Article Categories Cruises(4) Destinations(16) Travel by interest(1) Travel Tips(1) Travel with children(10) Travel with pets(1) Vacation Rentals(1)    Latest Articles  A Week in Orange County with Kids   Courtesy of Ciao Bambino, www.ciaobambino.com, a global guide to family-friendly vacation properties. Monday:  San Clemente It’s movie time for moms!  Mommy and Me movies at the Krikorian Theaters, www.kptmovies.com, Mondays at 10 am. 641-B Camino Los Mares.  Early bird pricing:  $7.25 and free for children under 2.   In the summer there are special $1 movies at 10 am and 12:30 pm on a weekday. Check out the website for details.  If you want some fresh air after the movie, head to the San Clemente pier. Head straight through the downtown on Del Mar Avenue and you’ll run into the pier.  The beach is great here and you can watch the surfers or just stroll on the pier.  As you step onto the pier, the restaurant to your right is more casual and to the left a little more upscale.  Both have great views of the ocean and people wait like hawks to get tables.  You can also go to the pizza place directly across the street from the pier and buy by the slice.    Parking is on the street or in the lot. Tuesday:  Disneyland Visiting Mickey and Friends is easy entertainment but the trick to Disneyland is finding a relaxing place to change and feed baby and possibly go on a ride that does not have a 30 minute wait.  Here are some tips. •    Baby changing and feeding station.   Private cubicles with rocking chairs for nursing/feeding and a separate changing area with toddler-sized toilets.  Enter Disneyland and proceed down Main Street.  Make a right at the last candy shop on your right and half a block on your right you will see the strollers parked. •    The Many Adventures of Pooh are located in Critter Country.  Fondly called the “Pooh Pots” there is never more than a 5 minute wait and you can go on them again and again. •    Lunch.  Hungry Bear restaurant is next to the Pooh Pots.  It feels like a retreat from the hustle and bustle of Disneyland.  Food is the same as every other restaurant but it is on the “lake” and you can watch ducks and paddle boats go by as you dine.  Bathrooms below the eating area are large and not busy. Wednesday: Explore Nature Earthroots Field School holds unique  “classes” that promote a sense of care, connection and awareness between children and nature.  Classes meet every week at different locations in Orange County including tide pools, farms and wilderness parks. The Toddlers in the Garden class, ages 0 – 3, generally meets Mondays or Wednesdays from 10 am – 12:00 pm. Six or ten-week series.  Drop-in if space permits. General cost depending on series is $20 per class, drop-in $25.  This class gets rave reviews from moms. Thursday: Laguna Beach Laguna Beach is a must see on a visit to Southern California.  Great place to walk with a stroller and if you close your eyes you might even feel like you are strolling the streets of a European city.  Parking is challenging in the summer. •    Main Beach.  Touristy, central beach in the heart of Laguna Beach.  Playground, boardwalk, nice beach with tide pools. •    Snack.  Gelato Paradiso.  Tucked in the back of a fashionable “alley” of shops.  No seating. There is a popular parking garage right behind them. 448 S Coast Hwy Peppertree Lane, Ste A. •    Snack. Scandia Bakery.  On a main shopping street.  Some seating. 248 Forest Avenue. Lunch.  Zinc Café.  Great salads, soups and sandwiches.  Outdoor seating but if you need to let the kids run you might want to get something to go and eat at the beach as the tables are close together. Friday:  San Juan Capistrano There are several great options here. •    Mission San Juan Capistrano.  Considered the “Jewel of the California Missions”, this is relaxing for all ages.  Little walkers can chase butterflies, look at the fish in the courtyard or run around.  Beverages and light snacks at book store.  Can be overrun with school children in the morning.  Opens at 8:30 am.  Admission:  $9 adult, under 3 is free.  A family membership is $50 and worth it if you will visit often.  Free parking on street or in parking lot. 26801 Ortega Highway. •    Learning Link.  Two blocks from the Mission.  A FREE learning resource and kindergarten readiness center for children 0 -5.  This is a drop-in center with story time, daily craft and every imaginable educational toy – kids love this place!  Separate small area for non-walking babies.  Parents are expected to do activities with their children and clean-up.  Learning Link is open when school is in session.  31642 El Camino Real by San Juan Elementary School.  Hours: M, W, Th, F:  9 am – 3 pm and Tuesdays 9 am – 1 pm. Phone:  (949) 496-5198. Free. Saturday:  Dana Point Harbor Take a relaxing walk around the harbor.  Stroller friendly.  Lots of outdoor, family-friendly restaurants.  Mother’s Beach is at the northern end of the harbor and has a decent beach for small children.  Free 4 hour parking.  Dolphin and whale watching cruises as well at the Catalina Island ferry leave from the harbor. Sunday: Irvine Sip and Stroll When you don’t have anything planned but want to get out of the house, The Irvine Spectrum is an easy fix.  It is an outdoor mall that is relaxing to stroll with the kids and has many dining, shopping and entertainment options.  Kids can run around or for more fun there is a carousel, Ferris wheel, train (Friday – Sunday only) and bubbling fountains (one by food court and movie theaters and a second one between Target and H&M stores). Open at 10 am every day. Author Family Friendly  Added On Mon Jul 07th,2008 Rating (0)  Category Travel with children  A Week in Quebec City with the Kids   Courtesy of Ciao Bambino, www.ciaobambino.com, a global guide to family-friendly vacation properties.   What’s not to love about a city that makes you feel like a femme français? Your bébé and you can live like Europeans (and yet your American dollar will actually have value!) in this charming little city in eastern Canada. Monday: Sip & Shop Get your caffeine buzz while your petit chou (this means “little cabbage” but never mind that—it’s an adorable term of endearment nonetheless) listens to French conversation. It’s tough to choose from the city’s 100 cafés, restaurants and bistros, by my fave is L’Omelette (66 rue Saint-Louis). Not so much for the ambiance (although there’s nothing better than an open-air window seat overlooking the street) but for The. Greatest. Café au Lait. In. The. Universe. Whittle away an hour or two then pop in and out of local shops on rue St. Louis. Bring your sturdiest stroller—these cobblestone streets can be killers. Need a bathroom break or diaper change? Every bistro and hotel along the way has clean, accessible bathrooms, with the exception of the Chateau Frontenac, where you need a room key to open up the door to its swanky washrooms. Tuesday: Gourmet Eats & Fresh Air Head to J.A. Moisan Epicerie Fine, North America’s oldest grocery store. Stock up on two or three varieties of cheese, strawberry jam and a loaf on fresh bread. Uneasy because your French is weak at best? Worry not. Even in local stores where English is but an afterthought, employees are friendly and gracious and will find a way to help you figure out what you’re trying to say. Stroll your spoils along the city’s fortification walls and find a lay down a blanket on the massive grassy knolls of Artillery Park. Wednesday: Views & Performers Live the high life on the edge of Haute Ville, or “Upper Town.” Stroll your darling along the newly renovated Terrace Dufferin and gaze out at the calm waters of the St. Lawrence River from this high perch on the cliffs. Secure an outdoor café table for two at any of the cafés across the street and indulge in crepes with fresh fruit or a vibrant salad. Remember how to get here because you’ll want to return after dark, when street performers break out their juggling and flame throwing gear to enrapture you and your cherie. Thursday: Galleries & Cannons Now go way down to the other side of town—Basse Ville, or “Lower Town.” The streets are lumpy and bumpy, so strap on a Baby Bjorn or personal carrier. You can take the Casse-Cous (Breakneck Stairs) if you’re daring, but you’ll be much more comfortable in the Funicular, an outdoor glass elevator. Poke your head into the art galleries, pick up a few locally crafted jewels and—if your baby has already turned into a toddler—head over to UNESCO-sponsored playground on Place-Royale filled with pirate ships and cannons. Friday: Out & About Drive over to the Parc Aquarium du Quebec.  It’s small enough to manage without an extra adult hand and your stroller will sail over the meandering outdoor paths and through the indoor exhibits. Sit outside in the park/playground zone and sniff the flowers that line the gardens. Before evening hits, make a reservation for a fine French dinner at Café de la Paix.  Most restaurants here are well-versed in the art of lingering, so carve out a few hours to savor every course. If your baby does nothing but coo during the evening hours, feel free to bring her along because many local restaurants here are friendly to offspring. Want to relax over wine, doing nothing more than gaze into your honey’s eyes? Book a sitter. Either way, your senses will be indulged and you’ll be feeling like a belle Parisienne in time for the weekend. Author Family Friendly  Added On Mon Jul 07th,2008 Rating (0)  Category Travel with children  A Week in D.C. with the Kids   Courtesy of Ciao Bambino, www.ciaobambino.com, a global guide to family-friendly vacation properties. Monday: It’s monumental You can’t possibly be in Washington D.C. and not visit the national monuments. But instead of fooling yourself into thinking you’ll pop in and out of all the major landmarks along the National Mall without breaking a sweat, be forewarned that they’re spread so far apart that you’d be better off blending the monuments in as part of a day of fitness. Pack baby up in a jogging stroller and go for a nice run/walk from the Capitol Building to the Lincoln Memorial. Take a break in the center at the Washington Monument where the flags will mesmerize your bambino and he can get in plenty of tummy/crawling/wandering-around time while you lick a strawberry shortcake bar from the corner ice cream man. (That’s about the only food you’ll find at the National Mall.) Tuesday: Get to know George Georgetown’s vibe is a bit more college than mama, but that’s why you’ll like it. It’s always hoppin’ and there’s plenty of shoppin’ to do with a baby in tow. Clothing shops rule the roost, so come on a day when your body confidence is at a peak. Stop off for lunch at Clyde’s of Georgetown where they make a mean crab cake and give out cute plastic cars to little ones. Save room for an ice cream at Ben & Jerry’s. Wednesday: Become a Smithsonian whiz Beat the heat on a hot summer’s day at a couple of the nation’s best museums. Go first to the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum and introduce your baby to planes and helicopters of all sizes. There are lots of hands-on exhibits—with plenty of button-pressing and lever-pulling that he’ll get a kick out of even if he has no clue what the exhibit means. Walk across the mall or hop on the Circulator bus and go to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.  Nibble on a hot dog on its front steps, feed your toddler a pack of crackers from the hot dog stand, then go inside to check out all the gems and stones, making sure to stop off at the super-gigantic elephant for ooohs and ahhhhs. Thursday: Grab shelter Maybe today’s the day it rains and pours. Head straight to Union Station, a big, ornate, old building that still serves as a train and bus terminal but has tons of other ways to stay busy, like cafés and boutiques. Better than any suburban mall, this is a place to sip a cup of coffee and watch the commuters race to catch the next train. Ahhhh, is there anything more satisfying than seeing the “other folk” in a mad dash while you gaze down in total bliss at the new love of your life? Knock off the latte calories by fast-walking back and forth a few times. Friday: Plan for your baby’s future Stow your camera in your diaper bag and head to the White House.  Sorry, but you won’t be allowed on the premises. These days you need a group of 15 and a prearranged (aka 6-month advance booking) tour to get anywhere near Dubya’s headquarters. But a photo of your infant in front of the gates will be a treasure for years to come. Cash in on D.C.’s top-notch dining by booking a table at an upscale, yet baby-friendly restaurant. My two faves: Acadiana and DISH + Drinks. Author Family Friendly  Added On Mon Jul 07th,2008 Rating (0)  Category District Of Columbia  What's Old is New Again  Modern luxury merges with ancient culture at a seaside resort in the Riviera Maya Traveling to the tropics of the Riviera Maya is not only adventurous - it’s also incredibly fun for families. The Fairmont Mayakoba, nestled on the Yucatan Peninsula along the Caribbean Sea, is an exceptional resort for parents and children. With impeccable service and entrancing surroundings, the Fairmont Mayakoba combines the best of both the modern and the ancient world. Accommodations The Fairmont Mayakoba offers several accommodation options for traveling families.  The upscale, modern resort, located just 42 miles south of Cancun, features 401 rooms spread throughout the indigenous jungle.  The Fairmont also offers 34 beach and lagoon casita and casita suites.  They are ideal choices for families; large and stylish, offering plenty of space for everyone. Joy Bartolini, who has vacationed at the Fairmont Mayakoba with her family for the past two years, describes the upgraded casita suites as “enormous,” with the two extremely large rooms and bathrooms almost too big for a family of four. Families will never get tired of feasting their eyes on the views from the large balcony.  And you can rest assured that you’ll be treated well no matter which room you choose.  “The staff could not have been more accommodating” says Claudia Volpi, who also stayed at the Fairmont Mayakoba with her family, including her two young daughters.  The resort recently earned the AAA's Five Diamond Award® and the number 10 spot on the Top 15 Central America/ Mexico Hotels in Condé Nast Traveler's 20th Annual Reader's Choice Award 2007 issue.  (source: http://www.fairmont.com/) Onsite Explorations With a vast array of onsite activities at this non-inclusive resort, families will find it easy to tailor their vacations to their specific tastes.  Golf carts and boat rides make exploring the resort and its environs easy and enjoyable.  Joy Bartolini recommends the nature boat ride around the property, complimentary for guests of the resort.  “This was one of the highlights of the trip for the kids as they saw tons of iguanas and two crocodiles,” she says. They also have “a resident crocodile named paco the croco -- too cute” says Claudia Volpi.  “We saw turtles, the crocodile - lots of wildlife in its own element, which had an added benefit for my kids.” The Fairmont Mayakoba has an impressive variety of activities designed specifically for children, with multiple kids and adults pools to choose from and a kid’s club that features activities for a variety of ages.   The resort structures the kid’s club according to age range, combining games and excursions with activities that teach the children about the region’s history. The Discovery Club Expeditioner, for ages 4-8, features onsite excursions, arts and crafts, games, and music.  The Adventure Camp Explorer, for ages 9-14, is a counselor-based program that can include everything from golf and biking lessons to onsite tours and visits to the teen gym.  And the Master Expeditioner program, for ages 15-18, features such activities as belly dancing lessons, Capoeira lessons, blind volleyball, water limbo, sports competitions, obstacle challenges, and bike tours.  For older teenagers who can’t bear to leave technology behind, the program includes access to the Internet and an X Box games.  Parents can enroll their kids in a full-day or a half-day program:  The full day is $50 while the half-day is $35. Besides the structured activities for kids, outings to the clean, well-maintained beach are a must.  And parents don’t have to worry about their children having all the fun.  With a fitness center, a spa, 4 restaurants, lounges, and bars and golf and tennis options, Mom and Dad have plenty of ways to work out and chill out. “We played tennis and used the gym and the spa - all were excellent” says Claudia.  In-room babysitting services are available as well, although parents should be aware that the cost is $18 an hour, with an extra hour charge if they stay out past 11pm.  Claudia spoke well of both the babysitters and the kid’s club service, stating that “ the babysitters and the kids' club staff were well trained, very professional and the kids had a great time.” Offsite Adventures The Fairmont Mayakoba is ideally located for regional sightseeing.  Although it may appear isolated and removed, it’s a mere 10-minute drive into the town of Playa del Carmen.  Joy recommends the beach in town, particularly on weekends when local families are around.  Parents can rent a few lounge chairs for $10 and sit right at the water’s edge. Ayahamint Aguirre, from the Reservations Department at the Fairmont Mayakoba, was brimming with suggestions of family-friendly activities around the resort.  The Cedam Maritime Museum in Puerto Aventuras houses an interesting display of various artifacts from shipwrecks along the coastline.  Adventurous types should visit Aktun Chen, the underground dry caves located in the jungle between Akumal and Xel-Ha.  Older kids will love checking out the stalactite and stalagmite formations and might even see a spider monkey or two.  Horseback excursions throughout the jungle can be arranged at the resort, and fishing boats can also be chartered for a day or a half-day of deep sea fishing. Nature and animal-loving families should visit Punta Laguna to see wildlife like birds, deer, turtles and crocodiles.  The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is also not to be missed - not only will families be awed by the spectacular flora and fauna and natural ecosystems (freshwater canals, mangroves, and lagoons abound) but will get to feast their eyes on unexcavated Maya ruins. Ayahamint likens the nature park Xcaret to “an Eco Maya theme park,” describing it as “a paradise for children.” Joy also recommends Xcaret, ideal for older children since swimming and visiting the water theme park are two of the highlights. Many of these activities require reservations, which can be made at the resort upon arrival.    Food, Family-style When it’s time to eat, the Fairmont Mayakoba caters to parents and kids with their multiple restaurants and snack bars. “The food situation was wonderful - they had restaurants that were all well-equipped for kids, and also a deli on property where you could get snacks and other items,” says Claudia.  If you’re venturing into town, Joy recommends the HC de Monterrey, an outdoor steak grill filled with locals in Tulum Pueblo. Her kids couldn’t get enough of La Parrilla in Playa del Carmen, where the waiters balance drinks on their heads before serving them to the table.  “The kids thought that was a riot,” she says.  “The food is great and every time we’ve been there has been a live band which added to the festivities.”  She also recommends John Gray’s Place for lunch, also a stone’s throw from the resort in Playa del Carmen. With its plethora of activities and services, the Fairmont Mayakoba will leave a lasting impression on the whole family.  More information and a comprehensive family-focused review of the resort is available on Ciao Bambino, a global guide to family-approved vacation properties catering to babies, toddlers, school age children, and teenagers.   http://ciaobambino.com/devsite%5F2/profile_commReview.asp?id=74 Author Lucia Stoller  Added On Fri Jun 20th,2008 Rating (1)  Category Travel with children  More Work, New Place? Tips to Avoid an Exhausting Family Vacation  No family wants to return home exhausted, wishing they could take a vacation from their vacation.  Amie O’Shaughnessy, founder of the leading family-friendly accommodations guide Ciao Bambino, offers these 5 tips to ensure that your family trip runs as smoothly as possible. 1.  Choose Wisely It is essential that your family chose a destination that fits with the amount of time allotted for the vacation.  If you are traveling to Europe, for example, you should plan on staying at least 10 days due to the time difference and the travel hours.  If your children are very young, creating simple itineraries with no more than two location changes will help the trip run smoothly.  And if your children are of different ages, make sure that you choose an accommodation that will be suitable for all.  Babies and toddlers are often easily entertained, while older kids are more discerning about what activities they deem enjoyable.  Don’t forget to factor in your own idea of what constitutes a good vacation.  There are plenty of family-friendly accommodations that cater to parents, offering a spa, fitness classes or a golf course onsite. 2. Understand the Range of Accommodation Options Accommodations vary quite a bit by destination.  Condos and apartments can be stellar in some locations but low quality in others.  Also, you will need to know the level of responsibility you want to take for your trip.  If your family requires a range of amenities and onsite services, then double-check to make sure that your accommodation provides what you are looking for.  If you’re more independent or see your family being out and about every day, then make sure you aren’t going to be paying for property features you will not be using.  Many properties can recommend babysitters, but be aware that there is a range of rates.  If babysitter rate information is not available online, ask the concierge to confirm it for you so you can understand how this will impact the budget for your trip.  Many beach hotels offer kids clubs, but be sure and understand any age restrictions before you commit to a property, as it would be frustrating to show up and find out your kids are too young to participate.  Goals vary from trip to trip, so it’s a good idea to make a list of your family’s priorities before you make final accommodation decisions. 3. Plan but Don't Overplan Vacations run smoothly when families combine structured activities such as guided tours and classes with pure, unadulterated time to relax.  Overly scheduled trips are stressful, more reminiscent of work or school than a vacation.  Leave some open time for your family, but make sure that the activities that are part of your priority list—popular museums and guided tours, for example - are booked well ahead of time.  If you’re traveling to a beach, your family could benefit from the all-inclusive set ups offered by some resorts and hotels, saving you the stress of piecemeal activity pricing. 4. Understand the Trip Participant Dynamics It’s important to take a close look at your family’s interactions and dynamics.  How does everyone get along in close quarters? Some families adapt easily to a single house, while others are better suited for separate accommodations in a resort setting.  The latter works especially well for single families, while a villa rental might be the best option if you’re traveling with a larger group.  Many full service resorts now offer onsite villa rentals, combining the best of both worlds.  Traveling with more than one family can be tricky, so make sure that you know each other’s traveling preferences and living penchants beforehand.   5. Maximize Use of Online Resources With the proliferation of online resources for family travel, finding a great vacation property has never been easier. Dedicated family travel resources are growing on the web. Ciao Bambino publishes a comprehensive guide to family-friendly accommodations highlighting the features families need to consider when making travel and itinerary decisions – www.ciaobambino.com.  Delicious Baby offers city guides and a wealth of tips, articles, and information for families – www.deliciousbaby.com.  Travel Muse is a new website that publishes original articles and information around a number of international destinations - many of their articles are about family travel related topics – www.travelmuse.com.   A well-planned vacation can be the highlight of the entire year!  There is no need to fear traveling to dream destinations with your kids in tow.   Author Lucia Stoller  Added On Tue Jun 10th,2008 Rating (0)  Category Travel with children All Articles