Have Kids Will Travel

In yesterday’s post I listed my Top 5 Travel books for children. Today I’m sharing my Top 5 travel games.

1. Crayola Travel Turtle
Is the perfect toy for on the go! Your child’s art supplies can be stored neatly away when not in use. The Crayola Travel Turtle comes with a coloring book and 16 crayons.

2. Aqua Doodle Flip ‘n Doodle
The travel version of this childhood favorite is the perfect size to stash in your child’s backpack or diaper bag.

3. Travel Tikes car Activity Center
I highly recommend this toy if your child is between the ages of 3 to 5-years-old. The activity center has adjustable straps that slip easily over the back of your car seat. Am eraser, coloring book and 8 crayons are included.

4. Under Sea Travel Triazzle
In this travel game your child can line up magnetic triangles to create beautiful under sea worlds complete with exotic fish.

5. Magnetic Mosaics
Create pictures and patterns with beautifully colored magnetic tiles. The game comes in a jeweled carrying case.

Books are a mainstay on most road trips when you have small children. Give your kids the right book and it will keep them occupied for hours. Here is my list of the top five summertime reads for children in grades pre-k through 2nd grade.

1. Joy the Summer Vacation Fairy by Daisy Meadows

Come spend some time on Rainspell Island! It’s Joy the Summer Fairy’s job to keep the island in tip-top shape during summer vacation. But Joy’s glow starts to fade when the magical shells are stolen.

2. Ready for Summer by Marthe Jocelyn

This vibrantly illustrated board book will definitely keep your active toddlers occupied on those long car trips.

3. Summer Vacation by Lyn Plaurde and illustrated by Greg Couch

Mother Earth is worried about Summer. She’s neglected her duties and now the earth is dull and parched. Summer didn’t mean to misbehave, but she was having such a good time making sand castles with her friends and swimming in the cool, cool ocean. Is it too late for little Summer to make things right?

4. It’s Summer! By Linda Glaser

This book is geared towards children in grades pre-k through 2nd grade. In this book your kids will be able to observe the daily activities of birds and small animals. The book also includes simple summer activities you kids are sure to enjoy.

5. One Hot Summer Day by Nina Crews

Summer days in the city can be blistering hot, but one little girl doesn’t let that get her down. She knows there is always a way to stay cool and entertained if you just know where to look!

Considered one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smokey Mountains, Cades Cove is one of my family’s favorite weekend getaways. Due to the efforts of the Great Smokey Mountain National Park Service the cove’s numerous pioneer homes, churches, businesses and barns remain as they were in the 1800’s.

Drive the 11 mile Cades Cove Loop Road in the early morning or at dusk, and you are sure to be greeted by an abundance of wildlife including skunks, raccoons, black bears and deer that are known to venture out of woods and jump over idling cars to get to their feeding grounds in the coves numerous fields and meadows.

With gas prices climbing by the minute, why not park the car and enjoy the coves beauty on horseback? The Cades Cove Riding Stables are located at the entrance of the loop road and are open April through late October. The guided tours are $15 an hour and, in my opinion, well worth the cost as you will be able to experience parts of Cades Cove inaccessible to motor vehicles. Have Family members that are too young for horseback riding? Why not take a motorized hayride around the loop for $8.00 a person? Bicycles can also be rented at the Cades Cove Campground Store for $3.25 an hour.

Summertime and the beach seem to go hand in hand. For me summer at the beach means long, lazy sunset strolls and watching children scamper across sugar-white beaches to romp and play in the surf, collecting seashells at sunrise, and soaking up the fresh air and sunshine while relaxing with a good book.

One thing is certain, no matter how you spend your day at the beach, there are numerous items that will make your day of fun and sun more enjoyable for the entire family.

Once you arrive at the beach you’ll need a place to relax and escape the heat of the day, so do not forget to pack towels, beach blankets, chairs and an umbrella.

You’re little ones will really work up an appetite building sandcastles and chasing waves, so fill your cooler with plenty of ice, ingredients for sandwiches, fruit, lots of bottled water and juice.

Bringing along beach balls, pails and shovels, goggles, life vests, water shoes and flotation toys such as worms and boogie boards will keep your children safe and happy at the beach.

Other items to bring along include, sunscreen, a change of clothes for each member of the family, sunglasses, radio or MP3 player, baby wipes, and extra money for emergencies.

Located 70 miles south of Atlanta, Callaway Gardens is the perfect vacation destination for families. With its gracious southern charm, first-class lodging and restaurants, sports activities such as tennis, boating, swimming, golf and fishing, you’re sure to find something to please the entire family.

Callaway Garden’s 14,000 acres is home to the John A. Sibley Horticultural Center where visitors can view over 700 varieties of azaleas. The younger members of the family will enjoy The Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center which is home to over 1,000 butterflies. And last but not least, do not forget to visit the Birds of Prey show where your kids can get up close and personal with hawks and falcons.

The Summer Family Adventure Program offered at Callaway is summer camp for the entire family. The adults can enjoy two golf courses, arts and crafts classes, ten lighted tennis courts, an opportunity to fly on the flying trapeze, or go skeet shooting. And for the most important members of the family, the little ones, there’s the circus, swimming, a water park, roller skating, biking, and numerous supervised games and crafts.

To learn more about Callaway Garden’s Family Summer Adventure Program you can call 1-800-CALLAWAY

As a parent you know what your child will need while on vacation. Does your little one prefer to sit on the sidelines and watch the activities going on around him or is he the type of child who prefers to be in the middle of everything while getting as dirty as possible? Taking your child’s personality and activity level into consideration should give you an idea of how many outfits you should pack for your trip. Remember there is no need to over pack, no matter how tempted you are to do so. Today many hotels and camp grounds have laundry services or Laundromats available to their guests, many at no charge.

If your family will be traveling by RV or car consider taking along a small cooler filled with bottled water, juice, or soda. You can also bring along a variety of kid-friendly snacks such as granola bars and small individual boxes of crackers or raisins. This will save you from being forced to look for a supermarket or restaurant every time your child gets thirsty, which seems to happen every 5 minutes when you’re traveling with kids.

Most importantly do not forget to bring along a few of your child’s favorite toys. Age-appropriate books, crayons, coloring books, markers, plain paper and small games will keep your little ones busy on the long drive to your chosen destination.

When traveling with kids the best advice that I can offer is to always be prepared for the unexpected. Medical emergencies can happen when we least expect it. If your child develops a tummy ache in the middle of the night, the last thing you’ll want to do is be forced to find the nearest all-night clinic or drugstore to ease your little one’s suffering.

If you take the time to pack a medical emergency bag before you depart on your trip you can save yourself from potential drama down the road. The following list will help you get started.

Children’s cough syrup
Decongestant
Insect repellent
Children’s Tylenol or Motrin
Band-aids
Sunblock
Antibiotic lotion
Sterile gauze
Ear drops
Thermometer

Do not forget any medications that your child takes on a daily basis. If your child has a pre-existing condition such as asthma, consult with your family doctor or pediatrician. He may be able to supply you with the names of colleagues in the area where you will be staying.

A little preparation ahead of time can lead to a safer, healthier vacation for your entire family.

The sun-filled days of summer are the perfect time for families to pack up the car and head to the mountains for a weekend camping trip. Camping is a great way to bond with your children and will provide your family with memories that will last a lifetime. You can spend your days exploring nature and enjoying the magnificent summer wildflowers, and when the sun goes down it’s time to build a roaring fire and enjoy cooking over an open flame.

Whether you are roasting marshmallows or grilling hotdogs and hamburgers, food always tastes better cooked over an open campfire. So I thought I would share my family’s favorite campfire recipe with you.

This is Sierra’s favorite way to eat eggs cooked over an open fire. She is a huge Pokeman fan, thus the name.

Peeka Peeka Eggs

Ingredients you’ll need:

1 egg
1 piece of bread (whole wheat, please)
Butter
Non-stick spray such as Pam
Aluminum foil

How to prepare:

Step 1: Spray a large piece of aluminum foil with cooking spray

Step 2: Place the foil on the grill, spray side up

Step 3: Butter both side of the bread

Step 4: Make a hole in the middle of the bread (about 1 ½ inches across)

Step 5: Put the bread on one side of the aluminum foil

Step 6: Crack the egg into the bread hole and cook until the egg white is firm

Step 7: Place you spatula under the foil, bread and egg and carefully fold onto the other side of the foil

Step 8: Eat and enjoy!

Amelia Island Plantation is located on the southern end of Amelia Island, Florida. The resort’s 1,350 acres are situated between the pristine beaches of the Atlantic Ocean and the beautiful marshes of the
Intracoastal Waterway. The resort offers accommodations ranging from luxury hotel rooms to one, two and three bedroom villas. 

The villas are perfect for today’s active families, offering fully equipped kitchens, dining areas, living rooms, washers and dryers, and all rooms and villas have cable television. 

The resort offers many amenities including a 54-hole championship golf course, 24 sparkling swimming pools, a fully equipped fitness center, supervised age-specific children’s programs, a full-service spa for mom, 7 restaurants, and a private shopping village. 

Special features for the family include, play areas for children of all ages, poolside family activities, bike rentals, kid’s camp, seven miles of nature trails, and games, crafts, and other daily activities. 

There is a three night minimum stay between the months of 11/4/07 – 12/31/08. Room rates range from $79 a night for children 12 and under to $135 a night for children 13-15 years of age. 

For Reservations call: 1-888-898-3648 

Spending a crisp fall afternoon fishing with your children should, and can be a lot of fun, if you take the time to do a little planning before hand.

So, before you pack-up the minivan and head off to the nearest lake, river, or local fishing hole with your family, there are a few things that you will need to do to prepare for your fun-filled day of fishing.

The first thing you should do is be sure that everyone is wearing clothing that is suitable for the weather conditions. Shorts and tank tops are perfect for warm sunny days, but you should definitely bring along warmer clothes to prepare for the sudden weather changes that autumn often brings.

It is always a good idea to bring along a cooler filled with bottled water, juice boxes, and snacks for the kids if they get hungry or thirsty. Also, do not forget to pack bug spray and sunscreen.

A first-aid kit should be kept nearby to treat cuts, scratches and insect bites. Your first aid kit should include bandages, calamine lotion and antiseptic lotion. You can purchase a first aid kit from your local drugstore, or you can easily make your own.

When the time comes to pick the perfect spot for fishing you should look for an area that is easy to reach by foot, especially if you will be doing any walking with small children. The location you choose should be safe, with a level area for young children to play if they get tired of fishing.

Safety is extremely important when you are fishing with small children, so always keep these tips in mind.

Always provide life jackets. This is particularly important for the little ones who are not yet able to swim. Older children and adults should also wear life jackets if they cannot swim, or will be fishing near rivers or streams with fast moving water.

Be prepared for severe weather. Keep your eyes open for approaching storms. Stay away from tall trees and objects since lightening is more likely to strike these areas. If you hear thunder in the distance the storm is close enough for you to be struck my lightening.

Use caution when fishing near rivers. Rocks on and near riverbanks can be extremely slippery. Many rivers have strong currents and unseen drop-offs that can be dangerous even to the most experienced swimmer.

Caution is key when handling fish. If you plan to allow your small children to hold the fish they catch always teach them to keep their fingers away from the fish’s mouth and spine. Many fish have sharp fins on their backs that can easily cut little fingers, quickly turning your family outing into a disaster.

Be prepared for any unexpected situations that might arise and your fishing trip will be an enjoyable experience for the entire family.