Strollerderby : travel

6-Year-Old Banned From Bringing Bear On Flight

SunnyChanel — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:30:00 GMT

Those pesky baggage fees are annoying everyone these days. Airlines are forcing customers to pay for checked baggage, limiting the number of bags and now one airline went so far as banning a six-year-old girl from bringing her teddy bear on board deeming it as ‘excess baggage’.

In the United Kingdom, a young girl flying from Glasgow to Stansted with her mother was informed by the check-in attendant that Bebe the bear, her stuffed animal, was too big and couldn’t be brought in the cabin with her. Initially, the bear was in a plastic bag to protect it from the rain. They took the bear out of the bag but they said it still counted as an extra bag. The mom stated that “I was carrying a big waterproof coat that was much bigger than the teddy and was allowed to take that on - it was just a complete lack of common sense.”

The mom was told it would cost £9 to check the bear in the storage hold below, they opted to mail the bear from the airport instead - the girl didn't want the bear to be alone in the dark. A spokesman for the airline said the check-in person should not have been so strict saying “We have a strict baggage allowance on all our flights and this bear was not a small bear - it could not fit into their hand baggage…however we do see that a common sense approach should have been taken and so this time we are offering to reimburse the parent concerned for postage.”

Do you think items such as pillows, coast and bears should be deemed extra baggage?

Source

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

The 10 Best Famous Road Trips in the U.S.

editors — Thu, 07 May 2009 10:00:00 GMT

Last summer was all about the 'staycation'. This year, ditch the kiddie pool for the open road. Sure, the classic road trip usually includes a bunch of 20- somethings on a Kerouacian romp- But, hey, why wait until then for your kids to know the grandeur and diversity of this great nation? National Geographic's 10 Best of Everything: Families will take you far beyond Route 66.

1. Covered Bridges, Vermont

See five covered bridges on one drive through Vermont's Bennington County: Silk Bridge, Paper Mill, Village Bridge, Henry Bridge, and West Arlington Brigde. Autumn is the best time to go, but it's also lovely in late spring.

2. Lighthouse Tour, Maine

There are 65 lighthouses still standing in Maine. Today, about ten light stations include museums; others are bird sanctuaries, wildlife refuges, or a nature preserve; and a few house research facilities. Drive from Frazer Point Picnic Area and Winter Harbor light to Prospect harbor and Prospect Harbor Light, Maine, in one day.

3. Skyline Drive, Virginia

The 105-mile parkway along the crest of the Blue Ridge mountains starts in Fort Royal, Virginia, and winds above the Shenandoah River valley, where early American Indians lived and where Daniel Boone and settlers passed through on their way to the western frontier. The mountains here are smooth and low, and famed for the blue mist created by foliage.

4. A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway, Florida

Allow two hours to drive this byway, which lies between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intercoastal Waterway on a narrow barrier island. Along with breathtaking views, you'll see the Gulf Coast, flora and fauna, resorts, and art deco architecture.

5. Michigan's Peninsulas

See the iconic dunes, shoreline, waterfalls, pines, and famed cherry orchards. The road stretches from Sleeping Bear Dunes to Petoskey to St.Ignace to Sault Ste.Marie to Munsing.

6. San Juan Skyway, Colorado

Travel the "road to the sky," which offers views of the towering 14,000-foot San Juan Mountains to rolling hillsides speckled with ancient Pueblo Indian ruins. It's a 236-mile route from Durango to Ouray, through Telluride and Mancos, back to Durango.

7. Albuquerque to Taos, New Mexico

Explore the Southwest through its fabled history and figures. Drive the Turquoise Trail from Albuquerque to Santa Fe to Taos, then back to Albuquerque to discover the culture of the Pueblo Indians, Georgia O'Keeffe, mountains, canyons, cliffs, cliff paintings, ghost towns, and artist colonies.

8. Goint-to-the-Sun Road, Montana

Lake McDonald is Glacier National Park's largest lake, at ten miles long. Driving along the McDonald Valley provides a history of the glaciers that carved the U-shaped valley. Families can park at the visitor's center at Logan Pass, the top of the Continental Divide. The road leads to the Going-to-the-Sun Mountain, at 9,642 the highest in this area of the park.

9. Pacific Coastal Highways, California

Take in the West Coast in its entierety or in manageable short jaunts.The first section begins in Portland, passing the Willamette River, early pioneer settlements, stunning waterfalls, rugged coastline, weird monoliths, and towering redwoods. The second section from San Francisco to L.A. features the Golden Gate, Big Sur, wine country, Hearst Castle, Spanish missions, Hollywood, mountains, beaches, surfing and harbors.

10. Chain of Craters, Hawaii

Chain of Craters Road, located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, is a 20-mile journey that showcases a natural landscape shaped by volcanoes. Whether driving or hiking, visitors can see craters, lava flows, tropical rain forests, mountains, and coastal areas.

Amy, Florida: "Out for a drive I always say that my car has better upholstery than most of the furniture in my house. No wonder we all love leisurely sightseeing drives, with time to talk, look out the window, maybe stop for ice cream..."

Reprinted with permission of the National Geographic Society from the book The 10 Best of Everything: Families by Susan Magsamen. Copyright ©2009 National Geographic Society.
Photo: Bernie McCann

Related Links: The 10 Best Carousels in the U.S., The 10 Best Children's Museums in the U.S., The 10 Best Living History Sites

The 10 Best Living History Sites

editors — Wed, 06 May 2009 10:00:00 GMT

Move over Felicity, Samantha, Kit Kitson and the rest of the bunch; American Girl dolls don't hold a candle to the country's finest historical reenactments. With National Geographic's 10 Best of Everything: Families as your guide, your tots can become Minnesota farmhands for a day or climb aboard the Pony Express.

1. Actor's Beechwood Mansion
580 bellevue Ave., Newport, RI 02840, 401-846-3772

Step back in time at the Astors' opulent Beechwood Museum. The Beechwood Theatre Company brings to life the Astor family, their friends and servants. There are daily tours of the early 20th-century mansion given by living history performers.

2. Gettysburg National Military Park
97 Taneytown Rd., Gettysburg, PA 17325, 717-334-1124

The most epic battle of the Civil War was fought here on July 1, 2, and 3, 1863. Confederate troops attempted their second invasion of the North at Gettysburg, not far from the state lines of Maryland and West Virginia. Union soldiers pushed back--at a cost of more than 7,000 lives. Five months later, Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address here. Reenactments are regularly scheduled.

3. Colonial Williamsburg
101A Visitor Center Dr., Williamsburg, VA 23187, 757-229-1000

Duke of Gloucester Street and the reconstructed governor's mansion are the centerpieces of this re-created historic city depicting the best of British colonial life in the New World. Shop for authentic toys, wear a tricorn hat, and return the greetings of costumed barristers, shopkeepers, and servants.

4. Middleton Place Plantation
4300 Ashley River Rd., Charleston, SC 29414, 800-782-3608

Experience a taste of the Old South, with the benefit of a view from the 21st century. This carefully preserved low-country plantation is now a resort, working farm, and historic garden area-- and a beautiful family destination. Staff members here are characters who introduce you to life on a 19th century southern rice plantation.

5. Castillo de San Marcos
1 Castillo Dr. S, St. Augustine, FL 32084, 904-829-6506

This fort was built in 1972 to protect Spain's footprint on the North American continent. Reenactments and weapons demonstrations are regularly scheduled, and rangers are on hand.

6. Conner Prairie
13400 Allisonville Rd., Fishers, IN 46038, 800-966-1836

A renowned living history museum, farm, and learning center where families can explore 19th century life of the American Midwest. It's divided into four main areas: a homestead, a prairie town, a farm, and a Lenape camp. Events are planned every weekend, including storytelling, traditional arts, farm experiences and more.

7. Oliver H. Kelley Farm
15788 Kelley Farm Rd., Elk River, MN 55330, 763-441-6896

Be a Minnesota farmhand for a day. Try churning butter and weaving a straw hat, and see oxen and horses at work in the fields. Dressed as farmers and field hands, staff members show families how a 19th-century farm was run. Seasonal activities and daily chores provide a hands-on view of daily farm life and early American agriculture.

8. Pony Express Re-Ride
1202 Penn St., Saint Joseph, MO 64503, 816-232-8206

This annual event commemorates the founding of the Central Overland and California Pikes Peak Express Company, also known as the Pony Express. In June, teams of horses and riders ride the original trail from Missouri, with handoffs along the way in Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, and then across California to Sacramento. The ride begins at the original Pony Express headquarters, now a Missouri musuem. Families can mail a letter that will be carried along the route.

9. Flint Hills Overland Wagon Train
El Dorado, KS 67042, 316-321-6300

Experience life on the pioneer trail with an overnight covered wagon journey in the Flint Hills, an unspoiled tallgrass prairie that was once a pathway to the American frontier. Traditional entertainment and chuckwagon-style meals are provided, with a campfire and sleeping under the stars at night. You can bring your own horse and ride along.

10. George Ranch
10215 FM 762, Richmond, TX 77469, 281-343-0218

This historic park has been in one family for four generations. It includes a mansion home, working ranch, and seasonal crops that visitors can help to harvest. Schedule your visit for a Saturday and plan on having an authentic 19th-century-style meal at one of five different venues around the park.

Photo: Bates Littlehales

Related Links: The 10 Best Carousels in the U.S., The 10 Best Children's Museums in the U.S.

The 10 Best Children's Museums in the U.S.

editors — Tue, 05 May 2009 12:00:00 GMT

Escape to a place where there's no need to use indoor voices, and your kids can touch EVERYTHING! Can't you almost hear their mental gears churning and feet pounding as they race down the hallways towards their next discovery? National Geographic's The 10 Best of Everything: Families guarantees you'll want to stay the whole day at these museums:

1.The Boston Children’s Museum

300 Congress St., Boston, MA 02210, 617-426-6500

There are two goals here: engaging families and building communities to help kids become creative, curious, global, green, and healthy. At “Boats Afloat,” kids can sail an assortment of boats and barges while controlling the current in an amazing 28-foot, 800-gallon tank. Come for the wonderful climbing structure!

2. Strong National Museum of Play

1 Manhattan Square, Rochester, NY 14607, 585-263-2700

Home to the National Toy Hall of Fame and the world’s largest collection of toys, dolls, games, and other items that celebrate play. The indoor butterfly garden is a great place to walk among approximately 800 brilliantly colored butterflies. Don’t miss the craft stations.

3. Brooklyn Children’s Museum

145 Brooklyn Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11213, 718-735-4400

The first museum created especially for children, this museum has engaged children and their families since 1899. Exhibits include “Totally Tot” and “World Brooklyn.” In “Neighborhood Nature” you can visit a freshwater pond, a beach, a garden, and an urban woodland.

4. Port Discovery Children’s Museum

35 Market Pl., Baltimore, MD 21202, 410-727-8120

A “ginormous” slide and climbing structure is the centerpiece of this interactive museum. “Wonders of Water” is the museum’s newest exhibit.

5. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

3000 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46208, 317-334-3322

The largest children’s museum in the world lets kids explore physical and natural sciences, history, world cultures, and the arts. Immerse yourself in three environments—a brightly colored underwater coral reef, a dinosaur discovery area, and an Egyptian tomb.

6. Madison Children’s Museum

100 State St., Madison, WI 53703, 608-256-6445

A cool “green” exhibit, “First Feats” and its child-centered activities support the healthy development of infants and preschoolers. Adults can compare notes with other caregivers, find out more about infant brain development, or tap in to community resources. In 2010, new location is 100 N. Hamilton.

7. Discovery Center Museum

711 N. Main St., Rockford, IL 61103, 815-963-6769

Explore Rock River Discovery Park, the first community-built outdoor science park in the U.S. Design a Mars Rover or space station in “Robotics Lab.” “Air & Flight” teaches the four basic principles of flight, demonstrates aerodynamics, and promotes principles of scientific inquiry.

8. The Children’s Museum of Houston

500 Binz, Houston, TX 77004, 713-552-1138

"Yalálag, A Mountain Village in Mexico” replicates a real Oaxacan village. See live chicks hatch at “Farm to Market,” solve mental mind benders in the “Think Tank,” chase dragonflies, scoop pond water, and make animal tracks in “My Home Planet Earth.”

9. Minnesota Children’s Museum

10 W. Seventh St., St. Paul, MN 55102, 651-225-6000
Visit “Rooftop Art Park,” where art and nature converge with a great view of St. Paul. Kids scramble up to a 12-foot tree fort and dance under the shadow dome, mimicking tree shapes and shadows.

10. Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose

180 Woz Way, San Jose, CA 95110, 408-298-5437
The striking 52,000-square-foot purple building explores themes of community, connections, and creativity. In “Alice’s Wonderland,” kids step into a fairytale that exercises math, science, and literacy.

Not to be Missed:

Please Touch Museum, Pa

Kidspace Children’s Museum, Ca

Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, Pa

A great resource to find a children’s museum near you:

Association of Children’s Museums

"Children’s museums put learning into the hands of children and make learning empowering, creative, and fun." —Janet Rice Elman, Association of Children’s Museums

Photo: Yolanda Fenwick

Related Link: The 10 Best Carousels in the U.S.

Kid Flies Across Country And No One Notices

JeanneSager — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:25:00 GMT

If it sounds like a Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan flick that's popular on date night, you're not far off. A boy used his father's credit card, hopped a plane and was across the country before anyone had missed him.

Only this kid wasn't looking for a lady love for dad. And he went in the opposite direction (East Coast to West rather than Seattle to New York). Oh yeah, and this wasn't a movie.

The thirteen-year-old was a real live boy who stole Dad's car during the night (while he was sleeping), drove thirty miles to an airport and THEN boarded a plane for parts unknown.

Kenton Weaver flew from Florida, where he lives with his father, to California, where his mother lives. But no one one the flight said a word. It wasn't until Weaver was at a ticket counter in California that the boy (who reportedly falls somewhere on the autism spectrum - making this all the more incredible) was found by some sort of authority.

His mom, Kim Casey, says Kenton is extremely bright but his Asperger's means he lacks common sense and inhibitions that would probably have kept other kids from pulling off this kind of feat. But that's another reason the boy's father, Dale Weaver, is shocked no one noticed a thirteen-year-old on a cross-continental flight. Not only did he not have ID, but Dale said his son can be a handful.

Kenton is OK - that's the best part of this story. And apparently has dreams of being a pilot, so a ride in an airplane was probably the highlight of his day, week, month. . .

But how does this make you feel about so-called airport security? Are they so focused on making us take our shoes off and trashing our tweezers that they're missing the big picture? Like thirteen-year-old kids with no ID getting on planes alone?

Image: eFitness

Travel: The Ultimate Experience for LEGO Fans

SunnyChanel — Fri, 01 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Not unlike a plastic injected sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, you and your family can get an exclusive insider tour of a legendary headquarters. For a very limited time you can enter the hallowed halls of the Lego Factory in Denmark. And no, you won’t have to search out some elusive golden ticket, you’ll just need some good hard cash.

Throughout the month of June, the people of Lego will be giving an exclusive 2½ day behind the scenes tour of their headquarters in Billund, Denmark. On the junket you can meet, hang out with and dine with the designers of the LEGO Group. On the tours you’ll get to explore the factory, visit the archive that dates back to 1932, go on a VIP behind the scenes tour of LEGOLAND, and at the end of it all, you’ll receive a unique LEGO gift.

So by now you’re probably wondering how much such a Lego adventure will set you back? The LEGO Insider Tour Package is about $1700 (does not include airfare). For more information check out the ‘Ultimate Experience for LEGO Fans' page here.

Family Sues Over What Kid Found in Hotel Room

JeanneSager — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 18:40:00 GMT

A Massachusetts family that made a stop-off on their trip home from Florida is wishing they'd just kept on driving north.

Steven and Amy Wolfe and their three kids stayed at the Homewood Suites in Mount Laurel, N.J. for just one night on the trip home to Pittsburgh, Mass. Things went fine until the next morning, when the Wolfes' twenty-two-month-old son picked up something left behind by previous guests and put it in his mouth - something used . . . and made of latex.

You guessed it. Cleaning crews apparently missed a dirty condom left behind by previous occupants of the room, and the Wolfe's youngest child had already swallowed a portion when he started choking and she rushed to his side.

The child is fine - at least choking-wise. But he'll have to undergo further testing to determine if any diseases in the condom might have put him at risk. His parents, meanwhile, are suing the hotel.

From the Philadelphia Daily News: "The suit contends that Homewood Suites and its subsidiaries, Hilton and Blackstone, put the boy at risk by leaving the "life threatening" item in the room and subjecting the boy to an increased risk of contracting a "sexually transmitted disease, including HIV or AIDS, or some other, potentially life threatening, potentially fatal illness."

I already knew hotel rooms were icky. This story highlights why it's so much more difficult to avoid the ick factor when you've got kids. As an adult, I immediately throw off the comforter when I walk into a hotel room, knowing they are often not washed between guests. My three-year-old, however, wants to roll around on the bed just like she does at home. She begs to take a bath in the hotel tub; I refuse.

After reading this, I'm even more inclined to say "Let's drive through the night honey. We can sleep when we get there."

Image: TripAdvisor.com

The Obama Family Moves to D.C. Hotel – How Much Will Their Stay Cost?

SunnyChanel — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 05:48:00 GMT

Michelle, Malia and Sasha Obama have made the big move. Without much fanfare, which I’m sure is very appreciated, Mama Obama and her daughters have checked into their temporary housing, the historic Hay-Adams Hotel. The family will be staying in a suite (or more likely a couple of suites) that they’ll be calling home until Jan. 15 when they can sleep in the Blair House, the traditional residence for president-elects.

When the Obama’s checked in there were just news crews there waiting to record the action. Although there wasn’t much chaos, that will surely change when Barack Obama checks in on Sunday.

The Hays-Adams hotel was established in 1928 and it situated right across the street from the White House and next to Lafayette Square. The hotel has 145 rooms and the Presidential Suite is a “distinguished and remarkable penthouse suite (that) features a separate living room and one-and-a-half bathrooms. The beautiful living room overlooking the White House, Lafayette Park and St. John's Church includes a large dining table as well as gas-lit corner fireplace. The master bedroom features a spectacular view of the White House.”

Really, how often do real presidents, or real presidents-elect stay in a hotel’s Presidential Suite? The room finally gets to live up to its’ name. But they’ll probably also book the Federal Suite, the hotel’s premiere living quarters. Each room costs between $2200 - $3200 a night. So if they booked two suites at the book rate for twelve days, they’re looking at a hotel bill of over $64,000 and that doesn’t include room service.

But then there are room extras like “custom Italian bed linens and towels, goose down duvets and pillows … plush microfiber bathrobes and slippers for adults and kids, Bose CD music systems with assorted CDs, exclusive Etro toiletries, complimentary Fiji bottled water and a nightly turndown service.”

Let’s hope they have a AAA card or a connection or two and are able to save a little on their stay. What’s the most you have spent a night on a family hotel stay?

Source: Salon/AP

First Class or No Class? Who Gets the Upgrade on Your Trip?

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:02:00 GMT

Whenever the idea of a family trip comes up, I immediately imagine myself in first class, being pampered and doted on. There are international carriers now with entire suites in first class -- not just chairs that fold into beds and have really snazzy TVs. But actual suites -- as in close the door and enjoy the quiet bliss of being fabulously wealthy.

In these imaginings, my wife and 2-year-old daughter are somewhere in the nether-regions of coach -- or "back there somewhere," as I imagine telling a friendly steward while using the appropriate hand motions that convey both direction and disinterest. And so you can probably see why I'm always a little annoyed when my wife awakens me from the daydream and I settle back into the reality of traveling somewhere very far away, on a very long flight, while the three of us battle for elbow room and sanity somewhere back there in the nether-regions of middle class.

But what if, I always wonder. What if we get to the gate and the flight attendant says there's just one seat available in first class? Who would get it? Me? My wife? Surely not our daughter -- she's not old enough to truly enjoy the wonder of the cheese course. Eventually reality sets in and I come to understand that my wife would be working on her second glass of complimentary champagne at the precise moment I finally manage to strap in our daughter.

So it thrilled me to read this story from writer Beth Spotswood, who recently spotted a mother wrangling her luggage and children on the way through security. All alone, the woman managed to board with a million bags and just as many children. Later, on the flight, it was discovered that the woman wasn't traveling alone. Her husband was with her. In first class.

Sure, not helping out before settling himself into first class was truly the move of a top-notch ass -- and is also grounds for immediate divorce -- but still, clearly he was living the dream.

I can't be the only one who day dreams about a family trip filled with endless movies instead of moping, caviar instead of carrying-on. If you there was only one seat available in first class, who would get it in your family? Or would you do something really silly like pass it up out of solidarity?

HOW Much for a Trip to Legoland??

Amy Kuras — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:02:00 GMT

I love Legos. But based on this review in the LA Times of a trip there, I think I’d hate Legoland.

Mostly because I am a cheap Midwesterner, and if I am paying around $225 to take my family somewhere I’d better be having Thomas Keller cook for me or sitting in the front row while Aretha Franklin sings.

I mean, it sounds kind of cool – rides, a good playground for the little ones, and Miniland -- all kinds of things made out of Legos. There’s a series of landmarks and so on – click on over, that paragraph is quite funny.

The writer relays that his family’s overnight trip, which included a stay at the hotel adjacent to the park, meals etc. clocked in at about $600. I’m a big believer in spending money on experiences versus things; if I had to choose between spending that kind of money on a day at a theme park or, say, a biog day at the mall I’d cough up for the theme park, no question. But sweet fancy Moses, $600 seems like an awful lot of money for a family outing.

That just seems insane to me, that nothing could be that fun to justify that cost. And no wonder we’re all in insane amounts of debt if a normal rite of passage for childhood costs almost as much as our car payment and more than our heating bill.

California and Florida readers, help me out here: Is spending a day at one of the big theme parks an annual thing, a “big birthday” kind of thing or considered practically a birthright? Is it something that’s sort of expected that you’ll do, or is it optional?

Related on Babble:

Field Trip: Behind the Scenes at the US Lego Headquarters!

TSA To Offer "Family Lanes" at Some Airports

Kate Tuttle — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:00:00 GMT

In what they probably think is an attempt to help parents burdened by the double trauma of traveling with young children and flying during the holidays, the TSA is adding "family lanes" at some airports.

According to WHAM TV in Rochester, New York, the TSA hopes the action "will ease stress levels for parents traveling with children during the busiest travel period of the year." It goes on to explain that families "will be directed by screeners to the specially-marked lanes, where parents can feel free to move at their own pace."

Oh hell no. That may be fine for people who travel once a year or less, or folks whose only airport experience consists of flights to Grandmother's House or The Magic Kingdom, but for the rest of us -- people who have kids but who had a life before kids, a life that involved flying places -- such a special lane sounds like a threat, not a promise. Look, I know how to fly with my kids. I wear clogs for easy-off access before the conveyor belt. I always fold the stroller and shove it in first so it's out first; once out, I pop it open and immediately load it up with our carryons and various assorted kid crap. I march my toddler through that X-ray machine like he's in military school. On a good day, we're as fast as I ever was when I was a regular on the Boston to New York shuttle; even on a bad day, we aren't as slow as your typical Thanksgiving weekend traveler.

So as we get ready to fly home to see the family this holiday, do us no favors. I'd rather be in line with everyone else -- some slow, some fast -- than be pre-empted into the ninth circle of hell. Those families who haven't gotten the memo about shoe removal or liquids in your carryons can languish in the "special" lane, but please, let well-traveled families go through with everyone else. We have a plane to catch -- and if you look at dozens of gate-check tags looped around my son's stroller's handles, you can see we've done this before.

10 Places To Bring the Kids

Amy Kuras — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 21:24:00 GMT

At some point or another, parents get the urge to load up the family truckster and go see America a la the Griswolds. I’d say most parents dream about getting to take their kids someplace spectacular at least once in their life. Our two dream family trips are driving out to Colorado to explore Rocky Mountain National Park, and heading to DC, when our kids are old enough to actually enjoy traveling but still young enough they’ll be seen in public with us.

Travel + Leisure’s September issue features “10 Places to See Before You’re 10”— a list of must-see family destinations. From the obvious – (Colonial Willamsburg, Disneyworld) – to the less so (Baltimore’s American Visionary Art Museum, LA’s Griffith Observatory), these are places the editors suggest are great places for families and things kids would really enjoy.

I visited a couple of these places before I was 10 – Niagara Falls and Disneyworld – and I have to say they are still stuck in my memory to this day. What are your dream trips with your kids? What do you think of the list? And have you braved a major family vacation yet?

Love it or Hate It- Get Into Disneyland For Free

SunnyChanel — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 23:25:00 GMT

Get into to Disneyland, yes Disneyland for FREE! Yeah, not much in this capitalistic world of ours doesn’t come without a price attached. But the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts behemoth will be starting a promotion in 2009 where if you go to one of their parks on your birthday, you get into the park for free.

Disneyland is one of those places you either love or hate. Me, I adore it. It’s an over stimulating, exhausting but ridiculously fun time for me and my toddler. Yeah, I do have qualms about subjecting her to that much Princessmania but to see her eyes light up when she met Ariel and saw the Main Street Parade, well all of it was worth it. And we didn’t even get in for free, so this whole free bday thing totally sweetens the deal. And if you hate Disneyland but your family is insists on go, this way you can at least not give them all of your money, but they’ll probably get it anyways when you buy your Mickey ears and Disneyland commemorative pins. You can get all the details here.

Another 8 year old on the terrorist watch list

Brett Singer — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 20:00:00 GMT

So remember the 7 year old kid who had the same name as someone on the terrorist watch list?

Here's an 8 year old kid who has the same name as someone on the terrorist watch list.

This time, we have video of the boy and his mother testifying before Congress.

"Since 2005, when James was 5 years old, the Robinson family has had to deal with the delays and hassles of having a son who has been consistently misidentified when traveling."

Despite her experiences, Denise Robinson is "a strong proponent of the watch list" and feels that we all have to "accept some inconveniences" in order to keep our country safe from terrorists. However, she thinks the list has been "mismanaged." Considering the fact that, without looking, I found two examples of children who had been detained multiple times because their names appeared on the list, that could be the understatement of the year.

7 year old on terrorist list

Important news stories depicted by five year olds

Two women found guilty of illegal midwifery

Retarded movie boycott

Austrian incest mom speaks out

Upcoming Sesame Street Guests

5 things that would make parents' lives easier

Dad arrested for leaving son at McDonald's

So – who ya voting for?

Are your kids aware of the election?

I can tell how much you orgasm because of how you walk

7 year old on terrorist list

Brett Singer — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:30:00 GMT

A 7-year-old boy was detained at JFK airport in New York because his name was on a terrorist watch list. More accurately, his name is the same as someone else who is on a terrorist watch list. The fact that he was, you know, 7, didn't factor into the decision to keep the entire family in a locked room for an extended period of time.

Twice.

On two occasions, Alex and his family were kept in a holding room upon arrival at Kennedy International Airport from London because his name apparently matched a name on the list.

Alex was born in 2000.

“They hauled us out of the line and into a holding room,” said Ms. Harris. “It’s 8 o’clock on a Saturday night and they said, ‘We have to call Washington to have him cleared.’ And I’m like, ‘Just who do you suppose is available in Washington at 8 o’clock on a Saturday night?’ ”

It took more than two hours before Alex, a United States citizen like his parents and twin brother, was free to go. That was in late 2006. Six months later, the family arrived again from London, around 11 p.m.

Again, Alex was detained, his mother said, even though she carried his birth certificate and Social Security card.

“I said, ‘Look at him. He’s clearly not a terrorist. He’s 7!’ ” she said.

I'm all for fighting terrorism, but if this doesn't prove that a lot of the effort being expended is misplaced, I don't know what does.

Source: NYTimes, Image: ACLU

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Airline removes life vests

Brett Singer — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:00:00 GMT

First they stopped serving food. Then they took away the pillows.

Now, it's the life vests.

Jazz, a regional carrier for Air Canada, has decided that life vests are too heavy. They said that, "passengers have flotation devices, don't need life vests too," according to CNN.com. The vests weigh about a pound each, and most of their planes have 50 seats. So… a little math… carry the 1… that's 50 pounds.

Spokeswoman Manon Stuart said that Jazz, " doesn't fly over the ocean," although they do fly over the Great Lakes and other bodies of water. Personally, I'd rather have the life vests, just in case. I also would think twice before flying on an airline called "Jazz." But maybe that's just me.

Aside: when looking for an image to accompany this story, I came across this item from 2006: a Jazz pilot was locked out of the cockpit, spending ten minutes banging on the door. Methinks life vests are not the problem.

Source: CNN

Image: canada.com

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5 Ways to Not Go Broke (with Kids)

Cole Gamble — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:00:00 GMT

Having a family is a pricy pastime, like eating Faberge eggs or using antique bone china for skeet shooting. Instead of fantasizing about the kind of European sport car you could buy for the amount of money you spend on your kids, consider ways to cut those costs. Here are some budget trimmers:

1 Christmas in January

When is the best time to buy Christmas presents? Why after Christmas, of course. Stock up for next year. Just make sure you don’t buy this year’s fad. By next year that toy will be as cool as a Beanie Baby.

2 Pack up to Travel

Whether on a plane or in the car, buying food while on route to your destination is going to be expensive. Pack up snacks and lunches for the kids. Yes, airlines do allow you to bring food aboard.

3 Know When to Clothe ‘Em

The best time to buy kid clothes are February and August. That’s when most stores put their stuff on sale. The key here is to think ahead to the season you are buying for. Buying a coat will be cheap in the summer, but you’re kid will be bigger by the time they need it. Think about buying a size larger.

4 Don’t Wait in Line, Buy Diapers and Formula Online

Skip the store for baby needs and buy online. If you hunt around you’re guaranteed to get a better price.

5 A Home Cooked Meal

Dining out costs 6 to 10 times more than eating at home. Start treating a dinner out as a treat. Also try more ethnic food. It’s generally cheaper than, say, steakhouses, and it will teach your kids an appreciation for a broad range of foods.

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Parents Forget 3 Year Old at Airport

Cole Gamble — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:00:00 GMT

It’s a given that anytime you take a vacation you’re gonna forget something behind. A pair of socks, that copy of Breaking Dawn you’re reading. It’s a little bit more of an alarming sign if you leave your kid behind. And then don’t realize it until you are informed by airline staff…once you’re already in the air.

A couple on route to a European vacation somehow succeeded in getting their 18 suitcases and four children on the plane. Only problem was, they have five children.

We’ve all seen Home Alone and know full well what kind of wacky hijinks an adorable young man and a couple of rascally burglars can get into. Then there’s The Terminal, where we’re delighted by the wacky hijinks of an adorable foreign man and a rascally airport manager. Put them together and you’ve got this story. Except, not wacky and utterly stupid on the parents’ part.

The lost little girl did manage to reunite with her family in Paris on the next flight.

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Family Class Travel? Sign. Me. Up.

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Mon, 12 May 2008 19:01:00 GMT

Would you pay extra to fly with other families on an airplane? There's first class, business, coach and now, hopefully, family class?

I just heard about it for the first time from Yahoo! Shine's ultra-~~hot~~ knowledgable editor, Charlene Prince Birkeland, who was on TV discussing some great summer travel tips for families.

The family section idea sounds like a cry room at church but still, at least the kids can all cry together and the parents probably wouldn't find travel so stressful -- because they know the only people their kid will annoy is the family with a kid right next door. I'm all for that. (Also, if your kid happens to be the quiet, polite rock star of the family travel section, you could totally look down your nose at the other parents. Then again ...)

Strollerderby Playdate: Get Outta Town

Adrienne Martini — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 19:30:00 GMT

I just stepped back in from a playdate with Karrie at Mom Voyage. Yes, I do smell of dried chile peppers and sunscreen. Thanks for noticing.

I love hanging out with Karrie -- despite her current intestinal disorder -- because she is a mom who refuses to take "no" for an answer. Not when it comes to her kid eating his veggies. And certainly not when it comes to packing up and hitting the road. She also takes great pictures. How can you not want to head out after seeing shots like these?

What's so refreshing is that Karrie will be the first to admit that she's not "Adventure Mom" but rather "Don't Stay At Home Mom." Her trips aren't perfectly planned excursions with shiny, happy people. They are always better than being bitter about staying home and not trying something different.

Even if a break in the routine leads to a jellyfish sting or giardia.

Photo credit: Karrie Wellborn

Strollerderby Playdate: Papa (and Mama and Kids) is a Rolling Stone

Adrienne Martini — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:00:00 GMT

There are days when I think about chucking it all, packing up the kids, spouse and cats, and hitting the road for a few months. Only a two things stand in my way: my hatred for camping and my love of plumbing.

After my playdate with Vicki from Where the FuhKaui?*, I'm starting to think that I could do it. Her three kids -- ages 10, 8, and 6 -- look like they're having the best time ever as they criss-cross the country in their converted school bus. Dad Joe seems to have a perma-grin in all of Vicki's pictures.

And what pictures they are. Vicki has a knack for capturing the heart of both a place and the family. Just looking at Joshua Tree or San Diego or peacocks or ice make me want to be where she was, even if some of the excursion were less than pleasant. It's just gorgeous out there, though.

Which almost make me think that I could do it. Almost.

* say it out loud but quietly since it's nsfw.

Photo credit: Vicki from www.fuhkauifamily.blogspot.com

Strollerderby Playdate: It's Not Easy Being Green (With Envy)

Adrienne Martini — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 18:46:00 GMT

I am well aware that I spend a great deal of time complaining about the weather. It is one of my many endearing quirks. But it's hard to remain placid about the four inches of slushy mud that we have to slog through everyday to simply go outside. The filthy pantcuffs. The wet mittens. I tire of this.

So today's playdate is with Katie a.k.a. "Mamahops" who blogs about traveling with her four kids and spouse at Hell's Half Acre. For the last little bit, they've been living in balmy Mexico. Even though Ms 'hops woke up with a cockroach on her face, I am ready to go hang out with her for the rest of the week.

Margaritas are optional -- but sun is required.

Photo credit: Mamahops at www.hopalog.com

Free and Not-So-Free Kid Travel Destinations

Karen Murphy — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 23:58:00 GMT

It's January, which means it's time to plan this year's summer vacation. That is, right after you plant a garden with the seeds you ordered earlier this month from all those seed catalogues, that is (you did order them, didn't you?). And after you let that gym membership lapse after not going for two months. For the fourth year.

But the point is, it's time to think about Vacation Destinations, ones that hopefully are at least somewhat Friendly to Kids. Thus, this list.

Thanks to the magic of MSNBC, we can now turn our attention to the historical destinations and other endroits d'amusement that are interesting to kids/accessible/free or cheap/nearly unavoidable. Shall we have a look?

1. Ellis Island, New York. A yawn unless the kids are at least 10; helpful if you know of ancestors who came through this portal. Oh, and free. If you're already in New York ~~throwing your money away on things like hotel rooms the size of a closet~~ having a wonderful time you might as well go here too.

2. Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C. Um, free. And magnificent. To little kids it will just be a lot of steps with a big guy at the top but bigger kids will get a sense of the grandeur.

3. Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. NOT free. Want an overpriced explanation of how, say, harnesses were made by someone in a costume? Then this is your place. I know people swear by this place and arrive in droves and busloads, but it didn't do much for me. And oh, if you just want a flavor of it and don't want to listen to the minitours, you can get in for free by just walking in from the town; don't be daunted by the huge signs directing you to where you pay $37 each.

4. USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor. Free, if you happen to already be in Hawaii. Though I would rather be at the beach.

5. Grand Canyon, Arizona. Not free, but you can pay by the carload. Here's a hint: it's a BIG hole in the ground. If you're weirdly overprotective about such things and have premonitions about your kids falling from precipices, this is not the place for you. Which is why I have been there but my kids have not. Go at your own risk.

6. National Civil Rights Museum, Memphis. Not free, but not bad as such things go. Wonderful if your kids are into history and you want them to understand what things were like in the not-too-distant past (and are just better-hidden now).

7. Redwood National Park, California. Free. And trees, really big trees. What kid doesn't understand trees? If I was making the list this would be at the top.

8. Monticello, Virginia. Not free. Also frowns a bit on smaller kids (who might touch things). The tour's not overly long and there is space to run around a bit outside.

9. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Free, but zillions of dead guys! Into history and don't mind the dead guys? Then it's awesome. Me, I couldn't get past the dead guys. But if you're the type who likes to tramp out there in the mud or whatever and pretend you're charging with Pickett, be my guest.

10. The Alamo, San Antonio Texas. Free. Same with the dead guys, except some of them spoke Spanish and it was inside a building. But not far from The Alamo is The Riverwalk, which if you can avoid the allure of shopping/boat rides, is also free. And people-watching while eating cheap-but-good Mexican food is not a bad thing at all.

11. Ground Zero, New York City. Free. The dead-guy thing being within your kids' lifetime (not to mention your own) changes it a LOT. Emotions run high about this one. It would be too intense for my kids, I think.

12. Niagara Falls, New York/Canada. Free. Awesome, even in winter when the water is largely frozen. The thing with the precipices applies here too, though, so if you're squeamish about heights, think twice.

13. Freedom Trail, Boston. Not free, but fairly cheap. Involves walking (good), and knowledge of history helps.

14. Independence Hall, Philadelphia. Free. Can be combined with other historical stuff in Philly, like the National Constitution Center, Betsy Ross' house, and cheesesteaks.

15. Disney World. NOT FREE. Didn't get enough fun burning your money in New York? Then you need to go here too.

Photo: tripadvisor.com

Pregcellent: Babymoons. As In Trips, Not Bare Behinds.

Kelly Mills — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 14:33:00 GMT

I'd totally take a media bullet for y'all, and I really feel like I did by watching this Today Show segment on babymoons. "Babymoon" is the cutsie-poo name for the vacay you take with your beloved (or perhaps your spouse) before your progeny springs forth from your loins and you are knee-deep in diapers and sleeplessness and can't imagine even going to the corner store, let alone Maui. The ladies of the Today Show segment are pregnant themselves, so they know! Omigod! It's all just so ah-may-zing and wonderful, and one of the destinations they recommend even gives you a baby bag with bottles and (sound the siren) formula. Let em rip, lactation-pros!

Okay, there were a few good tips on here, I'll admit that. And I'm going to share them so you can choose to watch the clip based on whether or not you can stand the bright perky sunlight of a cracked-out morning show segment anchor. So you should travel in your second trimester when you feel good (I didn't, but maybe you will); avoid long treks (though I bet some of you hiked a continent pregnant and were just fine, thanks); and you can't go on a cruise--well, some cruises will refuse to let you on the boat, so call ahead. Make sure there's a medical facility handy. I'll add my own: Choose a destination with GOOD BATHROOMS. You will thank me for that when you don't have to squat in the road behind a yak three times in one day.

Beyond that the show features a few locales that have pregnancy vacation packages for a pretty penny. One will serve you sparkling apple juice. Live large, ladies.