Favorite Family Travel Articles: Museums, Hidden Fees, Safaris and National Parks

Visiting Museums With Kids
This week there is a good article at DesignMom on a topic I always struggle with: Bringing babies and toddlers to art museums and an article on Slate about Making a Summer Museum Trip Worthwhile. I love art, and it can be challenging to balance my need to see some of the world's great art with the kids needs to just have fun. We had mixed experiences with E at the art museums in Spain. He loved the Miro museum, but he wasn't up for others beyond that. Our local museum has a great kids play area, and I've been working with my kids on making the art fun. We wander through the galleries slowly on the way to the play area and talk about a few of the different artworks. The kids have gradually gotten more interested in the paintings, and I feel challenged to learn more about the artists that are unfamiliar to me so that I can talk with the kids. I was delighted on our most recent visit when E stood in front of a Jackson Pollak and asked me "where's the ladder." I must be making some headway, but the true test will be our upcoming visit to New Mexico.

Hidden Airline Fees for Families
Here is a great table that lists the costs associated with traveling with kids on 10 of the major UK airlines. Some have flat fees for lap infants while others charge a percentage of the adult fare. It is also important to note which items are subject to checked baggage fees (e.g. stroller, car seat) In addition to costs, safety rules an important consideration. Not all European airlines allow children under two to have their own seat and some do not allow car seats on board, so be sure to check airline policy before booking a seat for your infant or toddler.

Safari With Kids
Vagablond has an article about the children's programs at Shamwari Game Reserve in South Africa. Our pre-kid african safari was one of our most wonderful travel experiences (we spent about 6 weeks between Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia and Zimbabwe) and we're looking forward to a time when the kids are old enough that we can experience an African Safari with them. If this is something that appeals to you, note that kids under age 4 are considered too young for game drives, but the resort does offer other activities while you are out on a drive.

Flying With An Autistic Child
In yet another, "child kicked off a plane" story, an American Airlines flight returned to the gate as an Autistic child melted down onboard. While no plane can or should take off with a child out of his seat, I'm saddened to read accounts of flight attendants who just didn't "get it" harassing the young child and his mother.

National Parks
MSNBC says that attendance at national parks is down according to some measures, and the park system is trying to update their offerings to attract more families. When I was a kid, a trip to Yosemite was a hi-light of summer vacation, and I have fond memories of each of the different campgrounds. In college, with no money for foreign destinations, we visited the parks a lot and I went so far as to buy a national parks pass to save money on entrance fees. How about you? Do you plan to take your kids to a national park this summer?

Airport Delays
Here's a great article on what to do in the airport with toddlers

Travel with Teens
I liked this story with hints for traveling with young teenagers

Thank You
Two articles got quite a bit of attention last week:

My article on Money Saving Tips the Travel Industry Doesn't Want You to Know was written about on many blogs including: Frommer's, BraveNewTraveler, GetRichSlowly and Bohemian Revolution

Food Allergies
The first articles in our series on traveling with severe food allergies got a great response. Tips and Advice for Traveling With Severe Food Allergies and Banned From Flying, My Son's Favorite Lunch got tons of attention from parents and organizations who deal with this issue day-to-day. Thank you again to everyone who helped out with this article!

The article was referenced by some very well established sources including FAAN, The Loudoun Allergy Network and Allergy Moms,

There were also some amazing comments from other mom-bloggers. Here's a quote from True Confessions of an It Girl

"It’s one of the few sources I’ve found for information that gives you the feeling that “yes I can travel on an airplane and my child will survive.”

and another from KidsFoodAllergiesBlog

If you want a good cry, click here. The Delicious Baby Blog is a great resource for tips on traveling with kids. Though the author’s two children are not food allergic, she writes eloquently about why parents of children *without* food allergies should think twice about bringing peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on airplanes. Gold Star!

0 comments | Posted on June 29, 2008 | Save to del.icio.us

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