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Posts Tagged ‘travel’
Tuesday, January 31st, 2012
Oscar Wilde said, “The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.” This World Tour of the Web focuses on those little things we can all do to make the world a better place.
When January rolls around, I like to write out my goals for the year. This year, instead of career-focused to-dos or dreamy travel wishes, my goals focused on becoming a better human. I wrote things like:
I will start every day with thankful thoughts and intention.
I will read something motivational/thoughtful/spiritual every day.
I will greet my husband and children with love and joy.
I will focus less on my wants and more on making others happy.
I have been more successful with some goals than with others. While I am pretty dang good at greeting my children with a smile, hug, and joyous glint in my eyes, I sometimes forget my resolution to give this small dose of love to my husband. I’ll do better tomorrow. That’s all we can do, right? Learn from our mistakes and strive to do better.
Here’s another one:
Every day I will do an act of kindness for someone outside of my family.
This one can be hard, y’all. Still, it’s a lovely way to frame my day. I am always on the outlook for some small act of kindness I can do to make someone else’s day a bit brighter. I hold open the door for a mom struggling with a stroller; I compliment a stranger’s sweater; I let someone go ahead of me in the parking lot at preschool drop-off; I take a photo for a couple posing by the ocean. I have always done these things on occasion, but now I am on a treasure hunt to find more and more ways to spread kindness throughout my life.
Social media makes doing small acts of kindness easier. I can make a positive comment on someone else’s blog, post words of encouragement on a friend’s Facebook page, or re-tweet something on Twitter. All the better if I do a bunch of these small things in one day. Still, I am always wondering if my small gesture is enough. What else can I do?
Since I sometimes struggle to find acts of kindness to fulfill my daily goal, I thought I’d turn to the Interwebs for ideas.
Here are some stories that focus on the little everyday acts of kindness we can each do to make the world a better place:
50 Simple Ways to Pay It Forward
by Belinda Munoz, Choosing Positivity
I love this list so much, I printed it out to post on my fridge.
The Traveling Red Dress
by Jenny Lawson, The Bloggess
Making the world a better place could be as simple as sending your friend a red dress so she can, “wear it and love it and feel…special and vivid and dynamic.” It sounds cheesy when I write it but I promise it’s not. Read Jenny’s original post and you’ll see what I mean. Then read The Traveling Red Dress Revisited to see how a simple act can multiply and become a big one.
20 Ways to Give Without Expectations
by Lori Deschene, Tiny Buddha
The author says expecting something in return (beyond the joy of helping) can actually cause more stress for her. Lori says, “They mar the act of giving, which makes me feel slightly guilty; they lead to disappointment if the person I helped doesn’t return the kindness; and they tie my intentions to an internal score card, which places a wedge in my relationships.” I think we all struggle with this, I know I do. I love these tips on how to pay it forward without expectations.
Gatorade Angels – Random Acts of Kindness
by Nancy Vogel, Family on Bikes
This post about the kindness of strangers will bring tears to your eyes. Or, at least it did to mine.
Why We “Volunteer Travel” as a Family
by Lainie Liberti, Raising Miro
This story explores the many benefits of volunteering with your children during your travels.
Kids for Peace
Want to encourage your children to “uplift our world through love and action” in your own community? I do. That’s why we’re joining the local chapter of Kids for Peace today.
Share your suggestions for everyday acts of kindness in the comments below! Links to relevant blog posts are welcomed.
Come back every Wednesday to read a new World Tour of the Web.
Photo by Anita Patterson. (Creative Commons)
Tags: acts of kindness, joy, pay it forward, peace, travel, volunteer
Posted in Mixed Baggage, World Tour of the Web | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012
Usually I try to come up with some sort of clever theme for these weekly World Tour of the Web posts, but I have got a bunch of deadlines looming, my eye is twitching from lack of sleep, and I couldn’t find a way to tie these up with a big travel-themed bow. So, here are a bunch of stories that I really like. I hope you like them too.
Should You Eat at American Chain Restaurants When You Travel?
by Mike Barish, Gadling
Judgemental travelers like to think “their way” is the better way to see the world. These people would tend to balk (loudly and with much superiority) at eating at a McDonald’s or Pizza Hut while traveling. The author of this post makes a case for checking out American fast food eats while in a foreign country. Mike says, “I love eating locally and experiencing the cuisines of the world. But I also love seeing how American culture is reinterpreted to fit into the social norms of other places.” Agreed. When I lived in Southern France for a year during college, my trek to McDonald’s every Sunday (when the university’s cafeterias and most other restaurants were closed) was like a welcome, if greasy, hug from home.
20 Unique Drinks to Sample on Your Next Trip
by Adam Seper, BootsnAll
These drinks give you an excuse to get a little buzz on while traveling. I mean, you really should experience the local culture, right? Especially if that means doing a shot of Springbok (creme de menthe and amurula cream) in South Africa or sipping a Pain Killer (dark rum, cream of coconut, pineapple and orange juice, topped with nutmeg) in the Caribbean!
The Uppers & Downers of Parenting (Or, Coffee & Wine)
by Amber Dusick, Parenting. Illustrated with Crappy Pictures
Speaking of drinking, my neighbor, Sara, and I were talking about the relationship between drinking and parenting the other night. Over a glass of wine. While our kids were upstairs being suspiciously quiet. (We recently had to implement a new play date rule for the kids: no nudity. They are ages 3, 4, 5, and 6 – so don’t be too worried.) In any case, we decided that drinking wine actually makes us better moms. Or at least that’s what we tell ourselves. Read this article by Amber; she explains it better. Plus, there are cute little “crappy” pictures! (By the way, usually when I include a funny parenting-related story in a World Tour of the Web it’s because Sara sent it to me.)
Lodging Alternatives for Family Travel
by Jody Halsted, Blissfully Domestic
Alright, I am quoted in this post so it may seem a bit self-serving to include this story, but Jody makes some great accommodation suggestions for saving money and staying somewhere off-the-beaten-path when traveling with kids, including a couple of options I never would have considered.
Iowa Nice
by Iowa Filmmakers via YouTube
You think you know Iowa? Think again! This laugh-out-loud video breaks down the stereotypes you might have about this Midwestern state. (Warning for watching with kids in the room: this is the clean version, but there’s still one itty bitty curse word jammed in there.)
So, what say you? For or against American fast food when traveling? Love Iowa? Got a foreign cocktail you discovered on the road? Tell us about it in the comments below!
If you have a fabulous travel or parenting story to share, go for it! Just leave a link in the comments below.
Come back every Wednesday for a new World Tour of the Web!
Photo by Clarita. (Creative Commons)
Tags: drinking, fast food, Iowa nice, parenting, travel, wine
Posted in World Tour of the Web | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 17th, 2012
The travel industry seems more reflective than usual this week following the recent tragic sinking of Costa’s Concordia cruise ship. This World Tour of the Web represents the yin and yang of travel…the difficulties and the triumphs of exploring the world.
After Concordia: Is Cruising Safe?
by Carolyn Spencer Brown, Cruise Critic
The editor of Cruise Critic tackles the question many travelers have been wondering following the capsizing of Costa’s Concordia: is cruising safe? I have been almost obsessively reading stories about the Concordia disaster ever since the ship sunk off the coast of Italy this weekend. Cruise Critic has done a stellar job of covering the ship’s sinking and the aftermath for survivors. Carolyn addresses our fears in this post and closes by saying, “I’ll see you at the muster drill. I’ll be the person paying very, very close attention, even after 200-plus cruises, to the captain’s instructions.”
Travel Predictions for 2012: Doom and Gloom May Boost Tourism
by Laura Bly, USA Today
According to this article, two somber events are providing the tourism industry with excuses to celebrate: the Titanic’s sinking and the apocolypse (according to the ancient Mayan calendar) with special cruises and festivities scheduled to commemorate both. This was before the recent Costa ship tragedy, so I’d guess deep discounts are likely to become available within the cruise industry. A failing Euro may lure Americans and others to Europe. Meanwhile Japan and Thailand, recovering from flooding and earthquakes last year, will likely provide special deals to entice travelers.
Traveling Is the Best Therapy - Traveling with a Special Needs Child
by Jessica, Suitcases and Sippy Cups
This post by a mom of four children discusses the benefits of traveling with a special needs child in terms of stretching him beyond his comfort zone to help his growth. Although some parents might think travel with a “normal” child might be too difficult and not worth the effort, much less with a child with special needs, the author says, “He didn’t need to be hidden away in the safety of his home, he needed an experience that would force him to face his fears and grow. Traveling was the ticket to that opportunity.”
The Traveller’s Guide to Happiness – Infographic
by Harry Lawrence, TravelSupermarket.com blog
This post uses clever graphics to illustrate such ”dilemmas” as Need Theory (we are only happy when our need to travel is met), Post-Travel Blues (apparently 56% of us get them), and chart detailing how to extract the most happiness from our travels.
Your Turn!
Got a great story that demonstrates the difficulties and/or triumphs of travel? Share it using the Linky below. I will read every linked story and make a comment on your site. (Enter the title of the story as “Your Name” and include http:// in the web address.) You don’t have to link back to Travel Mamas from your site. Just, ya know, link up for fun!
Come back every Wednesday for a new World Tour of the Web!
Photo by Clarita. (Creative Commons)
Tags: Concordia, Cruise, post-travel blues, predictions, special needs, Titanic, tourism, travel
Posted in World Tour of the Web | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 10th, 2012
Parenting at home can be tough enough. Add a messed up sleep schedule, oodles of time spent together in cramped spaces, time change crankiness, and judgemental onlookers — and travel with children might seem like a foul idea at best and a recipe for mania at worst. But it’s not all bad, right?! This World Tour of the Web focuses on the highs and lows of parenting in general, and parenting while traveling in particular.
What Is the Point of Having Kids if Your Life Ends When Theirs Begins?
by Petula Dvorak, The Washington Post
This article poses the question many of us parents are not even willing to admit we’ve pondered: if you had to do it all over again, would you have kids? The author gives us reasons aplenty to avoid parenthood, saying, “Besides those hateful shelf elves, there is Barney and endless holiday concerts of squawking clarinets and painful parent-teacher conferences and potty training and driver’s permits and orthodontist bills and bath salts that get your tween high and the recession that won’t end and a bazillion other reasons not to have kids.”
On the pro-parenting side, one father interviewed for the article says, “What else would I be doing that means anything? You just change your priorities. And now, she’s my priority.” So, what say you…is the worry, cost, inconvenience and annoyance worth the precious yet rare joy-filled moments of parenting?
Why Travel with Kids and Family Travel Are Important to Me
by Corinne McDermott, Have Baby Will Travel
This story was inspired by the recent death of the author’s father. Corinne discusses how her parents instilled in her a love of travel as a child and how that now translates into her love of travel as a mother with her children. She says, “seeing the world at a young age broadens the mind, and will help my children grow into the kind of tolerant, kind and open minded adults I hope they will become.”
Highs and Lows of Traveling with a Tween and a Teen
by Michelle Duffy, WanderMom
Worried your travels have to stop once your children enter their tween and teen years? This mom breaks down the pros and cons of traveling with a 10-year-old and a 14-year-old in this helpful blog post.
9 Life Lessons Children Learn from Travel
by Theodora Sutcliffe, Travels with a Nine Year Old
Traveling can be not only both stressful and fun, but also it is educational. Theodora says, “After almost two years on the road, I have to say that if I’d known how much children learn from travel, I’d have started travelling sooner.”
You Can Take a Teen to the Lake, But You Can’t Make Her Swim
by Lisa Goodmurphy, Gone with the Family
A mom struggles with keeping the peace while on family vacation with her teenage daughter. To allow the teen to to text all day, or to force the teen to have fun family-style, that is the question!
Raising Kids Who Travel Well
by Jessica Bowers, Suitcases and Sippycups
Here are some handy tips for things you can do at home to help your children adjust well when traveling.
2011 Lesson #2 – Don’t Carpe Diem
by Glennon Melton, Momastery
Even though I have been known to encourage others (and myself) to seize the day, I understand and appreciate Glennon’s suggestion that, as parents, we don’t carpe diem after all. She says, “This CARPE DIEM message makes me paranoid and panicky. Especially during this phase of my life – while I’m raising young kids. Being told, in a million different ways to CARPE DIEM makes me worry that if I’m not in a constant state of intense gratitude and ecstasy, I’m doing something wrong.”
This humorous post on the ups and downs of parenting had me busting out in laughter, especially when I read the part about what she’ll say to moms struggling to contain their wild children when she’s a nostalgic old lady: “It’s helluva hard, isn’t it? You’re a good mom, I can tell. And I like your kids, especially that one peeing in the corner. She’s my favorite. Carry on, warrior. Six hours till bedtime.”
Why We Travel with Children
by Colleen Lanin, Travel Mamas
I couldn’t help but chime in on this one. This is the first story ever posted on Travel Mamas when the site launched in 2009. This post explains why, despite all of the mess, heartbreak, and temper tantrums…I am pro-parenting and pro-parenting-while-traveling.
Your Turn!
Got a great story that deals with the highs and lows of parenting in general or parenting while traveling? Share it using the Linky below. I will read every linked story and make a comment on your site. (Enter the title of the story as “Your Name” and include http:// in the web address.) You don’t have to link back to Travel Mamas from your site. Just, ya know, link up for fun!
Come back every Wednesday for a new World Tour of the Web!
Photo by kakisky. (Creative Commons)
Tags: blog, children, kids, parenting, teens, travel, tweens
Posted in World Tour of the Web | 5 Comments »
Tuesday, December 20th, 2011
Whether traveling or staying home this holiday season, this World Tour of the Web will make you want to drink a cup of egnnog and fry up a potato latke. My family celebrates both Hanukkah and Christmas (Christmakkah, if you will). Here are some wacky, useful, interesting, and beautiful stories that focus on these two winter holidays.
A Butter Message to the USA
by Tommy, My Life as Tommy
With Christmas fast-approaching Tommy is quite displeased that he will not be able to make the traditional Norweigian holiday pussycat cake for which butter is the main ingredient. I can’t stop doing impersonations of this flamboyant blogger from Norway chastising Americans for our lack of compassion over his country’s butter shortage this holiday season. Warning, soon you too will be announcing, “I will force you to watch me while I eat all of your butter that you were going to have at Christmas evening!”
Celebrating Hanukkah When You Travel
by Debbie Dubrow, Delicious Baby
Here are some helpful tips for celebrating Hanukkah while away from home including travel menorah tips and gifts to give on-the-go, as well as where to celebrate and get your Hanukkah traditional treats.
Around the Tree and Around the World
by Kymri, Mira Terra Travels
Take a trip around the world from Africa and Asia to Europe, North America and beyond in this photo-centric post featuring the well-traveled author’s vast souvenir ornament collection.
Over Achieving Elf on the Shelf Mommies
by Jen, People I Want to Punch in the Throat
On a blog dedicated to all things and people punch-in-the-throat-worthy, this post lampoons those moms who make the rest of us look bad by spending WAY too much time moving their Elf on a Shelf too often and even having the little bugger ”play tricks” on the kiddos by baking loads of cookies and leaving mom a big mess to clean up. I’ll one up the author; I want to punch anyone who even OWNS an Elf on a Shelf. I’ve got enough to do during the holidays without adding an annoying elf to the mix!
6 Jolly Reasons to Spend Christmas in Alaska
by Rachel Denning, BootsnAll
This clever post uses the lyrics from Christmas carols plus gorgeous photos to convince us to head to Alaska for a white Christmas.
Where Can You Find the World’s Largest Hanukkah Menorah? New York City Of Course!
by Nadia Carriere, Child Mode
There’s not as much hullaballoo surrounding Hanukkah as there is for Christmas but those who want to celebrate the Festival of Lights can do so in grand style in New York City. There are nightly lightings throughout Hanukkah plus a few special events like a Grand Menorah Parade on December 22 and a party with singing, games, chocolate gelt, and latkes on December 25.
Carlson School of Management Flash Mob, Deck the Halls
by UMN Videos
Need a little perking up? I dare you to watch this festive flash mob at the University of Minnesota without smiling.
Photo by kakisky (Creative Commons)
Your turn!
Share your favorite winter holiday post using the Linky below. Be sure to include http://. This World Tour of the Web focuses on Hanukkah and Christmas, but stories on all winter holidays are welcomed! You don’t need to link back to Travel Mamas on your site to add your story. Come back every Wednesday to link up your posts!
Tags: Christmakkah, Christmas, Deck the Halls flash mob, elf on the shelf, Hanukkah, holiday, Norway, ornaments, travel, winter, world's largest menorah
Posted in Family Vacations, World Tour of the Web | 7 Comments »
Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011
JetSetBabies is providing one lucky family with a $100 gift certificate for children’s travel supplies. With JetSetBabies you can order necessities and gear for babies, toddlers, and children to be shipped to vacation destinations. Choose from diapers, baby food, bath toys, toiletries, and more. JetSetBabies packages everything up and sends it to your hotel, vacation rental, or grandma’s house so it’s ready and waiting for you upon arrival. This can save your sanity (no worries over forgetting something), money (no expensive airline baggage fees), and time (no wasting precious vacation time at the grocery or drug store).
There were 72 entries in this JetSetBabies giveaway. To enter, I asked readers to share why you would like win $100 to spend at JetSetBabies. Heather (a contest entrant) summed it up pretty well when she said, “Who doesn’t need essentials when on a trip?! I absolutely love that with JetSetBabies, I wouldn’t have to lug around a whole bunch of extra stuff, but that it could all be conveniently waiting for us when we arrive at our destination…how cool is that!”
The winner of the $100 JetSetBabies gift card is a regular Travel Mamas reader and contest entrant. Congratulations, Phxbne (a.k.a. Michele)! Why did she want to win? “To make a trip to the beach easier.” With $100, she can stock up on all sorts of goodies like sand toys, sun block, snacks, and kiddie sun glasses. Surf’s up!
The winner was selected at random using Random.org. If the winner does not claim the prize within 48 hours of email notification, the prize will be forfeited and another winner will be chosen.
Even if you didn’t win, you can still take advantage of the awesome JetSetBabies service! Get a 15% discount off your JetSetBabies order just by using entering the coupon code travelmamas at check-out. Want to save even more? Use the coupon code fall2011 to get free shipping on orders over $75.
You might also like:
• Huntington Beach with Kids – The Ultimate Surfer Town
• 10 Best Beach Hotels for Kids
• Top 10 Disneyland Rides & Attractions for Babies & Toddlers
• Wilmington, North Carolina for Families
A Note from The Travel Mama: As a Travel Mamas advertiser, JetSetBabies received a discounted rate to run this giveaway. Want to advertise with Travel Mamas or run a giveaway with us? Click here to learn more.
Tags: babies, children, diapers, giveaway, jetsetbabies, toddlers, toys, travel, vacation
Posted in Family Vacations, Giveaways, Toys & Gear | No Comments »
Monday, November 7th, 2011
When traveling it can be an expensive hassle to tote all of the paraphernalia that children require. Wouldn’t it be nice if everything was ready and waiting for you at your destination instead? Read on to find out how to win a $100 JetSetBabies gift certificate to save your back and your bank account when traveling with babies, toddlers and children.
Make your travels easier!
With most airlines now charging for checked bags, traveling with children and all their accouterments has become even more costly. It can be stressful trying to cram your children’s diapers, medicines, toys, and snacks into your luggage — all while trying to keep your bag’s weight under the airline’s 50 pound limit. Depending on where you’re headed, you might be able to load up on some of these items after arrival, but who wants to take time out of your precious, hard-earned vacation to shop for these necessities?
With JetSetBabies you can pre-order wipes, baby formula, and bath toys to be delivered to your hotel or to grandma’s house. The company even calls ahead to make sure your package arrives safely and on time.
Shipping items ahead is not only handy when traveling with babies and toddlers, but also when on the go with children of all ages. Order some big kid snack items or sand toys or get some cleaning supplies for your trip like laundry detergent, dish soap, and paper towels.
Worried about sticking to the liquid limits on an airplane? Order your sunblock, shampoo, shaving cream, and toothpaste from JetSetBabies instead.
I especially like their Travel Packs– pre-made travel packages for the woods, beach, slopes, or pool.
Save!
Get a 15% discount off your JetSetBabies order just by using entering the coupon code travelmamas at check-out.
Want to save even more? Use the coupon code fall2011 to get free shipping on orders over $75.
Win!
JetSetBabies will provide a $100 gift certificate to make travel easier for one lucky Travel Mama or Travel Daddy.
- Just make a comment below about why you’d like to win the JetSetBabies giveaway. (Generic comments like “I want to win” will be disqualified.)
- Bonus entry! Tweet the following on Twitter:
I wanna make my travels with children easier with $100 from @JetSetBabies & @TravelMamas http://tinyurl.com/78dkcbp
- Bonus entry! “Like” JetSetBabies and Facebook and make a comment on their page about which items you would order if you won the Travel Mamas giveaway.
You can enter using each method of entry one time, for a total of three entries. Be sure to leave a separate comment below for each entry to count!
This contest ends on Monday, November 14, 2011 at 11:59 pm Pacific Standard Time. Per the sponsor’s request the contest entry deadline has been extended to Monday, November 21, 2011 at 11:59 pm Pacific Standard Time. A winner will be chosen at random using Random.org. The winner will be notified via email. If the prize is not claimed within 48 hours, another winner will be selected. This contest is not affiliated with Facebook or Twitter.
You might also like:
• Residence Inn Giveaway – A Traveling Family’s Residence for All Seasons
• Tips for Staying in Hotels with Kids
• Top 6 Reasons to Take a Thanksgiving Vacation
• Travel Sleep Tips for Babies, Toddlers & Children
A Note from The Travel Mama: As a Travel Mamas advertiser, JetSetBabies received a discounted rate to run this giveaway. Want to advertise with Travel Mamas or run a giveaway with us? Click here to learn more.
Tags: babies, children, diapers, discount, giveaway, jetsetbabies, toddlers, travel
Posted in Family Vacations, Giveaways, Toys & Gear | 72 Comments »
Tuesday, November 1st, 2011
Go Baby Go! makes vacationing with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers easier for parents. To streamline your travels, this San Diego company offers such handy rentable items as full-size cribs (or travel cribs), high chairs, bouncy seats, humidifiers, and even beach necessities. Baby equipment rentals save on baggage fees and the stress and backaches caused by lugging gobs of gear through the airport. Plus, some children just sleep better in a full-size crib or refuse to nap without a baby swing.
Take a peek at all that Go Baby Go! has to offer. To receive a 15% discount off your travel gear rental order, just enter “Travel Mamas” at check-out.
Congratulations to Susan @ Real Life Travels! You are the winner of a $75 baby equipment rental from Go Baby Go!
The winner of the Go Baby Go! Giveaway was chosen at random using Random.org. If the winner does not claim the prize within 48 hours of notification another winner will be selected.
You might also like:
• Disney’s New Ship Is a Dream for Babies, Toddlers, and Children
• How to do a Home Exchange – Part 1
• Keeping Up with Laundry While Traveling With Kids
• 10 Reasons to Rent Baby Travel Gear
A Note from The Travel Mama: As a Travel Mamas advertiser, Go Baby Go! received a discounted rate to run this giveaway.
Tags: babies, baby equipment rental, giveaway, Go Baby Go, preschoolers, toddlers, travel, travel gear
Posted in Family Vacations, Giveaways, Toys & Gear | No Comments »
Monday, October 24th, 2011
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 easy, but it is possible to enjoy traveling with children alone! Here are my travel tips for single parents.
Pick the Right Mode of Transportation
Selecting the right mode of transportation is an important factor in planning a vacation as a single parent. One option is to take a road trip with kids. Road trips provide the most control over pitstops and allow you to pack more luggage. Road trips, however, can be stressful in terms of keeping sibling fights to a minimum and child entertainment to a maximum, especially when the only adult in the car is busy driving. For those of you road trippers who have three young kids, I recommend purchasing a sunshine kids radian convertible car seat because you can squeeze a trio of these across a normal car’s backseat.
On several trips with my children, I’ve chosen to fly because of the distances involved and the shorter travel time. Check with the airline to see if early boarding is permitted for passengers traveling alone with children; many airlines do.
When possible, my kids and I often take the train. It takes a bit longer, but train travel offers more opportunity for mobility during the trip so my kids can work off some of their limitless energy while in transit.
Pack Wisely
It can be difficult to manage children alone while lugging a bunch of baggage. One suitcase, one carry-on, and one stroller is plenty for a single person to tote when traveling by train or plane. If you’re sure of porter service at all interim and final stops, you may be safe in bringing more luggage. If not, consider alternatives like ordering baby gear (like strollers, cribs and supplies) to be delivered to your destination.
For children age 5 and older, purchase kid-sized rolling suitcases so they can pull their own bags. Talk up the importance of this responsibility and get their buy-in by bringing the kids to the store to help pick out their suitcases.
Choose Kid-Friendly Accommodations
The degree to which you will have to manage your children depends on your vacation destination and how well you researched the amenities available. If you will be traveling to visit family or friends, your need for constant vigilance is usually over once you arrive because the extra adults will likely help with childcare demands.
If staying at a hotel, it’s important that you feel comfortable as a single parent in the company of the other guests. Some people vacation to get away from children so you’ll be happiest in a family-friendly locale. You may want to seek out hotels with kids’ camps or in-room babysitting so you can get a reprieve from childcare duties during your stay. Ask your travel agent what tours or vacation resorts have programs that cater to single parents or check with your local Parents Without Partners organization for suggestions.
Ask for Help
Don’t be afraid to ask strangers to snap family photos unless you want to end up with a photo album without any pictures of you. Most people, especially those at the grandparent stage, are delighted to take photos of young families.
Be prepared to tip more than you would if you were traveling without children. You may need to tip porters at the airport, bellman at the hotel, or give larger tips to restaurant servers for extra service for your brood.
Splurge a Little
Splurge on room service a couple of times during your stay. The kids will love it and dining-in causes less hassle after a long day of play.
Carve out some alone time while away too. Get a well-deserved massage while your children are busy at the hotel kids’ camp or you could simply sip a tropical beverage on the balcony after the kids are in bed for the night. After all, vacations are supposed to be dedicated to relaxing and recharging, and no one needs that boost more than single parents!
Laura Cecil is a mom of three and the editor of www.Livesnet.com, a place to help parents to select the right baby products and a space to share parenting stories and challenges. Connect with Livesnet.com on Facebook.
What are your tips for traveling with children? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!
You might also like:
• A Road Trip with Children Experiment: Eat While You Drive. Stop to Play.
• Hilton Garden Inn Vacation Wishes Giveaway
• Tips for Flying Standby & Handling Flight Delays with Kids
• Win a $75 Baby Equipment Rental from Go Baby Go!
Photo by: Gretta Vosper (morgueFile Creative Commons)
Tags: children, kids, single mom, single parent, travel, traveling alone with children, vacation
Posted in Family Vacations, Travel Tips | 8 Comments »
Friday, September 30th, 2011
So, my second weekly World Tour of the Web is a tad late. What can I say? I was too busy celebrating my birthday and zipping down waterslides at Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii last week. But this week I’m on top of things, my fellow Travel Mamas and Travel Daddies! Here are my latest picks for wonderful and wacky stories and videos found on the Web that are (mostly) related to travel and/or parenting.
Why I Hate The Amazing Race - Gadling
Many travel-lovers are quite fond of The Amazing Race. I am not among them. This article does a fabulous job of explaining why the Amazing Race sucks. However, they left out the main reason I don’t like the show: it makes me nervous. I am already uptight enough as it is. The last thing I need is a TV show to jangle my nerves after a long day of blogging, sibling fight officiating, cat puke cleaning, and laundry folding.
“The Wall” Originally Performed by Pink Floyd (Performed by Mariachi Cabos) - You Tube
There’s just something so dang festive and fun about a Mariachi band, si? It makes a person feel like sipping a margarita or two down in old Mexico. And there’s just something so dang funny about a Mariachi band doing a cover of a Pink Floyd song.
Rick Steves’ Europe: Avoiding Scams in Europe - Rick Steves
Our beloved nerdy Europhile warns of new ingenious ways to rip off tourists in Europe. My “favorite” is the fake camera scam.
10 of the Most Adorable Halloween Costumes, Outfits, and Kiddos on Etsy – Between the Kids
Do yourself a favor: buy your kids’ Halloween costumes online today. Don’t wait until a day before the school Halloween parade (like I’ve done in the past) to run out to the store searching for an outfit that is somewhat affordable and passably cute. All of the best Halloween garb goes quickly and you don’t want to try to convince your little one that wearing Daddy’s black t-shirt and holding a broom really does look like an authentic witch costume. These 10 get-ups are especially cool because they are available for purchase on Etsy, a site that sells handmade or vintage items as well as art and craft supplies. In other words, buying from Etsy means supporting the little guy (or gal, in most cases).
Yellowstone Hiker May Have Provoked Deadly Attack – USA Today
There’s nothing funny about this one, folks. Here’s what NOT to do if you see a mama grizzly bear with her two cubs: scream and run away. Really.
SkyMall Monday: Travel Hangers - Gadling
While I hate to choose TWO stories from Gadling in one week (do they really need more traffic?!), I can’t help but include this little sarcastic romp through the world of travel hangers. And no, Mike Barish, I do not pack my own travel hangers. Now, dresser drawers are a different story. I gotta bring one or two of those along on every trip! 
Your turn! Got a link to a recent fabulous travel story to share? Add it in the comments below!
You might also like:
• Halloween Fun for Families at LEGOLAND California
• Keeping Up with Laundry While Traveling With Kids
• Sun, Sand & Sea in Sardinia
• The Travel Mama’s World Tour of the Web – Week 1
Photo by mensatic, Creative Commons 2.0
Tags: amazing race sucks, gadling, grizzly bear attack, mariachi, pink floyd, rick steves, travel, travel hangers, yellowstone
Posted in Mixed Baggage, Toys & Gear, World Tour of the Web | No Comments »
Monday, September 19th, 2011
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 the way to make keeping up with laundry while traveling as easy as possible.
Photo by Liz West (Creative Commons 2.0)
Use a laundry bag
It’s easy to confuse clean clothes and dirty ones when everything is jumbled together in a suitcase. To keep dirty laundry from soiling clean clothing, I’ve started packing a large canvas bag for everyone to throw their clothes into when staying in a hotel room or at grandma’s house. Storage-sized zipper lock plastic bags also work well. Using a separate laundry bag keeps things neater. Plus we’ve lost fewer socks and other items, and no one tries to put on dirty underwear.
Wash clothing while away
If you are just going on a short trip, less than one week, just bring home your full laundry bag at the end of the trip and wash your items soon after you return. However, if you are traveling for an extended period, I suggest doing your laundry while you travel. The reason is twofold. First, it allows you to pack less because you can reuse clothes after they are washed. Second, washing within one week of wear is the best way to make sure no stains, dirt or odors get set in your clothes, causing permanent damage.
Plan ahead
While making your travel plans, consider laundry when deciding where to stay. There are many hotels that have washers and driers available for use by guests. If your accommodations don’t offer laundry facilities, scout out Laundromats close to where you will be staying.
Bring laundry supplies
It can be expensive and inconvenient to purchase laundry supplies while traveling, so I suggest bringing these things with you. Whether you plan to do laundry on the trip or not, bring a stain remover stick to pre-treat stains as dirty clothes go in the laundry bag. For longer trips, bring quarters or small bills for the machines plus laundry detergent.
Laundry detergent and other supplies can be bulky, so pack light. There are two basic options. The first is to repackage smaller amounts of your own supplies to take on the road. For example, you could put a load size scoop of powdered detergent in a plastic baggy, and bring enough baggies for the number of loads you anticipate doing. You could also put liquid laundry detergent and fabric softener in marked containers, along with a measuring cup.
The second option is to use travel-sized supplies. Many brands offer one-use laundry detergent packets designed for use on-the-go. Whether you re-package your own supplies or buy something just for travel, double bag all these items in your suitcase so if they leak they don’t make a huge mess. If not checking luggage, make sure liquid containers adhere to TSA size guidelines and clearly label each item.
Although keeping up with your laundry while traveling can be a bit of a hassle, it saves more hassle than it causes. To come home from a trip with clean clothes and not be faced with a huge laundry pile is a wonderful feeling. I also like being able to dress the kids in clean clothing throughout our vacation without lugging around every outfit they own.
Do you have any laundry travel tips? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!
Taylor Flanery is a mom of three young kids, who unfortunately doesn’t live as close to family as she likes so she and the family travel a lot to see everyone. She is also a freelance legal and home and garden writer, who can be found blogging about keeping up with your home while raising kids at three different websites, Household Management 101, Stain Removal 101, and Home Storage Solutions 101.
You might also like:
• Best Music for Family Road Trips
• Best iPhone Apps for Traveling with Kids
• Family Cruise Budget Tips
• Tips for Flying Standby & Handling Flight Delays with Kids
Tags: children, family, kids, laundry, travel, vacation
Posted in Family Vacations, Travel Tips | 2 Comments »
Friday, September 16th, 2011
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 a link to it from the Travel Mamas Facebook page. But then I got an even better idea…why not share my favorite web stories and videos with YOU, right HERE on Travel Mamas?!
Now, this isn’t a unique idea by any stretch. Other bloggers have been doing something similar on their sites for awhile, like Matt Long with his Landlopers Picks of the Week and Stephanie Schaeffer with her Tuesday Tours: What’s Happening on the Web. But it’s a good idea, and one I plan to copy. Starting now.
Some of these things just got posted this week, but others have been around for awhile and I just happened to find them recently. In any case, here are my favorite stories for the first week of the The Travel Mama’s World Tour of the Web:
Q&A: TSA’s New Kid-Friendly Checkpoints – Overhead Bin
There’s been much excitement about children being subjected to less security pat-downs at the airport with the new TSA kid-friendly checkpoints. According to this article, however, it looks like kids under age 13 will just not need to remove their shoes. While this will make the lines flow smoother for parents and other travelers, if my kid is required to go through the ‘naked’ or ‘scatter’ scanners, I’m still insisting on a pat-down until the new technology is proven to be safe. Just last month I tried to take a photo of my 6-year-old getting a pat-down after I refused to let her go through the scatter scanner but the TSA told me I was not allowed to take any pictures. According to Christopher Elliott of Elliott.org, though, I should have been allowed to snap pics as long as I wasn’t disrupting official TSA business. The bigger news might be that the ‘Naked’ Scanners May Soon Be on the Way Out.
Roseanne Sings the National Anthem…Again! – Roseanne’s Nuts, on YouTube
This video clip brings tears to my eyes every time I watch it. Remember when Roseanne Barr sang the national anthem years ago and she did such a terrible job that it tanked her career, inspired death threats, and incited President Bush to call her a disgrace? Well, she recently sang the national anthem again. This time she sang the song before a women’s college softball game in Hawaii and she did a very good job. It took an incredible amount of courage for her to overcome her fears of bungling the song again but she did it. What an inspiration!
Meal Day Plan for 5 Day Camping Trip – Family Trek
Now, I don’t know if I’ll ever be up for such a long family camping trip (probably not, two or three days would likely be my limit), but I dig this camping menu with its appealing dishes and easy-to-follow instructions. I asked Family Trek on Twitter how they kept the perishables safe and they said, “Coleman cooler that keeps ice for 5 days @ 90 degrees. That’s how it’s billed. Not 100% true but it did the job.”
Astrophysicist Shows Why it Takes So Long to Board a Plane - WBEZ91.5
A Fermilab physicist ran experiments with actual humans and an actual airplane to determine the best way to cut boarding time. Guess what? The airlines have been doing it all wrong.
Hoop Dee Doo Revue…Review! – The Disney Food Blog
I have wanted to go to the popular Walt Disney World character meal, the Hoop Dee Doo Revue, ever since I planned an elaborate WDW trip a few years ago. To get amped for the trip I purchased an old-school (2005) Disney DVD, Sing-A-Long Songs Campout at Walt Disney World, which includes clips from the Hoop Dee Doo Revue. My family wound up staying at the Nickelodeon Suites Resort instead of at our original choice, the Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, where this musical ho-down/barbecue takes place. So we never did make it to the Hoop Dee Doo. However, my kids (and yes, the hubs and I, too), love watching this video together. We even get up and dance during the square dance scene. This review confirms the Revue’s spot on my family’s Disney to-do list.
10 Beauty Products for Under $10 - Savvy Sassy Moms
This beauty product list has nothing to do with traveling, or even parenting, but mamas like to look good too! Plus, I’m always looking for a good deal so I’ll have more money to travel with!
What’s the juiciest story you found on the web this week? Please share in the comments below!
Photo by DuBoix, Creative Commons 3.0
You might also like:
• 5 Safety Tips for Camping with Kids
• The Travel Mama’s Guide to Orlando & Kissimmee with Kids
• Tips for Flying Standby & Handling Flight Delays with Kids
• Top 10 Blogs of 2010
Tags: airplane, camping, disney world, hoop dee doo revue, roseanne sings national anthem, travel, TSA
Posted in Family Vacations, Mixed Baggage, Travel Tips, World Tour of the Web | 2 Comments »
Friday, August 12th, 2011
You could win an opportunity to cross an item off your travel bucket list from Hilton Garden Inn. I’m a big fan of writing out goals, making vision boards, and creating bucket lists. There are some who say a bucket list is unnecessary but I believe the more you visualize your goals, the more likely you are to achieve them. Apparently I’m not alone; nearly 70% of Americans have created a bucket list, either mentally or written down.
Get dreaming! To enter, visit the Hilton Garden Inn Facebook page and share your ultimate goal. Enter by September 2, 2011 for a chance to win one of ten grand prize packages, including a 3-day/2-night trip including airfare to the destination of your choice with a guest, hotel accommodations wherever there’s a Hilton Garden Inn, and cash to spend on your ultimate to-do list activity. View contest rules. Ten lucky winners will be awarded this prize package worth approximately $5,000.
I entered the other day with my bucket list goal to witness grizzly bears fishing for salmon in Alaska. Other entries that I saw on the site include: Run across the Golden Gate Bridge, Relax in one of Costa Rica’s waterfalls, and Learn to Blow Glass in Murano, Italy.
What’s on your bucket list? Dream big and enter Hilton Garden Inn Life’s Ultimate To-Do List contest now!
You might also like:
• How & Why to Host a Vision Board Party
• The Travel Mama’s Bucket List
• Top 10 Most Popular Travel Mamas Blog Posts – Year 2
• Win a Trip to the New LEGOLAND Florida Theme Park
A note from The Travel Mama: I did not receive any products or compensation related to this post. I just love bucket lists, travel contests, and Hilton Garden Inn. (And I thought you would too!)
Tags: bucket list, giveaway, Hilton Garden Inn, travel
Posted in Giveaways, Hotel Reviews | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011
You may remember a couple of months back when I excitedly announced my position as channel leader (editor) of the Tree.com Travel blog. The Travel channel was one of 14 blogs on a social media site launched by the company that owns Lending Tree and RealEstate.com. This was my dream job. But not all dreams are meant to last forever.
For this dream job, I worked out of my house and set my own hours. I hired and collaborated with about a dozen of my favorite travel bloggers to create daily content for Tree.com. What travel blogger wouldn’t want to write for a national site, choose the stories to feature, and edit awesome travel posts written by leaders in the travel blogging world? After landing this gig, I was even featured in a local magazine about how Blogging Can Lead to New Career.
I was ecstatic (truly, that’s not an exaggeration) when Tree.com Travel was named one of the 11 Best New Travel Blogs of 2011 by travel journalist Christopher Elliott (of National Geographic Traveler and syndicated fame) on his world renowned blog, Elliott.com.
Just a few days after the Elliott story, Tree.com announced it would no longer be paying for content on the site. That meant all of the channel leaders and all of our contributors were out of work, effective that day. Despite the lack of PR or advertising by the parent company (not even a press release!), Tree.com was receiving over 100,000 monthly visitors just a few months after going live. As a contract employee, I was looking forward to at least seven more months of employment but then abruptly at the end of June, the dream was gone.
Big, deep, heavy sigh. What to do now? Looks like I am back to a space of confusion and flux similar to when I wrote Going Confidently in the Direction of My Dreams in 2011. I’ve got some big ideas in the works. Stay tuned for some exciting new projects launching soon. But in the meantime, give me a holler if you want to publish my book on travel with babies and toddlers or you know of someone looking for a travel editor!
If you want to learn more about what happened to Tree.com, check out this story, Shake Tree.com and See What Falls Out, featured in today’s San Diego Reader magazine.
You might also like:
• Disney Dream’s Christening – Dreams Do Come True
• How to Survive Meltdowns & Meanies when Flying with Children
• On-the-Go with Barilla’s Piccolini TV
• The Day My Life Changed Forever in France’s Luberon
Tags: blogging, travel, travel blog, Tree.com
Posted in Mixed Baggage | 20 Comments »
Wednesday, July 6th, 2011
This contest doesn’t have anything to do with travel, but it does involve kids, education, and eating – and those are three of my favorite things! You could win one of three scholarships and a year’s supply of pasta from Piccolini TV for creating a simple, healthy meal as an entry in the Next Mini Chef Contest.
Here’s what you do:
• Visit Piccolini.tv and create an account
• Build your recipe using their easy-to-use recipe generator
• Add a photo
• Ask your friends and family to vote for your dish
Sure, it sounds like a lot of work compared to simply leaving a comment on a blog post for some giveaways. But here’s the deal…this is a BIG prize. Plus, a little bit of effort means less entrants to compete against and a higher likelihood that your mini chef will be crowned the winner of the $10,000 grand prize scholarship.
Even if you don’t get the mac-daddy prize, you could still win the first place $2,000 scholarship or the second place $500 scholarship. All winners also receive a year’s supply of Piccolini pasta. I don’t know about you, but I sure could use some cash to put toward my children’s education fund (and some free pasta wouldn’t hurt, either)!
Enter Piccolini TV’s Next Mini Chef Contest now! Here are the rules. Of course, you could always just go vote for your favorite recipe instead. Contest ends on July 28, 2011.
While you’re over there, check out my videos on the Piccolini TV On-the-Go channel. So far, I’ve vlogged about:
• Budget Tips for Family Vacations
• Getting Sleep when Traveling with Kids
• Road Trip Tips and Activities
• Tips for Dining Out with Kids
If you enter, be sure to leave a comment below so we can go check out your recipe. Buona fortuna y buon appetito!
You might also like:
• Best Music for Family Road Trips
• On-the-Go with Barilla’s Piccolini TV
• 10 Best Kid-Friendly Hotel Pools in the USA
• Win a Trip to the New LEGOLAND Florida Theme Park
A Note from The Travel Mama: I am compensated for the video blogs I record for Piccolini TV. I was not asked by Piccolini TV to write this post about the Next Mini Chef Contest; I just thought it sounded like a spectacular prize and fun contest to share with you!
Tags: contest, giveaway, piccolini tv, scholarship, travel
Posted in Giveaways, Mixed Baggage | No Comments »
Sunday, May 15th, 2011
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! And how do I know it’s awesome? Because I am the Tree.com Travel Channel Leader!
That is just a fancy way of saying I’m the editor of the Tree.com travel blog, but I am having a blast working with some of the best travel bloggers in the biz. (Check out an interview about how I got this job in Blogging Can Lead to a New Career by the San Diego Reader!)
To get a feeling for the essence of Tree.com Travel, read the welcome post by yours truly in which the first month’s contributors share why they love to travel. We cover family vacations, off-the-beaten-path travel, romantic getaways, exotic destinations, sports travel and beyond with various viewpoints and voices. I hope you’ll swing by and check it out. I promise, you won’t be disappointed!
You can follow Tree.com Travel on Twitter at @tree_travel or on the Tree.com Facebook page.
Leave a comment below with any feedback about Tree.com Travel and any requests for stories or destinations you’d like to see us cover!
You might also like:
• Going Confidently in the Direction of My Dreams in 2011
• On-the-Go with Barilla’s Piccolini TV
• The Travel Mama’s Bucket List
• Travel Mamas’ Most Popular Blog Posts – Year 2
Tags: travel, travel blog, Tree.com
Posted in Family Vacations, Grown-Up Getaways, Mixed Baggage, Travel Tips | 3 Comments »
Wednesday, May 11th, 2011
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 with such a well-known (and tasty!) product. Plus, ever since I entered the wacky world of blogging over two years ago, I have been pushing myself to do things that previously terrified me (like parasailing, skiing, and networking).
I’ve completed a couple of videos and received some positive feedback. Okay – the feedback is from my doting husband, my proud dad, my supportive best friend, and my young and naive children. But still…I think Piccolini.tv has done a fabulous job of splicing together my segments. A good enough job, in fact, for me to share the link with all of you here: Piccolini TV On-the-Go Channel.
In these videos, I will be sharing tips and showing methods to help make life easier and more fun for traveling families, from what to pack, how to get there, how to travel on a budget, and beyond. Take a peek at Piccolini TV’s other channels while you’re there to learn tips from savvy moms from four countries about Fashion & Style, Crafting, Cooking with Kids, Family Life, and Healthy Eating.
I hope you’ll swing by to watch my videos and leave a comment or question if you like what you see. Of course, if you don’t like what you see, then I encourage you to keep that to yourself!
You might also like:
• Best iPhone Apps for Traveling with Kids
• Family Travel Questions? Bring It!
• Learn Travel Secrets & Help Those in Need Get Clean Drinking Water…for Free!
• Tips for Family Ski Trips from a Former Scaredy Cat Skier
A Note from the Travel Mama: I receive compensation from Barilla for the work I do for Piccolini TV but I am not required to write anything about this project or their products here on TravelMamas.com.
Tags: Barilla, on the go, piccolini tv, travel, video blog
Posted in Family Vacations, Mixed Baggage, Travel Tips | 6 Comments »
Sunday, January 2nd, 2011
The New Year is here and you know what that means…it’s time to start making travel plans for 2011! You want to look fabulous hiking through America’s national parks, lounging poolside in Florida, or touring the sites in New York City…so put down the leftover gingerbread cookies and get thee to a Quiznos! There are several Quiznos meal options for less than 500 calories and Quiznos can be found in many airport terminals and along major freeways, giving your family tasty and easy dining choices without the guilt. One lucky Travel Mamas reader will win $30 in Quiznos gift cards. Read on to find out how to enter!
Oven-Roasted Turkey Sandwich
If you are anything like me, you have spent the last month piling on a few extra pounds worth of holiday cookies, champagne toasts, and cheese of every variety. Thankfully, there are 4,000 Quiznos in the United States and another 400 Quiznos throughout Canada, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and Central America. So, even when you’re traveling you can find a quick, healthy, nutritious meal that will please everyone in the family.
Chicken Noodle Soup
Choose an Oven-Roasted Turkey Sub or an Italian Toasty Bullet. Pick up a Roadhouse Steak Sammie and pair it with Chicken Noodle Soup. Or, if you are going for a low-carb solution, try a Chopped Salad like a Classic Cobb or Chicken Caesar Salad.
Smokey Chipotle Turkey Sammie
Enter to Win!
Quiznos will provide $30 in Quiznos gift cards to one winner. Too hungry to wait to win? Click here to get a Quiznos coupon now!
There are three ways to enter. Do one, two, or all three! Be sure to make a separate comment below for each entry to count. You can enter each method one time, for a total of three entries.
- Post a comment below about your favorite Quiznos menu item. Generic comments like “I love Quiznos” will be disqualified.
- “Like” the Travel Mamas Facebook page and then post where you hope to travel in 2011. (Add a comment below after posting on Facebook.)
- Follow @TravelMamas on Twitter, then copy and paste this tweet (provide a link to your tweet in your comment below):
I want to win a $30 @Quiznos gift card from @TravelMamas to eat healthy on the go in 2011! http://tinyurl.com/2dcf65q
This contest ends at 11:59 pm Pacific Standard Time on Sunday, January 9, 2011. The winner will be chosen at random using RANDOM.org and will be notified by email. If the prize is not claimed within 48 hours of notification, the prize will be forfeited and another winner will be selected. Good luck! THIS CONTEST HAS CLOSED. Find out who won now!
Want to be notified of other giveaways and happenings on TravelMamas.com? Sign up for the Travel Mamas e-newsletter now! Mailings are sent out approximately twice per month.
You might also like:
• Child-Friendly Airlines and Airports
• How to Stay Healthy & Fit While Traveling
• Keep ‘Em Happy & Healthy On The Go & At Home
• Travel Mamas Eating Tips
Tags: contest, giveaway, healthy, New Year, Quiznos, travel
Posted in Giveaways, Restaurant Reviews | 342 Comments »
Friday, September 24th, 2010
I think most of us have a bucket list of our ultimate to-do’s, whether it’s written out on paper, kept in our heads, or posted on the web. There are many things on my bucket list that I’ve already accomplished, like getting married and having kids, writing an article for a major magazine, visiting Pompeii, and living in France for a year. I won’t include those things on this list. This bucket list is made up of unaccomplished dreams, awaiting fulfillment. Many are simple. A few are outlandish. Most deal with travel, but some don’t. I don’t have a plan for how I will accomplish most of these. I’ll cross off my goals after I have achieved them. It may take awhile.
Ruins of Rapa Nui on Easter Island
Monumental Discoveries
1. Stand on the Great Wall of China
2. Visit the Great Pyramids of Egypt
3. Tour the Mayan ruins near Cancun, Mexico (April 2011)
4. Go to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota
5. Visit the Taj Mahal in India
6. Tour the Ruins of Rapa Nui on Easter Island
7. Go to Stonehenge in England
8. Visit the ancient city of Machu Picchu in Peru
Victoria Falls, view from Zambian side
Natural Desires
1. See Victoria Falls in Africa
2. Visit a live volcano anywhere
3. Witness Wyoming’s Old Faithful errupting
4. Visit the Galapagos Islands
5. Swim in Utah’s Salt Lake
Accommodation Aspirations
1. Stay in the penthouse of a fancy schmancy hotel
2. Be a guest at Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park
3. Sleep in a castle in France
4. Stay in one of those over-the-water huts in Bali (Or anywhere, really!)
5. Check into a health spa for a whole week
6. Experience a dude ranch vacation
7. Spend the night at a Four Seasons
8. Stay at Disney’s Aulani Resort on Oahu, Hawaii (September 2011)
9. Stay at a Ritz-Carlton
10. Spend the night at the El Tovar Hotel at the Grand Canyon
St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow’s Red Square
Most Desired Destinations
1. Go on a volunteer vacation to help a worthy cause
2. Visit French Polynesia
3. Stand in Moscow’s Red Square
4. Visit Corsica
5. Speak French in Quebec
6. Visit the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersberg, Russia
7. Visit Morocco
8. Return to Jamaica (Where my husband and I honeymooned.)
9. Go to Rio de Janeiro during Carnival
10. Visit New Orleans (NOT during Mardi Gras.)
11. Go to all visit-able Hawaiian Islands (1 more to go – The Big Island!)
Celebrity Greatness
1. Be a part of Oprah’s audience
2. Meet Oprah
3. Be a guest on Oprah’s show (What? I like Oprah.)
4. Be a guest on Rosie O’Donnel’s show
5. Meet Samantha Brown
6. Watch Saturday Night Live (Live!)
7. See Conan O’ Brien’s show live
8. Attend a Madonna concert
9. See Lady Gaga live in concert
10. Go to a Dave Mathews’ Band concert
Taking Flight
1. Take a Singapore Airlines flight
2. Fly first class overseas
3. Be a passenger on an Arab Emirates plane
4. Fly in a hot air balloon
Cruise Cravings
1. Take an Alaskan cruise
2. Visit Disney’s Castaway Cay Island (January 2011)
3. Cruise through the Panama Canal
4. Ride the Disney Cruise Line AquaDuck waterslide that goes out over the water (January 2011)
5. Go on a Disney Cruise over Christmas
6. Celebrate the New Year aboard a cruise ship
Recreational Requirements
1. Attend the summer olympics
2. Attend the winter olympics
3. Learn how to surf (September 2010)
4. Go zip-lining
5. Take violin lessons
6. Go snowshoeing
7. Try fly-fishing
8. Go dog-sledding
Foodie & Drinkie Cravings
1. Dine at French Laundry in Napa, California
2. Eat a multicourse meal aboard the Napa Valley wine train
3. Go wine-tasting in South Africa
4. Drink port in Portugal
5. Eat at Paula Deen’s The Lady & Son’s Restaurant in Georgia
6. Dine at Eric Ripert’s Le Bernardin in New York
7. Eat at one of Bobby Flay’s restaurants
8. Eat at one of the restaurants owned by Rick Bayless in Chicago, Illinois
9. Successfully make a souffle
10. Dine at the invite-only Club 33 in Disneyland
11. Be a part of Top Chef or Iron Chef in some way and get to taste some of that yummy food!
Japanes macaques (snow monkeys) bathing in a hot spring in Nagano Prefecture, Japan
Animal Ambitions
1. Go on an African (photo) animal safari
2. Hold a koala bear
3. Track gorillas in Rwanda
4. Snorkel to see sealife in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia (No, I have no desire to learn how to scuba dive.)
5. Witness grizzly bears fishing for salmon in Alaska
6. Visit a monkey reserve in Belize
7. See wild snow monkeys in Japan
8. Start riding horses again
9. Own a horse (For more than a month…long story!)
10. See polar bears in Canada
11. Ride a mule into the Grand Canyon
12. Go swimming with wild manatees
Career Goals
1. Get The Travel Mamas’ Guide published
2. Be a guest or host of a Travel Channel show
3. Have a magazine ASK me to write an article for them (Instead of always pitching story ideas.)
4. Write my own ongoing PAID column for a large newspaper, magazine, or website
5. Make a liveable wage as a professional writer/editor (Hired as Travel Channel Leader for Tree.com – February 2011)
6. Get paid to teach writing classes (Taught “Blogging 101″ for San Diego Writers, Ink – February 2011)
7. Speak at a large blogging or writing conference
8. Teach a college class (Taught two-credit college course ”The Art and Business of Blogging” through UCSD Extension – January 2012)
9. Give travel tips on the local San Diego News. (November 2011)
10. Talk travel on The TODAY Show or Good Morning America
I know there are more great places to see, things to do, and dreams to dream beyond this list. Is there anything you think I should add to my list? What’s on your bucket list? Leave a comment below!
You might also like:
• How & Why to Host a Vision Board Party
• The Travel Mama’s Top 3 Hidden Gem Destinations
• Top 10 Most Popular Travel Mamas Blog Posts – Year One
• Vacation Savoring Lessons Learned in Sorrento & Pompeii
Tags: bucket list, travel
Posted in Family Vacations, Grown-Up Getaways | 18 Comments »
Thursday, November 26th, 2009
There was a poll on the news this morning – What’s the best part about Thanksgiving? The football, the food, the family, or the nap. For me, the best thing about this holiday is the gratitude. Thanksgiving reminds us to take notice and give thanks for all that we have.
I am thankful for my two sweet, noisy children. I am thankful for my loving, goofy husband. I am thankful for my parents, who watched those kids for me last night so I could have a quiet date night with that husband. I am thankful for a sister who is my best friend and a brother who came home safely from Kuwait. I am thankful for my mom’s homemade apple pie, for Friday night happy hours with neighbors at rotating homes, and for my upcoming trip to Disneyland.
I am thankful that I finally figured out what I want to be when I grow up: a Travel Mama. I am thankful that I get to combine my love of travel, writing, and parenting into something that hopefully helps other families enjoy their travels together more. Thank you, my fellow Travel Mamas and Travel Daddies for coming along on the journey. I am thankful for you.
Happy Thanksgiving!
****
What are you thankful for? Please leave a comment below!
For more information on this topic see:
• New York City Holiday Travel Tips for Families
• Top 6 Reasons to Take a Thanksgiving Vacation
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Tags: Thanksgiving, travel
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