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The essentials for your travel first aid kit revealed
Today’s post caught me off guard. I’ve never thought about preparing a first aid kit for travel. I mean, sure if I’m going on a cruise, I’ll take some Dramamine, or if we’re visiting another country, I’ll be sure everyone got their shots. But to pack allergy medicine, didn’t cross my mind. If you’re like me, then I’m glad to bring this information to you.
Author and mom blogger, Lisa Shusterman from “Around the World in Easy Ways,” shares with us the things we should consider packing in our first aid kit as we embark on travel season with the kids.
Around the World in Easy Ways Blog | Lisa Shusterman
Every traveler knows you shouldn’t leave home without it. No, I’m not talking about your American Express card; I’m talking about a first aid kit.
While most people will have access to supplies somewhere along the way, the reality is, when you want what you want when you want it, it’s just best to have it with you rather than depend on finding it. Obviously you can’t carry an entire pharmacy in your bag, so what should you carry?
(READ MORE)
Mom blogger reveals this season’s ‘must haves’ for travel
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, we’re at the peak of family travel season!
I hope many of you have locked in your summer plans and are taking advantage of all the good deals out there in the marketplace. To help you on your journey with the little ones, momsfavoritestuff.com shares what’s hot for summer travel with your kids. N’joy!
Planning your family vacation? Travel deals come in all sizes this summer
Wooo hooo! This is so exciting!
Families, we have a plethora of deals and trips to choose from. Many hotels have started “Kids Stay Free” campaigns and it’s looking very enticing on my end.
If you are in the midst of booking your family vacation, be sure to outline all of the perks that are important to you and your family. For me, it’s AMAZING guest relations and never ending amenities. Today’s article will help you get your thinking caps on for planning your summer getaway.
The Today Show via MSNBC.com
Planning your summer trips advance will help get you the best deals — of which there are boundless choices for families this summer. Whether you are looking for the educational excursion, a beach pampering, or a city exploration, there is something for every family. And one very important thing to keep in mind when searching for the best deal is that you want to look at the overall value package — which means that finding the best deal isn’t necessarily just about finding the “cheapest room rate,” but rather finding the packages that give you the most for your money, where you will not be nickle-and-dimed for every subsequent thing you do on your vacation apart from sleep.
Here are some of Conde Nast Traveler’s favorite family summer deals that will give you the biggest bang for your buck:
1. Look to your favorite hotel chains for company-wide deals
One of the best ways to find deals for the summer is to consult your favorite hotel chains to see what company-wide deals they may be offering. This can give you the opportunity to visit any of their properties around the world for significant discounts. (READ MORE)
School snow days may delay family vacation plans
Many families are whipping out their calendars in search of alternate dates to vacation this summer. The continued snowfall around the country has depleted the number of snow days in some school systems. Decatur County School Board in Decatur, Tenn., reports that they have run out of snow days and may have to extend the school year or use floating holidays to make up the difference.
This is a great opportunity for popular family destinations to offer a sort of “relief” program for families who may have booked with them and now have to change their dates due to a possible school year extension. What do you think? Would you change your summer plans just to complete the school year? Hmm, this one is sticky.
The Decatur County Chronicle | Jennifer Clendenion
Recent snow and ice accumulations combined with winding, tree-lined country back roads have resulted in the local school system exhausting its allotted snow days for the year.
Schools were closed for a week at the beginning of the month after several inches of snow left several roads in the south end of the county too treacherous for buses. At least three other bouts of winter weather since the start of the year has left officials no choice but to close schools. Between the inclement weather and closings for holidays, Decatur County students have not attended school for a full week of classes since early December.
Director of Schools Dr. Michael Price told School Board members Thursday that the system is out of snow days. But with any luck, additional school days won’t be tacked on to the calendar in May. “We have three more days in the calendar we can still float around,” said Dr. Price, including two vacation days and a staff development day. School board members expressed concern that family travel plans might be affected if school is extended in May. “We’re going to avoid that,” Dr. Price said. (READ MORE)
Kidzsack is a creative way to keep your kids busy during travel
Kidzsack is a great way to keep kids busy on the road and it's the sack that keeps on giving with its washable feature.
As a family who travels, it’s important to have the tools and supplies in place to help make your family travel…more pleasant. Today, I’m excited to share with you a cool product, just for kids on the go. Nicely priced, earth-friendly and reusable are three words to describe this week’s family travel product. And it’s written by yours truly over on my family travel column.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Examiner.com | Malena Jackson
Product Name: Kidzsack
Product Details: Kidzsack is a drawstring back sack for kids ages four and up. Made from recycled fabric in the USA, the sack offers four screen printed designs to choose from. It is the creation of Tina Hill, a mom of four children. She created Kidzsack as a way to keep her kids busy and happy as they trek to and from soccer practice, gymnastics and other events. Its sturdy design is multifunctional and reusable. Kidzsack comes complete with a drawstring back sack and a pack of eight washable, non-toxic markers. The sacks are sold in resorts and hotel gift shops across the U.S. and local boutiques and stores. It retails for $20. Prices may vary at different locations. Visit www.kidzsack.comfor more retail locations. (READ MORE)
Major storm in the Midwest affects holiday travel
If you have not made it to your final destination by now, there’s a highly likely chance that you’re not going to make it by Christmas. According to reports, there’s another winter storm affecting the Midwest and it’s causing several cancellations and delays among airlines. Roads are slick and icy so stay off of them, if possible.
I know that this is a frustrating time for you and the family. My advice to you, stay positive, realize that Christmas is coming regardless and the family’s safety comes first.
Here’s the latest story…
USA Today|Associated Press
OMAHA (AP) — Holiday travelers battled slick, icy roads and scattered flight cancellations and delays on Wednesday as a major winter storm began to spread across much of the nation’s midsection — and the worst of the weather was still expected to come.The storm was likely to intensify by Thursday, bringing heavy snow, sleet and rain to a large swath of the Plains and the Midwest. A foot or two of snow was possible in some areas by Christmas Day.
“It’s an usually large storm, even for the Plains,” said Scott Whitmore, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Topeka, Kan.
In northwest Kansas, snow started falling before sunrise Wednesday, after freezing rain had already iced up roads. Part of Gove County saw 8 inches of snow, though it was far lighter elsewhere, said Albert Pietrycha, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Goodland.
A stretch of Interstate 70 in western Kansas was snowpacked by mid-afternoon, although it wasn’t closed — yet. The state Department of Transportation warned that travel would be almost impossible in northeast Kansas by Thursday afternoon.
”It’s kind of hard to stay on the roads. You’ve got to go slow,” said Jason Juhan, a clerk at the Love’s truck stop in Goodland, Kan. “People are just trying to get through and get to where they need to as fast as they can.”
Still, he saw an upside to the weather: “It’s been a few years since we’ve actually had a white Christmas out this way.” (READ MORE)
Tis the season for great family travel gift ideas
Christmas is exactly 10 days away and the Jackson crew is very excited, especially the little ones.
The holiday season is a great time to think of adding to your travel tool kit, especially family travelers. For instance, every year we go camping with five other families, and each year I take the opportunity to add a camping tool to my collection. Why not use the Christmas holiday as a time to buy gear for easier family travel?
In today’s article, you’ll find a rundown of some great products that are especially for family travel and some that are everyday finds, but help make family travel more pleasant.
My ‘must have’ travel item my Juicy bag by Juicy Couture . I use it to carry all of my kids’ snacks and activities in. Its huge mouth makes everything accessible and helps me not leave things behind because we just throw evrything in and keep moving.
Baltimore Sun | Taking the Kids, Eileen Ogintz
Thanks, Mr. Bean.
If not for my pink flowered rubber boots from L.L. Bean (a far cry from the first hunting shoes Leon L. Bean sold in Maine in 1912), I would have had awfully wet feet the week I spent kayaking around Glacier Bay in Alaska last summer.
I’m equally enamored of my quick-dry shorts from Horny Toad (www.hornytoad.com) that I wore every day sailing in Tahiti and my Smart Wool socks that keep my toes toasty while skiing. And then, of course, there is my electronic book (I use a Kindle) so I’m never stuck without a mystery no matter how long my flight is delayed.
You probably have your travel faves too — things that keep your kids amused and you comfortable no matter how stressful your travels with your family. Jamie Pearson, the creator of www.travelsavvymom.com, loves cashmere sweaters for travel “because they are so warm, nice looking, and wrinkle-free.” Guidebook writer Pauline Frommer opts for big fuzzy socks to keep her feet warm on cold planes — “the kind you find at street fairs,” she says. Family Travel Forum’s Kyle McCarthy pines for “a netbook with a good keyboard I can write on without running to a masseuse.”
I just got a down “sweater” from Mountain Hard Wear (www.mountainhardwear.com) that crumples into it’s own stuff sack about the size of a fist — and it’s something I won’t leave home without this winter. (READ MORE)
Pack Light and Arrive Early for Your Flight This Thanksgiving Holiday
AAA reports are out and it finds that travelers [you] will wait in long lines, at the airport, or get stuck in traffic, on the road. And you will pay more. I hear today was the perfect day to fly to your Thanksgiving destination, especially if you
are flying with your little ones. One mom reported that there weren’t any lines at LAX today. Note to self: travel the Monday before the holiday for less hassle…there.
For those of you who are probably packing your bags as you try to digest this blog post, here’s today’s story. Don’t worry, we’ll be reporting on the top Thanksgiving Family Travel news finds all this week. Happy trails!
Sun Sentinel, Michael Turnbell
Fewer people are expected to fly this Thanksgiving, but that doesn’t mean you won’t wait in line.
Driving may look more appealing, but the roads will be more crowded this year, according to the AAA. And you’ll pay a lot more at the pump, too.
Our annual Thanksgiving pilgrimage to visit family and friends is under way. Making it to the dinner table this year requires a little planning, a lot of patience and in some cases, a fatter wallet.
Thanksgiving week is traditionally the busiest travel period of the year for South Florida’s three major airports.
You can expect to wait longer at security checkpoints. Finding a place to park might mean circling the lot or garage once or twice.
Travelers on Monday were thankful they beat the rush.
“It was excellent, very smooth,” said Tony Marino of his Delta Air Lines flight from Hartford, Conn., to Fort Lauderdale. “We always travel somewhere for the holiday and this year we decided to come here.”
“There hasn’t been any wait at all,” said Kyle Quackenbush, who was traveling with family from Kalamazoo, Mich. “We’re looking forward to having Thanksgiving dinner on a cruise ship.” (READ MORE)
Indiana to Launch a Statewide Safe Family Travel Blitz to Cut Down on Car Accidents this Holiday Season
Actually, there are several states that are placing more cops on the road to ensure safer driving during the holidays. Indiana is the only known state that is marketing their campaign as “Safe Family Travel.”
The News-Dispatch
LA PORTE – The La Porte County Sheriff’s Department will participate in a statewide traffic-safety enforcement blitz leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday season.
The “Safe Family Travel” campaign will use federal grant funding to have additional officers enforce impaired driving and seat-belt laws. The campaign will begin Nov. 13 and continue through Nov. 29.
During the 2008 Thanksgiving holiday period, 15 people lost their lives in Indiana traffic crashes. More than 66 percent of those fatalities were alcohol-related. In more than two-thirds of the fatal collisions that occurred around Thanksgiving, the person killed was not wearing a seat belt.
Seat-belt patrols will be used during daylight and evening hours, targeting areas with high traffic and crash statistics. Deputies will specifically look for violations of passenger-restraint laws. Impaired driver enforcement patrols will be used day and night.
U.S. 30 will be one particular focus Nov. 13.
Quick Tips For Family Travel Road Trips
This was a tricky one. I was immediately drawn to this story only to find that it’s a plug for the Volkswagon Routan. I thought I should post it anyway. It might not bother you as much as it sort of bothers me 
Great takeaway: Embrace some low-tech time. I’m a huge believer in getting the kids in the back seat and having them count the passing cars, or get this, read a book.
www.napsnet.com, Emily Kaufman
(NAPSI)-If you find yourself saying “Are we there yet?” as often as your kids on road trips, you may be on the wrong route for family travel.
Today, with both high-tech and low-tech ways to keep the family entertained, kids can have as much fun in the car as when they arrive.
Here are some tips on how families can make the most of every minute and every dollar on the road this year:
1) Avoid high-tech disconnect-A number of cars today, including the Volkswagen Routan, have lots of great high-tech features such as DVD players and Wi-Fi. Instead of having everyone plug in and tune out, use this technology to bond. Have the kids research and learn more about where you’re visiting and what fun things the family can do there together. You can watch an educational DVD about your destination. On the way back, use your technology to make a slide show of your trip pictures and send it to friends and families. (READ MORE)
