Let Kids Travel

November 3, 2014December 24, 2017

Traveling Abroad: Rhodes

After traveling extensively through Turkey and that arduous ferry ride we found ourselves in the beautiful ancient city of Rhodes! It felt like we were starting vacation all over again to explore a new country. Instead of a hotel this time we stayed in an Airbnb rental. The man met us at the ferry and drove us to the rental. He was very nice and the rental was truly amazing. It was a great value and we each had our own rooms and full kitchen! Plus, it was inside the old city walls, which gives you the feeling of stepping back in time. This was seriously the best decision we could have made. The kids slept so amazingly well. Also, the hosts left fruit, wine, and chocolate. It is always the small touches that really make a difference.

For food, well that was easy because we were so excited to try gyros and were they ever worth the wait! I could eat one everyday and be very happy. Luckily, they are everywhere and on Rhodes they were 2.50 euro. They come packed with chicken or lamb, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, tzatziki sauce, and, of all things, french fries. They are always freshly made and the kids loved them, too. We also stopped at a supermarket (they are only in the new town) to buy some delicious olives. For breakfast we had fresh fruit and bought some eggs at the supermarket as well.

We stayed in Old Town because of the central location. Most of the museums were accessible by foot. We did do a day trip to Lindos on the other side of the island, a comfortable bus ride away. We used our stroller throughout the city, despite the sometimes odd paving of round flat stones stuck upright. The sidewalks are narrow in old town and the cobbled streets are a little bumpy. You were not able to use a stroller in the museums so be aware of that and bring a carrier or plan accordingly.

I think you need to brace yourselves for Greek museums. They are not as approachable or as friendly as in Turkey but the biggest disturbance in my experience is the staff. Every room in every museum had someone working and standing guard even if all the artifacts are behind glass cases. They will follow you around to other rooms most ardently. It was so off-putting to feel constantly watched. I think it would have been less annoying if they had offered knowledgeable and useful facts about the displays we were looking at or at least a friendly remark. However, that was not to be. Also, we were visiting in the off season so sometimes we were the only ones in the museums, in which case we were considerably outnumbered by staff. It was one of the strangest experiences we have encountered.

We visited the Archaeological Museum and the Palace of the Knights on the first day. I believe that you need to only see one of them and I would definitely chose the palace. While the building and grounds of the first are gorgeous the second museum surpassed it. There are beautiful mosaics in both, mainly pillaged from the island of Kos. The children were very good throughout the museums.

10369000_10100614721480224_4920485099134529661_o — Grand staircase in the Archaeological Museum. The displays are in rooms all along the outside.

10333378_10100614721774634_7540254230675810954_o — Arches under the Archaeological Museum.

10259179_10100614722079024_4711141876991896684_o — Grand staircase in the Palace of the Knights.

10383845_10100614722188804_1232399792353595404_o — Mosaic in the Palace of the Knights.

10257950_10100614722558064_4307973901106365083_o — Courtyard of the Palace of the Knights.

10358947_10100614722757664_6427444782475817006_o — Ruins in the midst of the Old City.

Exploring Rhodes is another wonderful part of the experience. We loved wandering around the winding streets and experiencing the beauty and history of the old city. There are a few ruins to explore, including a nice walk along the former city moat (not stroller friendly), and many great views of the Mediterranean. Above all, Rhodes was probably the most peaceful part of the trip.

10258925_10100614723775624_3829972633943088913_o — Enjoying the sun in front of one of the many gates to Rhodes.

The day trip to Lindos is a definite must-see for the ruins high up on a hill. We did not bring our stroller because of the many stairs throughout the city and the hike to the top. It was definitely a journey to the top but worth it. However, if you do not feel up for a long steep hike then you can hire a donkey to get to the entrance of the site. I do not think it is worth it just to get through the city but that is always an option and maybe a novel experience. Not only were the sites interesting but you could see the cities surrounding it. It was breathtaking and you understood why they would build a city on top of such a site. On the way back we rewarded ourself with a gyro and ate it with a view.

10258734_10100614724060054_1459337853526345462_o — You walk through the winding streets in the town of Lindos to get to the acropolis.

Back in Rhodes, we had some extra time to explore a little outside the city to see the amphitheater and ruins of a temple. They were interesting to see if you have extra time but not a must-see.

1909186_10100614725217734_3734965499895797029_o — Ancient theater at the Acropolis of Rhodes.

10258227_10100614725851464_7042356783041808091_o — Watch out for scooters!

10368972_10100614725976214_8434064343885441913_o — Walking path in the old moat.

We loved our time in Rhodes. It is a beautiful city full of history and culture. We probably stayed a little longer than required, but it was nice to rest and soak it all in.

October 24, 2014December 24, 2017

Traveling Abroad: Marmaris

You have faithfully followed our adventure through Turkey. I hope you have enjoyed our journey because now we move to the last Turkish leg and onto our trip through Greece. From Pamukkale we had to first take the shuttle to Denizli and from there a bigger passenger bus to the port city of Marmaris.

The journey by bus is a long one but it was beautiful to see more of the countryside and it was relatively empty which allowed us to spread out. The total journey time was around four hours. There is a bathroom on the bus and some drinks so it made the bus ride go by smoothly with our potty training boy.

There was a stop along the way for the military to check the passports of the Turkish men on board. We were a little confused when that happened and surprised they did not want to see our passports at all. Of course, there were very friendly people during the bus ride to help make the time go by fast. Once we arrived in Marmaris we walked from the bus stop to the port. It was around a mile journey and a little difficult with the kids and luggage but we made it and it was nice to stretch our legs after the long journey.

We were to catch a high speed catamaran to Rhodes, Greece. We went to pick up the tickets in the office, but they wait until the very last minute to open it up, which was a little nerve racking. Also, the boat was late so that set us behind. There were some added port fees to the tickets which weren’t very clear. After we finally got our tickets (not an easy process) we were able to board the boat after going through some thorough security.

Wells saying goodbye to Turkey (before the rough waves and sea sickness came)

We had never been on a high speed catamaran before and I pray to never ride one again! The water was so choppy and the whole family except for Isla was sick. I couldn’t believe it! Wells and Ian never get motion sickness so that is how bad the water and ride was. It was probably the longest hour of our lives. It felt like we bounced from high wave to high wave, like the worst stomach dropping part on a roller coaster over and over again. Think twice before you book that mode of transportation around Greece. It all depends on the conditions of the sea.

Luckily, we arrived intact and were happy to be back on solid ground! We had made it to the beautiful island of Rhodes and we knew that we were going to love Greece.

October 17, 2014December 24, 2017

Traveling Abroad: Aphrodisias

From Pamukkale we took a day trip to the ancient ruins of Aphrodisias. It is a fairly long dolmush ride each way, about two hours, for which we paid ~80TL for two people. There are many big bus tours that go there but when we were there it was relatively empty, which made for the perfect trip. While it is a difficult journey to make it is incredibly worth the hassle. This city was composed mostly of marble from a large quarry nearby and it was a relatively wealthy city. Even though earthquakes hurt Aphrodisias a great deal, archaeologists have been able to reconstruct a lot of it and really well because of all the marble.

Ian standing in the entrance to the race track — Ian standing in the entrance to the stadium

It was one of our favorite sites to visit due to the freedom with which you are left to explore the city. There are no guards except inside the museum. You are able to walk and explore where most other places would keep you at a distance. It was a great perspective to be able to put yourself where others once walked, to stand on the stage or walk where chariot races were held. Of course with that freedom comes the responsibility to treat the ruins with respect and not do anything that would spoil the experience for the next visitor. And, as far as we could tell, most people did just that, and despite a fair amount of visitors each year, Aphrodisias still feels pristine.

10010189_10100612594602504_7037608416473061047_o (1) — Me and the kids at the Sebasteion

10339268_10100612593504704_2886118472340502449_o — The monumental gateway, or tetrapylon

We had our stroller during the trip and it was useful because it is an expansive city and we did not want to miss anything. There is also a museum there with some of the more delicate pieces. We left that to the end because our time was limited and we wanted to make sure that we saw the city first.

10298523_10100612593839034_4137074300677359035_o — Sarcophagi

We brought our own food and water on the trip. There were not a lot of options there and most museums are overpriced when it comes to those necessitates. Overall, even though traveling there is a huge hassle, it was well worth it to experience one of our favorite archaeological sites of all time. Our pictures from this part are some of our favorite and I hope you enjoy. Do ancient ruins interest you?

October 10, 2014December 24, 2017

Traveling Abroad: Pamukkale

After we left Celcuk we headed on a train for Denizli. Once we arrived in Denizli we hopped on a bus (hour ride) for the small town of Pamukkale. It is mostly a resort town from which you can see the travertines of Pamukkale and the ancient Roman city which was built around this amazing wonder. Though there was not much to do in the city but travel to these sites they were breathtaking and worth the hassle of getting there.

Since the town is so small getting around is mostly done on foot. The food options are sparse. My husband found a place for a Turkish Kebab one night that was okay and the next night as we were walking back from Pamukkale we stumbled upon this family owned restaurant. They were so kind to us and insisted we stay there and eat, also offering free soup and gifts for the kids. It was such a hospitable experience and the food was good, too, and cooked made to order. Wells still likes his Cailou doll.

The hotel we stayed at was one of the better ones in our Turkish visit. The bathroom still was not up to par with the American standard but what made the difference was the amazing breakfast. This family owned hotel put out quite the spread of food every morning and it was so amazing. We all filled up so much that we didn’t need lunch. Our favorite was the dried figs! They were out of this world and we bought some at the market in Istanbul to take home.

Now on to the main reason for being there, Pamukkale of course! My husband did most of the planning for this trip so I was a bit surprised when we arrived and there was ancient Roman ruins of Hierapolis. The ruins are very well kept and restored. It is definitely worth exploring but you need to carve out a good chunk of time as the ruins are spread out from each other and require a bit of a hike and sometimes uphill. We did not bring our stroller so we were unable to explore as much as we like. We did see the theater which overlooking the mountains was awe inspiring. I understood why they built a city so high with views and thermal pools to use.

10257516_10100612612806024_3319060915963446566_o — Theater at Hierapholis

After we finished exploring the city we were exhausted! However, it was time to travel down the thermal pools to get back to town. Yes, that is the popular way to get down and it was a daunting feat with a baby strapped to you. I chose to have Isla strapped to me, rather than having to carry Wells down. It was scary at times but a once in a lifetime experience and we made it safely down the mountain, traveling from pool to pool. There is a kind of carved staircase where water runs through.

10298656_10100612613025584_6166698022568675344_o — Family picture before heading down the travertines

10258706_10100612613290054_8874794629200408867_o — Isla and I half way down the travertines

10295944_10100612613389854_6888715810503843914_o — Wells enjoying the thermal pool

10339362_10100612613928774_1286593502431119356_o — How Wells got down most of the travertines

This was another one of our favorite experiences. There are so many beautiful ancient sites to see in Turkey that I couldn’t fit the day trip we took in this post but considering it was my husband’s favorite site there will be more than enough to discuss. I hope you enjoy our pictures and experience. Feel free to ask any questions!

October 3, 2014December 24, 2017

Traveling Abroad: Ephesus and Selcuk

This is the part of our journey that I was looking forward to the most. The ruins of Ancient Ephesus have been a dream of mine to visit (yes, I am a total history nerd). To start this leg of our journey we flew from Cappadocia to Izmir and then took an hour train ride to the town of Selcuk which lies a short distance away from the ruins.

The Rebetika Hotel was very roomy and spacious. The beds and bathroom quality were inline with previous Turkish hotels but the hospitality was excellent. The proprietors were friendly and well informed. Also, the breakfast was top notch. You sit on the grape-vined rooftop deck overlooking ruins while eating hot homemade cheese pastries. I still crave those amazing pastries. It was idyllic seeing the rolling hills, and the surrounding reminded me of Tuscany.

We had to walk from the train station to our hotel. It appeared to be a short walk on the map but it tricked us because of the big hill leading up to it! It was quite the trek but then a local who was helping his family open a bed and breakfast walked us all the way to our hotel, pulling our bags! It was an amazing experience and another show of how friendly people are in Turkey.

On our way to the hotel we stopped for Turkish pizza for only 5TL. It was the most amazing pizza and for an unbeatable price. It is made fresh when you order! We went there twice while we were in Selcuk and tried the meat and cheese pizzas; the cheese was our favorite. We also ate kebabs, which were good but nothing compared to that pizza. There are also a few grocery stores to get fresh fruit and veggies, perfect additions to our meals.

Now on to visiting Ephesus. I have wanted to see this ancient site for years. We arrived to the site and it is very large. I strongly recommend an umbrella stroller for children. We did not take ours and we really needed it because the site is expansive and a lot of walking for a two year old. The site itself is beautifully restored with a lot of detail. The library of Celsus was breathtaking and we took a wonderful family picture. We seriously spent so much time just examining the detail of the library.

10256817_10100598792147734_5364762393236696108_n — Family photo at the Library of Celsus

One of the best parts of visiting the site at Ephesus is the ability to just wander around. You don’t have security guards following you around but they trust you to treat the site with respect, which is something that helps you appreciate it so much more. Also, we paid extra to visit the apartments which had restored homes that the wealthy inhabitants once lived in. The mosaics are well restored and you get an excellent aerial view of them. The hillside setting was picturesque and you could see why this place was so well settled with views of the water in the distance.

The next day after our excellent breakfast we headed out to explore more local historic sites. We visited the Basilica of St. John, which was once the largest basilica in the world, but is now reduced to ruins. However, it overlooks the countryside of Selcuk with breathtaking views. It was a quiet, peaceful attraction and was not very busy. After that we headed to the Temple of Artemis which was once one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and is now just a lone column. It was destroyed by the Goths. After that we ran into our hotel proprietor who convinced us to visit his friend who happened to be a rug maker! Whatever you do, do not agree to enter one unless you are seriously considering buying a rug. Well, they showed us many interesting parts of the rug making process but after that there was so much pressure to purchase one that it was very uncomfortable and not how we wanted to end our experience. After that it was time to head out and we walked to the train so we could look at the aqueduct ruins lying through the center of time.

10336847_10100598790506024_779840047894646221_n — The surviving column at the Temple of Artemis.

1175234_10100598793754514_4451047116574149033_n — Ephesian aqueduct

Overall, Ephesus and Selcuk are a must see in Turkey and should be at the top of your list.

September 26, 2014December 24, 2017

Traveling Abroad: Cappadocia

On the next leg of our journey in Turkey we headed east, leaving the European side of Istanbul for Cappadocia a central region on the Asian side. This is the farthest east my husband and I have ever been. We flew there on Turkish Airlines, and if you ever have a chance to fly Turkish Airlines take it; we had the best experience of our lives! It is quality all around. On our one hour flight we received a meal that included a sandwich, salad, and chocolate mousse for dessert. Also, they had baby food for Isla and fabulous hospitality from the flight attendants. Compared to flying in America this quality was definitely a pleasant surprise.

After we landed we had to take a shuttle to the town of Goreme. It was very simple and relatively inexpensive, around 40TL ($18) for both of us (kids were free). The shuttle took us right to the hotel (Goreme Country House). Now this about lines up with all of our other hotel experiences in Turkey. The unfinished bathroom was not very clean. The bed was very uncomfortable, and the linens were sparse. It did come with breakfast that was cooked by the owner everyday, and was more of a western breakfast with eggs. It was on the edge of town, about a ten minute walk to the center.

Goreme is very walkable and everyone is very friendly in the town. We ate more Turkish pizza and kebabs. We got our meals mostly to-go so it was easier with the children. There was a grocery store here so it was easier to supplement meals and buy bottled water.

What to do in Cappadocia? If you like the outdoors and hiking there is a lot to do. We spent 4 nights there but found that 3 would have better for our family as hiking with children is much more difficult. On one hike we got very lost because of the trail markings. We started at a little town and it was supposed to be an easy and simple hike but we ended up gone for hours. If you do go hiking, purchase a trail map, which will help immensely. There were numbered trail markers, but the maps accompanying them were destroyed.

The trail markings, possibly why we got lost.

We did a group tour one of the days. Always negotiate the price directly with the tour guides. You will get the best prices that way, rather than going through your hotel. This whole day affair includes a lunch. It should be less than 100TL per person. Also, look for a tour guide that speaks English well. Ours did not speak English very well and it did hinder the quality of the tour. Be sure to take lots of water; buy a 5 liter bottle in the grocery store before you go or you will be paying a lot by the attractions. On this tour (known as the Green Tour) we visited the Selime Monastary, Derinkuyu Underground City, and Ihlara Valley. We were a little rushed, maybe because we were carrying a 2 year old and 6 month old. I would definitely recommend doing the tour because seeing these on your own would be very difficult, especially without renting a car. If you had a car or scooter, though, you’d be able to go at your leisure and probably see more in one day. Here is a great post going more in depth about the Green tour.

In the underground city. Be prepared for lots of stooping.

Wells trying to pet the goat and then running from the goat when it starts to chase him

On another day we visited the Goreme Open Air Museum. It was so amazing to see all the churches carved out of the stone with well preserved frescoes. Some of these churches are very elaborate. The museum itself is of course open air and can be hot with the sun beating down on you. Also, this is not a stroller friendly museum as you generally have to climb or descend to see the churches. Even so, I would highly recommend visiting. You don’t really need a tour guide to see the museum, so if you can get a ride there and back (or walk if you are up for it) you can save some money.

Another popular thing to do there is hot air balloon rides. We did not do this while we were there as we generally didn’t think our children would enjoy (Wells is sometimes scared of heights) it or being woken up at the extremely early hour to do them. We read that it is a must do but we feel that we were able to get quite a few good views and save ourselves the huge expense it would be (200 euros per person!), not to mention probably not enjoyable with children. Our last morning there we did manage to see a few balloons in the air. It was a beautiful sight from the ground.

Wells and Daddy marveling at the balloons.

In general I think Cappadocia is a must see especially if you enjoy hiking. I think 3 nights would have been more than enough. Do you want to visit?

September 19, 2014December 24, 2017

Traveling Abroad: Istanbul

When we first told our family that we were headed to Turkey and Greece on vacation they had quite a few concerns in regards to the political unrest in Istanbul. However, we had done our research and surmised that it was safe and obviously we would not be involved in any protests. Well, we got to Istanbul and it was safe, not a hint of any kind of trouble; but it was a culture shock in other ways!

People in Turkey absolutely LOVE children. Young, old, middle-aged, men, women: everyone loves children. Our children were constantly being touched and held. Coming from America where everyone is very mindful of personal space it was a huge shock. However, at the end of it I began to appreciate how much people loved my children; it warmed my heart. I would suggest making sure you bring a lot of hand sanitizer because by the end of the trip everyone was sick! When you travel in Turkey with children it affords you to skip through security and often head to the front of lines. Even when my husband was pushing the stroller, they would stop him, say “Where is the mother?”, and then the kids and I would be waived through while my husband had to go through the check! Be prepared for people to give you food and gifts. This was often the case and I just accepted them graciously.

1540357_10100711581212544_8420891210067687489_o — Museum guard holding Isla

Getting around Istanbul with a side by side umbrella stroller was the most difficult part. The sidewalks are very narrow in some parts of the city. I would suggest a compact stroller for the city, one that folds down easily. The public transportation is exceptional with a metro and tram that covered a lot of the city and goes directly to the airport. It can get crowded but because you have children they are very accommodating and helpful with picking it up or moving out of the way. Note that there is usually only one disabled/stroller entrance/exit to the tram stops, and that if you have two adults traveling, the one not pushing the stroller will have to go through the turnstile.

10633175_10100711582579804_5434792060801283754_o — Side of Topakapi Palace

In Istanbul we visited Topakapi Palace, Archaeological museum, Sofia Hagia, Blue Mosque, and the Grand Baazar. The museums were outstanding, particularly the Archaeological museum. It was a bit disappointing that it was under construction but what was open was breathtaking. The kids are very well behaved in museums and they were spacious easy to navigate with a stroller. The guards at all the museums were very friendly and not intrusive (will write more about this in my Greece post). There is a ton to see so be prepared to have your walking legs ready. The city is an explosion of color and activity.

10308109_10100598755027124_1133578026907763690_n — In front of the Hagia Sofia

Now for accommodation in Istanbul. I would really not recommend either of our hotels. The Sultanahmet Suites were clean but you would not believe the steep stairs we had to mount to the 5th floor. While carrying two children this can get quite difficult. The Emin Hotel was really not the cleanest and I was very happy to leave that one and I try to forget that aspect of our trip. I would suggest being very wary when reading reviews and if at all possible use Trip Advisor and message past guests directly to get their opinions.

10177862_10100598753939304_1679870934682460483_n — Blue Mosque

The food of Istanbul was okay. There are a lot of vendors to buy from and food can be fairly inexpensive if you stay away from the more touristy sections. We generally like to shop at grocery stores for a lot of our food on trips but Istanbul did not have any big ones like other European cities. It was mostly smaller, pricier markets without a lot of options. Turkish pizza (5TL, or $2.50, in Ephesus) was by far our favorite food. We also frequently bought simits (circular bread with sesame seeds) at stands near tourist areas for 1TL, or about $0.50.

10171690_10100598754802574_7774012370954342497_n — Simit, simit!

Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our time in Istanbul. If you are expecting it to be like other European cities then you will be disappointed and should prepare for culture shock. Still, we appreciate this great city for all it has to offer. Has anyone visited Istanbul? Have you had a similar experience?

July 21, 2014December 24, 2017

Family Roadtrip Finished!

Well, everyone, we made it back from our big road trip. We visited Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, and Utah. That is a lot of states. We drove almost 5,000 miles! You may be wondering how these two kids did in the car? I am happy to answer that it went better than I expected. There were moments of tantrums and fighting between siblings and they both seem to push each other’s buttons, but they were good most of the time.

Here are a few tips: Wells for his birthday received a little VTech tablet from one of his friends. We saved it only for the car and it was only for long distances. He absolutely loved it and it kept him busy for hours. Isla really likes to unpack bags, so I had a reusable bag filled with toys or container, which kept her entertained.

We like to book our hotels ahead of time so we don’t have that stress while we are traveling. However, it sort of backfired on us since two of the days we overestimated the time we could cover due to construction or other deterrents. That made for some late nights and cranky kids. If you have access to a smart phone it would be worth it to book that same day so you can avoid some late nights. I would account for unplanned circumstances into your travel time. There was one day that I am pretty sure Wellington had to go to the bathroom every thirty minutes. That makes for a lot of stops along the way! Going with a newly potty trained child is going to be more difficult. Another thing we weren’t planning for was all the construction. We know it is summer and a busy time, but how much construction was happening and for huge stretches of a time was unreal. I am quite sure it always happened when I was driving, too.

Well, readers we made it to and back from Wisconsin safe and sound with a little stop in Utah for some extended R&R at my in-laws place (we had the house to ourselves!). I think the kids enjoyed seeing all their family. I am glad we did it for the new experience, definitely some trials but the good memories are outweighing the bad. Where are you guys vacationing this summer? Anyone headed on a road trip?

July 2, 2014December 24, 2017

Surviving a plane ride with babies and toddlers

As you may have guessed we love to travel. Our kids have been flying since they were infants so we’ve learned quickly what works to avoid the screaming, crying baby.

Baby Wells sleeping on daddy on one of his many plane rides.

On the one hand, our son a calm, happy baby, and traveling with him was quite easy. Our daughter, on the other hand, is a completely different person. Here are some tips and lessons we have learned over dozens of flights:

Pick your flights strategically. Is your child able to sleep anywhere? Then flying during nap time might be a good suggestion. Is your child happiest in the morning? Then take a morning flight. Think about your child’s disposition when picking your flights. We used to take red eyes often with my son because he could sleep a little and would transition well to his crib when we got home. We figured our daughter would be the same way. Ugh, not so much! She slept most of the flight but woke up during landing and screamed the next twenty minutes on the plane, plus the car ride home. Lesson learned, no red eyes with Lady Bird.
Dress your kids in layers. Our kids mostly run hot but we were traveling in winter and planes usually run cold, right?! Wrong! Our daughter was screaming uncontrollably and we couldn’t figure out why. Well, she was sweating in a fleece sleeper. Once we stripped that off she cooled off and stopped crying. She didn’t have much under that sleeper, so she spent most of the plane ride naked. Lesson learned? In addition to bringing extra clothes, plan for it to be uncomfortably warm and frigidly cold. Also, avoid fleece entirely.
Avoid flying sick. Seems quite obvious, right? If flying in winter it is probably going to happen, especially if you already have an older child because toddlers seem to be cold factories! Be prepared when it does happen, though. I would suggest bringing pain reliever, saline drops, and NoseFrida. Also, a pacifier or a bottle helps with the changing pressure. I always try to nurse on take-off and landing, and taught my son to pop his ears by opening his mouth.

I find packing a diaper bag strategically to be one of the key things or flights. On our recent journey to Europe I used Ziploc gallon zipper bags to store toys, snacks, and clothes. Instead of digging around for what I needed I was able to find the bag quickly and pull it out without taking everything else along with it. It was a revelation! Why didn’t I think of this years ago?

A few other suggestions for key items to pack:

Several sets of clothes, our son once pooped through four sleepers in a four hour flight!
Snacks, a good snack can go a long way in diverting a tantrum. Think of things that will transport easily such as fruit leather and KIND bars.
Toys, this one is obvious. I went to the dollar store before our trip and picked some toys up. I would suggest wrapping them. That will make the novelty of their “present” last longer. I bought a new coloring book, trucks, and puzzles.
Media. We try to be strict on how much media son watches in a normal day. However, on plane rides that rule goes right out the window. You do what you need to survive! Beanie is really into Super Why, Curious George, and Little Pim. On the flight to Europe each seat comes with a media consul so he was able to watch his first movie, Planes. Also, we put books on our computer so we were able to read several Dr. Seuss books on the plane. You may feel guilty about letting them watch television but I am telling you to not! Traveling with children is hard and exhausting. If this makes them happy and you get to your destination with your sanity intact then that is a win!

I hope this provides some insight and helpful hints on flying with children. What were your flight experiences like? Any helpful hints I should add?

June 13, 2014December 24, 2017

Road Trip, Part 1: Unfamiliar Territory

We live in Washington state but grew up in Wisconsin. Consequently, all of our family and college friends are back there. We have always flown to see them a couple of times of year but now that Wellington is over two it is becoming quite expensive, especially in the summer months. We try to keep costs low on these shorter trips to save up for big vacations so we always try to find a really good airfare deal.

Well, with planning for Europe I had no time to research airline tickets. Instead, we will drive the 2,000 miles to the Dairy State. My husband has parental leave to use from when Isla was born, so we will be packing up the car and embarking on something we have never done, a road trip. We have never driven more three hours to a destination and doing this with two children is a daunting task. I actually find this more frightening than a four-week European vacation.

We are planning to make a few stops along the way to see Yellowstone and Mt. Rushmore but even with those breaks it will be a lot of straight driving! How to keep my strong willed daughter happy is a question I ponder daily. I keep hoping that a miracle will occur and she will become a content baby. Any ideas on ways to keep an eleven month old entertained?