Ultimate Vacation Spots

posted by Travel Cat on Jul 10

Welcome back for the summer holidays - and if you are running out of ways to entertain the kids - then we have some help for you here!

There are always plenty of ideas of kids entertainment.  Some parents prefer to pay for a theme park or other activities like rides and zoos, whereas other tend to take them in a more creative direction with making things, playing close to home, wildlife skills and family time.  So we really get a wide range or articles here - and hopefully you will enjoy those given below in this summer carnival.

Lets start with the best thing a mother or father could have when it comes to traveling with kids: A planner. Here, Bill Tyler helps you decide which type would be best for you with: How to Pick the Right Mom Organizer - obviously they work just as well for dads!

And filling the Summer Holidays with just such a plan is Alejandra Halvorssen with Summer Plans, Again for this school break!

Next a lovely little photojournal of the next step in a regular: where Theodora and her 9 year old bring us: Round Halong Bay by Junk with yet more great photos.

And why not take a leaf out of Phillip Lopez book, and plan to take your kids on one of these 10 Amazing Religious Pilgrimages. Not only will they be away from all the regular holiday-makers, rides and cotton candy - they will be experiencing a different culture and learning the respect of the old ways - they don’t need to be religious to follow a pilgrimage, but it is certainly a great experience for anyone.

Now, we come to the creative things for the kids to pass the time. Lets start with these 2 quickies from Joleen Parker; first up is Festive Flip-Flops « Jobie’s Crafts, then have some fun decorating your Summer Fun Tote « Jobie’s Crafts - just try not to get confused by all the ad’s in the posts……

Then finally - feast your eyes upon Olivia Davis seemingly endless list of things for the kids to do: Kids Summer Activity List: 100 Creative and Cheap Summer Activities For Your Kids. Maybe even getting the kids to spend time talking abut the list in the first place could kill another 3 hours!

Enjoy yourselves as much as the kids!

posted by Travel Cat on Jun 25

Forget the back yard fireworks and head to somewhere that really sums up America!

Why not make this Forth of July one with a difference - and go see something amazing that makes you proud to be American and to celebrate Independence Day and the creation of the nation we know and love today!

Although it would be great to support your local town, county or state in their arrangements - by attending a carnival, music festivals and firework displays - you could also take a while away from it all and go back to the roots of the nation this year - and avoid some of the mess and noise that we now create!

1) Visit The Declaration Of Independence Itself!
What is it all about anyway?  Do your kids (or you yourself) even know the full story of how the country evolved, and how some of the great names like Samuel Adams and Thomas Jefferson were associated with this historic day were actually involved?

Taking a full day to explore the National Archives in Washington DC, and read through all the build up and the after effects of it’s historic signing in 1776.  The Archives also holds the Constitution and the Bill of Rights - so you will certainly be an American history buff by the time you leave!

Admission is always free and there are no separate lines to view the documents - you can wander around as you please - although there is no photography of filming allowed for obvious security reasons.  But do watch National Treasure before you go to give you a little taster of what it’s all about!

2) Go See Mount Vernon, Virginia - The Home Of George Washington.
Known affectionately as ‘the father of our country’ it would be wrong not to take time to learn about his life and achievements and appreciate his life and his actions.  He was of course the first president of the United States and sat for 2 terms before retiring to Mount Vernon.

He achieved many things during his busy life including winning many battles during the Battle for Independence during the American Revolution, implementing laws that still stand today and working on his farm!

There are many myth and ‘true’ stories about him and his life, including skipping a coin across the Potomac, having wooden false teeth and wearing a wig!  Other actual facts include being infertile, having ginger hair, serving no political party, making a law to make sure that future presidents can only serve 2 terms in office after he got ‘forced into his second term and actually being born British!

3) Be Amazed At Mount Rushmore - and hang around in the Black Hills after……
You wouldn’t be American if you hadn’t seen Mount Rushmore in South Dakota!  So make sure you go visit here if you haven’t already - and why not make a long weekend out of it with a visit to the Rockies!

The giant faces of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson (writer of the Declaration of Independence and the 3rd US President) stare off into the distance on this massive edifice to American History.

Alongside these 2 hugely influential characters are Abraham Lincoln - 16th US President; and Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt - 26th US President.  All 4 men have greatly influenced the United States today!

Taking 14 years to complete (well, it ran out of funds at the shoulders) these 18 meter tall heads cover an area of over 1000 square meters!  They are now in the hands of the US National Park Service, and around 2 million people a year visit the site.  And it has a chamber behind the faces containing plaques with the Declaration of Independence text inscribed!

Happy Holidays!

posted by Travel Cat on Jun 10

Summer is here again - and the sun is shining!

And just about the time of year when you are planning your summer vacations and short weekend trips - and also the time when the kids want to be out in the sunshine but you still have regular chores to do and need to keep them occupied!

So first off we have a short one for the journey to start the trip on the right foot, so Host Bee helps us with her Tip Tuesday - Easy Travel with Kids on Board!. Phew, step 1 complete!

And to add to this - for journeys, airports, bus stations or just while you just need some rest yourself try Wendy’s inspirational ideas for Summer Worksheets. Add to this with this short article - with ideas that could keep the kids quiet for hours - Rachel gives us her idea for a Fun Activity Box.

Mike Vogt steps in next with his twist on 10 Great Mission Trip Ideas, for an adventure that is totally different to anything else you might have planned.

Next up we have 2 stories about holiday adventures already in the making: First up is this little one from Michele Hays: Sundays with Sparky - Sparky’s excellent Strawberry Adventure, followed by Roger Elmore’s ideas for the 10 Best Amusement Park Resorts from his experiences.

And finally, a very helpful article from Sandrine Berges about her journeys with a special little person and how to overcome any difficulties with some forward planning with her experiences of How to get an autistic child onto a plane and out again..

So, I hope you can all use these stories and tips to make you vacation even better - and to make sure that you enjoy your trip as much as the kids!

Send me the photos!

posted by Travel Cat on May 14

If you have a family - then make sure you get involved in Family Week 2010 - May 21st to June 6th.

There are plenty of things you can do locally or nationally for this week of fun and frolics - and it will keep the kids entertained over the holidays!

Although this event is being pushed in the UK mainly, there is no reason why you can’t get involved wherever you are, as it is basically a celebration of all that is family.  Whether that means just your close family, aunties and uncles, grandparents, stepparents, cousins and friends - all are welcome!

There is a basic structure to the week - if only to give people an idea or 2 to get started - but obviously you can do whatever you want whenever you want, as long as you get more than just yourself involved.

Try to make it a really big event - as they tend to be more fun - or join another event organised by a larger company, school or charity if there is one close by - check Family Week Guide for some tips and events - or make up your own based on the following:

Monday: Picnic Day
Either at home in the garden so you can have lots of warm food and ice cream - or out in the countryside with blankets and hampers instead!

Tuesday: Film Day
Either a day out and trip to the cinema, a whole evening at home with take-away and popcorn - or a night in the garden with a projector of pale wall!

Wednesday: Story Time
Maybe an afternoon in the garden with a few short stories read out - or a few readers could take on characters with a narrator to hold it all together.  Or a walk around a castle while reading a story set in that exact same place with dressing up!

Thursday: Road Trip
All head off somewhere special in a car or 2 or on a train.  Maybe pick a place you have read about - or find a place that you want to visit year after year as a special family location.

Friday: House Party
Anything goes with this one.  Sleepover, computer games, board games, garden fun, watching films, putting on a play, eating a bar-b-q or whatever you can dream up!

Saturday: Sports Day
If you aren’t already all worn out, then maybe meet up at a local park and put together a list of events that everyone can join in, like 3-legged races and piggy-back rides!

Or just take a camping trip over the weekend, or a city stay during the week,  The choices are endless - just try to do something with the family to make holidays special!

posted by Travel Cat on May 10

Wow - the sunshine has been fantastic this month, and the talk of the big summer vacation is increasing!

But what has everyone already been up to?  Rather than waiting until July and August, many of you are just heading out there anytime and enjoying yourselves.  So let’s hear about some of them so far…..

Jennifer Miner starts of this bunch of articles with her great little story about a family trip to one of the most child friendly spots in Florida.  Take a look at the article and photo’s right here: Universal Studios Orlando Animal Actors on Location Show.

Dee Andrews then comes along with her little story of technology!  When travelling to some of the more remote places in the world - you have to remember that you can’t have all the modern trapping at your finger tips - and what you might have to do to get it there!  So do enjoy My Travails in Gaucin as a warning for your own travels!

This third article is only short - but what a great game!  I’ve never heard of this, but it certainly sound like something that would pass the time - so join Tom Ranieri to read about The Ultimate Travel Game.

One more about a glad-it’s-over car journey from Laurie Thornton with her Tips for Happy Car Trips at And A Mommy In A Pear Tree. She makes it cound so easy!

And finally Sarah Travaglio finds out what it’s like on the other side of the fence once she started traveling with her young son on a plane!  She was one side and now she is the other: Traveling with Kids « Miss Capa Tosta.

Let me know your plans for the next few weeks - and maybe even feature your own articles right here!

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