Archive for the ‘Family Vacation’ Category

Stay in the Middle of Fantasy World

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

Orlando vacations, especially with Disney theme parks as the destinations, are like living a fantasy. As we enter the theme parks, we are cut from the outside world and are brought to the land of fantasy. To make our vacations perfect, we can also stay in the middle of that fantasy world. By staying at one of the many orlando vacation rentals in and around the Disney parks, we can live the fantasy. In the spirit of Disney, the accommodation around the area, whether it is the five star hotels or resort villas, are designed to suit the fantasy land themes. And do not worry about the types of fantasy, because, also in the spirit of Disney, the accommodations in the area are family friendly with lots of kids facilities.

Escaping the Winter with Family

Thursday, November 12th, 2009
Cancún
Image via Wikipedia

For the next year end vacation, it is a great idea if we can go with the family somewhere where there is no winter. One of the best ideas for escaping the winter is by taking one of the most interesting cancun packages. Cancun, on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, is a popular vacation spot on the Caribbean coast. This Cancun is comprised of fourteen miles of pristine white beaches shaped like a number “7″, home to Mayan archaeological wonders, turquoise seas, a bountiful underwater world, and world-class vacation amenities. It is still considered the gateway to the Mayan World (”El Mundo Maya”). Mayan temples and ritual sites are everywhere, some smothered by lush jungle, others easily accessible. Sounds like a great idea for escaping the winter with the whole family, right?

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Myrtle Beach Golf Vacation

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Image via Wikipedia

You might think that golf vacation is not suitable for children, thus you would let your husband to sacrifice their hobby for golf and go to some theme parks instead. Well, in this case, you might think wrong. If we examine carefully one of the golf vacation packages, with Myrtle beach golf packages as the examples, you will find out that the packages actually have everything for everyone. First of all, as part of the packages, you can stay at one of the beach homes in Myrtle Beach. And it is very clear that the kids will love the beach house as well as the activities that they can do on the beach. Secondly, the father can enjoy their golf whole day without the kids bothering them, because the kids will not be interested in anything else now with their activities and all. And everyone will certainly love golfing at one of the Myrtle Beach golf courses, because this place have some of the most amazing golf courses in the whole world, thus known as the “Golf Capital of the World.” So, it looks like that golf vacation can be as fun as any family vacations, right?

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Family Trip to New York – Where to Stay?

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
From top left: Manhattan south of Rockefeller ...
Image via Wikipedia

No matter where we live, a family trip is always very exciting. Just enjoying the Big Apple with the so many exciting attractions, plus the hustle bustle of the city, is sometimes seems enough. Now, while in the city, the most probable thing that we need to consider is where to stay. Do we want to stay at new york luxury hotel in the heart of the city or to stay at the more affordable hotel? Sometimes, staying at one of those luxury hotels can be a change of environment and quite refreshing. However, staying at budget hotels can also be more adventurous, not to mention that we will have more budget for shopping and entertainment. So, the choosing of the hotel is basically up to our mood at the time of the trip.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Traveling with your Baby – Ten Tips to make it an Enjoyable Experience For the Family

Saturday, June 13th, 2009
Diaper Change in the Sky
Image by andycarvin via Flickr

Getting ready for a family vacation with a baby?  Many things can make the trip a more enjoyable experience, depending on the age of the child.  Of course, if the baby is still in diapers then having a good supply of diapers and baby wipes is a necessity.  Bottled water for drinking and for rinsing out cups is a plus.  Snacks, the healthy sugar free variety are also a necessity, and pillows and blankets to make the child comfortable during the long ride.

If your baby is old enough to pay attention, then travel games, coloring books, and toys that are quiet enough to avoid driving you crazy can be helpful.  Also a travel DVD player that plugs into the car’s cigarette lighter for power will allow the child to watch a favorite video, keeping him or her occupied and more comfortable.  Read along books for children are handy as well.  These books have recordings the children listen to while looking at the pictures and the words underneath, teaching reading skills at a very young age.  Possibly the most important tip would be making a schedule and setting realistic driving times each day.  Adults can handle longer spans of time in the car than children can, and especially babies. Try not to spend more than eight hours a day driving, and have rest stops every couple of hours to stretch legs, and get outside in the fresh air.

Jill is a mother of two who has fond memories of traveling with her children as babies and toddlers.  She tells many stories of trips to the lake, the park, the beach and even to Disneyland, bringing her small children along and says that the experience wouldn’t have been nearly as enjoyable for her or her husband if the children had stayed home.  She does however, recommend thoughtful planning.  “Story books were great.  I read to the kids while my husband drove, and that kept them occupied.  It also often makes them sleepy and led them to frequent nap times.”  Jill also recommends coloring books so that the kids can amuse themselves.  Ditto for the sugar free snacks.  You won’t want to get the children running in overdrive on a sugar rush.  But children do get hungry frequently, so keeping a good supply of crackers, fruit snacks and other things the kids enjoy will make the trip more enjoyable.

It helps travelers, that so many rest stops these days, have baby changing stations in both men’s and women’s rest rooms.    This allows both parents to handle the child changing chores, and eases traveling tensions.

Jill’s friend and neighbor Sally also remembers traveling with very small children, and offers this advice:  “Baby wipes.  Have lots and lots of baby wipes.  You never know when you’ll need them.  And be sure that you make rest stops every hour or two.  The kids will get a bit cranky and stopping for fifteen minutes can make a world of difference.  Also, be sure to bring animal crackers, graham crackers or some other sort of snack, and bottles of water or fruit juice to wash it down with.  Keeping a child fed with keep a child happy.”

Traveling with a very young child can be a challenge.  If you have friends with older children, ask them what they did to ease the stress of the rip with traveling with the children in earlier years.  It always helps to learn from someone else’s experiences.  Also, ask your own parents what they did when you were a baby, and how they handled traveling situations.  It also doesn’t hurt to check out the local public library for parenting magazines and books.  Being a parent is a very responsible job and learning from others is only wise.  However, traveling with your baby or other young child will provide you with a great deal of enjoyment.  If you take a camera or video camcorder you’ll be able to record the trip for future memories, and have stories to tell for years to come.  So enjoy traveling with your baby, but be sure to plan ahead.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Themed Holiday Vacations—Four Family Fun Options

Friday, June 12th, 2009
Spaceship Earth At EPCOT in Walt Disney World ...
Image via Wikipedia

Themed holiday vacations are a fun idea to plan for your family.  One of our most memorable vacations was our “Cowboy and Indian” vacation.  We took our sons through the West, stopping at tourist sites along the way.  We stopped at Dodge City to explore the cowboy side of life, and then made our way to Southern Colorado to explore the ancient ruins of the cliff dwelling Pueblo Indians.  It is hard to choose only four family fun options, but I chose those I thought my grandkids would enjoy the most.

Of course, the first one should be the Disney themed holiday vacation.  Who can resist the thought of being in Florida during the cold days of winter and enjoying the sites and sounds of Disney World?  This is a constant favorite of children and adults alike.  There are so many attractions and sites; it will be hard to decide which one to visit first.  You have the Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center, Universal Studios, MGM studios and Disney even has its own cruise line.  The cruise liner has all the Disney characters on board so it will be a themed vacation.  Disney World is not the only attraction in the area; the Kennedy Space Center is nearby as is Sea World.  Sea World is a wonderful attraction with special shows.  Inside Disney World, you can stay in a hotel that has a monorail train to take you to all the attractions.

Are you thinking of a winter holiday vacation in sunny Southern California?  You will find many attractions and they are easily worked in around your available time.  The San Diego Zoo is a popular attraction with adults and children as well as Sea World.  LegoLand is also found in the San Diego area and is a big hit with the little ones.  If you’re looking for theme parks, go north just up the road to the Anaheim and Los Angeles area.  There you will find Disneyland, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Universal Studio, and California Adventure Theme Park.  After taking in what sites and attractions you wanted to see, take a day or two to just relax and soak up the sun on the many beautiful beaches on the coast of Southern California.  Drive a little further north up the coast and visit historic San Simeon and the beautiful city of Carmel.  Take a tour around the area on the 17-mile drive in Monterey California and stop for a moment just to see the beauty of Pebble Beach Golf Course.  There is something for everyone in the sunny state of California.

One of the best themed family vacations we had was our historical trip to the East Coast.  We wanted our sons to be immersed in the colorful history of our Country.  We had some fun times, stopping in Hershey Pennsylvania.  We visited Hershey Town and stood amazed at the light poles in the shape of candy kisses.  We visited historic sites in Virginia, visited George Washington’s home, and sat on the same veranda he sat on to watch the river go by.  It was awesome, and in Virginia, southern hospitality shines through.  It’s a pleasure to visit there.  Then on to our most important goal, Washington D.C.  We took the time to picnic on the mall, went up the Washington Monument, visited all the Presidential Memorials, and even took a tour of the White House.  Being a history buff and patriotic, the highlight of my son’s trip was our visit to the sacred land of Arlington Cemetery.  It is fitting that he grew up and is serving in the military.  The Smithsonian is an experience that no one should miss.  There are so many different buildings and sections in the buildings that it is hard to take it all in.  We spent one whole day in just one building and then found out we had missed the hall of the First Ladies.  This was something I was interested in, so we went back the next day and found the section that we missed before we went on to other areas.  It’s a memorable family vacation and can instill in your child a real love and patriotism for their country.

National Parks and Monuments is another wonderful themed vacation the whole family will enjoy.  Those “must see” attractions could include Yellowstone National Park to see Old Faithful go off, or a trip to the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona.  The Grand Canyon is a natural wonder that everyone should see at least once in his or her lifetime.  Believe me, your children don’t have to teenagers to enjoy their themed vacations and have their memories to last for a lifetime.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Summer Vacation!

Monday, February 16th, 2009

Myrtle Beach, South CarolinaImage via Wikipedia

I know it is still winter now; at least there is snow and harsh cold weather all over the country. But, don’t you think it is the best time for us to start preparing (and dreaming) our summer vacation. At least by imagining our summer vacation, we really can survive this unpredictable weather without feeling depressed. Now, for summer vacation, what is more perfect than having long, warm and relaxing days at the beach? Any beach, for this matter, although I think that Myrtle Beach is still the best! As for accommodation, we can rent one of those fabulous beach vacation rentals that are advertised everywhere. A beach front vacation rental with great view, great sand and great sun is what we need right now, don’t you think?

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Kid-Friendly Travel (2) —Tips to Make Flying Easier with Kids

Tuesday, February 10th, 2009

Once the tricky and time-consuming logistics of airplane travel have been taken care of, it’s time to focus on packing. Pack as light as you can, and make sure your baggage complies with airline requirement of not being too large or too heavy. If possible, combine your children’s luggage with your luggage in order to decrease the risk of losing a bag.

As for carry-on luggage, which should contain essential items like medications and passports, back-packs are usually best for both children and adults because they are both spacious and hands-free.

Let your children participate in packing. Allow them to pick out their favorite clothing and a few favorite quiet games, toys and books for the flight. A coloring book with crayons or a portable DVD player can keep them entertained in the air.

Unlike most adults, many children like to eat little snacks all day long, so pack some nutritious munchies like string cheese or apple slices in your bag. Extra drinks with straws can help prevent dehydration (without the possibility of spillage).

Avoid sugary snack and drinks as they can cause agitation or increase dehydration. Hand wipes or simple baby wipes are also important for clean-up of sticky faces, hands, or seat trays.

Winter Holiday in Vegas – Is It a Good Idea?

Thursday, November 27th, 2008

Well, if you don’t like the harsh cold of winter like, then winter holiday in Vegas is a very good idea. And it turns out that many people have the same idea as us, since the whole Vegas seem to be packed with tourists the whole season. If you are interested in spending some time in Vegas during the upcoming holiday, I would suggest you to look for hotel in las vegas from now. Actually, if we look for accommodations early, we can get the more affordable one with strategic location. However, if we want to do last minute booking, then there isn’t any guarantee that we will get any hotels in places of interest.

Three Basic Steps to Holiday Stress Reduction

Saturday, November 22nd, 2008

There are many great resources providing quality hints and tips to reduce holiday stress, and if you feel yourself experiencing a great deal of pressure in December, you should definitely find some of these materials and consider the myriad of great ideas to make your winters easier. In addition to the many great suggestions these sources provide, there are a few basic steps you can take to make your to-do list seem more manageable and to reduce your stress level.

Adjust Your Expectations

Some may benefit from simply readjusting their expectations of the holidays. The omnipresent media and advertising industries can lead us to believe that any holiday celebration that doesn’t end up resembling a Currier & Ives print is a failure. This, of course, is not the case. It’s fine to strive for a wonderful holiday season, but it’s not necessary to create the Perfect Holiday. Instead of concerning yourself with every Christmas detail, you can reduce your stress level by focusing on the parts of the holidays that are most meaningful and important to you and placing less emphasis on other aspects of the season.

By readjusting your expectations and goals for the holidays, you can reduce time pressures considerably. A focus on what matters most to you insures that you will not spend precious hours involving yourself in activities and projects that are really not part of your “core” holiday goals.

Start Early

We often laugh at the fact Christmas decorations tend to go up in shopping malls right after Halloween decorations disappear. Although we don’t necessarily need to take the not-so-subtle message of holiday commercialization to heart, we can learn a little bit something from the early decoration trend. By starting our holiday preparations early, we can reduce the amount of pressure and stress we experience during the holiday season.

It may seem unusual, but it really is okay to check whether or not the Christmas lights are working before the day you plan on decorating. And there’s no reason you can’t spend a little idle time in November doing a big of holiday shopping. By doing some of your “required” tasks early, you can avoid the feeling of being in a rush in late December.

Follow Santa’s Lead

Santa Claus, the song tells us, makes a list and checks it twice. If he left delivery of millions of toys up to his memory, he would probably be the North Pole’s most stressed resident. You can learn an important lesson from Santa Claus and can create your own organized list of holiday tasks and chores.

Although you may not want to over-regulate yourself, it is a good idea to make a pretty detailed list of everything you’ll need to do in preparation for the holidays. If you can produce this list early, you will be able to schedule out events in a reasonable manner, making sure you are not caught up in the hustle and bustle that makes the holidays so frustrating for some people.

The holidays can be a source of great satisfaction and enjoyment. Unfortunately, they can also become a high-pressure race for those who are not adequately prepared. By carefully assessing your holiday needs and expectations, starting early on the holidays and keeping an organized to-do list, you can make your holidays a pleasure!