Tag: ideas

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50 State Series

Family travel in Virginia

My son in Jamestown VA aboard the Godspeed, with the Susan Constant in the background (photo by Sheila Scarborough)Every Tuesday (this week we’re a day late – sorry!) until we run out of states, I plan to post about family-friendly travel ideas, attractions and events in each one of the US states, taking input mostly from Twitter and Facebook.

We’re going in alphabetical order but started with the end, so our first state for the series was Wyoming, then we investigated Wisconsin , West Virginia , Washington and now we’re moving on to….Virginia!

These guys are HOPPIN’ online  —  you can find their state tourism organization on Twitter at @VisitVirginia plus @VATourismPR, and here is the Virginia travel and tourism Facebook page.

Their state parks folks are on Twitter at @VAStateParks. There is also a Virginia tourism YouTube channel, the Virginia Flickr pool and a whole site for Virginia Green Travel.

When I asked for ideas, here’s what came in….

Twitter Travel Tips for Virginia

From Dwight Silverman via @dsilverman on Twitter  —  [Virginia Beach’s] Capt. George’s Seafood Buffet is good for kids. Huge amounts of good food; my sister calls it “Capt. Gorge”. She lives in VA Beach.

From Nancy Schretter via @KidTravel on Twitter  — Virginia’s my home state. Two of my favorite VA parks for families are Lake Anna and Smith Mountain Lake. They’re fabulous!

From Jenna Schnuer via @JennaSchnuer on Twitter  — Here’s one of my favorites – and definitely a great family travel spot. Link is to my WorldHum piece about [the Clinch Mountain’s Carter Family Fold dance hall, with old-time country and bluegrass music]  The Most Joyous Place in the World.

From @jayne52 on Twitter  — My favorite place: Arlington National Cemetery, so moving, & historical Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Kennedy gravesite esp. at holidays.

From Char Polanosky via @charpolanosky on Twitter  — Williamsburg, Busch Gardens, Great Wolf Lodge, Water Country USA make for a great family vacation in VA.

Continue reading “Family travel in Virginia”
Categories
50 State Series

Family travel in West Virginia

west-virginia-play-train-courtesy-aydingrace-at-flickr-ccEvery Tuesday until we run out of states, I plan to post about family-friendly travel ideas, attractions and events in each one of the US states, taking input mostly from Twitter and Facebook.

We’re going in alphabetical order but starting with the end, so our first state for the series was Wyoming, then we investigated Wisconsin and now we’re moving on to….West Virginia!

The state tourism office isn’t on Twitter or Facebook yet (so you West Virginia folks might want to give ‘em a nudge!)  Since their new state slogan is “Open for Business” (a branding move, basically) they should consider reaching out to possible visitors, plus their own residents, with social networking tools.

Hey, even small town and rural people are definitely on Twitter.

When I asked for input, here’s what came in (no one responded on Facebook….)

Twitter Travel Tips for West Virginia

From the Elk Horn Inn (here’s their personal blog) via @ElkHornInn on Twitter  —  ATVing in southern WV; trout fishing in Elkhorn Creek; Oct. Sky Fest (in honor of the October Sky book and movie – the author was from here) in Coalwood, Pipestem Tram, trainspotting, Gary Bowling’s for music…(note from Sheila – here’s a touching video about Gary’s by West Virginia-based writer/editor/singer Douglas Imbrogno – I love discoveries!)

From Chris Bailey via @Chris_Bailey on Twitter  —  Near and dear to my heart..Stonewall Jackson Heritage Arts and Crafts Jubilee (Labor Day weekend) 2 miles from my boyhood house..must visit New River Gorge.

From Monica Benoit Beatty via @MonicaBB on Twitter  — Berkeley Springs WV fun place to swim for kids. Geo Washington’s bathtub‘s there. He was a small dude if he fit in it! (note from Sheila – when we chatted in person this past week, Monica also mentioned the Martinsburg Roundhouse Center, a B&O Railroad attraction.)

From @mechteach via Twitter  —  Canaan Valley/Blackwater Falls nice in summer/winter, many activities, lots of VRBO/HomeAway rental houses around too.

From Carla via @redyelllow on Twitter  —  Did you already get [whitewater] rafting on the Gauley or New Rivers? (got it!)

From Peggy via @PeggyCoonley on Twitter  —    W.Virginia annual Scottish Festival & Celtic Gathering https://www.scots-westvirginia.org

Finally, from the BootsnAll Travel Network  —  booking West Virginia campgrounds and a first-hand report on whitewater rafting.

Thanks so much for the contributions – the next state in the series is Washington.

Send your highlights to @SheilaS on Twitter or my Facebook page (tell me you’re a 50 state-er if you want to friend me.)

Yes, I know how to search for family travel ideas on a destination or attraction Web site, but a tweet or Facebook recommendation is a much more engaging and public way to spread the word.

My purpose for this series is not only to highlight worthy kid-friendly vacation destinations in all 50 states, but by using Twitter and Facebook to also encourage tourism organizations to learn more about connecting with their visitors using social media and online networks.

Please add your own West Virginia suggestions in the comments below, if we’ve missed anything. Thanks!

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50 State Series USA

Family travel in New Hampshire

Fun in a pumpkin at New Hampshire's Story Land (courtesy mriggen at Flickr CC)Every week or so until we run out of states, I’ll be posting about family-friendly vacation ideas, attractions and events in each one of the US states, taking input mostly from Twitter and Facebook.

Yes, I know how to search for travel ideas on a destination or attraction Web site, but a tweet or a Facebook Wall recommendation is a much more engaging and public way to spread the word.

Please don’t email suggestions to me; that’s nice but it is one-to-one communication. Tweet me and/or Facebook me, so that all of our networks can see what’s cool about your state.

We’re going in alphabetical order but started with the end, so our first state for the series was Wyoming, then we investigated Wisconsin, West Virginia,  Washington,  Virginia,  Vermont,  Utah, Texas,  Tennessee,  South Dakota,  South Carolina,  Rhode Island,  Pennsylvania,  Oregon, Oklahoma,  Ohio, North Dakota,  North Carolina, New York, New Mexico, New Jersey and now we’re moving on to….New Hampshire!

This state is rocking the social Web; they reached out to me to offer ideas and also helped by spreading the word on their networks that I was asking for input. Can I get a “Hell Yeah!” for the Live Free or Die folks?

New Hampshire state tourism is on Twitter, with E.J. tweeting at @VisitNH.  They are on Facebook (here is the New Hampshire Facebook Fan Page) and there’s a New Hampshire Flickr photo-sharing page, too.

When I asked for NH ideas, here’s what came in….

Twitter Travel Tips for New Hampshire

***  From Ski New Hampshire info via @MoeSnowNH on Twitter – I’m the spokes-snowball for winter in NH! January is Learn a Snow Sport month & there are 39 ski resorts for the whole family!

***  From Kayt Sukel via @TravelSavvyKayt on Twitter – Loved, loved, loved the Children’s Museum in Dover, NH. It was a lot of fun! And exploring Portsmouth is great, too.

*** From Tracy Lee Carroll via @StarrGazr on Twitter:   The Amoskeag Fishways in Manchester. Beaver Brook for snowshoeing, hiking, nature study in Hollis. Shaker Village and the NH Children’s museum in Dover. Winter time is great for skiing in New Hampshire! Check out @Crotched_Mtn! Also, check out @NHPT and https://nhphototour.com.

***  From EJ Powers via @ejpowers on Twitter – We love going to Jenness State Beach in Rye NH!  One of the many great @nhstateparks – https://www.nhstateparks.com/jenness.html.

***  From Jim Storer via @jimstorer on Twitter – Great rainy day activity in the Lakes Region of NH is The Rock Barn in Plymouth for indoor rock climbing.  Another good take in the Lakes Region is a hike up Rattlesnake in Holderness (ok for the little ones and the view is incredible.)  And because 3 is the magic number, my third recommendation in Lakes Region is Camp in Meredith for dinner. Nice for adults and kid-friendly.

***  From The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire via @kidmuseumnh on Twitter – The Children’s Museum of NH features unique hands-on exhibits made by local artisans. Waterfront park location is great for ages 1-12. We also have a Family Mardi Gras event on 14 February with live Cajun music, masks, beads, parade, etc.

***  From New Hampshire Tourism via @VisitNH on Twitter – From historical sites to museums & nature centers to train rides, NH has hundreds of family friendly attractions for you to enjoy. Here is the link to our Family Attractions site on visitnh.gov.   Each month we offer benefits to our Facebook fans. Families can get ski/stay/spa discounts this month in the Sunapee area.   Mt Washington Resort offers family-friend packages and special offers thru the winter incl a zip & ski package with a canopy tour and skiing.

***  From CC Chapman via @cc_chapman on Twitter – Franconia Notch with a stop at The Basin is the top place that comes to mind, also the Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl game and parade.

***  From Sarah Vela via @orchid8 on Twitter – Brown’s Seabrook Lobster Pound on Rte 286 in Seabrook. Old favorite of mine. Bonus view of the nuclear power plant! 😉

***  From Michelle Riggen-Ransom via @mriggen on Twitter – re: NH – STORYLAND!  Loved this place as a kid, still cool as a mom.  Here are my pix from there from last summer [on Flickr.]

***  From Granite State Ambassador Judi Window via @judiwindow on Twitter – I am a 50 State-er. In #NH we have a “Twisitor Center” – @askNH – to help guests find what they need when visiting.

***  From Katie York via @ShoGrrl2 on Twitter – My favorite family-friendly activity in NH is hitting up @CanobieLakePark (in the warmer months)! 😀

***  From Jacqueline Tourville via @jtourville on Twitter – I write a local family travel column for Parenting #NH magazine (print & online.)  We spotlight a NH town each month (here’s Bretton Woods.)

***  From the Rumbletree Marketing folks via @Rumbletree on Twitter – The @AtkinsonResort in Atkinson, NH has a delicious Sunday brunch for the whole family.

***  From the Currier Museum via @CurrierMuseum on Twitter – the Currier Museum in Manchester NH offers many family friendly programs. See more at:  https://www.currier.org/familyprograms.aspx

***  From Jeremy Milani via @jmilani on Twitter – Not so much a tip as a local resource, but have you seen Southern New Hampshire Parents online?

***  From Montagne Communications via @MontagneCom on Twitter – Getting to NH is super-convenient and hassle-free thanks to the Manchester Airport at @flymanchester!

***  From Laura Hurley via @lkhboston on Twitter  – NH’s great outdoors, 8 kid-friendly fall hike picks in the White Mountains, from Appalachian Mountain Club.

Facebook Travel Tips for New Hampshire

***  From Kara Skruck Williams on Facebook  —  Oh, where to begin with my childhood state….

1. Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves in the White Mountains, where you can try to squeeze through the “Lemon Squeezer” cave (not for the claustrophobic – though little kids have no problem!)
2. Weirs Beach in Lakes Region for a honky-tonk (so my mother calls it) boardwalk scene w/ arcades and bumper cars.
3. StoryLand in Glen, for amusement-park rides that keep kids about ages eight and under happy (one section of park w/ nursery rhyme attractions dates back 50 years.)
4. Canobie Lake Park in Windham (another theme park) reaches older kids w/ more thrill rides….

A ride on the M/S Mt. Washington on Lake Winnipesaukee and/or Scenic Winnipesaukee Railroad ride is good for kids, too!

***  From Wendy Wagner on Facebook  —  The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord is small, especially compared to the Smithsonian Air/Space Museum, but we found it to be delightful! We loved the Polar Caves (very similar to Boulder Caves?)  We went to Polly’s Pancake Parlor in Sugar Hill before we went to the Polar Caves.  The hike to the Zealand Falls Hut is about 3 miles in the summer, and it’s do-able for kids, though our 5 year flagged a little at the end. The great part is the falls, which have a flat rocky area that the kids can play in;  perfect for the midpoint of a summer hike!

We stayed at the Profile Deluxe in Twin Mountain, and I can’t say enough about the proprietors. Nice people. The motel is basic and comfortable, and it has a great pool. My kids always ask to go back!

Storyland was a big hit, but Kara covered it already. 🙂

***  From Andrea Schulle on Facebook  —  Has anybody mentioned the Mt. Washington hotel and the cogway there?

***  From Peter Davison on Facebook – Hey Sheila, Alrighty, looking a bit more north of Concord ..not any particular event but you have to include Wolfboro, NH and surrounding area re: Lake Winnipesaukee. Lots of good stuff!!

***  From Gary Arndt on Facebook – The home, studio and gardens of sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens at https://www.nps.gov/saga/index.htm.

Thanks so much for the contributions, everyone!

The BootsnAll Travel Network has a New Hampshire Travel Guide as well.

The next state in the series is Nevada.

Send your Nevada highlights to @SheilaS on Twitter or write them on my Facebook Wall (please tell me you’re a 50 state-er if you want to friend me.)

My purpose for this series is not only to highlight worthy kid-friendly vacation destinations in all 50 states, but by using Twitter and Facebook I want to also encourage tourism organizations to learn more about connecting with their visitors using social media and online networks.

Please add your own New Hampshire suggestions in the comments below, if we’ve missed anything. Thanks!

Categories
USA

Best family fun vacation ideas for Colorado, Part Two

(This is a guest post by tourism expert, Mom and all-around great gal Sarah Page. Part One of  her kids in Colorado series is here.)

Estes Park/Rocky Mountain National Park

If you love the mountains, then Rocky Mountain National Park is the place for you.  I’ve traveled a fair amount, and this is still one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen.  The majesty of the place just makes everything right in the world.  I can’t promise it will affect you the same way, but I can promise you there is something very special about this place.

The town of Estes Park is the gateway to the park.  It’s changed quite a bit since I was there 20+ years ago, but it’s still a great little place to visit.

The main drag, Elkhorn Avenue, is full of little shops and restaurants.  Most are pretty tourist-y, but there are some gems as well.  Estes Park is also home to the Stanley Hotel, which was Stephen King’s inspiration for The Shining.  Not exactly a kid-friendly place, but definitely worth a look.  In addition to the park, there are some local attractions that are lots of fun.  We didn’t have time for all of them, but we did enjoy these very much….

Horseback Riding

Since our kids were a little too young for rafting or kayaking trips, we decided to go on a family horseback riding trip.

In the Colorado Rocky Mountains, the Page family on horseback (courtesy Sarah Page)

There are literally a gazillion stables to choose from, and you probably can’t go wrong.  We chose Cowpoke Corner Corral based on a cousin’s recommendation, and were not disappointed.

I don’t know if they always do this, but our group consisted of only our family of four and the guide.  She took us up into the mountains, so this was no ordinary trail ride.  We even stopped for a photo with the Continental Divide in the background.

It was a beautiful and fun way to spend two hours.

Tips:

  • Our two-hour ride cost us about $50 bucks per person.
  • They try their best to match the person to the horse.  Our kids’ horses were smaller and gentler than ours were.

The Tram

Estes Park Aerial Tramway

The tram in Estes Park has been a family owned and operated business since Colorado - feeding chipmunks at Estes Park Aerial Tramway (courtesy Sarah Page)1955.  The Heron family knows how to do it right.  The views of Estes Park and the surrounding mountains are spectacular from the top, and the trip up and down are pretty cool too.

But if you have kids (and even if you don’t), the views aren’t the best part.

The best thing about the tram is the chipmunks.  Okay, so the chipmunks are sort of tame, and it’s not the most authentic experience.  But when a chipmunk takes a peanut from your child’s hand, you won’t care about authenticity.  It’s the cutest thing you’ve ever seen.

Tips:

  • Adults are $10, kids are $5, and the little ones under age 5 are free.
  • Just do it.  Buy each kid a bag of peanuts in the shell.  It’s hours of fun watching them find the chipmunks, and watching the chipmunks take the peanuts from their hands.
  • Bring your camera!

Yay, hiking!

Hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park

Since this was our first hike with the kids, we wanted to take it fairly easy.  Turns out my husband and I were the ones who needed the breaks to rest and Colorado - hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park (courtesy Sarah Page)catch our breath.  The kids were fine and not even winded at all!  We ended up hiking somewhere between 4 -5 miles and climbed 745 feet in elevation to around 10,000 feet.

We stuck to the trails near and around Bear Lake.  These are fairly popular trails, so you’ll see lots of people, but they aren’t overcrowded.  All said, we hiked up to four lakes that day – Bear, Nymph, Dream, and Emerald Lakes.

Each of the lakes was spectacular in their own way, though I think Dream Lake might have been the family favorite.

To quote my son, “I know why they call it Dream Lake.  Because it’s just so beautiful, Mommy.”  I had to choke back tears on that one.

Tips:

  • Leave no trace.  You pack it in, you pack it out.
  • Take lots of water and some light snacks if you plan to hike up to Emerald Lake and back.  You’ll be gone a few hours.
  • In the summer, it rains most every afternoon.  Bring a windbreaker.
  • It’s pretty cool in the park anyway – even at mid-day.  But if/when it rains, the temperature drops dramatically.  We got caught in the rain wearing shorts and t-shirts.  Let me tell you, temps in the low 50s, rain, and shorts are not a good combination.
  • It will cost you a mere $20 per car, which lasts for 7 consecutive days.  You can’t find a better value.

So despite being back in the Texas heat, we’ve gone hiking twice since our vacation.  We invested in some nice camelbacks from REI in Round Rock, and are hitting some of the trails in the area.

I’m already busy planning our next national park vacation.  Yosemite anyone?

Check out all of our vacation photos in our Colorado set on Flickr.

(Thanks very much for telling us about your family’s Colorado favorites, Sarah!)

Categories
USA

Best family fun vacation ideas for Colorado, Part One

(This is a guest post by tourism expert, Mom and all-around great gal Sarah Page. She rocks communications for the Colorado River Trail and is the sort of friend who responds cheerfully to my “Hey, write guest post for me?” right after her relaxing vacation.  Part Two of this series will post on Wednesday, September 1.)

Our Rocky Mountain High, Family-Style

My love for Colorado began well over 20 years ago in high school and college, and on vacations with my cousin and her family several times during the 1980s.  My cousin Robin worked at the YMCA of the Rockies for a couple of summers, so we spent lots of time up in Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park.  That area (and the whole state of Colorado really) quickly became one of my favorite places.

So when we began talking about where to go on our family vacation this summer, the decision was a no-brainer for me.  My husband had only been to Colorado on ski trips and the kids had never been at all.  It didn’t take much convincing, actually.

To get to do things outside?  In the summer?  During the day?!  Tell me where to sign up!  If you’ve ever spent time in Texas in the summer heat, you’ll understand.

Being back in Colorado with my family was just as good – if not better – than the time I spent there in college.  The best part was watching my kids (ages 8 and 6) discover what I’d known all along.

With that in mind, here are some of the highlights of our favorite kid-friendly places to visit and things to do from our trip.  These are the places we enjoyed the most, and where our kids had the most fun.

Colorado Springs

Pike’s Peak and the Pike’s Peak Cog Railway

The best way to see Pike’s Peak is a trip up the mountain on the Cog Railway.  Someone else drives, so both parents are able to enjoy the view.  The tour guides do a great job pointing out interesting things to see and telling funny stories.

Pike's Peak, Colorado (courtesy Sarah Page)

While we didn’t see any wildlife, they say it’s not unusual to see elk, bighorn sheep, and marmots at the upper elevations.  Marmots?!

Once at the 14,115 foot summit, the views are breathtaking; so gorgeous in fact that the song “America the Beautiful” was inspired by the views.  The elevation is breathtaking too; we all felt some effects of the high altitude, but they went away quickly as we made the descent.

On top there are decks and other platforms to help you get the best views.  Visitors can walk around, do a little climbing, visit the café and gift shop, and take lots and lots of pictures before it’s time to head back down.

Tips:

  • The ride up is 1 ½ hours and there are NO bathrooms on the train, so make a potty stop before boarding.
  • To help combat the effects of the altitude, bring and drink lots of water.  Keep your empties and refill them from the fountain in the gift shop.  The water is delicious!  Please refer to the tip above.
  • Plan for at least a half day.  It’s a 3 ½ hour round trip, plus you’ll probably want to add in a breakfast and/or lunch.
  • Manitou Springs, the place where you board the train, is a cute and funky little town.  There are lots of fun shops and eateries, and most are family-friendly.  There are also lots of equally cool and funky lodging options.
  • Make your reservations a couple of weeks in advance.  This is a very popular attraction that tends to fill up quickly.  Adults are $33, kids are $18, and children 2 and under are free.

Garden of the Gods

Garden of the Gods, Colorado, conquered! (courtesy Sarah Page)This free park is definitely worth a stop, even if all you do is drive through and marvel at the views.

If  you have the time, stop and take in the sights up close on some of the many walking and hiking trails throughout the park.  In the park you’ll see sandstone rock formations, many of which are over 300 feet tall.

The hiking trails are beginner level, so they’re great for young children.

Our 6-year-old son discovered a new-found love for hiking and climbing during our visit.  He’s now a self-proclaimed expert hiker!

Tips:

  • It’s always a good idea to have water along with you on a hike.  Even though it’s fairly cool in Colorado in the summer, the dry air makes you thirsty quickly.
  • Most of the trails are a mile in length or shorter – great for hiking with kids.
  • You can even tour Garden of the Gods on a Segway!  Call the park to make sure your kids are old enough.
  • The Visitor and Nature Center is worth a stop.  It has lots of great hands-on exhibits on the geology and cultural history of Colorado.  The gift shop is also quite nice.

Celestial Seasonings Tour

I know, I know.  A tea factory doesn’t sound like anything your kids would want to see.  Trust me.  They will.  Before the tour starts, you (and your kids) can sample tea to your heart’s content.  A teabag is your ticket to begin the tour, which starts with a short video about the company’s history and mission.  Then it’s on to the tour!

This is one of the only factory tours I know of where you actually get to walk on the production floor.  In most cases, you’re just a few short feet away from the machinery or the people doing their jobs.  You get an up-close and personal look at how the tea is produced and packaged.

The coolest part of the tour, though, has to be the mint room.  If you have a stuffy nose, you’ll be breathing clear by the time you leave!

Tips:

  • Since you’re on the production floor, a hairnet is required at all times.  Men with beards must wear “beardnets” too.  My husband sure did look cute!
  • Due to the close proximity of the machinery, make sure the kids keep their hands and fingers to themselves.
  • No photography is allowed on the tour.
  • You’ll want to bring along some extra cash.  The gift shop is amazing!

Denver

Hammond’s Candies Tour

There should be no arguments from the back seat about stopping for this tour.  Our two kiddos were practically out of the car before we had it in Park!

Hammond's Candies in Denver, Colorado (courtesy Sarah Page)

Hammond’s has been around since 1920; it’s probably best known for its candy canes, but they also make chocolates, toffees, taffy, and lollipops too.

And they do it the old-fashioned way.  I mean really old-fashioned.  When they use machinery, it’s equipment they’ve had since the ‘30s and ‘40s.  Most of the time, the candy is made and cut by hand.  Even though you can’t go on the production floor, the huge plate glass windows make it possible to see everything very well.

The various work stations are well signed and often have large mirrors to help you see the detail work.  You won’t be able to resist the candy store at the end of the tour.

It’s no use – your mouth is already watering before you even get there.

Tips:

  • The Hammond’s Candies building is right off IH-25 and is pretty easy to get to.  It’s in a fairly industrial and warehouse-y part of town, which could be off-putting to some.  But don’t worry, it’s safe.
  • This will take much longer than you expect.  The video and tour last about 45 minutes, but you’ll spend at least that long trying to get your kids out of the candy store!
  • Take all the pictures you want!
  • The tour is free, but sadly, the candy store is not.

Check back on Wednesday, September 1 for Part Two, covering the fun in Estes Park/Rocky Mountain National Park. Horses are involved! 🙂

(Guest poster Sarah Page also blogs about technology, social media and tourism at Tourism Tech, where she tells the real story behind my startup project, Tourism Currents.)

Categories
Florida Photos USA

Photo of the Week: Florida flamingo gathering at Homosassa

Flamingo section of Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Florida (photo by Sheila Scarborough)

This is the flamingo area at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park in Citrus County, Florida (south of Tampa.)

It’s a wonderful place for the kids to see West Indian manatees year-round.

Nope, no oil spill problems there as of this writing, so check it out!

Categories
Hawaii USA

For Oahu and Maui travel tips, say Aloha to local bloggers

@ParkRat at Waiola Shave Ice, Honolulu, HawaiiFor tips and insights into Hawaii with keiki (kids) you can look at the visitor’s website for Hawaii, but also consider some kamaaina local bloggers who live right there in the islands with their families.

We met many of them during the So Much More Hawaii bloggers tour, when they served as our hosts and guides.

**  Oahu – we spent a memorable day in and around Honolulu with Russ the ParkRat, who writes ParkRat’s Playground. He took us to eat chilly delights at Waiola Shave Ice, we all toured the USS ARIZONA Memorial and we spent the evening at the beach crabbing with him and his kids by flashlight.

He also spends a lot of time thinking about food (a man after my own heart) so he and I both like Melissa and her Urban Mix Plate blog. So ono! Liza, author of A Maui Blog, and my son

**  Maui – Liza authors A Maui Blog, and she and her family were fantastic hosts.

They took us all around the island, including a drive up the Haleakala volcano (ooh, silverswords) a scrumptuous meal at the Paia Fish Market (where my picky son actually ate seafood,) a delightful afternoon at the Maui Ocean Center and then some boogie-boarding and bodysurfing at the neighborhood beach.

You can also read Nathan Kam’s Kam Family Blog, Homespun Honolulu and watch videos on Beach Walks with Rox.

For more local flavor, turn to Alltop’s list of Hawaii blogs.

Categories
Europe

Don’t miss the Carpet of Flowers in Brussels

Carpet of Flowers at the Grand Place, Brussels, Belgium (courtesy Yabby at Flickr CC)It only happens every other August.

It’s happening in August 2010.

It fills the center of the magnificent Grand Place with the most gorgeous, colorful carpet of painstakingly arranged real flowers.

You can read more about it on the Brussels flower carpet website.

There are fun things for kids to do in Brussels….plus everyone gets to eat lots of frites, mussels, chocolate and naturally there is great Belgian beer for the adults.

You should go!

Categories
Europe

Top 10 Ways for Families to Save on Travel in Europe

(This is a guest post by UK-based reader Ben Doyle of HouseTrip.com, about all sorts of ways to save on your family vacation to Europe. Thanks so much for contributing, Ben!)

Top Ten Ways for Families to Save in Europe

1. Where and when to go is obviously the first part of your planning. Central and Eastern Europe are typically cheaper than the West (think Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia and the Baltic countries.) The UK, France, Italy and Spain are certainly more expensive, although with the decline of the pound and Euro against the dollar, they are still affordable. You can also save money by avoiding high season – city trips are just as good in winter, but without the crowds, prices are much more favorable. Spring and Fall are a good compromise.

Platform 9 and 3 quarters of Harry Potter fame, Kings Crossing, London (photo by Sheila Scarborough)
Platform 9 and 3 quarters of Harry Potter fame, Kings Crossing, London (photo by Sheila Scarborough)

2. Shop around for flights. Before you can save money in Europe, you’ve got to get there – and it’s not cheap. There are occasionally excellent deals, such as these incredibly cheap flights from New York/Newark to London. Otherwise use a meta-search such as Kayak or Skyscanner to get an idea of the carriers to investigate. If your dates are flexible, you can then go to the individual airline websites for a closer look – certain dates are normally cheaper than others, and it can be hard to find this information from meta-searches.

3. Investigate your travel options within Europe. Budget airlines such as EasyJet and Ryanair offer extremely cheap flights, but it’s still worth booking ahead. Rail pass information is available on www.raileurope.com, or take a look at destination tourist sites such as www.visitlondon.com for information about local transport. London’s excellent Underground tube network offers cheaper tickets if you buy an Oyster Card, while day travelcards are normally available for unlimited daily travel.

4. Resist the temptation to move around too much. Focus on one city, region or country in depth instead of travelling large distances. You can easily base yourself in one place and take day trips – by doing this you will save on transport fees as well as the difficulty of long travel times with young children.

5. Look at budget hotel chains first if you want to stay in a hotel. Brands such as Ibis, Travelodge, EasyHotel and Etap offer simple, no-frills rooms for a fair price, and you can often find good deals if you book ahead. It’s worth enquiring whether the hotel can squeeze in an extra bed, as turning a double into a triple or a triple into a quad will invariably be cheaper than having to take another room. Hostels in Europe can also be a good alternative, with far more options than just dorm rooms. Many hostels offer private rooms that are ideally suited for families, and staying in a hostel also gives you the option of self-catering.

6. Consider a vacation rental. Holiday apartments, as they are often known in Europe, are widely available in both cities and countryside locations, and normally offer far more space than a hotel or hostel for a similar (or cheaper) price. They often represent better value than other forms of accommodation, especially for longer stays, and also allow you to spread out and experience life as a local, rather than a visitor. There are many good sites offering holiday apartment stays.

7. Try camping if you want to go rural. Campsites in Europe, especially France and Spain, are normally well maintained and offer a range of excellent facilities. For exploring the countryside, they can be an excellent alternative. Alan Rogers guides are the market leader and a lot of free information is available online at www.alanrogers.com. If sleeping in a tent isn’t your thing but you would like to explore the countryside, farm stays are an interesting alternative and offer a great cultural experience for your children (and you!)  If you’re considering going rural, it is also worth investigating car rental, to make it easier to transport your belongings – although remember that gasoline in Europe is much more expensive than in the US.

8. Start with free activities. Europe offers many free attractions and activities that will be enjoyable for all the family. Try www.FreeToDoEurope.net for ideas. After that, always investigate the possibility of family tickets for museums, attractions, tours and public transport. Local tourist offices normally offer good advice.

9. Eat out less and make lunch your big meal of the day if you’re eating out. Many restaurants offer excellent lunch deals, but try to stay away from tourist spots. Places that are full of tourists don’t offer the best eating experience or the best price. Menus translated into English are often another sign to look elsewhere. Instead, take a guidebook (look out for one with translations of food) and follow the locals to places that are slightly off the beaten track. And be careful not to overtip. Tips are often included and Europeans only tend to tip 10%, anyway. Ask fellow diners if you’re not sure.

10. Eat in, even if you don’t cook! If you’re staying in a hostel or holiday apartment, or if you’re camping, you can save a lot of money by preparing your own meals. Local shops and markets are a great cultural experience for all the family. But even if you’re staying in a hotel, you can still grab food for lunch, and you don’t have to go to much effort: locally produced breads, cheeses, meats and salad make a great meal. You may even find a delicious local wine to enjoy once the kids have gone to bed. Just don’t forget a corkscrew!

Ben Doyle is a British travel enthusiast and entrepreneur. He is one of the founders of www.HouseTrip.com, an online marketplace for European holiday apartments. He currently blogs at blog.housetrip.com.

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Tips

Listen up! iPod and audio travel guides and tours

An iPod toddler (courtesy GoonSquadSarah at Flickr CC)Are your kids like mine – often with some sort of headphone or earbud plugged into their aural sockets?  Take advantage of that tendency by looking for available iPod/audio guides and tours when you travel.  Kids can keep looking plugged-in and “cool” but may actually learn something on your trip.

As a parent, of course, your job is to never seem too “Squeeee!” happy when they occasionally admit that something is informative or educational.

Where do you find these tours?

First, if you use iPods, do a search in the iTunes store; Apple recognizes the value of their audio tour podcasts although the iTunes Search function is not particularly good.

There are many well-established general travel podcasts (think of them as little radio shows) from Indie Travel Podcast (latest topics as of this writing include Christchurch, New Zealand and Tasmania) the Amateur Traveler (latest episodes are about the Republic of Georgia, London and Easter Island) Frommers.com and Rick Steves who covers Europe.  An iTunes search for Disney informational podcasts returns a bunch of options too; just make sure they’re fairly recent since things can change quickly at the parks.

You can also find location-specific offerings on iTunes like LAWithKids for Los Angeles and audio/video podcast offerings from VisitLondon.com.

Some companies focus specifically on audio offerings – AudioSnacks, for example, has a big section for audio tours, and the company SoundWalk has some very unique walking tours that place special emphasis on New York City, although they do have a few other cities as well. The media company ARTineraries has professionally-produced tours of mostly Italian historic sites.  LearnOutLoud has a kid’s audio section, too.

The UK’s Guardian, always a good source of worldwide travel information, has a small selection of free audio tours called Sounds of the City (Athens, Rome, Nice, Marseille, Valencia and Granada) plus an eclectic collection of very personalized audio travel guides, featuring people like musician Franz Ferdinand taking you on a tour of his hometown of Glasgow.

Some travel guide companies also produce audio – I like the DK (Dorling-Kindersley) Eyewitness guides for their clean layout and liberal use of photos and graphics, so I was pleased to find that they also have a few DK Travel podcasts.

Finding these things is a classic Google search problem, but I’ve had best results when I query search engines about tours for a specific location.  As I always advise, start with the tourism board/Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (CVB) for the place you’re going to visit.  For example, the Chicago Office of Tourism has free downloadable guides including Chicago for Kids and a blues tour narrated by Buddy Guy.  Even smaller towns may have them; Astoria and Warrenton, Oregon have audio tours guided by locals and sponsored by the local Chamber of Commerce.

Don’t forget that most museums have had audio tours for a long time, including big places like Chicago’s Field Museum and New York’s Museum of Modern Art, plus smaller ones like the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, which has tours in English and Spanish.

Let us know in the comments if you have any favorites!