Family Vacation Tips For Road Trips

 Are you headed out for that last minute Summer road trip? Here are some great tips from My Scenic Drives Road Trip Planner. 



Family vacations are almost synonymous with road trips, especially with the rising cost of air travel. And while we all think of kids in the back seat asking if we're there yet, you can avoid most of this by being prepared. Being avid road-trippers here are a few tips we learned on the way:



Have an open mind and be flexible. Leave extra time for unplanned side trips and include stops just for kids! Imaginative hands-on museums, funky road-side rock and gem shops, exploring geologic wonders - especially if they can climb on them make for great breaks. Or a picnic, some Frisbee and ball-playing gives kids a chance to burn some energy.



Although you may have to be at Grandma's house by a certain date, remember the journey is part of the adventure. If you see a beautiful stream or beach – why not! Keep an extra set of clothes that don't have be dug out of the luggage at the bottom of the trunk and a plastic bag for wet stuff. Kids will love you for the spontaneity and well, you'll love yourself for planning ahead.



Audio books are fun for the whole family to listen to, and pack activity books, a deck of cards, music that your kids love and a favorite stuffed animal or two. And if they're like our kids, bring plenty of snacks. Car-friendly snacks such as trail mix, pre-sliced or washed fruit and veggies make it easy and healthy, though no road trip is truly complete without a few indulgences. Battle the boredom with classic road trip games, such as I-Spy or the Alphabet License Plate game, or Hat or No Hat, where you guess if the driver of a truck ahead is wearing one or not when you pass.



Encourage your child to keep a journal. Even if they're too young to write - drawing pictures, taping in a leaf, brochure or postcard of a special stop will create memories that last a lifetime. They can write historical facts they learned, keep track of wildlife they see and hey, they don't have to know that they're learning at the same time.



Take advantage of your kids' naptime by driving long stretches while they sleep. And offset a long day of driving with a day or two (or more depending on your schedule) of exploring one area.



Now, where to go? How to get directions? Whether you have a destination in mind or need inspiration, the myscenicdrives.com Road Trip Planner helps you create personalized and detailed itineraries for day trips, weekend getaways or cross-country adventures. You can edit, save and share trips with family and friends. When you're ready to hit the road, print out the directions or download the entire plan to your GPS. It's a snap. Now where are my sunglasses...

In-N-Out's Secret Menu

My kids are addicted to In-N-Out burger and so is my husband which means our visits to California must include multiple stops at In-N-Out to fulfill their addictions.  Over the years we have discovered a few menu items that are not advertised on their store menus - they are referred to as their secret menu items.

My kids are also technology savvy and during on one recent trip to In-N-Out my #1 son searched for secret menu options and began reading them off as we drove to our In-N-Out destination thus creating the addition of  new secret menu options to our order.

Our recent visit included Animal style frenchfries, well done french fires, grilled cheese sandwich (for the nonmeat eating mom), root beer floats as well as various options on theirburgers.

Does your family have an In-N-Out addiction?  check out the list we discovered of Secret menu options and see what new items you can add to your next order.  Click here for list.

Five Reasons why National Parks are PERFECT for family vacationstra

By: Award-winning travel writer and photographer, James Kaiser


1. Cost
America's national parks are an absolute bargain. Not only are they home to some of the most spectacular scenery in the world, visiting them costs next to nothing. A week-long pass to most parks costs $20 for an entire family, and campsites cost about $15 per day. (Or, if camping's not your thing, you can stay at a reasonably priced hotel.) Still not convinced? The most popular activities—ranger tours, hiking trails, campfire talks—are all free! Next to staying at your rich uncle's summer house, there isn't a better travel bargain in America.

2. Convenience
Most Americans live within a day's drive of a national park. From Acadia in Maine, to the Everglades in Florida, to the smorgasbord of national parks in the West, chances are there's a national park near you. And finding a nearby park has never been easier. Just go to the National Park Service's "Find A Park" webpage (www.nps.gov/findapark) to start planning your next vacation.

3. Physical Activity
Going to the gym is boring. Hiking along the rim of the Grand Canyon or next to a rainbow-filled waterfall in Yosemite is a breathtaking experience. In fact, given all the outdoor adventures available in national parks—hiking, biking, rafting, rock climbing—it's hard not to be active on vacation. And the best part: it doesn't feel like exercise, it feels like fun!

4. Education
National parks are amazing places to learn about history, science, and nature. It's one thing to hear about archaeology or biology in a classroom. It's another to actually experience those things firsthand. Visiting a desert palm oasis once inhabited by the Cahuilla tribe in Joshua Tree or gazing upon a herd of bison in Yellowstone really brings the classroom to life. And who knows? It might just provide the intellectual spark your child needs to get excited about learning.

5. Quality Time … Unplugged
National parks are a great place to ditch your technology, get in touch with nature, and spend some quality time together as a family. And the best part: you don't have to fight with your kids to turn off their iPhones. Most parks are located in remote areas with poor or spotty cell phone reception. Unplugging has never been easier!

File Folder Games

File folder games are the perfect on the go games for traveling, sitting in waiting rooms, camping or any on the go situation.  File Folder Farm has a great selection of FREE file folder games you can create for those on the go times.  Click here to get your FREE file folder games.

Add creating file folder games to your Summer Bucket List of fun and be ready for fun on the go.

Tips for a Frugal Summer Vacation

Thewarm summer months are the perfect time to get out of the house and stretchyour legs. No one wants to waste their summer vacation. Unfortunately, ifyou’re on a budget, it may seem like most summer activities are just out ofyour price range. Luckily, with a little creativity, your summer doesn’t haveto be expensive. There are tons of affordable summer activities for frugalfamilies and couples to enjoy on their summer vacation.

Eight Tips for a Frugal SummerVacation:

1.Go fishing:

While fishing does require an initial investment, it’s an activity that can beenjoyed time and time again. Once you’ve bought your poles, lures, and fishinglicense, you’ll be set for the rest of the summer. Fishing with loved ones is agreat way to unwind, bond, and even compete with one another.

2.Check out local trails:

Most towns have a few good parks. Spend some time hiking and exploring the landaround you. While exploring the trails, take the time to stop and smell theroses. Enjoy the greenery and wildlife that you don’t get to see on a regularbasis.

3.Visit the local museum:

Most museums have at least one day a week that it’s free to get in. Someaquariums and science centers also have discount days or days that they letkids in for free. See what’s available in your area and make sure to takeadvantage of any discounts.

4.Go to an art festival or gallery:

Art festivals are fun for both kids and adults. Festivals are free to visit andoffer great food, art, and entertainment. If you need a night out from thekids, take your other half to a gallery opening. For a small entry fee mostgallery openings will provide appetizers and drinks, as well as someinteresting conversation starters.

5.Create your own book club:

Create a list of books that each of your loved ones would enjoy. Get togetherand read passages, discuss your favorite parts, and really make the most ofyour new club.

6.Pick your own produce:

A lot of farms let customers pick their own strawberries and other produce. Notonly is this produce organic and reasonably priced, but you’ll be supportingyour local farmers.

7.Host a barbecue:

If you have a grill, pick up some hot dogs and hamburgers and host a barbecue.To save money, ask all of your guests to bring a dish. There’s nothing betterthan enjoying some barbecue with friends and loved ones on a warm summer night.

8.Have a craft day:

Get together with your friends and/or family and brainstorm craft ideas. Makesomething fun like homemade playdough, picture frames, or magnets. Grab somesnacks and enjoy a fun craft day.

Summeractivities don’t have to be expensive. To keep your summer packed with funactivities, make a list of entertainment venues in your area. See if your localmovie theatres, driving ranges, museums, restaurants, and bowling alleys offerdiscounts on certain days of the week. A frugal summer definitely doesn’t haveto mean a boring summer. It simply means that you’ll have to use a bit ofcreativity to make it special.

Nicole Rodgers hasbeen blogging for three years; she used a free website builder to create a blog for her sister so that her sister canshare her fun family summer activities with her friends.  She also loves finding great deals on designer eyewear so that she can stay stylish through the summer.

My 7 Favorite Things To Keep In The Car

MOM Tip: 7 of my favorite things to keep in my car.
1. Blanket
2. Water Bottles
3. Snacks
4. Wet Wipes /Hand Sanitizer
5. Flashlight
6. Plastic bags
7. Activity box for kids/ MOM Bag with book, magazines.

What is your Favorite thing to keep in your car?

Free Printable Car Games

Reading and Writing on the Roadis a little guide for you to print and keep in your glove compartmentfor those times when you are in need of some fun ideas and games that sharpen literacyskills while in the car. Thanks to Small Types for her creation of this book.  Click here to go to Small Types to download and print your very own FREE Printable car game book

Family Travel Tips

By: Susan Heid

We are in the midst of the travel season - and if you are a mom trying to travel with little ones it can be extremely stressful.  Your blood pressure can start to rise as you think of long car rides and cross country flights with your kids.

Vacations should be a time of enjoyment, relaxation and memory making – but traveling with kids is one of the biggest stressors moms face and a stressed out mom can created memories for sure – but they are not the ‘fond’ memories you want your kids to remember!

Let me share a few tips that I have gathered over the years of traveling with my kids.  Not only have I flown with little ones and survived long car rides, I have nearly 20 years under my belt as a former flight attendant and know the best bets for air travel with kids.

Attitude is everything

If you expect some drama to unfold during your trip, then your mind will already be prepared for it.  When we envision these perfect trips where everyone cooperates all the time and occupies themselves for 8 hours we are setting ourselves up for disappointment.  Expect the unexpected problems go with the flow and try to keep positive – your example will certainly frame the outcome of any situation.  When you get stressed out because your flight is delayed 2 hours or your hotel reservation cannot be found you can bet your kids will sense that and run with that, only adding to the mix.  Remember everything will work out in the end and just try to remain calm.

Baby Wipes are Your Best Friend

Never, I mean never leave home without baby wipes!  Even if your kids are well out of diapers these are invaluable when traveling!  Cleaning up spills, dabbing spots on clothing, and wiping sticky fingers they are a life saver.  Finding ones that disinfect are even better – wiping airplane armrests, toilet seats, the table in the food court or even the felt tip marker from the tray table.

Easy Access to a Change of Clothes

For younger children it is always a good idea to keep a change of clothes in easy access.  Whether traveling by air or car, pack a change of clothes for your children that can be accessed without unloading the trunk of the car or waiting for your bags to arrive at baggage claim. 

 Activity Surprise Bags 

When my kids were younger I started a tradition of making little “snack/activity” bags for each of them.  I use a gallon size zip-loc bag and find snacks, word search books, and different little toys from the dollar store.  My kids really looked forward to getting these bags the morning of our travel to place in their carry-on backpacks.  They didn’t get to open them until we were on the plane, but they loved looking through the clear zip-loc plastic and searching to see what was inside.  If you are not the type of “do it yourself mom” there is a company called TravelKiddy that actually has these types of bags already put together for you! 

 Choose toys wisely

For airplane travel do not bring:  play-dough, coloring markers, toys with lots of small parts, or your portable DVD player WITHOUT personal headphones.  Do not subject the cleaning crew to pick off ground in play-dough out of seats or subject other passengers to listen to “Toy Story 3” when they would rather sleep.  Be careful choosing toys even for car travel, the cleaning crew who would have to clean play-dough off the floor would be you.

 Music & Audio Books
Depending on the age of your children you might be surprised at how engaged they will become when listening to their own music or perhaps an audio book.  You can find inexpensive MP3 players for little ones and download fun music for them to enjoy or an audio book, or get a cassette player with headsets at Wal-Mart for $5.00!  Find cassette storybooks and you are set.   Check your local library for cassette books and audio books.. 

 Earplanes
Have a screamer with ear pain in flight?  Spend $4 and pick up a pair of these. They are hollow screw type inserts that go in the ear when you get on the plane....each pair lasts for a round trip. They keep the ear open no popping or pain.

A sturdy nightlight

Whether you are staying in a strange hotel or with a relative, the environment will be different.  To ease your children’s apprehension in a strange environment, pack a small 7 watt nightlight to shed light and ease fears.  It will even help you when you have to get up in the middle of the night.
If you have flight plans in your future make sure you check out the TSA’s site giving you tips for traveling with kids.

By planning ahead and being prepared for the unexpected you can make traveling with your kids an enjoyable experience.

What is your best tip for traveling with your kids?

Susan Heid is the mom behind The Confident Mom where she loves inspiring Christian moms to make small changes managing their home and family life giving them more time, less stress and stronger family relationships! She enthusiastically wears the hat of mom, step-mom and foster mom to 4 awesome kids – ages 18, 14, 10 and 17 months; is married to her very own prince charming, loves coffee, cloudy days, and does think the bluest skies you’ve ever seen are in Seattle. http://www.theconfidentmom.com/

How To Avoid Going Goofy At Disneyland

I just returned from a spontaneous weekend trip to Disneyland with my husband and two daughters, ages 11 months and 3 1/2 years. Most of my friends thought we were crazy and, in hindsight, we may have been!

My oldest daughter had a great time touring Disneyland and she'llalways remember meeting Mickey and Minnie Mouse. However, I learned alot from this trip and the next time we make a visit to the "happiestplace on earth," I'll spend more time planning. So to help othermothers plan a more perfect Disneyland getaway, I put together severaltips based on the lessons I learned during this experience

1. Character Dining
Make the most of your time at the park and skip the "Meet and Greet" lines for Disney characters. Waiting in the "Meet and Greet" lines doesn't always guarantee you'll meet your character of choice. Opt instead for Character Dining, where your child is guaranteed to get an up-close encounter with their favorite Character. You'll find these opportunities at:

• Disneyland Park - Plaza Inn Disney California Adventure - Ariel's Disney Princess Celebration
• Disneyland Hotel - Goofy's Kitchen
• Grand Californian - Storytellers Breakfast
• Paradise Pier Hotel - PCH Grill Breakfast

2. Best Time To Go
Crowds are overwhelming during school holidays and three-day weekends. The summer months are extremely busy as well, but the park is open longer and most of the rides and attractions are operating. Try Sundays, when the park is usually less busy.
January and February weekdays are the least busy times, but the park is open fewer hours.

3. Fast Pass and Rider Swap Tips
Every Disneyland ticket comes with the opportunity to receive Fast Passesfor specified rides. A Fast Pass will give you a return-time window soyou can skip the standby line and head to the front. If used correctly,Fast Passes allow you to maximize your time at the park. Usage iscomplex, however, so make sure you know all the rules before buying apass.

4. Cheap Tickets
Discounts on Disneyland tickets are hard to find. If you purchaseyour tickets online in advance, you can save a couple dollars throughtravel sites like Priceline, Expedia, Orbitz and Disneyland.com.

5. Discount Disney Gift Cards
Before your trip to Disneyland, buy discount Disney gift cards on GiftCardGranny.com and save up to 10 percent at Disneyland's ticket counters, stores, restaurants and food stands.

6. Time to Ride
People tend to head to the right side first when entering the park, so go to the left side of the park in the morning. The rides with height restrictions had smaller lines first thing in the morning during our visit. Another good time to ride is during parades and firework shows, but be aware that some will close. You also might check with your hotel to see if they offer extended Disney hours.

7. Strollers
Tie a brightly colored ribbon to the stroller so you can locate it more easily. You'll also want to write your name on a piece of tape and hide somewhere on the stroller for identification in case of theft.
Dont lock strollers to anything or leave them in one spot for an extended period, as cast members will remove them.

8. Baby Care Centers
The Baby Care Centers at Disneyland are located at the end of Main Street. At Disney California Adventure, you'll find it next to the Mission Tortilla Factory in the Pacific Wharf. The centers include rocking chairs, nursing rooms, filtered water for formula, changing tables, etc. There's also a kiosk that sells diaper-changing kits and such basic baby-care items as food and formula.

9. Save on Food
Even though there are plenty of food kiosks at Disney, you'll findmost food is overpriced. Instead, pack food in a cooler and store it ina locker. If you're traveling from out of town, there's a Target lessthan a mile away from Disneyland where you can stock up on supplies. Besure your hotel has a mini fridge, if you plan on storing cold fooditems during your stay.
If you're traveling with older children, buy a discounted gift card for them to use in place of cash when they're touring the park on their own.

10. Save on Pictures
Park photographers will give you a Photo Pass so you can view your pictures online and pay between $10 and $30 for prints. Instead, use the Photo Pass to view your photos, then download a screenshot.
To read the full story "How To Avoid Going Goofy At Disneyland"please visithttp://www.freeshipping.org/blog/how-to-avoid-going-goofy-at-disneyland/.
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Maisie Knowles is the founder of BestBabyStuff.com,a website reviewing only the best baby products, and co-founder ofFreeShipping.org. She earned a B.A. in Communications from theUniversity of Colorado in 2003 and currently spends most of her time athome with her two young girls while continuing to be involved inbusiness operations for Kinoli Inc. in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Tips for Family Travel

By Trisha

Iremember the days flying with my five kids, packing and checking sevenover-stuffed suitcases, portable cribs, strollers and then walking ontothe plane with a minimum of seven carry-on items, several backpacks anda diaper bag. Today, with all of the new regulations and changes, wehave become a smart packing flying family.

If you see my familyat the airport these days you would notice each of my children pullingtheir own carry-on suitcase filled with everything they need for afamily vacation, along with a backpack– no more over-stuffed checkedbaggage.

This mom has learned a few tips and tricks when itcomes to packing a family of seven for one, two or three week vacationsall in carry-on suitcases.

Click here to read Trisha's packing tips over  at SC Johnson

Be sure to leave me  a comment over at SC Johnson

*Each week Trisha Blogs on SC Johnson Family Economics website as a paid writer be sure to read her weekly articles.