All posts tagged local travel

4 Safety Tips for Summer Travel

by alicemarks on May 11, 2012 in Adventures with children, Experiences, Travel tips, Travel with babies, Traveling with Children with No comments

Summer is a time to reach beyond the borders of your family’s comfort zone and explore the unfamiliar.  And although work schedules may not be as flexible, having the kids out of school is definitely an incentive to find a way to go wheels-up on a new adventure.

If you’re one of those families that has a tried-and-true vacation spot, maybe even a timeshare that you’ve visited every year, why not look into week or points exchanges that can get you beyond amazing deals on someplace you’ve never been!

However, regardless of your destination, and whether or not you’ve been there 100 times already, it’s always important to review safety when traveling anywhere away from your home turf.

Documentation.  Always make back up photocopies of all documentation (passports, credit cards, birth certificates, photos, etc) and keep a set in your luggage.  Additionally, leave leave a set with a trusted friend that can be accessed anytime if your set gets lost.

Registration. Register your kids with a national database.  I know it’s icky to think about, but it’s a true peace-of-mind maneuver.

Information. Take the time to get familiar with your destination, including where you should and shouldn’t go after dark, places with heavy pick-pocket activity, etc.  Typically, the more touristy the area, the higher the tourist crime rate.

Vigilance. Keep an eye on your kids at all times. Younger kids should hold your hands; older kids should walk in front of you.

Summer is a time for relaxed vacations and exciting adventures.  But no matter where you go, you’re a tourist and therefore a potential target for opportunists.  Stack the odds in your favor by following these four tips and then sit back, relax, and get ready to make some family memories!

 

3 Top Tips to Keep You and the Kids Healthy on Vacation

by alicemarks on April 6, 2012 in Family Time, Outside play, Travel tips, Travel with babies, Traveling with Children with No comments

Spring and summer travel season are nearly upon us.  And with travel comes fun. And to have fun you have to feel good. Right?  There is nothing worse than planning and anticipating a wonderful family vacation only to be sidelined when one (or more) of you comes down with an irritating cold or inopportune tummy issues.

Keeping healthy on the road does require a little more diligence, simply because you are out of your normal routine.  Also, the added stress of being away from home can work against you by lowering your immune system and making you more vulnerable to ailments you would normally fight off with ease.

Follow these three basic rules to keep you and your family in top shape during your next getaway:

  1. Drink plenty of water.  When we’re away from home and we don’t have our handy water bottle by our side, keeping hydrated can get overlooked.  But dehydration can lead to fatigue, headaches, overall crankiness and a lowered ability to fight off minor bugs.
  2. Wash your hands.  It’s not as easy or convenient when you’re not at your own house, but even keeping a supply of wet wipes and hand sanitizers on hand can greatly reduce your risk of picking up a bug.
  3. Get plenty of fresh air and exercise, even if it’s cold outside.  It’s good for the heart, good for the lungs, and good for overall energy levels.  Fresh air and exercise promote a feeling of well-being, which reduces vacation-related stress.  Lower stress keeps your immune systems functioning at full strength.

Have a happy and healthy trip!

Traveling with Kids: The 90/10 Rule for Success

by alicemarks on February 24, 2012 in Adventures with children, Experiences, Family Time, Travel tips, Travel with babies, Traveling with Children with No comments

Traveling with kids is sticky.

It is sticky, moist, often smells like wet/moldy…something, and has the potential to clothesline you with exhaustion.

Unless you have the right attitude.

Traveling with kids is ALL about attitude.

In fact, the potential joy or disaster of family travel can be boiled down to the 90/10 rule:  The success of your trip is 10% of the circumstances thrown your way, and 90% of how you react to those circumstances.

Traveling with kids can bring you joy, laughter and the heart-squeezing beauty of seeing a child experience something new. It can bring you closer together as a family.  It can plant the seeds of adventure and encourage self-esteem as kids learn to navigate outside their comfort zones.

But you have to expect the joy.  You have find it in unlikely places.  And you have to ignore the people who tell you that you are crazy for wanting it.

You have to make up your mind ahead of time that you, and you alone, can make or break this vacation.  Yes, your toddler threw up in the rental car.  Okay, the baby screamed the whole flight. I get that.  It stinks.  It’s hard.  You’re tired.

Step back and take a deep breath, because you have a choice to make.  It is always about choices, right?  You can choose to laugh it off.  You can choose not to make your child feel worse than she already does by lamenting a ruined sweater. You can choose to let that rude comment from another passenger float away, unacknowledged.

You can choose not to worry about the size of your child’s suitcase, if the hotel restaurant will have french fries, or how long it will take to get over jet lag.

You can also choose wholeheartedly to feel the joy of the moment when your child runs, leaping and giggling, over the incoming tide.  You can choose to accept that it’s money well spent to hire someone to help you with your bags.

Enjoy each moment as it comes your way.  The moments that are more difficult to enjoy?  Do not give them power.  Lift your head out of the gray clouds until you feel the sun on your face.  Then choose how to act.

Your choices will define the differences between a great trip and a “never-again.”  You will also be showing your children how they, too, possess the power and capabilities to shape their own experiences.

Yes, travel with children can be both a blessing and a curse.

As you wish.

4 Things You Must Know About Holiday Air Travel with Kids

by alicemarks on December 1, 2011 in Adventures with children, Experiences, Family Time, QuickSmart, Travel tips, Travel with babies, Traveling with Children with 1 Comment

As if the holiday season isn’t busy enough, some families (including my own) are inexplicably stricken with the deranged compulsion to embark upon a family trip during those last final weeks of the year.  Whether it’s just a long weekend or for full two weeks, these madcap adventurers steel their resolve and defiantly fly off to visit family, get away from the cold, or just alleviate cabin fever.

With so many other things to remember, it’s sometimes difficult to keep the nuances of flying with kids at the forefront of your mind.  However, if you can remember one tip from each of the basic needs – comfort, safety, food and fun – you can increase your odds of making your journey equally as pleasurable as your ultimate destination.

1.Comfort

Plenty of diapers, change of clothes, extra layers and blankie or favorite stuffed animal

2. Safety

Car seat or Restraint Harness (The CARES harness is the only FAA approved harness out there, and keeps kids back far enough in their seats to curtail seat-kicking).

3. Food

Don’t overlook snacks in  your rush to get out the door.  A few healthy snacks (trail mix, granola bars) mixed with some special treats will do wonders to grease the meltdown-prevention wheels.

4.Fun 

On long flights, distractions are key.  Dollar store doodads wrapped like presents, mystery “goody bags,” toys without small pieces and even a DVD player will all aid in keeping your child’s mind off the confinement of the airplane cabin.

The captain may have turned on the fasten seatbelt sign, but you’ve got your basics covered, so sit back, take a deep breath, and enjoy the holiday journey.

A World of Adventure: Excursion Trips for the Whole Family

by alicemarks on September 28, 2011 in Adventures with children, children and nature, Day trips with children, Experiences, Local Fun, QuickSmart, Travel tips, Travel with babies, Traveling with Children with 1 Comment

Vacations, by their very nature, are expected to be relaxing. However, in my humble experience, I have found that a trip with young children is usually anything but.

Book a vacation with the dreamy expectations of lazy days on the beach and a margarita in each hand and you just may end up frustrated that your children, adventurous by nature and intrinsically adverse to boredom, have different plans entirely.

Not Going to Happen

So, instead of having your beach lazing margarita sipping dreams crushed by the reality of bored and unamused children, why not try a preemptive strike and plan a vacation that is so packed with adventure that both your and your children’s expectations are gloriously harmonious?

Arranged by age suitability, these are some of my favorite adventure vacations for families:

Ages 3 and under

Because of their attention span and their tendency to tire easily, this age range is best suited for a series of new experiences broken up into small manageable chunks.

  • Easy hikes with big payoffs (waterfalls, parks)
  • Anything with animals

Of course, very young children can be put in carriers for longer hikes, as long as you give them leg stretching breaks every hour or so.

Ages 4-6

This is the minimum age for most adventure trip companies.  Your child’s fourth birthday opens up a world of adventure possibilities, including:

  • River rafting

I know this seems like like it’s a bit much for younger children, but there are some river programs that offer trips running only Class I rapids, which is little more than bumps in the road. Try a trip on the Snake River in Wyoming, which will also thrill kids with its abundance of wildlife.

Kids can raft as young as 4 years

  • Longer Hikes

Unlike river rafting, hiking can be done any where and anytime.  Likely you have a few parks nearby (we are lucky enough to have an arboretum) where you can start stretching your hiking legs.  Kids at this age can be engaged with cameras, scavenger hunts and a rousing game of “I Spy”.

For the ultimate experience, try a Canadian Mountain Holidays Family Heli-Hiking package, suited for kids 5 and up.

Ages 7 and up

At this age, the truly seasoned junior adventure traveler will be looking for a little more of a thrill.  Look for trips that offer a variety of different options so that you can expose your child to as many activities as possible.

River rafting, Class II and III

Trips offered by companies such as OARS are tailor made for families with young children.  They offer rafting, hiking, kayaking, cycling and a itinerary planned specifically for families with young children.

Hiking

Try Havasu Falls in the Grand Canyon for hikes with the ultimate payoff.  Check out REI.com for an extensive list of family-friendly travel packages.

Kick it up a notch with a hiking trip to Havasu Falls

Safari, Greek Isles and More

Whether it’s catching a glimpse of an African Elephant on safari or exploring caves and splashing in the waves of the Greek Isles, the opportunities are endless for families who want to instill a love of adventure in their children.  I can’t say enough good things about REI or OARS as great sites to spark some unique ideas for your next family excursion.

And really, if you think about it, only on an adventure vacation can you truly tap into the elusive best of both worlds: At the end of a day of adventure your kids may be so exhausted from having fun they could fall asleep even before the sun has completely set, leaving you to enjoy your margarita after all.

Teach Your Child to Be Secure in Security

by alicemarks on September 13, 2011 in Adventures with children, Experiences, QuickSmart, Travel tips, Traveling with Children with No comments

For first time junior travelers, the airport can be a glorious adventure.  Airplanes aside, there are moving walkways, all their favorite restaurants and dozens of mini stores with more candy and souvenirs than they could possibly imagine.

But, regardless of how much fun they can have during preflight shenanigans, there will be a period of time where your children are expected to follow the rules and take things seriously:  when your family passes through airport security.

Kids and Airport Security

For some kids the sudden shift to a more serious attitude is merely a passing annoyance; an ill-timed interruption of their quest to find and ride one of the passenger-assist carts.

But for other kids the sudden flurry of unexpected activity, the emptying of pockets and removing of shoes, the rendering of a cherished backpack full of goodies into the mouth of the X-ray machine, may feel to them like all new and unknown experiences – a little scary.

However, because you are a travel-savvy parent, you have followed the tips below and have prepared your child for the unknown.  And thus prepared, your child can render the experience safely into the category of Familiar, therefore removing the element of scary before before they even realize that they aren’t wearing any shoes.

Children and Airport Security

How to Prepare your Child for Airport Security

  1. Set up a mock security station at home.  Find a big box for the X-ray machine, some bins to put their goodies in and something to create a large archway for them to walk through.  A couch makes a great conveyor belt area.
  2. Explain what security is, in non scary terms.  I explained to my young children that there are certain things not allowed on airplanes like spray paint and chemicals, and that security is there to help people who might have forgotten that they are carrying these things.
  3. Do a dry run to demonstrate step by step what to expect.  Have a friend or spouse stand in for the security officer and demonstrate by example how you expect your kids to act.
  4. Keep the tone light but serious.  You don’t want to make them uneasy, but they should also understand that this is one area where they can’t play games or run around.
  5. Don’t forget the pat-down and the wand.  My 8-year old was recently randomly selected for individual screening.  She was a little weirded out by it, but ultimately fine. If it should happen to a younger child, there will be much less panic if they have experienced the process at home first.

Playing in the ‘Hood: Three Local Excursions For Less than $5

by alicemarks on August 29, 2011 in Adventures with children, Day trips with children, Experiences, Local Fun with No comments

Need some quick ideas to get out of the house today with your little ones?  Here are three creative and easy excursions that can be done for less than the cost of a latte!

  1. Go to a pet store.  Some smaller stores (like PetLand) will let you take out a puppy or kitty and have an up close and personal visit.  Call around and see if there are stores that offer this in your area.  Fair warning:  tell yourself ahead of time you will not come home with a pet.  Think there’s no way that will happen?  That’s what I thought.  Now please say hello to my new parakeet, Neon.Pet stores can be a cheap date
  2. Do you live near a college or university?  Some schools have unique exhibits that are free to the public.  We live near Wheaton College, where they have authentic mastodon bones that were recovered from a lake that used to be a tar pit.  It’s a huge hairy elephant on a spinning platform.  What’s not for a kid to love?
  3. Sporting goods stores.  We love to go to REI, where we can see all the equipment used in various outdoor adventures.  You can talk about different sports, touch the kayaks, check out the surfboards, crawl in the tents.  Some stores (Dick’s, for example) even have a climbing wall that can be summited for a nominal fee.  This is a great way to coax out the adventurous child that may be hiding inside your shy one.Hidden fun can be found at sporting goods stores!

As always, keep the limitations of your child’s attention span at the forefront of all planning; don’t force the adventure to continue when you sense that the novelty has worn off.  If you leave before trouble brews, even if you’ve only been there for 15 minutes, you have saved the potential to try the trip again on another day!

 

 

Rock that Bus! How to Win at Public Transportation with Kids

by alicemarks on August 22, 2011 in Adventures with children, Day trips with children, Experiences, QuickSmart, Traveling with Children with No comments

 

Don’t let the unknowns of public transportation turn you off from this character building and interactive activity with your children.  Arm yourself with route guides, maps and destination ideas, and a healthy dose of adventure and enthusiasm.   Twenty years from now your independent, self-confident children will thank you!

Tips for Navigating the World of Buses and Trains

  1. Your children should board the bus or train or in front of you.  Show them how to use the handrail.
  2. Teach your children to heed the warning strip at train stations.  They should stay behind it at all times.  Even when they are holding your hand.
  3. Do not let children wander or explore on their own while waiting for the train or bus. They should be within arms reach of you at all times.
  4. Expect your children to be respectful of the other passengers.  Explain to them the proper tone of voice, behavior, etc that is expected of them.
  5. Teach children travel etiquette:  Explain that they should always move to the side and let passengers get off the bus or train first before boarding themselves.
  6. Don’t let children attempt to touch a moving vehicle, or extend arms or legs outside.
  7. Bring plenty of wet wipes.  Public transport can be grimy, and while a little dirt doesn’t hurt, you’ll feel better if your kids’ hands are de-germified after a long ride.
  8. If you need a stroller, bring one that folds very compactly.
  9. Bring snacks. Enough said.
  10. Be prepared to be flexible.  Trains and buses are sometimes late.  I know, it’s hard to believe.  Be your kids’ hero by keeping a positive attitude.

 

Revive the Novelty of Local Excursions

by alicemarks on August 11, 2011 in Adventures with children, children and nature, Day trips with children, Experiences, Local Fun, QuickSmart, Travel games, Traveling with Children with No comments

Has the interest in your tried-and-true day trips worn thin and the mere mention of another trip to the park/museum/arboretum catapults your kids into choruses of “that’s so boring!”?

Fear not, intrepid day-trippers; The Color Game is here to breathe life back into your tired and potentially meltdown-inducing neighborhood adventures.

The Color Game can give overused haunts a new perspective.  I like color themes because they are not gender specific and are easy to improvise. Here’s how it works:

Give your kids a color (or let them choose) and then tell them they have to find 5-20 things in that color (depending on their ages) at your destination.  Let them use your cell phone or bring a digital camera to snap photos of their finds; if the items are removable (a leaf on the ground, a colorful rock) give them a bag and have them start a collection.  You can even bring paper and crayons in your color and let you little artists sketch what they see.

For the smoothest experience remember to:

  • Keep your expectations in check and don’t try to force the excursion to last longer than your child’s patience.
  • Stay enthusiastic (eventually your kids will pick up on your attitude) and leave before any grumbling begins – even if you’ve only been there for 15 minutes.
  • Encourage their creativity; that rock may not look orange to you but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t feel orange to them.  Ask them why they have chosen it.

When you get home, print the pictures and start your color album.  For instance, under the color yellow you may have pages for “Yellow at the Park”, “Yellow at the Zoo”, etc.  Tape plastic baggies to the pages to hold their found treasures.  On a rainy day, head to the scrapbook store and let your children pick out stickers in matching color themes to decorate the pages.  Have them create an colorful cover for each color group.

In no time you’ll have a rainbow library to document those short sanity-saving excursions that you used to dread even mentioning!

Advanced planning needed:

  • Know how to print photos from your phone or camera
  • Make sure your printer has ink and paper
  • Bring baggies, crayons and paper

See you at the park (yes, the same one we’ve been to 20 times already!)

The Art of the Spontaneous Adventure

by alicemarks on August 9, 2011 in Adventures with children, children and nature, Day trips with children, Experiences, Local Fun with No comments

Flexibility: it’s the key to success with small children. The ability to modify plans on a dime, depending on the whimsically random moods of toddler, can often save us from irrational tantrums and emotionally wringing episodes of meltdown. Oh yeah, and whatever the toddler might do as well.

However, the ability to be flexible does not come naturally or easily to all of us. Sometimes impromptu living requires a little rehearsing. Here are 3 ways that you can practice getting your spontaneity on:

  • Make a list of 5 places you could go (zoo, park, mall, beach, etc) and all the things you would need to take with you or do to prepare for that particular trip (zoo passes, cash, suntan lotion). When the time comes, just refer to the list and toss the items in your diaper bag or check them off the list. The less thinking you have to do, the less overwhelming it is.
  • Practice a small spontaneous trip everyday by keeping your stroller nearby and taking impromptu walks to different places in your neighborhood. It could be as simple as walking around the block next to yours, or taking a different route to a favorite park. Trips that don’t need any preparation help reduce the anxiety of not planning.

Practice makes perfect!

  • Lower your expectations. Local trips in your community don’t have to have a purpose, educational benefit or time minimum. If you planned to spend an hour somewhere and your child is bored and cranky after 15 minutes, you both will be frustrated. Plan for a 10 minute trip, and add 5 minutes on at a time until you feel that your toddler’s attention span has run out.

Good luck and happy spontaneity!

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