Tag Archives: Traveling with children

Answer: Sweaty Pumpkins and Sandy Kids

Question: What do you get when you take a family trip to the pumpkin patch on a sunny and muggy 88-degree day? No, we weren’t in Hawaii visiting my parents. (F.Y.I. There is only one pumpkin patch in the entire state of Hawaii and it’s not located on the island my parents reside.) We were picking pumpkins in Wisconsin. You know, the place where temps this time of year hover around 50 degrees. It was a record breaking warm day and a picking adventure I won’t soon forget. (Sound familiar?) Rather than regal you with a litany of anecdotes about … Continue reading →

Families Flying Southwest No Longer Get To Board First

What parent does not dread the prospect of flying cross-country with a cranky toddler (or a gaggle of cranky kids)? Ask around and you will likely hear from any beleaguered mom (or dad) that one of the few perks of traveling with children is the fact that you get to pre-board. It’s one of the few times in life when cutting in line is perfectly legal. However, if you plan to fly Southwest Airlines with young children in the near future you can kiss that line jumping privilege goodbye. The airline just announced it plans to eliminate early pre-boarding for … Continue reading →

Family Travel: Taking Your Children To A Strawberry Farm

I was going to title this blog “A Trip To The Strawberry Farm—A Parent’s Survival Guide,” but I didn’t want to send the wrong message. Yesterday my 3-year-old daughter and I finished off the last two pieces of a very tasty strawberry rhubarb pie. It was a pie we made together with the fresh strawberries we picked earlier this summer at our local berry farm. (I froze a few pounds and have been adding them to recipes throughout the summer.) Nothing says summer than fresh strawberries, right? That was my thinking about two months ago when I loaded my daughter … Continue reading →

More Tips To Remember When You Travel With Kids

Where are you planning to spend the Memorial Day weekend? If you are like millions of Americans you will be forgoing a relaxing weekend in your backyard for time spent on the highway, in the skies, or on the water. According to the AAA, about 38 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more this weekend, a 1.7 percent increase from last year’s holiday. Roughly 83% of them will drive, with the remainder taking airplanes, trains or other transportation. Regardless of where you are going and how you plan to get there, if you are traveling with kids … Continue reading →

Top 5 “Sweet” Travel Destinations For Families

Just in time for Valentine’s Day here are my picks for some “sweet” travel destinations for families with children of all ages. Each of the following destinations has one thing in common–the chance to sample delectable treats (and in most cases, they’re free). Our family has had a blast at each attraction. Here’s hoping your family will have as much fun spending “Love Day” at one of these yummy destinations. Happy Valentine’s Day! 1. Hershey’s Chocolate World, Hershey, Pennsylvania Gather the family and hop aboard the Great American Chocolate Tour Ride at Hershey’s Chocolate World. It re-opened less than a … Continue reading →

Breastfeeding At 35,000 Feet = High-Flying Controversy

I’ve breastfed my child on numerous flights—have you? One woman did recently and claims she was kicked off her flight as a result. Now the mom from New Mexico has secured an attorney and has filed complaints against two airlines. According to news reports, Emily Gillette, a 27-year-old mother from Santa Fe, New Meixco, filed the complaint with the Vermont Human Rights Commission late last week against Delta Air Lines and Freedom Airlines. Freedom was operating the Delta flight Gillette was flying between Burlington and New York City. According to the complaint, last month, Gillette was discreetly breastfeeding her 22-month-old … Continue reading →

Boarding Tips for Families with Kids

Typically, airlines will allow parents with children and people with disabilities to board the plane prior to other passenger to help with flow. This way, you have adequate time to get the baby’s items in the overhead while getting the child and you settled into the seats. Now, when you leave the plane, I recommend you be patient and allow the other passengers to exit first. Although you might be excited to reach your destination, it will save you frustration, as well as the other passengers. When booking a flight, the location of where you want to sit in the … Continue reading →

Traveling with Children: Finding the Best Hotel Room

My husband’s requirement for an adequate hotel room is making sure that there is an actual bed in the room. That’s why when we travel I make the reservations. Whereas I appreciate his efforts, when you are traveling with children there is more to consider than whether they spelled your name right on the registry. When traveling with children I always make sure to select a hotel that offers free amenities for them such as play areas, pools and (most importantly) free meals. For longer stays, kitchenettes will make your life easier and can save you money, even if you … Continue reading →