If you are up for the challenge of roughing it, going on a family camping trip can save you a lot of money over the traditional vacation. After all, in 2010, the cost of staying at a campground averaged about $20 to $30 per night while a stay at a modest hotel can easily cost more than $100 per night. Still, you need to watch your budget when camping, because there are extra costs to avoid.
It’s half-past eight on a Friday in Paris. My four children are packed into our van on our final trip to the airport. They are singing their favorite Justin Beiber song, while I shoot a video. The hum of their voices is our farewell song to the 2 week adventure we are all sad to see end. It’s the same scene I know on many days in our truck back home, but today the atmosphere is different and there is harmony. We are on our way home from our European family adventure. Three destinations, 15 bags and the 6 people that make up my brood. At times it felt like another version of National Lampoons, The Charvet Wanabees go to Europe. One of the funniest scenes is us at the Passport check-in. 3 Charvets, David with his French passport, 2 Fishers, and one Burke. Me being the outcast, I knew I looked more like the nanny than the one responsible for all of the children. It’s always a surprise to the one asking, “They’re all yours?!?”
At the beach at Cape Canaveral, nineteen-year-old Josh Scurlock looks out at the water. The larger than normal waves look rough but not too rough so he and a friend go out in them to play. A strong swimmer " Josh loves the ocean and his new Florida home just five blocks from the beach. It’s Saturday and the sun is out and there is no school and nothing at all is wrong in the world.
Josh Scurlock. Having recently moved to Florida from Indiana, he doesn’t notice " or even know how to notice " the rip current that will sweep him out to sea and away from his friend. Once caught in its pull, his instincts are to head back in. The land is where safety is and something is pulling him away from it, so he fights. Swimming as hard as he can for as long as he can " with his friend on the beach now yelling for help " Josh Scurlock tires and drowns. And though a heroic surfer eventually makes it to him and brings him to shore " he cannot be revived. Josh never sees twenty.
“Let every meal be a celebration”
Harmonious colors set the table, awakening senses I strive to experience at home. There is a personal touch here and many small gestures that make the difference. The possibility of many friends gathering and letting go of our norm and accepting what a new country offers is what makes, in my opinion, an international vacation enjoyable.
Traveling with little ones is not easy. Anyone who tells you differently is delusional. Objections? Let me know below or, for the love of god, tell us your secrets! With summer travel in full swing, readers and friends alike have been asking me for the secrets to baby travel success. My answer: find people, services, devices, and a sense of humor to help ease the pain. Travel does not have to start with a negative. In fact, it should start with a positive " like a really cool gadget that promises to entertain your child for at least four hours straight or a fabulous hotel stay. While I’m always a fan of home rentals, sometimes a hotel is your only option, so I rounded up the kid-friendliest hotel chains " teddy bears and warm cookies included.
Vacations are important for every member of the family. Going away for a few days or weeks can rejuvenate parents and kids, and strengthen the bonds between them. Unfortunately, vacations can also be very stressful to plan. But if you plan it right, you'll be (almost) stress-free before and during your vacation! Here are some tips to getting your family vacation organized today:
Family car trips can be exciting, fun and a great bonding experience. But, they can also be nerve-wrecking, disorganized and headache-inducing! One way to reduce the headache is to get organized before the trip. Here are some tips to keep in mind for your next car trip.
We survived the 10 hour flight to Europe, a 4 hour layover and a road trip to our Villa. Surprisingly, this trip was more difficult than the one I made with Rain and Shaya to visit David in Africa. Afternoon flights to Europe are the most difficult. Even though the redeye seems disruptive, trust me it is the ONLY way to go when traveling abroad. My kids were up the entire flight. We arrived in the morning Paris time, which means we all missed an entire night’s sleep. During the layover in Paris, my son decided to make the seating area a track, while his sisters enjoyed timing his speed round and round! All I was thinking was, “Yes, wear him out!!!” Neriah finally crashed on her sweatshirt/makeshift pillow across the cleanest spot she could find, and the rest of us (including Rain) rocked on. Rain became our copilot as David and I made sense of a VERY crude map and Italian directions to our countryside villa. Good news is we made it, and even better, it was well worth the schlep…
Summer is finally here, which means that many families are going on day trips or vacations! For any parent with a kid that experiences motion sickness, a vacation could be a very daunting thought. Here are some facts about motion sickness in your children and ways to prevent it, so that you and your family could breathe a little easier on your next trip.
I was just watching a segment on the Today Show about relaxing on Family vacation… That seems like wishful thinking with my brood- although that is exactly what I am hoping for. I never went on a family vacation as a child, so they are super important to me now. I think family vacations create memories that will last a lifetime. It’s about quality time for us, checking out of our day-to-day routines, exploring different environments, and enjoying each other"but only if they are organized! This goes for any trip btw (car trips, stay-cations, sleepovers, etc.) I do not want this summer adventure to be frustrating or exhausting so I am prepping everything I can.
