your daughter? What was on her must-do list? A: Her main goal was to visit as many Pokémon Centers as she could [01:24]! Each of the major ones has its own signature merchandise [01:35]. The one in Shibuya was especially cool because it has a program that lets you design your own Pokémon t-shirt [01:35]. She also wanted to visit the popular (and hard to book!) Pokémon Cafe and Kirby Cafe [01:58].
Q: Did you go anywhere else besides the Pokémon spots? A: Yes! We also tried to visit the Ghibli Museum, but we had a lot of trouble getting tickets, so we ended up having to join a third-party tour to make it happen [02:12]. And, of course, my wife saved the best for last: Tokyo Disney [04:02]!
Q: You mentioned the new Fantasy Springs at Tokyo Disney. Was it hard to get in? A: It was! We happened to be there on the opening day [04:08], so getting a regular reservation was almost impossible. My wife made a great call and booked us a vacation package instead [04:16]. It turned out to be one of our best decisions because it included a themed hotel room and FastPass access to all the rides [04:16].
More About Our Japan Trip & Tokyo Disney!
Q: You mentioned attractions were hard to book. Any tips? A: Oh, it was definitely a challenge for some! I found that the reservations for the Pokémon Cafe and Kirby Cafe were so competitive. For the Ghibli Museum, we were also having a lot of trouble getting tickets on our own, so we ended up just joining a third-party tour. It was just easier for us.
Q: You used hotel points in Tokyo? Was that a good move? A: It worked out so well for us. I used our Hilton points for our hotel, and it was a huge part of making the trip relaxing. We got a free upgrade, free breakfast, and access to the lounge for snacks and drinks 24/7. The best part was that it let us stay really close to a main train station, which made getting around so much easier.
Q: You went to Tokyo Disney? Which park did you visit? A: We did! My wife saved it for the very end of our trip. We were actually there for the opening day of the brand new Fantasy Springs, which is inside Tokyo DisneySea.
Q: Wow, opening day! It must have been impossible to get in. How did you do it? A: It really seemed impossible! Just trying to get a regular reservation felt like a lost cause. My wife had the amazing idea to book one of the official vacation packages instead.
Q: Was that vacation package worth it? What did it include? A: Honestly? It turned out to be one of the best decisions we made on the whole trip. The package included a themed hotel room, but the most important part was that it gave us FastPass access to all the rides. It just took all the stress out of what was an incredibly busy day.
SUMMARY
How do you plan a Japan trip that makes everyone happy? Join us for the start of our new Japan travel series, where we try to find the perfect balance between a relaxing family vacation and an action-packed adventure!
Well share our plan for satisfying everyone, from enjoying the peaceful onsen hotels in Hakone to diving into the electric streets of Akihabara and Ikebukuro for the ultimate Pokémon and anime hunt. Ill also share how we traveled through Japan using hotel reward points to make our stay even better. This is just the introduction to our big trip, so stay tuned for future episodes where well dive deep into each destination!
English is already hard for me. Please excuse, forgive and correct my Japanese pronunciations
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