FAMILY TRAVEL

       BY CLAY LARROY

There is nothing more exciting than traveling. Whether you are going for a road trip to see something new in your own state or heading off to somewhere for the very first time to visit a city you have always dreamed of, there are some travel basics that you should know. Travel in the off seasons from November to April, to avoid crowds, save money and enjoy temperate weather. In those months, many families with children cannot travel due to school commitments, making many tourist attractions much less crowded. This may also result in lower costs for airfare and hotels.  When you are ready to plan a vacation contact me!

Talk to A Cruise Travel Agent to Plan A Family Cruise Vacation
by Mary Hanna

Many people would like to take a family cruise vacation but were afraid the cruise lines would not cater to children.  Any cruise travel agent will show you that this is no longer true.  Doing some homework will enable you to find the perfect family cruise vacation.

A family cruise vacation is a great way to get away and spend time with your children.  Almost of the cruise lines offer packages that cater to families. Surf the web for the right family cruise vacation that will cater to all of your needs.  Better yet, talk to a cruise travel agent.  Make sure they are a member of CLIA (the industries organization) and have taken many cruise vacations on several cruise lines.  The cruise travel agent will be able to steer you to the cruise lines that have children's programs that are age specific, have trained youth counselors and will fulfill your desires on your family cruise vacation.

The great thing about these programs on the cruise lines is that your children will be with qualified people all day, doing all kinds of activities and you are free to do your own thing with no worries. 

A family cruise vacation takes you to many destinations without the rigors of packing and unpacking.  A cruise vacation will also alleviate the stress of airport security.  You might have to fly to your port of embarkation but after that there will be no more checking in and long security lines.

The cruise ship will take you to many ports where you get off the ship and enjoy your day on shore.  Before you leave on your family cruise vacation research the ports you will be visiting.  Plan what you want to do in each port ahead of time.  Since it is a family cruise vacation, discuss this with all your family members.  You can find out what the cruise lines offer in the way of tours on their website.  In many cases the cruise lines let you book tours online or by fax.

Here are some guidelines to help you choose the perfect family cruise vacation.

First find out if they allow kids in your children's age group.  Cruise lines may limit the amount of children in certain age groups. This applies especially at times like Easter or spring break

Do some digging to find out what kind of children's facility the cruise line has. You will want to check what the activities will be, are there play areas, and babysitting available. Find out the rules for placing your children in the childcare center.  Most times you must sign your child into the play areas and the kids will not be allowed to leave until you sign them out.

It is important to know the ratio of counselors to children. You want to know that there are adequate supervisors for your kids.  Know the qualifications of the care giver.  For instance, on the Queen Mary II they have licensed nannies.

                                              

If you will need a cot or crib find out if they are available and if there is a fee.  Sometimes these need to be reserved in advance of the family cruise vacation.  The size of the cabin should be noted.  If the cabin is too small, you will be cramped.  If you are not taking toddlers, it is best to book cabins across from each other.  You and your spouse take the outside cabin and give the one across the hall from it to your children.  This not only affords you privacy but the kids will feel "grown up" with their own cabin.

Check to see if they have a kids menu.  A lot of kids don't eat a variety of foods. If they are particularly picky it is nice to know that the cruise lines offer food for kids, like hamburgers and hot dogs. Almost all cruise lines offer hamburgers and hot dogs at lunch around the pool but what about dinner?  Find out in advance of your family cruise vacation so you know everyone will be happy. 

If anyone in your family has special needs make sure your cruise travel agent asks the ship if they will provide for them.  There may be two or three formal nights.  If you do not feel comfortable participating in them with little children, find out what kind of alternative dining the cruise line offers. Many ships have alterative dining rooms for just this purpose.  Some of the cruise lines have kid's dinners where only the children and the caregivers can attend.  If this coincides with a formal night it would be nice to know.

Some of the children's activity that are offered on cruise lines are scavenger hunts, pizza parties, disco parties for teens, arts and crafts and pool parties.  The cruise line will bend over backwards to keep your children entertained.  They want you to come back.

So call your cruise travel agent and start planning the perfect family cruise vacation. It will be one vacation that you and your kids won't forget.

Happy Cruising!

Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mary Hanna has traveled the world by Air and Ship while writing eBooks, Software Reviews and Practical Articles on Internet Marketing, Cruising, Gardening and Cooking.

 

” The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” ~ Marcel Proust

Enjoy and travel to create great family memories!

FAMILY TRAVEL

      BY CLAY LARROY

We have 35 days until Thanksgiving that wonderful time of year when families get together and celebrate all that we have to be thankful for this past year. We usually spend this day eating a fantastic meal, watching football and enjoying conversation with our family in a house. That is the fun part, the not so fun part is the shopping, preparation, serving of dinner and the clean up afterwards. Well there is another way the family can vacation. A vacation on a cruise ship is the best way to enjoy your family. On a cruise vacation no one shops, cooks or cleans up, you just enjoy each other. When you are ready to plan a cruise contact me!

Family Cruise Holidays

By Dave Kingsley

Cruise holidays are no longer just aimed at older couples looking to relax on the high seas. Cruise ships are now a perfectly acceptable holiday solution for families. Family cruises are becoming very popular whether there are younger children or even teenagers in the family.

Family cruising is great fun for all of the family. There are plenty of things to do on board with activity programmes for younger children and even teenagers. Many cruise ships have qualified child care staff so that you can relax while your children are off having fun. There is a great chance your children will meet new friends during your cruise.

Younger children are well catered for on many cruise ships. Some companies provide a wealth of entertainment including messy kids' game show style competitions, Poolside games and fun, and even lots of singing and dancing!

A great way to convince even the less convinced teenagers could be to encourage them to blog about the holiday so that the rest of your family and friends can see what a great time you are having. Blogs are free to set up and your teenager armed with a camera and bags of enthusiasm will have great fun. They will also end up with lots of great photos to show all of their friends while telling them what a great time they have had!

A great highlight for many families on cruise holidays is the destinations. The great thing with a cruise holiday is that you and your family get to see many different exciting and picturesque places. Visiting great destinations around the world with your family can be a great experience, enabling all members to share in great memories to friends and family with great tales of adventure.

Children can stay safe while on board cruise ships. Many parents might be worried about their children getting lost. Lots of cruise companies provide children with bracelets with their name and room information as well as provide any health information such as allergies. This means that no matter where they get to they are always near assistance and easily returned to their correct rooms and family members with the minimum of stress.

Family cruise holidays need not cost the earth. Many companies offer fantastic cruise deals, often offering superior class accommodation at reduced fees or free on board spend budget can be gotten in special offers.

The best bit of any family cruise holiday is as you watch the sun set over the open seas knowing that even more adventures are just a day away, while your children rest exhausted because of all of the fun they have had.

Norwegian Cruise Line offers a wide range of cruise deals including great value family cruises.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Dave_Kingsley/926909

“Take only memories, leave only footprints” ~ Chief Seattle

Live life, laugh and travel often, the more you travel, the more memories you create!

FAMILY TRAVEL

       BY CLAY LARROY

People in general consider traveling as their personal interests.  Traveling can quickly become an interest simply because it is such an enjoyable experience. When you travel around the world and you will see a variety of different cultures and people.   There are two things to remember while traveling. The first thing is to be open-minded about people and their culture. The second thing and the most important, is to respect other cultures no matter how different. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!

The Top 10 Amusement Parks in America

Copyright (c) 2010-2013 Ryan Hogan

The deciding factor in selecting the top ten amusement parks in America was the answer to the following question: is the park worth a trip across country? If the park is in Florida is it worth the trip from the West Coast? If the park is in California is it worth the journey from Boston or Baltimore? If the answer was yes, the park qualified for inclusion.

The list also favored parks associated with popular franchises (Disney, Marvel Comics, Peanuts, and Sesame Street just to name a few). While this may put off some adults (okay, most adults), kids love the characters. And after all, amusement parks are all about the kids.

1. Walt Disney World Resort
Location: Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Phone: 407-939-7675
Website: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com
Size: 25,000 acres
Rides: They don't have "rides" they have "attractions."
Operating Season: Hours vary by season.
Top Attractions: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom

Walt Disney World Resort is the largest and most-visited amusement park on the planet. There's not enough summer to see and do everything Disney World has to offer. Sure the resort is a "little" commercialized, but with 25,000 acres of high quality fun Disney World is the prime vacation spot for both the young and the young heart.

2. Universal Orlando Resort
Location: Orlando, Florida
Phone: 407-363-8000
Website: http://www.universalorlando.com
Size: 541 acres
Rides: 25+
Operating Season: Hours vary by season.
Top Attractions: Universal Studios Florida, Universal's Islands of Adventure, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Wet 'n Wild Orlando, City Walk Orlando

Universal Orlando Resort is a smorgasbord of family fun. Many of its amazing rides and attractions, including 4-D adventures and state-of-the-art roller coasters, are based on popular movies and television characters like Harry Potter, Shrek, The Simpsons, and Marvel Comics. Yet, as cool as Spider-Man and the Hulk are they can't beat the mouse and that's why Universal Orlando is number two.

3. Cedar Point
Location: Sandusky, Ohio
Phone: 419-627-2350
Website: http://www.cedarpoint.com
Size: 364 acres
Rides: 75 total, 17 roller coasters
Operating Season: May through Early November
Top Attractions: 17 roller coasters, water rides, Challenge Park, Planet Snoopy

Many amusement park enthusiasts put Cedar Point on the top of their "Best of" lists. That's because it's probably the best pure amusement park in the world. After all, its 17 roller coasters are the most of any park on the planet. Besides the coasters, visitors can get all wet at their world famous water park, Soak City, or enjoy one of their many exciting live shows. Cedar Point comes in it at number three because, well, to put it bluntly, it's in Sandusky and it doesn't have the cool franchises like Disney World and Universal Orlando.

4. Disneyland Resort
Location: Anaheim, California
Phone: 714-781-4565
Website: https://disneyland.disney.go.com
Size: 510 acres
Rides: 1 (see #1)
Operating Season: Hours vary by season.
Top Attractions: Disneyland, Disney's California Adventure, Downtown Disney

Disneyland Resort contains two amusement parks, one is the famous Disneyland, which opened in 1955, and the other is Disney's California Adventure. The two parks, together with Downtown Disney and various hotels, attract more than 20 million visitors every year. So why is this legendary resort only number four on our list? Is it because of the song "It's a Small World (After All)" incessantly repeats during the ride of the same name? Yes.

5. Busch Gardens  
Location: Williamsburg, Virginia
Phone: 800-343-7946
Website: http://www.buschgardens.com 
Size: 250 acres
Rides: 25 total, 5 roller coasters
Operating Season: March through October
Top Attractions: Roller Coasters, Sesame Street Forest of Fun, Special seasonal events

In case you didn't glean it from its title, Busch Gardens Europe has a European theme going on. It also has a small but highly rated set of roller coasters. When your stomach needs a break from the thrill rides, the park offers several relaxing but entertaining Broadway style shows. Busch Gardens is a great place to visit during the holidays.

6. Six Flags Great Adventure and Wild Safari
Location: Jackson Township, New Jersey
Phone: 732-928-1821
Website: https://www.sixflags.com/
Size: 260 acres for Great Adventure, 350 acres for Wild Safari
Rides: 46
Operating Season: March through November
Top Attractions: Roller coasters, 350-acre wildlife preserve, Looney Tunes pals

Due to its close proximity to New York and Philadelphia, Six Flags Great Adventure is one of the most popular amusement parks in the North East. Great Adventure is known for its spectacular roller coasters like Nitro, The Ride, Kingda Ka, and El Toro. Its 350-acre wildlife preserve is home to 1,200 animals and the park boosts that it's the largest "drive-thru safari" outside of Africa.

7. Canada's Wonderland
Location: Vaughan, Ontario, Canada (Greater Toronto Area)
Phone: 905-832-8131
Website: http://canadaswonderland.com
Size: 330 acres
Rides: 48 thrill rides
Operating Season: May through October
Top Attractions: Planet Snoopy, The Mighty Canadian Minebuster, Riptide, Drop Tower, Psyclone, Whitewater Bay, Hollywood's Stunt Spectacular

Canada's Wonderland is renowned for its great variety of roller coasters, probably the best assortment on the continent. In fact, if you ignore the United States, Canada's Wonderland has the most roller coasters of any amusement park in the world. This is also the most visited seasonal park in North America. Canada's Wonderland is about 30 minutes from downtown Toronto.

8. Legoland California
Location: Carlsbad, California
Phone: 760-918-LEGO
Website: http://www.legoland.com
Size: 128 acres
Rides: 50+
Operating Season: Hours vary by season.
Top Attractions: Miniland, Legoland Water Park, Dino Island, Fun Town, Pirate Shore, Imagination Zone

Everything is better when it's made out of Lego's. Amusement parks are for kids but this park's height requirements really favor vertically-challenged young ones. Legoland is laid out in nine areas each with a different theme. One of the most popular areas of the park is Miniland. In this area, artists have used Legos to construct several American landmarks to 1:20 scale.

9. SeaWorld San Diego
Location: San Diego, California
Phone: 800-25-SHAMU
Website: https://seaworld.com/san-diego/
Size: 189 acres
Rides: 8
Operating Season: Hours vary by season.
Top Attractions: Journey to Atlantis, Wilde Arctic, Lights, Camera, Imagination 4-D!, Sesame Street Bay of Play, Dolphins, Orcas

SeaWorld is a classic. Since opening in 1964, SeaWorld San Diego has delighted visitors with exhibits, rides, and of course, its wonderful marine wildlife. SeaWorld is near the bottom of our list because it lacks the thrill rides of other amusement parks and it maybe too educational for some kids. Still, SeaWorld has enough things to do and see to make it a viable vacation destination.

10. Knoebels Amusement Resort
Location: Elysburg, Pennsylvania
Phone: 800-487-4386
Website: https://www.knoebels.com/
Size: Nearly 300 acres
Rides: 55
Operating Season: April through September
Top Attractions: Twister, Flying Turns, Haunted Mansion, Grand Carousel, 3 Ponds Golf Course

Knoebels is a straight-forward, non-pretentious, kid-friendly, family-run amusement park. The park was created to entertain, not to sell merchandise-no ubiquitous cute and furry corporate mascots here. Knoebels has the best amusement park food in the country and bills itself as "America's Largest Free Admission Park." You can buy rides a la carte or via a day pass.

About The Author:

Ryan Hogan writes for ParentingFun411.com, a website that offers parents who want to have fun all kinds of useful resources such as a directory of fun parenting businesses like toy stores across America. Also read the parenting blog that offers great information for parents such as the top amusement parks in America.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all” ~ Helen Keller

Travel and create wonderful memories for your family!

FAMILY TRAVEL

       BY CLAY LARROY

We lead such busy lives working, going to school, taking children to different activities that often we do not stop and talk to our children. We usually do not have time to sit around the dinner table and ask our children what they did today. Family vacations are so important, as it gives us a way to connect with each other in a stress free relaxed environment. Families that take vacations together build memories that will last a lifetime. Family vacations and travel can be the most rewarding experience and for that reason I am posting articles about family travel.

Family Vacation On A Budget

By Anders Abadie

A family vacation is a great bonding experience for all members of the clan. In today's tight economic times, many families are on strict budgets. They may think they simply can't afford vacations but that is just not true. It's important to have time off from the daily grind of work and school in order to laugh, bond, and de-stress. Think the kids don't have stress in their lives? Think again. Academic deadlines, homework, and peer pressure can weigh on the younger set just like parents' responsibilities of work and housework. With a bit of creativity, families can have lots of fun without breaking the bank account.

Inexpensive hotels can work for road trips around the country. Basic hotel chains have everything that's absolutely necessary to house the gang while away from home. Beds, bathrooms, Internet capabilities, TVs, and climate control can be found in the most modest of hotel rooms. By toting along an ice chest, meals can be inexpensive as well. A family can travel around and see many sights for free or cheap. State and national parks have hiking, museums, and other activities for manageable fees. Souvenirs can be as simple and low cost as photographs and dried wildflowers picked along the way.

Camping is another way to have a memorable family vacation on a shoestring budget. Sure, the camping gear costs some dollars upfront but it can be purchased second hand or at thrift shops. It can also be rented if Mom, Dad, and the kids want to try out the adventure before investing in tents, sleeping bags, and lanterns. Most kids will relish the thought of sleeping outside in nature and inviting a few wild animals into their life experience. It's wise to research areas to make sure there aren't bears or mountain lions lurking in the vicinity but having a face-to-face meeting with deer, woodpeckers, and raccoons can be something the kiddos will talk about for years.

Staycation is an even cheaper way of staging a family vacation without the cost of outside lodging. How is it done? The clan blocks off a week of time that will be solely dedicated to recreation. From morning till night, visits to museums and/or park within driving distance are scheduled. Many families get so caught up in their busy lives that they never get around to visiting the local sights such as the zoo or breathtaking national park in their region. Families don't have to board planes or trains to get away from it all and have an adventure. They can stay home and staycation at the same time.

A family vacation can be the glue that holds the clan together during busier, more stressful times of the year. Planning one or two vacations a year can alleviate stress and create a more harmonious group. Getaways don't have to be expensive but they are worth their weight in gold.

There are plenty of great options to choose from when planning your new orleans family vacation. To learn more about all the great sites available, visit http://www.auduboninstitute.org.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anders_Abadie

“Not all those who wander are lost” ~ J.R.R. Tolkien

Travel and create wonderful memories for your family!

FAMILY TRAVEL

       BY CLAY LARROY

Make the most of your travel experiences. Taking a cruise is a great way to see many different places when you travel. Cruises offer many activities and things to do while on the ship, while offering you the opportunity to explore different locations each time you arrive at a port. Travel is a great opportunity to learn more things. Time spent abroad helps you understand and appreciate diverse cultures. In addition, it encourages an acceptance and tolerance of ways of life that differ from your own. When you wantto plan a vacation contact me!

All Inclusive Family Vacations

By: Robert Tellier

All Inclusive Family Vacations Are Worth a Closer Look

Our family have enjoyed all-inclusive family vacations for many years and still do so today. They are a great family vacation alternative, especially for those who have a limited holiday budget. There are many types of all-inclusive vacations to suit most everyone’s needs and budget. There are 5 star luxury resorts to modest 2- and 3-star vacation alternatives to choose from most everywhere they are available.
Booking all-inclusive family vacations can save you a big chunk of money.

If you and your family are flexible on dates, then the savings can be even more! Have you tried to cram all your travel plans into one small budget? Then you know how difficult it can be, especially if you’re traveling with a family. When you include traveling expenses, accommodation, entertainment and meals, your budget can disappear in a heartbeat!
We have always subscribed to travel agency newsletters, keeping up to date on where the best deals are for the upcoming year and what travel dates there are that may give us some extra discounts as well. Staying informed has saved us thousands of dollars over the years on our family all inclusive vacations. Whether it’s on the web or with your favorite local travel agency, getting up to date travel information is easy and costs absolutely nothing!

Save Money with All Inclusive Family Vacations

Inclusive vacations are hassle-free leaving time for you to enjoy your holidays and isn’t that why we go in the first place? Planning and booking a holiday can give you headaches! When you book all inclusive holidays, you are actually giving yourself the chance to enjoy the trip without having to worry about the nitty-gritty details. The Wikipedia website has a nice detail write up explaining everything there is to know about all inclusive holiday resorts.

One of these typical vacation packages includes airport transfers to and from your resort, full accommodation, food, beverages, planned daily activities and even entertainment. The only thing you and your family members have to worry about is how much fun you are going to have.

Some people like booking family all-inclusive holidays because their time is limited and they just want to get away quickly without the hassle of searching for flights, hotels, transfers and so on. For those wanting to just get away, hassle free, this is your ticket! Other people have to contend with last minute plans. Finding discount all-inclusive vacations can be real life savers in this instance. There are always last-minute deals for these types of holidays and the savings are huge as well!

Planning a wedding or looking for a special honeymoon deal? There are some fantastic all-inclusive holidays that are perfect for either choice. Everything can be arranged for you to fit your specific wants and needs for a wonderful wedding and/or honeymoon combined. Most resorts of this type are completely set up to handle weddings and honeymoons, all at reduced savings compared to private wedding packages and honeymoons.

Mealtime Fun with All Inclusive Family Vacations

One of the most worrisome things for tourists is where to eat. Not at these resorts! Experience wonderful buffets as well as some resort unique a la carte restaurants for your dining enjoyment. Enjoy dining, entertainment for the whole family, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and more, all included in one package price!

What more could you ask for to make your family vacation perfect! Besides all of that, with all inclusive family travel, you don’t have to worry about where to have fun because they plan everything for you.
Why not give all-inclusive family vacations a try for stress free, relaxed and affordable travel.

Happy travels!

Robert Tellier - A passion for travel and with over 35 years work experience in the Travel Industry, I now enjoy writing and sharing travel information, tips, destinations and much more, helping to make your family travel stress-free and enjoyable.  For more detailed information on safe travel and much more, be sure to visit: http://gr8traveltips.com/

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” 

~ Saint Augustine

Live, Love and Travel to create memories that will last a lifetime!

FAMILY TRAVEL

BY CLAY LARROY

Regardless of whether you are traveling to a nearby location for the weekend or taking a week-long destination vacation, you are always going to benefit from some tips and ideas on how to make the whole process, more fun and less stressful. Take time each day to alleviate stress while traveling or vacationing and you will thank yourself for it when you get back home. With all the chaos, jetlag, partying and other excitement of travel comes a whole lot of stress on your mind and body. By the time most vacations are over, another one is needed to recover so taking a few minutes each day to rejuvenate will make it easier for you to resume your normal life when it's all over. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!

Plan A Family Vacation With Teens

By Andrew Stratton

When selecting a destination for a family vacation, you may consider things such as what you want to do and what attractions are in the area. However, if you are traveling with teens who are more interested in activities where they can use their cell phones, it may not be possible to select a location that makes everyone happy. With a few helpful tips, you can improve the potential outcome of your experience. All you need to do is to plan your trip around everyone’s desires.

Include Them In The Planning

The biggest step you can take when it comes to planning such a family vacation is to include the kids in the planning process. This is something you can do with virtually any age group. The goal is to ensure that every member gets to do something that is interesting to him or her. Encourage teens to learn about the destination selected online. By looking at various tour guides, they can determine which attractions are interesting. Ask for a list of things they want to do.

Encourage Something New To Everyone

Next, encourage everyone to participate in some type of activity that is going to be new to everyone. For example, if you are going to a beach location, go snorkeling. If you are going to a wooded area for a hike, find a location with zip lining activities. It does not have to be something daring either. For example, you can select an activity that allows everyone to learn about the history of a location. It is a good idea to do this, because it ensures that everyone is doing something new together. It is a great bonding experience, too.

Putting The Phones Down

One of the biggest concerns families have is to worry about is getting kids to put down their cell phones and to engage in the trip. You may want to force this, but you may just want to find ways to get the kids interested, too. For example, you can encourage them to leave the cell behind while you go on a hike together. Throughout the hike, discuss the things going on with each other. Allow these experiences to be more than just sightseeing but also opportunities for everyone to open up to each other. Sometimes, doing one-on-one things with one child at a time can help this to happen.

While teens may be hesitant to engage in activities on trips, the right planning can help to make it possible. A family vacation that focuses on everyone involved can be well worth the experience. Of course, you will need to select a location that has interesting aspects for everyone who is involved. Look for out-of-the-way locations that interest everyone.

To plan an enjoyable new orleans la family vacation for every member of the family, visit http://www.auduboninstitute.org to arrange the trip of a lifetime.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Stratton

“In the end, kids won’t remember that fancy toy you bought them, they will remember the time you spent with them.” 

– Kevin Heath

Enjoy and travel often, the more you travel, the more memories you create!

FAMILY TRAVEL

BY CLAY LARROY

The preparation for a vacation is almost as exhilarating as the vacation itself. I love printing out the tickets and confirmations while thinking about how much fun I will have on vacation. I enjoy researching all the sights at the location I will see once I arrive at my destination. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!  Read the article below for an interesting perspective on travel.  

Tips for Traveling with a Toddler

Copyright (c) 2008-2013 April Aguren

Traveling is an exciting time for the entire family, and if you are taking a toddler along on the trip, you'll need to plan ahead with activities, snacks, and all the right tools to stay organized.

Traveling with kids is much more fun when everyone is well-prepared for the adventure; this means packing the right items, making sure there are enough activities to keep the kids busy, and keeping everyone's safety in mind. Whether you're planning a short weekend getaway or a few weeks on a family vacation, here are some simple tips for traveling with a toddler:

1. Car seats, baby carriers, strollers, and booster seats. Making sure you have a safe car seat, a stroller and booster seats available, will make it much easier to travel to different venues with your toddler. Car seats can ensure a safe drive, while your own collapsible stroller will make it simple to tour and visit different areas without having to rent equipment. Leave room in your car to pack the stroller easily, and take along a booster seat if you have some extra space. You may also want to bring a sling or baby carrier to reduce the amount of gear to pack if your child is not too heavy for you to carry. Most slings can support a child up to 35 lbs. Check with your sling's / carrier's manufacturer for details.

2. Comfortable clothing. The right outfit for the day of traveling is important, since you want your toddler to be comfortable and enjoy the experience. Light-colored clothing works best, especially if you're traveling to a warmer climate. You'll want to pack at least two outfits for the days you'll be traveling on the road or in an airplane, as your toddler may spill food and drinks on their clothes and that will require an outfit change.

3. Diaper bags and accessories. You'll need a place to store those extra diaper bags, toys, videos, snacks, and clothing, so that everything is within easy reach. If you are traveling by car or van, pick up an organizer bag that you can just hang over the car seat, or a tote-style box/organizer that you can slip into the trunk of the car.

4. Puzzles and games. Puzzles and games will keep your toddler and kids busy during those very long travel times, so make sure you're taking along a tote bag of their favorite toys, coloring books, and games. Games don't have to contain lots of pieces when you're on the road - think about simple activities such as coloring books with crayons, picture books, and activity books that will keep them occupied. You also may want to create a surprise bag of little games/treats for each hour/certain number of miles passed. This keeps them entertained and wondering what will come next.

5. DVDs and media activities. A portable DVD player, an iPod, or just a simple CD player are other activities that can keep your toddler and kids occupied on a long trip. Rent some of their favorite movies for the DVD player, or just pick up some fun books on tape for them to listen to. These activities can keep kids busy for a few hours, and are especially valuable for those extra-long trips.

6. Snacks and food. Taking along enough snacks is essential when traveling with kids, especially since you don't want to waste lots of money on food and snacks along the way. Packing your own snacks and food will also ensure that your kids can eat healthy when traveling, so think of simple and tasty snacks the whole family can enjoy. Fruit wedges, granola bars, peanut butter sandwiches, and even homemade trail mix are great foods for traveling, and can make long hours of traveling much more fun.

7. Immunizations and medical records. If you're traveling out of the country, you'll need to have your kids immunized against various diseases and conditions, but you'll also want to have everyone get a health checkup before leaving and upon your return. Make an appointment with the doctor or physician at least two to three weeks before your travel dates, so that everyone can enjoy the trip in the best of health.

8. Passports, visas, and identity cards. Make sure you have all of the paperwork and materials you will need for your travel plans well ahead of time, and pack all of these in a separate case for easy access. All of your personal records need to be in an easily accessible place in case of emergency, so be sure to make a place for these and keep them on close-at-hand during your trip.

Whether you're traveling on a long road trip or taking an airplane ride with your kids, making sure they are comfortable, safe, and enjoying the experience should be a top priority. Stay organized and plan ahead, using all of these simple strategies, so that you can deliver a fun vacation the whole family will enjoy!

About The Author:

April Aguren is the owner of Ki Connect, LLC, which operates the Child To Go website. At Child To Go, one can locate those hard-to-find products that help "parents on the go".

“Fill your life with experiences, not things. Have stories to tell, not stuff to show.”

Experience life by traveling with friends and family!

FAMILY TRAVEL

BY CLAY LARROY

The purposes of traveling are different for different people. There are some people who travel for the sake of pleasure. The people that are heavily burdened either at their domestic front or at their offices move too far off places for relieving their worries and anxieties. The poets and writers make a trip to distant places for collection of facts for their writings. Businessmen also visit various places to enquire as to whether there are scopes for expansion of their business. Travelling provides the benefit of sightseeing and gives pleasure to the visitor. In addition, it gives a scope to an individual to have firsthand knowledge of variegated people inhabiting the world. When you want to plan a vacation contact me! Look at the article below for a fascinating viewpoint on family vacation.

Family Vacation Tips and Tricks

By Andrew Stratton

Planning a family vacation without the stress and anxiety that often comes with it can be a challenge. This is particularly a problem when you are going on a trip with more than one other person. Taking the entire group along means that it's likely that each person will have an opinion or concern about the activities. Before you make the mistake of sinking a lot of money into a trip that will make no one happy, consider these options carefully.

Know Where You Are Going

Before selecting a family vacation destination, be sure to talk about the options. Ensure that everyone in the group really wants to go. Find out what each individual plans to do at that location. Set some guidelines about spending time together and ensure that no one is left out of the planning. This way, everyone is able to do something he or she wants to do. It gives everyone something to look forward to enjoying.

Give Everyone Space

Families with small children have fewer options, but for those who have young adults with them, there are steps you can take to minimize the drama. Give everyone time to get ready for each day. Ensure everyone is aware of the day's plans. You will also want to ensure that everyone gets some time to do things they want to do on their own, if it is safe to do so. It is a good idea to plan out some activities but also leave room for time in between. That way, no one is rushing from one place to the next.

Realize What's Happening

Once you get to your destination and you are seeing the attractions, you may become quickly frustrated as people begin to complain or things do not go right. Demonstrate a positive attitude. Find alternative activities and ensure that no one feels like the trip is a loss. It is a good idea to monitor the moods of everyone and to take a few minutes to address concerns as they happen. You do not want people losing their temper or having a meltdown.

Take things slow, too. Often times, younger children will need a break in the middle of the day to relax. Give that to them. Rather than rushing from one activity to the next, take things day-to-day so that you can actually enjoy yourself.

It is never easy to plan a family vacation. Sometimes, people just do not get along. However, if you take a few extra minutes to talk things out, everyone can have an enjoyable trip. From families with very young members to those traveling with grandparents, it is important to make every member an important part of the process. This can make all of the difference in the success of the trip.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Stratton

“The greatest legacy we can leave our children is happy memories.” 

– Og Mandino

Enjoy and travel often, the more you travel, the more memories you for your family create!