great takes on family travel in the U.S.

The suggestions keep coming in for travel toys lately. Here are two more travel toy ideas created by real moms. The first is an award winning toy, the other a travel site about toys for little ones. I always think the companies and ideas created by parents are the best–the inventors are usually creating from necessity and a sense of reality of what it is really like to travel with kids.

I like the creativity of Think-a-Lot Toys Think-ets. It was chosen by iParenting’s parent judges as one of the Best Products of 2008 and only costs $9.99 for ages 8+ . “Think-ets is the world’s first little game in a pouch containing tiny treasures from all over the world.

Think-ets has an assortment of 15 collectible miniature trinkets that can be used to create games and provide hours of entertainment or anywhere!” They collected the items from all over the world from people working in humane conditions and who also get paid enough to earn a living wage in their country. It is also, of course “green.” The packaging is also the carrying case. No plastic to toss into the landfill. Wow, could it be possible, a toy that is fun and politically correct? Worth a try, don’t you think?

If you want more suggestions, you may want to check littlejetset-they offer a variety of unusual and functional travel items for kids. I like the Find It Games for $20.95. My 8 year old likes a treasure hunt of any kind and this one is self contained-good for planes and cars.

Finally, if you like to read to your kids in the car, I suggest the book, Harris and Me by Gary Paulsen. Beautifully written, hilarious and touching. I have given about five copies to my friends and it is straying into my own personal top ten favorite books. Truly a great read for kids 8+. It does have a few swear words in it that only added to the excitement for my family. My kids were begging me to keep reading. Now, that is bliss.