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Blog
“WHAT CITY ARE YOU IN, DADDY?”
Friday, August 15, 2008
Saturday, August 02, 2008 TAKING THE STRESS OUT OF TRAVEL
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Thursday, July 03, 2008 Happy 4th of July—Please be careful around fireworks
Friday, June 27, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008 Despite the hassles, don’t give up on your vacation
I know when times get tough, vacations are the first thing to go. My husband already is grumbling about the Christmas trip I’ve tentatively planned for us.
I’m not saying anyone should go out on a financial limb or take out a second mortgage to take a family vacation, but don’t give up your vacation entirely.
But don’t give up your vacation! Think about what you remember most from your childhood. Think about how important the time together is with your kids and grandkids away from the stresses and strains of home, from email, computers and video games (assuming you can get the kids to turn theirs off). Think about the chance for a new blended family to get closer and to get to know that new significant other in your grown child’s life. Even if only for a few days at a nearby state park, or city, carve out some just-us time for your family. It’s more important to the kids than you might imagine! Friday, June 20, 2008 A trip to the amusement park should not mean a trip to the emergency room
No one likes to talk about it but every year, nationwide, an estimated 8,000 children ages 14 and under are treated in emergency rooms for injuries involving thrill rides at amusement parks and traveling carnivals; in an average year, three or four die, reports Safe Kids USA (http://www.usasafekids.org). Kiddie rides designed for ages 4 and under account for nearly a quarter of amusement park injuries to children. This category includes inflatable attractions such as bounces and slides. While portable carnival rides are subject to safety regulations enforced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Amusement park rides at a fixed location are not subject to federal safety standards, Safe Kids USA reminds parents:
-- Role-model proper safety behavior. Children are more likely to follow safety rules when they see their parents doing so.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008 Pay for your luggage, fight for the overhead bin… what next?
I hate being nickeled and dimed when I travel. That’s why I hate resort fees for services I probably don’t use, fees for accessing the internet at hotels and now, fees to check even one bag on an airplane. As has been widely reported, American, United and US Airways plan to charge us $30 roundtrip to check one bag—even more for a second. US Airways, meanwhile, is ending free nonalcoholic drinks on flights later this summer. Two bucks for a bottle of water. What this means for us as we head into the busiest family travel seasons of the year is even more aggravation at the airport. And there be less room in the overhead bins as travelers try to cram in as much baggage as they can carry on (not to mention aggressively competing for the limited bin space), The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the airlines plan to station workers to intercept customers exceeding the carry-on limit (that means one bag small enough to fit in the overhead bin and one “personal” item like a purse, briefcase or child’s backpack.) The good news is kids are people too and as long as you’ve purchased a ticket for them, they can carry on as much luggage as you can. Some airlines are not charging to check strollers and car seats—check on your airline’s website to see their rules. If you’ve bought a seat for your toddler or preschooler, use their car seat on board. They are not only more comfortable, but safer too, the FAA reports. As far as luggage goes, I can just tell you to do what I’m doing—pack lighter! I know that’s not always easy with kids but light-weight quick-dry fabrics can help. (Check out your local Target or retailers like http://www.llbean.com and http://www.landsend.com ) The worse part: We’re going to be faced with doing laundry on vacation!
In the past, I’ve always suggested letting each child have their own suitcase. Now, I’m not so sure, unless you can travel with carry on.
Thursday, June 12, 2008 A special trip with my graduate daughter
There’s always something special about traveling with your kids one-on-one—whether they’re five, 15 or in my case, 22. I just returned from a trip to Italy with my daughter Reggie—her college graduation trip—before she headed off for adventures (and a new job) across the country. Not to say we didn’t have a few spats or get on each other’s nerves during our stay abroad. Traveling with someone, I think, is a lot harder than living with them! But we did get to spend more time together—just the two of us—than we have in years. We laughed and joked. She wanted to hear stories about when I was her age starting out and, when I met her dad. I was glad to tell them. I wanted to hear all about her hopes and dreams. After nearly a week, though, we were ready for some other company --and more than sightseeing. So we joined a Backroads hiking trip along the Amalfi Coast. Backroads is a leading American company offering active vacations (many for families with young kids). More than half this adult trip were parents with 20-something children (more about that in an upcoming trip diary and column). But I wanted you to know that if you are considering a Backroads trip (http://www.backroads.com) with your young adult—and there are more than 1,000 to choose from around the world—mention code Y009 when reserving and adult children (ages 17-25) sharing a room with an adult will enjoy a 10 percent savings. Valid on new bookings made between June 15-July 31, 2008 and good for trips in 2009. http://www.backroads.com |
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