It is possible to infuse a little romance into a vacation, even when traveling with the kids. From babysitting options to romantic gestures, check out my tips for a romantic getaway with the kids in this clip of my latest appearance with Weather Anchor Kim King on CBS 8 KFMB-TV San Diego.

Moms deserve a spa getaway more than anyone I know. Our days are filled with breaking up sibling fights over who gets the bigger half of the cookie, overseeing homework, and shuttling kids from school to t-ball and tap lessons. To our horror, we often say things like, ”Who cut circles out of all the bed sheets?” and, [...]

Traveling is often a mixture of pleasure and pain. For families with young children, the experience can be quite trying. Several of the world’s airports have recognized the challenges of flying with children and have taken steps to make traveling through their facilities a much more enjoyable experience. Here are five airports that are particularly [...]

Most of the stories on this site deal with how to keep the kids or the mama happy while traveling. But what about dear ol’ dad? Here are some tips for keeping a Travel Daddy content while on family vacation. Keep dad happy with a day off to play golf while on family vacation (Photo of Kauai Lagoons [...]

I gave five tips for traveling with children on San Diego KFMB Channel 8 news today. I have done video blogging and radio interviews, but this was ever-so-much-more intimidating. Click the image below to watch the segment and read on to learn the good news and the bad news about my television debut.

Some of the most popular family travel bloggers shared their all-time favorite posts with us in last week’s Family Travel World Tour of the Web. With the holiday travel season around the corner, this week I thought I would share some of the best Thanksgiving and winter holiday family travel blog posts.

There would be no TravelMamas.com if there had not first been an idea for a humorous how-to guidebook on traveling with babies, toddlers and children. I have been working on this book for over six years and it will soon be available for purchase! (Tentative launch date: spring 2012.) I need your help choosing a title. Please [...]

When staying in a hotel with kids, there are some simple things you can do to make your family vacation as fun and stress-free as possible. That starts, of course, with finding the right hotel for your family. Once you check in, set up your room for vacation success. Above is an en-suite kitchen at the Residence Inn by [...]

If you are a single parent, you know that even under normal, everyday circumstances single parenting comes with special challenges. I’ve had friends familiar with my daily routine as a single mom refer to my typical day as an athletic undertaking. If a regular day is an athletic event, traveling alone with children is an Olympic event. It’s not always [...]

Whenever I tell people I have done three home exchanges, they exclaim interest in doing the same but many have some trepidation and a slew of questions about attempting a house swap. Yesterday I gave advice for getting started in doing a home exchange. Here are some more tips for making the most of an exchange vacation.  My daughter playing on a backyard tire [...]

Would you like to have lots of space to spread out on vacation, with a kitchen for snacks and convenient meals, separate bedrooms for all family members, and maybe even a big yard with a swing-set for the kids? Would you like all of this for free (or close to free)? If you said, “Yes!” — [...]

Keeping up with mounds of family laundry can be a struggle at home. When traveling with kids, dealing with laundry is inconvenient at best and downright daunting at worst. As a mom of three young children I’ve dealt with my share of dirty laundry on the road. Here are some tips and tricks I’ve learned along [...]

While web-surfing the other day I stumbled across something particularly funny or interesting or useful – I can’t remember what it was – but it was GOOD. And I thought, “Man, that’s good. I want other people to see it.” I thought about tweeting about it from @TravelMamas (and may have done just that) or posting [...]

When my husband and I had our first baby earlier this year, we were determined to continue our active lifestyle. We plan to raise children who are well-traveled and knowledgeable about the world. Plus, we want our own lives to stay just as fun and interesting as always! It does take a little more effort, but [...]

You love your children more than anything in the world. But the thought of spending several hours in a confined space with your brood can send the calmest of parents into panic mode. Check out my 8 Sanity Saving Tips for Family Road Trips over on Jen and Barb, Mom Life to help you reach your [...]

As a California resident, former SeaWorld annual pass holder, and parent of two – I have been to SeaWorld San Diego more times than I can count. I’ve gathered up a list of 10 tips to make the most of visiting this watery amusement/education park when visiting with kids.

There are stories on TravelMamas.com that I am incredibly proud of, and others…not so much. In a few, I let my heart hang a tad more open than I feel comfortable with. (Those are probably among the best.)  A blogging game of sorts has me reflecting on this site’s nearly 250 blog posts. This Tripbase project, entitled My 7 [...]

There are three wonderful things about road trips with children: 1) You can pack oodles of snacks, toys, and games for the trip; 2) You can go at your own pace and take breaks for playing, potty time, and site-seeing; and 3) If the kids have a meltdown and start driving you nuts, at least they’re [...]

Family cruises are a wonderful way to travel within a budget. While there are luxury cruise lines with eye-popping price tags, many affordable cruises are available to families looking for good vacation value. Plus, much of your costs are included and paid for upfront such as accommodations, childcare (depending on the cruise line and children’s ages), and on-board meals [...]

Music is one of the best tools for keeping families content and entertained during a road trip. The trick is to find music that both the kids AND the parents enjoy. Here are some of my family’s favorite road trip songs plus some suggestions from other family travel bloggers.

Camping is a great family activity, but exposing kids to the outdoors can incur unnecessary safety risks. As a parent, you are responsible for teaching your children not only about the wonders of nature, but also about its hidden dangers. Anything could happen while in the wild, so here are five camping precautions to stay safe [...]

I am excited to announce the official launch of Tree.com, a social media site created by the company that owns Lending Tree and RealEstate.com. Why am I so happy about this new site with its 14 blog channels specializing in everything from Home & Garden, Lifestyle & Leisure, and Sports & Recreation? Because Tree.com has an AWESOME Travel blog too! [...]

While I am quite the chatterbox (as anyone who has met me can attest), I shy away from any video camera the minute it starts rolling. So when Barilla invited me to become the On-the-Go video blogger for their online community, Piccolini TV, my first thought was, “No way!” But then I realized what an honor it was to be associated [...]

A lot of iPhone travel apps can help parents make informed choices about where they are going, what to do on vacation, and how to get there. With so many new products on the market every day, though, it’s difficult to sift through so many apps to find the real gems. As a parent, avid traveler and [...]

You’re packed and ready to board the airplane with your child. Snacks? Check. Beloved cuddle toy? Check. A carry-on full of games, coloring books, and maybe a DVD or two? Check. Check. Check. There’s no one more prepared than you. But even the best preparation won’t guarantee a stress-free flight. Occasionally, a worn-out child will [...]

Keystone Ski Resort in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains not only offers downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, tubing, ice skating, and other snowy activities but it’s also a foodie’s paradise! My family’s visit happened to coincide with the annual Keystone Winter Culinary Festival, which offers both romantic and family-friendly events. Plus mountaintop dining, a Nordic Soup Buffet, and an unforgettable Sleigh [...]

I vowed never to ski again at age 14. So what was I doing standing atop a frosty white mountain, taking directions from a kind man named Jim, who urged me to “make a big pizza” with my skis if I wanted to stop my body from hurling downhill, face-first into a tree? (Well, Jim didn’t say it quite [...]

Connecting with other families while traveling is an educational, fun, and enlightening experience for me…no matter if I meet the families through a chat board, cruise seating, blog, Twitter, or foreign exchange program. A reporter from MSNBC.com recently asked me what I think about using the Internet to make play dates while traveling. In the story, For Young Travelers, Playing Knows No Borders, I said these playtimes can provide a good break during [...]

Be sure to spring the time on your clocks one hour forward this weekend and then book a vacation at one of these family-friendly tropical resorts for big-time travel savings! But don’t be late…you must make your travel reservations ON Daylight Savings Day – this Sunday, March 13, 2011.

Although my kids are somewhat seasoned travelers, I hadn’t taught them the proper steps needed to do the unexpected standby dance. We had to learn the moves quickly on our most recent hockey trip with my son’s team. Since we booked a short 45-minute flight between Phoenix and Las Vegas, it didn’t occur to me to warn my kids about the possibility of flight delays, flying standby, and lost luggage. And I wasn’t prepared for my 9-year-old daughter’s tears as it all unfolded, the embarrassment this would cause her 13-year-old brother, or the pressure this would all place upon me. Here are seven tips for flying standby and handling flight delays with kids that I learned from this experience that may save your family time, stress, and unexpected emotional disappointment.

I was honored to discuss holiday travel tips on Military Travel Talk Radio this week. We talk about etiquette for visiting family and friends, potty training on the go, air travel oddities, and weigh-in on the new TSA full-body scanners. I hope you’ll listen in!

This was the most frustrating day of our Disney Cruise through the Mediterranean. It’s not that Sorrento and Pompeii themselves were bothersome or not worthy of a visit – quite the opposite, in fact! From great frustrations, one can learn great lessons. Here’s what I learned about how to make the most of your limited vacation days.

I am happy to announce my partnership with Best Family Travel Advice! If you are looking for help with packing, places to go, things to do, activities for kids, ANYTHING to do with family travel…throw it at us and we’ll do our best to get you expert travel advice to meet your needs.

Last week I asked parents to share their favorite travel tips for a chance to win a Marriott Tots Travel Too gift pack of goodies. From sentimental to practical, here are my top 10 travel tip picks from among the 56 entries.

Want to make traveling with a baby or toddler easier? Then you need to know about JetSetBabies! Enter to win one of two $50 JetSetBabies gift certificates.

It’s always exciting when I get feedback about how this site helps traveling families! Over the past couple of months, a few websites have written about TravelMamas.com and I wanted to share their stories and tell you about the rockin’ products and services these sites offer to traveling parents.

I hope you’ll swing by BreezyMama.com to check out my round-up of travel tips! I was asked to share my Top 10 Travel Tips for Parents by BreezyMama.com. While you’re there, be sure to enter to win a My Busy Kit to keep your wee ones content while traveling or enter to win a super-stylish Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper bag.

Expectant parents often take a babymoon, or one last hurrah vacation before that bundle of joy comes along to interrupt meals and make reading a magazine on an airplane impossible. Whether it’s your first baby or your fifth, a babymoon is a wonderful way to relax and celebrate couplehood with your partner before a baby’s arrival.

Looking for tips for keeping the kids happy and healthy this summer whether at-home or on-the-go? Listen to this interview with The Travel Mama (Me!) and Catherine McCord of Weelicious on Healthy Voyager Radio. I share some of my favorite travel resources and activities as well as what I think is hardest about travel with children (and how to handle it!).

We all have that vacation destination we daydream about. It might be a tropical island, where the water is crystal clear and the beaches are empty. Or, it might be luxurious resort with relaxing spa treatments and over-the-top customer service. Whatever type of vacation you are longing for, it CAN happen on a budget!

A few months ago I was invited to share my top three best kept travel secrets as part of a game amongst travel bloggers. Two hundred writers, including Peter Greenberg and Johnny Jet, shared their favorite hidden gem locations and secret tips for traveling better. In total, over 500 travel secrets were gathered. Now, they are available to you for FREE as eBooks. What started as a fun little game has grown into a charity phenomenon.
For every person that downloads a Travel Secrets eBook, Tripbase will make a $1 donation* to Charity: Water. You get great travel tips; people in developing nations get safe drinking water.

Each week I try to squeeze a little me-time into my busy schedule of mommydom and blogging by participating in Travelers Night In. It’s free and I don’t even have to leave the house to join the party.

Usually my Disney-loving family flies to sunny Florida every other year to visit Mickey Mouse. This summer, however, I will be driving with my wife and two teenagers from central New Jersey to Orlando. My 17-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter merely tolerate each other’s company, at best. Right about now I can hear some of you saying, “Are you crazy?” Here’s how we plan to stay sane along the way.

Check out the Traveler IQ Challenge, an online travel game by TravelPod on tripadvisor.com. It’s a fun way to test how well you know world geography. Warning: This game is addictive!

“Jetiquette” was once only used to describe acceptable guest behavior when hitching a ride on someone else’s private jet. However, the term has come to mean so much more. Here are some jetiquette tips for families from Gailen David, a flight attendant, blogger, and weekly podcast host.

Here are ten reasons to consider renting gear when traveling with your baby or toddler…

Sponsoring individuals from another country can be a great experience to share with your children too. Have your kids help you choose whom to sponsor by visiting the website together to read about and view photos of those seeking funds.

Everyone’s looking for ways to save money during these tough economic times. If you or your spouse has a job that requires travel, why not have the family tagalong on the next business trip? You save money on airfare for one family member and score free accommodations for all.

Many parents who have a child with severe food allergies opt not to travel because they fear a negative allergic reaction away from home. Travel with a food-allergic child is possible. It just takes preparation, communication, and vigilance! Read these tips on how to travel safely with food allergies from Kate Newmyer, a mom who knows!

Do you have a great tip for traveling with kids? Share it and you could win $20 from KidsTravelHappy.com. Hopefully you’ll send me some great ideas to share with other Travel Mamas and Travel Daddies for future Quick Tips posts!

I waded through a sea of Google Analytics to tally up the most popular Travel Mamas blog posts of the year. Some of my personal favorites were also the most popular, but a few of my faves were among the site’s least viewed stories. This got me thinking…what is YOUR favorite Travel Mamas story? If you tell me, you might win a prize from KidsTravelHappy.com!

Travel Mamas is celebrating its first anniversary with discounts and giveaways for you! Traveling families can save 20% at KidsTravelHappy.com on UNplugged toys, games, books, activities, and unique gear for real and imaginary journeys. Simply use the special check-out code just for Travel Mamas, TMSD20. The code is valid on any purchase of $20 or more [...]

Until you join and start tweeting, you just don’t “get” Twitter. Even though it is becoming wildly popular, Twitter feels like a wonderful secret I can’t seem to convince my friends and family to get in on.

I was a guest on the Jetiquette Blog Talk Radio Show last week and I didn’t embarrass myself too horribly. Success! The topic was Travel with Children, which I happen to know a thing or two about. Looking for some travel tips or just want to hear how silly I sound on air? Listen to the podcast now!

In honor of the Olympics in Vancouver, I thought I’d share a link to this blog post from ThePlanetD.com, a travel blog by “Canada’s Adventure Couple” on The Great Canadian Word, Unique Phrases and Words of Canada.

Everyone’s feeling the pinch of the recession, but we still want to get away for a little spring break vacation! USA Today’s picks include Jamaica, Toronto, Hawaii, Panama City Beach, and Gatlinburg. Read more in Top 5 Bargain Destinations for Spring 2010.

While standing in line for the Tomorrowland Transportation Authority ride at the Magic Kingdom during our recent visit to Disney World, I overheard the young couple in front of us discussing the wait times for various attractions while looking at their iPhone. They told me I could download a free app from iTunes called Disney World Wait Times.

Nancy Sathre-Vogel is a modern-day nomad and vagabond who travels the world in search of beads and other treasures. She is now pedaling the length of the Americas because her eleven-year-old sons have decided they want to get the Guinness World Record as the youngest people to cycle the Pan-American Highway. Read her reflections on the day she and her family began their journey and what they’ve learned and experienced along the way.

Roy Scribner is a Travel Daddy to three children who helps parents experience the great outdoors with their kids at CampingBlogger.net. He knows how to go at a kid’s pace when exploring on a hike and what activities to bring along to keep them happy back at the campsite. Check out his tips for a fun camping adventure for the whole family!

Every now and then I receive emails or comments from readers with helpful travel tips, interesting questions, or some thoughts about how TravelMamas.com helped them travel better with kids. I thought I’d compile a few of them to share with you in hopes it will help your family travels a bit!

Here are a nine tips to help you and your other half keep your relationship merry by squeezing some romance into a family vacation!

Here are 14 tips on how to prepare for a Disney World vacation with children from Disney Expert and Author Lisa M. Battista.

Here are 20 tips on traveling with teens and tweens from Lisa T. Bergren, co-creator and editor of theworldiscalling.com.

I interviewed Carolyn Scott, a.k.a. the Healthy Voyager, to get some tips for staying healthy and fit while traveling. Read on to learn how to win three Healthy Voyager e-cookbooks plus a prize pack of healthful Bellybar snacks.

Giving feels good. Not giving feels bad. Learn how you can make a difference by donating to Passports with Purpose, a fundraiser founded and promoted by travel bloggers.

You want to visit family during the holiday season to introduce your little one to long-treasured traditions and catch up with far-flung loved ones. But you may be nervous about cramped sleeping quarters, squeezing in quality time with everyone on your must-see list, and staying sane on someone else’s turf. Here are some strategies to make sure your visit is as stress-less and joy-filled as possible.

Here is a review of Carnival Cruise Line’s onboard family-friendly activities and amenities, from miniature golf and swimming to towel sculptures and teddy bear workshops.

Learn about the hazards of flying with a lap child in this interview with Louise Stoll, a grandmother and inventor CARES, the only compact child safety restraint approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for use on airplanes.

Whether paying a visit family and friends, traveling to a tropical destination, sailing on a cruise, or taking a ski vacation, get away this Thanksgiving. Here are six reasons to plan a turkey day vacation.

Getting babies, toddlers, and even older children to sleep well while traveling can be a struggle. If your child doesn’t sleep well, then mama doesn’t sleep well. And we all know, if mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy! I recently learned how to pack in restful vacations for the whole family during an interview with Davis Ehrler, post-partum doula and creator [...]

If you or your child suffers from motion sickness, there are plenty of options that can help ease the nausea caused by movement. Here are nine remedies that could help.

Most families I know have full schedules, so jam-packed with work, school, and extracurricular activities that they barely have time for family dinners anymore. So why not look at your flight as a way to spend some quality family time? Here are a few ways to make your flight an experience your kids will remember…and yes, enjoy!

Travel never used to phase me. And I thought it never would. Before having a baby, I wouldn’t hesitate to jump in the car and make a last-minute trip to Vegas bringing only a change of underwear and a toothbrush. Not so anymore.

Before we had kids, my husband and I traveled as often as we could—we’ve hiked in Patagonia, Chile; roamed around Ireland by car; honeymooned in Bali. Then our first child, Max, had a stroke at birth that resulted in cerebral palsy. Over the years, I’ve learned some key pointers for traveling with kids, whether you have a kid with any sort of special needs, or just a kid in general.

Not only do moms feel overwhelmed by the stress of long flights with squirming kids and sleepless nights away from home with over-tired tots, but also many feel discriminated against when traveling with children.

Asking the locals where to go feels so much more fun, immediate, and real. Here are some ways to get the insider’s scoop on your destination.

In an interview with PassPorter Coauthor Jennifer Marx, mom-next-door and Travel Mama inspiration, we learn Jennifer’s top tips for a Disney vacation and her favorite Disney park, restaurant and attraction.

Airports and airlines are offering additional services and facilities to help parents make it through, and even enjoy, air travel with their children.

Motels, hotels, resorts, and even some bed and breakfasts are making strides to not just tolerate, but to welcome their youngest guests. Many offer welcome kits at check-in, kids’ camps resplendent with child-friendly activities, and children’s menus in their restaurants.

“Eat while you drive. Stop to play.” I recently tested this tidbit of road trip advice from a friend, while trying to avoid the lure of my SUV’s built-in DVD screen.

A road trip to the quaint town of Julian, California reminded me to slow down and see things as children do…right now…right here.