Family vacations are supposed to be about making memories. Somewhere between comparing hotel reviews, figuring out flight schedules, researching kid-friendly activities, and wondering if you remembered everyone’s favorite snacks, that dream vacation can start to feel more like a full-time project than a relaxing escape.

Let’s be honest. Vacation planning isn’t always fun. It often means dozens of browser tabs open at once, group texts asking, “Does this hotel look okay?” and at least one family member suggesting, “Maybe we should just stay home this year.”

The good news is that planning an unforgettable family vacation doesn’t have to fall entirely on your shoulders.

More parents are discovering the benefits of working with a travel advisor who handles the research, planning, and countless little details that can quickly become overwhelming. Instead of spending hours comparing destinations, reading hundreds of reviews, and trying to coordinate every reservation, families can focus on the exciting part: making memories together.

One travel agency helping families do exactly that isYou Pack, We Plan.

With a name that perfectly sums up its mission, You Pack, We Plan specializes in taking the stress out of vacation planning. Rather than offering one-size-fits-all trips, the agency creates personalized travel experiences built around each family’s interests, budget, and travel goals. Whether you’re dreaming of relaxing on a beautiful beach, setting sail on a family cruise, exploring a new city, or visiting a favorite theme park, every itinerary is thoughtfully customized to fit your family’s unique style.

One of the biggest advantages of working with a travel advisor is having someone who has already done the homework for you.

Instead of spending your evenings trying to figure out which resort is actually kid-friendly or whether a destination is worth the price, you have an experienced professional who understands family travel and can recommend options based on firsthand knowledge and expertise. That guidance can save hours of research while helping you avoid common travel headaches before your trip even begins.

The little details often make the biggest difference.

Maybe it’s choosing flights that work better around nap schedules. Maybe it’s finding a resort with an incredible kids’ club so parents can enjoy a quiet dinner together. Maybe it’s booking connecting rooms, arranging airport transportation, or recommending hidden family attractions that don’t always appear in online searches. Those thoughtful touches can transform a good vacation into one your family will remember for years.

Another benefit parents appreciate is having someone to turn to if plans unexpectedly change.

Travel doesn’t always go exactly as expected. Flights get delayed, weather happens, and sometimes schedules shift without warning. Having a travel advisor means you aren’t navigating those surprises alone. Instead of spending valuable vacation time waiting on hold with customer service, you have someone helping you find solutions so you can get back to enjoying your trip.

Perhaps the greatest gift of all is peace of mind.

When someone else is managing the logistics, parents are free to focus on what really matters. Watching your kids experience something new for the first time. Sharing laughs over dinner after a day of exploring. Collecting photos, stories, and memories that will be talked about long after everyone returns home.

And let’s be realistic. Someone will probably still forget to pack something.

It might be sunscreen. It might be a favorite stuffed animal. It might even be your phone charger. But those little moments become much easier to laugh about when everything else has already been carefully planned.

Family vacations shouldn’t leave you feeling exhausted before you even leave the driveway. Sometimes the best way to create a stress-free getaway is simply letting an expert handle the planning while you focus on the fun.

If your family is dreaming about its next adventure, it may be time to pack your bags and let someone else handle the details.

Learn more and start planning your next family vacation today:

You Pack, We Plan

The post The Secret to Stress-Free Family Vacations Starts Before You Leave Home appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

It usually happens after a birthday or holiday.

The gifts are opened. The excitement is high… for about a day. Maybe two.

And then everything quietly blends into the background.

The toys get mixed in with everything else. The novelty wears off. Life moves on.

But then something else happens.

You mention a trip you took.

And suddenly, your child remembers everything.

The hotel. The pool. The random snack they loved. The weird little moment you barely thought twice about.

That is when it clicks.

It was never really about the stuff.

The Shift More Parents Are Making

There is a quiet shift happening in how families are approaching childhood.

Less focus on things.

More focus on experiences.

Not in a pressure-filled, “we need to do more” kind of way.

Just a more intentional one.

Because experiences don’t get tucked away in a closet or outgrown in a season.

They stay.

They show up later in conversations, in confidence, in the way kids approach new situations.

It’s Not About Big Trips (This Is Where Most People Get It Wrong)

When people hear “experience-based childhood,” they often picture big vacations and expensive destinations.

But that is not what this is about.

Some of the most meaningful experiences are simple:

• A weekend road trip

• Exploring a nearby town you have never visited

• Letting your child help plan a day out

• Trying something new together, even if it is small

Sometimes, it is just about making the day feel different.

Even something like mapping out a drive using a tool like Roadtrippers can turn a basic outing into an adventure, with unexpected stops and little moments you would have otherwise missed.

It is not about how far you go.

It is about stepping outside your normal routine.

Why Travel Hits Differently for Kids

Travel changes the pace of everything.

There is something about being in a new place that naturally pulls kids out of autopilot.

They notice more.
They ask more questions.
They try things they might normally avoid.

Even small changes in environment can:

• Build adaptability

• Encourage independence

• Strengthen problem-solving skills

• Boost social confidence

And you can see it happening while you are there.

They become a little braver. A little more curious. A little more themselves.

Let Them Be the “Co-Pilot”

One of the simplest ways to make travel more meaningful?

Let your kids be part of it.

Not just along for the ride, but involved.

That might look like:

• Letting them pick one activity

• Giving them a choice between two options

• Asking what they want to try or see

If you are planning a bigger trip, this is where something like Airbnb Experiences can be surprisingly helpful. Letting your child scroll through and pick an activity, whether it is a cooking class, outdoor adventure, or something hands-on, gives them a sense of ownership before you even leave.

It does not have to be complicated.

But when kids feel included, they show up differently.

More engaged. More excited. More invested in the experience.

Making Travel Feel Easier (Not Overwhelming)

One of the biggest reasons parents default back to “stuff” instead of experiences?

Travel can feel like a lot.

The planning. The packing. The logistics.

Which is why where you stay matters more than people realize.

Platforms like Kid & Coe focus on family-friendly spaces that are actually designed with kids in mind. Think layouts that make sense, homes that feel livable, and fewer of those “this is not kid-proof at all” moments.

Because when travel feels easier, you are more likely to do it again.

Easy Ways to Create an Experience-Based Childhood

You do not need to overhaul your life to make this shift.

You can start small:

• Swap one gift for an experience

• Plan one intentional outing each month

• Say yes to something spontaneous once in a while

• Let go of the idea that it has to be perfectly planned

This is not about doing more.

It is about making space for moments that matter.

The Part That Stays With Them

Years from now, your child will not remember every toy they had.

But they will remember:
The trip where everything went wrong but you laughed anyway
The place they tried something new
The moment they felt brave

Travel does not just give kids memories.

It quietly shapes how they see the world.

And maybe more importantly…

How they see themselves in it.

The post The Trips They’ll Remember: Why More Parents Are Choosing Experiences Over Stuff appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

St. Louis, the Gateway to the West, is also the gateway to adventures in education with so many ways to play—and learn at the same time! Meet the Budweiser Clydesdales or plan a mission to Mars in the many museums of this Midwestern city.

The historic Grant’s Farm invites families to visit the cabin of America’s 18th president, and to see some elephants perform! Formerly owned by the Anheuser-Busch family, the farm was acquired by the St. Louis Zoo in 2015. Animal encounters abound with the chance to feed a baby goat by bottle, feed parakeets, or visit the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales in their stables. Daily, families can watch elephant shows or see the famous horses’ “official prep school” where they learn to earn their reputation! Head over to Grant’s little wooden cabin nicknamed “Hardscrabble” before finishing up with a cold beverage at the Bauernhof, a 19^th century Bavarian farm and courtyard.

If the animals at Grant’s Farm aren’t enough, scurry over to the St. Louis Zoo to visit all of their scaly, furry, and feathered friends. Pet stingrays at Caribbean Cove in the zoo’s Lakeside Crossing area. Sneak past Big Cat country with its lions and tigers in the Red Rocks Zoo zone. Learn about the Gorilla family house in the Wild Zone, or wander past Black Rhinos in the River’s Edge Zone. The Discovery Corners area offers the Monsanto Education gallery and the Emerson Children’s Zoo, both with chances to get up close to some creepy, crawly creatures!

Visit a Mars base, learn about the human body, and get involved in the Hollow Tree Animal Clinic at the St. Louis Science Center. Start beneath the ever-turning kinetic sculpture at the entrance, then head into adventures like the Amazing Science Demonstrations of Dino Mysteries and Physics Phun. With three floors of fixed exhibits, rotating daily events, and a planetarium, the Science Center is ever-evolving with activities. Kids can attend a lab class in Family Medical School or attend one of the regular dissections. Everyone is bound to find something to pique their interest with the diversity of hands-on games and activities.

A trip to St. Louis wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Gateway Arch. Towering a total of 630-feet over the banks of the Mississippi, the Arch represents the history of America’s Westward expansion. Ride the encapsulate tram a short four minutes inside the leg of the Arch to the observation deck for a 30 mile view of the landscape on a clear day. Look at the toy-sized town of St. Louis and see if how many landmarks like Busch Stadium or the Old Courthouse you can find. Ride back down the Arch and visit the nearby Old Courthouse to learn about Westward expansion and the Lewis and Clark expeditions that made their way down the mighty Mississippi.

The City Museum, imagined by artist Bob Cassilly and concocted out of the former International Shoe Company, is a playground for kids of every age. A hodge-podge of items collected from around the city, the museum has brought together twenty-artisans to create a playground and funhouse out of the salvaged items. Play in a giant ball pit, climb through tunnel ways on the roof, and hop from circle to circle past recovered objects that include old construction equipment, tile mosaics, chimneys, bridges, and airplanes! This museum, as with all the brilliant educational opportunities in St. Louis, encourages visitors to learn the best way– through play.

The post Gateway to Education Adventures: St. Louis appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Santa Fe, New Mexico is a great example of tourism and culture that thrive through community engagement. Tourism in the city is a wonderful trifecta of color, sight and sound! From folk art, conservation and botany, to farmer’s markets, trains and road trips, Santa Fe, New Mexico offers its community—and those who happen to become a part of its community through tourism—the satisfying slice of life known to those “in the know” as variety.

And with the world having recently celebrated World Tourism Day on September 27, 2015, the city of Santa Fe is definitely a place that should peak right at the top of your fall travel destinations.

Kids will especially get a thrill from the many adventures geared toward kid-friendly fun, including searching for dinosaur fossils, river rafting, archery, horseback riding, painting, adobe brick making, and much, much more.

The city’s dedication to the preservation of culture and history, as well as what it offers to the public to reflect this preservation, speak to the educational impact which travel and tourism can and should have in our lives.

So what are you waiting for? Make a date to visit Santa Fe, New Mexico this fall! Rest assured that, in doing so, you will be aiding in teaching your children about the place of community and social responsibility in our lives and, most importantly, in our playtime.

The following list contains a few noteworthy activities that will not only make your stay in Santa Fe more memorable, but will help both you and your children see the value and necessity of learning and community engagement in both work and play!

Santa Fe Walkabouts & Pinzgauer Adventures

If you’re looking for a healthy dose of outdoor adventure and a chance to “reconnect with nature,” Santa Fe Walkabouts is sure to do the trick. Ranked #1 by TripAdvisor for worthwhile activities in Santa Fe, this esteemed outfit allows kids and adults to choose from a variety of seasonal activities, including scenic cultural tours, hiking and mountain biking, the entirely unique Pinzgauer 4×4 adventures, as well as cross country skiing and snowshoeing.

What is a Pinzgauer, you ask? It’s a high-mobility all-terrain military utility vehicle. The ever-popular tours are even offered now without a reservation for last-minute planners. Simply hop on at the corner of E. San Francisco St. and the Plaza and you can enjoy a 90-minute scenic tour into the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains!

The scenic tours will provide education and entertainment all wrapped up in one with stunning visits to Native American Pueblo Ruins, such as Puye Cliffs or Bandelier National Monument, as well as tours to amazing vistas and rock formations, like Plaza Blanca or Kasha Katuwe Tent Rocks.

One of the great things about the company is that it also provides customized itineraries, and with a bevy of seasonal adventures for the novice and experienced adventurer alike, you won’t miss out on any of the fun!

• For more information, be sure to visit the website: http://www.santafewalkabouts.com/

Museum of International Folk Art

The Museum of International Folk Art is a great place to begin a vacation filled with educational experiences through tourism! With exhibition galleries that invite your child’s participation through interactive activities, hands-on arts and crafts which are led by friendly and knowledgeable staff members, and a host of other exciting events, your family will find a full immersion into community engagement all while having loads of fun at this Santa Fe favorite!

Though the museum offers ample amounts of fun all year long, families with children should be sure to call ahead or visit the museum’s website for a full calendar of events that are targeted to younger audiences. You can peruse the museum’s guide online or pick one up right before the fun. For some exhibits, be sure to pick up an iPad Touch, which will allow the entire family to take part in the interactive learning experience while perusing the kid-friendly galleries.

“Pottery of the U.S South: A Living Tradition,” runs until January 3, 2016, and exhibits traditional stoneware from both North Carolina and northern Georgia. The selection of stoneware showcases earthy local clays and the interesting effects of wood firing. Visitors will get a chance to understand the stoneware’s roots in British and German ceramic traditions, and how it was once crucial to Southern agrarian life. As such, guests are encourages to consider the importance and dynamics of living traditions the world over.

• Museum of International Folk Art Homepage: http://www.internationalfolkart.org/
• For a full listing of current exhibits at the Museum of International Folk Art, be sure to visit: http://www.internationalfolkart.org/exhibitions/current.html

Santa Fe Clay Play

Looking for something entirely unique? How about Santa Fe Clay Play, where you or the entire family can take part in making art from clay. Accredited clay artist Ginny Zipperer knows that most people can remember playing in mud as a child, and so her private classes and team/family-building experiences are meant to invoke the child in us all! By opening her Santa Fe studio to the merits of clay making, Ginny hopes to bring out the inner child for a day of play.

One of the wonderful things about clay is that is requires no previous experience of developed skills to produce unique work for the artist to enjoy. In this way, Ginny is the trained facilitator while you and your family are allowed to artists, creating memorable treasures in the process.

You can create a unique, individual piece or take part in a family team building exercise and create a family piece to commemorate your Santa Fe vacation!

Be sure to call ahead and book your sessions at least 24 hours in advance. Workshops usually run anywhere from an hour-and-a-half to two hours. Call for group rates and custom options as well.

• Santa Fe Clay Play: (505) 204-6236

Santa Fe Children’s Museum

Winner of the Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts 2010, this well-received venue is a must-do for families vacationing in Santa Fe. The museum houses interactive, hands-on exhibits, where kids from toddlers to the age of 14 can learn while engaging in a healthy dose of playtime. Kids can choose from adobe brick making, garden-to-table cooking, wall climbing, drama, music, and much, much more.

The outdoor space, called Earthworks, has a greenhouse, a music plaza, a sand pit, an adobe playhouse and a traditional southern adobe cook house (Horno). The indoor space includes the ever-popular water feature area where delighted kids can make giant bubbles, create damns and waterways and control a waterfall!

• Visit the website for more details: http://santafechildrensmuseum.org/

Georgia O’Keeffe Museum

The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum offers a variety of events and programs that cater to both children and adults alike. The museum makes it a point to itemize its activities into sections that will help you decide what best to do with your family while visiting the museum. These sections include: Adult, Family, Youth, Special Events, and Art & Leadership. There is also a section for Teachers as well. The free family art programs are particularly noteworthy.

• Georgia O’Keeffe Museum Homepage: http://www.okeeffemuseumevents.org/

El Rancho De Las Golondrinas

If your family has a penchant for live entertainment, prepare to be thoroughly amazed at El Rancho De Las Golondrinas—treat your family to an imaginative delight for the senses at this incredibly picturesque—and one-of-a-kind—living history museum!

Located on 200 acres of rural farmland, this historic ranch, translated as “Ranch of the Swallows,” actually dates from the early 1700s. This blast from the past also includes original colonial buildings that still stand on the site to this day. Children and adults alike can watch in awe and amazement as villagers, dressed in period clothing, reenact early frontier life in New Mexico.

With programs, events and festivals that highlight the life and times of the Southwest during 18^th and 19^th century New Mexico, there’s plenty to be seen and done here. Music, dance and daily life are but a few of the items explored through this living history project that combines aspects from Mexican, Spanish and Territorial life of the period.

The ranch also offers summer camp and special classes, including the Horno baking class, where visitors can bake bread while learning about the traditional outdoor ovens brought to New Mexico by the Spanish.

• El Rancho De Las Golondrinas Homepage: http://golondrinas.org

For a calendar of events at El Rancho De Las Golondrinas, visit: http://golondrinas.org/Calendar_of_Events/index.html

The post Santa Fe, New Mexico: A Cradle of Kid-friendly Fun! appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Though summer travel may be over, you can still look forward to a fall retreat! For an award-winning take on rest and relaxation, visit Tucson, Arizona.

With a projected temperature in October and November in the 80s and 70s, respectively, it’s no wonder why travelers from the world over flock to this desert oasis, basking in the hot deals and sizzling fun!

More than just the heat, Tucson offers a large range of family-friendly activities that will have your kids begging to stay longer.

Before embarking on any of the city’s adventures, however, be sure to pick up the indispensable Tucson Attractions Passport – The Book of Fun, which will provide you and your family with amazing deals and discounts on the city’s wide array of kid-friendly attractions!

You can get the free app for both Android and iOS, and then download the deals you want, pick up the book in person at the Visitor Center or purchase it online.

The following list of family-friendly favorites will keep you occupied with hours and hours of educational fun!

Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium

The Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium is located on the University of Arizona campus, and with its hands-on exhibits and programs, is a treat for visitors of all ages.

“Puzzles, Proofs and Patterns” is a current exhibit focusing on the different shapes of mathematics. It delves into the layered world of numbers, measures and dimensions to look at where mankind has been, where we are and the possibilities that lie in our future.

“Meet the Trilobites – Arizona’s First Inhabitants” is a special exhibit that’s produced in collaboration with the UA Mineral Museum, also on-site. The breathtaking exhibit showcases a variety of trilobite specimens from various collectors, and provides information on trilobites in relation to the geological time scale, as well as what trilobites have taught us about the history of life on earth.

A visitor favorite, the Flandrau FullDome is an immersive ultra-high-resolution projection system that allows viewers to explore planets, moons and asteroids. The UA Mineral Museum also houses one of the top five mineral collections in the country. Be sure to check out the 16” telescope at the Planetarium.

• Be sure to visit the website for more information: http://flandrau.org/

D&D Pinball

Sure to delight kids of all ages, as well as adults who are kids at heart, D&D Pinball aims to bring back a bit of nostalgia by introducing this invigorating arcade game to new generations of fans.

The outfit offers an impressive collection of vintage and newer pinball machines, and if you’re lucky, you might even catch one of them for sale.

• D&D Pinball: https://www.facebook.com/danddpinball/

Funtasticks Family Fun Park

This place definitely has it all, and will delight everyone in the group! The park also happens to feature Tucson’s largest indoor laser tag arena, as well as mini golf, go-karts, bumper boasts, an arcade, and batting cages!

The arcade uses an arcade fun card as well, so e-tickets can be automatically loaded as opposed to carrying around clunky tokens or tickets. The laser tag arena covers three separate levels and comprises 5,200 square feet of indoor fun! The experience is perfect for players of all ages and skill levels.

Funtasticks Family Fun Park also features the one-of-a-kind 5 Ride Kiddie Land, which is a space for younger guests. Kiddie Land offers Rookie Go Karts, the Kiddie Land Dragon Ride, a roller coaster, an air bounce jump castle and the Crazy Taxi ride.

• For more information, visit the website: http://www.funtasticks.com/

Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure – Tucson

Urban Adventure Quest provides interactive smart phone tours in a variety of major cities across the U.S. Think of the show Amazing Race mixed with an interactive city tour! The scavenger hunt allows you to play when you want and at your own pace anytime during daylight hours.

With the Tucson scavenger hunt, participants can take part in an engaging walking tour of Tucson and Tombstone while solving clues, completing challenges and learning about local history while working with family members or other scavenger hunt adventurers to unravel city secrets!

Adventurers can explore Hotel Congress, the Presidio, the Transportation Museum, and other hot spots of Tucson tourism! The Tombstone mini-quest will allow adventurers to explore the Epitaph, the Birdcage Theater, the OK Corral, and other famous sites.

• For more information, visit: http://urbanadventurequest.com/

Sonoran Glass School

For a truly unique experience, why not visit the Sonoran Glass School. The school teaches students, as well as the general public, how to both create and appreciate glass as a visual arts medium. Through its education courses, one-on-one experiences, visiting art seminars, and community events, families can better understand this unique medium and spend quality family time together in making commemorative glass art souvenirs. Even if you don’t want to partake in the action yourself, this non-profit organization features a glass art gallery for one-of-a-kind gifts. Visitors can also stop by and watch live glassblowing in the Hot Shop studio. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead (520-884-7814).

• For details and upcoming events, visit: https://sonoranglass.org/

Children’s Museum Tucson

Kids will get a kick out of a museum designed especially for them! At the Children’s museum Tucson, kids and family members get to explore and connect to each other and the surrounding environment in a myriad of ways, including touring museum exhibits, and partaking in educational and entertaining events.

Don’t miss the Gravity Room, which features impressive objects that defy gravity! Kids can spin the Recycle Bicycle Wheel or play with Marble Madness. Families can create their own gravity maze as well, with the Ball Wall or Caterpillar Thriller!

Build It! Allows kids the chance to partake in experiential building with oversized construction materials, such as Kiva Planks and Imagination Blocks. The exhibit encourages constructive problem solving.

There’s also Wee World, for children under 4, which features a rock-climbing wall and a playhouse; Imaginarium, where child-artists can create their own masterpieces; the Investigation Station, which showcases hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) activities; Techtopia, a fun and digital trip involving bugs, shadow mosaics and reading; Bodyology, a health and wellness exhibit with a farmer’s market, garden, orchard, and juice bar; and much more!

• For more information, visit the museum’s website: http://www.childrensmuseumtucson.org/
• Museum exhibits: http://www.childrensmuseumtucson.org/events-exhibits

Kartchner Caverns State Park

Experience the amazing limestone cave first discovered in 1974. The park is noted for many world-class minerals and formations, including calcite formations and stalactites. Guests can take advantage of fun and educational guided tours into the underground landscape of the park.

Younger explorers will enjoy the Discovery Center, especially the scavenger hunt it offers. There’s a “caving wall,” which will allow kids to experience crawling through several narrow cave passages. Animal displays will help to introduce kids to the local wildlife. Kids can even have their picture taken with the Giant Sloth! The Discovery Center Scavenger Hunt can be downloaded and printed out beforehand as well!

There’s also a curriculum guide for teachers and interested parents, and the park allows kids age 6-12 to pledge to help preserve nature with its Junior Ranger program.

• For more information on the park and its features, or to download the Junior Ranger program information or scavenger hunt sheet, visit the following website: http://azstateparks.com/Parks/KACA/kids.html

The post Rest and Relaxation in Tucson, Arizona appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

The fun and frenzy of classroom field trips is something that practically every child looks forward to. But does the fun have to stop once the school year ends? Why not aid in your child’s education by ensuring that outdoor activities, such as your annual summer vacation, mimic the experience of a field trip by going on your own educational, hands-on vacation.

One such place to ensure maximum fun while engaging in learning is the majestic state of Montana!

Montana happens to be a great state for extending the lesson/activity methodology of the classroom setting. Montana simply has it all, boasting national parks, museums, family-friendly hotels, breathtaking scenery, family-friendly activities, and much more.

Additionally, vacationing in Montana means that your child can take part in fun-filled activities that focus on the historic Lewis and Clark expedition that took place from 1804-1806! In other words, your child can actually be immersed in the beauty of nature as well as unrivaled fun all while learning about a fascinating part of American history.

Be sure to start your adventure at the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center, which is located (about halfway up) on the 4,000 mile long Lewis and Clark Expedition Route. The center boasts the prestige of being the largest museum dedicated to every facet of the famous expedition, providing an indispensable menu of year-round activities and exhibits.

For example, in addition to the sheer wealth of information housed at the center, you can take part in the living history area along the Missouri River, known as the River Camp, and take part in demonstrations which highlight daily life on the expedition, as well as the influence and interaction with native cultures along the route! There are also live programs, films and hands-on activities. For additional information, visit: www.fs.fed.us/r1/lewisclark/lcic.htm, (406) 727-8733.

Near Billings, Montana, Pompey’s Pillar National Monument (www.pompeyspillar.org or (406) 875-2233) will leave your family in awe. The 200-foot sandstone outcropping is home to the only “graffiti” left on the expedition route. That’s right: on the return trip, Clark actually carved his name on the rock! In addition, be sure to plan your visit during the last weekend in July if possible, as area historians host Captain William Clark Days every year at the site. The fun event includes campfire stories, demonstrations, canoe trips, nature hikes, and stargazing!

The school environment will be sure to continue as you visit Montana State University and the spectacular Museum of the Rockies (www.montana.edu/wwwmor)! The museum allows kids to interact with the exhibits in a user-friendly way by highlighting designated areas with yellow “KidSpace” signs.

Want more fun while traversing “The Big Sky State?” Be sure to check out these additional sites when planning your Montana itinerary this summer:

• Lewis & Clark Dugout Days Camps: www.fs.fed.us/r1/lewisclark/lcic
• USA National Park Service: www.nps.gov/lecl
• National Council of the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial: www.lewisandclark200.org
• Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation (Montana): www.lewisandclark.org
• The Dillon Visitor Center: http://lewisandclark.state.mt.us

As far as lodging is concerned, the possibilities are virtually endless, and depend on your family’s needs and the type of vacation you’re looking for! You can choose from dude ranches, hotels, motels, camping inside national parks, RV camping, and many other options!

The following list has a few fun and noteworthy lodgings to consider for your stay:

• Holiday Inn Grand Montana, Billings, MT: http://www.higrandmt.com/
• The Lodge, Big Sky, MT: http://www.lodgeatbigsky.com/
• The Dude Ranchers’ Association: http://www.duderanch.org/montana-dude-ranch
• Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp Resorts, Missoula, MT: http://www.campjellystone.com/campgrounds/montana-campgrounds/
• U.S. Farm Stay Association: http://www.farmstayus.com/search#state=26

The post Education Outside of Your Child’s Classroom in Scenic Montana! appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

What comes to mind when you think of South Dakota? If you said fun in the sun and a plethora of educational adventures for the entire family, you’d be right on the money! South Dakota is one state that doesn’t disappoint: from the famous Mount Rushmore to the Badlands National Park, this beautiful northern state boasts a host of adventures and experiences for a lifetime for those families that are so inclined.

Here is a short list of some of South Dakota’s greatest treasures. Be sure that your family’s itinerary includes some of these remarkable – and historical – gems!

1.  Mount Rushmore

We’ve seen the four great faces of past American presidents both in our history books and on TV before. But why not visit the historical site and give your kids something to tell their friends and teachers once the school year begins again? That’s right: Mount Rushmore National Memorial (http://www.nps.gov/moru/index.htm) is waiting for your family to step up and make its own history by visiting this must-see icon of American history. Located in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota, this testament to American ingenuity took over 14 years to complete! Your child will definitely have stories to tell as Lincoln, Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Washington inspire the American spirit upon those who grace the smooth granite hills! Activities for kids abound with junior ranger programs and dynamite simulations.

2.  Deadwood

A popular HBO series a few years back, Deadwood (http://www.deadwood.org) is most known for its Wild West days, with Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane of notable fame. Both infamous characters are buried in town (Mount Moriah Cemetery) and add colorful tales to the town’s history. Though other frontier towns of the Wild West might have died out, Deadwood has survived well into the present and has become a very lucrative tourist destination. Kids can relive the Old West days and mine for gold or talk with the costumed townsfolk while visiting the city. Also popular is the spectacular experience of a real-life rodeo!

3.  Ingalls Homestead

In case you weren’t aware, the popular literature series, Little House on the Prairie, took place in South Dakota! It was the very same love of living on the prairies of South Dakota that inspired Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the popular book series, to write about both the joys and challenges of growing up in De Smet, South Dakota. If you happen to visit the homestead while on vacation, your family can experience a bit of what it would have been like to live like Laura Ingalls Wilder! You can actually take a ride in a covered wagon on the prairie, as well as take a class in the very same 1880s Little Prairie School (http://www.ingallshomestead.com/).

4.  Custer State Park

The second-largest state park in the U.S., your family can still see herds of buffalo roaming free while visiting Custer State Park! Be sure to take part in the annual autumn buffalo roundup. Your family can watch cowboys round up herds of buffalo right in front of your very eyes! Also, there are scenic drives where buffalo and burro roam free. The outdoor chuck wagon supper will have your kids feeling like they’re truly back in the Old West, while active families can fish, hike, go horseback riding or take thrilling jeep tours (http://gfp.sd.gov/state-parks/directory/custer/)!

5.  Sight-seeing via Train

Climb aboard a vintage 19th-century steam train, known as the 1880 train, where your family will be immersed in the beauty and majesty of the Black Hills. The popular sight-seeing trip includes visits to the Holy Terror Mine, Old Baldy Mountain, the Indian Cliffs, and Harney Peak. There is even a trip dedicated to smaller children: “Day out with Thomas” will take you on a 25-minute trip that is led by Thomas the Tank Engine (http://www.1880train.com/)!

The post Five Family-Fun Adventures in South Dakota appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

As a seasoned traveler and dad to 7, I know how stressful it can be to fly with toddlers. Don’t get caught up in the stress this year, follow these tried and true tips for ensuring easy travel with your toddlers this winter and beyond.  

Planning Ahead for Toddlers:

• Buy some books about flying in a plane so that your child will understand the whole concept. You might also buy a toy plane that you can talk about with your toddler. Discuss the people who work on the plane, where you enter the plane, where you sit on a plane, etc. The goal here is to get children used to the idea of flying.
• Get a backpack or special travel bag that is just for the toddler, and beginning a few weeks in advance discuss how the child can help pack their bag.  Talk about what items they’d like to bring with them to play with on the plane.
• Discuss with your child all the steps that come with flying on an airplane, such as: the ride to airport, checking bags, going through TSA, waiting to board, getting on the plane, looking out the window, etc. Then they’ll know what to expect when you arrive at the airport on travel day.

Plan in 15 Minutes: 

Estimate the time and length of the trip from beginning to end and make plans in 15 minute increments.  For instance, if you’re planning for a 5 hour flight you’ll know:

• The first 30 minutes your toddlers will be excited as they will have just boarded the plane; they’ll be looking out the window, watching the activity, seeing other planes, and watching luggage being loaded. Then you have the exciting take off to look forward to, too.
• Once the plane passes through the clouds, the show is over for the child and it’ll be time to start to calculate how to entertain your toddler for the remaining 4.5 hours left in the flight.
• You’ll want about 16 different 15-minute activities with some backups in mind, too, that will keep your toddler entertained throughout a long flight. My suggestions include the following:
• Start with a book – while they are still excited to fly.
• Bring a favorite toy – doll or action figure.
• Play dough is always a good item to have on-hand.
• Scotch tape can actually be quite entertaining.
• Don’t forget to factor in snack time – bring a good assortment.
• You can add 15 minutes for a trip to the bathroom or a diaper change.
• Get out of your seats (if the seatbelt sign is off) and walk around the plane.
• Coloring book and crayons are definite staples.
• Change seats with each other to get a fresh view of the surroundings.
• Talk to the seat neighbors if they’re friendly.
• Bring some toy-cars, or play items that allow for imaginary play.
• Bring some magnetic blocks, or other creative building toys

What to Expect as the Parent:

• You might want your child to nap on the plane, but you need to be prepared because that won’t always happen.   
• Parents should remain calm, and listen to the child’s excitements and fears.
• Make each activity last as long as possible. Take a diaper change, for example, walk slowly and explore on the way there and on the way back.
• Don’t rely on the airplane for a meal. Pack plenty of food for your child.
• Do not even think about yourself; consider yourself lucky if you get to glance at a magazine or close your eyes for a few seconds.
• Try to avoid taking out your computer unless your child is napping.
• Always have a “Def Con 5” item at your fingertips. What I call the Def Con 5 item is a toy you can pull out when your child is reaching melt down mode, and you still have 30 minutes trapped inside a plane.
• I try to keep the iPad hidden as a last resort, and not as a first choice item. I’ve used the iPad as a reward or something to look forward to.

Consider Your Toddler’s Health:

• Upon takeoff and landing, children under 3 have trouble clearing their ear pressure. You can help by ensuring they over-exaggerate yawning, drink lots of water, or chew on some goldfish.
• If you’re able to, I suggest wiping down your airplane area with cleaning cloths. Wipe down the trays, arm rests, front and back of seats, window shades, etc. to protect your child from harmful germs.
• Have your toddler wash his or her hands after going through TSA.
• If the child is under 2, I recommend bringing a car seat that they’re already used to and comfortable in.
• If you are going to bring an iPad make sure you also pack a pair of headphones that are comfortable and easy for the child to use.

The bottom line is the more relaxed and prepared you are, the easier it is for the child to learn to fly.  The more you fly, the more comfortable everyone will become.

Good luck and happy parenting!

Sincerely,

Daddy Nickell

Robert Nickell, aka Daddy Nickell, father of 7, offers his “5 cents” worth of advice to expectant and new parents.  Daddy Nickell is the founder of Daddyscrubs.com, delivery room duds and daddy gifts and apparel, and the DaddyScrubs blog where he covers topics about parenting all from a Dad’s perspective.

The post Tips for Flying with Toddlers appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Family vacations to New York City may seem daunting at first. The city is a sprawling metropolis of over 8.3 million people who live in an area comprised of about 468 square miles. Yet despite this density, the Big Apple holds an impressive amount of attractions for even the most labor-intensive of travel itineraries!

One way of easing into your New York city vacation is to plan your trip with a specific theme in mind, such as visiting city museums, touring local parks or even finding those off-the-beaten-path eateries to take in the local vibe.

Whatever the ultimate goal of your vacation might be, establishing one or two primary themes for your overall travel itinerary can help to hone in on the city’s special points-of-interest that speak specifically to your family’s own interests. This will ensure that no member of the family will feel left out while exploring what New York City has to offer.

The vacation-by-theme concept can also add one more important item to every family vacation. By remembering to focus on your child’s educational development while on the road, you can ensure that family vacations are fun, cultural and creative!

If a themed vacation centered on a truly unique and educational experience for your children is what you have in mind, try making the Metropolitan Museum of Art – The Met – the focal point for your New York City trip! 

Located at 1000 Fifth Avenue, the Met provides an overabundance of activities for kids of all ages. Indeed, both kids and parents can even go online beforehand and print out museum material that is specifically tailored for children. The Family Map, for instance, is a great tool that provides a floor plan of the museum and a fold-out, illustrated color poster of the Met’s collection.

The museum also provides special guides, most of which can be downloaded beforehand, and which help to show children the history of specific collections while providing fun facts. Kids can explore Greek mythology with the “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” guide, or learn about medieval weaponry with “Fierce or Fancy,” or even download the “Young in America” guide to discover what it was once like to be a child in America. Whatever your child holds an interest in, there are over 25 special guides that can either be downloaded or picked up at an information desk in the museum itself.  

Another great aspect of the museum is its family programs, which are free and on a drop-in basis for participants between 18 months and 12 years of age. The Met’s family programs include Storytime in Nolen Library for ages 18 months to 7 years, which starts with a book and then ends on a self-guided treasure hunt through the galleries, Drop-In Drawing for informal sketching, various programs for families with children who are blind or partially sighted, a family audio guide program, and a plethora of others! For more information, call 212-650-2217 or email familyprograms@metmuseum.org.

In case you would like a tailored tour to navigate the museum, the Met also provides suggested itineraries for families, such as half-day tours and other family-inspired itineraries for age appropriate tours.

As far as lodgings are concerned, New York City’s hotels, including the abundance of family-friendly hotels that it’s also known for, can run the gamut in price ranges, locations and room/hotel specific amenities.

Though the Upper West Side is generally known as a kid-friendly neighborhood, Loews Regency New York  in the Upper East Side is a family-friendly hotel worth looking into. The hotel is currently going through a complete overhaul of its property and will not reopen until January 14^th, 2014. Reservations do fill up fast, however, so keep this future date in mind as the hotel has been noted on countless travel-themed websites as one of New York’s top kid-friendly hotels.

One website that parents can make use of, and that is greatly informative in providing invaluable material on various kid-friendly activities, excursions and hotels on the Upper West Side, is mommypoppins.com. The site is a veritable one-stop shop for planning kid-themed vacations in the Big Apple.

The Milburn Hotel, for instance, located at 242 West 76th between Broadway and West End Avenue, is one such hotel offering an advantageous amount of amenities for both younger and older children. In addition to the continental breakfast included in the room price and the fact that their suites come with their own kitchenette, the hotel also provides PlayStations, books for children and DVDs for the family. Children under 14 years of age stay free at the hotel, while children 14 years of age and older pay only $10 per night. Also, cribs and rollaway beds are provided free of charge.

Another hotel recommended by the above-mentioned website is the Lucerne, located at 201 West 79th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue. This recently renovated hotel which is located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side provides a feeling of old world charm with jazz music playing in the lobby and a doorman who greets you at the hotel doors. Guests can request the deluxe family suite for additional room and privacy. Children under 16 stay free at the hotel and cribs are provided free of charge. 

The great thing about many of these hotels that are located on the Upper West Side is that they are in close proximity to other kid-friendly attractions, such as the American Museum of Natural History, located at Central Park West at 79th Street; the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, located at the Tisch Building, 212 West 83^rd Street, and a number of peaceful and scenic outdoor spaces, two of them being Riverside and Central Park. 

Indeed, because of the neighborhood’s approximation to all of these kid-friendly venues that will fit every itinerary, the Upper West Side is known as the most kid-friendly part of New York City to visit. So be sure to explore the neighborhood extensively and feel free to use it as a safe and exciting base from which to explore the surrounding areas and all of what New York City has to offer!

The post New York, New York: A Family-Friendly Destination in a Class all Its Own appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Most people are probably familiar with the old adage which states that it’s not so much the destination as the journey that’s most important. And for those of us who have children, it is exactly the importance of the journey that cannot be emphasized enough.

Whether it is a short trip to the grocery store, a one-tank road trip or traveling across the country for a destination vacation, the safety of our children is a constant among all the possible variables on the itinerary.

Not only must the journey be kept in mind as far as the safety of each and every child, but ensuring the continued safety of our children once the destination has finally been reached is also something that needs to be taken into consideration.

To this end, companies such as Britax USA are making it easier for parents, whether traveling for vacation or simply on-the-go, to ensure the safety of their children by providing a remarkably comprehensive lineup of car seats, strollers and other accessories for both the inside and outside of the vehicle.

Britax was actually formed back in 1939, and for the last 70+ years, the company has been pioneering the child seat industry worldwide. Indeed, when Britax entered the American market in 1996, it only took a year for the British company to launch the very first convertible car seat in the U.S., the Roundabout.

Since its early beginnings in the child seat industry, Britax has become one of the most trusted car seats in America, as well as garnering the accolade of best-selling car seat in Europe

Indeed, it is from this very first introduction of convertible car seats that, in 2010, Britax redesigned the line to create safer convertible car seats, such as the Boulevard 70-G3.

The new series of car seats, like the Boulevard 70-G3, is outfitted with Britax’s patented SafeCell technology, where the SafeCells, an engineered structure designed to compress in the event of a crash, counteract the forward propulsion that can take place with typical car seats.   

The Boulevard 70-G3, then, weighing in at 19.5 pounds, is an exemplary model of what car seat safety can embody. The Boulevard supports up to 70 pounds of weight, thereby ensuring that, as your child grows, the Boulevard will still provide adequate safety and comfort for your child just as it did at the time of purchase!

An added comfort for your child is the fact that the Boulevard offers an option for both rear and forward facing reclining. This feature, as well as the extra layer of padding included from High Density Comfort Foam, will support your child with the ultimate amount of comfort.

The Boulevard 70-G3 also comes with Britax’s energy-absorbing Versa-Tether, which is located on the back, upper part of the child seat. This latch system, essentially a strap that hooks onto an anchor in your vehicle, allows the child seat to be comfortably tethered to the vehicle in either the forward-facing or rear-facing position.

The Boulevard 70-G3 also comes with an easy-to-remove cover (with 8 different fabric options, including Silver Birch and Aztec, available), matching comfort pads and an infant body pillow. These convenient features allow the Boulevard to be cleaned easily without uninstalling it or even disassembling the child seat.

In addition to the wonderful advancements that Britax has made with redesigning the line of convertible car seats, is the plethora of accessories that can be purchased to accompany the car seats. These products also speak to the company’s dedicated focus on child safety and innovative technology.

One such inventive accessory is the Britax Back Seat Mirror, which is not only compatible with most vehicle head restraints, but also provides a view of your child at any angle while the car seat is in the rear-facing position. Likewise, the Britax Vehicle Seat Protector is designed with non-slip material and raised edges to catch spills and debris, making the vehicle seat protector a breeze to cleanup. The seat protector is also waterproof, while a front seat guard helps to defend the front of the vehicle seat from your child’s shoes.

Britax also makes convenient car seat covers, such as removable covers to keep out the rain, sun and bugs.

To ensure the ultimate amount of fun once the destination is finally reached, Britax also provides stroller accessories. Strollers can be purchased with rain, mosquito and sun covers as well, while useful accessories, such as pouches and organizers for holding assorted items, as well as a cup holder set for children that can be attached to strollers, are also available. There is also the option of purchasing the Britax B-AGILE Child Tray, a useful accessory to match the cup holders and to ensure storage and eating opportunities for your child while on the go.

Regardless of the accessories, however, it is clear to see that Britax USA stops at no cost to ensure the safety of children. With such devotion and care for consumers, it’s no wonder that parents purchase these products with not so much the cost involved in mind, but the equal care and concern for the safety and well-being of future generations: http://www.britaxusa.com/   

The post Britax USA: A Compassionate Company in Child Seat Safety appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.