A trip away with the family can sometimes feel like even more like work rather than a vacation for us moms. But, good news, it doesn’t have to be! After years of traveling with my family of 5, there are a few tips and tricks I’ve picked up along the way to help me prepare beforehand, and to pack smarter and lighter, so we can enjoy the quality time together that we intended to.
1. Bring some instant eats. To avoid yucky airplane food (re: fake stuff wrapped in plastic) bring your own. Get a dose of leafy greens, with a side of calcium, magnesium, iron and fiber, all with a delicious “chip” taste and crunch. Kids can polish off an entire bag - it’s that good.
2. Use your reusables. No matter where you’re off to, smart and reliable reusables will take you from A - B to C and back again. Pack your Klean Kanteen bottle in your carry-ons and fill at the airport (after going through security of course), and you’ll never have to worry about waiting in lines for a pricy, sugary soda. Plus, staying hydrated during air travel helps fight fatigue and helps fight the munchies too.
3. Multi-purpose care-to-go. Less is always more, but even more so when you’re traveling, and multi-purpose products make for lighter luggage and a lighter (travel) footprint. The worldTRIO comes with a shampoo, body wash, conditioner, moisturizer and all-purpose balm (all in 3 little bottles!) that are safe and effective for the entire fam. They can be used interchangeably on both skin and hair, and all three “travel” bottles are under 100ml so you can even pack them in your carry-on.
4. Smart takeoff toteables. Choosing the right luggage and travel accessories is just as important as choosing the right destination. I use Nau’s Lightbeam Tote because it can transform from a backpack, to a single strap shoulder bag, to an organizer bag inside a suitcase, making it the ultimate all-in-one travel bag for moms. This featherweight tote doesn’t weigh you down on your travels, and bonus, it’s made from 100% recycled polyester.
5. Clean lightweight luggables. You won’t have to worry about leaving this travel essential behind. Berryplus laundry soap is only 55mls (under airplane liquid standards), yet this highly concentrated small bottle (think the size of your cell phone) effectively cleans 20 loads of laundry. Small and lightweight, you can pack it in your carry on, and know that this tiny lifesaver will come in handy at some point during your travels.
Elbert Hubbard said “No man needs a vacation so much as the man who has just had one.” I think he may have just needed a great travel guide to help him plan ahead.
Lisa Borden, owner of marketing firm, Borden Communications, offers a holistic approach to consciously marketing responsible brands and services. She encourages everyone to be their own expert by offering new perspectives, and helping them find the clarity to uncover simple solutions to daily challenges. She claims that she is not a coach, a consultant, or a concierge, but rather a strategic blend of all of these roles - working to increase efficiencies, revenue, health and happiness. As a consultant to small businesses, corporations, non-profit organizations, school groups and individuals as well as a dynamic campaign and brand ambassador and motivational speaker, her message is always clear. Every action and every dollar matters and has an impact - so we’d better take each step wisely. Together. Follow Lisa on twitter @LisaBorden.
An Affordable and Easy Way To Ease Into A Theme Park Vacation
However you may feel about theme parks, chances are if you have children you’ll start visiting them by the time you have a toddler on your hands, and if your toddler is a thrillseeker, chances are you’ll start visiting them even more often. In Toronto we’re fortunate to have the easy summer staple of Centre Island on our doorstep, but as our kids get older, our thoughts often turn to Orlando. A Disney vacation is most often at the top of many dream destination lists, but if you’re not sure your kid can handle the excitement, a great way to ease into it is Darien Lake Theme Park & Resort, in Western New York.
If you grew in Toronto, chances are you’ve heard of Darien Lake, and if you haven’t already been, you’ve probably always wanted to go. I laughed in the week leading up to our trip several times, as the big response when notified of our long-weekend plans was “Oh, I’ve ALWAYS wanted to go there!” I did too, so we finally went!
You’ll have to pack your passport, but children 15 and under just need proof of citizenship - such as an original or a photocopy of a birth certificate, or an original citizenship card. Don’t forget a few American dollars, as there’s a small toll of 90¢ shortly after you cross the Peace Bridge. The Peace Bridge is the easiest and most direct route to get to Darien Lake, but our wait time on the way over was steep. When we do it again, we’ll definitely leave earlier. Notice I said “when” … Since my three-year-old son has been asking me at least three times daily if we can go back, chances are we will.
A night in a Standard Queen Room at the Lodge On The Lake, Darien Lake’s on-site hotel, starts at $240.00 USD, and can go as high as $310 USD during peak season. The rooms are spacious, and spotless, and can easily sleep six with two Queen beds, and a pull-out couch. A limited number of cribs are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and Darien Lake does not have bedrails. The hotel is nicely laid out and well-maintained, and is a ten minute walk from all the rides and fun. Admission to the parks (Darien Lake also has a huge water park – Splash Town) is included in your hotel rate, which for a family of four adds up to really great value for visiting a theme park. Darien Lake also has campsites and campers available to rent, at an even lower cost.Arriving early on the day you check in and staying late on the day you check out means you have two full days of fun for the cost of just one day at most other amusement parks.
The theme park is on the small side by most standards, but it is very manageable with younger children. They have two sections for little ones – it was hard to tear my toddler away from Beaver Brothers Bay, that is, until he saw the new Rowdy’s Ridge section, with slightly bigger rides for the developing daredevil. There are a number of rides you can go on together as a family, but I appreciated the fact that my kids could go on most of them by themselves. The park is very clean, the rides seem to be well-maintained, and the staff was very friendly. We were there on a long weekend, and the wait times for rides were minimal to non-existent. My friends went on the American holiday weekend, and she reported the same.
Dining options are limited to your standard theme park fare, although there are some ok salad options at the Beaver Brothers cafe near the Boomerang roller coaster – and it’s pretty decent value, not to mention there’s Wine Slushies next door. A greater array of dining options are available in Batavia, about a 10 minute drive away, but the gas station in town actually has a pretty decent selection of ready-made sandwiches and sliced fruit and veggies, and their deal on pizza is pretty tough to beat. The small cafe in the lobby of the hotel serves Tim Horton’s coffee. Although your mornings don’t have to start too early as the parks don’t open until 10:30 – we really enjoyed our lazy breakfasts and morning swims at the hotel pool before our theme park fun.
This trip is a great and easy mini-break escape from Toronto, or really anywhere in Southern Ontario. Of course it doesn’t compare to Walt Disney World, but it’s a great way to test the waters to see if your kids are ready for a theme park vacation, and you can hit the outlet malls on your way back home!
Darien Lake Theme Park & Resort -Open daily from now until September 3 from 10:30am – 10:00 pm, and then weekends only until October 13, 2012
-If you’re not staying the night, tickets at the gate are available for $45.00 per adult, $30.00 for children 48” and shorter. Children two and younger are free
Corinne McDermott is the founder of http://havebabywilltravel.com – and award-winning website with a mission to inspire, motivate, and help families travel with babies, toddlers, and young children. Drop by for loads of tips and advice on traveling with baby, and connect with Corinne on Twitter and Facebook.
Last summer my husband and I chose to drive from Toronto, Ontario to Halifax, Nova Scotia, with our two daughters, then aged twelve and nineteen. It was one of the most memorable and awesome summer vacations we had ever experienced as a family. Along with being able to capture the historic beauty of Quebec, we also visited New Brunswick and PEI for the first time. After spending time with friends in Halifax, we were awe inspired by the breathtaking Green and White Mountain ranges as we drove back home through Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Never having experienced a family road trip before, I wasn’t sure how everyone would adapt to spending so many hours on the road but planning ahead really paid off and we can’t wait to do it again. If you’re planning a road trip with your family anytime soon, here’s what you might like to know:
• Consider the age and temperament of your children. Travelling as we did with two older children who are quite capable of entertaining themselves, and each other, made our trip that much more enjoyable. I don’t think it would have been quite the same if we had made the same trip when they were much younger. Although travelling overnight so that young children can sleep the hours away may make getting to your destination easier, there are cons to this. For one thing, you may feel exhausted from driving without getting a night’s sleep and the beauty of your surroundings will be lost.
• The journey is really just as important as the destination. If you plot out stops and points of interest along the way, then the final destination becomes the place that you are spending the most amount of time at, but is not that much more important than all the special stops along the way. If you journey over several days and don’t need to be somewhere in a hurry, then you’re more likely going to appreciate every place you stop at. And dont be afraid to make slight diversions along the way if something special catches your attention.
• Involve your family in the planning stage. If your children do research on the internet, for example, about special places they’d like to visit and if you integrate these stops along the way, they will feel that their needs have been equally considered. Then, the vacation truly becomes a family vacation.
• Take lots to occupy them in the car. One of the great things about car travel is that you don’t have to worry about your luggage being a couple of pounds overweight. You also don’t have to worry about other restrictions such as products that are not allowed on board an aircraft, for example. Other than the portable dvd and other electronics, how about a knapsack of creative car activities such as a paper and crayons, stickers and maybe even a small lap tray to place the material on. This knapsack can also be taken in and out of restaurants, for example, too.
• Other than material items for the kids, think about other games that require nothing more than thought and imagination. Counting the number of red, versus blue cars, for example between point A and B or playing a memory game such as “I went to the market…..”are great ways to pass time.
• Help your children know in advance how much time between stops so that they don’t ask “Are we there yet?” every half hour. Older children, who understand time and can read, can be provided with an itinerary including approximate time planned to be on the road. Children can also be helped by showing them how to read a GPS so that they can see at a glance how much time remains until they can stretch their legs or visit another place of interest.
• If you typically drive a smaller car, consider renting a mini van for the time you’re going to be away. A van allows you the luxury of extra leg space, extra luggage space and extra elbow space may even mean that the children are less likely to fight with one another – both physically and verbally.
• Place a small garbage can or hang a small garbage bag by the front passenger seat so that you can keep the interior of your car (or van) organized and clean. You’re less likely to misplace items if you have everything organized and throw out litter or items you no longer need right away. Then, when you stop to fill up with gas, for example, you can dump your garbage into a larger bin and start fresh again.
Most importantly, take lots of time planning and researching a road trip so that you know where and when you are coming and going. Treasure each stop and inhale every moment along the way. Don’t rush the trip but plan the scenic route so that so that you can experience the beauty of your surroundings. Safe travels!
Sara Dimerman has been an individual, couple and family therapist for over twenty years. She is one of North America’s most trusted parenting and relationship experts and the author of three books - ‘Am I A Normal Parent?’, ‘Character Is the Key’ and a soon to be released book for couples – ‘How can I be your Lover when I’m too Busy being your Mother?’ Visit helpmesara.com.
We have a simple new word game for you to enjoy with children on walks, in the car, around the dinner table and more. It’s all about building connections, and was originally shared with us by an enthusiastic seven-year-old girl.
Here’s how it is played …
1. Choose an order to play the game; i.e. the youngest starts, and then continue in a clockwise direction.
2. The first player says a word; i.e. cake.
3. The next player says the first word he or she thinks of when hearing that word; i.e. birthday.
4. The next player gives his or her connection to the word said by the previous player; i.e. candles.
Chain so far … Cake > Birthday > Candles …
5. The game continues in a rotation until everyone is tired of playing.
It is often fun to hear the connections that people make in this easy game that can always be ‘carried’ with you.
I recently came back from a fabulous trip with my family in Montreal. Fabulous because we enjoyed lots of quality time together given Saturday night hockey at the Bell Centre, great food, and lots of walking time, while introducing our kids to a new city within Canada. Fabulous because our time on the VIA Rail train did not only take us directly to Montreal in utter comfort, it formed a memorable part of our weekend vacation.
The train can be a wonderful experience for parents and children alike. We had the pleasure of travelling in business class and by the time we arrived at our vacation destination, I felt completely relaxed, having been pampered for the prior five hours.
I can say first-hand that the train is a wonderful option for travel in economy or business class.
1) I quickly learned that families travelling with young children enjoy priority boarding when a kind Via Rail employee pulled us out of the long line-up to board early; business class passengers are entitled to this same convenience.
2) The children immediately commented on how comfortable there seats were - like a living room, but better.
3) There are huge windows on both sides of the train, so that the moving landscape can be appreciated. There was so much to comment on during our journey, from a mill to the lake, to the changing leaves, small towns and more.
4) Baggage storage at the front of the train makes it very easy to be off to your vacation destination as soon as the train stops.
5) Free wi-fi on the train meant people were able to bring the convenience of work or the internet with you on your laptop.
6) The train station was conveniently located in downtown Montreal, steps from shopping, attractions, restaurants and hotels.
7) The Via Rail stewards were all extremely friendly and helpful.
Business Class
We were able to experience the extra advantages of business class on this trip.
1) When we arrived at the train station, we had the chance to relax in a dedicated business class lounge.
2) The seats are assigned, so that we could enjoy the peace of mind of knowing we were sitting together before we arrived at the station.
3) Our nine-year-old child kept referring to business class travel as ‘deluxe’ travel. It was her term. She said she always wants to travel this way.
4) We were all impressed with the many times the Via Rail stewards came around offering drinks and snacks, in addition to a meal (which in itself was delicious). In terms of the meal itself, we were able to place a special order to meet any dietary needs (including a kids’ meal), up to 48 hours prior to departure. The choices on the train menu were delicious-sounding and unlike most of my experiences on airplanes, tasted as good as they sounded.
5) On the way home, we were not sitting in a four-seat configuration, and the steward volunteered to turn around the seats so that we were facing each other.
I know that our children will not only be asking to return to Montreal, it will be to travel there by train.
We are fortunate to live in a beautiful country with so many diverse experiences available at our doorstep and the train to take us there. Our plan to one day travel across our great nation with Via Rail suddenly seems more realistic and exciting.
To learn more about Via Rail and their many routes, schedules and special deals, visit www.viarail.ca or find them on Facebook or Twitter.
Last month, my daughter and I were very fortunate to be guests of the San Juan Marriott in Puerto Rico. While keeping my eyes open for all the hotel had to offer babies and toddlers, my daughter and I also got to experience all that Puerto Rico offers families. It was a great little break for the both of us, and baby brother was left at home in the capable hands of Daddy.
Or so I thought.
I learned via text message that my husband decided to take our son on a mini-break of his own – a road trip to Ottawa with Grandma and Aunty! For these journeys, I got the much easier traveling companion, but we both got something that’s admittedly been lacking in our family this past year: undivided time with our children.
We believe the whole point of a family vacation is to spend time together as a family, and now that means all four of us. But our Puerto Rico/Ottawa mini-breaks gave us the opportunity to truly connect with the one in our care. Because the baby is only 15 months, he spends most of his time with me. His mini-break with Daddy (my husband calls it their mancation) gave him precious one on one time with his father, and said father got to experience firsthand how much is involved in a toddler’s full-time care (not to mention prepping for travel!)
My mother/daughter getaway was especially precious, as she hasn’t quite adapted as well as we’d hoped to becoming a big sister. In spite of our best efforts, and following all the advice in every publication, it’s clear she’s unhappy with the status quo. This break together allowed me to fall in love with my daughter all over again. Being home with the kids, I experience day in and day out the rocky road of big-sisterhood, and the break from it did us both a world of good. I missed the baby terribly, and in spite of everything, she did too.
I would never in a million years have considered taking separate family vacations, but seeing how restorative it was for all of us, I can definitely see the value. If you’re having a tough time or a rough go with one of your kids, it may well be worth it to do mini-breaks apart.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Even, it seems, for baby brothers.
A Search for Shipwrecked Ancestors, Forgotten Histories, and a Sense of Home
by Sadia Shepard1
Reviewed by Dr. Janna Nadler
It seems that there are so many memoirs/travelogues/creative autobiographies these days. How is a reader to choose? There’s no way to be sure that a particular author’s journey will strike a chord with a particular reader. So, when a story does leave an impression on its reader, as Sadia Shepard’s The Girl from Foreign has for me, I feel that one should “spread the word.”
In her book, Shepard writes about her journey to India on a Fulbright scholarship. Her project is to investigate her ancestry – in particular, to discover more about her late Nana’s history. We learn that when Shepard was thirteen years old, she discovered by chance that her Muslim Nana (and Sadia’s grandfather’s third wife) had in fact been born into a very tiny group of Jews in western India called the Bene Israel.
In an interview, Shepard explains, “I couldn’t quite fathom how my grandmother, who wore a sari and made what I thought of as Pakistani food, was in fact an Indian Jew. And I began to ask her more and more and more about her community and her origins…And this new knowledge was a revelation to me, and became a kind of catalyst in my life.” 2 And it was this revelation, this catalyst that leads her to the writing of the book.
The Girl from Foreign is a hybrid book. In addition to fictionalized characters and dialogue, Shepard includes photographs, maps, letters, and diagrams. Once might call it a creative travelogue, or memoir, or history. What I want to highlight is that the book is authentically complex. It is not a linear narrative which simply takes us from “point A” to “point B.” It is because of this that the reader needs to stay focused. The beautiful connections made between characters, images, and setting can best be recognized and appreciated by a reader who avoids long breaks between chapters.
There is a quiet beauty to this narrative. Shepard’s descriptions of the landscape – especially Mumbai (her Nana’s Bombay) – are wonderfully cluttered with distinctive sounds, smells, and images. A Bombay street in the morning “is lined with the compact parcels of sleeping men, arranged in columns along the stone walls that border the street, cocooned neatly in white cloths, like caterpillars” (133). Underpinning these descriptions of Bombay are the references to the city she’s left behind: New York in the wake of the World Trade Center attacks.
Some of Shepard’s characters offer irony and comic relief, and others offer the possibility for romance. Of all the relationships, however, Shepard’s relationship with her Nana is central. The Girl from Foreign doesn’t just convey the experience of hybrid identities and the message of positive plurality. Carried along with this message, ingrained in Shepard’s imagery and textual detail, is the depiction of a treasured relationship between a granddaughter and her Nana.
If you have experienced that special relationship with an aging parent/grandparent – if you have had the responsibility of sorting through the papers, memorabilia, furniture, clothes, and other items left behind in the wake of a loved one’s death – Shepard’s story will resonate with you.
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Dr. Janna Nadler has a B.Ed. and a Ph.D. in English Literature. She is the Director of BOOK CLUBS BY JANNA and lectures widely for book groups in the GTA. info@bookclubsbyjanna.com * www.bookclubsbyjanna.com
Geronimo Stilton is the editor of the Rodent’s Gazette in New Mouse City, and the central character in a series of books published by Scholastic. Breaking News: Geronimo Stilton is top cheese with young readers.
Children and parents are attracted to the Geronmino Stilton chapter book series because …
• Geronimo Stilton finds himself on adventures, making the stories exciting. There is also generally a humorous side to the stories.
• Geronimo is very close with his family and they often embark on adventures and travel together (including his sister Thea, his nephew Benjamin, and his cousin Trap).
• Geronimo finds the strength to face his fears and confront challenges.
• The Geronimo Stilton chapter books are filled with wonderful illustrations.
• Geronimo learns from new experiences and countries, and facts and figures are included for young readers to learn as well.
This week’s blog posts will come to you from The Boca Beach Club in Boca Raton. I am excited to share a new warm-weather vacation option for families, in the nearby sunny state of Florida.
First impressions … Wow! Even after waking up at 4 am for an 8:30 am flight, one could not help but be overwhelmed by the beauty of the ocean (which I am listening to right now from my room), the beckoning stretch of beach (which resulted in soaked pants from giggling, wading kids), and three gorgeous pools (including a zero-entry family pool).
You can get a preliminary feel for the newly renovated property at www.bocabeachclub.com, but it doesn’t even begin to capture the dazzling view and casual elegance.
I look forward to a week of fun in the sun together with you.
Geronimo Stilton