The playground sandboxes that were ubiquitous in my childhood aren't as common here in Seattle, and in dreary weather they aren't much fun to play in. So, even though it makes me feel like a bad parent to acknowledge it, Eilan didn't have a recent memory of playing in sand when I took him on our mom and son trip to Aulani Resort in 2011. He was just two years old, and frankly, that long white expanse that ended in the ocean was a little intimidating.
We walked along for a while, me with my feet in the sand and him with his feet solidly on the grass. He watched carefully as the sand kept swallowing my toes and releasing them again. Finally he plopped down just at the edge and, mesmerised, started to quietly sift the sand through his own fingers. We sat like that for 10 or 15 minutes before he suddenly took off giggling, running through the sand, and letting it cover his own toes and precious toddler ankles. Could there be a better Hawaiian memory than this?
Related Links
Aulani Resort with Kids
Oahu with Kids
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.
This is an image I sometimes use when I want a picture of me traveling with the kids, but I don't know that I have ever explained it. The picture was taken in October 2007. Darya was a day away from her first birthday, and we were traveling in Spain for three weeks. It was the first trip I wrote about for DeliciousBaby, and though we had traveled with the kids quite a bit, sharing our experiences was making me look at them in a new way.
Peyman snapped this shot of me in Antoni Gaudi's Park Guell (one of my favorite parks anywhere) and somehow the image stuck with me. It's easy to feel bogged down with all the kid gear and the worries about snacktime and naptime, but in this shot I just seem happy to be out enjoying what Barcelona has to offer. We spent the whole afternoon in the park, exploring, snacking, and possibly even napping - an afternoon I'm sure I'll always remember.
Related Links
Barcelona with Kids
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.
Do you collect signs when you travel? I'm always on the lookout for something amusing or culturally relevant, so I just loved this sign at the Honolulu airport. In Hawaiian lore, Menehune are small people who built ancient Hawaiian temples, roads, canoes and houses.
Related Links
Oahu with Kids
Maui with Kids
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.
One of the best performances we saw last year was a live piece at the annual Children's Film Festival at the Northwest Film Forum in Seattle. Don't you just wish you where there so you could find out what was inside that package? This year's film festival opens today, and looks like fun!
Related Links
Seattle with Kids
Children's Film Festival
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's strange to see iconic items from your own lifetime in a history museum, but I'll admit that I was excited to see this Toe Truck, which used to be a local landmark, resurface at the new Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) in Seattle
Related Links
Seattle with Kids
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 generally write about travel gear for kids, but I put a ton of mileage on my own gear in 2012 as well, and I wanted to share a few of my favorite items in hops that they make your travels in 2013 a little smoother too!
Tieks foldable ballet flat
I'm a fan of a good ballet flat, and these foldable Tieks.com flats knocked my normally-designer-shoe-wearing socks off. They're comfortable and cute enough for everyday and easy to slip into a carryon bag. Rubber soles mean that they stand up to rainy Seattle weather. My own pair, in Metallic Pewter, goes with almost everything and works well as a dress shoe when I travel.
Scottevest
Here's a product I thought I would never try that has become a must-have when we fly. The Scottevest Travel Vest
has 17 pockets, almost all of them built into the jacket's lining. They're the perfect place to keep everything I need close at hand, from my phone and camera to a travel-sized pack of wet-naps and a pack of gum. At security I just pop it into a bin along with my shoes, no more rearranging things after the security checkpoint. True, it's not my most fashionable piece of clothing, but it works well with almost anything.
Pashamina
I travel with a large Pashmina shawl on every flight. It can be used as everything from a blanket to a light shade for a sleeping baby. On one flight, I wrapped poor Darya in it while her milk-drenched shirt dried out in the dry plane air. These inexpensive Pashmina Shawls
are durable and come in lots of colors. For more luxury, check out these tissue weight cashmere wraps from Nordstrom.
Ease 2-Wheeled Upright 22
My last carryon suitcase lasted over ten years and countless air miles, so I have a high standard when it comes to quality and durability. I have been testing this Eagle Creek Luggage Ease Upright 22 Carryon Bag
for 6 months now, and I'm happy to report that I just love it. It's thoughtfully designed, with features like a bungee cord for the heavy jacket I don't need to wear once I've entered the airport and an extra handle on the bottom that helps me load it into an overhead bin. It's also light and easy enough to roll that the kids can handle it, which means it's a good piece for parents who want to invest in kids luggage that will carry them into their teen years.
Eagle Creek Specter Packing System
I have long been a fan of Eagle Creek's packing cubes and use them for everything from travel, to diapers to stowing extra clothing and mittens neatly in my trunk. I'm even more excited about the new
Specter Packing System
which comes in a few more sizes and is made of a lightweight parachute-like material. It gets rid of all the bulk, conforming nicely to the size of whatever is inside. In white, it's just a little transparent, making it a great storage bag for the myriad cables and chargers that accompany me on every trip - no more digging around in the bottom of the bag, I can see where everything is.
P.S. The Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Quarter Packing Cube, White, One Size
is the perfect size for a couple of diapers, some wipes and a roll of disposable diaper sacks.
Solar Phone Charger
When we're out and about all day, it's not unusual for my phone battery to run low by afternoon. After all, I use the phone for everything from directions to snapping pictures and researching what we will do next. This inexpensive Solar Powered External Battery Pack
turned out to be just what I needed. I can charge it up by plugging it in at night to use as an extra battery or just pop it on top of the stroller to catch the sun as we wander through our day. I even taped it to the car window during our trip to Africa! No more searching for power outlets at every stop! It's a great choice if you need an external battery only occasionally and want to avoid the expense of a daily solution like the Mophie
Related Links
My favorite travel gear and travel toys
Filed Under:
travel-gear
travel-tips
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Posted on January 17, 2013 |
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It's tempting to pull out an iphone while you're waiting for a meal to arrive, but I'm a big fan of finding ways to stay busy without one. Here's 3yo Eilan practicing his engineering skills with some creamer containers!
Related Links
Finding a Kid Friendly Restaurant that YOU will enjoy
Does Travel with Kids = the McDonalds World Tour?
Meals and Snacks on a Family Vacation
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.
With the new year, I'm always inspired to make a list of the places I most want to visit. Where are you dreaming of exploring this year?
Related Links
Seattle with Kids
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.
Could there be anything better than a huge playground in the middle of a snow covered village? I hope you're getting your fair share of snow and fun while the kids are on winter break!
Related Links
Whistler with Kids
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.
Wherever you are headed this holiday season, I hope your travels are twice as peaceful and involve half as much ink!
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.
