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!!
If you are like me, it's back to school time (well, in a couple of weeks, but it'll all be here too soon). I know some kids are already back, but up here in Maine, we still have a few precious days!
Anyway, I wanted to get a little info out there about some of the fun Back to School items we have at KidsTravelHappy.com - for lunch packing, recess, after school, and things in between.
We've made a new category to make these easy to searchback to school", one category of which is "lunch & drink holders". We've got some fun ones. Make sure to check out Crocodile Creeks adorable Stainless Steel water bottles for just $9.99. We love the Laptop Lunch systems from Obentec. They are an excellent way to save plastic bags, and other 'disposables'. I shutter to think about all of the waste generated by pre-packed snacks, and drinks for kids' lunches - convenient, but not so friendly to the landfills. Laptop Lunch Bento Boxes come with an outside Main container, 5 smaller container, 2 lids, a Laptop Lunch User Manual/Recipe Idea book, and a stainless steel fork and spoon set. Upgrade this to the Complete Lunch Kit and get the insulated 'laptop' case that easily contains the boxes, as well as the additional BPA-free water bottle. The insulated case also has a mesh pocket for an ice pack (note: ice pack is NOT included).
The Boxes and the Complete Kits come in various colors, and we are giving away a COMPLETE Laptop Lunch System in Pink this week in honor of Back to School. (and, if the winner REALLY doesn't want pink, we're flexible!) It's easy to WIN. There are several ways to earn entries, and we welcome as many or few as you care to
become a follower of the BLOG (on the right-hand column)
Well, moving on from vegetarian fare, to lower calorie, wooden food options. Wooden Play Food is perfect for kids and adults, as it never spoils, always looks fresh, you can add as much of it to your plate as you want, and you won't put on a pound... Obviously, you can't actually eat it, which is its only down-side, but with a couple of cloth bags full of some of our favorite 'in-edibles' you will be ready for your next picnic, gourmet snack, or tea time with teddy, a pet, your family, or maybe someone new you meet along your next journey (oh, and don't forget any and all imaginary friends!).
Now down to the tasty bits 1) Breakfast is not complete without the PlanActivity Breakfast Menu with Serving tray. This set promotes healthy eating choices, and will get kids 'fueled' up for the day. Made of wood, this set is durable for years of play. Set includes all in the picture below including: two slices of bread & a bun, sausage, bacon, cheese, fried egg, boiled egg, salt and pepper shakers and a tray to serve oneself or bring to share with others.
2) Healthy Snacks from PlanActivity Fruits & Veggie Set with or Without a Wooden Tray The set WITH the tray comes with 8 pieces of fruit and veggies (plus knife), and the set WITHOUT the tray comes with 5 pieces of fruit and veggies. Both sets come with a wooden 'knife' which 'cuts' through the food and makes a great sound as it breaks through the 'velcro' holding the food together. Makes teaching about healthy snacks LOTS of fun.
3) Dessert After all that healthy stuff, it's time to celebrate with Melissa & Doug's Wooden Birthday Cake Set The complete set comes with 6-slices and 19 toppings (strawberries, jellybeans, and gumdrops), decorative storage box, serving plate & serving spatula, and 7 candles (all wooden and attach with velcro). Cake even makes 'slicing' sound when 'cut' with wooden utencils. Kids will love celebrating their birthday over and over.
4) The Wooden Tea Set from PlanActivity is an adorable set for pretend play (it is NOT recommended that REAL liquids be put in these, however). Gather friends real & imaginary for hours of conversation, trip planning, and more. We LOVE that this set has wooden tea bags, sugar cubes, spoons, cups, saucers, and tea pot. The tea is never too hot or too cold, and the pot never empties. Add to the birthday cake for an exquisite role play experience. All of the items pack small enough for on the go as well!
Lastly, we want to add that these are long-lasting, quality sets, that will provide years of fun at home, grandparents, or on-the-go.
In relation to eating vegetarian I feel compelled to tell a story of traveling in California a few years back (at the time our now 6 year old was only 3 months old). Now, this is NOT a story to try to convert anyone to any sort of eating style, as it is my husband and my choice to raise our children vegetarian (and, we use that term loosely, as we are technically lacto-ovo meaning we eat dairy and egg products, as well as wild caught fish). I will also point out that if our children WANT to try red meat (or chicken, pork, hot dogs... is that a meat?), we are totally OK with it, they just won't get it at home. This story can be related also to any family with a member (or members) with any type of special dietary need.
Back to my original story, we're in CA, late at night, with 8 of us and our RV outside of Yosemite looking for dinner for both carnivores and omnivores. The result (sigh) Denny's. Starving, we all pile into our 'round' seating arrangement, scour the menu, and 4 of us opt for the 'veggie' burger. It comes out, I bite into it first, and MY first thought... NOT veggie burger. We bring this immediately to the attention of our waitron, she goes back to the cook and asks. We are then assured that the burgers are in fact 'Boca' Burgers, and skeptically, the other 3 take bites of their burgers. The consensus... animal MEAT. So, at this point (and it's approx 11PM, mind you), we get the attention of the waitron again, she goes back, is shown the box, and Boca Burger it is (as far as we know). Well, we all ate the burgers (with some hesitation, but we were hungry!), and no one was ill in the AM (I hadn't had red meat for 15 years), so I now question what was added to the burger to make it taste so 'meaty' (the same grill as the meat burgers?)
Result of this experience.. NOTE TO SELF, have a better idea of late night (or any time of day) veggie protein options wherever I travel.
I've searched the web in the past and here are some of the resources I've used since, starting with my favorite.
The Happy Cow - a Compassionate Eating Guide: a vegetarian restaurant guide and directory of health food stores, has a global directory, reviews, search options and more
Vegetarian USA - the Vegetarian Travel Guide, FREE city and state guides (USA): excellent resource for vegetarians, from lodging, to health food stores & restaurants
VegDining.com - 'your online guide to vegetarian dining around the world': good resource, but requires membership to enjoy the best benefits, worth a look, however
We also suggest (in the US) at Chamber of Commerce sites, which usually have good local directories
A few other thoughts when choosing a Restaurant while traveling
Sitting in a hotel somewhere? Pick the consierge's brain, thumb throught the yellow pages, ask locals
pick up a local paper and browse the ads, take note while sight-seeing or drving around somewhere, and see what looks popular
always carry some non-perishable snacks for yourself and your kids while on the quest for a dinner location, they will tie you over so you don't have to settle for choosing among a couple of veggie options on a menu at a non-vegetarian restaurant. If you are a vegetarian (or, have a desire for sea food, kosher food, or other special dietary need) it's worth finding a place where the entire menu is an option.
our last bit of advice (and thus the 'snack' tip above) is to start looking for a place to eat before you NEED to eat (and, more importantly, before the KIDS need to eat). It will save you from settling for anywhere, and avoid a child glucose crash meltdown
And, as a website specializing in making sure "kids Travel Happy" - it's always good to have things to do! Check out our Family Time Dinner Games
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.
