Shrimp Festival 2011

Until I visited the region with family during the 2009  National Shrimp Festival, I held the notion Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama was strictly a golfers paradise. Walking around in light flamingo Polo-shirts, my paradigm involved drinking Arnold Palmers in vehicles touting ample trunk space. While tee times are as coveted as much as mandatory relaxation, you’ll find plenty of spots to make a castle other than in the sand trap.

Sunset from Wild Hearts (Double Rainbow Added for Fun)

Wild Hearts Cruises

Our number one recommendation for families visiting the ocean is to get out into the water on an educational cruise. Providing visitors with several different types of daily cruises (dolphin, nature, eco, sunset, and picnic/snorkel) Wild Hearts Cruises located in Orange Beach, Perdito Key, and Gulf Shores. From the luxury of a 53-foot open ocean catamaran, Wild Hearts comfortably accommodates multiple parties and an extended family up to 49 people (reunion, wedding, or special celebration). In the peaceful quiet of the cruise, you’ll see ocean life and views of the mainland in a Jacque Cousteau kind of way. Children are welcome aboard (kids 5 and under are free) and discounted prices are available for kids age 17 and younger and groups of 12 or more.

The Woody (Photo Credit: Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism)

The Track Family Recreation Center

A popular after-dinner entertainment spot The Track Family Recreation Center (or just “The Track”) is perfect for tiring kids out. Featuring a large indoor arcade, bumper boats, miniature golf course, go-karts, and rides (for both big and little kids as well as adventure seekers), families could easily spend several hours trying to fit everything in. When visiting The Track for the first time, know that patrons are welcome to bring in their own drinks and food (ice cream and snacks are available at the snack shop). Parents with kids of various ages, weights, and shortness can consult ride requirements online (plan ahead to wear sunscreen or get wet if you come during the day or ride in the bumper boats). If you have a need for speed, the Wild Woody is a three-story spiraling wooden race track with single and double-passenger karts. Other options include a classic track (with stadium seating for parents and fans) and a kiddie course with rookie carts (kids four and older can drive).

Lemur Island at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

Located just over a mile from the beach, the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo in Gulf Shores features over 300 animals on the seventeen acre location. Home to lions, tigers, bears, monkeys, reptiles, kangaroos, and the famous “Chuckie” the 11-foot alligator, kids can get up close with farm animals in the petting zoo. With discounted admission for seniors, military families, and children, plan to budget a few dollars and spring for one of the zoo’s six animal encounters (including camel rides, baby animals, lemur encounters, and an outback experience that includes meeting a kangaroo). Outgrowing the current location, the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo has exciting plans to move into a new green zoo over the next two years. If you’re looking for a break from dolphins, turtles, and jellyfish, spend an afternoon at the zoo.

Waterville USA

Home of the $3 mini golf, Waterville USA is Gulf Shores’ water and amusement park. Open May-September, a day pass to Waterville USA is $29.95 and includes amusement plus all the water you can’t find in the nearby ocean. A popular hangout for local kids on summer vacation, Waterville USA has an indoor arcade and bounce house in the event of a rainy day.

Where to Stay:

Lazy River at Caribe, The Resort (Photo Credit: Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism)

Caribe, The Resort

An exclusive condominium property in Orange Beach, Caribe, The Resort is a community of individually-owned condominium units available for vacation rental. Ranging in size from 1400 to 2400 square feet, families looking for the comforts of home with on-site resort amenities—including over 40,000 square feet of water spread out between eight outdoor pools, three indoor pools, nine hot tubs, and a lazy river—will also love the mile and a half of unobstructed ocean views. Because the units are owned by families, each unit is as unique as the family that calls it home away from home. Commonalities include private balconies, gourmet kitchens, and Jacuzzi tubs. If you can drag the kids out of the water (ocean, pool, or over sized bath tub), check out the tennis courts, fitness centers, and game room. Caribe, The Resort is perfect for large groups, multi-generational families, and people generally looking to re-connect with each another without cramming into a traditional hotel room.

View from the Lincoln Park Zoo Nature Boardwalk

To live in the Midwest and have never experienced the culture, food, architecture, diversity, and entertainment that is Chicago is a sad thing indeed. For many of us quite comfortable in the regional cost of living and slower pace of daily life, Chicago can take us a bit by surprise. Between parking, tolls, and a 10.25% sales tax, the price of progress does come with a few extra vacation expenditures. Relatively inexpensive by East and West Coast standards, a weekend in the Windy City is still worth budgeting for. Recently spending four days in the, here are some ways we saved money on our trip to town.

Meatballs for Less at IKEA

Knowing many downtown hotels charge anywhere between $10 and $40 extra to keep a vehicle in the hotel parking ramp, we booked a room at the Homewood Suites in the popular Chicago suburb of Schaumburg (parking is 100% FREE). Conveniently located near O’Hare International Airport, Schaumburg is a haven of high-end shopping, dining, and recreation. Arriving at Homewood Suites on a Thursday night, our first evening meal was on the house in the hotel dining area. A full complimentary dinner with adult drinks is offered to hotel guests Monday through Thursday (hot breakfast is complimentary every day of the week). This is standard practice at Homewood Suites across the country. Stocking our full refrigerator with food purchased at the nearby Whole Foods grocery store, we enjoyed a home-cooked spaghetti dinner as well as a trip down the block to the affordably-priced IKEA Restaurant (Meatballs for Less is now $2.99). Packing snacks and filling water bottles from home helped combat impulse purchases at overpriced museum cafes.

The Carousel at Navy Pier

Located within five miles of four different stops on the METRA commuter transit system, catching a train ride downtown not only saves gas and time (Chicago is notorious for commuter traffic jams), Weekend Family Fares allow up to three kids under age 11 to ride FREE with a fare-paying adult. Families serving in the military receive additional discounts (see all of the fare discounts here).

Planning to visit many of the popular downtown museums and attractions, we used the Go Select Chicago pass for discounted admission prices over the course of the long weekend. In many cases the Go Select Chicago pass allowed us to bypass long lines (anyone with young— already excited and growing impatient—kids will appreciate this perk).

Getting Wet at the Chicago Children's Museum

If your Chicago itinerary calls for a visit to Navy Pier, make sure to ask for a Chicago-Style Fun coupon book from the concierge at the main Information desk. The coupon book has dining and shopping discounts, as well as coupons for the attractions, rides, and aquatic sightseeing tours. The Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier (incidentally one of the best children’s museums we’ve ever been to) offers reciprocal admission for eligible members of participating ACM (Association of Children’s Museums) institutions, valid for up to 4 people per membership.

Along the lake shore on the north end of “The Loop” is Lincoln Park, Chicago’s version of Central Park. Always FREE (and open 365 days per year), the Lincoln Park Zoo is a fantastic place to pass an entire morning or afternoon (alas, zoo parking is not free, so plan ahead). With a balance of indoor and outdoor exhibits, the zoo offers breaks from both heat and windchill. Feeling somewhat rushed during our two hour speed walk through the zoo, we’d detour to downtown just for the chance to visit again.

LEGOLAND Test Center

Back in Schaumburg, we enjoyed an afternoon at the LEGOLAND Discovery Center (again, three cheers for FREE parking). An indoor attraction for LEGO fans of all ages and genders, our visit included two different rides, a model builder workshop,and touring the LEGO MINILAND (we visited during the cleverly-named Brick-or-Treat, and the entire museum embraced a G-rated spooky Halloween theme). Spending the majority of our visit building and testing LEGO Racers, a trip through the 4-D cinema was almost as big of a hit as our LEGO souvenirs. Hint: If your child subscribes to LEGO Magazine, check the back cover for discount admission coupons to Discovery Center locations nationwide).

As an aside, Chicago newbies may want to take advantage of the FREE Chicago Greeter program offered by the Chicago Office of Tourism (read the related story here). Other personal FREE museum recommendations are the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame and the Chicago Cultural Center.

Renting a redbox DVD at a gas station in Alabama

As a general rule of thumb, we provide our kids with unlimited opportunities for self-entertainment (i.e., looking out the window) for road trips under nine hours. This is partly because our Hail Mary minivan is as analog as it gets and partly because most computer repair shops generally frown upon jerry-rigging laptops using a combination of bungee cords and Newton’s Third Law of Motion. That said, there are occasions when even the most seasoned road warriors are faced with choosing between the digital baby sitter and eating our offspring.

Redbox to the rescue.

About two summers ago it dawned on me we could rent and return DVDs as we traveled. Allowing kids to select new movie releases and video game rentals from one Redbox location, we’d drive 400-500 miles, find another self-service kiosk and repeat the process at $1.20/rental ($1.50 for Blu-ray/$2 for video games) . With now nearly 28,000 locations nationwide and a handy mobile app (we use the iPhone app, but Android is also available), the rent, travel, rent process is much more streamlined than calling your husband for help from 1642 miles away. The smart phone apps also allow you to browse titles and reserve advance copies.

Currently subscribers to Netflix from our home mailing address, Redbox “on the road” offers the additional flexibility and instant gratification necessary for preserving your mental health when driving solo, say, to the Gulf of Mexico from Wisconsin in two days. (!)

Viewable from the car, hotel room, airplane, train, and boat (we make lots of trips across Lake Michigan), the folks at Redbox are generously donating 20 FREE DVD rentals to the first 20 people (one each) who leave a comment on this post with their favorite road trip movie.

Door County, Wisconsin. A beloved vacation destination for Mid-westerners, this pinkie-shaped peninsula jutting out into the pristine waters of Lake Michigan lives up to the nickname “Cape Cod of the Midwest.” Whether you ride a Harley, sail a yacht, camp, antique, scuba dive, kayak, or simply appreciate award-winning regional food and wine, Door Country truly has something for everyone all year round.

On a budget and in the area for a short weekend, our family came to Door County with one main theme on our vacation itinerary—stones. Skipping stones, that is. A family tradition spanning decades of lighthouse keepers and island dwellers, skipping stones is a rite-of-passage for anyone living in a Great Lake state. Because a certain type of stone is best for skipping—palm size, flat and round—we consulted with the Door County Visitor Bureau for the best places to skip stones in Door County, Wisconsin.

Number 1: Schoolhouse Beach, Washington Island

Located at the northernmost tip of Door County, Washington Island is only accessible by ferry (passenger or car). While a trip to Schoolhouse Beach didn’t fit our schedule this time, Jon Jarosh, Director of Communications and Public Relations with the Door County Visitor Bureau holds this beach in the highest stone-skipping regard. Jarosh goes on the record to say, “Schoolhouse Beach on Washington Island is probably the quintessential stone skipping beach in Door County. It’s like the stone-skipping gods fired up the old rock tumbler in the sky for half an eternity and deposited a kajillion of the most perfect skipping stones in each of those places and wanted to see if we’d figure it out.”

Number 2: Pebble Beach Road, South of Little Sister Bay

At the end of Pebble Beach Road just south of Little Sister Bay and the town of Sister Bay is Pebble Beach. Bordered by private property on either side, you’ll find a skipping stones surplus in this secluded beach/kayak and canoe launch. Open to wind and the wake of passing motor craft, what you lack in calm water you make up in rock demand. A person could easily throw their arm out at Pebble Beach. Consult a map before venturing down the back roads (pass a rural cemetery and you’re on your way). Consider packing a picnic lunch or making the short jaunt to nearby Fred and Fuzzy’s Waterfront Bar and Grill.

Number 3: Peninsula State Park, Tennison Bay along Shore Road

On Shore Road along the western shore of Peninsula State Park is Tennison Bay. Protected from rougher water in an inlet, the rocky beach reveals a sandy bottom in the crystal clear (but brisk) water. While collecting a pile of perfect skipping stones took a few extra minutes at this location, we amused ourselves by simply tossing large rocks out to the mermaids. Because the this beach is within a Wisconsin State Park, you can use your annual parks pass or purchase a day admission sticker for $7 (WI plates).

Number 4: Rock Island State Park

If the name of this island/state park doesn’t tip you off, Rock Island (north of Washington Island) is a stone skipping haven. Selected as number four because of it’s distance from the overall Door County experience,  Jon Jarosh explains, “Pretty much everywhere along the shore is good for skipping stones except for the sand beach on the south side of the island.” Key to skipping stones on Rock Island is picking your favorite spot.

Number 5: (A Tie) Sunset Park, Fish Creek and the end of Juddville Road,  Juddville

A tie for the number five spot goes to Sunset Park in the town of Fish Creek (drive to the end of Main Street past the White Gull Inn) and the end of Juddville Road in the unincorporated town of Juddville (between the towns of Fish Creek and Egg Harbor). While these two locations aren’t exactly ideal for skipping stones, they are perfect for scrambling around on the larger rocks. One of the few places to watch the sun set over Lake Michigan in the state of Wisconsin, both locations are romantic enough to gross out your kids. Note: picnicking is not allowed on the Juddville beach.

Other Contenders

Other stone-skipping locations in Door County are at the end of Porcupine Bay Road near Ellison Bluff County Park and near the Northport ferry dock at the very end of Highway 42 (hitting the ferries with stones is probably not a good idea, though). And, if you get sick of throwing stones or want to spread out your towel on a more comfortable spot, dunes and sandy beaches are plentiful up and both sides of the peninsula (we like Whitefish Dunes State Park south of Jacksonport on Whitefish Bay).

Where to Stay

In my experience, camping and skipping stones go hand-in-hand. That said, if you’re on a tight schedule and want the next best thing (read: a decent mattress and warm cup of coffee not brewed on an open flame), consider making a reservation at Parkwood Lodge at 3775 State Hwy 42, in Fish Creek (Phone: 800-433-7592).

Located within a few minute’s drive from both Fish Creek and Ephriam, Parkwood Lodge is tucked away from the road in a quiet forest (the sound of pine cones hitting the ground was the loudest noise coming through our open window at night). Guests can enjoy a picnic lunch on the tables outside each building, make a fire at the complimentary camp ring, play pool and games in the arcade, borrow a book or board game from the lobby, or swim in the indoor pool (we “tested” the pool three times, relaxing our tired arms in the hot tub). To be re-surfaced and converted into a tennis court, basket ball court, and activity area (hop scotch, four square) is the existing tennis area. Balls and rackets are available in the game room.

Greg and Denise Stillman, twenty-year Door County residents and three year owners/operators of Parkwood Lodge are happy to share their suggestions for Door County memory making. Down-to-earth and living up to Wisconsin-friendly standards, the Stillmans offer a unique and affordable lodging space parents and kids will love.

And if skipping stones isn’t your thing, check out this Family Fun vacation planning link on the Door County Visitors Bureau website.

For most of us, planning a road trip to Alaska is as daunting as the state itself. A “lifetime” journey for the adventuresome lot, if you’re ever going to need a guidebook to jump start your vacation planning, this list will get you one step closer to the Great North.

Moon Handbooks, Alaska
Don Pitcher

Organized by geographical region and by city, Pitcher meticulously describes the events, lodging, recreation, food, and services for nearly 400 pages in this Moon Handbooks guidebook. Providing suggested itineraries and realistic driving times, much of the book covers how to get from point A to point B using various modes of transportation. Ending with supplemental reading materials and web links, make sure to read the Essentials section (page 542) after pouring over the beautiful four-color “Discover Alaska” intro. For travelers with limited time (or ideas on where to begin), consider Pitcher’s “Best of Alaska” day-by-day itinerary on page 14. Downtown maps offer useful points of interest, but you’ll want to pack a more industrious and larger-scale supplemental version to clip with this guide book.

The World-Famous Alaska Highway
A Guide to the Alcan & Other Wilderness Roads oft he North, 4th Edition
Tricia Brown

Beloved by many a traveler along the Alcan, anyone reading this informative, entertaining, and useful account of the world-famous Alaskan Highway will understand why Tricia Brown has written for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Anchorage Daily News and Alaska magazine. Begin with Chapter 2, What You Need to Know, A to Z. As corny as it sounds, this 15 page alphabetical summary truly highlights the 101 of a first-time trip to The Final Frontier. Organized by the two different driving routes through Canada (the Eastern Route through Alberta or the Western Route through British Colombia) and into Alaska on the famed Alaska Highway, Brown provides a “compendium of historic sites, roadside attractions, dramatic views, wildlife sighting sites, recreational resource” (someone else said this too perfectly in a review of the book on Amazon.com). A fan of literary diversion, I particularly enjoyed the color photos, sidebars, data tables (including miles and driving times), and suggestions for packing and preparing your vehicle at the very front of the guide book.

Frommer’s Alaska and Frommer’s Alaska Day by Day
Charles Wohlforth

Author of both Frommer’s Alaska (five different editions, spanning 2006-2011)  and Frommer’s Alaska Day by Day, life-long Alaska resident Charles Wohlforth knows a lifetime’s worth of information about his state. With chapters on planning your trip to Alaska and a history of the state, Frommer’s Alaska is somewhat more “high level,” than Alaska Day by Day. Both books, however, offer suggestions on Alaska’s “best” and give suggested itineraries and strategies for seeing the state. Both books are broken down into geographical regions and much of the information on events, lodging, recreation, food, and services overlap. In full-color and featuring hundreds of photos throughout the pages, a sturdy fold-out map is affixed to the back cover (for driving, you’ll still want to invest in an atlas or official Department of Transportation version. Broken into manageable sections, Wohlforth mixes layman’s terms with useful tips and clever antidotes thought the combined 1000 pages that are his guidebooks.

The Milepost 2011 Alaska Travel Planner, 63rd Edition
Edited by Kris Valencia

Recommended by Jeff Roach, Planning Manager at Alaska.gov, Roach says, “The premier travel book for the Alaska Highway and travel within Alaska that is used by most Alaskans is ‘The Milepost‘ published by Morris Communication Company LLC. I’ve lived in Alaska for more than 30 years and have used ‘The Milepost‘ for many trips back and forth to the Lower 48 and within Alaska. It is considered the ultimate Alaska travel guide because it provides a detailed description of all surface route amenities, activities and sights. I wouldn’t drive to Alaska without ‘The Milepost‘.

Pouring over our own personal copy of The Milepost, the 783 four color pages of maps, itineraries, statistics, history, driving directions, photos, and advertisements, we have pinned the complimentary fold-out highway map to one of the kids’ bedroom walls. Like a department store catalog, the thick magazine-like reference book is designed for flipping, marking, tagging, and otherwise storing with the atlas in the glove box or behind the seat. Concurring with Roach, we wouldn’t leave home without this one.

Oh, Ranger: Alaska’s National Parks

Previously featured in out post on Top 10 Books for a National Park Family Vacation, the little, green Oh, Ranger! guide to Alaska’s National Parks are lightweight, portable, and educational enough for both parents and slightly older kids. Available as a set online, visitors to Alaska can pick up a free copy of Oh, Ranger: Alaska’s National Parks at the Public Lands Information Centers, the Alaska Marine Highway System ferries, the Alaska Railroad, local chambers of commerce and visitor centers, and select hotels.

Travelers bringing their iPhones to Alaska should also check out the newly released (also free) Oh, Ranger! Park Finder mobile app. The app is designed to help outdoor recreation enthusiasts find activities at more than 6,000 national parks, state parks and public lands nationwide.

Frontiers
Joel Jensen

The Alaska Highway provides the backdrop for Frontiers, the remarkable journey of a father and son struggling to find the missing pieces of themselves in a world that seems to hold no future. On their journey in an RV from Los Angeles to Anchorage, the two men find the courage and willingness to mend their relationship.

While this fictional story deals with the underlying issues between the two characters, Jensen uses his experience living and working in Valdez to describe the journey along the Alaska Highway. From vehicle repairs, points of interest, and even the comrade of strangers, Frontiers will put you in the mood to go out and live your great adventure.

A city rich in history, diversity, and entertainment, experiencing the Windy City in just one trip or during one season is not possible—even with the tightest itinerary and most comprehensive guide books. To understand Chicago, you must meet the people who work there, live there, and call it home.

Especially for working families, vacation time is precious. Knowing many families look to the tourism industry during itinerary planning, site seeing is a popular way to navigate unfamiliar territory. To make the most of your Chicago experience, consider a tour or specialized sightseeing company. With options for walking, public transit, and private transportation, each company offers a different tour structure, flexibility, and cost. From individual tours to large groups and reunions, here are three of our favorites:

Walk Chicago Tours

Walk Chicago Tours is a privately-owned walking tour company. Designed to appeal those visitors who are hoping to avoid large groups, rushed touring methods, inconvenient scheduling, and higher costs, Walk Chicago Tours is available year round and with 12 different published tours on their website.

If your children are inquisitive, a Walk Chicago Tour is a grand way to have an edu”cation”.  Pulled directly from the Walk Chicago Tours website: “We are convinced that our tours are substantial educational experiences. They are walks through history, architecture, biography, geography, and legend. At the least, they have the equivalent educational value of a school field trip.” With a mission to enable visitors to see Chicago in all its grandness, feel its energy, and know its heart, each tour is lead by a knowledgeable and experienced guide who is skilled at unraveling the many layers of Chicago’s culture and history.

Walk Chicago Tours also offers private, personalized, and customized walking tours based on the needs of the group. At least one guide is provided for every ten walkers and the per/person tour price decreases as group grows in size. Downtown tours combine aspects of Public Art in the Loop, Loop Architecture & Pedway, Millennium Park, and Tiffany Glass in the Loop. Reservations are required at least 72 hours in advance and children under age 16 are half price. All tours are both wheelchair and stroller friendly.

Chicago Greeter

A free service provided by the Chicago Office of Tourism, Chicago Greeter matches visitors with residents both enthusiastic and knowledgeable about their city. Free to groups of six or fewer people, anyone can register to spend between two to four hours with a greeter on any one of 25 Chicago neighborhoods and in 40 different interest areas (from fashion to public art and ethnic influence in the city). Available one time per Chicago stay, your greeter (a volunteer matched with your interest and fluent in your native tongue) will meet you at your hotel and show you the city. During the tour, the cost of public transportation is “on the city.”

Advanced reservations are required (7-10 business days) and greeters are available on the second day (or later) of your visit to the city. For visitors on a less certain schedule, consider InstaGreeter, a 60-minute walking visit available on a first-come first-serve basis on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (10AM-4PM, Central Time). Visitors interested in an InstaGreeter tour should check in at the Chicago Cultural Center Visitor Information Center at 77 E. Randolph Street. Also check the Chicago Greeter website for seasonal tours available at the Millennium Park Welcome Center at 201 E. Randolph Street.

Shoreline Sightseeing Cruises

Between the Chicago River that divides it and Lake Michigan that surrounds it, there’s no disputing Chicago isn’t as much a water city as its coastal counterparts. Considered a rite of passage by many, a trip to Chicago isn’t complete until you see the city by boat. For over 70 years, Shoreline Sightseeing has been navigating the city’s waterways on one vessel or another.

Expanding to a full fleet of touring vessels and water taxis, cruise options include Lake Michigan, Architecture Cruises, Skyline Tours, and Fireworks Cruises. Cruise prices and times vary based on the time of year, day of the week, and length of tour (double check the cruise website or download the free Shoreline Sightseeing iPhone app—complete with boarding times and docking locations). Military in uniform or with I.D. ride free on the Lake Michigan Skyline Tours and water taxis, and only pay a child’s price for the  Architecture tours. Another money-saving tip is to bookmark the Captain’s Blog for special events, news, and periodic contests and giveaways.

When folks think of national parks, images of Yellowstone (or Jellystone, for that matter) and Yosemite come quickly to mind. These are the quintessential parks, offering campgrounds, trails for hiking, stunning roadside scenery, and places to unload your picnic basket. (Ain’t that right, Boo Boo?) But the National Park Service oversees many different kinds of sites—from National Monuments to National Seashores. In fact, there are more than 14 different designations for units in the park service. Some of these have the same facilities you expect from a national park. Others don’t. We wanted to share a few of our favorite places and perhaps shed some light on some unexpected destinations—each perfect for your next family road trip. Sit back while I take you on a tour of some of my favorites.

National Monuments
These are sites that have historic or scientific importance. Some are pretty humble, preserving an archaeological site or two and the neighboring area. Others serve to protect unique geology, which can spread over miles.

Castillo de San Marcos Nat’l Monument (St. Augustine, Fla.) – St. Augustine is all about history. The settlement was founded in 1565 by the Spanish, and it is the “oldest continuously occupied European-established city and port in the continental United States.” Central to this history is the Castillo de San Marcos, which is maintained by the park service. This fort was built in 1695 to protect Spanish interests from privateers and the land-grabbing British. Visitors can wander the walls, peek inside the fortifications to old prison cells and soldiers’ barracks.

Florissant Fossil Beds Nat’l Monument (Florissant, Colo.) – Just the other side of Pikes Peak from Colorado Springs, the Florissant Fossil Beds are an easy drive from Colorado’s southern Front Range communities. Most families come to see the petrified redwood stumps, some 14 feet in diameter. Hundreds of prehistoric insects and plants have left behind their fossilized remains here. In addition, the monument is a great place for watching wildlife or going on a hike (more than 14 miles of trails!).

Marianas Trench Marine Nat’l Monument (Northern Mariana Islands, Pacific Ocean) – Okay, you won’t be able to road trip to this one, but it’s so unique it needed to be mentioned. This underwater national monument is found east of the Philippines. It covers nearly 100,000 square miles and includes Challenger Deep (the deepest known ocean depth in the world).

National Historic Sites
For history buffs, the national historic sites do a great job of preserving a particular piece of American history and presenting how that piece affects the whole.

Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site (Brookline, Massachusetts) – Probably best known for designing New York’s Central Park, Olmsted was also the landscape architect for the Chicago’s World’s Columbian Exposition. This was his home base, and his importance as the founder of landscape architecture and his impact on America’s parks is put center stage.

John Muir National Historic Site (Martinez, California) – On the other side of the country you find the park preserves the home of another great figure in history. This one was less interested in creating scenery as preserving it. Yosemite National Park owes its pristine condition to the efforts of John Muir, the naturalist/writer who in many ways launched the conservation movement in America.

National Battlefields & Military Parks
Now that we’re officially in the midst of the Civil War sesquicentennial, national battlefields and military parks will be the scenes of much hoopla. Places like Gettysburg and Shiloh will see thousands more visitors than usual.

Gettysburg National Military Park (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) – Hailed as the turning point in the Civil War, 51,000 men died at Gettysburg as Lee’s push north was halted by Union troops. The park service goes all out with interpretive talks and great descriptive displays. Certainly a worthy stop for parents looking to expose their kids to a little American history.

National Lakeshores
All on the Great Lakes, the country’s national lakeshores preserve some of the most beautiful geology on the planet, from the dunes of Lake Michigan to the limestone cliffs of Lake Superior. As a Michigander, I am partial to the lakeshores.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (Upper Peninsula, Mich.) – Found on the northern shore of Michigan’ Upper Peninsula, this is one of those spots that remains a hidden gem. There are many ways to explore the park. I think camping here makes for a great trip, but there’s plenty for the day-tripper. The best way to quickly apprehend these stunning limestone cliff is to head to Munising and schedule a tour with Pictured Rock Cruises.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (Northwestern Lower Peninsula, Mich.) – The Sleeping Bear Dunes are close enough to a number of Lake Michigan vacation spots that many visitor just visit for the day. If that’s the plan, be sure to drive the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive (find information and directions at the visitor center in Empire). Kids love the dune climb, and the view of Lake Michigan from the top is one of the most breathtaking you’ll ever come across.

National Seashores
Like the national lakeshores, these protect stretches of undeveloped shoreline on the nation’s oceans.

Padre Island National Seashore (near Corpus Christi, Texas) – At 113 miles long, this barrier island is touted as the longest undeveloped barrier island in the world. There are, of course, miles of pristine beach, but facing west toward the Laguna Madre, visitors find a world of wildlife to explore. Great camping, fishing, paddling, etc.

National Trails
The NPS’s national trails are the most elusive of the park’s offerings. While they may stretch through a number of states, people often overlook them altogether.

The North Country National Scenic Trail (New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota) – Stretching across seven states, beginning in the Adirondack’s of New York, passing through the Ohio River Valley, along the shore of Lake Superior, and out to the Western Plains, the NCNST is one of the newer parks. The trail is still being developed in parts, and few people even know it exists. Check out the site for the North Country Trail Association to find sections to hike. There’s something for every family, whether you’re looking for a short afternoon hike or a multi-day backpack outing.

Santa Fe National Historic Trail (Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, and New Mexico) – Like the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, this one isn’t about hiking. The trail traces the east-west passage of thousands of pioneers who made their way to the frontier via the Santa Fe Trail. The route parallels rivers and streams, meandering around tougher terrain, and you will find modern road builders found the path a good one to emulate. Along the way there are a ton of stops: forts to visit, plaques to read, old wagon ruts to inspect. This is the kind of park that can be the road trip.

Heading out for a road trip this summer, one way to cut down travel costs and keep your family on a healthy diet is to stock up on your favorite snacks. Road Trips for Families attended the 2011 Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, California last month to find the Top 10 road-trip friendly snacks. Our criteria is this: healthy, fun, portable, packable, affordable, non-melt-able snacks your kids will actually eat on a road trip. Sampling our way through one million square feet encompassing 3000 booths and holding 56,000 people (record attendance, by the way), we’ve narrowed down the list to our Top 10.

Granola: LOVE Grown Granola
LOVE Grown Foods

A LOVE story as much as a LOVE for a healthy lifestyle, LOVE Grown Foods is churning out some of the best granola Colorado has to offer. Made from high-quality, all natural, and freely unprocessed ingredients, the granola comes in five flavors (influenced heavily by the chocolate chips, Cocoa Goodness won our informal family taste test). Each granola is made with high-quality, all natural, and freely unprocessed ingredients and each flavor is made with certified gluten-free oats, sweetened with natural honey and agave, toasted to perfection, and then packaged with LOVE in 12 oz re-sealable bags.

Crackers: Sticks & Twigs
Mary’s Gone Crackers

Now, I have to admit the stick-like shape first attracted me to Mary’s Gone Crackers. Snickering at the thought of tricking a squirrel, Sticks & Twigs have a surprisingly light and fluffy taste. Because they are made of whole grains (including brown rice, quinoa, red quinoa, amaranth, and millet) and seeds (including flax, sesame and chia), the organic crackers offer a kosher and gluten-free snack free from trans fats and dairy.

Bars: Clif Kid Zbar Crispy
Clif Bar

Without any high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, trans fats, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives, the CLIF Kid Zbar Crispy’s are surprisingly loaded with flavor. In three flavors for our family’s finicky eaters (peanut butter, chocolate, and chocolate chip), I have to confess eating all of the samples on the flight home. BUT, you can find these organic snacks at grocery stores and co-ops across the country. A close runner up are the CLIF Kid z-fruit ropes made with organic fruit puree (one serving of fruit per 20g rope).

Jerky: Tanka Bites
Native American Natural Foods

With no nitrates or MSG, Tanka Bites are low fat, gluten free and lactose free. Did we mention there’s a dude racing a buffalo on the bag? One glimpse at the packaging, and my boys will think they can take on the entire prairie. A fan of jerkey for any road trip, Tanka Bites offer protein in the form of 100% buffalo meat. Slow roasted with cranberries for a tart edge, Tanka Bites come in a 3 oz. resealable pouch. Campers, put the 100% natural buffalo hot dogs in your cooler before you pack your TP (er, tent).

Nuts: Hail Merry
Hail Merry

There’s nothing like a nut to curb the appetite of a tired, hungry, crabby kid. We like Hail Merry nuts because they are soaked prior to packaging (this activiates the living enzymes and help aid in proper digestion). Not to mention, they’re carefully dehydrated as low temperatures to protect said enzymes and the essential fatty acids. Available in a variety of sizes and assortments Hail Merry nuts are available in recipes appealing to all parts of your palate (from Lemon Thyme Pecans to Vanilla Maple Almonds to Chocolate Macaroons). While you’re there, take a gander at the Merry’s Miracle Tarts. Don’t worry, they won’t last long enough to melt on the dashboard.

Applesauce: GoGo squeeZ
Materne

GoGo squeeZ is applesauce  on the go. Not only are these convenient, re-sealable, portable pouches a no-brainer for a road trip, they’re made without artificial flavors or preservatives and refrigeration is not required. Available five kid-friendly flavors (Apple Apple, Apple Peach, Apple Banana, Apple Strawberry, and Apple Cinnamon), the pouches are available four to a box and in 3.2 oz. servings. For camping or day trips, I would gladly plan ahead and avoid high fructose corn syrup away from home. Approximately the equivalent price of individual fruit at the grocery store (99 cents/pouch is less than the cost of an apple and a banana at the airport, for example), we’re going to do a little squeezing of our own this summer.

Drinks: TummyTicklers and BellyWashers
In Zone Brands

Designed for kids, TummyTicklers and BellyWashers offer 100%  juice (no added sugars, flavors, colors, or preservatives) in 4, 6, and 8 oz. servings. A “special treat” for a road trip, I would gladly let my kids pick a bottle sporting their favorite carton character before heading on vacation. Because the bottles are washable, reusable, and BPA-free, you can keep them filled with water once the juice is gone. Especially on the road and in the summer, keeping your kids hydrated is no small feat. With spill-proof sippy lids, the TummyTicklersTots and TummyTicklers help in the fight against sticky car seats.

Marshmallows: Dandies Vegan Marshmallows
Chicago Soydairy

Calling all campers, this product is for you. Our friends at Chicago Soydairy are re-inventing the marshmallow. The only all-vegan, gelatin free, air-puffed marshmallow available, Dandies can be used in hot cocoa, krispy treats, and (of course!) s’mores. Now, I have to admit purposefully ignoring the list of ingredients on marshmallows in the past, but no more. We will be choosy campers from here on out! Dandies look, feel, and taste like a real marshmallow and my kids wolfed down half a pack for an afternoon snack.

Chips: Beanfields Crispy Licious
Beanfields

A healthier alternative to corn chips, tortilla chips, or potato chips, the clever folks at Beanfields introduce a brand new snack made from US grown black beans, navy beans, and long grain rice. Trust me, these thins are addictive in a good way. Because the chips combine beans and rice, each 1 oz. serving contains 4 grams of complete protein and 4 grams of fiber—your stomach will love the energy from half the amount of food (take that, tortilla chips!). Gluten free and containing no trans fat, the chips are also non-GMO and come in four awesome flavors: naturally unsalted, sea salt, salt & pepper, and pico de gallo. Some finger licking may be required!

Chewies: Ginger Chews
The Ginger People

America’s #1 selling ginger candy, Ginger Chews by The Ginger People are my pick for road trip chewies.  Ginger’s is know for its queasy-quelling properties, Ginger Chews are great to fight off nausea while flying, boating, or going on a bumpy road trip (pregnant moms love them too). In flavors like Original, Spicy Apple, Peanut Butter, Hot Coffee (hello!), the chews are available individually and in samplers and variety packs. To boost your pre-trip immune system, consider Ultra Strength GinGins too.

A road trip can offer its own particular brand of difficulties for families traveling with babies and those on the cusp of toddler-hood. Babies require their own diaper bags, clean bottles, food, and entertainment. Our editors are always keeping an eye out for products that will make our trips easier. Here are a few that have crossed our desk recently that we think you might appreciate as well:

DiaperBuds
If you are heading out on a road trip, the likelihood is that you have not just a fully loaded diaper bag, but also a bin with extra diapers and wipes. But part of the fun of road-tripping is getting away from the car. It’s the little side trip that might take 15 minutes, or a couple hours, that make it an adventure. In those situations it’s not always convenient to strap on the fully loaded diaper bag. DiaperBuds is a unique option for just those situations. They are full-sized diapers that have been vacuum-packed to fit in a purse or pocket. We were really impressed by how small these diapers can get. They come in sizes 2–5, from 8–30 count. And the price wasn’t far off from a pack of Pampers: just $17.99 for a 24-pack of size 5 diapers. You can try ‘em out for just $1/diaper on their site.

texthook
Strollers these days come loaded with conveniences comparable to those of a mid-sized sedan. You can get strollers with one or two cup holders, a compartment for your keys, hooks for a diaper bag or purse, and trunks to stash coats, etc. One thing I haven’t seen, however, is a place to mount your smart phone. The texthook fills that gap. Attached to the handle of your stroller, it positions your iPhone (or other device) so that it is convenient for texting, emailing, or surfing your apps. The retail price for these is $25.99. You can find it at retail outlets like Buy Buy Baby, or online.

Toy Bungee
If you have a toddler you know the restaurant routine: The kid squawks, you hand him a sippy cup, he takes a drink and tosses at the feet of the people dining next to you. Then there’s more squawking, and, after a moment in which you should have thought better of the idea, you hand the boy the cup again and off it flies coming to a skidding halt under the foot of a passing server who might just be carrying a tray of 20 entrées for table #7. We’ve tried a couple solutions for this. (Duct tape seemed a good idea for awhile, but it drew more attention than the fussy kid.) Recently we tried something new: Toy Bungee. So far it’s worked out great. No more playing catch with Fisher-Price Click-n-Laugh Camera. No more dolling out huge tips to show our sincere gratitude to a server who bent over 12 times to pick up a bottle. Of course, fussiness is still an issue, but it’s less work for us. You can find the Toy Bungee on Amazon or through the NiNi Baby website for $8.95.

Sonny & Reed Teething Necklace
Few things make a new parent more miserable than a teething baby. Enclose yourself in a small space for hours on the road, and you may be the ones sneaking baby Tylenol. This Sony & Reed Teething Necklace, intended to be worn as bling, is stylish and easy to pack (just put it on and hit the road). We like the fact that it’s made in the USA from FDA approved material, BPA free, phthalate free, PVC free, and lead free. The beads are solid with nubs on one side to gently massage baby’s sore gums or to give them something to play with. Available in different colors, and as a bracelet, prices range from $18.50 – $29.50.

Ring Rattle, Dandelion Earth Friendly Goods
Inspired by circles including the wheel and the planet earth, the Ring Rattle by Dandelion Earth Friendly Goods gives babies a toy for back-seat driving right from the car seat. Made from organic cotton fibers, the ring is filled with soft corn fibers and is machine washable. From our own personal experience, babies love tactile “touch and teeth tags” and anything that makes noise. A 5 inch donut shape, the rattle comes with an “I Spy” hole in the middle for no extra charge ($10.99).

EcoSpoon, EcoTensil
Made from renewable paperboard, EcoSpoons are environmentally and diaper-bag friendly. Much less bulky than plastic spoons, EcoSpoons can be tucked in your glove box or purse pocket for snacking on-the-go. Guilty of pilfering fast-food utensils on many a road trip, we much prefer a stash of these recyclable and compostable utensils away from home. Obviously, when possible, the most environmental option is to re-use utensils when you can. That said, lightweight and stackable, the EcoSpoon does help maximize packing space on camping and cramped road trips. To help preserve their longevity, keep the spoons away from moisture and the elements.

Steri-bottle
In keeping with the theme of “stuff you recycle after use” we’d like to mention Steri-bottle. When we road trip, one of the biggest hassles is keeping bottles clean. Gas station bathrooms are hardly hygenic, and even when we find a clean bathroom (in our hotel, perhaps) carrying soap and a bottle brush on a trip is almost sure to create a terrible mess in your luggage. That’s where Steri-bottle becomes a lifesaver. Designed for one-use, the bottles are clean out of the package and can be recycled when you’re done. Easy-squeezy. Bottles come with medium- or fast-flow nipples. You can find them in packs of five and ten at retailers like Babies R Us and CVS, and online at Amazon.com.

Boston Parade

Connecting with a kindred road tripper, today’s guest post is about being green. No, we’re not talking about Kermit the Frog or Mother Earth. Break out the Lucky Charms and get your bagpipes handy, it’s almost time for St. Patty’s Day!

Traveling together on the road, my family and I have bonded and stayed close as a small and loving unit of long distance sight seers and adventure seekers! I was looking into new ideas for places to road trip to and with St. Patrick’s Day just around the bend, I figured I’d take the opportunity!

I’d never really thought of St. Patty’s day as a road tripping opportunity before, but after a little research, I realized that there are plenty of awesome destinations across the US with family friendly activities and fun to be had for every one of us. I’ve compiled a list of my favorite favorite top destinations for a road trip with my family on March 17. Top o’ the mornin’ to you all:

San Fransisco, California

Live music, festivities everywhere you look, and the biggest parade on the west coast and FREE cab rides in one of the most historically significant cities west of the Mississippi! San Fransisco turns green for a day with a family friendly parade that follows the historical trolley tracks through the city, drawing millions of people! Live Irish bands, Irish dancing and more bag pipes, pan flutes and fiddles than you can wag a shamrock at. A beautiful destination with rich culture and fun for the whole family.

New York City, New York

With the third oldest St. Patty’s celebration history (NY, NY joined the party in 1762), the big apple almost literally paints the town green. The New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade is advertised as the oldest, biggest and best in the world! Every year, millions of people populate the streets in high spirits and cultural pride in an even that’s not to be missed. The parade features over 150,000 marchers, bag pipes, dancers, jugglers, jesters and human shamrocks, plenty of green beer and no motorised vehicles, this historic parade is truly a spectacle to behold.

New London, Wisconsin

The only city to annually change its name for a holiday. For one day a year, New London, Wisconsin becomes New Dublin. The entire town becomes a huge family friendly party with cultural reenactors, traditional music and foods like corned beef and cabbage, live music and dancing and activities for boys, girls and leprechauns of all ages. While you’re there, make sure you don’t miss the enactment of Finnegan’s Wake before the parade!

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago, Illinois doesn’t hold back when it comes to the spirit of Saint Patrick’s Day. They even color the Chicago River florescent green! It’s one of the wildest thing’s I’ve ever seen. The windy city features not one, but TWO Saint Patrick’s Day parades with more than 300,000 attendants at each that have been an annual tradition since before the Civil War! Shamrocks, plaid, green top-hats and smiling faces as far as the eye can see, the traditions and celebrations in this city are things of legend that are a must see!

Boston, Massachusetts

This is the oldest and grandest St. Paddy’s celebration you’ll find anywhere in the U.S. Bean Town first celebrated the holiday in 1737, and it’s been improving on its Irish party ever since. About 850,000 people attend the festivities in this town that’s about 16 percent Irish. Live music, dancing and laughter around every bend, this city is my favorite all time family-friendly destination for St. Patrick’s Day. When it comes to spirits, tradition and history, this old Irish city simply can’t be beat and that’s no blarney!

About the Author:

Rebecca Chelsey loves to travel with her family and road trips are her favorite.  In between her road trip adventures, she works for Homeseasons, which has simplified the holidays with 4th of July decorations and Halloween Holiday arrangements and ideas for every holiday in between.

School spring break is almost here and most of us in the frozen tundra (aka, the Midwest) have beach vacations, amusement parks, and palm trees on the brain. But why not mix things up and add New England to your list this year? Within driving distance for many regions of the country, tourist destinations in the northeast are less crowded and still advertising “off season” rates or specials until the snow birds come home. To get you started on your spring break planning, consider these towns, venues, and all-inclusive destinations.

New Hampshire

The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is an easy stop for families to make traveling to and from Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire’s Lakes Region. Less than 15 minutes off I-95, the museum features 2 floors of hands-on exhibits created by local artisans, so the experience is uniquely New Hampshire. Families can explore a dinosaur dig, create a flying machine, learn about nature, experience world cultures and much more. Open year round, the museum also hosts numerous special events, artist visits, live performances and cultural celebrations.

Mt. Washington Valley, NH is also among the top ten family travel destinations for Spring Breaks in New England. This region of New Hampshire consists of 27 beautiful New England towns and villages, with the best known, North Conway, in the center. The region lies in the shadow of Mount Washington, the tallest peak in the Northeast. For outdoor loving families, the Mt. Washington Valley surrounded by the 660,000 acre White Mountain National Forest, offering seemingly endless outdoor recreation and scenery. In the winter, seven ski resorts and six XC centers offer a combined 250 alpine trails and 450 km for snowshoeing and XC skiing. Add to that a number of options for sleigh rides, skating (indoor and out). For the more adventurous families, there’s winter camping galore, rock and ice climbing and winter trips to the top of Mount Washington. Families can choose from more than 150 lodging properties in Mt. Washington Valley, offering everything from resorts with indoor water parks to hostels, campgrounds and plenty of family friendly inns and B&Bs, motels and hotels.

At Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire families will find plenty of activities to keep everyone entertained. The 200-room hotel offers numerous options for families including the Bretton Woods Canopy Tour (New Hampshire’s longest zip line). Families can enjoy a family sleigh ride, snow tubing, skiing, and dog sledding in the winter or fishing, swimming, mountain biking and horseback riding in the spring. In addition, kids can always be found having a blast in the game-room, indoor swimming pool and playground. When families aren’t outdoors they can take a break in one of the hotel’s six eateries and at the end of the night the whole family can wind-down for the night with cookies and milk and a turn-down service.

Massachusetts

Nantucket, a small island located 30 miles off the coast of Cape Cod, was once the whaling capital of the world. The distinct character and traditional charm, carefully preserved thanks to local regulations, has made the island a popular secluded getaway. The island’s one town, Nantucket, hugs the harbor and features cobblestone streets, historic sites, bountiful stores, homespun restaurants and seaside attractions. Forty percent of the island is designated as conserved land with rolling moors, heaths, miles of exquisite beaches and charming landmarks including three lighthouses and an operating windmill. Accessible by ferry, leave your car on the mainland and enjoy the slower pace, historic ambiance and nature at its finest. In Nantucket, feel like a local and rent a modern-day cottage big enough for the entire family at Harborview Place, right on the water’s edge.

Connecticut

Hartford, Connecticut is the birthplace of Mark Twain’s most famous characters, Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer. A tribute to all things Mark Twain, visit the Mark Twain House and Museum to see the infamous billiard room where Twain did all his writing, to unique exhibits in the Museum Center, and educational programs and community events. Beyond the daily house tours and rotating museum exhibits, consider a trip back to Hartford for Tom Sawyer Day (June 11), a Graveyard Shift Tour, or a jaunt down the road to the Harriet Beecher Stowe House, the brand-new Connecticut Science Center, the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, or the Tony Award-winning Hartford Stage.

Vermont

Located in the quaint village of Stowe, Topnotch Resort is at the foot of the Green Mountains and will still have plenty of winter activities available for spring break. The resort will still be running its Ski for Free package, including two lift tickets into the price of nightly accommodations. There are plenty of other activities as well, including snowshoeing, Nordic skiing and even dogsledding. All of these are available for families, as Topnotch is extremely family-friendly. Topnotch also has an award-winning spa, perfect for a light treatment or big massage after a day in the outdoors.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island is a child-friendly state and the perfect place for a family vacation. A logical choice is a trip to Providence, where you can explore the acclaimed Providence Children’s Museum, visit the beautiful 430-acre Roger Williams Park, a Victorian park (1878) comprised of waterways, walks, outdoor gardens, and a Carousel Village, Museum of Natural History, and the park’s crown jewel, Roger Williams Park Zoo. Other children’s activities in the park include paddleboats, a carousel, miniature train ride, pony rides and a jungle gym. But there’s plenty for a family to do beyond the boundaries of Providence. Consider a hiking adventure in one of our state parks or miles of paved bike paths, enroll in a family sailing course on Narragansett Bay, or step back in time at any of our bountiful historic attractions from Colonial times or the Gilded Age mansions of Newport.

Newport and Bristol Counties, perched on miles of scenic Rhode Island coastline, are the gems of New England. While many families plan their summer vacation around Newport’s warmer temperatures, the quiet charm of the City-by-the-Sea during spring break might just be the region’s best kept secret. Think the beach is just for sunning yourself? Think again. Easton’s Beach invites kids to see and pet creatures of the sea at their Save The Bay’s Exploration Center & Aquarium, home to 50 species of local Narragansett Bay critters. Downtown you’ll find the area’s only outdoor ice rink, the Sovereign Bank Family Skating Center, where you can skate night or day for just a few dollars while the hot cocoa flows (through the end of March)! Neighboring Middletown is home to the Norman Bird Sanctuary, a 450 acre wildlife refuge offering over 7 miles of hiking trails (and tons of wildlife watching). Of course, one of the most jaw-dropping attractions in Rhode Island comes courtesy of Mother Nature. Ocean Drive traces more than 10 miles of breathtaking shoreline, where the waves crash on centuries old rocks and boats head out to sea. For more visitor information, visit www.GoNewport.com or call 800-976-5122.

Finding it impossible to list all of the wonderful spring break venues in just one story, please feel free to leave a comment with your favorite New England family destination.

Dru in Cavern

As anyone who survived middle school may recall, life between the ages of 11 and 14 is an awkward time. You’re happy, then you’re angry, then you’re sad (and sometimes it’s a mix of all all three feelings at once). One minute you really need your mom, and ten minutes later you wouldn’t be caught dead in the same room with her. Put all those hormones in a car, add gasoline, and you may just have a catalyst for road trip misery.

Or not.

With some careful planning and realistic parenting expectation our friends Pace and Kyeli, the voices behind Connection Revolution, survived a fortnight on the road with with an almost 13-year-old—and loved nearly every minute of it. Here’s their story:

Over a two-week period in December, my wife Pace and I drove 4,500 miles (from Austin, Texas to Portland, Oregon) with our nearly-13-year-old son, Dru.

The amazing thing? All three of us had an awesome trip the entire way.

Planning ahead, keeping things flexible, making sure our son felt heard and important, and giving him as much decision-making power as possible were key in keeping the three of us sane for our epic journey across the Wild West.

With an older and only kid, we couldn’t rely on many of the tried-and-true methods of car entertainment.  He’s too old for “I Spy” (except on certain occasions when I can cajole him into playing with me), and he doesn’t have a sibling to keep him occupied.  As the trip approached, the three of us talked about what we could do to keep ourselves entertained and happy. We made a list of things we could do all together, and we got creative.

• we created a short role-playing campaign, where two of us were the storytellers and one of us was the player (it was a murder mystery set at Hogwarts in the Harry Potter universe!)
• we got some Brain Quest cards and took turns quizzing each other.
• we played a few of our silly wait-in-line games
• we loaded up his iPod with his favorite music
• we bought a good pair of binoculars for stargazing and sight-seeing

We also asked on Twitter and Facebook for some good places to take an almost-teen.  We researched parks beforehand, to make sure they would be open while we were passing through (especially since we were traveling during the holiday season), and to make sure they would interest him.

Older kids are in the weird space of being not-really-children but not-really-adults, and they often get surly because they feel uncomfortable in that space—and because they feel like their opinions are valid, but are being ignored.  So we gave Dru a voice.  We let him pick where we went as often as possible.  We made food decisions as a family.  We let him have the choice of what sights we saw.  We made a budget for spontaneous side-of-the-road things, and let him spend it on whatever random thing caught his eye.  We made sure Dru felt heard even when we outvoted him or couldn’t do his chosen activity, and we had smooth sailing the entire trip.

We also planned enough time for padding. When Dru got sick for three days, we only missed out on a couple of things, because we’d built extra wiggle-room into our trip. It’s important to keep things as flexible as possible when you’re traveling with kids, because the unplanned will inevitably occur and you don’t want a fever to ruin your entire trip.

We gave ourselves time to do things separately, too. We stayed with a friend who has kids for a few days, during which Pace and I had dinner out without Dru and he got to play with new friends without us around. It was a welcome breather for all of us.

And lastly, we gave ourselves permission to get annoyed with each other. We started off the trip by acknowledging that we were about to live out of our car for a full two weeks together, with no bedrooms to hide out in and no way to really tune each other out. We went into it knowing that there would be times when we’d bug each other, but we love each other and we all want to have fun, so we agreed to work it out when such things would happen instead of stewing and letting our anger build up. Then, we stuck to that agreement.

We had a whirlwind adventure; we were 800 feet below ground in the Carlsbad Caverns, 8,000 feet above sea-level in the Rocky Mountains, we saw giant ancient trees and new budding saplings, we watched a pair of elk battle for territory, we saw shooting stars and ghost towns, we dealt with fever and downpours and tiny winding mountain roads in the dark—and we had a wonderful, unforgettable journey, together as a family.

Bio: Kyeli Smith is co-leader of the Connection Revolution, teaching people to change the world through connection. She writes, blogs, and teaches workshops to foster understanding, tolerance, healing, authentic communication, and personal growth. She’s happily married to Pace, her partner in life and in business, and the proud and happy mom of Dru, who finally became a teenager in January!

Shells on Sanibel Island

Conducting an informal survey on the subject of going to the beach, “looking for seashells” was listed as the favorite activity by one hundred percent of survey participants. Okay, so I really asked my three kids what their favorite part of going to the beach is and the answer was pretty obvious. Honestly, my kids could literally spend endless quantities of time pacing up and down the beach looking for shells, crabs, jelly fish, and buried treasure. I can’t imagine a better way to pass an afternoon in a tropical paradise.

And, in Florida, there’s probably no better place to find seashells than on Sanibel Island, near Ft. Myers on the Gulf Cost. Because Sanibel Island runs in more of an east-west direction than other area islands running parallel to the mainland coast, the the tide and the wind constantly replenish over 300 different seashells in this shell-seekers heaven.

Great Hall of Shells

Listed in 1,000 Places to See Before You Die, The Bailey-Matthew’s Shell Museum on Sanibel Island offers something educational, beautiful, and just plain interesting, no matter what your age. First of all, admission to the museum is a reasonable $7 for adults and $4 for kids ages 5-16 (children 4 and under are free). With 26 exhibits, including a children’s learning lab, live tank demonstrations, and MMMM…Mollusks!, you’ll want to leave at least a half an hour to watch The Secret Lives of Seashells (viewing every 30 minutes in the theater just off the main lobby). Kids, especially, will learn how seashells are formed and that mollusks are truly amazing, living, animals.

Offering weekly workshops, special programs, and trips (like free Family Beach Walks: Walk the Beach with Experts), it’s worth taking a quick glance at the What’s New page on the museum website before you visit the area. In addition, excellent print resource materials are provided between the front desk and the theater in the museum lobby. You’ll find subjects like “What Shell Seekers Need to Know About Tides,” “How, When, and Where to Find Shells,” “Safe Travel for Shells: How to Get Them Home in One Piece,” and “Cleaning Your Shells” (and, for any of you who have previously experienced the distinct odor of a decomposing mollusk, take one for you and one for a friend).

What?

But wait, there’s more.

Extending out into the community, the museum has partnered with Adventures in Paradise, an area outfitter and sea cruise and fishing company. In particular, the Sealife Encounter Excursion is an interactive and educational experience going out through San Carlos Bay and into the grass beds on the uninhabited Picnic Island. Scooping with nets for pufferfish, crabs and mollusks, the ocean life is carefully examined and returned back to its habitat.

If your interest in shells and mollusks extends beyond a casual hobby, consider a visit to the Shell Museum Library on the second level. Holding an extensive collection of scientific and popular books, scientific journals, and shell-club newsletters from around the world, the library itself is about as impressive as the museum. Also on the second floor is a research and specimen collection area for scientists, volunteers, and researchers. Yours truly is pictured (to the left) holding one of the largest horse conch shells in the entire state of Florida. I was honored to have a behind-the-scenes look into why the The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum is accredited with prestigious others in the American Association of Museums.

Free Seashells for Kids

Last, but not least, science teachers may request a school shell collection kit for their classrooms (museum volunteers assemble, pack, and ship the kits to schools all over the country). During different times of the year, day camps, summer camps, and school programs are hosted at or by the museum. Below is a short video of my brief experience at The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum. I can’t wait to go back again with kids in tow. If you go, click here to print a coupon for a free children’s admission. Military families may also receive additional discounts.

If hard work requires focus, Jonny Moseley has the upper hand. Olympic gold medalist, MTV regular, celebrity judge, in 2010 Moseley was even a cast member on the ABC show Skating with the Stars. Beyond hosting Saturday Night Live, appearing on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine, and the city of San Francisco reserving a day in his honor, the list continues on his very own Wikipedia page.

The Dinner Roll, Jonny’s signature aerial ski move involves 720 degrees of rotation on both the x- and y-axis. Add a little more butter and a lot less spinning, and my sister and I invented a new trick called The Breadstick. Best suited for green runs, what The Breadstick lacks in danger it makes up in hospital co-pays.

Presented with the opportunity to meet Jonny in person at Squaw Valley USA in California last week, we spent a few minutes over lunch chatting about, what else, road trips. Father of two boys (ages 3 and really young), we wanted to know how Jonny survives travel with toddlers, dragging his kids away from the hotel pool, and the chaos (and sometimes monotony) of family travel.

About to embark on an exciting new cross-country adventure, Moseley has partnered with the road trip gurus at Ford on the Focus Rally:America competition beginning February 4, 2011. A completely new and interactive way to compete, six two-person teams will set off on a nationwide adventure in brand new 2012 Ford Focuses in the name of danger, adventure, and romance. Actually, I made that last part up, but the challenge was designed by the creators of The Amazing Race. (So, buckle your seat belts and hang on.)

Throughout the five-week trip, the teams will rely on the social media support of their virtual teammates. Using communication tools like Twitter and Facebook, those of us glued to our news feeds can help solve puzzles, look up information, and provide assistance to our favorite teams. (By the way, I’m totally picking Brittany & Matt.)

Winners of the race (Brittany & Matt) will each win a new 2012 Ford Focus and a $100,000 cash pot. Continuing the e-fanfare tomorrow (January 18, 2011 at 12PM EST) with Road Trip Challenge puzzles, anyone can register online at Focus Rally: America and begin solving for prizes and a chance to win a trip to see the teams off from the staring line on February 4. Footage filmed during the race will appear on Hulu in March in time for the official 2012 Ford Focus launch.

Prepare to see a whole-lotta Jonny Moseley and maybe even a little Dinner Roll action next month as he leads us on another road trip. In the mean time, here’s our video debut of Jonny: dad, champion, and a really nice guy who perhaps knows how to focus better than any of us:

Jonny Moseley Interview

Back in November, we made a weekend trek to Cleveland, one of the Midwest’s least sung treasures. Located on the mighty Cuyahoga River in northern Ohio, Cleveland is firmly planted in the country’s Rust Belt. But don’t let that stir in your mind images of burned-out warehouses and abandoned factories. Sure, there’s some of that, but the only thing my family had to say after a weekend of great food, music, and museums was “When can we go back?”

The approach to Cleveland from the south cuts through some of the state’s most stunning geography. The Cuyahoga carves out a wide U through the northeastern corner of the state; its headwaters are actually slightly farther north than where the river empties into Lake Erie.  As the river leaves Akron, it drops into the scenic Cuyahoga Valley, which is preserved here as the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. This stunning landscape is criscrossed with trails. In the winter, families can go out snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, or take the kids sledding on the Virginia Kendall Hills.

A family could easily spend the day hiking (when there’s not so much snow) or snowshoeing (when there is), or scouting for waterfalls (the Brandywine Falls are the easiest to access). The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad shouldn’t be missed. The train operates year-round and offers a special glimpse of the park when winter snow might seem an obstacle to getting into the thick of it.

Amazingly, all of this natural beauty is just minutes from downtown and Cleveland’s surprising number of quality museums. If your teen-angst riddled memories are tied up in the music of your youth, there is perhaps no better place on earth for a walk down memory lane than the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Here garage bands, sultry singers, and self-deifying frontmen receive a treatment that borders on idolatry. See costumes and instruments, and listen to raw cuts and forgotten interviews, of the celebrities that have made rock and roll what it is today. If you head here around lunch time, plan on grabbing a hot dog from the vendor out front (or make other arrangements). You might expect this place to offer an awesome burger and fries, but you’d be wrong.

Right next door, and perhaps even more interesting for families, is the Great Lakes Science Center. This museum has an IMAX theater and some of the most impressive, hands-on exhibits we’ve seen. During our visit we had a chance to see a movie about the Hubble telescope and participate in a Q&A with astronaut Mike Good, who we saw in the movie. But special events aside, there’s a lot to learn and play with here.

When mealtime rolls around, you’re not too far from Lakewood and the famous Melt Bar & Grilled. The lines here are long, and you can expect to wait a couple hours for a seat even during the usual after-lunch lull, but folks in Cleveland tell me you there’s nothing better than one of their gourmet takes on the classic grilled cheese sandwich. They also have a location over on the east side of town in Cleveland Heights. This might suit your schedule if you find yourself touring some of the museums over that way.

Right within walking distance you have the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, the Cleveland Botanical Garden, and the Cleveland Museum of Art. From now until mid-April the Museum of Natural History is showing off the Extreme Mammals exhibit. We’ve all grown a little complacent about the monster-size of dinosaurs, but seeing these crazy huge mammals—like the armadillo with a shell the size of a Volkswagen—it’s very cool and kids LOVE it!

No trip to Cleveland Heights would be complete without a stroll down Coventry Road. Tommy’s Restaurant is here with the burgers and fries you wish you could’ve had at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. For decades now people have bragged on their milkshakes, and the experience fully lives up to the legend. Connected to the restaurant is a two-story used bookstore (not counting the basement). Great place for a little post-dining browsing. And a few doors down from that you will find Big Fun, a goofy shop with new and used toys and novelties. Missing your long lost Smurf collection or your Hans Solo action figure (complete with Millennium Falcon)? You’ll find it all here.

While in Cleveland, be sure to check out an entertainment calendar. In addition to a boatload of festivals (see our sister site’s review of the Cleveland Beer Week), there are several theaters downtown and a regular stream of shows take the stage here. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame brings in classic performers, many of whom are no longer touring on a grand scale. We caught the tribute concert for Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew. Bringing a bit of Mardi Gras to Ohio, the night ended in the foyer where the New Orleans Rebirth Brass Band had the crowd hopping, literally. Road Trips for Beer (our sister site) also has several other articles on Cleveland’s craft beer scene.

Check out the city’s visitor and convention bureau, Positively Cleveland, for a full list of things to do in Cleveland.