Munchkin Stroller Cup Holder PERFECT for Crutches!

Almost 2 weeks ago, I broke my fibula, the skinny bone on the outside of your leg (long story, but in a nutshell, I was trail running at a Ski Resort and my right side went into a 6 FOOT hole, and my left foot did not, and snapped.  I thought originally was a sprain, but x-rays the next day proved otherwise). 

ANYWAY, why am I telling you this?  NOT for sympathy, seriously, it's OK, I'm bummed about it, but focused on recovering quickly and safely.

However, I have found that hopping around on crutches brings it's challenges, especially for a coffee drinker!  I was searching the internet about a week ago, for a way to carry a cup and/or water bottle without having to "wear" it.  The Munchkin Stroller Cup Holder came up and I thought to myself, hey, MY company sells that.  So, into my office (and some of my backstock) I went, and picked one out.  It took about a minute to figure out how to put it on (actually, disassembling the packaging was more time consuming than putting on my crutch!).  Here it is with my water bottle in it at the gym....

Pretty slick, eh?  If it works this well with a crutch, I'm sure it works great for a stroller, or anything with a 'tube' (horizontal, vertical or any angle in between), and the cup holder is self leveling, and can be removed from the mount when I don't want it sticking out in the way, empty.

1000 Places to See Before you Die

Want to go somewhere but need some inspiration?  This book has nearly 1000 pages with 1000 places and ideas for you - some on and some off the beaten track.  An adventure (or less of one) for everyone included.

"At last, a book that tells you what's beautiful, what's fun and what's just unforgettable - everywhere on earth." - Newsweek

Features of the book, organized by continent include the following;

• sacred ruins
• grand hotels
• wildlife preserves
• hilltop villages
• snack shacks
• castles
• festivals
• reefs
• restaurants
• cathedrals
• reeefs
• hidden islands
• museums
• opera houses
• and more

The book supplies all of the 'modern' resources so that you don't have to 'leave your home' until you've made ALL the plans - the author includes websites, phone, fax, and the best times to go to each of the 1000 places.

Start your list and start checking them off!  And, give your kids a head start on seeing the world ASAP.

Need MORE ideas??  Check out 1000 Place to see in the USA and Canada (the above version is for the WORLD.

Back to School ?! Already?

Yes, I now have 2 boys in school, one just starting Kindergarten and one in 3rd grade (when did THAT happen?!).  

These Mini Lunch Notes (now that we're making TWO each morning) are a really fun way to brighten up lunch making AND lunch eating.  For your 'readers' you can write little notes on the included small cards, and for those not reading so much, you can give the kid's snacks eyes, noses, lips and make funny faces.  Lots of fun! 

I don't set the expectation that these notes will go in each day, but try to do it randomly enough that it's still special and often a surprise.  A simple way to let your child know you are thinking of them.  Also make a great insert for little travelers!

Montshire Museum of Science

We recently got back from a trip to Quechee, Vermont, where we were pleasantly surprised at ALL of the really great things to do there with kids.  First of all, we stayed at the Quechee Pine Valley KOA Kampground (yes, they spell anything they can with a 'K' instead of a 'C'), and were very happy with the place.  We had a nice site, right next to the playgound (site 20 on Map), pool, and the fenced in area where our dog could run 'leashless' - how sweet is that??

We also have dear friends in the area, who we met up with 4 days while we were staying there.  Ticket to a smooth, kid meltdown-minimized time?  Gear the activities around them.  Thus, "the Montshire", where our friends have an annual pass and where my older son claims that "if we lived there, we'd HAVE to have a pass too".

Here's my husband and youngest son playing in one of the many bubble making tubs.  What we (as adults) loved about this place is that everything is interactive (and, despite some NOT-so gentle use by some kids there - EVERYTHING works and is well kept), and even though some of the things might not totally be understood by our kids, someday, they will reflect on how 'the bubbles'(for example) happen (because of surface tension)?!  Many of the displays illustrate complicated concepts in simple forms, helping to prove the importance of experiential, hands-on, away-from-the-books learning.

The other beauty of visiting Montshire during the summer, is the extensive outdoor 'water and how it moves' activity area - a perfect way to take the kids energy (and 'heat') outdoors for play and experimentation.  Here my boys attach various pipes together to channel water in different directions, or make it sprinkle, or spin and more.  A great way to stay cool and learn.  We were here for hours and could easily go back several days without seeing and interacting with everything.  AND, there displays change occasionally keeping frequent visits interesting.

If you are ever in the area, we highly recommend this Museum, or search your travel destination for Children's Museums - the perfect way to keep kids traveling happy!

A fun day on the Tuckaseegee River, NC

 

On a recent trip to western North Carolina, we took our boys whitewater paddling.  Because kids have to be 9 years old (and ours are 5 and 8) to go on the Nantahala River (with Class III rapids) we opted for the Tuckaseegee, a fun, but somewhat tame Class I-II river for all ages fun.

 

We went with Tuckaseegee Outfitters (owned by a friend of ours, James); and all we had to do is show up in our swimsuits and we were outfitted with paddles, boats, PFDs, a safety talk, and a shuttle to the put-in.

This was great fun for our group, which included another family as well.  The perfect way to introduce kids to the fun and power of water!

Card Capsules To Go

We LOVE these card sets for kids. Not only are they many of the classics (Spit, Go Fish, Old Maid, Slap Dragon) or "Tastes Like Chicken" a game of funny animals, they each come in a 'click' case, ready to go anywhere.

The fact that these (aside from TASTES LIKE CHICKEN) have an oval/unique shape, make them much easier for young hands to hold. Your kids still having trouble? Try our handy card holder it works like a 'charm'.

All of these sets are great for the whole family, and start a lifelong love for unplugged games. They also pack easily and safely in any purse (or jacket pocket) for that unexpected LONG wait at a restaurant, airport or doctor's office.

Another reason to have kids travel(ing) happy!

Have you seen the latest controversy? Kid-Free flights? Family Sections? What do you think? I personally, having kids myself, have mixed feelings about it. In my mind is bordering on 'discriminating' due to age/size.

I agree, no one likes the obnoxious kid (and/or the obnoxious parent who has made it clear they have not mastered control of their child), but I also know, my normally well-behaved boys can get tired, hungry, bored, cranky, or just plain wake up on the wrong side of the bed....

However, here is some interesting recently from the press recently, and in years past.

• Child-free flights?: and a plea for NO windchimes!?
• From USA Today: Over 1/2 of flyers would limit where children sit.....
• Family-Only section on planes
• Kids in their own section?

My 2 cents (did anyone ask?)... I feel a full-on kids-only zone in an aircrat would cause increased chaos, as I believe parents would tend to be (and feel they could be) more lax about controlling their kids' behavior and 'volume'.

OK, and lastly, my point? It comes back to the statement above if you can keep your child from being hungry, tired, and/or BORED (that's where "KidsTravelHappy" comes in handy!), then you have improved your chances of being talked about by those less tolerant kid-free travelers. I surely have more understanding now that I'm a parent!

Before you head on your next flight (with kids, although we have fun stuff for adults too!), give us a try!

RVing with a Shuttle Service

Acadia National Park in Maine is in the top 10 most visited National Parks, but despite this fact, we ventured there nonetheless! It was our 'last hurrah' before prepping for back to school, and it'd been SO long since I'd been there (and never with my husband or with my kids), that we looked forward to discovering it together.

We have a 1990 21' Class C (which just means there is a bed above the front cab of the vehicle, and it's built on a van body of some sort) RV, and thus researched campgrounds in and near the park itself. Settling on a place just outside of the park, Hadley's Point Campground, we drove the 4+ hours there from our home in Bethel. We chose the campground as it seemed a good price, and just as importantly, it was a stop along the island's shuttle bus network. This is especially great as it reduces the amount of cars driving around (imagine all the vehicles needed to get the 2+ million people around there annually!), and it allows us to park our RV and leave it.

The Shuttle Bus Network (the ISLAND EXPLORER) was convenient and easy to use. One could even bring a bike and put it in one of the 6 bike carriers on each of the buses. "Well-behaved" dogs were allowed, and we took advantage of taking our pup along to go to the park's many miles of hiking trails and carless carriage roads (GREAT fun to mountain bike!).

Some of the other highlights of our 3-night visit to Acadia, which is a VERY family friendly place
- fishing (catch and release at a small pond along one of the carriage roads)
- exploring Bar Harbor
- mountain biking
- hiking
- Thunder Hole
- Sand Beach
- taking the kids rock climbing
(phew, and that was only 3 nights at the Park!)

We were able to take our pup to "Steve" the dog sitter one day, which gave us a bit of freedom, and supported a local business. He was great with "Moxy" and we'd totally recommend him!

Lastly, my mom came along, which was great fun and allowed my husband and I to get a few bike rides in without the kids. She also got each of my boys started in knitting. The photo here shows Dylan knitting my mom's project while we were on the Shuttle Bus!

Where will we go next??

Saddleback Mtn Bluegrass Festival a Family Event

Yes, last weekend allowed us another opportunity to explore a nearby area, feel like we'd "gotten away" and do something fun for the entire family.We attended the 1st Annual Saddleback Bluegrass Festival on Saturday, August 7th, a family oriented event, with 7 bands (and one for FREE the night before), for $35 per adult and kids 12 and under FREE. Such a great deal with head-lining bands such as David Grisman, and Del McCoury Band worth that much on their own.
We took advantage of the primitive camping in our RV (yes, sort of an oxymoron, the point being however, there were no hookups or electricity), which was free for anyone with a ticket to the show. Festival-goers could also walk their camping equipment mountain-side and take advantage of the beautiful views, and grassy slopes. (we may go that route next year, for something different).

The festival started at 11am, making it a good time for those choosing to come for the day. We took advantage of being there the night before and hiked Saturday morning before meeting friends for the show. We also wanted to scope out the Trail Run course, which I competed in on Sunday Morning.

We feel this is another perfect way to get away without having to spend much on gas, or lodging. We ate all of our meals out of our RV, and as long as we didn't bring alcohol or glass items, we could pack food so the kids stayed fed and happy.

The other great thing about this festival (and my general feel for Saddleback Mountain) is that it is really accommodating, and wants to make families come there together. We chose to put our 'stuff' toward the back of the crowd which allowed the kids to play with frisbees, balls and other toys without disturbing those really concentrating on the performers.

We find that when we participate in activities that have something for everyone, we are all 'traveling happy'. Just google "festivals" in your area (or maybe a little outside of your 'normal' area), and make a trip out of one of them. You are sure to have fun as a family!

Oh, only downside of the festival (although we totally understand why) was that there were no dogs allowed, which, if you own one is a good thing to clarify before you pack up the pooch to come along!

You don't need to vacation very far away

We LOVE to go on trips, but with a business (KidsTravelHappy.com!) not even 2 years old, kids in soccer, swimming, and part-time work of my husband (he teaches during the school year), sometimes it's difficult to find bigger chunks of time to do things.

As a result, we've adopted a new strategy for the summer, and have had some great times taking our 21' Class C RV to somewhat local events and making a mini-vacation/weekend out of it.

Recently, we went to Bread & Puppet in Glover, Vermont. It's an incredibly talented group of folks, and admission is FREE (they do 'pass a hat' which is so worth contributing to). There is also 'cheap art' for sale, and tons of thought-provoking posters, postcards, books and other things to help the organization "cheap art and political theater in Vermont" (as they like to call themselves).

(part of the "pageant" in the fields)

This theater group has performances all summer, and although some of the messages are beyond the comprehension of young kids, the 'performance' is visually so entertaining, they won't even know they've missed something. We had our 4 and 7 year old boys there (along with 3 other families of friends with kids), and the kids did well for the first 3-4 hours (then, we decided to go). We were there on a nice weather day and being outside really helped the kids! Don't forget sunscreen, snacks, drinks, and activities for the kids.

The moral of the story? This was only a 2 hour drive for us, and we went over on a Saturday, camped on friends' land, then to the show all afternoon Sunday, and home that night. The kids (more or less) entertained each other outdoors at the 'camp' and the adults were able to enjoy some (periods of) adult conversation, tasty food and beverages.

And, next weekend? We're heading to a family-friendly Blue Grass Festival.... more on that soon! :-)

Festivals & Fairs - affordable travel

Do you ever find yourself really wanting to travel over the summer, but there just never seems to be enough time or money to go very far for very long?

We often find a spot (picking a radius of miles from our home) with a particular interest: sometimes a good mountain biking spot, a fun beach/coastal area, a historical site, and this summer, we're making a point to journey to new fairs or festivals that are family friendly.

The first one we've chosen, is new to Maine and Saddleback Mountain, the Saddleback Blue Grass Festival in August, at Saddleback Mountain. The only downside (but totally understandable) is that Pets are NOT allowed, even in the camping area. However, adults are $35, and kids under 12 are FREE for the 11am (gates open at 9am) - 7:30pm outdoor festival. On-site primitive camping is also FREE for those who have tickets to the show - tents, cars, RVs (no hookups, however). We're making a weekend of it, going up on Friday, and coming home on the following Sunday. We're also meeting other families there, which always makes it even more fun for all of us.

Need some inspiration? Looking for something in your area (or, maybe a bit away?). Here are some fun sites to get you thinking "festival trips with the family" this Summer.

• 5 Family Friendly Festivals (from the Chicago Tribune, but are all over the U.S.)
• Festivals 2010 (International)
• Top 5 Family Friendly Festivals (UK)

Still not inspired? Check your local region's "calendar of events" - we often check our local papers, our NPR station's event listings, or do a search for a town/region you'd like to visit and see what is going on.

When you concentrate on choosing a Family (that is "KID") friendly destination with a variety of activities, the 'adult's can travel happy too!

Travel with a Pet

Yes, we are a site that focuses on keeping KIDS traveling happy, but having just adopted a 4 month old shelter pup (if you are in Maine, check out The Greater Androscoggin Humane Society in Lewiston.). Oh, her name is Moxy, and all we really know about her is that she's some sort of Black Lab mix.
Tips for ROAD TRIPS with DOGs: this was something we are very interested in, as our dog threw up on her first few road trips(that is, the hour home from the shelter, and just the 7 mile trip into town daily to drop our oldest son off at 1st grade)! We think this may have something to do with her 'transport' from a shelter in Tennessee to Maine, as it seems to be resolving itself now! (poor thing)

If you've had this problem, or worried about longer trips with a pet, we've hunted down some other general sources of info for traveling with a pet

• from AAA: Traveling with Your Pet - updated annually, filled with tips, pet-friendly hotels and more
  
• some cool Dog Travel accessories to make on-the-go more pleasant (NOTE: we do not endorse any of these items or websites, we just find them useful and supply link info)
• informative website for all kinds of travel with dogs tidbits DogFriendly.com
• Road Trips with your Dog (with additional travel links, including air travel etc.)
• Tips and products that make travel with your pet safe (Consumer Reports)

Why have a dog (or other pet) you have to leave at home? Kids Travel Happy, pets travel happy, families travel happy. :-)

Saving Money on a little trip to NYC

For the first time, I am headed to the New York International Toy Fair - VERY EXCITED. I have reserved a hotel for 3 nights just 1/2 of a block from the Convention Center where it is held (at a modest $200 a night for nothing noteworthy!?). Then, it struck me that this is happening during my sons' and husband's February vacation so why not make a family trip of it?! They can go see some nearby sights (Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building etc.), while I spend a couple of days trying to find the next wave of really cool items to include for KidsTravelHappy.com (kids, ironically, are NOT allowed at the Toy Fair, and this is an IN the industry show, but if you are a retailer- see you there!).

Then, came the task of figuring out how to make the most of our 4 days and 3 nights in NYC. To drive from Maine means 6-8 hours (or more, depending on traffic and weather), but fairly inexpensive way to go. Our kids (3 and 6 years) are seasoned travelers so the time isn't a problem in that sense, but did we want to spend all that time IN the car with so little time overall on this trip? Then, there's the hassle of what to do with the car in the city, paying to park, navigating around etc. SO, I then looked into plane tickets, on Orbitz and Expedia, finally settling for JetBlue.com, as the show offers a 5% OFF coupon for those attending the show. It ended up being about $450 for 4 of us to fly from Portland, Maine to Laguardia Airport, NY. We booked and are relieved that this will offer the max amount of time at our destination with a minimal amount of travel time.

Next, the task of how to save on the other major 'costs' of travel with a family to a city.

• FOOD - we love to dine out, especially in a place with so MANY unique options, yet, we are not used to the 'NY' pricing. Our strategy? We have a hotel with a microwave and a refrigerator, so we plan to make good use of them for snacks, breakfast, and lunch, and splurge on dinner out each day. We have had fun surfing around the internet for kid friendly places in and around the Toy Show (Times Square, Rockefeller Center area). Another great option is to pack laptop lunch/Bento style snacks for on-the-go/around town snacking.
• TRANSPORTATION - we have decided to fore go driving into New York (as mentioned above) and use the abundance of public transportation. More on this after we go! While I'm at the show, my husband and boys will concentrate on the sites nearby, as that will help save cost as well - there are so many things to see, there is no need to go too far anyway.
  
• WATER - we are fans of Sigg, Crocodile Creek, or similar reusable BPA bottles, and with studies showing that bottled water is not better or worse than tap water, the investment in a nice Steel Bottle is worth it when you can fill it for FREE! This is especially handy in an airport where bottled water can be somewhat astronomical in price - just make sure it is empty for security, or you'll be dumping it out! You can fill once inside.
  

In a few weeks I'll have a report on the show, what were good things to do (and, not), as well as fun stuff I found and learned at the show. To be continued.....

Need some Travel Inspiration?

Yes, the economy. It keeps me THINKING about travel (or, sometimes not, as it can get depressing!), but my family is not DOING it as much these days. When I get feeling a bit 'trapped' in my surroundings I know it's time to pick up a book, and take an 'imaginary' journey. I LOVE this book - just to read about places that I should go (or, realize, maybe I can skip!).

Technically, I have not made that 'life list' as I truly enjoy any sort of adventure near or far, but must admit, there are a few places that stand out in my mind... BUT, I have kids, and some of the places I need to wait until they are older (yet make sure I am not TOO old. A fine line!) With so many choices and information in this one book, it is easy to find any type of trip imaginable.

1000 Places To See Before You Die takes you 'all over the world' and opens with the quote "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the places and moments that take our breath away". Search the book by continent, activity, theme, mode of travel and more. I'm thinking focusing on the "Festivals & Events" section could take me a lifetime or two (and those tiny 'check boxes' beside each item in the index are calling at me to check them off!!).

We read parts of the book to our kids. Our 6-year old is especially curious and enjoys hearing snip-its about the Taj Mahal, the Lesser Antilles, or the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

So, when in doubt, get some books out. Take those imaginary journeys or plan for the next REAL journey. You may learn something, and it'll get you excited to explore (and motivated to start saving!).

You could use these in a pinch (but, we recommend the KTH Alternatives!)

NOTE: To follow, we give you some FREE activity suggestions, BUT also see end of this blog post on how to save 20% off everything on our site thru the end of October (sale items included), in honor of the 1st year anniversary of www.KidsTravelHappy.com~!

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We've all been there. We've packed everything we needed for the trip, but somehow neglected the most important items. Things to keep the kids entertained. Bummer.

We thought we'd let you in on a few activities to do with items you probably brought (by default) but then we'll also suggest something that would have made the activity easier, and perhaps more fun & exciting for the child(ren).

1) One-two-buckle (tie) my shoe... Have a young one that needs practice with shoe-tying. Have them take off a shoe, or better yet, give them an adult shoe, and let the practicing begin. It's helpful if one adult (or older sibling) can demonstrate this task while the younger one attempts it.
The KTH alternative: check out the Tie-Up Shoe from Plan Toy. It's wooden, colorful, and easy to use on a lap or travel tray. Child not quite ready for tying? Use it as a lacing activity.

2) Along the same theme as #1, preschoolers can practice such tasks as zipping, snapping, buttons etc. depending on what they and family members are wearing.
THE KTH alternative: We think that the Award Winning Dress-Up Princess is a much more fun way to teach all those skills, as the buttons are large (better for small hands, less frustrating that tiny 'adult' shirt buttons), the zippers have 'big' teeth, the snaps are manageable, and the doll makes a perfect, colorful, huggable travel companion!

3) Perhaps your kids are a bit older and have the 'snapping, tying, buttoning' tasks down. There are always the pad of paper (or scrap, or bank deposit slip, or receipt...) and pen(cil) games. Hangman, Tic-Tac-Toe, draw a scribble and then have the child try to make it into something.
The KTH alternative: Go Games from Magnetic Poetry make all of the classic paper and pen games a cinch, and don't waste all of that paper! One of our favorites is the Magnetic Hangman. For the scribble and draw, we like the guided, independent nature of Squiggles on-the-go with a range of themes from colors & shapes to Squiggles On-the-Go Outdoor.

4) You ball up your jacket, sweater, extra shirt and hand it to your sleepy child. Or, perhaps (if you are at all like me), use it to prop up the infant's head who's neck seems to get in an ergonomically inappropriate way, even in the carseat. This is definitely the economical choice.
The KTH Alternative: Uglydolls. What you say? Well, they are so Ugly, they really are quite CUTE, and the original sized Uglydoll is not only a kid favorite take-along stuffed friend, but makes a fine, soft, crushable pillow.
OR, perhaps a ladybug or a frog is more appealing to you and your child? Check out our kid-sized neck pillows (they are even on SALE!_ - a friend and a pillow. Very cute (and, not ugly at all!)

5) Lastly, here's a game that admittedly, could be played in my handbag. "Find-It", meaning, can you find the penny? the lip balm? the keys? a pen? In the bag?
The KTH alternative: The (real) Find It Games, "a contained adventure" that will have your kids (and you) shaking, manipulating, searching and checking them off the list. Make up games with it, time each other, challenge each other to find something within a certain period of time. Comes in Kid Version, Original and Beach themed. For those a bit younger (3 and up), the I Spy Bags are just the ticket , as they are more malleable, made of fleece, and easier to find the items on the sewn-in list on the back. Either choice doesn't have any loose parts, and lots of fun packed into a safe 'container.

Well, we can't give away all of our secrets in one month, but thanks for reading!

We also want to note that we are celebrating ONE YEAR of KidsTravelHappy.com, as we launched October 20th, 2009. We are not hosting a giveaway on this BLOG this month, but we want EVERYONE to win by saving 20% off any order now through the end of the month (and, with our FREE shipping deal for the month of September, this is a GREAT deal). Just use Coupon Code "Celebrate1" (that's a number ONE at the end, and please do NOT include the quotations), in the coupon code spot at checkout. Thank you for your support!

MAPS tell you so much about an Area

We love maps, all kinds, as they provide a huge range of easy to look at information about an area. And, we're NOT talking about maps that highlight 'attractions', 'top restaurants' or the nearest 'rest area' (although, admittedly the latter can be very important!)

We feel that when we are planning a trip it's important to learn about topography, culture, geology, climate and historical landmarks, you know, all that 'educational' stuff. BUT, it's all so interesting. Have your doubts? We find kids really like the interaction, and pictorial depiction of information on a map. It's visual.

Here's a quick list of 5 basic map types, sites we like to use, and a couple of suggestions of what to do with them.... (each type is a 'blog topic' in itself, and may still become one, but we are going 'light' for now!)

• Road Maps: we're all probably most familiar with these. These are the ones with various quality roads, from major highways to minor dirt roads. They also have cities, towns, railways, airports, and some places of interest. We like to go to Google Maps or Expedia and print out simple maps for our kids to follow along when we drive somewhere. Doesn't even have to be that far (their attention spans don't usually last hours on end for 'navigation' anyway). Also, AAA is a great resource for these types of maps
  
• Climate Maps: these types of maps tell about weather, rain/snow etc., making them extremely useful when planning a trip! You may be headed to a warm place, but did you realize it may also be monsoon season?
  
• Resource Maps (also included in this map group is 'Economic'): this type of map features natural resources of an area, which often reflects the economy of a region. We like to use these maps to teach kids about where things they may use everyday come from. Although we love to buy local, sometimes (and some seasons) things must come from far away. It's also good for kids to understand where major things come from, such as oil, or lumber.
  
• Political Maps: these maps show state and/or national boundaries, and usually include capital cities. We like to make quiz each other (even as an adult, I must sadly admit, my country capital knowledge is NOT as good as I wish it were), and in doing so, we learn as much as the kids do. Want to make it simpler? Just teach the capitals of the states you will take your next road trip through, or the next country you fly to.
  
• Physical Maps (and this could include Topographic - one of our favorites, and Geologic): this type of map shows the physical features of an area, such as bodies of water and mountains. Plan a hike, and use the map to 'predict' the topography, or the "ups & downs" you may encounter along the way. Will it be steep? Is there a river crossing? You can even do this in your own back yard. Print out your own topo maps for FREE HERE.

Some of the best maps we've found for kids that show a combination of the map types listed above including animals that live in certain areas are from eeBoo.

* This Land is Your Land (map of USA at top)
* Laminated World Map

A few MAP Resources we like

• KidsGeo.com - a great geology and geography site for kids
• A listing of World Map Resources (GREAT list)
• A listing of USA Map Resources (another GREAT one)
• What is a Map (and More!)
• How Stuff Works "Geography" (with LOTS of links)
• FREE Map Games and other fun stuff

Hope we can convince you (or better yet, your kids!) that maps are FUN tools to visually learn about an area.

Lots of Outdoor fun had by all

Thinking back to the "Island Canoe Camping", it surely went without a hitch, thanks to great weather, friends, food and fun. I think many people would be surprised about the ease of entertaining kids with no real toys at all.

At 'maximum' capacity we had 7 kids ranging from 3 to 8 years of age, and they ALL played together with stuff they found on the island the majority of the time.

The (simple) highlights

• stick collection
• fairy searches
• hiking
• swimming
• paddling (canoeing)
• rock throwing (this was NOT the best activity, but entertaining nonetheless!)
• fishing
• cooking
• marshmallow roasting

The other great thing, is that by the time darkness arrived (by 7:30-8PM), the kids were tired and ready to go to sleep. This was awesome as I often forget how fun it is to have some uninterrupted adult conversation around the campfire!

We spent 2 nights at Student's Island on Mooselookmeguntic Lake in Western Maine. A nice map of the sites can be found HERE. It's primitive camping (bring your own water, or boil lake water, purify it etc.), with outhouses (which, frankly, cracked me us as they had air fresheners in them that were "NEW CAR SCENT" ?! NOT exactly an 'outdoorsy' smell!). Which reminds me, always have a good hand washing station set up, with biodegradable soap, and a towel for the kids (and adults, of course).

Every time we take our kids in the Outdoors (which, thankfully is quite often) I am reminded what a fine experience it is for them - to learn about the stars, collect rocks, live without luxury, and play (so important to their learning). I find it hard to believe that most would NOT 'travel happy' with any family that takes the time and planning to give them outdoor experiences. To top it all off, they are relatively inexpensive endeavors. Don't have a canoe? Camping gear? Contact a spot you are interested in going to, and you'll likely be able to rent all that you need, and not even have to schlep it to your destination. Easy for mom & dad as well!!

Rental Gear Ideas

• REI rents gear HERE
  
• GITTO - get into the outdoors is a great site
• check local outdoor shops near your home or your destination
• where we were, the campsite rental location had boats, wood, water containers etc. right there at the shoreside

Lastly, a great book for kids and adults as well is CAMP OUT: The Ultimate Kid's Guide - tons of outdoor games, things to discover, menu ideas, star charts, animal prints guide, tree identification, clouds, weather, build a sun dial and much more!

As we left the Preserve, we made our reservation for 2010 (can't wait!) - a family tradition in the making.

Enjoying the Preparation as much as the Trip?!

I've just sent my oldest off to 1st grade this week, and with Labor Day on the horizon, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by the thought of a 2-night camping trip we have planned with friends. Not that camping is too big of a deal, but when we add the element of 'island' and canoeing to that island, it gets a bit more complicated.

My first reaction is that it's a LOT of work for a couple of days, 3 other families, kids, meal planning, bugs (yes, our screwed up climate has brought Maine the seemingly longest bug season ever), gear, gear, gear. Don't get me wrong, I am an outdoors person, and in fact, LOVE that my husband and I have collected over the years, piles of fine gear. I am excited to use it. But, with the start of school, moving across town to a new home, my business, etc. it seems like another thing to add to the list.

So, I pause. Deep breath. (another few deep breaths...)

Now, preparation aside, it's going to be great. Unplugged, beach play, paddling, good conversation, great food (we always eat well, and thankfully, I've been fortunate to have equally skilled cooks as friends!), and for all the reasons in a previous paragraph, the PERFECT time to get away from it all. It's like anything else, make a bunch of excuses, don't go, regret it vs. commit to it, enjoy the planning and anticipation, NO regrets.

One thing I have realized is that when packing for these sort of 'trips', even though we are only driving a couple of hours, then paddling a canoe 1/2-mile or so, with everything else going on, I have NO time to really think about what I need to pack. Thankfully (yes, I'm anal this way), I have an excel workbook full of packing lists, and each sheet is a different type of trip, which I faithfully update post-trip with all those things I should have brought. These lists are a little work, but in the end, prevent re-writing, and remembering everything, every time.

As a revel in my overwhelming list from the last camping trip, I have added a 'menu' section, so as not to overpack food for less than 48 total hours. This has become especially helpful for pre-trip grocery shopping, condiment packing, etc.

As a group, we have picked 2 themes, one for Saturday's dinner (Caribbean) and one for Sunday's dinner (Asian), so, we are bringing a pot of properly themed 'stew', and Sushi for Sunday.

Anyone want to join us? Next post will be a follow up to what we did, how we entertained the kids, what we discovered, learned, and won't do again!!

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Check it out, and you could be shopping with us soon!! Contest ends August 29th.

Packing with 'Multi-Purpose' in Mind (so there's room for the FUN stuff!)

My husband and I used to compete in Adventure Races (long story), where we usually had to carry everything we needed for a certain period of time(a few hours to more than a week at a time). The lighter our backpacks (see my tiny pack in photo for a race in the mountains of Switzerland), the faster we could travel. Thus, we analyzed every piece of gear we had, and we would do our best to bring things that had multiple uses – for example, we would plan to use the pad in our backpack as our emergency sleeping pad, or we would cut the handle off a toothbrush to save weight.

Well, we realized with kids that these measures don’t ALWAYS apply, and are NOT always practical, but the philosophy itself IS very practical.

When packing for a trip (a few examples of multi-use items)

• do your items have as many uses as possible?
• could you use the vinyl travel play mat as a changing pad in a pinch?
• the child soft carrier could make a great pillow if necessary.

When going on a trip (especially by air), we will lay out all of the items, then try to assess the need and uses for each item. Yes, sounds a bit overkill, but with all of the charges for luggage these days, it’s worth the savings. We also make sure each child has a reasonable carry-on bag that can be filled with (pretty much) whatever they want. A critical thing to think about with a child’s carry-on is that inevitably, the adults are going to have to carry it at some point (note in picture, my husband with 2 rolling bags, plus kids' Trunkis, and our then, 2-year old boy!). So, we recommend taking that into account when having a child choose a bag for the trip. Some kid-sized products ARE adorable, but when filled, too heavy for the child and too tiny for an adult to carry, thus becoming cumbersome during any layover, plane change, or even loading into and out of a vehicle. (we are all about making sure "adults travel happy too"!)

Why go thru all of this trouble? Well, in the end, it's the toys, games, and activities that are going to make the kids happy - they don't care about how many outfits they have (in fact, left to his own, my 6-yr old would wear the same thing day after day, clean or not). Plus, if you stay somewhere with laundry facilities be it a hotel, campground, any town will have one, etc.. you can just WASH the clothes and save the space! A little laundry detergent and a roll of quarters is MUCH cheaper than an additional bag, and take in the experience. Laundromats are alway a fun mix of experiences, and a good way to force some slow down time (go find a nice cafe while you're waiting....)

OK, so that's really just my opinion, here are a few links to other sites and specific ideas for packing LIGHT to travel with children.

• Family Road Trip Packing - Car Vacations with Children
• 13 tips for Packing Light with Small Children (More air travel oriented)
• How to pack light for a Family Vacation
• Some useful Basic Packing Lists

The above links will surely lead you to even more info, and once you've 'packed small' don't forget to visit us for to keep you children busy and 'traveling happy'.