Travels with Children by minnemom » Family Travel Links

Finding More Fun: Family Travel Links, New Year Edition

minnemom — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 13:57:16 +0000

The past few weeks have been busy with this and that–Christmas baking, shopping, and wrapping; spending time with family and friends; and vacation planning. Our winter vacation to California is right around the corner, which means I’m finalizing those plans but also thinking about the future–destinations for summer and for next winter.

In the coming weeks, I’ll be catching up on some places we visited in 2011, but for now I hope you’ll enjoy reading about places these other family travelers have been to. Happy New Year, and happy travels!

Aquariums in the Midwest at Uptake Attractions
Illinois Railway Museum at Suitcases and Sippycups
Keystone Ski Resort at The Q Family Adventures
The Magic of Trains at the B&O Railroad Museum at The Mother of All Trips
Park City for Families at The Talking Trekaroo
Pikes Peak at Albany Kid
Pittsburgh’s Duquesne Incline at 100 Routes Across America
Things to Do in Cincinnati at The Traveling Praters
Tips for Visiting the Creation Museum at The Traveling Praters
Visiting the Salton Sea at The Silent I
World’s Largest Pinball Machine at Go Big or Go Home
5 Places to Ice Skate Outside in Los Angeles at Go Explore Nature
7 Ways to Save When Skiing with Kids at Kidventurous
10 Ways to Save Money at Disneyland at Touring Plans

Finding More Fun: Family Travel Links, October 2011

minnemom — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:53:57 +0000

We’re in the season between summer fun and holiday travel, where people turn to pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and haunted houses for fun. See what other family travel bloggers are writing about this fall.

Buffalo Bill Historic Center (Cody, WY) at 500 Places with Kids
Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, GA, at the Talking Trekaroo
Colonial Williamsburg with Kids at Pit Stops for Kids
Crazy Horse Memorial in the Black Hills (SD) at The Vacation Gals
Erie Canal Boat Tour at 100 Routes Across America
Fort Wayne’s Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Garden (IN) at Arrows Sent Forth
Haleakala National Park, Maui, HI, at Pit Stops for Kids
How to Avoid Altitude Sickness when Vacationing in the Mountains at The Vacation Gals
Is Staying at Disney’s Aulani Worth the Cost? at the Talking Trekaroo
King Richard’s Faire (Carver, MA) at Albany Kid
Minuteman Missiles in South Dakota and Minuteman Missile Historic Site at 500 Places with Kids
Museum of Science in Boston at The Mother of All Trips
Myrtle Beach with Kids at The Q Family Adventures
National Model Aviation Museum, Muncie, IN, at The Rocket Scientist’s Guide to Raising Kids
The Oregon Vortex and House of Mystery (Gold Hill, OR) at Pit Stops for Kids
Pittsburgh’s Duquesne Incline at Road Trips for Families
Playgrounds put the Play in Vacation at Arrows Sent Forth
Santa Monica, CA, at Six Suitcase Travel
Swan Boat Rides in Boston at Arrows Sent Forth
Ten Great Chicago Suburb Attractions at Suitcases and Sippy Cups
Tips for Visiting the Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago, IL) at Suitcases and Sippy Cups
Tips for Visiting the Sears Tower with Kids (now Willis Tower, Chicago, IL) at Suitcases and Sippy Cups
The Toy and Plastic Brick Museum (Bellaire, OH) at Roadside America
Up North at Midwest Guest
Visiting the Fort Worth Stockyards with Kids at Suitcases and Sippy Cups
World’s Largest Shoe House, Hellam, PA, at Go Big or Go Home
5 Fun Places to Visit in Salt Lake City with Kids at Suite Trip.
11 Things at Legoland Florida at Uptake Attractions

Finding More Fun: Family Travel Links, Back-to-School 2011

minnemom — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 19:23:09 +0000

I apologize that I haven’t had much to say this summer; it seems that we were off and running and doing so much “research” that I didn’t take the time to write much. Now that the routine of school has begun again, I’ll be writing about the new places we visited this summer in the hopes that readers can make us of our family’s experiences as they plan their future activities.

As always, I appreciate comments on posts, whether you’ve had similar or different experiences than we have. Travels with Children readers provided me with some excellent ideas and tips this summer via blog, Facebook, and Twitter comments, and I appreciate those who take the time to send things they think my readers will like.

But first, let’s catch up with some other family travelers to see what they enjoyed this summer.

The American Gothic House of Eldon, Iowa, at Eccentric Roadside. (We need to add this to our Grant Wood stops.)
Austin (TX) with Kids at The Talking Trekaroo.
Biltmore Estate and Gardens with Children at Field Trips with Sue.
Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, Dayton, Ohio, at Pit Stops for Kids.
Celebrate 100 Years of the New York Public Library at Uptake Attractions. (Libraries and travel are two of my favorite things. Travel to libraries is absolutely perfect!)
Disney Done Right: How to Survive (and Thrive) in Summer Crowds at Pit Stops for Kids.
The Disneyland Resort with Kids: What Not to Miss by Age at The Talking Trekaroo.
Do’s and Don’ts of Visiting Gettysburg at Uptake Attractions. (These are excellent tips. Read more about the Gettysburg Visitor Center and Audio Tour.)
Flight 93 Temporary Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, at The Traveling Praters. (The memorial continues to evolve; since our visit there, a permanent memorial has been begun.)
Fun at the Indiana State Fair at Arrows Sent Forth. (There’s a similar Little Farm Hands exhibit at the Minnesota State Fair, which our kids love.)
Getting Dad on Board for a Trip to Disney World at the Vacation Gals.
Inside Hoover Dam at 500 Places with Kids.
Jacksonville (FL) Fire Museum at The Rocket Scientist’s Guide to Raising Kids.
Niagara Falls: Pay for the Upgrades at Uptake Attractions.
North Vancouver with Kids: Capilano Suspension Bridge at DeliciousBaby.
Quacking Along in Ketchikan with Duck Tours at AK on the Go. (I wonder if they have the same “cheesy” humor that the Wisconsin Dells ducks tours do?)
Remembering 9/11 at The Talking Trekaroo.
Riding a Wave at the Mandalay Bay Beach (Las Vegas, NV) at 500 Places with Kids.
The Roller Coaster at New York-New York Hotel: A Kid’s Eye View at 500 Places with Kids.
September is Child Passenger Safety Month at The Safest Line
Six Ways to Wait out the Rain on a Family Trip at Shermans Travel.
Statue of Liberty Closes Just after 9/11 Memorial Opens at Pauline Frommer’s Daily Briefing.
Stay at the Disneyland Hotel at Pitstops for Kids.
Take a Family Road Trip without Looking Like the Griswolds at The Talking Trekaroo.
Ten Places Families Will Enjoy in San Antonio at The Talking Trekaroo.
Tips for Visiting Colonial Williamsburg with Kids at The Mother of All Trips.
Tips for Visiting South Dakota’s Badlands National Park at the Vacation Gals.
Top Family Attractions in Clearwater Beach, Florida, at the Vacation Gals.
Top Five Family-Friendly Things to Do in Vancouver at The Q Family Adventures.
Top Five Things to Do with Kids in Colonial Williamsburg at The Mother of All Trips.
Top Ten Family-Friendly Things to Do in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, at The Q Family Adventures.
Top Ten Things to Do with Teens and Tweens in Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula at Travel with Tweens and Teens.
Under the Weather on the Road? 9 Tips to Get You Through at Talk of the Country.
Vacation Souvenirs to Remember at 500 Places with Kids. (They have the same souvenir idea that our family does!)
Visiting the John Deere Pavilion in Moline, IL, at Uptake Attractions. (The last time I was there, I only had two children and hadn’t even thought of a blog. It’s time for this farm gal to go back again.)
Walking the Vegas Strip at 500 Places with Kids.
World’s Largest Crayon (Easton, PA) at Go BIG or Go Home. (Our family was not enamored with the Crayola Factory, but I did think the giant crayon was pretty cool.)
World’s Largest Teapot in Chester, West Virginia, at Midwest Guest.
Zipline Tours: A “Tree”mendous Family Vacation at Road Trips for Families.
3 Safety Tips for Visiting Big Cities with Kids at Uptake Vacations.
5 Fab Freebies in Saratoga Springs, New York at We Just Got Back.
6 Tips for Visiting the Statue of Liberty at Kidventurous. (The Statue of Liberty was one of our favorite stops on our Pennsylvania trip.)
10 Free Things to Do with Kids at Disney World at Frommer’s. (See also 11 Things: Walt Disney World here at Travels with Children for some tried-and-true ideas.)
12 Reasons to Visit New York’s Finger Lakes with Kids at Frommer’s.

Have you ever thought of giving your kids a try at blogging? A new website, A Kid’s I View, gives kids the chance to submit stories about places they’ve visited. My sons wrote their first blog posts this summer about Pikes Peak and CityMuseum in St. Louis.

Finding More Fun: Family Travel Links, June 2011

minnemom — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 23:55:37 +0000

We’re officially on summer vacation, so I’m on the lookout for new things to do. I hope some of these ideas will help you as you plan your summer vacations or day trips.

Add American Landmarks to Your Summer Travel Plans at Travel North Dakota
Alabama Constitution Village (Huntsville) at Live the Adventure
Big Family Travel Tip: Shoestring Spots at Six Suitcase Travel
Carmel-by-the-Sea for Kids at Intelligent Travel
Coral Ridge Mall near Iowa City: So Much More than Shopping at Uptake Attractions
Disney Fort Wilderness Campground at Live the Adventure
Fun in Missouri: 5 Spots for Kids at Kidventurous
Governors Island: The Best Free NYC Summer Day Trip at Shermans Travel
Jelly Belly Factory Tour, Fairfield, California, at Uptake Attractions
The National Zoo in Washington, D.C. at The Mother of All Trips
New York City’s High Line Linear Park at Travel with Tweens and Teens
Panama City Beach, Florida, with Kids at Travel Savvy Mom
A Perfect Five-Day Oregon Roadtrip at Cascadia Kids
The National Mall and Its Memorials–So Many Options at 500 Places with Kids
Things to Do in Kenosha, Wisconsin, at The Vacation Gals
Top Five Ways to Avoid the Crowds in National Parks at On the Go with Amy
Top Ten Things to Do in Seattle with Kids at The Q Family Adventures
Thunder Bay, Ontario, Family Road Trip at 10,000 Likes
Wabash County (Indiana) Historical Museum at Little Indiana
The Wonderful World of Disney: 32 Years Later at AK on the Go
3 Northwest Weekend Getaways for Families at Hip Travel Mama
10 Family Travel Med Kit Essentials at Shermans Travel
24 Hours in Houston at Wandering Off

Finding More Fun: Family Travel Links, May 2011

minnemom — Wed, 11 May 2011 18:03:15 +0000

Are you planning your summer vacation yet? Don’t tell my kids, but they only have 13 days of school left this year. What kind of fun can we find this summer? Time will tell, but maybe the following posts will provide some inspiration.

Alaskans Share Their Favorite Campgrounds at AK on the Go
The Best Kite Festivals around the U.S. at SuiteTrip
Big Families Share Their Packing Tips at Six Suitcase Travel
Cemetery Tour in New Orleans at Uptake Attractions
Central Florida: 3 Magical Experiences that Don’t Require Mouse Ears at Kidventurous
A Day in Des Moines at Uptake Attractions
Easter Basket Awaits Bunny in Lorain, Ohio, at Midwest Guest
Family Time in Times Square, NYC, at The Vacation Gals
Great Wolf Lodge’s Magiquest: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know at Pitstops for Kids
How to Avoid Bedbugs When Traveling at Frommer’s
Jelly Belly Jelly Bean Art at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis at 10,000 Likes
Joshua Tree National Park Itinerary at Roadtrips for Kids
Kenosha’s Family-Friendly Museums (Wisconsin) at The Vacation Gals
Lagoon Three at Ko’Olina at Oahu Mom
Makapu’u Tide Pools Shoreline Hike at Oahu Mom
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park at Kids Go West
The Most Overlooked Attraction at Disney’s California Adventure at DIS Unplugged
Museum of Postal History, Delphos, Ohio, at Midwest Guest
Must-See Roadside Attractions of Route 66 at Uptake Attractions
A Must-Visit Website for Anyone Considering a Trip to a National Park this Summer at Pauline Frommer’s Daily Briefing
National Museum of the American Indian at The Mother of All Trips
National Park Passport Stamps at Roadtrips for Families
Niagara Falls with Kids at TravelSort
Nighty-Night in the Land of the Midnight Sun at AK on the Go
The Paper House of Rockport, Massachusetts, at Eccentric Roadside
San Antonio Favorites with Kids at Uptake Attractions
Six Flags Discover Kingdom, Vallejo, California, at Travel Savvy Mom
Taking Kids to Capitol Hill at The Mother of All Trips
A Taste of ND in DC at Travel North Dakota
Visiting Malibu and Agoura Hills with the Kids at SuiteTrip
Wisconsin Dells’ Best Waterpark Resorts for Families at 10,000 Likes
Wizarding World of Harry Potter at The Rocket Scientist’s Guide to Raising Kids
Wonderworks in Orlando, Florida at The Rocket Scientist’s Guide to Raising Kids
World’s Largest Indoor Theatre, New York, New York, at Go Big or Go Home
4 Discount Programs Worth a Second Look at Kidventurous
5 Fun Walt Disney World Extras that First-Timers often Miss at Travel Savvy Mom
6 Reasons to Take Your Kids to Las Vegas at Kidventurous
7 Fun Factory Tours for Kids at Kidventurous
7 Weird and Wacky Museums Your Kids Will Love at Kidventurous
10 Best Gardens to Visit with Mom at Intelligent Travel
10 Things You Didn’t Know about Alaska at Roadtrips for Families
15 Ways to Connect with Nature at a Park at Go Explore Nature
18 Tips for Visiting Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound, Washington, at Cascadia Kids

Wow! That’s quite a list. I hope you found a new place or two that you can visit with your family this summer.

Finding More Fun: Family Travel Links, March 2011

minnemom — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:18:05 +0000

Spring break and summer vacation are in our future after a long winter. Are you planning a family getaway? Perhaps some of these posts will give you an idea or two.

Arabian Nights (Orlando, FL) at The Rocket Scientist’s Guide to Raising Kids.
Atlanta’s High Museum of Art with Kids at Field Trips with Sue.
Big Family Travel to Washington, D.C. at Six Suitcase Travel.
Colorado Springs in any Weather at Road Trips for Families.
Connecting with Other Kids: Is a Playdate Necessary? at AK on the Go. (For the record, I’m definitely in the NO camp on this question.)
Fun Family Package at Ohio State Parks Lodges at We Just Got Back.
Hobson’s Bluffdale Vacation Farm (Eldred, IL) at the Talking Trekaroo.
Indianapolis Children’s Museum at Go Big or Go Home.
Kidscommons (Children’s Museum) in Columbus, IN, at Arrows Sent Forth.
Musings on Museums (Laura Ingalls Wilder sites in Walnut Grove, MN) at A Closer Look at Flyover Land.
The Root Beer Lady of Ely, MN, at Midwest Guest.
Safety Briefings for Families at AK on the Go. (I especially like #4.)
San Diego posts at Pit Stops for Kids: Sea World San Diego, Old Town San Diego, Legoland California.
5 Free Things to Do in Tulsa with Kids at Road Trips for Families.
7 Pictures to Capture at the Children’s Museum at Adventuroo.
6 Things for a 6-year-old to Do at Griffith Observatory (Los Angeles) at Go Explore Nature.
Some kid-specific Walt Disney World posts at Uptake Attractions: Best Things for Kids to Do at Epcot, Best Rides for School-Aged Kids at Animal Kingdom, Best Rides for Kids at Hollywood Studios, Best Rides for Not-So-Little Kids at Magic Kingdom.
12 Tips for Saving Money at Great Wolf Lodge at DeliciousBaby.
Tips for Taking a Toddler to Disneyland at The Vacation Gals.
Watch Bald Eagles Soar Above the Mississippi River at 10,000 Likes.
Why We Love Rental Properties While Traveling as a Family at Arrows Sent Forth.
World’s Largest Concrete Bull (Audubon, IA) at Eccentric Roadside.
World’s Second-Largest Botanic Garden, Montreal, Quebec, at Go Big or Go Home.
Though it’s not necessarily travel-related, I’m enjoying a new-found blog, Minnesota Prairie Roots.

That’s quite a list, isn’t it? I hope you can find some inspiration for your upcoming travels in these posts. Happy Spring!

Finding More Fun: Family Travel Links, Winter 2011

minnemom — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 21:06:48 +0000

As I look out my window, it’s a beautiful sunny day. Our swingset is buried in snow up to the cross bars, the only thing I can see that’s not white are trees and some exposed gravel on the road, and it’s finally warmed up to 1 above with a windchill of 17 below. I’m dreaming of warmer places and starting to think about summer vacation plans, so it’s a good time to see what other bloggers have been writing about. I hope you’ll enjoy these recent posts.

The Bishop Museum’s Science Adventure Center (Honolulu, HI) at Oahu Mom
Finding the Right Disney Resort for your Family (great for large families) at Pit Stops for Kids
Five Things My Six-Year-Old Loves about Sea World at Go Explore Nature
Higley Cabin (Kansas), where “Home on the Range” was Written at Family Rambling
How to Get Kids Ready to Downhill Ski at The Mother of All Trips
How to Tour Tide Pools with Kids at Go Explore Nature
The Lightner Museum in St. Augustine, Florida, at Uptake Attractions
Making the Most of your Disney Vacation at Pit Stops for Kids
Nashville with Kids at Christmas at Travel Savvy Mom
New Family-Friendly Activities in Vail, CO at The Vacation Gals
Next Stop, Cleveland! at Road Trips for Families
No-Fair Ski Vacation for the Family at You Must Be Trippin’
Pedernales State Park (TX) at Wandering Off
Safari West (Santa Rosa, CA) at Kids Go West
Santa Barbara (CA) Zoo at Kids Go West
Tips for Visiting Children’s Museums at Arrows Sent Forth
Top Five Family Roadtrip Mistakes at Go Big or Go Home
The Top Five RV Guidebooks at Jurnii
Traveling by Train with a Toddler at Arrows Sent Forth
Traveling the East Coast Underground Railroad at Travels with MJ
Visiting Dallas with Kids at Suite Trip
What Families Want in a Hotel Room at Trekaroo
Why Asheville, NC, Is Our Family’s Favorite Small Town at Trekaroo
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Orlando, FL) at The Q Family Adventures

Finding More Fun: Family Travel Links, October 2010

minnemom — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 20:45:13 +0000

I finally got a chance to go through my blog feeds, and here are some posts that caught my eye this past month.

Tips for Thanksgiving Travel with Kids at Delicious Baby.
JW Marriott Resort and Spa, San Antonio, Texas, at Family Rambling.
Things to Do and See in Florida Besides Disney World at WhyGoFamily.
Dahlonega Gold Tour, Dahlonega, Georgia, at Field Trips with Sue.
Exploring the Knife River Indian Villages of North Dakota at Frommer’s.
The Four Corners Monument is Underwhelming at Uptake Vacations.
15 Kid-Friendly Activities in San Antonio, TX, at Wandering Off.

I hope you enjoy these tidbits!

Finding More Fun: Family Travel Links, September 2010

minnemom — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 17:48:02 +0000

School’s back in full swing, summer vacation just a memory. Start thinking ahead for school breaks and winter getaways with these recent family-travel articles from around the web.

Buffalo (NY) Children’s Museum at Travel Savvy Mom.
Castle Air Museum in Atwater, CA, at Uptake Vacations.
Climb Aboard Old Ironsides (Boston, MA) at Uptake Attractions.
Exploring Colorado’s National Parks with Kids at Trekaroo.
Fernbank Science Center (Atlanta, GA) at Field Trips with Sue.
Grab the Kids and Head for the Hills in Los Angeles at Uptake Vacations.
How to Pack Only Carry-on Bags for Family Travel at The Mother of All Trips
Huntsville, AL, with Kids at The Q Family Adventures.
Joshua Tree National Park (CA) at Travel Savvy Mom.
Mall of America Character Meet & Greet (Bloomington, MN) at The Vacation Gals.
Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV, at Go Explore Nature.
Surviving Flight Delays with Kids at Suite Trip.
Things to Do in Santa Fe with Kids at Suite Trip.
Where the Germans Are (New Ulm, MN) at Midwest Weekends.
World’s Largest Bowling Pin, Tampa, FL, at Go Big or Go Home.
World’s Largest Kaleidoscope, Mt. Tremper, NY, at Go Big or Go Home.

Do you have any fall outings planned?

Finding More Fun: Family Travel Links, Summer 2010

minnemom — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 02:24:33 +0000

Where has the summer gone? We haven’t had any big trips, but it seems like the days are flying by nonetheless. Let’s see what other traveling families have been up to this summer.

Minnesota’s Best Waterparks at 10,000 Likes
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay: More Than Not Disney at Uptake Attractions
Finding a Family-Friendly Hotel at Cascadia Kids
Family Travel in Missouri and Montana: The 50 States Series at WhyGo Family
Split Rock Lighthouse (Minnesota) Celebrates Its 100th Birthday at Midwest Guest
How to Travel on $200 a Day at On the Go with Amy
Black Hills, South Dakota at Road Trips for Families
Cape Henry Lighthouse, Virginia, at The Rocket Scientist’s Guide to Raising Kids
Cave of the Winds (Colorado Springs, CO) at The Vacation Gals
Jolly Green Giant Statue (Blue Earth, MN) at The Vacation Gals
Five Tips for Visiting Alcatraz with Kids at Travel Savvy Mom
Six Cheap Things to Do in Orlando Other Than Disney at Uptake Vacations
World’s Largest Rubik’s Cube, Knoxville, TN, at Go Big or Go Home
Wanderous Strange at The Wanderlists

Have you been anywhere interesting this summer? Tell us about it in the comments!

Finding More Fun: Family Travel Links, 06/18/2010

minnemom — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 13:59:18 +0000

I just realized that it’s been a month since I scoured my feed reader for my favorite family-travel posts. I hope you’ll enjoy some of these articles as you make your summer-fun plans.

World’s Biggest Ball of Twine (Darwin, MN) at The Vacation Gals.
Noah’s Ark Waterpark, Wisconsin Dells, WI, at Travel Dither.
Digging for Fossils in Wyoming at Travel Savvy Mom.
Gatorland (Orlando, FL) at The Vacation Gals.
Family Fun in New Braunfels, Texas, at Uptake Attractions Blog.
Gold Mines Worth Visiting (CA) at Tripping with Kids.
National Infantry Museum in Columbus, Georgia, at Field Trips with Sue.
Denver Museum of Nature and Science at The Vacation Gals.
Oakland (CA) for Kids at SuiteTrip.
The Anchorage Museum at The Silent I.
Treasure Hunting at Dole Plantation (HI) at Go Explore Nature.
The Storied Bridges of Madison County (IA) at You Must Be Trippin’.
Old Town San Diego at Visit San Diego with Kids.
Bear Country USA (Rapid City, SD) at Six Suitcase Travel.
New Town Earthlodge Village (ND) at Travel Legendary North Dakota. (You can book a stay in these Native American homes.)
Yosemite (National Park, CA): Great Place for Kids at Tripping with Kids. And learn about keeping your car safe from bears at Yosemite at Travels with Baby’s What to Do with Carseats at Yosemite?
A Weekend in Chicago with Kids at Travel Savvy Mom.
Monterey Bay Aquarium (Monterey, CA) at The Silent I.
The Children’s Museum (Seattle, WA) at Pit Stops for Kids.
Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD, at Midwest Guest.
Top Five Tips for Reserving a Vacation Rental at Roadtrips for Families.
Five Great Camping Spots in the South at Camping Blogger.
5 National Monuments Your Family Should Visit at Trekaroo.
5 Must-Sees for Families on California’s Redwood Coast at Trekaroo.
10 Safety Tips for Theme Parks at Frommer’s.
15 Family-Friendly National Park Adventures at Trekaroo.
35 Cheap and Fun Things to Do with Kids in Vancouver, British Columbia, at Cascadia Kids.
55 Ways to Enjoy a Long Car Trip at Tripbase.

Win a Family Vacation in San Antonio

minnemom — Mon, 17 May 2010 03:35:47 +0000

Our San Antonio vacation this past winter was my husband’s idea, from the timing to the destination. He picked a good place to visit, and we really enjoyed San Antonio. From museums to amusement parks to the historic district to the Riverwalk, there’s a wide variety of activities in the city. If you’re considering a visit to San Antonio, you can read about the things we did there.

And if you’d like to do some things on San Antonio on someone else’s dime, check out this giveaway at The Mother of All Trips, which includes admission to several San Antonio attractions as well as a hotel stay.

My four-year-old keeps asking to go back to San Antonio. She seems to have forgotten the three-day drive that’s involved. Other than that, she has the right idea.

Finding More Fun: Family Travel Links, 05/11/2010

minnemom — Wed, 12 May 2010 01:21:21 +0000

Let’s see what the family-travel bloggers have been writing about lately. Do any of these posts give you summer-vacation inspiration?

5 More Fab Freebies in New York City at We Just Got Back.
Spring Hiking at Ledges State Park (Iowa) at Family Rambling.
Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden in Springfield, MA, at Eccentric Roadside.
Sealife Aquarium (CA) at Double the Adventure.
Daytrip: Olympia (WA) with Kids at Cascadia Kids.
Zoos in North Dakota at Uptake Attractions.
COSI (Columbus, Ohio) at Backseat Traveler.
The Kalamazoo (MI) Air Zoo at Trips with a Twist.
Lawrence Hall of Science (Berkeley, CA) at Kids Go West.
Minnehaha Park (Minneapolis) at A Closer Look at Flyover Land.
South Dakota’s Five Wackiest Attractions at Jurnii.
Five Things to Do in Boston at Wandering Off.
9 Things to Do with Kids in Boston at You Must Be Trippin’.
Legoland (San Diego, CA) at Uptake Attractions.
Murphys Suites (Murphys, CA) at Tripping with Kids.
Five Unusual Places Your Kids Will Like to Stay at Trekaroo.
Atlanta with Kids: Secret to Entertaining Kids at Turner Field Stadium at The Q Family Adventures.
Hormel’s SPAM Museum (Austin, MN) at The Vacation Gals.
Family Adventures in Eau Claire, WI, at Road Trips for Families.
8 Things All Kids Should See in D.C. at On the Go with Amy.
Furnace Creek Ranch, Death Valley, CA, at Pit Stops for Kids.
Seeing the Grand Canyon with Kids by Train at Travel Savvy Mom.
Crystal Skulls at the Dakota Dinosaur Museum (Dickinson, ND) at Travel Legendary North Dakota.
15 Places Every Kid Should See at Budget Travel.
Top 10 Tips for Traveling with Kids at Little Nomads.

Wow! Quite a list again this time. I hope you find a gem or two that you can use in your family trip-planning.

Finding More Fun: Family Travel Links, 04/13/2010

minnemom — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 20:47:29 +0000

Today I’m catching up on reading other blogs, and here are some family-travel posts that caught my eye. Enjoy!

Family Travel in Nebraska: The 50 States Series at WhyGo Family.
Nebraska’s Five Weirdest Attractions at Jurnii.
Death Valley with Kids at Travel Savvy Mom.
Five Family-Favorite Attractions in Atlanta at Atlanta with Kid.
Preparing for Family Camping Getaways at Camping Blogger.
Tips for Crossing the Desert at The Mother of All Trips.
Hallmark Visitor’s Center in Kansas City, MO, at Family Rambling.
5 Fun Things to Do with Kids in Columbia, SC, at The Q Family Adventures.
Tips for Rain at Disney World at The Vacation Gals.
Prairie Homestead Sod House (Philip, SD) at Travel with Tweens and Teens.
Asheboro Zoo (North Carolina) at Carolina Nomad.
9 Kid-Friendly Attractions in Victoria, British Columbia, at Cascadia Kids.
The U.S. Capitol at Kid-Friendly Vacations Guide.
Happy Hollow Park and Zoo (San Jose, CA) at Kids Go West.
Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive at Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore at Midwest Guest.
9 Things to Do with Kids in Boston at On the Go with Amy.
Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado) at Pit Stops for Kids.
10 Tips for Visiting Disney World with Kids at Frommer’s.
A Sunday Drive in Grand Rapids, MI, at Roadtrips for Families.
The Boston Children’s Museum at Crazy Kids Boston.
Cabrillo National Monument (San Diego, CA) at Double the Adventure.
Gatorland (Orlando, FL) at Travel Savvy Mom.
Furnace Creek Ranch (Death Valley, CA) at Pit Stops for Kids.
Milwaukee Family Friendly Fun (WI) at Roadtrips for Families.
Exploring Zion National Park (Utah) at The Lollipop Road.
Practicing Paleontology at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (Tucson, AZ) at The Mother of All Trips.
Exploring Shenandoah National Park (VA) at The Lollipop Road.
Palo Duro Canyon State Park (Texas) at Uptake Attractions.

Finding More Fun: Family Travel Links, 03/17/2010

minnemom — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:52:00 +0000

Here are some of my favorite family-travel blog posts from the past month or so:

Family Travel in Nevada: The 50 States Series at WhyGo Family.
Southern Iowa Gateway Welcome Center at Family Rambling.
NBC Studio Tours in New York City at New York City Mama.
Five Fab Freebies in Burlington, Vermont, at We Just Got Back.
World’s Biggest “Paper” Cup in Riverside, California, at Eccentric Roadside.
Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour, Waterbury, Vermont, at Crazy Kids Boston.
Monterey Bay Aquarium with Kids (California)at Delicious Baby.
Birch Aquarium, La Jolla, California, at Double the Adventure.
Five Marshmallow Sticks for Family Camping at CampingBlogger.
EdVenture Children’s Museum in Columbia, South Carolina, at Carolina Nomad.
Como Zoo in St. Paul, Minnesota, at Uptake Attractions.
Visiting the Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, at the Silent I.
Orlando With Kids: Free Things to Do Beyond Disney World at The Q Family Adventures.
Rhinelander, Wisconsin, Welcomes New Monsters at Roadside America.
Mrs. Grossman’s Sticker Factory (Petaluma, California) at Pitstops for Kids.
Cherry Bowl Drive-In, Honor, Michigan, at Midwest Guest.
San Francisco Cable Car Museum at Kids Go West.
Nevada’s 7 Wackiest Wonders at Jurnii.
10 Secrets for Making Museums and Zoos Fun for Kids of All Ages at Frommer’s.
San Francisco Museums You May Not Know About at Frisco Kids.
San Antonio Children’s Museum (Texas) at Wandering Off.

Finding More Fun: Family Travel Roundup, 02/13/2010

minnemom — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:30:04 +0000

I scoured my feed reader to come up with these family travel posts that I hope you’ll enjoy.

Three Secrets to Camping with Kids at Camping Blogger.
Greenville, SC, Children’s Museum at Uptake Attractions.
5 Best Kid-Friendly Activities in Columbia, SC at Carolina Nomad.
The Best Tide Pools in Orange County (CA) at Double the Adventure.
Five Fab Freebies in Kansas City at We Just Got Back.
Family Travel in New Hampshire: The 50 States Series at WhyGo Family Travel.
Three Kid-Friendly San Francisco Tours at Frisco Kids.
Hubbard House Underground Railroad Station in Ashtabula, OH, at Midwest Guest.
What Legoland Got Right at Tripping with Kids.
St. Louis Favorites: Five Fun Things to Do with Kids at Wandering Off.

Finding More Fun: Family Travel Roundup, 01/15/2010

minnemom — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:59:21 +0000

Here are some family-travel destination ideas and hints from the past few weeks:

9 Things to Do with Kids in Charleston at You Must Be Trippin’.
The Oregon Trail at Whitman Mission (WA) at WanderMom.
15 Kid-Friendly Activities in San Antonio at Wandering Off.
Feeding Your Family at Disneyland at Uptake Vacations Blog.
Top Kid Activities in San Diego at Trekaroo.
20 Family Friendly Restaurants in New York City at Mommy Poppins.
Tips for Eating in Restaurants with Young Kids at SuiteTrip.
Top Ten Kid-Friendly Airports in the U.S. at SuiteTrip.
Family Travel in New Jersey: The 50 States Series at Family Travel Guide.
Hands-On Science Discovery in Hartford, CT, at Uptake Attractions Blog.

Finding More Fun: Family Travel Roundup, 12/06/2009

minnemom — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 03:32:31 +0000

I know it’s been a while since I scoured my feed reader for good family travel links, but I haven’t forgotten. There’s just been a lot of hustle and bustle getting in the way. So, without further excuses, I present this long-overdue edition of “Finding More Fun.”

Theresa from Six Suitcase Travel, one of my favorite sites when looking for a hotel room for our family, writes about Best Hotel Chains for large families at Travel Savvy Mom.
Five Fab Freebies in San Antonio at We Just Got Back.
Santa Barbara Zoo at Double the Adventure.
Five Fun Stocking Stuffers for Traveling Kids at Travel Savvy Mom.
Children’s Museum in Easton, MA, at Crazy Kids Boston.
Fun in Washington, D.C. at Trekaroo.
Ruben H. Fleet Science Center in San Diego at Kids Go West.
Family Travel in New Mexico: The 50 States Series at Family Travel Guide.
Jen at Cents in the Cities took her family to Nickelodeon Universe and had a great time.
Recent posts I’ve written at Uptake about Minneapolis’ Minnehaha Falls, Minot, ND’s Scandinavian Heritage Park, and Philadelphia’s Please Touch Museum.
Beyond Disney: Things to Do with Kids in Orlando at On the Go with Amy.
8 New York City Attractions Made Just for Kids at Frommer’s.
5 Tips for Taking a Toddler to an Art Museum at Wandering Off.

Finding More Fun: Family Travel Roundup, 11/02/2009

minnemom — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:26:28 +0000

It’s been a crazy few weeks, so I’ve been remiss in posting links to other good family travel posts. I hope you enjoy this edition.

Family Fun at Center Grove Orchard, Cambridge, IA, at Have Kid Will Travel.
A Possibly-Haunted Covered Bridge at Midwest Guest.
8 Free Kid-Free Activities in Dayton, OH, at Wandering Off.
Pretend City in Irvine, CA, at DeliciousBaby.
Slide Rock State Park, AZ, at Travel Savvy Mom.
Mall of America, Bloomington, MN, at The Vacation Gals.
Jacksonville Zoo (FL) Spooktacular at The Rocket Scientist’s Guide to Raising Kids.
Long Layovers with Kids at Travel Savvy Mom.

Happy travels!

Trekaroo’s KidsMobile Visits Chicago

minnemom — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:13:59 +0000

I’ve been a fan of Trekaroo for quite a while–it’s kind of like TripAdvisor, but with families in mind. I’ve reviewed many of the places we’ve visited, asked questions on the discussion board, and used other parents’ recommendations to mold my own plans.

The KidsMobile is Trekaroo’s way of focusing on one city at a time. I jumped on the Chicago segment, so you’ll see my recommendations along with those of other local Chicago parents and travelers.

Chicago KidsMobile, via Trekaroo

Jumpin’ onboard the Trekaroo KidsMobile are some of the most travel savvy mid-west moms. Together, they’re letting us in on some of Chicago’s best kept secrets for families.

First up, Minnemom shares how to have Fun in Chicago with Young Kids. This is a mom extraordinaire who has traveled through big and small towns all over the midwest with her 4 kids. If you need advice about how to have a lifestyle of travel with a large family, she’s your go-to gal and you can follow her adventures on her fantastic blog: Travels With Children

Amie O’Shaughnessy of Ciao Bambino brings us some Family-friendly Tips from a Local Mom for Exploring Chicago. Ciao Bambino is a one of Trekaroo’s favorite partners because we share a common passion – inspiring families to travel. Ciao Bambino provides vetted reviews of the best accommodations when traveling with children of all ages around the world.

Free and Cheap Entertainment in the Suburbs of Chicago - sign me up! The bargain hunting mom behind Bargins Rock has no hesitation sharing her best finds in her home town of Chicago. She’s passionate about saving money and loves passing on good deals to her blog readers. If you like deals too, be sure to bookmark her blog.

Bridget Stern also has a list of the Best FREE attractions in and around Chicago. Bridget works with families day in day out capturing the most wonderful photos of children and families as a professional photographer. She is also an active mom who loves exploring with her daughter. To see great pics and read about their family’s adventures, hop on over to Bridget Stern’s blog.

Other Chicago Resources:

Next stop, we’ll be heading to Seattle, Washington for another big launch the week of Halloween.

The Trekaroo KidsMobile is a blog carnival with a twist. It’s designed to provide a unique opportunity for mom and dad bloggers to be featured on Trekaroo while

1) expressing their unique point of view

2) getting a web of link exchanges.

Join us for one of our next stopovers.

Family Travel Tips
Chicago

Finding More Fun: Family Travel Roundup, 09/23/2009

minnemom — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 02:04:53 +0000

Fall is here! Check out these fun ideas for family travel.

10 Fun Corn Mazes for Kids Around Atlanta at Atlanta with Kid Travel Blog.
Apple Picking at Pennings Orchard, Warwick, NY at NYCityMama.
Barack Obama Corn Maze at Lyman Gardens in Connecticut at Uptake Vacations.
Land of the Free: 5 Fab Freebies in Washington, D.C. at We Just Got Back.
Pretend City, Irvine, CA, at Double the Adventure.
Sea World, San Diego: Five Family Favorites at Travel Savvy Mom.
Family Travel in North Carolina: The 50 States Series at Family Travel Guide.
Money Saving Tips for Your Next ThemePark Adventure at Uptake Attractions.
Road Trip Tips at The Mother of All Trips.
Cheap and Easy Road-Trip Entertainment for Kids: Pipe Cleaners at The Vacation Gals.
Planning 2010 Travel Now at Wanderlust and Lipstick.

Finding More Fun: Family Travel Roundup, 09/16/2009

minnemom — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:38:42 +0000

Some family-travel ideas from the past week . . .

Ten Great State Fairs at Uptake Attractions.
Phoenix: Five Family Favorites at Travel Savvy Mom.
Napa Valley for Kids: What to Do (and What Not to Do) at The Silent I.
Trekaroo’s Hot List of Best Places to Take Kids in New York City at The Talking Trekaroo.
Is it Too Late to Camp? at Camping Blogger.
Mail Boat Tours of Lake Geneva, WI, at Uptake Attractions.
Things to Do for Train-Loving Kids in New Jersey at Mommy Poppins.
How to Avoid Orlando’s Theme Park Money Pit at Frommer’s.

Have a great week!

Finding More Fun: Family Travel Roundup, 09/09/2009

minnemom — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:32:02 +0000

Here are a few ideas for outings on that next long weekend or school break:

Family Travel in North Dakota: The 50 States Series at Family Travel Guide.
Gateway Arch Riverfront, St. Louis, MO, at Have Kid Will Travel.
Five Fab Freebies in Birmingham, AL, at We Just Got Back.
Southeastern Railroad Museum, Duluth, GA, at Atlanta with Kid Travel Blog.
Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, at Uptake Attractions.
Kansas Underground Salt Museum, Hutchinson, KS, at Family Travel Guide.

Have a great week!

Finding More Fun: Family Travel Roundup, 09/02/2009

minnemom — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 22:01:52 +0000

Here’s what the family travel bloggers have been writing about this week.

Yosemite Without the Crowds at Travel Savvy Mom.
The Magic House, St. Louis, MO, at Have Kid Will Travel.
Tacoma Museum of Art, Tacoma, WA, at DeliciousBaby.
City Garden, St. Louis, MO, at Have Kid Will Travel.
Five Things to Do on Jekyll Island (GA) at Field Trips with Sue.
Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, NY, at Uptake Attractions.
Secret Spots of the North Shore (MN) at Midwest Weekends.
Take Me Out to the Minors at Travel Savvy Mom.

Did you find a great new place to visit this summer? Mention it in the comments!

Finding More Fun: Family Travel Roundup, 08/25/2009

minnemom — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:44:28 +0000

These are some of my favorite family-travel blog posts from the past week:

Duluth, MN, with Kids at Midwest Weekends.
The Kit Carson County Carousel in Burlington, CO, at Jason’s Travels.
Family Travel in Oklahoma (The Fifty States Series) at Family Travel Guide.
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Vallejo, CA) at Journey into Unschooling.
The Inside Scoop on Atlanta Braves Games with Kids at Field Trips with Sue.
Imagine It! Children’s Museum with Kids (Atlanta, GA) at Atlanta with Kid Travel Blog.
Jelly Belly Factory Tour (Fairfield, CA) at Travel Savvy Mom.
What to do when your Kids Hate Your Family Vacation at Uptake Vacations.
Surviving Long Road Trips with Toddlers at Travel Savvy Mom.

Have you written a blog post about a place you’ve visited with kids? Let me know about it!