Vacations Blog

Louisiana as seen from Natchez, MS on the banks of the Mississippi River

Last week, I embarked on what most of my friends considered a sheer act of lunacy.  A desperate deed by a clearly crazed man.  Maybe so, but Ohio winters are long and I’d had enough!  I packed up the kids (all five of them), crammed them into our trusty Caravan, pointed it south and started driving.

I didn’t stop until the temperatures rose above 70 degrees and people started referring to me as ya’ll.  I didn’t stop until I found heat, humidity, fried foods, sunshine and zydeco music.  The kids were on Spring Break last week and I made tracks to my hometown in Louisiana.

I thought I might share with you just a few things that go into planning just such a road trip.  A road trip with kids, that is.

Know Where You Are Going

This seems fairly logical.  Those college road trip days are a thing of the past.  Remember spinning the compass wheel on Friday afternoon and heading off for a weekend of adventure in whatever direction it landed?  Not so much fun with kids.  Kids want stability and knowing that their journey has a definite ending point provides assurance.  On the opposite hand, if a kid has any inclination that you may be lost they will freak!  Trust me on this.  Know where you are going and map a direct route.  Then you can start looking for alternatives.

Look to the Road Less Traveled

The Natchez Trace Parkway

Consider alternate routes that will provide interesting sightseeing points.  A little bit of research can make an otherwise mundane trip a lasting memory.  Kids don’t necessarily appreciate being cooped up in the car, strapped to their seats for hours on end so these little jaunts can be extremely rewarding.  It can be as simple as a scenic highway with frequent overlooks to as complex as a full day side trip with an extra night’s stay to take advantage of area attractions.

Know Your Audience

If your kid eats, sleeps and breathes all things ball, oozes masculinity at the ripe old age of five, and buries his face in his hands, groaning and making puking sounds during the kissing scenes of any movie, chances are an interesting side trip to The American Girl Store in Chicago is not going to be appreciated.

Why so sad little boy?

On the other hand, if your kids freak out, screaming with joy at the prospect running up and down grassy hills they will certainly appreciate any jaunt that includes Indian Mounds.

The Pharr Indian Mounds

Take Your Time

Seriously, what’s the hurry?  It’s a vacation.  The whole idea is to get away from hectic and grind and rush and any of those other words that mean hurry up and work harder.  I get tense when hurried, even while not driving.  Vacations are supposed to be relaxing.  A meandering pace with frequent stops keeps everyone interested, almost giddy anticipating the next exciting adventure around the bend.

Remember Your Cards

I’m not talking about playing cards or even the credit cards–though I doubt I’d leave either behind on a road trip.  No, I’m talking about your membership cards.  The Zoo membership card and the Science Museum membership card.  Almost all of the major zoos and children’s museums have what is called reciprocal admission privileges.  That means that if you are a member of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium your membership card will get you into the Alexandria Zoo for free.  Or the Nashville Zoo, or the Reid Park Zoo in Tuscon.

The Alexandria Zoo

The same holds true for your Children’s Museum membership.  There are over 250 participating science centers and museums that offer reciprocity admission benefits.   It’s a good idea to call ahead to verify if the center or zoo you are planning to visit participates.

Bring Entertainment

Let’s face it, the allure of the road has only so much appeal to a youngster and eventually they are going to need alternate forms of entertainment.  And while a rousing game of License Plate Bingo or Slug Bug can pass a few restless minutes you’re going to need more.  Our iPod got plenty play during our recent trip.  I made a few play lists with the kids favorite songs (and mine) before hand so as to keep the search requests to a minimum (and my eyes on the road).

But inevitably I had to pull out the big guns.  The portable DVD player.  There was a time I had sworn them off in the car.  That was until it took us 7 1/2 hours to make the 3 hour and 15 minute drive from our house to Indianapolis.  Long journey does not begin to describe that trip.

If you need to make up some time or just need some quiet time, my experience is that a good movie will provide a near perfect hour and a half to two hour window.

Let Your Kids Be Kids

It Echoes!!! It Echoes!!! The Illinois Monument at the Vicksburg Battlefield and Memorial Vicksburg, MS

It’s OK if your kids go a little crazy.  It’s a vacation for them, too and while they may not have had their shoulder to the wheel grinding out nine to fives they certainly have earned a break from the routine of school and chores.  The road trip provides them an opportunity to experience their world in a tangible and exciting way.  Watching them yell, “Wahoo!!” every time the van doors opened cemented the fact in my mind that I was doing something good for them.  And me.

There are countless other things you should include or consider when planning a successful and enjoyable road trip with the kids:  cameras (and chargers–I’m an idiot that learned this the hard way), insurance cards (medical-God forbid you should need them), wipes for dirty hands in car, etc. etc.   But what’s the fun in endless planning?  Eventually, rubber needs to meet the road and the journey must begin.

Our trip, I am happy to report, was a resounding success.  The kids had a great time as did I.  Honest!  I also let out a “Wahoo!!” myself every once in a while , but usually at inappropriate times so as to keep the ruse of lunacy alive.

Inspiration for this post came from a colleague here at UpTake.  Her post 18 Travel Tips for Planning a Road Trip was brilliant.  My purpose here was simply to augment her excellent advice.  If you are anything like me, you certainly appreciate a good augmentation.

The leaves have begun their autumnal transfiguration exchanging green hues for reds, oranges, yellows, browns and every imaginable shade in between. There’s a crispness in the air that literally screams fall is upon us though not quite as loudly as my children. The fall season is a family season, a holiday season, specifically, it’s pumpkin season. Miller’s Country Gardens in Delaware, Ohio has your pumpkin needs covered.

Less than an hour’s drive from Columbus, Ohio at 2488 State Route 37 just north of the city of Delaware, Miller’s Country Gardens makes for the perfect family weekend day trip. The quickest route would most likely be to take State Route 23 North from the I-270 outer belt. But we’re not looking for fast, we’re looking for pumpkins and a proper christening of the fall season, right?

Life’s a journey—take the scenic route. Head north past the Columbus Zoo and Acquarium and Zoombezi Bay on Riverside drive which becomes State Route 257. The road winds along the reservoir and follows the tree lined Scioto River. The fall colors are breathtaking and well worth the extra drive. SR 257 will intersect SR 37 about 4 miles west of Miller’s Gardens. (For those like me who may be navigationally impaired, take a right on SR 37 if you are driving north.)

When you arrive at Miller’s Gardens make sure to check out the Farm Market. The sweet corn has been harvested and there’s plenty left. There’s also quite a selection of fresh produce. Winter is coming and if you are anything like me you’ll want to stock up, fill the freezer as it were. But remember, we’re after pumpkins, right?

Just outside of greenhouse to the left of the store there are tables lined with hundreds of meticulously selected and size sorted pumpkins. You see, Miller’s has made the process as painless as possible. So if you’re OK with a pumpkin that has been hand selected for you just hours earlier you can move on.

There’s an animal petting area. That’s farm animal.  After the barnyard mavens have received their due lovin’ you can check out the corn maze. I can guarantee there’s not a kid out there who isn’t thrilled to run screaming through a corn field. They’ve even got a smaller hay bale maze suitable for toddlers. Though I’ll admit, my seven year old daughter had almost as much fun the the hay bales as she did in the corn field.

Lost in the Corn Maze

But let’s not let this talk of mazes get us lost. We’re after pumpkins, fresh pumpkins. The highlight of your trip to Miller’s Country Gardens is surely to be the hayride from the barn out into the pumpkin patch. Once there you are free to pick and choose your perfect pumpkin right from the vine. It doesn’t get any fresher than that.

A bit of advice as told to my kids, “you can have any pumpkin you want as long as you can carry it out.” Trust me, the last thing you want is to be stuck in a pumpkin patch trying to sherpa five pumpkins back without dropping them. They will burst if dropped. I know where of I speak.

Five Perfect Pumpkins

Miller’s prices the pumpkins by the pound (0.29 cents as of this posting) and scales are conveniently located at the hay ride drop off area. There are also plenty of wagons available to carry your fresh picked perfect pumpkin back to your vehicle. Parking, by the way, is free of charge and the lots are located on the grounds.

This year, celebrate the arrival of fall by treating the family to a trip to the pumpkin patch at Miller’s Country Gardens.

(Seasonal operation. Hay rides offered Saturdays and Sundays from 12-4pm.  Call for specifics or check their website for more detailed hours of operation.)

All Photos by Ed Lamaze.

The joys of parenthood are numerous and immeasurable. But, let’s be honest. Kids can make it harder to get around! Travel is just not the same once they come into the picture and things just take a little longer than they did when it was just you. I, for one, am glad to hear about all the new children’s products that are on the market today– products that are created for the sole purpose of making life ‘on the go’ with kids a little easier.

One site that has recently shown up on the UpTake radar is Tots On-The-Go. This site was started by new parents, dedicated to sharing the wealth of quality travel products out there for children. They offer the finest in strollers and travel baby products. Check out their website or drop by their showroom in Richmond, Virginia.

Traveling does not have to stop with parenthood, you just have to be prepared!

Thanks to Graham and Sheila for the stroller picture!

On our recent trip to Alaska (the 49^th state, celebrating their 50^th anniversary of statehood in 2009) we spent some glorious time in Denali National Park. We saw caribou, grizzly bears, ptarmigan, snow hares, mountains, glaciers, cruise ship tourists, but not a lot of families. That is too bad, since Denali Park is completely family friendly! Here are my recommendations for a family trip to this great national park up north:

Check out the Denali Visitor Center

The friendly rangers will help you plan your trip in Denali, whether you choose to camp, hike or take a short park tour. Good to know for families – the Visitor Center has Junior Ranger Backpacks, available for checkout. They include binoculars, pens, paper and activity books. If you are only in the park for a short time, the rangers also have Junior Ranger Activity Books – help your child complete the activities and become a certified Junior Ranger!

Stop by and explore the Murie Science and Learning Center

Serving as the winter visitor center for the park, during the summer the Murie Science and Learning Center is a great educational destination for families. My kids enjoyed exploring animal skulls and touching fur. The Center also offers week-long Family Field Seminars, specifically designed for families with children under 9.

Take a shuttle bus ride into the park

For our daylong trip in Denali, we hopped aboard one of the green shuttles to visit the inner park. After picking up our tickets at the Wilderness Access Center (WAC) we boarded a bus for a 6-hour tour into Toklat, about 50 miles into the park. Shuttle and tour busses are the only way to see the park, as cars are not allowed past mile 17. Frankly, I would rather leave the driving to someone else! The bonus for families – children under 14 ride free with their parents. Word of advice; be sure to pack plenty of snacks and water for the trip, as there are no concessions past the Visitor Center.

Join a ranger-led program

One of the easiest ways to learn more about Denali is through ranger-led programs. Many programs are offered daily, including hikes and nature programs; check with the Visitors Center for details. Our family enjoyed all our interactions with the park rangers, who were a wealth of knowledge and very willing to take the time to answer our questions. We even learned that mosquitoes in the park are vital to the eco system, pollinating the blueberry bushes, which are important to the health of the local grizzly bears.

And finally, leave some time to get out of your car and explore the park on foot. The park is outstanding and the beauty needs to be explored from the ground. For more ideas, check out Alpenglow Visitor Guide, a publication highlighting current events at the park.

Sheila Scarborough (About her, Twitter, LinkedIn) has developed one of the top family travel blog franchises out there, previously at http://blogs.bootsnall.com/Seafarer/ on BootsnAll. On August 18, she moved out of her comfy old home and into a fresh new domain called FamilyTravelLogue. Frankly I can’t think of a bigger stressor for a Website owner or blogger than moving your domain! I know, cause we just went through with this at UpTake.

Sheila told me that she is focused on independent family travel for “non-Martha Stewart” parents! Not sure what that means, but I have loved the independent, can-do, spirited, “grab life by the horns” feel of the blog.

The blog has the following areas of focus:

FamilyTravelLogue Accomodations include:

• All-inclusive resorts
• Hotels for Families
• Resorts

Theme parks:

• Six Flags
• Walt Disney World

Vacation ideas:

• Beach vacations
• Road trips

Destinations

• all over the place!

Travel guide with specific topics like:

• Travel insurance
• Why travel with kids?

This last category is something that many of us feel strongly about here at UpTake. Some of Sheila’s thoughts:

For the enjoyment of travel with kids to outweigh the aggravation, you must thrill to the demands of teaching and the delights of discovery. You must be willing to make up your own lesson plans and be able to appreciate having the entire planet as a classroom.

Finally, you have to enjoy being a teacher even when your student doesn’t grasp the lesson immediately, or even that day/month/year….

Patience has never been one of my virtues, but through my travels with two very different children, I have learned that things sink in when you would least expect, and that’s why you must gently persist, sometimes even in the face of intractable opposition….

Kids learn that there is no substitute for actually being there. There’s nothing more magical than being able to say, “I’ve stood on that spot and met those people and eaten their food and learned about their history.” Every continent becomes your children’s neighborhood.

With enough travel and exploration, they are at home in the world.

As a parent, that is the finest reward.

Amen. As a dad with a 2-year old and a 6-year old, I know it can be a PITA to take the kids along. But equipping my kids with a global perspective is one of the best things that I think I can do as a dad. And, by the way, I’m not going to let them stop me travel anyway, so they might as well come along!

Kim Kavin is a freelance writer, photographer and published author based out of Long Valley, NJ. She was formerly the Executive Editor of Yachting Magazine. Her writings have appeared in media publications like Elite Traveler and Traveler Overseas. She has visited more than two dozen countries, and she writes prolifically, literally about ‘everything’. Another one of her books – Everything Family Travel Guide to Northern California and Lake Tahoe – is set for a launch in November 2008. So I asked her a few questions about the book and her career as a travel writer.

Question: Would you like to tell us a bit about yourself, and how you got into travel writing?
Ans: I’ve always been good at writing and editing. In first grade, I found some typos in a textbook, and my teacher helped me write a note about them to the publisher. It was a natural that I’d become the high school newspaper editor, a journalism school graduate, and then a professional journalist.
I actually started out professionally as an editor working in newspapers, but decided I wanted to work regular hours and write about more than crime and politics. I answered an ad in Editor & Publisher for an “outdoor magazine editor” near where I lived. It turned out to be Yachting magazine, and I got the job as executive editor. After a few years there, I realized that the writers were having all the fun, so I quit and went freelance. I started out writing about travel onboard yachts, and the books about general travel were a natural outgrowth of all my reporting experiences around the world.

Question: You have written books about everything from cruise vacations to a kid’s guide and timeshares, not to mention about writing for magazines itself. For 2008, you have two books, one which is a travel guide for the New York area, while the second one is a guide for Northern California and Lake Tahoe. I understand you live in New Jersey, so the first book would come naturally to you. How about the California guide? Why choose Northern California? How long did it take you to go around this area?
Ans: The Northern California idea actually came from the publisher. My editor at Adams Media asked me if I’d done any traveling there, and I had, because my husband and I have good friends who lived in Santa Cruz at the time. So I knew a fair amount about the area before even beginning the research for that book.
I don’t think a travel writer’s home base has anything to do with the areas she can cover. I travel so much for assignments that I know some Caribbean islands and Mediterranean ports better than the towns a few miles away from my own bedroom.

Question: Related question – Could you describe the California guide for our readers? I understand it has 432 pages. What is it about? Which are the major locations, what kind of travel tips? Is it a travelogue with restaurants and shops and stuff or do you focus on the natural beauty of the region, or both, or something else?
Ans: The Northern California book follows the standard Everything Guide format, which means straight how-to and general information that will help with planning a vacation. There are chapters on everything from San Francisco to Wine Country to Gold Country, as well as tips for places to visit whether you’re traveling as a couple or with children. There are extensive listings of restaurants and hotels in each chapter, too, so that no matter which part of Northern California interests you, you will be able to plan your vacation soup to nuts.

Question: The title of your book contains San Francisco, Yosemite, Monterey and Lake Tahoe. Which part of Northern California do you like the best?
Ans: I’m personally a fan of Napa and Sonoma, which is California Wine Country. My husband and I love wine and food, and Northern California labels are a big part of our life out in New Jersey. I think anyone who drinks California chardonnays or pinot noirs regularly would enjoy touring the wineries, learning about food pairings, and such.

Question: People in Socal might feel a bit depressed that you chose to ignore them. Any plans to do Southern California? And how does California compare with the East Coast?Ans: If the Everything Guide editors want a book about Southern California, I’d be happy to write it. I have friends and family from Los Angeles to San Diego, and it’s beautiful out there.
As for California versus the East Coast, I would simply say that they’re different. They’re both great in their own way. I live out East because that’s where most of my family is located. If somebody told me we were all up and moving to San Francisco, I’d go along without a single complaint.

Question: You were a copy editor and have been in other editorial positions for mainstream magazines before you got into the travel sector. Is it any different, or do you just do the same thing?
Ans: I get to leave my desk now. That’s certainly a lot more fun. And instead of interviewing police officers and politicians in fluorescent-lighted offices, I get to hang out with tour guides and restaurant owners on beaches and mountainsides.
Being a full-time freelancer also means I get to pick and choose my projects instead of doing whatever the new corporate boss wants on any given day. I must say that’s pretty great, too.

Question: You have any other passions or hobbies, other than writing?
Ans: I like to hike, which I do most every day with our two dogs. They’re probably my biggest passion. I’m one of those weirdos who treats the dogs like kids. They sit on the couch and eat better food than most people.
I’m also a fan of scuba diving, which I do every chance I get. And my husband and I both like to cook, so that’s a bit of a hobby as well.

Question: Are you currently writing any new books, or have plans for one? If so, what is it about?
Ans: I’m currently finishing the Everything Guide to Las Vegas, after which I will immediately start writing the Everything Guide to Italy.

Question: Any advice, tips or suggestions for travel writers?
Ans: Fill up your notebook and take lots of pictures. I find that I always return home from an assignment with vastly more information than I need for whatever book or article I was sent there to collect. I can almost always use the “leftover” content in other magazines, on websites, or as the basis for new book proposals.