Top 5 Tips for Surviving a Long Road Trip with Kids

August 23, 2017 by

These top 5 tips for surviving a long road trip with kids will help keep you and your family sane on your next fun road trip!

This summer has been full of fun memories for our family. From days at the beach, to drives up to Disneyland and Great Wolf Lodge, to a road trip to Washington State, we’ve seen quite a bit of excitement. But being prepared for traveling with kids in the car has been something we’ve worked on. And surviving a long road trip with kids takes a bit of planning. 

Since my daughter is newly potty trained the one thing we worried about when on the road with her is that she’d have to go #2 and not be able to tell us until we were too late and she got out of the car. Also, with the long 2 day ride to Washington State, we worried about how many stops we really needed to make and how many stops were just “fun” stops.

In preparation of our trip we decided to bit of research to make sure that we had a successful journey with three kids in the back seats. Since we’ve made this trek once before with our two older kid,s we kind of had an idea about what to expect. In an effort to make our next trip successful we wrote down a few things that helped us along the way.

Top 5 Tips for Surviving a Long Road Trip with Kids

Top 5 Tips for Surviving a Long Road Trip with Kids

Here are a few ways to keep your road trip fun and successful with young children:

1. Make sure to pack a potty –

We simply placed our Joovy Loo in the back of the car. That way if we needed to stop and there wasn’t a place to do so, we could just use the back of the van. This helped us a lot when my son was working on things and just needed to sit on something other than his car seat to help him along when he was little and it worked perfectly for our daughter as well.

It also gave us peace of mind when on long stretches of road. We didn’t have to worry about not being able to find a sanitary place to stop (my husband isn’t as adventurous as I am and doesn’t approve of a 2 year old relieving themselves on the side of the road unless it’s an absolute emergency… just wait till we go camping!).

Potty Kit Necessities to Bring: 

Top 5 Tips for Surviving a Long Road Trip with Kids

2. Plan out frequent stops –

This won’t just give your child a chance to “try” to go potty but it will also give them a chance to stretch their legs and get a little energy out. By planning out where your next stop will be you might be able to quickly answer your children when they ask how long it will be until you arrive at your next stop. That’s much easier for them to handle then to say, “Oh, about 12 hours!”

You can also use pre-planned stops as points for conversation. By letting your children know what the next stop is, or giving hints to where your heading, you might be able to create a sense of excitement and adventure as you make your way through the trip.

We had fun picking out where we stopped and made sure to mix restaurants in with quick pit stops at gas stations. I also allowed the kids to pick out one “surprise” at each stop to make it more interesting to them as well. They sure did love the huge gas stations we found along the way filled with everything from fidget spinners to snacks to souvenir t-shirts. 

Pit Stop Checklist: 

  • Did everyone try to go potty? 
  • Do we need to re-load on snacks or water?
  • Did we take all of our trash out? 
  • Do we need to change clothes?

Top 5 Tips for Surviving a Long Road Trip with Kids

3. Create a fun pack filled with games and activities –

By creating a fun pack filled with new-to-you toys, activities focused on the age level of your child, and games the children can play in the car you can create distractions and, hopefully, reduce the amount of, “Are we there yet?” questions from the back seat. Surviving a long car trip with kids is no fun when they don’t have anything to do IN the car. 

Figure out some fun games you want to play with your child on the road. Consider simple ideas like finding an object of a certain color, finding a certain letter of the alphabet, or, depending on where your driving, looking out for different animals! By making the ride fun and entertaining itself, your child will be less likely to complain about being in the car and more excited.

We brought our fun activity backpack and filled it with the following:

Another great distraction for the older kids is a portable DVD player or tablet that already has their favorite games and movies downloaded. We grabbed a copy of The Lion King and Disney’s Star Wars Rebels: Season 3 (both out on Blu-ray August 29th) to keep our kids entertained on the trip. it helped to have both a movie and a tv series because we could switch from the longer movie for longer stretches of travel and the shorter episodes of Disney’s Star Wars Rebels while we went through smaller stretches or in between playing other games in the car. 

Top 5 Tips for Surviving a Long Road Trip with Kids

Pro Tip: Finding fun crafts to go along with the movies you select are also fun! Check out these awesome Lion King crafts by clicking the button below: 

Download The Lion King Signature Mask Craft

4. Find a great local attraction to visit –

Take a look at a map and find a great middle point between your home and your destination. Are there any fun, quirky activities you can stop and do in between? Maybe a museum or a historical monument. By maping out a spot or two on the way to your destination you can talk with your children about what you might see, what they would like to do, and how you will spend your time at the next spot.

You can also use these stops as teaching opportunities. By learning a bit about the spot beforehand you can tell your child about the history behind the attraction as well as why it’s such an interesting stop on your journey. Surviving a long road trip with kids takes a bit of planning when it comes to local attractions but there are sure to be some gems along your route! 

Local Attractions Do’s and Dont’s: 

  • Do – take the time to explore and learn about where you’re stopping
  • Don’t – spend all day unless already scheduled
  • Do – consider free or in-expensive pit stops that take an hour tops
  • Don’t – forget that delicious bakeries and restaurants can be considered local attractions too! 

5. Make Sure The Kids Are Safe And Comfortable

When traveling with young kids, it’s important to remember that while we want our kids to be comfortable, we also need them to be safe too. I have 3 kids in 3 different types of car seats right now. My 2 year old is in a 5 point harness, my 6 year old just transitioned out of her 5 point harness into a high back booster, and our 8 year old has now transitioned into a regular booster seat. 

To make things easier on us and allow all of these car seats to fit, we brought along the new mifold we received so that our son could easily transition from our van to my family’s car up in Washington State when we arrived. mifold is more than 10 times smaller than a regular booster seat and is just as safe. The foam padding technology provides extra comfort and stays cool, even on hot days. And since it was averaging about 80-90 degrees our whole trip, this was a huge relief for my son. 

The mifold is convenient for parents for travel and road trips but it’s also great for carpooling, taxis/ubers, etc because it can literally fit in my son’s back pack. how awesome is that? 

In addition to car seats, check out our Road Trip Safety Kit:

  • first aid – includes bandages, first aid ointment, tweezers, scissors, and an ice pack
  • every day medication – includes indigestion medicine, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and allergy medicine
  • flash light
  • jumper cables
  • roadside assistance kit
  • 1 gallon water

What are your best travel tips for surviving a long road trip with kids?

Love what you read? Find more great travel articles here: 

Pin this article for later! 

Click the Pin button on the image below to save for later.  

Top 5 Tips for Surviving a Long Road Trip with Kids

Filed Under: Parenting Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Things to Do With Toddlers at Great Wolf Lodge

June 26, 2017 by

Is Great Wolf Lodge a good place to stay when you have a toddler? Check out these things to do with toddlers at Great Wolf Lodge! 

The day after the big kids got out of school for the summer we surprised them with a fun staycation to kick off the beginning of summer. Over the 4 day getaway, we spent two days at Great Wolf Lodge Southern California. We’d never stayed at a Great Wolf Lodge and have been dying to try out the closest one to our house. So when I saw the opportunity to purchase a Groupon again (we missed the first opportunity), I jumped on it and booked a night. 

As we did a bit more research on our upcoming stay, one thing was clear: there is a TON to do for all age groups. Including toddlers. And once we got there, we found this to be 100% accurate. Not only were there fun things for the big kids, but for the small kids and adults as well. 

If you’ve planned a night at the Great Wolf Lodge, here’s what you should put on your list to do with your toddler: 

Things to Do With Toddlers at Great Wolf Lodge

1. Grab a puddle jumper or bring your own – 

While there are quite a few places your toddler can go at Great Wolf Lodge, safety is first. Make sure you either bring your own life jacket (or favorite puddle jumper) or use one that’s provided for you at the various life jacket stations. We preferred our own because sometimes they’re out of life jackets at certain times of days or locations and it’s easier to just grab our own. 

2. Park yourself somewhere close to the Cub Paw Pool – 

After enjoying an afternoon at the water park on our first day there (you can enjoy the park starting at 1pm on your check-in day even though check in is at 4pm) and exploring everything for the first time, we knew that as soon as we arrived at the water park on our full day at the park, we needed to snag a spot near our toddler’s favorite area: Cub Paw Pool. 

Now not only does this area have a zero-depth entry that makes it easier for toddlers and infants alike to explore at their own pace, it only goes to 24″ deep in the deepest area. There are age appropriate slides, water funnels, and fun splash areas that are sure to excite any little one. And parents can just relax (as much as one can when they’re in the water with kids) while their littles play around them and have fun. My husband literally sat at the bottom of a small slide as he watched our daughter go up the stairs and down the slide 100s of times as I took the other two to the “big kid” areas of the park. She seriously did not want to leave to go anywhere else once she found Cub Paw Pool. 

3. Enjoy a fun splash area that older siblings can have fun at too at Fort Mackenzie – 

While Cub Paw Pool was perfect for the toddlers and infants, if your toddler is a bit more adventurous, let them splash and explore around Fort Mackenzie. The older kids can enjoy the medium size slides while the younger kids take turns trying to shoot water at passersby or stomp around in the big puddles. But watch out! That bucket on top of Fort Mackenzie does fill with water and tips to empty every few minutes. 

You may be surprised to find that after your toddler tries out the small slides in Cub Paw Pool that they ask to try the medium sized slides over at Fort Mackenzie! Maybe. If they’re daredevil 2-year-olds like mine…

4. With life jackets on, enjoy the waves of Slap Tail Pond’s wave pool.

There are lulls in between the waves (pictured above) but once the wave machine starts going, the littles LOVE trying to jump over the waves closer to the shore as the big kids swim in deeper. This pool also has a zero-depth entry that makes it easy for all to enjoy. And your little one might surprise you by asking to be taken further into the waves. Just make sure to hold on a bit tighter as you go in deeper. 

5. Looking for some sun? Enjoy the rays (with sunscreen lathered on, of course) at Raccoon Lagoon. 

Another zero-depth entry pool that gets to about 4 feet deep, this pool has two entrances on either side that offer fun play areas for toddlers to explore. The big kids will take over the center of the pool where the basketball hoops are but that’s ok, the edge is closer to the restaurant and drinks! 

In between splashing in the water and played with the water funnels, our 2-year-old munched on a delicious corn on the cobb snack from the Grizzly Jack’s Bar and Grill. I couldn’t pull all of the kids out of here but sadly had to as our day was coming to a close. You can stay the full day on the day you check out but we were ready to dry off and head to our next adventure by then. 

6. Staying a second night? Make sure to head down for storytime. 

Some littles may be in bed by the time this starts (I believe it was 8 or 8:15pm) but both of our girls headed down with dad to check out The Forest Friends Show followed by Great Wolf Lodge bedtime stories as told by one of their Ambassadors of Fun. Don’t forget your camera because after Story Time, meeting Wiley, Violet or one of the Great Wolf Kids characters is an unforgettable memory you won’t want to miss – and a pretty cute one too! High paws are always welcome and definitely encouraged.

As you can see, there is plenty to do at Great Wolf Lodge when you have a toddler. And some things we didn’t even get a chance to do! Good thing the whole family was in agreement that we’d have to come back soon! 

A few highlights I didn’t mention above but the toddler loved: Pizza from Hungry Like a Wolf for dinner, Donuts from Dunkin Donuts for breakfast, brownies and fudge at Bear Paw Eats & Sweets, the mini carousel and candy claw at the Northern Lights Arcade, and ending our trip with a souvenir wolf from the Buckhorn Exchange Gift Shop. 

Don’t forget to book a Wolf Den room if you have more than one cub! The bunk beds were a huge hit with our kids. While one night may be great for a lot of families, we’ll be booking two nights next time we head up so we can enjoy more of the amenities offered. 

Have you been to Great Wolf Lodge? What was your favorite part? 

Filed Under: Parenting, Travel Tagged With: , , , , ,

Exploring Santa Fe With Kids: Meow Wolf

August 4, 2016 by

explore santa fe meow wolf

A few weeks ago our family set out on their first summer adventure. We hit the road in a Kia Sorrento that Kia so graciously lent us and traveled across two states to arrive at our destination – Santa Fe, New Mexico – for a few days. I was there for a conference and the family came along for the adventure. 

While there, we wanted to find fun, new things for the kids to explore so the first thing we did was spark up a conversation with a few parents we ran into and asked what they did with their kids for fun. And while we got some great suggestions for various things to do around town, the one suggestion that was the same from everyone was to visit Meow Wolf. 

Meow Wolf? What could that possibly be? Well let me tell you. If you are anywhere around Santa Fe, you NEED to check out this exhibit. It is absolutely amazing. And the perfect experience for adults and children alike. 

explore santa fe meow wolf house of eternal return

explore santa fe meow wolf house

Meow Wolf: The House Of Eternal Return Exhibit

When we first stepped inside The House Of Eternal Return exhibit at Meow Wolf all we saw was what appeared to be the yard of a large house. There was a mailbox, a porch, and we entered into the front door. Inside we walked around the house and saw the various rooms inside. Kitchen, dining room, living room downstairs, and bedrooms upstairs. 

After exploring each room downstairs, we headed up to the bedrooms. And from within the bedrooms we found our way into what appeared to be a different dimension. We walked around the exhibit allowing the kids to lead. Around every bend was another crazy, amazing room after another filled with various sites and sounds.

explore santa fe meow wolf kitchen explore santa fe meow wolf fridge opened

What was most enjoyable about Meow Wolf was the hands on feel. Our kids could explore this exhibit with every sense and really experience each new finding. We didn’t have to worry about standing back and watching, or keeping our voices quiet. Although the sites we explored did leave the kids quiet as they busily walked (and ran) around to find the next new thing. 

About Meow Wolf

With the help of George R.R. Martin, who recently purchased a vacant former bowling alley, Meow Wolf has converted the building into a multi-use Art Complex. The Meow Wolf Art Complex stands as a beacon of creativity and community in Santa Fe’s emerging Midtown Innovation District, welcoming locals and tourists alike to take part in fun, enriching art experiences, workshops, and community activities.

The building is home to the JoAnn and Bob Balzer Creative Maker Studio hosted by Make Santa Fe, The David Loughridge Learning Center inhabited by Meow Wolf’s non-profit educational outreach program Chimera, and the 20,000 square foot interactive art experience “House of Eternal Return.”

explore santa fe meow wolf statue

What Else To Do At Meow Wolf

Meow Wolf does not just house The House of Eternal Return exhibit. You can also participate hands-on in some of the artist’s projects in the Maker Studio as well as various workshops held. But make sure to check out the website before visiting so you can sign up in advance for the workshops you or your kids are most interested in. 

When we visited, after exploring the exhibit, we headed to the Learning Center where, after a small donation, the kids could paint, build, and create various pieces of artwork. They were able to meet other children and have a bit more fun before we returned to our hotel. If we had thought about it ahead of time we would have looked into the workshops they also held to sign the kids up. But that’ll be for next time…

explore santa fe meow wolf treehouse lights explore santa fe meow wolf plasma plex

If you’re in Santa Fe and haven’t been to Meow Wolf, go! 

Give yourself about 2 hours to explore (maybe a little longer if you want to spend some time in the Learning Center). Tickets are $18 for adults, $12 for children 12 and under, and $16 for seniors (cheaper for New Mexico residents). You can purchase tickets online in advance here. 

And make sure to bring your camera! 

Have you been to New Mexico with kids? What was your favorite part? 

Looking for a new family car? Check out the Kia Sorrento. Roomy, smart, and so comfortable. 

My family of 5 was able to get 3 carseats in the back (2 Britax Frontiers forward facing and 1 Diono Radian rear facing) and while it was a tight squeeze, it worked. There’s an option for a third row for larger families or those who don’t want 3 carseats across. Our favorite features? USB plug ins + 110 volt power inverter to keep all of our tech charged and ready to go, advanced smart cruise control, and superb navigation! 

Thanks again to Kia for loaning us a Kia Sorrento for our family road trip. Stay tuned for more adventure updates from our trip! 

Kia Sorrento In New Mexico

Filed Under: Travel, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , ,

Top 10 Essentials When Traveling with Dogs

September 29, 2015 by

Traveling with the family dog doesn’t have to be difficult. It’s just as easy as traveling with kids. Maybe even easier! We’re sharing our must have essentials when traveling with dogs including a few products from The Nutro™ Company as part of a sponsored series with Socialstars. #HonestToDog

Top 10 Essentials When Traveling with Dogs

I still remember the first day we brought Scout home from the pound. We had just met him the day before and as soon as I got to his cage he put his paw up as if saying hello. I played with him a bit through the fence while my husband Joseph (who was only my boyfriend at the time) went to go see if he was available. They said he was a coonhound beagle mix so we assumed we were getting a medium sized dog. But those paws. Those paws said something else! They were HUGE.

Joseph had to work that day and couldn’t get off early so I had the pleasure of heading down to pick him up after he got the snip snip. He was only 3 months old at the time and came out from behind the corner with a cone of shame around him. I didn’t even bring a collar or a leash. I was so new to this whole pet owner thing. He would be living at Joseph’s house since I lived with my dad and did not have room for another dog. But that didn’t stop me from loving on him and staying with him that first night. Staying up and sleeping on the couch to make sure he was ok and all his needs were met.

Needless to say, Scout was a very important part of my life. He was my first real big responsibility outside of chinchillas, rats, and hampsters. And he depended on me and Joseph to take care of him. We took him just about everywhere. Road trips, the beach, hiking, walks around the neighborhood, etc. Wherever we went, he went. And as we got married, added to our family – gained 3 kids, gained and lost a dog, and added many more pets after that, and as Scout got older, the trips have slowed down. But we still get out and about for a little fun. And over the years we’ve figured out the essentials when traveling with dogs.

Top 10 Essentials When Traveling with Dogs - walking the dog

Now depending on the size and personality of your dog, some of these may vary a bit. However the basics are all there! And sometimes it doesn’t matter if you’re going on a cross country trip with your pooch or simply taking a day trip to the beach. First above all, though, is to get your dog used to the car at a young(er) age. We’d take Scout on trips to the hardware store with us, to the pet store to grab food, and even to a few dog-friendly restaurants to not only get him socialized but to get him used to the car. One dog I had growing up, Simba, would get car sick every car ride and did NOT like to be in the car. I don’t think I’d attempt a long car ride with him if it could be avoided.

Top 10 Essentials When Traveling with Dogs - packing for your pooch

Top 10 Essentials When Traveling with Dogs

  1. Water – You always need to bring water with you when you’re traveling with Fido. Whether it’s a 20 minute drive to the park, a walk around the neighborhood, or a longer trip, water is essential to have with you when you have your pooch at your side.
  2. Poop Bags – Even if your dog is a once a day pooper in the same spot every day (don’t laugh… some dogs are very, er, regular) it’s good to have poop bags on hand (or even attached to their leash) at all times.
  3. Leashes – And that leads me to the next important essential, your dog’s leash. I would suggest keeping the leash attached to their collar even when in the car. It not only is convinient for getting out of the car, but should someone else need to go into your car, they can quickly secure your dog by grabbing the leash.
  4. Car Harness – Just like securing your children in a carseat, a car harness or crate is important to keep your dog safe in case of an accident or emergency. It can also act as a calm place for your dog to retreat to (the crate) if they’re feeling nervous on the trip when you reach your destination. Always keep your dog in the crate when the car is in motion OR harnessed.
  5. Towel/Bedding – if your pooch is sitting in the back seat, putting a towel down underneath them can act as some padding for them, protection for the seat, and an easy way to dry them off if you have an accident or are coming home from the beach. We’ve also found this to be an easy way to make them feel more comfortable if the car seat has an awkward angle. It also comes in handy in the back of the car as it acts like a makeshift bed.
  6. Food – Sometimes bringing food for your dog isn’t needed. But when you’re on a long road trip, or even a day trip to the beach, remembering your dog’s food is important. A food like NUTRO™ Rotations™ dog food can add a bit of variety to their diet and you can even pair it with what you’ve brought for the family to eat so your pooch can enjoy the same meal.  
  7. Food/Water Containers – Even though this is kind of a given, having a few food/water containers with you can help out in a pinch. We like the soft, collapsable containers that will fit in a purse or diaper bag. I keep one in my trunk at all times along with a small tupperware container that holds the collapsable dish, extra leash, poop bags, and a water bottle. Just in case.
  8. Toys – Not only are toys great for your destination to keep your dog happy and entertained, but a favorite toy, blanket, or chew toy can help calm your dog while you’re on your adventure. Something that reminds them of home and security. 
  9. Medications – Not all dogs are on medication however if your dog does need his daily meds, don’t forget to bring them along. I like to bring the whole bottle that includes the prescription information instead of a pill saver just in case. That way I have all of my dog’s info with me. You could also write out a list of medications to keep with you just as you would for yourself when traveling. 
  10. Treats – Keeping a little stash of treats you know your dog likes can be handy when you want to get their attention, have them respond to your commands in new situations, or simply praise them for being good on your trip.

STAINMASTER PetProtect running at the beach

This old boy has definitely left an impact on my life and I’m so happy to have his companionship. We might not be doing cross country trip anytime soon but our beach days are far from over.

Top 10 Essentials When Traveling with Dogs - Scout at 12 years old

Do you travel with your dog?

Find more great travel tips by liking The Nutro Company on Facebook or following on twitter.

®/™Trademarks of © The Nutro Company 2015

Filed Under: Life, Travel, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , ,

10 Vacation Tips With Kids

August 18, 2015 by

10 Vacation Tips with Kids

Recently I read on Facebook from a friend that vacations with kids are simply trips, not vacations. Because as a mom, or a parent, there’s no relaxing as one would expect on a vacation. And while I see where this friend is coming from, I don’t know if I buy it. Maybe that’s because the larger vacations we’ve taken with the kids usually end up being with one set of grandparents coming along as well (which I HIGHLY recommend for those who get along with their parents/in-laws). Or maybe it’s because I put myself into the vacation mentality and try to balance rest/relaxation with exploration.

I guess it all depends on the mindset of the parents, right? And the planning. As a family of 5, our next vacation is going to take a bit of planning. Luckily I’ve found some great tips for vacationing with the kids… and planning the vacations. So starting now means I’ll be ahead of the game when our next vacation gets closer, right? Because planning a vacation for a family of four seems a lot easier than planning for the five of us. And I have no idea why! 

Vacation Tips with Kids

1. 7 Tips for Surviving Family Vacations with Teens & Tweens | Shaken Together

2. Staying Sane While Traveling with Kids | Turning the Clock Back

3. Taking a Road Trip to Disney World with Kids | My Mommy World

4. 12 Tips to Traveling with Kids (Without Losing Your Mind) | That Bald Chick

5. How to Stay Happy When Traveling with Toddlers | Smarty Pants Mama

6. Baby Air Travel Essentials | Meet Kristy

7. Surviving Road Trips with Children | More Than A Mom of Three

8. How Do You Potty Train When On-The-Go? ~Sunshine and Sippy Cups

9. Your Ultimate Family Road Trip Resource Guide ~Carrie Elle

10. Tips for Traveling with Children on the Auto Train ~A TIPical Day

 

Need more help with planning your next vacation? Planning a road trip with the kids? You might find this article helpful!

Road Trip with Kids Survival Gear

Filed Under: Travel, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , ,

Exploring the Boston Museum of Science {Boston Trip Day 2}

October 18, 2013 by

exploring boston 2013 day 2

On day 2 in Boston we decided to explore the city a bit more and took advantage of our City Passes. First stop was the Boston Museum of Science where we explored the various exhibits they had on display, played in the kids Discovery Center, and watched an electrifying lightning show.

The kids absolutely loved the experience and asked to go again almost every other day we were in Boston. This is a must visit museum if you have kids. From gears to dinosaurs to bugs and more, there’s something for everyone. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Travel, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , ,

Our Search for the Perfect Lobster Roll in Maine {Boston Trip 2013 Day 1}

October 14, 2013 by

Our Search for the Perfect Lobster Roll in Maine

While in New England the one thing my mother in law and I knew we wanted to do was to find the perfect lobster roll. Now I knew  nothing of lobster rolls before but the one thing I did know is that you can probably find the best lobster roll in Maine.

So on our first full day in Boston after exploring Concord we hit the road and headed north.

To get to Maine from Massachusetts we drove a short while in New Hampshire. I didn’t notice a big difference between the scenery in Boston and the scenery in our short drive through New Hampshire but my mother in law remembers a lot more concrete vs. greenery in New Hampshire.

I’ll take her word for it! [Read more…]

Filed Under: Travel, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , ,

Exploring Concord {Boston Trip 2013 Day 1}

October 12, 2013 by

exploring new england

Ah… New England! I had never been to New England and was excited to experience it in the fall. This past week we headed out together with the kids and my mother in law to Boston. To see the colors of the leaves change before our eyes and feel that crispness in the air was absolutely amazing.

The first full day we spent in Boston was quite the experience. And half the time we weren’t even in Boston! We left early in the morning for a quick drive and a little exploration.

The plan was to see if Minuteman Park was open. But with the government shutdown we knew there’d be a chance that we weren’t going to do that. And… we were right. We were greeted with signs at every parking lot entrance letting us know what was going on. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Travel, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , ,

5 Must-Have Tools for Traveling

July 19, 2013 by

5 must have tools for traveling square

When you have the right tools for traveling a trip can be much easier. By taking the time to research what you might need and finding the perfect products for your trip you can save time, money, and hassle while on the road or in the air.

We recently took a trip to South Dakota to visit friends and found that our trip was made much easier with the help of a few essential tools. Read below to find out exactly how these five must have’s made our lives much easier! [Read more…]

Filed Under: Reviews, Travel, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , ,

Hiking with Toddlers and the @Boba Air Baby Carrier

November 13, 2012 by

One thing I’ve come to realize more and more with two children is the necessity of baby wearing. Not only does it allow me to do more activities with my kids, it also allows my family the opportunity to explore and create new memories in places that a stroller just can’t go. Including hiking with toddlers.

This Summer my family and I made the trek up to Mammoth Mountain for a mini vacation with just the 4 of us. Not only is Mammoth gorgeous this time of year, there are so many things to do out there! We took this opportunity to take the kids camping in Yosemite this time around. And while our camping trip was definitely memorable, it isn’t one I’d like to repeat any time soon.

Not only did I end up needed emergency dental work due to the altitude pushing up a crown of mine (abscess under the crown), but the mountain air was just too cold during the night for little ones.

But we did get to take advantage of some great hiking and exploring while we were in Yosemite and Mammoth! So ignore my puffy face and enjoy the gorgeous views we were able to take in. I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy all that we did without the help of our Boba Air.

Filed Under: eco-friendly, gift ideas, Travel, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,


© A Crafty Spoonful - All Rights Reserved
It is OK to use one of my photos provided a link back and/or proper credit is given. It is NOT ok to copy and paste a whole post including instructions. Please do not remove watermarks or alter images in any way. Please contact me with any questions at danielle@acraftyspoonful.com

.