Visiting the National Parks... where to go (or NOT)

There are nearly 400 National Parks in the United States, and they provide a great way to save money and give the kids a great travel experience (yes even as the cold weather approaches).

Most popular - do you have a guess? Grand Canyon? Yellowstone? No, it's the Great Smokies National Park in TN/NC SEE MORE. With over 800 miles of hiking trails. however, you will still be able to get away from others if you choose!

Check out some of the less visited (but equally spectacular) in a pictoral Slide show (this is wehre we'd rather go, personally!)

Search ALL National Parks here: National Park Links

And, don't forget, KidsTravelHappy.com is always ready with suggestions to keep little (and NOT so little) ones busy on that next road trip.

• See ALL Road trip toys & games
• Let everyone know where you are going with the Magnet Message Maker Boredom Breakers Kit Make fun bumper stickers customized for YOUR trip!
  
• Flashcards WORLD landmarks are perfect to pass the miles and learn about (plan!) the NEXT travel destinations
• Road Maps for Kids are a fun way to keep kids involved with navigation, or relative placement of states in the United States (and other fun facts too!)
  

Take your kids once a year (or more, of course) to this great network of protected lands, which the US can take credit for establishing. You'll find yourself enjoying it as much as the kids (and, perhaps more)

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!!

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'.

Documents & Regulations for Travel

With my Passport renewal due in October, and setting our sites on visiting Costa Rica with the kids in 2010, I have started to look into renewal costs, how much it will cost for the kids etc.

In a nutshell, a U.S. Adult Passport (ages 16 and Up) costs $100
If you already have a U.S. Passport and meet certain requirements, you can renew through the mail and save $25.

WHTI (Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative) - regulations.
These just changed the 1st of June. Do you know what these changes are?
Generally, (and I'm quoting) "The goal of WHTI is to facilitate entry for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors, while strengthening U.S. border security. Standard documents will enable the Department of Homeland Security to quickly and reliably identify a traveler."
MORE INFO HERE.

Wondering what (if any) type of ID your Kids need these days? Here's some general info, and then see our 'link-list' below for more detailed information.

• TSA Adult ID requirements
• Generally speaking, minors Domestic U.S. travel requirements for identification are NONE, however, it is highly recommended that for safety issues children have some form of I.D. (on their body somewhere) whenever they travel
• Check with your airline for their specific requirements which may vary
• There are additional requirements for children traveling SOLO, this link is a great resource for required documentation for that type of travel
  

What's a Passport Card?
A Passport Card has the same validity as a Passport (see above), but is only valid to enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry. It cannot be used for International AIR travel (even to any of the previously mentioned bordering countries). The advantage of a Passport Card is that it is wallet sized, and cheaper, $45 for an adult, $35 for those 16 and under, and only $20 to renew.

So, you've determined that you need a Passport, NOT the Passport Card, now what?
For those applying for the first time, it will cost you $100 for a 10 year Passport if you are 16 and over, and $85 for first time applicants under 16. Minor Passports must be renewed every 5 years. First time applicants MUST go and apply in person .

Other links, costs and important travel document information.

• U.S. Passport resources, lead times, costs
• International Travel Information by country
• Center of Disease Control - traveler's health
• Kids & Air Travel without an Adult

The bottom line? All these things need proper planning, Passports can take a while (READ "4-8 WEEKS!"), unless you are willing to pay many times worth their value. If you are planning an international trip in the near future, file your application. Kids need Passports for international travel, and check with your airline for domestic travel.

When you plan ahead you can make sure everyone 'travels happy'!

JetWithKids.com

We love sharing sites that make travel with kids just a little more 'happy' (for the adults especially!) If you are embarking upon a trip with your kids that involves airplanes, check out JetWithKids.com for all kinds of information you need and information you didn't even KNOW you needed.

To quote their website "Jet With Kids.com was created by Jet Seven, Inc., as an informative site for anyone flying with children. A panel of over 20 veteran travel experts and pediatricians are contributors to the resources of the book Jet With Kids. From important documentation requirements to the best toys on planes, even the true hard facts about infant safety on planes, this site is dedicated to changing aviation travel from a dreaded transportation necessity and "nightmare" to an enjoyable and safe part of the trip for all involved."

They have their own book, product reviews, resources & partner section, and ways to get in touch. They can also be followed on twitter @JetWithKids, or their blog.

At KidsTravelHappy.com we share the goal with JetWithKids.com of making travel easier for families with kids. Showing kids the world will help them understand how similar they are to other children anywhere, and will grow their minds in the process. Don't be afraid to travel with kids, just make sure you have all the information, and the tools to make sure your "kids travel happy".