Tag Archives: family travel

Dark and Stormy or Flying into a Noreaster

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Thanks Boston!  Thank you for your history, your accent and your clam chowder.  Thank you also for reminding us thirsty and drought-tolerant Californians what torrential rain really looks like.  My 13 year old (who is still sleeping) has never walked around a city in 50 mile an hour winds and driving rain, but he will today.  He doesn’t know the many aromas associated with  a commuter train filled with strangers of all shapes and sizes, but he will today.  Finally, he doesn’t know the mileage associated with walking from Faneuil Hall to the end of Newbury Street, but he will today.  If he is still speaking to me by the end of the day, I am sure he, too, will be grateful for your glorious weather, as well, Dear Boston….

Wasn't he supposed to be the one with jet lag?

Wasn’t he supposed to be the one with jet lag?

ALERT: California this is what streets look like when there is rain!

ALERT: California this is what streets look like when there is rain!

12+1 Best Travel Apps to Take on Vacation

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One of the great things about blogging is that you can repost someone else’s work. Kirsten, at Kids are a Trip put this great list together of essential apps for travel. I absolutely endorse them all and would make one edition. Tripit. Tripit is a brilliant app. You send all those confirmation emails that you stuff into folders or print out for insurance against missing hotel rooms, rental cars or heaven forbid non-existent flight reservations to Tripit and the app spits back your itinerary. Not only do you get a full itinerary with all of those confirmation codes, but you get gate changes and flight delays (provided there is WiFi) too. I love this app and now couldn’t travel without it.

Tripit- Best App for Keeping Organized During Travel

Tripit- Best App for Keeping Organized During Travel

 

 

Where did she go?

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Luckliy, the beaches in California are minutes away and almost like traveling.

Luckliy, the beaches in California are minutes away and almost like traveling.

I disappeared.  I know, Dear Reader, it’s true.  I did.  Honestly, at the end of last summer filled with epic vacations, I think I grew more depressed than my kids at the beginning  of school.   I know routine is important.  I know that school is important.  I know that playdates are important.  But these things cannot coexist with epic vacations. Continue reading

Packing Light, Packing Right

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Dear Reader,

no joke I feel like if I roll one more jacket, ball up one more pair of socks, or have to find that elusive perfect travel stuffie for a demanding child who can’t find it in his room- I may lock myself in a dark room never to return to the light. I have been packing, it seems, for months what with Big G’s going to camp and our trip to Ireland I have been rolling, zipping, and strapping through many of my waking hours. I have learned that there are a few indispensable items that make this mundane preparation a whole lot easier. So, here they are:

Packing Cubes

With two boys close in age it’s easy to begin to mix up socks, underwear, etc. These cubes are great when unpacking due to touring (such as our Ireland trip) is unadvisable. Big G has orange on this trip and Little G has blue. The guys know the drill and are able to keep their clothes organized using these cubes. Also, going through customs or being checked at security is much easier when clothes are organized.

I actually upgraded to these parachute material bags myself.

The go to packing item for any trip

The go to packing item for any trip


Four Wheel Roller Bag

Now maybe it’s not a necessity, but these bad boys are like the Fred Astaire’s of the luggage world. The kids maneuver them deftly and happily. I have been known to let a bag or two go down ramps watching kids and/or adults careen out of the way of the runaway bag. I would never recommend such a thing, however. I just purchased this bag and was amazed with what I could fit in it.


This bad boy comes in a great green color. I LOVE it. The fellas are using these bags which are smaller, lighter and easier to use


They also serve as a great seat when the tribe is tired. So, I know longer have to wonder what strange staph virus may be entering my child as he sits on the floor of the airport.

Multi-tasking Tumi For Wheeler

Multi-tasking Tumi For Wheeler

Okay, so may I state that the most idenspendsible travel gizmo that I never leave home without is Tripit.  Tripit lets me know when my flights leave, arrive, are delayed.  The app welcomes me to my destination, tells me the terminal of my connecting flight, and remis me that I am leaving (sadly at the age of 47 I now need that).  I love my iCal, NetFlix, and PvZ (anxiously awaiting #2) apps, but Tripit is the first app that would make my life harder not to  have while I was traveling.