Month: April 2009

Categories
Europe

Photo of the Week: Queen’s Day in the Netherlands

Queen's Day (Koninginnedag) village parade, Schinveld, the Netherlands (photo by Sheila Scarborough)Go, Orange!

Today (April 30) is Queen’s Day.

This photo was taken of a local village parade that passed in front of our house in Schinveld, the Netherlands, to celebrate Queen’s Day (or Koninginnedag.)

It’s sort of the Dutch version of the US 4th of July, and celebrates the birthday of the Queen.

It also provides an excellent excuse to wear orange clothes, wave orange balloons and haul out the orange body paint.

The adult partying is another matter, but children certainly enjoy the holiday as well.

Categories
Texas USA

Classic kid movies in classic theaters – yay!

Enthralled movie watcher at Atlanta's Fox Theatre (courtesy hoyasmeg at Flickr CC)There is great excitement in our household – the schedule was released yesterday for the annual Summer Film Series at our downtown Paramount Theater in Austin.

Everyone wants to see Mary Poppins on the big screen, especially our favorite number set on the rooftops of London, “Step in Time.”

Sainted Husband and I are wondering if our 9-year-old son is ready for getting through Casablanca without his teen sister (and us) smacking and shushing him too much. I’m going to try to explain Free and Occupied France during World War II and show him a map of Morocco ahead of time, so the story makes sense.

I want to see From Here To Eternity on the big screen; maybe a date night?

And that’s just on the first weekend of the series, in mid-May. Bliss!

In June, we’ve got to go back for Fiddler on the Roof, perhaps the Streisand weepie The Way We Were (get my teen surreptitiously bawling, I’ll bet) plus Singin’ in the Rain, the hilarious Some Like it Hot….the Paramount even brings in live musicians to accompany some of the silent movies, and they sometimes show old cartoons before the movie instead of obnoxious multiplex-like ads.

We’re considering simply moving in, pitching tents and ordering pizza delivered to the lobby.

My Dad, a native Austin-ite, still talks about the first movie he saw at the Paramount, when it was called the Majestic; “It was Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man in 1943. Scared the hell out of me!”

The Executive Director of the Paramount, Ken Stein (who writes the fun blog Off-Stage with Ken Stein) freely admits that the Summer Film Series is not so much a money-maker as it is a way to keep the theater active during slow summer days, and to bring people into the Paramount who may have never considered going. Once patrons see the gorgeous interior and enjoy their experience (without a big entry price, either) they often come back for the more expensive concerts and performances at other times of the year.

Does your town, or one nearby, have a classic theater like the Paramount, or maybe the beautiful Art Deco Fox Theater that I just visited in downtown Hutchinson, Kansas?  See if they have any classic summer movies, and take your family to see them as they were meant to be seen, on a truly large screen in a lovely theater.

If they don’t, well, try to convince the owner/manager that such events help to draw people into sometimes-struggling downtown areas that are working on redevelopment.

When you travel, even to small towns, poke around ahead of time to see if there’s a classic downtown theater that has something going on while you’re there.

A few positive movie experiences can make lifelong classic theater fans out of your children.

Now, pardon me while I go see what’s playing in steamy-hot July and August…

Categories
USA Video Posts

Hey kids, be a Human Gyroscope at the Kansas Cosmosphere

cosmosphere-apollo-training-moduleThere are a variety of “space camp” operations around the US, all promising to offer kids a chance to experience astronaut training, preparation and space exploration concepts.

While it may seem that your family would have to travel to NASA facilities in Houston or Florida for such an opportunity, in reality one of the most established programs is in Hutchinson, Kansas at the Cosmosphere and Space Center.

It’s the Future Astronaut Training Program, one of many camps and hands-on programs offered at “the Cos” (including a 5-day residential camp for grandparents and their grandkids.)

To check it out, your kids might like to investigate the Cos online. They have a UStream video show – What’s Up at the Cos? – and they’re on Facebook and Twitter (President and CEO Chris Orwoll is @CosmosphereCEO and educator Joel – seen briefly strapping me in below in the video – is @CosED.)

During my recent blogger’s familiarization tour around the city, I had an opportunity to get ahead of the kids and climb into one of the training devices myself.

It looks like a gyroscope, but the formal name is Multi-Axis Trainer.

You can hear me hollering as my body goes in multi-axis directions. Don’t worry….I threatened to hurl coffee and coffeecake, but you’re safe in viewing it.

If you can’t see the video embed box, here is the URL directly to the video on my YouTube channel.

(Update June 2009 – I’ve decided that my Hutch posts warrant an additional disclosure line since some readers might not understand the term “blogger fam tour.” The Cosmosphere and Hutchinson CVB paid for my lodging and expenses while I was in Hutchinson. They did not tell me what I could or could not write about. I paid my own airfare to/from Kansas.)

Categories
Blog Tips

Success in travel writing and blogging

Many folks ask me how to get started as a travel writer and blogger, so it was a pleasure to participate in two recent email interviews that can partly answer that question.

***  On the Netherlands-based blog The Happy Hotelier, I answered 10 Questions for Sheila Scarborough of Family Travel Logue, including how I got started as a writer, my top 3 destination experiences and why I don’t really care about hotels. Thanks, Guido!

***   On Working Your Way Around the World (based on the soon-to-be-published book of the same name, about how to be a digital nomad) you’ll find Interview with a Travel Writer: Sheila Scarborough where I discuss the differences between writing for print and writing for the Web, how I find new ideas and what I want to do next.  Thanks, Thursday!

Please drop by each of these excellent blogs and tell Guido and Thursday hello….

Categories
Philosophy Product Reviews Tips

Why security concerns prevent me from using TripIt

burglar-alarm-courtesy-takomabibelot-on-flickr-ccI’ve registered on the TripIt travel plan sharing site, but I haven’t posted any of my own travel plans.

I’m pretty comfortable with online transparency across social media networks, but this one gives me the creepies. Here’s why….

Way back when I was a kid, I read a book by a convicted thief entitled “Are You Safe From Burglars?”

I wouldn’t say it made me hyper-concerned about burglars stealing from my home, but since then I’ve always been rather careful about preparing my house before a trip so that it doesn’t look empty and inviting to thieves.

Deadbolt locks, lights on timers, suspending newspaper deliveries, yard service keeping things mowed. You know, the usual.

My concern with TripIt, and any other time that I broadcast my travel plans too specifically on Twitter, Facebook, blogs etc. is that some smart person out there will say, “Sounds like a great time to go hit THAT house, since now I know that she won’t be in it.”

Of course, just because I’m gone doesn’t mean that some of my family isn’t still there, but why tempt Fate?

Yes, yes, I know that my plans on TripIt are only supposed to go to people I’ve allowed into my network, but does anyone really think that any online privacy or security set-up is that airtight?

Me, either.

It’s the nature of the digital beast. Assume no privacy, be reasonably cautious (and back up your data.)

Some might find it strange that I don’t worry at all about arranging get-togethers via Twitter with people I’ve never met in person (“tweet-ups”) and I don’t worry about the Booger Man showing up at such events and clocking me over the head, but I do worry about giving too much information to the Burglar Man/Woman.

Everyone has their personal firewall when it comes to Web disclosure, and I guess TripIt is mine.

Your thoughts?  The comments section below is wide open for you….

Categories
USA

Announcing the family travel 50 state series

50-states-map-mural-courtesy-maryatexitzero-at-flickr-ccEven though travel prices (in many cases) are plunging and there are cheap ticket deals to be had, from Minnesota to Las Vegas to  Borneo and Singapore, I think a lot of folks in the US are looking close to home for summer vacation ideas.

Enter the 50 State Family Travel Series.

Starting Tuesday, April 14 and running every Tuesday after that until we run out of states, I’m going to profile great places and events for kids in all 50 of the United States.

As a social media maven, my primary information sources will be Twitter and Facebook (with a little Alltop thrown in) plus my own experiences.

I’ll start with Wyoming on April 14….if I’m gonna go alphabetically, I want to give some love to the ones at the back of the letter line.

On Twitter I’m @SheilaS and here is my Facebook profile (let me know you’re a 50 State Series contributor) so if you want to provide input, please keep an eye out for when your state is coming up.

Don’t forget about family-friendly festivals and events, not just places, and include some off-the-beaten path goodies, too!

Categories
Asia

My top tips for travel with kids to Tokyo, Japan

Ema wooden prayer cards at Meiji Shrine, Harajuku, Tokyo (photo by Sheila Scarborough)Through a couple of referrals by mutual friends on Twitter (here’s my Twitter stream) I got a question from Mzinga executive and social media business strategist Jim Storer about taking his family to Japan later this year.

After pulling together an email for Jim, with links to most of my Japan-related writings across this blog, the Perceptive Travel Blog and some other publications, I thought, why not put the same consolidated information in a helpful blog post?

I lived in Japan for awhile while serving with the Navy near Fukuoka, on Kyushu, and returned a couple of years back when my daughter was a preteen, staying for about a month and a half near Tokyo.

Japan is not an “easy” destination for families  —  that’s not to scare you off,  but so you’ll know that standing around feeling like a complete idiot (and usually a lost idiot who can’t determine north from south) is TOTALLY normal for a visitor to Japan. It’s worth it, though.

I always advocate pushing out of the coddled tourist bubble and striking out on your own, but it’s harder to do that with kids in tow. Mix it up – do the “weird stuff” (occasionally feeling like an idiot) and then allow occasional forays into McDonald’s or Starbucks for some feeling of familiarity. Your brain will need it more frequently than you’d think, especially with kids.

I don’t care what anyone tells you, English is not widely spoken, but it really doesn’t matter all that much. Do a lot of bowing and hand gestures; the Japanese will generally go out of their way to help.

Let me tell you, travel around Europe after that was (comparatively) a piece of cake.

My writings on Japan:

***  Here’s an article I wrote about taking a preteen to Tokyo, for the San Antonio Express-News:  Navigating Tokyo with a ‘tween.

***  One of my first posts – an itinerary for Asakusa to Odaiba in Tokyo. It can fill one whole day.

***  They’re everywhere and they’re awesome – one of the main things I miss about Japan – vending machines!

***  You need to know how to use a squat toilet.

***  If you plan to rent a car in Japan, stand by to blow up your brain by driving on the left.

***  Here’s my guest post on Away.com’s family travel blog about climbing Mt. Fuji:  Trip of a lifetime – climbing Fuji with a preteen.

***  Great side trip from Tokyo: Yokohama (try to see the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum.)

***  Another good Tokyo side trip: the beaches at Zushi and Kamakura (see the giant Buddha, or Daibutsu, at Kamakura – here’s a Taylor family post about it, and an excellent description of the area by travelers Susan and Lars.)

***  Fun souvenir: Japanese children’s chopsticks and bento boxes.

***  More great souvenirs: Kappabashi Dori where you can buy plastic food.

***  Don’t miss the summer fireworks and local matsuri (festivals.) Check the Tokyo tourist Web site event calendar for matsuri dates and locations, but you may also stumble across one going on in the streets so be ready to get swept up in the fun! One of my favorite blogs about Japan, AMPONTAN, has a whole category about Japanese festivals; most posts are titled Matsuri-da!

Guidebooks – I wore out my copy of TimeOut Tokyo and I’m a long-time fan of Frommer’s guides for good overviews. Dorling Kindersley Eyewitness Guides are pretty good but are rather heavy. I’d get one good guidebook for Japan overall and then a small one for the city where you’ll spend the most time.

Maps. You’ll want maps. The guidebooks have ’em and they always boot up and don’t need WiFi.

When you arrive, look for copies of Metropolis and TimeOut Tokyo magazines, for the latest info in English (Metropolis Visitor’s Guide online, and TimeOut Tokyo online.)

For good blogs and news sites about Japan, take a look at Alltop, an “online magazine rack,” and their topic page on Japan.

Another good book is CultureShock! Japan: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette.

Here’s the BootsnAll Travel Network portal page for Japan.

Did I miss anything about taking kids to Japan, especially Tokyo? Tell us about it in the comments….

Categories
Latin America

Tips for family travel to Peru and Machu Picchu

Shashi and his family take in Machu Picchu in Peru (photo courtesy Shashi Bellamkonda)(This is a guest post by Shashi Bellamkonda, a long-time geeky friend of mine who loves to travel.

He and his family (including a teen daughter, 15, and a 3-year-old son) went to the ancient city of Machu Picchu in Peru, and he has some advice for any other parents planning a trip to this place of a lifetime.

He is the Social Media Swami (yes, that’s his title!) at Network Solutions, is on Twitter as @ShashiB and blogs at Happenings, Advice and Other Technology Thoughts.)

There are some things in life that form part of your “bucket list” and when you achieve them, you feel gratified. For me, visiting Machu Picchu in Peru was like a childhood dream come true. Growing up in India, I found that studying the Inca Civilization was exciting. I can still almost hear my middle school teacher’s excited voice as he talked about the magnificent beauty of Machu Picchu.

I planned this trip spontaneously, with the help of online travel forums, websites and blogs such as this.

TACA airlines from Washington DC to Lima was economical and also was one of the best international airlines I have flown. We booked our trip using Kuoda Tours based in Cusco.  Kuoda took care of all the arrangements, including airport transfers (Sheila’s note – BootsnAll has small-group Peru tours as well.)

shashi-b-wife-and-son-at-macchu-picchuOne of our concerns was Cusco’s high altitude (elevation: 3,310 meters.) I must say, except for the fact that you have to breathe heavily, there was no problem for us with two kids. Even though Cusco is the highest point, Machu Picchu is itself at a lower altitude.

You can reach the ruins by train from Cusco, train from Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley or hiking in from Ollantaytambo.

We chose to travel by car (provided by Kuoda) to the sacred valley, stay for a day and then go by train to Aguas Calientes which is the train station for Machu Picchu. If you go by bus, catch an early one from Aguas Calientes as Machu Picchu can get crowded towards the afternoon. Remember to take your swim trunks because Aguas Calientes has a sulphur spring that you should visit.

No photograph will do justice to the sight of Machu Picchu itself.

Top things to remember on this trip:

***  Don’t carry too much luggage for the trip from Cusco to Machu Picchu. The train only lets you carry hand baggage. Just take what you need that day and leave the excess in your hotel.

*** Since Cusco is at a high altitude, do not attempt too many activities in one day, especially the first few days.

*** All stores carry good quality diapers (some even better than ones available in the US.) Drink only bottled water. Food is very good in Peru; I would suggest eating only hot food.

shashi-b-and-family2-vertical-macchu-picchu*** Currency : I used Globalnet ATMs;  they charged me Soles 7 for ATM fees (US$2.1) I wish I had used it one time instead of three times.  Max withdrawal is Soles 400.

*** Packing:  Doing laundry is cheap, so we could have reduced our luggage by half. Laundry costs about $5 per kilo and is done in 4 hours.

*** Taxis : The station wagons with a checkered design on the sides and a number on the top are the best/safest and charge about Soles 3 within the downtown area.  Downtown Cusco is safe, but our guide advised us not to venture too much out of the downtown area.

*** For the parents – Beer!  Cusqueña seems to have a monopoly as it is from Cusco (and was very good.) Got to try Brahma and Pilsen but could not find a restaurant that served Cristal.

My teenager loved the food in Peru, and seeing the culture and the history.  My toddler liked the train ride a lot, and we all enjoyed walking the narrow cobbled streets of Cusco.

In a few hotels there were no TVs so that helped us bond as a family. Coco tea was another favorite for all of us but the toddler.

(Sheila’s note – thanks for sharing, Shashi!  Here is a post about a Mom’s solo travel to Peru from one of my reader’s blogs, Heather on her Travels, and an excellent article about trekking to Machu Picchu, published in the Boston Globe and written by my Perceptive Travel editor, Tim Leffel.)