When I started blogging about family travel just a few years ago, it felt like there were just a handful of us saying "it's ok, just get on that plane!" The family travel blog space has grown a ton in the few short years that I have been blogging, and now there are so many Family Travel Blogs that it is getting harder and harder for me to keep track of all the new voices writing about family travel. I thought it would be helpful and fun to make a "complete" list of Family Travel Bloggers. If you enjoy reading about family travel, go explore the list, I bet you'll find a family doing something you never thought possible!
More Stats and Details
We also collected some helpful stats that don't quite fit on this page. Those stats include:
email address, monthly unique visitors (AUV), Twitter followers, RSS Feed size, closest airport, Facebook Fan Page URL, whether the blogger has a newsletter, whether the blogger accepts advertising, topics covered, other outlets (print and online), professional affiliations and accolades, whether the blogger produces audio or video
For the full list with all the bloggie details, click here (this list is automatically refreshed as new bloggers add their sites)
To receive the family travel bloggers list in spreadsheet format as an email attachment, send me email: Debbie AT deliciousbaby DOT com
Add Your Blog
If you are a family travel blogger, you can click here to add yourself to the family travel blogger list.
2011 Family Travel Bloggers List
There are 111 Family Travel Blogs on this list. This list is up to date as of July 2011
- Name of Website / Company Twitter: Twitter ID - One Sentence Description
- 1 Dad, 1 Kid, 1 Crazy Adventure Twitter: @1Dad1Kid - Single dad and young son traveling the world indefinitely.
- 500 Places With Kids Twitter: @500placeswkids - A fun family-friendly blog containing suggested itineraries, travel tips, and reviews on tours/adventures/sites as they work their way through Frommer's 500 Places to Take Your Kids Before They Grow Up.
- accompanied minors Twitter: - travel adventures with small ones
- Adventures for Families Twitter: @FamilyTreks - The latest news, tips, and deals for families who love to travel.
- Albany Kid Twitter: @sandrafoyt @albanykidNY - Fun and educational family adventures in New York, and beyond!
- All Over the Map Twitter: @tweetthemap @alloverthemapdc - All Over the Map is a site about experiential travel with kids. We're talking about extended periods of cultural immersion via volunteer experiences, homestays, and the like.
- Around the World with Luca Twitter: @Linda_Phil_Luca - In summer 2010, Linda, Phil and 2 year old Luca set off around the world by bike. They are currently in Saigon, where they are volunteering for an orphanage, after which they are cycling the length of Vietnam along the coastal highway.
- Arrows Sent Forth Twitter: @arrowssentforth - Adventures at home and away with kids. Based in Columbus, Indiana.
- At Home in the World Twitter: - Canadian Family of 6 sell their home to travel long term.
- Baby Loves to Travel Twitter: @BabyLuvs2Travel - Global travel with your kids should be simple and fun!
- Backpack To Buggy Twitter: @backpacktobuggy - Travel with the kids, not for the kids.
- Budget Travel Adventures Twitter: @budgettravelsac - Budget traveler and father who seeks to encourage people to explore their world, get the most out of their travels, and make a positive difference in the lives of their families and the world around them.
- Canfield of Dreams Twitter: @nomadcanfields - If we come, they'd better build it...
- Cascadia Kids Twitter: @cascadiakids - Advice, reviews and tips for family travel in Washington, Oregon and British Columbia.
- Cascadia Kids Twitter: @cascadiakids - Family travel advice for the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia
- Child Mode Twitter: @childmode @travelermode @nadiacarriere - We want to provide an all-in-one resource for parents looking for trendy apparel and products for their children as well as top news & reviews in family travel.
- Ciao Bambino! Twitter: @CiaoBambino - Ciao Bambino is an award-winning family travel resource featuring tips, destination-related advice, and comprehensive hotel and resort reviews for all ages and interests.
- Dana Rebmann Twitter: @drebmann - Traveling doesn't end when you kids, it gets better.
- DeliciousBaby - Making Travel With Kids Fun Twitter: @deliciousbaby @tripdoc - Inspiring travel stories, practical travel tips, and kid-friendly city guides from a mom of three.
- Family Adventure Guidebooks Twitter: @bridgetasmith - I'm the author of The Unauthorized Legoland Guidebook, and I blog about my family's adventures in Carlsbad and beyond.
- Family on Bikes Twitter: @familyonbikes - Family of four rode our bikes 17,000 miles from Alaska to Argentina
- Family Rambling Twitter: @iatraveler - To inspire families to travel together- no destination is too close to create lasting memories!
- Family Travel Twitter: @lohayes - Your trusted source for Family Travel information and inspiration.
- Family Travel Forum Twitter: @familytravel4um - Family Travel Forum's global network of frequently traveling families & industry experts contribute family vacation reviews & trip planning ideas to our websites and travel guidebooks.
- FamilyVagabonding Twitter: @powellberger - Roadschool family on an open-ended journey of education, discovery and adventure.
- Field Trips with Sue Twitter: @suerodman - Things to do with kids in metro Atlanta and vacations with kids from metro Atlanta
- FindandGoSeek Twitter: @MissMagpieFGS - Vermont's Insider Guide to Kid-Friendly Fun
- Frisco Kids Twitter: @friscokids - Your guide to kid-friendly events and day trips around the San Francisco Bay Area...and beyond
- Globetrotting Mama Twitter: @greenwooddavis - Award winning travel journalist Heather Greenwood Davis and her young family detail a 1 year around the world adventure.
- Go BIG or Go Home Twitter: @GoBIG_GoHome - What happens when a small-town family visits the "world's largest..." whatever!
- Gone with the Family Twitter: @GoneWithFamily - A blog by a Mom who has been traveling for more than 14 years with kids in tow - including personal trip reports, news and tips about traveling with kids.
- Got Passport Twitter: @GotPassport - Psychologist. Social Worker. 8yo. Travel. Volunteer. Teach. Learn. Experience. Inspire Action.
- Have Baby Will Travel Twitter: @hvbabywilltrvl - Have Baby Will Travel's mission is to motivate, inspire and help families travel with their babies, toddlers, and young children.
- Hit The Road Twitter: @travelHTR - "Hit the Road is a web series that takes active and adventurous families on unusual journeys to places that are not in tourist guidebooks.
"
- http://familyadventures.com/blog Twitter: @FamAdventures - We're the oldest adventure travel company devoted to family travel.
- Hudson Valley Good Stuff Twitter: girlgumption - Hudson Valley Good Stuff: Where to Eat, Play, and Recharge Your Spirit in the Hudson Valley
- independant Twitter: @yambirdie - Based in British Columbia, family-focused adventure travel and women-centred soft adventure photography, video and words for print and web.
- Ireland With Kids Twitter: @iatraveler - To share the beauty of Ireland and the family friendliness that may not be so easy to find in the brochures.
- It's a small world after all Twitter: @vwallop - We're a family of five from London, travelling around the world with what we can carry on our backs.
- Jersey Kids Twitter: @jerseykids - Your guide to family-friendly day trips in New Jersey, New York...and beyond
- Kids Go West Twitter: @kidsgowest - Advice, tips and tales of family travel in the western United States.
- Little Nomads Twitter: @littlenomads - Little Nomads is about reaching out to parents who are "researching and searching" for tips and advice on finding the best family holidays and destinations for their family.
- Livin On The Road Twitter: @livinontheroad - Travelling Australia indefinately in an RV with four kids.
- LoveBaby LoveTravel Twitter: @lovebabytravel - A website dedicated to sharing family travel tips.
- Mini Globetrotters Twitter: @MiniGTs - Former solo adventure traveler, doing it all with tot-in-tow!
- Mo Travels Twitter: @monique_rubin - Monique's blog, Mo Travels, documents her life as an expat living in The Netherlands, her travels with her family and her quest to "run the world" one destination race at a time.
- Mommy Travels Twitter: @mommytravels - Family Travel blog with info on destinations to visit with and with out children all over the world; kids activities, hotel reviews, travel tips and military discounts.
- National Geographic Traveler's Intelligent Travel Twitter: @JenssTravel - A year ago, Rainer Jenss traveled around the world with his wife and two sons and blogged about his experience here on Intelligent Travel.
- New Life on the Road Twitter: @NewLifeOnRoad - A family of seven (five boys) looking for more out of life, travelling Australia.
- Nicole Faires Twitter: @nicolefaires @johnfaires - Family of five living in a fancy converted school bus travelling North America touring organic farms.
- NYCityMama: Travel, Food & Other Adventures Twitter: @nycitymama - A catalogue of travel and food adventures out proving to families that it is possible to enjoy all travel has to offer, either close to home or on the road, with kids or not, all without breaking the bank.
- Orlandoescape.com Twitter: @orlandoescape ,@kiksmedia - Latest travel ideas for your Orlando vacation
- Pit Stops for Kids Twitter: @pitstopsforkids - Real parent reviews of destination resorts, hotels, and travel experiences plus all the interstate and airport pit stops you'll need along the way!
- Postcards from Christina Twitter: @cklenotic - Will travel for food. Have baby. Check out our adventures!
- Preparing For Takeoff Twitter: - Planning adventure travel and activities for your family.
- R We There Yet Mom? Twitter: @Rwethereyetmom - Family travel, destinations, tips, and fun submitted & shared by the Family Traveler - YOU!
- Raising Miro on the Road of Life Travel Blog & Podcast Twitter: @ilainie - A single mom & son's travel blog & podcast, chronicling their nomadic adventures as they travel around the world together; Raising Miro on the Road of Life.
- Roaming Tales Twitter: @niltiac @roamingtales - New mum blogging about travel, food and life.
- RV Puzzled Twitter: - Family of 5 through birth/adoption. We are making the life of a traveling consultant work FOR us. We leased an RV and hit the road.
- Sherri May's Traveling Classroom Twitter: - Ideas and information for great learning day trips and vacations.
- Snaps & Blabs Twitter: @snapsandblabs - A family of five around the world on a tight budget - photography and opinion driven.
- Sophie's World Twitter: @SophieR - Wandering the world, searching for its curious and often unsung corners - mostly with children, sometimes solo.
- Soul Travelers 3 Family Travel Twitter: @soultravelers3 - Family traveling world non-stop for 5 years to 42 countries on 5 continents on $23/day per person with trilingual kiddo!
- SpecialNeedsTravelMom Twitter: @ionMyAdventures - Life is your adventure..Live it! A site to encourage moms of special needs kids.
- Suitcases and Sippy Cups Twitter: - Packing, passports, and the pursuit of family.
- That's Hamori Twitter: thatshamori - Canadian Family of 4 sell it all to travel Europe in VW van, Budapest-South France, buy a B&B, and start to live their life's dream.
- The Carey Adventures Twitter: @pwcarey - The Carey Adventures: Taking "Hey! Look how cute and awesome my kid is!" to a whole new level.
- The Culture Mom/MaxO Social Media Twitter: @theculturemom - For moms not ready to give up sushi for hot dogs.
- The Edventure Project Twitter: @edventuremama - We're a family with four kids on an open-ended world tour combining education & adventure; we've cycled three continents, backpacked, road tripped and spent months going deep instead of wide.
- The Family Suitcase Twitter: @familysuitcase - Family Travel...Near and Far
- The Great Family Escape Twitter: @familyescape - Family of 4 seeking to travel the world forever and break free from convention.
- The Mother of All Trips Twitter: @motherofalltrip - Part travelogue, part memoir, part meditation on motherhood, with just a dash of how-to.
- The Q Family Adventures Twitter: @TheQFamily , @AtlantaWithKid - A family travel blog to help inspire family to travel one adventure at a time.
- The Travel Pen Twitter: - A community for cultural learning, tips on living and traveling abroad, and practical advice.
- The Traveler's Way Twitter: @JAIngersoll - Interested in family, baby-boomer and multi -generational travel but know the importance of kid-free escapes to rejuvenate and restore sanity.
- The Traveler's Way Twitter: @gregseiter - I'm a passionate and versatile Midwest-based travel enthusiast who enjoys sharing trips with my wife and two pre-teen children.
- The Travelers Way Twitter: @flyawaycafe, @thetravelersway - The Travelers Way provides informational and inspirational travel recommendations for curious Baby Boomer travelers.
- the travelling mom Twitter: @travelling_mom - The modern mom's guide to travel sanity with your family. How-to tips, travel advice and inspiration for planning a fun and educational family holiday.
- The Vacation Gals Twitter: @karasw, @thevacationgals - TheVacationGals.com is co-owned by three professional travel writers and moms. We cover not only family travel, but also romantic escapes, girlfriend getaways, travel tips and travel gear.
- The Wandering Taco Twitter: @wandering_taco - "Wandering in and out of San Francisco, we're a family of four hoping to broaden our young boys' perspective of the world, show them our favorite places, and hopefully peak their curiosity.
"
- The Working Mom's Travels Twitter: @WorkMomTravels - Proving that work, family, and travel all are possible!
- The World is Calling Twitter: @TheWorldCalls - Exploring the world as a family (and occasionally as parents-only), one stop at a time.
- To Europe With Kids Twitter: @ToEuropeWithKid - I'm a Europhile - I love traveling to Europe and my kids do, too!
- Travel and History Twitter: @JoeDuck - Travel...History...Go!
- Travel Experta Twitter: @marinavillatoro - Family travel in Central America.
- Travel Mamas Twitter: @TravelMamas @tree_travel - A site for anyone who wants to travel with children...and stay sane!
- Travel Savvy Mom Twitter: @travelsavvymom - Writer, mom of two, and founder of Travel Savvy Mom. I see and blog about the funny side of family travel. Yes, there is one.
- Travel Veggie Mom Twitter: @judy511 - adventure travel and vegetarian food
- Travel with Teens and Tweens Twitter: @travelwithteens - Reviews, resources and inspiration for families planning travel with kids ages 10-19.
- TravelGoon Twitter: @travelgoon @gbkgwyneth - TravelGoon is a chronicle of the travels of me, Gwyneth, and my two girls, aged 12 and 8, in the Southeast US and beyond.
- Traveling Mamas Twitter: @CajunMama @TravelingMamas - Group travel blog written by moms for moms.
- Travels with a Nine Year Old Twitter: @mummy_t - Mother and son, travelling longterm, enjoy intrepid adventures in a fabulous world
- Travels with Baby Twitter: @travelswithbaby - Family travel tips and advice from the author of the award-winning Travels with Baby guidebooks and blog.
- Travels with Children Twitter: @minnemom - Specializing in budget-friendly Minnesota daytrips and American roadtrips.
- TravelSort Twitter: @TravelSort - TravelSort cuts through the clutter to help families plan their perfect vacation with curated city guides and personalized recommendations for kid-friendly hotels at prices up to 40% off.
- Trekaroo Twitter: @doubleadventure and @trekaroo - A travel website and community 100% focused on exploring and traveling with kids.
- Trekaroo Twitter: @mcfamaroo - The Southern California Destination Guroo for the family travel review website, Trekaroo.
- Tulip Family Travels Twitter: @tara_blogs - Useful information for everyday travelers wanting to explore despite limitations on time, budget, and family requirements. Around DC or around the world, with toddler in tow!
- Two Kids and a Map Twitter: @twokidsandamap - Traveling with our kids every chance we get and sharing our stories!
- Vagabond Family Twitter: @ccburns, @Vagabond_Family - VagabondFamily.org is built for parents or soon to be parents who want something different for themselves and their children.
- WalkingonTravels Twitter: @walkingontravel - When you won't let the kids stop your wanderlust, this is the place to go.
- Wandering Educators Twitter: @WanderingEds - A travel resource for global educators
- Wandering Off Twitter: @wandering_off - Wandering Off chronicles the adventures of our nomadic military family of three, currently based in San Antonio, Texas. Follow along as we relocate to Las Vegas and explore the American West.
- WanderMom.com Twitter: @wandermom - Resources for independent family travel.
- weelife Twitter: @jackieatweelife - I'm a freelance designer / writer mom who blogs about creating, learning, reading, playing, cooking and travelling.
- Where in the World Am I? Twitter: @StephanieSD - Living overseas and traveling the globe, now with a baby in tow.
- With 2 Kids In Tow, It's Backpacking We Go! Twitter: @with2kidsintow - Australian family with 2 preschoolers backpack through SEA, Sr Lanka & India for 12months through 2011.
- Worldschool Adventures Twitter: @worldschooled - A family of four slow-traveling around Asia.
- Familytraveltripsandtips Twitter: @thecolleenkelly - Family travel made easier with tips to U.S. and overseas destinations that are family friendly.
- Fourdotsonthemap.com Twitter: - Australian family travels around the world for 12 months.
Need More Detail?
For the full list with details about traffic numbers, twitter followers, affiliations and more, click here (this list is automatically refreshed as new bloggers add their sites)
To receive the family travel bloggers list in spreadsheet format as an email attachment, send me email: Debbie AT deliciousbaby DOT com
Add Your Blog
If you are a family travel blogger, you can click here to add yourself to the family travel blogger list. I'll update this post as needed.
Filed Under:
blogging
14 comments |
Posted on June 15, 2011 |
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TripDoc Vancouver, our new iPhone app is available for free in the AppStore. TripDoc Vancouver has:
- Map pins and addresses for all TBEX Parties and Events
- Recommendations from some of our favorite Travel Bloggers
- Add your own pins for recommendations from guidebooks, friends, websites, etc.
- Offline maps in downtown Vancouver
- Get directions from where you are to the place you want to go (online only)
- Jot down notes about what you liked, and send your recommendations to friends
Thank You
I want to thank all the bloggers who helped out by providing recommendations! It's been so fun to see people at TBEX using TripDoc Vancouver to find their way around! Specifically, I'd like to thank:
- The Carey Adventures who recommended Galiano Island
- the travelling mom who recommended the Greenheart Canopy Walkway, UBC Botanical Garden
- Parrots, Paddling and Ponderings who recommended Seasons Restaurant and the Bloedel Conservatory
- WhyGo Canada who recommended the Capilano Suspension Bridge , Grouse Mountain , Granville Island , Granville Island Brewing , La Belle Patate , Reifel Bird Sanctuary , Richmond Summer Night Market , Shannon Falls Provincial Park , and Bard on the Beach
- Kathleen Campbell who recommended the Lynn Canyon Park and Suspension Bridge , and Deep Cove Canoe and Kayak
- Sheri Doyle of pnwjourneys who recommended the Stanley Park seawall , Granville Island , Commercial Drive ,
Vij's ,
and Chambar
- Northwest Cheapsleeps who recommended The Manor Guest House and the Sylvia Hotel
- CascadiaKids.com who recommended Smoking Lily , Sciue , Aberdeen Centre , Guu ,
Caffe Artigiano, Japadog, Cafe Crepe,
Whole Foods, Afghan Horsemen , and Aphrodite's Organic Cafe & Pie Shop
Bloggers: Add Your Recommendations
We'll be doing a post-TBEX refresh of TripDoc Vancouver so that we can add recommendations from more Travel Bloggers and remove the TBEX specific information. Did you visit something wonderful on your trip to Vancouver? Adding it to our refresh of TripDoc Vancouver takes less than 5 minutes and gives you a link to your blog.
- Each of your recommendations will include your blog name and a link back to your full blog post so that anyone who uses the the TripDoc Vancouver iPhone app can visit your blog to read more.
- Link love from TripDoc.com and DeliciousBaby.com websites (links are “do follow”)
- All recommendations must be submitted here by Friday July 1. 2011
- P.S. We'll never use your recommendations as part of a paid app
Get Started Here:
TripDoc Vancouver Submission Form. It takes less than 5 minutes.
Related Links:
TripDoc Full Version travel planner for any city in the world
TripDoc Vancouver Free iPhone App
Filed Under:
tripdoc
1 comment |
Posted on June 12, 2011 |
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If you've ever been to Vancouver, you've probably wondered what's inside this iconic dome.
If you've gone to Vancouver with kids, though, you probably know - it's Science World, Vancouver's science museum. Like most science museums, it's loaded with hands on exhibits, but what I loved was how the museum's science shows took advantage of that high dome to do some really cool demos about propulsion (i.e. they shot a lot of rockets in the air!). What could be more fun for a geeky family like ours?
Related Links
City Guide: Vancouver with Kids
About Photo Friday:
You are invited to join us for Photo Friday! It's a great way to get to know other bloggers and to help them get to know you. Just post a "Photo Friday" picture on your own blog, and link directly to your post from the linky below (If your url is longer than 100 characters, you will need to use a url shortening service, like bit.ly)
What is Photo Friday?
- Post a travel photo on your site. It can be about any topic, as long as it is G-rated.
- The focus of the post should be on your photo.
- You don't need to be a professional photographer (I'm not), but do showcase your best work, and make it big enough to see well!
- It's nice to include a few sentences about the photo, but it is not required.
- Link back here so that your readers can see all the other great Photo Friday posts.
I never for a minute lose track of how lucky my kids and I have been to travel as much as we do. Mostly we travel at our own expense, but sometimes we're lucky enough to have someone, like the truly lovely folks at Tourism Vancouver help us find accommodations or free passes to local attractions.
I like to think the kids are mostly oblivious to it all, and certainly their opinions are uninfluenced - since they're never spending their own money. Still, something about this picture of Everest carrying a huge envelope filled with press material just cracks me up anyway. Someday he'll complain "mom, no normal kid has to carry a big envelope filled with glossy promotional material on vacation."
Related Links
A Blogger's Son Part 1
Vancouver
About Photo Friday:
You are invited to join us for Photo Friday! It's a great way to get to know other bloggers and to help them get to know you. Just post a "Photo Friday" picture on your own blog, and link directly to your post from the linky below (If your url is longer than 100 characters, you will need to use a url shortening service, like bit.ly)
What is Photo Friday?
- Post a travel photo on your site. It can be about any topic, as long as it is G-rated.
- The focus of the post should be on your photo.
- You don't need to be a professional photographer (I'm not), but do showcase your best work, and make it big enough to see well!
- It's nice to include a few sentences about the photo, but it is not required.
- Link back here so that your readers can see all the other great Photo Friday posts.
It felt like winter would never end in Seattle this year, and yet all of a sudden I find myself slathering sunscreen on the kids when we're out and about. Worse, I'm repeating the rush that I endure each year as we buy our shorts and swimsuits just as the stores start to close out on summer gear and bring in their fall collections. As I stock up for warm weather, I thought I'd share what's in my cart.
A Hat
Hats are tricky. It seems like the cutest styles don't have much of a brim, and don't offer much sun protection, and it can be hard to get kids to keep on a hat with ear flaps. I also prefer a hat with a strap so that the hat will stay on in windy weather.
The best choice I've found for for young kids is the iPlay Babywear Brim Hat
. They come in lots of colors, and range in size from newborn to 18 months.
For older kids, I like this Coolibar UPF 50+ Kids' Chlorine Resistant Bucket Sun Hat
And I'm wearing this San Diego Women's Ribbon Large Brim Hat
this year. I perked mine up with a cute flower pin from the women's accessories department.
Swim Diaper
All three of my kids have used these great iPlay White Ultimate Swim Diapers
They really do work better than disposables, and they're less expensive ($10 for a swim diaper you can use all season long instead of $11 for a pack of 18 disposables).
If you like the look of a more traditional swimming suit, you can either layer the swimdiaper underneath a swimsuit, or check out iPlay's Swim Trunks
that have the swim diaper built in or their Girls Tanksuits
Rash Guard Shirts
For infants and toddlers, I think a one-piece rashguard suit is the easiest way to go. There's no risk of a gap between the top and the bottom, and it's easier to put on than multiple pieces. The long sleeve suits let you use less sunscreen, but I think they end up being uncomfortable in hot weather once your child is out of the water, so I prefer a short sleeve suit. This year, I ordered a One-Piece Sunsuit by Iplay
. Amazon doesn't have the right size chart online, so I tracked it down and pasted it in here for you!
For older kids, Michelle Duffy Wandermom recommended these Lands End Rash Guard Shirts to me a few years ago. And she's right! They're affordable, come in great colors, and the quality is excellent. Best of all, I've had good luck finding them online off-season.
Sunscreen
Meg at Backpack to Buggy had a fabulous post on Safest Sunscreens for Kids a while back that's just jam-packed with great advice, so I won't try to repeat that here. (Note: Meg just posted an update to her original article about safe sunscreens)
What I will say is that for the past 5 years, I've ordered several tubes of Vanicream Sunscreen
at the beginning of summer. For us, this is the brand that works best - it doesn't irritate Everest's sensitive skin, it goes on easily and has never stained anyone's clothing, and while it's not cheap, I do get a lot of mileage out of a tube. Each tube is stamped with an expiration date, making it easy to discard the dregs of old tubes once they're past their prime (sunscreen typically lasts about a year). I also order a few sticks of Neutrogena Baby Sunblock Stick 
. These sticks are compact enough that I keep one in my purse at all times, and they work great when we find ourselves in the sunshine unexpectedly.
Sunglasses
In my opinion, this is a place to exercise caution. Remember that sunglasses can cause damage if they don't provide adequate UVA and UVB protection. The best solution is to forgo the sunglasses and keep your kids in the shade when you can. If your kids must wear sunglasses, remember that the cute pair of glasses at the drugstore or your local kids store might not provide UV protection. According to the Mayo Clinic, you should "Choose sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB rays. Skip sunglasses that are labeled "cosmetic" and those that don't offer details on UV protection. Opt for larger lenses rather than smaller lenses — or, better yet, the wraparound variety."
Your very best bet is to have a prescription pair of glasses made (Costco sells prescription frames and lenses for kids at a reduced price). Second best would be to order sunglasses, preferably wraparound style, from a reputable manufacturer that specializes in making glasses. Baby Banz Sunglasses specializes in kids and infants sunglasses, guarantees 100% UV protection and makes the fitted wraparound style frames that work well for very young kids.
Shade on the Go
It's useful to have your own portable shade - afterall, it's better to keep baby out of the sun altogether (especially at naptime) than to layer on sun-protection products. If you don't want to haul along an adult size tent, the
KidCo PeaPod
folds up into a small carrybag and provides a cozy kid sized tent that you can use on the beach or in a hotel room. You can read my
full review of the PeaPod Travel Bed here.
Fun in the Sun
Check out my full post on Easy to Carry Toys for Beach or Sun
Reader Question: Do you have any tips for Summer Gear?
Disclosure: I received review copies of the PeaPod Portable bed and Baby Banz. Neither manufacturer requested that I provide any opinion other than my own. Per my review policy, these items have been given away. I have not been paid to review any of these products. If you purchase a product through one of my amazon links, I do receive a small commission, and that income helps me keep this site going.
Filed Under:
packing-lists
travel-tips
2 comments |
Posted on May 31, 2011 |
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My kids have yet to meet a carousel they didn't love, and since they're usually inexpensive and fun they've been on carousels around the world. I just love the sense of motion in this shot from the Carousel in Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco.
Related Links
San Francisco With Kids
About Photo Friday:
You are invited to join us for Photo Friday! It's a great way to get to know other bloggers and to help them get to know you. Just post a "Photo Friday" picture on your own blog, and link directly to your post from the linky below (If your url is longer than 100 characters, you will need to use a url shortening service, like bit.ly)
What is Photo Friday?
- Post a travel photo on your site. It can be about any topic, as long as it is G-rated.
- The focus of the post should be on your photo.
- You don't need to be a professional photographer (I'm not), but do showcase your best work, and make it big enough to see well!
- It's nice to include a few sentences about the photo, but it is not required.
- Link back here so that your readers can see all the other great Photo Friday posts.
"The airport is now closed, you'll need to proceed through immigration, gather your bags, and leave the airport." Those are just about the last words we expected to hear as we landed in London's Heathrow airport for a four-hour layover before heading home to Seattle. Our trip was done, we'd enjoyed a lovely 10 days in Istanbul and with spring break over we were already to get back to our usual routine.
And yet there we were. Stranded. With three kids age 5 and under. At times like the the kids really feed off your attitude, and in some ways that's good. On my own, I'm sure I'd be grumbling about the inequity of it all, but with the kids, I turned it into a grand adventure. Guess what guys, I announced, we're going to get to ride on Double Decker buses on this trip! You're gonna love it!
Meanwhile, our heads were reeling - the lines through immigration seemed to stretch on for a mile, there are no snacks on this side of immigration, and HELLO what are we going to do about a hotel? They must be filling up quick!
Somehow we pulled it together. A caring immigration official (yes, they do exist) ushered us over to the "diplomatic" line, and we cleared immigration in record time. Once we hit the baggage claim area, things got easier. True, with every flight in the area offloading at once, it was jam packed and it took hours to get our bags, but the kids just didn't mind. After the confined airplane, spreading out their toys and playing on the airport floor seemed like a luxury. I'd normally never permit it, but extreme circumstances require extreme measures, and nobody actually seemed to mind.
My husband sweated all the details while I watched our three tired kids. Luckily we'd spotted a SIM card vending machine (a local SIM card gives you a local phone call and lets you make calls at the local rate) in the baggage claim area, so we nabbed a card quick. With it, we were able to call our family, let them know where we were, and get the phone numbers for a few hotels. A room for five isn't an easy thing to find in London, so we were lucky to remember the names of places we had stayed on past trips. Somehow, we hit the jackpot, the Parkcity hotel is well located, reasonably priced and has two penthouse rooms big enough to accommodate a king bed, two twin rollaways, and a crib. One of them was free for the night, and with that, we had everything we needed to head into town.
We ended up staying in London for 10 days (doubling our original vacation). The kids rode London busses, they figured out the TUBE map, they explored the British Museum, they climbed every climbing structure in London's fabulous playgrounds, and they ate food that was seemingly from every corner of the earth.
As exhausted and discombobulated as we were, I'm glad we decided to have a good attitude about our surprise landing. That attitude carried us through the entire trip, and I really do have wonderful memories of our time in London. Frankly, the only downsides were the missed work days and the expense. A year later, we're still waiting for the reimbursement (or even an acknowledgment) required by British Airways under EU law!
Reader Question: Have You Ever Been Stranded?
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What to do in London With Kids
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Posted on May 24, 2011 |
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Wherever we go, it's nice to have a few toys in my daypack that the kids can use to run around outdoors. That way we can have fun even when we cannot find a playground. I always go for things that are lightweight, cheap to replace, and work well when you want to play with kids you just met in a piazza or playground. Here are some of my favorites:
-
We carry a Gertie Ball wherever we go. It's compact, easy to inflate, and tough enough to withstand the rigors of my kids.
- Water balloons
are lots of fun if you are in an area with lots of taps (like Rome)
- Regular balloons work great just about everywhere else!
- Sidewalk Chalk
works well on even the smallest scrap of urban sidewalk
- Birdseed (or some scraps of bread from breakfast) provides instant entertainment
- Paper for making paper airplanes, boats, or coloring in a restaraunt
- Bubble solution (yes, you can even put it in a ziplock and carry it through airport security). I've successfully refilled the containers on the road with a mixture of hotel shampoo, water, and a little sugar.
- Glow Stick Bracelets are super fun on the beach at night. Don't ask me why. They're inexpensive, and it's nice to bring along extras to share.
- A Pocket Kite
works well if you think you'll find a wide open park.
- Blue Painter's Tape
can be used to mark out tracks or starting lines for just about any game you might dream up.
Reader Question: What's in Your Daypack When You're on a Warm-Weather Vacation
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Favorite Travel Toys
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Posted on May 23, 2011 |
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It's probably a reflection of my terrible parenting, but Darya used to love to be carried under my arm like a baguette. I particularly love this shot of her being carried through the Granville Island Public Market as I load up on goodies for us to share. Now that's what I call a DeliciousBaby
P.S. Today (Friday) is the last day to enter Vancouver recommendations for the first crowd-sourced guide to Vancouver for the iPhone (just in time for the TBEX Travel Bloggers Conference). There are special incentives for bloggers to participate, and we hope you'll join us! It takes just a few minute - and you can start here
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About Photo Friday:
You are invited to join us for Photo Friday! It's a great way to get to know other bloggers and to help them get to know you. Just post a "Photo Friday" picture on your own blog, and link directly to your post from the linky below (If your url is longer than 100 characters, you will need to use a url shortening service, like bit.ly)
What is Photo Friday?
- Post a travel photo on your site. It can be about any topic, as long as it is G-rated.
- The focus of the post should be on your photo.
- You don't need to be a professional photographer (I'm not), but do showcase your best work, and make it big enough to see well!
- It's nice to include a few sentences about the photo, but it is not required.
- Link back here so that your readers can see all the other great Photo Friday posts.
We were invited guests of the Four Seasons Resort Whistler on this trip. The hotel did not require that I express a particular point of view, and I always strive to present a fair and balanced review regardless of who is paying the bill.
It's always a thrill to be invited to stay overnight at a Four Seasons Hotel. We've been lucky enough to stay at a few properties now (the Four Seasons Seattle, the
Four Seasons Vancouver, and I'm starting to learn that each has it's own character. One thing that's surprised me at each property, though, is how many kids I see as we traipse through the lobby each day. Each property seems to have its own way of catering to families, and it's fun to discover what's available at each one.
With several stays under my belt now, I wasn't as nervous about pulling up in a car full of kids, crackers, and broken crayons as I had been after our road trip to the Four Seasons Aviara two years ago. I knew that we'd drive up to a covered, heated drive and that the valet who opened my car door who would graciously ignore the mountains of car toys and torn paper that showered down as the kids raced to get out of their seats. Still, it's such a relief to find myself giggling with the valet about the crazy chaos my trunk can barely contain, four-year-old Darya’s struggle to get her shoes on the proper feet, and the antics of baby Eilan. We were off to a good start before we even step foot in the lobby.
A Hot Chocolate display greets us as we walk through the door (Shaved German Chocolate and hot milk thank you very much - powdered mix is simply not welcome here)
And the kids were greeted with cuddly Teddy Bears, who later showed up in story books that arrived with our room service breakfast. But the real gift, as far as they were concerned, was the sugary welcome treat in our room.
The Room
Our room, an Executive King Suite, was huge. The kids slept on a sofabed in the living room while Peyman and I stretched out in a king sized bed in the bedroom. Eilan's crib fit neatly near the foot of our bed.
Perhaps, it seems like a surprising thing to be excited about, but I was thrilled with the walk in closet. With five people to get dressed each morning, and the additional complexity of layer upon layer of ski clothing, things get a little tricky. This closet had tons of cubbies and a low closet rod stocked with kid sized hangers. Everything stayed neat and easy to find! After our first adventure in the snow, housekeeping delivered up a wooden drying rack and the kids socks and wet items hung there each night to dry.
And the bathroom. You'd expect luxury, right? But you know what's really luxurious when you're a mom? Not having to lift your 4 year old up to that marble sink each time she needs to wash her hands. You know what else makes a bathroom luxurious right now? A diaper genie to contain Eilan's dirty diapers. Now that's the kind of babyproofing I love!
Location
The hotel is about a five minute walk from the Blackcomb base, and about 15 minutes walk from Whistler Village (it's a pretty walk, complete with a bridge over a snowy creekbed). A hotel shuttle runs about every 15 minutes, and though I would have walked if I were on my own, with the kids it was easier and less whiny to hop on the shuttle. All that means that if you stay here, you'll probably use the amenities in the hotel more than you would if you were smack dab in the middle of the Village.
Pool and Fire Pit
What really made this pool work (besides the cozy bathrobes that we wrapped ourselves in before heading down from our room) was the heated pool deck and the selection of different pools and hot-tubs. Somehow the kids and adults-without-kids seemed to segregate themselves out so that the kids could have fun in the water without splashing into someone's martini. The poolside bar service (complete with complimentary cookies for the kids) was also a lovely touch!
And I'd be remiss if I left out Darya's favorite Apres-Ski activity - roasting Marshmallows for S'mores at the resort's fire pit. Just try explaining the S'more tradition to three tourists from London as we did one afternoon!
Ski Concierge
The Four Seasons runs a Ski Concierge (complimentary to hotel guests) just at the base of Blackcomb mountain. Since we rented our skis from the hotel shop, we never actually touched the skis until we arrived at the Concierge on our first morning. It really was lovely to have someone help me and the kids with our boots in the mornings, bring our skis to us once we were all ready, and store any unneeded items (like our shoes) until we returned for the day. The Concierge greeted the kids with a warm cookie at the end of each day, and guess what, I was able to finagle one for myself too ;)
Ski Shop
Ski rentals are available downstairs, and the hotel even maintains a selection of clothing items that guests can borrow if needed. When my pre-baby ski pants turned out to be too small to wear, I opted to borrow a pair from the hotel instead of buying new ones - hopefully my old ski pants will fit again by next winter, so this really was a cost savings for me. Ski accessories, like goggles, are available for sale in the shop. If you rent here, your skis are magically transported to the Ski Concierge at the base of Blackcomb mountain before your first run. No need to lug everything on the shuttle.
Spa
I usually don't get a chance to relax in the spa when we travel. With three kids under 6 we usually need all grownups present at all times! What made this work was the childcare available through Whistler Kids. While Everest and Darya learned to Ski, Eilan hung out with other toddlers, and I checked myself into the Spa.
The spa facility was huge, with a comfortable locker room I would have liked to move into full time. I arrived early, and after changing into my robe, I read and relaxed in a quiet lounge. My treatment, the Sea to Sky Signature Massage was meant to mimic the drive from sea (Vancouver) up to Whistler and combined a seaweed treatment and Lomi-Lomi style strokes for a full 80 minutes of kid-free relaxation. Afterwords, I made full use of the spa facility, relaxing in a quiet room with a cup of tea and fresh fruit, clearing my pores in a eucalyptus steam room, and finally cooling down in an ice shower before finally getting dressed and picking up the kids from camp. The spa had a full menu of services, and tons of space to relax. Some spa packages also include access to the hotel's outdoor pool for the day, so this would be a great way to splurge even if you are not staying at the Four Seasons.
Sidecut Restaraunt
One of the things I enjoy about staying in the Four Seasons is how well the restaurants cater to both kids and adults. Sidecut is no exception. The high end steak restaurant (there's also a lounge with live menu) rivals any of Seattle's finer steak places (and a big plate of protein is just what you need at the end of a ski day), and still serves PB&J, Mac & Cheese, and Pizza. That makes it a slam dunk. When the kids started to get a little crazy, I ran them out to the firepit and back!
Related Links
Skiing my troubles away at the Four Seasons Resort Whistler
http://www.deliciousbaby.com/journal/2011/apr/11/first-ski-lessons-whistler-bc/
City Guide: What to do in Whistler With Kids
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Posted on May 18, 2011 |
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