Strollerderby : road trip

Three Ways To Get to Sesame Street This Summer

JeanneSager — Wed, 27 May 2009 15:02:00 GMT

The pressure's on to plan the big family vacation? Two words. Sesame Street.

And Babble's telling you how to get, how to get there. We've checked in with Elmo and Abby Cadabby and come up with our list of the best bets for Sesame-style summering with your tot.

1. Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, VA. It's an old family standby, but the Forest of Fun at the popular theme park is all new and all Sesame. Gates opened in April, adding the country of characters to the park's traditional tour of Europe set-up. We let our pre-school tester loose in the park, and "let's ride it again!" was the phrase of the day. Topping her list were a nice and easy (for mom) Ernie and Bert adventure in the "lochs" of Scotland - it left her soaking wet and squealing with fun; and a mini roller-coaster courtesy of Super Grover that gave her a taste of the belly-dropping fun of the big coasters without the fear factor. Located near the entrance to the park, the Forest of Fun is just right - a great intro to the day, and something for them to look forward to getting back to when they're off with the rest of the family checking out the rest of the "gardens."

Why You Should Go: The price of a ticket affords a family admission to the whole park, making Busch Gardens the go-to for families with kids whose ages range. Sesame characters put on impromptu shows that get the whole family moving (no extra charge), and there's something for even the tiniest toddlers to do.

Good to Know: There are water attractions, but clothes are required on most rides, so throw some shorts on over their suits. Dining with the characters does not require advance reservations - price of food is not included in the ticket - but you need to check for specific meal times when you enter the park. A picture station with the characters is set up on site, and they will allow you to take your own pictures (just ask) or you can buy one of theirs. Take a stroller - even if your kid is busting out of it, it's not for them but for the cameras, bottles of water and stuffed animals won at the games along the way.

2. Sesame Place, Langhorne, PA. Owned by the same company that runs Busch Gardens (yes, the beer company), this is all Sesame, all summer long. Our little tester recommends you stop in for an in-theatre showing of Elmo's World, followed by a chance to climb around on stage where they can play Elmo's song on the piano and say "hello" to Dorothy.

Why You Should Go: This is the place for hard-core Sesame fans, but additions of a few extra roller-coasters also allow the older set to have their fun. The park is all Sesame, which means the crowd is all families and so is the staff's focus.

Good to Know: A two-day ticket costs the same as a one-day fee, so break up the day to make it easier on your kids (and hit the nearby outlets to save on kids clothes). Breakfast with the characters requires an advance reservation, but it gives your family a chance to be the first ones into the park - no lines, and the food isn't bad for theme park fare (even our daddy tester had a hankering for the little French toast sticks). The characters wander throughout the park during the day, so chances are you'll get to meet everyone. Again, you can take your own pictures (just ask) or buy the park's. Bring a swimsuit - there's plenty of water.

3. Sesame Street Live, a city near you. For families who are skipping the week-long or even extended weekend's vacation this year, a day trip to see a show can lift your kid's spirits, get you out of the house and save you a bundle. And if that show happens to offer them a chance to see their furry friend? That's just a bonus for mom or dad.

Why You Should Go: The show is always educational, and your tot will be in awe at the size of their favorite friends on-stage. Even kids who aren't ready to be taken to the movie theater yet are OK in a theater when the show is made for kids.

Good to Know: Regardless of where the show is being performed, there will be kiosks with Sesame goodies, so if you've opted for the show to save on the big vacation, you might want to make a deal with your kids BEFORE you go in. Whether it's "no extras today" or "you may pick out one toy," have a game plan because they're unavoidable, and plenty of kids will be brandishing their Sesame binoculars or Elmo balloons. The show does include an intermission for potty breaks, so your kids don't have to miss out Grover galumphing because they've got to go.

Image: Sager Scenes

Get the Stink out of On the Road Travel

JeanneSager — Mon, 11 May 2009 16:20:00 GMT

Ah, summer's almost here, and that means road trip time! And when you have kids, you know what that means: trying to find clean, non-scary places for the very frequent potty stops.

Problem solved.

The Bathroom Diaries rounds up the best places to pee all across the U.S. and a long list of countries around the world, with updateable lists for every U.S. state and a breakdown of who's free, who's got changing tables, and who's got a stinky potty.

Where this earns props over other bathroom stops pages is with the in-depth family details - take a look at the write-up on the McArthur Center mall bathroom in Norfolk, VA - someone cared to let us know they have a family restroom with "excellent space for nursing, and wide doorways allow even the largest of strollers to easily enter and exit. Extremely clean, well-lit, and safe."

A place where I can navigate the stroller instead of having to take turns with my husband over who's going to stay outside and watch over it even though we both HAVE TO go? I'm there.

So if you've got potty happy kids, you can map out your route to whereever with the help of the diaries, or you can make some notes on your way to and from and help a mutha out (and a dad too, for that matter - he may pee standing up, but he can aim better when he isn't holding his nose).

Image: ComfortFirst

Make Like The Griswolds

Adrienne Martini — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Some of the best conversations I have ever had with my Dad happened while we were on a road trip. This was long before the days of iPods or portable DVD players or, horrors, books-on-tape. Since I am one of those people who hurl if I try to read in a moving car, the options were staring out the windows or talking with my Dad. You may have had the same experience.

"Working Dad" Paul Nyhan knows how important those car trips can be. His essay is chock full of all sorts of goodness about how it's good to unplug from all of the other devices that distract us from each other. About how it's nice for kids to have nothing to do every now and again. About how a few simple games can make the time fly.

On the surface, I agree with him, especially since I know how much I value that time in the car with my Dad. But as a parent, I'm not sure I'm ready to unplug my kids the next time we drive to Grandma's. Is that wrong? Am I cheating them out of some cherished memories by not wanting to endure four hours of "Are we there yet?"

Strollerderby : road trip

Three Ways To Get to Sesame Street This Summer

Get the Stink out of On the Road Travel

Don't Let Your Kid Call Me Missus

When Mommy Becomes Mom

Get the Stink out of On the Road Travel

Bag of Feces Sent Home in Kid's Backpack

Get Their Pee Away from Me

Sick in the Morning? Your Kids Will Thank You

Make Like The Griswolds