Here are a few of the articles I enjoyed this week
Get free admission to many of your local museums this Saturday (Sept 26th) on "Museum Day"
A great perspective on a subject I'm often thinking about: Giving Your Children a Global Perspective
MotherOfAllTrips is running a series of Road Trip Tips that should be fun and informative this week
Contests
Enter to win a four park hopper gift certificates to LegoLand. There are eight different ways to enter, and multiple entries are allowed!
Did you wish you could join us when we visited the Great Wolf Lodge this summer? Here's your chance to win a one night stay at one of several Great Wolf Lodge locations
If you are running a contest or giveaway related to family travel, please submit it here. I will select my favorites each week and publish them in a weekly blog post.
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Posted on September 22, 2009 |
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I want to thank everyone who entered to my giveaway for a PeaPod Portable Travel Bed.
The randomly selected winner was Martha who recommended Monkey Business in Tucson, AZ saying:
Monkey Business is a locally owned restaurant in Marana, AZ (NW Tucson) with incredible food and arcade games for all ages of kids. There is a play area for tots (small, but great entertainment while waiting for food), fun arcade games that my 3 year old enjoys as well as games my 54 year old mom plays. The food is incredible. They have the best french dip I've ever had. The kid's portions are enormous. My children always share. It's clean, friendly and a GREAT family outing!
Martha, please email me your mailing address, and I will send you your prize!
Didn't win this time? I have another great giveaway starting soon. Be sure to check back (or subscribe so that you don't miss a thing).
Many thanks to KidCo for generously sponsoring this giveaway.
Related Links:
Amazon:
PeaPod Plus Portable Children's Travel Bed
DeliciousBaby Review: PeaPod Portable Travel Bed
Baby and Toddler Travel Gear Guide
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Posted on September 22, 2009 |
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When I visited Chicago this summer for BlogHer and TBEX, I was surprised to see this sign in a neighboring hotel. I had ducked into the hotel lobby to nurse and play with baby Eilan, but I ended up enjoying the opportunity to chat with various local people who had been instrumental in the early Obama campaign and were now gathered to welcome him back to Chicago as the President.
We were gone long before the President arrived, but I think this is a great example of the interesting experiences that I often have when the kids force me to slow down and chat with the people around me instead of rushing off to the next destination.
Related Links
Chicago With Kids
TBEX behind the Scenes
Photo Friday:
Share a favorite travel photo by adding your link below. Note that I am using "Simply Linked" instead of Mr. Linky this week - it should be straightforward to use, but please send me email if you have trouble. If your url is longer than 100 characters, you will need to use a url shortening service, like bit.ly My address is debbie at deliciousbaby dot com
First timers, here is
more Information about Photo Friday
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Posted on September 17, 2009 |
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With my kids (finally) back in school this week, I feel freed to start thinking about fall travel. Autumn's pleasant weather makes it my favorite time of year to travel, but there are some other benefits too: destinations are less crowded and prices are usually lower than they are during
Summer and Winter holidays. I'm already starting to see some terrific airfares to destinations like Europe and Japan.
We are starting to make our own plans, four days in Orange County
with the kids, and Thanksgiving in Bellingham, WA. I'm dreaming of a short jaunt to the East Coast or a longer trip to Europe or Japan, and I thought I would share some of my favorite fall travel ideas:
- Middle East
If you have children young enough to take out of school for a few weeks, this is a wonderful time of year to visit the Middle East. Weather is pleasant without the heat of summer or the dust-storm potential that accompanies late spring. You might not find many traditional kids activities in this region of the world, but it would be easy to draw a young child into a fantasy world set in any of the major monuments you'll see here.
-
Fall Colors
A trip to see the fall leaves in Vermont is the
classic fall road trip, but you don't necessarily need to fly across the country to see the fall colors. Here in Washington, we head to the
Cascade mountains when it starts to get cold. Almost any of
California's mountain towns have beautiful fall leaves too. For ideas in your state Google the state name followed by "fall leaves." For example, "New Mexico fall leaves" you might be surprised at what you find!
-
Big Cities
Hotels in major cities like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco
offer great fall deals. By waiting until fall to visit the major cities, you will not only miss the summer heat and crowds, but the arts season will be back in full swing.
-
National Parks
When I was a child, my family visited Yosemite National
Park the week after Labor Day every year. The park was pleasantly quiet
(especially when compared with the summer rush), but the weather was
still warm during the day. Yosemite isn't alone. Any National Park
makes a great post-Labor day retreat. Best of all, the competition for camping
spots and hotel rooms is lower than in the summer months, and you might even be able to find a last minute spot.
-
Repositioning Cruises
Now is the best time to book an inexpensive cruise. In the Fall, the
cruise lines move their big ships from summer destinations to winter
ones. (They move them back in the Spring). The itineraries are unusual, filled with island visits along the route from the boat's summer home to its winter home, and costs can be surprisingly low. A repositioning cruise is a good choice if your main goal is to book a ship with lots of kids activities and you don't
have your heart set on a classic itinerary. Be sure to double-check whether the regular kids activities will be running during the repositioning cruise.
-
Europe
Airfares to Europe usually drop in the fall, and I am already seeing RT airfares for under $400 from some cities. Fall and early winter
are also great times to get discounted rates on furnished vacation
rentals. Thanksgiving dinner in Paris probably won't feature a turkey, but it will certainly be memorable and delicious.
-
Skip Fall. Plan a Winter Holiday
One favorite strategy for our non-Christmas-celebrating family is to get away during Christmas week. Airfares and resort rates are both reduced during this time (with the resorts beginning to fill up again on the 26th). For those who do celebrate Christmas, consider celebrating in a country like Mexico, Spain or Italy where festivities take over entire cities. Masses are generally open to travelers, and a Christmas Mass in a beautiful old church would be an especially beautiful memory for parents and children alike.
Where Not To Go?
I'll add one word of caution. Many resort destinations have great deals this time of year, but be sure to check your guidebook for
seasonal weather information. Fall is hurricane season in many areas (for example Hawaii and the Bahamas).
While you are unlikely to experience a hurricane, you might want to consider a different
choice if heavy rain would "ruin" your vacation.
If you are planning to visit an all inclusive resort, call ahead to make sure that the kids activities you are counting on will be available during the quiet fall season.
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Posted on September 16, 2009 |
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Last week I reviewed the KidCo PeaPod Portable Travel Bed, and this week I have the pleasure of giving it away to one of my readers!
How To Enter
I will be giving the PeaPod Travel Bed away to one lucky reader. If you would like a chance to win, leave a comment before 11:59PM PST on Monday Sept 21 2009 and tell me either one thing you like about our city guides or one thing you would improve. Please include your email address in the comment form (your email isn't shared with anyone, and I will not send you email unless you win).
How to Earn More Chances to Win
There are several ways you can get additional entries in this contest. Each takes only a few minutes!
- Recommend a kid-friendly attraction, restaurant or hotel in our city guides to receive five additional entries. It takes only a few minutes, and it is a great way to share your favorite places with other parents. To make a recommendation, just Click Here
- Subscribe to my RSS feed (either by reader or email) using the buttons on the top left-hand side of the page. Leave another comment telling me you did.
- If you have a blog, write about any article you enjoyed on DeliciousBaby, or write about the place you hope to visit, and link back to one of our kid friendly city guides. Leave a comment telling me you did so and show me the link where I can find it!
Winners
We will choose a winner randomly and announce the results here on Tuesday Sept 22 2009. Many thanks to KidCo for generously sponsoring this giveaway.
Rules
Please, only one comment per person per giveaway post (except as outlined above where the comment is related to an extra entry). Duplicate comments and Anonymous comments will be discarded. Please make sure that the email address in your comment form is valid (email addresses are never public). Winners must claim their prize within three business days after the date of notification of such prize. A Sweepstakes winner's failure to respond to the prize notification within the specified three business days will be considered such Sweepstakes winner's forfeiture of the prize and an alternate winner may be selected from the pool of eligible entries. If an entrant is found to be ineligible, an alternate winner may also be selected from the pool of eligible entries. To enter, you must be a U.S. resident, age 18 or older. Employees, partners and vendors of DeliciousBaby and their immediate family members are not eligible to enter. We will disqualify any entries that we believe are generated by scripts and other automated technology. When applicable, the winner may be required to execute and return within five business days an Affidavit of Eligibility and a Liability and Publicity Release to be eligible for the prize or an alternate winner will be selected. All prizes will be awarded. No substitutions including for cash are permitted, except that DeliciousBaby reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater monetary value for any prize. Winners shall be responsible and liable for all federal, state and local taxes on the value of their prize.
Related Links:
DeliciousBaby Travel Products Guide
Amazon:
PeaPod Travel Bed
Full review of the KidCo PeaPod Portable Travel Bed
Filed Under:
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244 comments |
Posted on September 14, 2009 |
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Here are a few of the articles I enjoyed this week
Why American families take so few vacations
Here's a helpful funny post on
five ways to ensure disaster when traveling with kids
Camping season is just about over, but here are some great tips on how to camp with an infant for next year (by way of Ohdeedoh )
If you are a Disney fan, you might want to apply to be a part of Walt Disney World® Moms Panel
Contests
Enter to win a four day family vacation on Florida's Amelia Island
Need something to do on the road? Here's a neat looking Travel Easel you can win
Here is a chance to win some CDs for your next road trip
Enter to win a week long stay in an Italian Villa from CiaoBambino. Wow, this looks fabulous!
Submit a travel story to enter Wanderlust and Lipstick's contest for a 12-day culture and spa tour of Vietnam with Buffalo Tours!
If you are running a contest or giveaway related to family travel, please submit it here. I will select my favorites each week and publish them in a weekly blog post.
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Posted on September 12, 2009 |
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E has always loved riding the train, so he was beyond thrilled this summer when Seattle got its very own light rail line. When fellow blogger Heather Poole visited Seattle last week he insisted on dragging her on the light rail. (She posted a cute story and video that you can find here). What Heather doesn't know is that his obsession has only grown since then. We have been on the train every day this week, and we are systematically visiting each station and exploring the neighborhood around it.
Here is a shot from Beacon Hill Station, a tunnel station located about 160 feet underground (about 13 stories). Like every station on the line, it has an interesting art installation. We've enjoyed checking the art in each station, but this is my favorite.
Photo Friday: Please Share Your Photos:
Share a favorite travel photo by adding your link below. First timers, here is
more Information about Photo Friday
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Posted on September 10, 2009 |
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This is an unpaid review of the PeaPod Plus Portable Children's Travel Bed. My review policy dictates that I never keep freebies valued at over $40, and I gave this unit away to a reader in a random giveaway.
We don't usually bring a travel crib with us when we travel. Instead, in an effort to travel light, we co-sleep when we're on the road. Still, co-sleeping is not for every family, and not every hotel crib lives up to current safety standards.
My readers often ask me which travel-crib I recommend, and I thought it would be helpful to review the PeaPod Plus Portable Children's Travel Bed. As a comparison I have previously reviewed the Baby Bjorn Travel Crib Light, and also my own Graco Pack n Play.
Overview
The PeaPod is part bed, part tent, making it a good choice for families who will be outdoors during their vacation (for instance at the beach) and need a shady or darkened space for their child to nap. The inflatable mattress is designed to make a hard surface more comfortable, and a fitted sleeping bag is included. The PeaPod folds up into its own carrying case, and weighs 6.9 pounds. If you want to travel even lighter, the tent by itself weighs 3.4 pounds and would fit in a large rolling bag, but not in most carryon size wheelie bags. While it was light enough for 4 1/2 year old E to carry, the size and shape made it too difficult for him to carry it more than a few paces.
Setup
Opening and shaping the bed required almost no effort at all. Just remove the elastic band that keeps the bed folded and everything springs into place. Even 2 1/2 year old D was able to set up this travel bed.
I was worried that blowing up the air mattress might take an eternity, so I timed how long it took to fill with the included pump. It took almost exactly two minutes of nonstop pumping to fill the bag. Not bad, but if money were no object I still might be tempted to splurge on a model that includes a self-inflating mattress, in part to reduce the total amount of bulk.
The air mattress slides into a pocket underneath the tent so that even if the fitted sleeping bag moves around, your child will not be sleeping directly on plastic.
The sleeping bag can be shortened or extended depending on the size of your child. Extended, it fit 4 1/2 year old E comfortably.
Safety
According to the manufacturer, the included sleeping bag for use by children over one year old. My children move around a lot at night, so I personally would probably wait until closer to age 2.
The CPSC recommends that infants never be placed on an air mattress because of the risk that the mattress might deflate and cause the child to suffocate. This particular mattress is thin, and therefore seems less risky than a bulkier air mattress, but it would be best to use the travel bed without an air mattress if you have an infant.
Use
Both my 4 1/2 year old and my 2 1/2 year old fit comfortably in the PeaPod, though my older child was just on the verge of growing out of it. The kids were able to open and close the zippers themselves, and to climb in and out comfortably. Both kids were incredibly enthusiastic about the cozy space and the sleeping bag, and begged me to keep the PeaPod instead of giving it away. This is the first time they've asked me to keep any of the products I have reviewed for this site.
I liked the solid flaps that covered the mesh openings. They could be rolled up for air circulation or to give your child a view of the world outside the bed, or rolled down to provide a darkened environment.
The frame seemed sturdy and resilient, but because I want to give it away in good condition, I protected it from the sort of abuse that an active toddler or preschooler might subject it to. Readers, if you own this product, tell me in comments how well the frame holds its shape over time.
Folding the PeaPod back up after use seemed like it would be tricky, but in practice I just sort of twisted it together into itself until it was the right size and shape. The instructions include pictures showing exactly how to fold up the PeaPod.
Cost
The PeaPod Travel Bed ranges in price between $65.95 and $84.95 depending on features, and is available in a variety of colors.
PeaPod Travel Bed Vs. Baby Bjorn Travel Crib and Graco Pack and Play
The PeaPod Travel Bed did not seem as comfortable as the Baby Bjorn (which has a very thick mattress), but significantly less bulky than either the Baby Bjorn or the Pack and Play. Also, some parents might not like the fact that it would be easy for even a crawling baby to get in and out of this bed. Setup and packing were easier than either of the other travel cribs, and it is also significantly less bulky when closed.
These advantages, together with the relatively low price make it our top pick.
Conclusion
For parents who want an inexpensive travel crib that fits inside their checked baggage, this is our top pick.
Related Links
Amazon:
PeaPod Plus Portable Children's Travel Bed
Amazon:
BABYBJÖRN Travel Crib Light
Favorite Baby Travel Gear
Filed Under:
product-review
travel-bed
travel-cot
travel-crib
travel-gear
13 comments |
Posted on September 9, 2009 |
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Here are a few of the stories that I enjoyed this week.
I loved this post from Dadcentric about what it really means to have an adventure with kids
The fact that most museums in London are free makes them great for visiting with kids. If your child melts down, you won't be throwing away your admission money when you take them outside for a walk. Here's a great article by Heather Cowper about fun museums in London for kids
Contests
Enter to win a week long stay in an Italian Villa from CiaoBambino. Wow, this looks fabulous!
Submit a travel story to enter Wanderlust and Lipstick's contest for a 12-day culture and spa tour of Vietnam with Buffalo Tours!
TravelSavvyMom is giving away a great sounding camera, the Olympus Stylus Tough 8000
Not ready to give up the summer sunshine? Twitter to win a free trip to Hawaii
If you are running a contest or giveaway related to family travel, please submit it here. I will select my favorites each week and publish them in a weekly blog post.
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Posted on September 5, 2009 |
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