Family Travel Guide

Since vacations are expensive and families often only get to take one or two a year, deciding where to go and what to do on your next family trip might feel like as big of a challenge as a presidential debate. Trust me though - it doesn’t have to be. Unlike our next “big election,” with the right voting strategy, everyone can win at the end of this great debate!

To plan the ideal vacation, include everyone in the decision-making process with age-appropriate tasks, use a democratic voting system, and ensure the whole family gets heard in the planning. Put this simple formula to work and enjoy the process as it unfolds:

1. First, have every family member submit destination ideas for the vacation ballot. My girls are too young to participate just yet, but if you have school-aged kids, encourage them to ask friends, do online research (if they are old enough) or just list out some dream destinations! This way, everyone in the family has a chance to participate.

2. From there, mom and dad pick the top three options based on distance, time and budget to make sure the destinations are feasible for their family (i.e. bungee jumping off a bridge in Queenstown, New Zealand probably won’t work for many families). This is also a chance for mom and dad to propose, or "pitch" if you will, options the kids may not be aware of and use their veto power for the good of all.

3. Create mini-itineraries for each of your three choices. You don’t have to spend hours on research, but you’ll want to hit the main points of a destination.

Example: New York

• Day 1: Statue of Liberty, shopping in the West Village
• Day 2: Museum of Natural History and boat tour on the Hudson
• Day 3: Empire State Building and sight-seeing in Times Square
• Day 4: Explore Central Park, stop in at FAO Schwarz
• Day 5: Brooklyn – Zoo, Parks, Children’s Museum

4. Finally, based on these mini-itineraries, do a hands up/hands down classroom-style vote so everyone in the family gets an equal say.

Viola! Choosing your next vacation destination was not the act of Congress you thought it would be.

Boy do I wish my parents had used this voting tactic growing up. When I was in junior high, they decided we were taking an educational Spring Break trip to Washington, D.C. My history-buff father packed the schedule with visits to almost every Civil War Battlefield in the area. Looking back on it, I’m very thankful that we went on that trip because I was able to understand the values our country was founded upon, but if a few more shopping excursions had been added to the itinerary, I might have been a happier tween. That’s why doing a little research in the mini-itinerary stage and involving your kids in the process is so important!

Research Tips

Thanks to the Internet, you can quickly and easily find out anything you can possibly want to know about a destination, with the click of a button.

My family uses the following phrases in the search field of our favorite search engine to make sure we’ve covered our bases.

• “Kids activities in [destination]”
• “Things to do with kids in [destination]” or “things to do with ‘young’ or ‘little’ kids in [destination]”
• “Family fun during the summer/winter/fall/spring in [destination]”
• “Date night in [destination]” 5. “Indoor family activities in [destination]”
• “Family friendly restaurants in [destination]”
• “Tourist hot spots in [destination]”

When searching Google, don’t be afraid to go off the beaten path. The top page is populated by sites that are good at playing the marketing game, but there is often interesting, more authentic info to be found if you dig a little deeper to find lesser known sites and bloggers with experience in your destination. Or better yet, people who live there - we all know word of mouth is the best source of information, after all!

Don’t forget to check the date stamp on any article or post you use and call ahead to make sure nothing has changed. When we were in Montauk this summer, we arrived promptly for the free swimming lessons on the beach only to find out that they had ended the week earlier. Oops! Our bad.

At the end of the day, if you follow this vacation planning strategy your family will enjoy being allowed to help with the process, you’ll ensure everyone will be happy with the trip  and you can use the fun of planning a family vacation as an opportunity to show your family democracy in action!

Diana Heather is the Chief Mom, both at home to her two girls and at Totsy.com. You can follow Diana on Twitter @ParentingsATrip or read more at her blog: ParentingsATrip.com.

Image from: http://madisondemocrats.org/?page_id=23

When my Husband suggested Montauk, as in, the beachy tip at the very end of Long Island, for our summer vacation my first reaction was, “That’s too close to home! We can’t go there for vacation.” (We live in Manhattan.)

Then, the beauty of vacationing near home hit me like a ton of bricks: no airport security; no long flight with toddlers; no requirement to stay gone longer than we’d really like - just a perfect family vacation to a place we’ve never been before that is known for being low key!

So, off we went to the perfect vacation rental home, on the perfect family vacation in perfect little Montauk.

Day 1

Ahhh, home sweet home!

We arrived at our amazing, contemporary Montauk vacation rental (that we found on HomeAway.com) with a sun-drenched deck, huge backyard and children's jungle gym with bikes, ice chest, and other essentials, just before noon. The homeowner met us upon arrival to give us the keys, a tour of the home and tons of advice about the area. It was beautiful. It had tons of room and natural light and was in a great location near everything we had planned.

Meanwhile, my Mom (“Nonna” to my girls) landed at La Guardia and hopped a ride on The Jitney to meet us in Montauk.

Around lunchtime, we drove in to town to pick her up at the bus stop and enjoyed a lovely lunch in the quaint downtown area, sitting outside in the breeze. We finally felt like we were on vacation!

But, it wasn’t long before we realized there’s no time to dally in Montauk! My husband had planned an adventure-packed itinerary so we needed to get started.

Montauk Point Lighthouse, the oldest lighthouse in New York State, was our first destination. The Lighthouse, authorized by the Second Congress, under President George Washington, is still an active aid to navigation today. Our 3-year-old met the minimum height requirement (41” or more) and was allowed to climb to the top with us to check out the view. It was peaceful and amazing all at once.

After all of that hard work climbing up and down the 137 iron steps, we headed over to the gift shop and restaurant for cocktails and milkshakes. 

Later that day, we headed over to Monday night "Concerts on the Green," a free family event sponsored by the chamber of commerce.  A few lawn chairs, some chilled wine and a pizza from the local pizzeria, and we were all set for one of the best nights we've had all year. The band was singing tunes like “Pretty Woman” and kids, young and old, were swinging to the beat. This is how a sunset was mean to be enjoyed. It was like we were in a TV show or a movie, only better - it was real!

After the Littles had their baths, we all snuggled up on the over-sized couches in the living room of our vacation rental and watched Team USA take the gold in Womens’ Gymnastics. Inspired by the win, the Littles attempted their own acrobatics solidifying a "perfect 10" for our first day of vacation!

Day 2

Our second day in Montauk started with everyone slathering on the sunscreen before we headed out to a sun-filled day of activities – mostly on the beach. (Check out my post “A Parent’s Guide to Pool Time on Vacation” for more tips on sun protection). We always make sure all of us are well-coated before we get dressed and leave for the day.

Our first stop was Gin Beach where we took advantage of gorgeous morning and skipped stones. Then we collected sea shells, driftwood and even sea greenery growing on the sand dunes to fill up three glass globes we bought to remember our vacation. 

Lunch had us heading over to Navy Beach, a famous restaurant in Montauk where the fresh seafood is really amazing. Its super kid-friendly since they can run around on the beach while you wait for your food, which makes it worth the pricey fare. After lunch, we took a quick nap at our comfy vacation rental, then we were ready for more!

Rita’s Stables was next on the agenda and the perfect place for the Littles to enjoy something right up their alley. It was so fun watching them experience their first saddle rides. It made my mom and I nostalgic for the first time my brother and I rode horseback with my grandparents in Columbus, MS. The petting zoo at Rita’s was a big hit, too. Of course, our littlest wanted to HOLD the animals (not just pet them).

Next up was a quick game of mini-golf at the local Puff & Putt to fill the gap of time between horse riding and our dinner reservation. Note to self: Toddlers don’t play mini golf. It was fun to watch anyway.

One of the best parts about Montauk is that all of the great restaurants you’re dying to visit are family friendly in the early evening hours. We ALL had a great time at Solé East in their beautifully landscaped backyard dining area. All of the money we saved by staying in a vacation rental allowed us to enjoy some restaurants that wouldn’t have otherwise fit in our budget.

I never get to hit up the Momofuko Milk Bar in NYC so I was determined to visit their Montauk outpost for dessert. We got carry-out to enjoy back at the house around the kitchen table together. 

After spotting two bunnies and four deer (that were on their own family vacation, according to the girls) in the backyard, our elated Littles enjoyed a cool nighttime romp on the jungle gym before bath time put an end to our second day.

Day 3

As early risers, we easily made the 10 am ferry to Block Island, Mass., a place I knew nothing about.

Hubs insisted we bring our bikes so we could all bike around the island together. Once I realized that there was only one ferry a day to and from Block Island, and that both directions take at least an hour, I was a little nervous that this might be an ambitious plan for our multigenerational band of merry travelers.

Hubs and the oldest Little had a great time biking all over the island, shopping, eating and hitting up yet another petting zoo. Nonna, Littler, our friend and myself had a less fun day after a series of near fatal biking accidents. Ok, maybe I’m being a tad dramatic. But there was more than one accident and there was blood. And it was mine. Enough said.

We did manage to get ourselves to the Old Town area of Block Island, where Littlest promptly put herself up for sale for fear we might put her on the

back of  another bicycle.

Leaving Block Island was more enjoyable as it included cocktails on the dock and a chance to watch real fishermen cleaning their catch of the day while we waited to board the ferry.

Not a moment too soon, Hubs had arranged for a little vacation romance on our final night!

My husband definitely knows how to plan a date! We indulged at the hottest dinner spot in town, Byron at Surf Lodge and had the best table there. Afterwards, we pretended we were slightly younger than we are and headed to Rushmeyers Electric Eel Bar for Comedy Night with Seth Herzog where we laughed and recovered from the day’s adventures. Perhaps Hubs read my post, "Rest, Relaxation & Romance" about spending quality couple time during a family vacation.

Day 4

After a lazy morning with the girls, Hubs surprised us all with the perfect souvenir t-shirts on our last day. In no time, we were packed and ready to hit the road. Montauk: The End!

Diana Heather writes at http://www.parentingsatrip.com. She is also the Chief Mom, both at home to her two girls and at Totsy.com. You can follow Diana on Twitter @ParentingsATrip.

I’m excited so many people are taking advantage of vacation rentals. They are an especially great option for families because they offer much more space for the money than is available in a hotel. That means you can invite the grandparents or family friends to join!

You also have all the luxuries of home in a vacation rental, which is so important when you’re traveling with kids. When a kid wakes up in the middle of the night in a hotel, it is such a pain to try and mix a bottle of formula or get milk. In a vacation rental, you’re able to pop into the kitchen, do your thing and hang out with your babies when they need you without waking up the whole house – everyone will appreciate that!

My family just took a trip to the beach for our summer vacation and stayed in this Montauk vacation rental from HomeAway.com.  While we loved our home away from home, I have three simple tips that can help make your vacation rental even more comfortable for your family. For more details, watch my video, "How We Made the Most of Our Summer Vacation Rental."

1. Familiar Scents

"Smell is a potent wizard that transports you across thousands of miles and all the years you have lived.'' - Helen Keller

It’s amazing what an impact scents can have on your emotions. For my family, just walking in the door and smelling something familiar can make us feel calm and comfortable when we’re staying someplace new. Often it can be very light, common scents such as vanilla, lemon or cinnamon that create connections to contentment.

To start your vacation off right, pack a few of your favorite scents! One of my favorite ways to do this is with the new Glade® Solid Air Fresheners because they are inexpensive and lightweight for travel or can be picked up locally if traveling by plane.

2. Food

What food you pack will depend on how you travel to your destination. When you fly, you’ll only carry the basics to get you through the flight like favorite snacks and formula. If you’re driving, you can pack an ice chest with additional necessities or even leftovers like we did when we traveled from NYC to Montauk. In any case, you’ll want to locate a grocery store convenient to your vacation rental so you can easily pick up anything else you need for the week. Also, come equipped with a shopping list of basics. You won’t want to sit and explain what you need to a well-meaning husband or friend, let alone think about making a list when you get there, so doing this ahead of time is hugely helpful.

For us, breakfast is the meal we all eat together. Kids wake up hungry – at least mine do – and coffee is an immediate must for this Mommy.  So I make sure we have our favorite cereal, milk, coffee, and the kids’ favorite bowls, bibs and placemats – all of which are lightweight, small and easy to pack, and SO worth having. All in all, the kids’ breakfast-time ritual remains the same as every other day – meaning vacation days start off stress free for mom and dad!

3. Bed and Bath Time

When we get home from a long day of vacation adventures, the last thing we want is to fight the bath/bed battle; so, to ensure things go smoothly, we make sure to have everything the kids love on hand. For example, we always bring our girls’ hooded towels for after bath time - the familiarity of being hooded, wrapped and snuggled after a bath is important to them. Plus, each girl has a favorite blanket they love to sleep with, so it’s a no brainer to bring that with us, as well.

It really doesn’t take much, and a little will go a long way toward making your family comfortable when traveling.

What makes you feel at home when you’re on vacation? I’d love to talk with you about it in the comments section below.

Also, I wanted to share a few fun family photos from our summer vacation. Enjoy!

Diana Heather writes at ParentingsATrip.com. She is also the Chief Mom, both at home to her two girls and at Totsy.com. You can follow Diana on Twitter @ParentingsATrip

In light of the Olympics, I thought it’d be a fun idea to do a series of posts about traveling abroad with your family... 

International travel with a young family can be a bit nerve-wracking, particularly the first time you do it. However, as a mom who’s been to Europe and back more than once with both of my girls (reminder: my oldest is 3 years old), I can say it was absolutely worth it.

We love the idea of exposing our children to new countries and cultures early on. Plus, for us, traveling abroad means spending time with Hubs’ parents, which is a total bonus!

As with all family travel, a smooth international vacation just comes down to doing your homework and having a game plan.  

Passports rules for children (16 and under) are different than the rules for adults:
Despite what you might think, all children, including babies, are required to have a passport when traveling internationally.

Also, both parents/guardians must be with the child at the passport agency to get the process started. If both can not be present, then the one who is absent must have signed the proper form (DS-3053) and have it notarized giving permission for the child to receive a passport. You can find a link to download Form DS-3053 on travel.state.gov.   Check the rules for parents with sole custody or a third parties applying with the child for their passport.   Parents/guardians also need to submit sufficient documentation of custody or a ‘permission to travel letter’ at the airport if only one parent intends to travel with their child without the second parent or if grandparents, etc. are traveling abroad with a child without his/her parents.

Creative Commons Photo courtesy of timsackton

This can get confusing, but it’s very important. No one wants to get to the airport for a major trip just to be turned away by officials for improper documentation.

Family Travel Forum has a great article entitled, “Required Documents for Travel with Minors.” This is a great place to start for more information. Regardless of your plans, when crossing borders with minors always check the Department of Homeland Security site to ensure you have the proper documents with you before you leave home.

The happily-sleeping jetsetter child:
Traveling through time zones and managing jetlag requires counterintuitive thinking because your body will be tired and telling you to sleep; however there are definitely ways to get your family through it with ease. 

First, if you're traveling to Europe and other countries east of the US, it's best to do so at night so you wake up at your destination during the day.

Also, I recommend switching your clocks to the new time zone as early as possible to help you stay on schedule and force your body to accept what time it is where you are/are going versus where you're coming from.

If you have an iPhone, a helpful tool is the “Clock” application (note: it's the same app you use for the alarm or stopwatch). At the bottom of the screen, tap on “World Clock” to easily see and compare time zones. The best part is there’s no need to search for or buy a new app – this one’s part of the phone. Love that!

Maintaining your at-home schedule while traveling will also help ease jet-lag (e.g., eat breakfast at 7 a.m., lunch at noon, dinner at 7 p.m., etc.). Believe it or not, eating your regular meals on the new time schedule will help you sleep better.

Luckily, in my experience, young kids and infants are generally sensitive to light and dark and and often don't need as much coercing as adults when it comes to adjusting to new time zones. Parents with older kids might want to encourage them to go to bed slightly earlier than usual the first few nights to try and wake up on schedule. It’s tempting to go to bed late and wake up late the first few days of an international trip, but the sooner your body gets acclimated to the new schedule, the better.

When traveling home (westward), reverse the process. Travel in the morning so that you arrive home in time to go to bed at home at a regular time. Again, force your body to wake up and eat at regular times.

International travel and family meals:
My experience has taught me to take advantage of the opportunity to try new food ideas offered up by friends and family at destinations abroad, especially when it comes to the kids. People tend to think differently about baby and toddler foods due to cultural differences and experiences. This is actually a good thing. We took their advice and came away with great new options for my kids.

My girls tried foods I would never have dreamed of for them (like salmon and parsnips when they weren't even a year old) and they loved them. My British sister-in-law even convinced me it was ok to give them small portions of pureed casseroles with a little milk and cheese in them. It worked out great! 

The world is a large and wonderful place.  Instead of being afraid to explore it because you have kids, think of it as another opportunity to grow closer with your family through each new adventure.    

What was your first international travel experience like and what was the thing you were most nervous about? How did that turn out?

Happy travels!

Diana Heather writes at ParentingsATrip.com. She is also the Chief Mom, both at home to her two girls and at Totsy.com. You can follow Diana on Twitter @ParentingsATrip.

New York City is a place like no other. It was during a family vacation here when I was 11 that I knew deep in my heart I was destined to live here one day (isn’t it amazing how vacations can affect your life?) I’ve lived here now for 8 years and I love it more and more each day.

Once I had kids though, I felt like I was learning how to live in the city all over again.  Trying to navigate through subway stations  and in/out of taxicabs can be somewhat intimidating when you’re not used to it, so I understand why parents might be a little nervous about taking their kids on vacation to the Big Apple. 

It’s true everything in New York moves at a fast pace, but it’s important to remember that you and your Little(s) CAN keep up and have a wonderful time here, as long as you do a little research ahead of time and travel with a game plan. 

First things first - Getting around NYC is a snap. You can find a subway station or flag a taxicab within a couple blocks of wherever you find yourself in the city.  At MTA.info you can easily find subway maps, bus stops and subway stations with elevators. Also, despite the myth, New Yorkers are generally always happy to answer questions or give directions.

Yellow cabs are great! For parents with car seat-aged kids, it is not legally required to use one if you are traveling within NYC in a taxicab; so, if you are comfortable with that, no car seat needed.  Also, get the receipt. This way, you'll have the number of the exact cab you were in, so should you leave behind a favorite toy, you can try to get it back.

Now that you know how to get around, let’s talk about where to go…

There are SO many activities for kids in New York City.  The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) is set up to educate and entertain the entire family, housing five floors of interactive exhibits for kids aged infant-12+. A couple things to keep in mind though - strollers must be left at coat check and there’s no food allowed, but you can get a pass for re-entry if you need to leave for lunch.

Central Park is a must, but it is LARGE, so don't expect to see the entire thing in one trip. http://www.centralparknyc.org/ is a great resource for information and a detailed map, which I recommend studying before and during your experience. With young kids, it’s best to start at the Boat Basin – which is just about level with 75^th Street – and head south from there. Great kid-friendly options along that route include Victorian Gardens Amusement Park and the Central Park Zoo. If you exit on 59^th Street, you’ll land right in the heart of the city.

I also recommend taking a boat tour.  You'll see more of the city in one swoop than with many other  tours. The Circle Line, which leaves from Manhattan's west side at 42^nd Street and is walking distance from Times Square, has a kids cruise option. Or you can try the tall ship called The Clipper City, which leaves from the South Street Seaport and offers a fun, modern-day pirate experience.

As any parent knows, kids are always hungry. While New York has no shortage of restaurants many of which offer amazing, totally mind-blowing cuisine, not all of them are kid-friendly. Using a New York website for locals, like NYMag.com, can help you find the most kid-friendly places to eat.  Some of my girls’ personal favorites include P.J. Clarke’s, The BackYard at 160, Pier i Café and Rosa Mexicano.  Don’t be afraid to call restaurants directly. Even some swankier places can be family friendly if you hit them at off peak hours. Plan restaurants at strategic spots along your day’s intended itinerary to keep everyone fed on time.

Last, but certainly not least, my guide to New York with kids would not be complete without a little potty talk.

You need to know two main things about bathrooms and kids in NYC: Bathrooms are NOT easy to come by and, for parents with diaper-wearing kids, MOST bathrooms in NYC will NOT have changing tables. Know this in advance and be ready. Learn how to change a diaper like a New Yorker on the go, here!

To find bathrooms in NYC: Check Starbucks, some hotel lobbies, major department stores or use an app dedicated to finding one nearby like iKidsNY (dedicated to changing tables), SitorSquat by Charmin and Have2P.

I get lots of calls from friends wanting vacation advice when their family heads this way. Hopefully, this will help when the time comes for your family to hit the Big Apple.

Diana Heather writes at ParentingsATrip.com. She is also the Chief Mom, both at home to her two girls and at Totsy.com. You can follow Diana on Twitter @ParentingsATrip.

Growing up on the Gulf Coast, I spent a few family vacations at Disney World in Orlando, FL.  For my brother and me, our trips felt seamless, with one magical moment after the next. Now that I’m a mom, I realize the reason our trips to Disney seemed perfect was because of the time, effort and planning my parents put into our vacation before we got there. But the thought of creating the perfect Disney World itinerary for my growing family seemed like a daunting task, especially with the Littles being so, well, little!

In my mind, we would wait until the kids were a little older to show them Disney World so we would/could all enjoy it more. But that’s not how things went down…

Have you ever unintentionally taken a trip to Walt Disney World?  Sounds a little crazy, right? Well it happened to us last month.

My Brother-in-law, his wife (whom I call Sis), and their three boys, ages six, nine and 11, had been planning their once-in-a-lifetime trip to Disney World for what seemed like forever.

But as their trip approached, we started to realize that it would be silly for them to be in the same country (they're from England) and us not see them. So the plan was to fly my family of four to Orlando to see my B-I-L, Sis and the boys, but not, and I repeat not, to do Disney!

However, once word spread that we were going to Orlando, it turned into a whole different kind of vacation. My mom and her husband could, “easily drive the five hours down from Savannah.” Naturally.

Then, my in-laws, also from England, wanted to be with all of their grandchildren for Easter. Of course!

And so it was.  Welcome to my Big Ole’ Southern-British Disney Family Vacation!

Much like any Disney experience, it was an adventure. But at the end of the day, I’m glad we went and I learned a lot in the process.   And now I would like to impart my learnings to you all so, unlike me, you can confidently go to the "Happiest Place on Earth!"

1. Get a map and get organized:

Regardless of how old your kids are, organization is key when going to Disney.

With two kids under three, there were a lot of rides we weren't able to go on. So while it may seem tedious, we saved a TON of time (and stress) by taking a map of the park we were in and marking an ‘x’ next to all the attractions that were age-appropriate. We had plan of attack - we knew exactly what our goals were and how to get there, and as a result we were able to time everything just right and maximize our Disney experience.

I also highly recommend taking advantage of the “FastPass” system. Remember to factor in where/when they can be obtained when planning your itinerary.

2. Get to the parks early:
As a general rule of thumb, the weather is cooler and the lines are shorter the earlier you get to the parks.  Luckily, little ones tend put their best foot forward earlier in the day, so we were able to hit the parks as soon as the sun was shining. If your kiddos are late sleepers lure them out of bed with the promise that they'll get to go on extra rides the earlier they get there!   

3. DO go to Disney's Animal Kingdom® Park:

While Disney is known for their fairytale characters, don't count the Animal Kingdom out when planning your trip.  We visited the park with four adults and five kids in tow and everyone had an absolute blast! The biggest hit for the Littles was the Kilimanjaro Safaris® Expedition because they felt like they were Dora the Explorer and Diego, and Hubs and I both came out of it saying, “Why go to Africa, when you can just go to Orlando!” I swear we were “this close” to a giraffe! This park has so many fun things including a water ride and a 4D “It’s a Bug Life” movie, and there are educational attractions, too! Definitely a must-see!

4. Bring snacks and consider accommodations with a kitchen/kitchenette

Days at the parks are LONG and you never know when the Littles might need a quick bite. 

But unlike adults, they just can’t seem to hold back a tantrum even at the first signs of hunger, so while visiting a place like Disney where the food can be over-priced, we were able to save tons of money (and prevent unexpected fits) by carrying our own snacks with us for the day.

Plus, when traveling with the Littles, it’s infinitely easier to deal with early morning milk needs and meals in general when we stay in a place with access to a kitchen. On our Disney vacation we did just that were able to get out the door and to the parks faster by eating breakfast in and making our morning coffee. 

5. Relax Between Park Days

One thing that kept us balanced during our Big Ole Southern-British Disney Family Vacation in Orlando was the fact that we mixed pool or “lazy” days with park days. This way, we never had two park days back-to-back. I highly recommend this, if possible. Even pool days and play days with a toddler are exhausting, so at least take a day in between park days to slow down just a little before you rev up to hit another big day with tots in tow. Rotating days was our sanity- that along with cocktails at night after the kids went to bed and a morning jog for some natural endorphins!

Now, go forth and enjoy the magic with your Under-3 set.  And don't stress, just have fun. It’s worth it!

Comment below if you have additional Disney Trip Tips. I’d love to know and I know everyone else would too!

Diana Heather writes at ParentingsATrip.com. She is also the Chief Mom, both at home to her two girls and at Totsy.com. You can follow Diana on Twitter @ParentingsATrip.

My name is Diana Heather (yes, Heather is my last name) and I’m the proud mommy of almost 3-year-old, Khloe, and 1½-year-old, Lola. I refer to our girls as “Little” and “Littler” or collectively as “the Littles.” They truly are the joys of my life and I couldn’t be happier to be a mom, despite how chaotic life can be with two toddlers that are only 15 months apart!

My goal in writing this blog is to advocate family travel. With all its crazy ups and downs there’s nothing better than watching your toddler dreaming away while in a rented stroller at the end of her first day at Walt Disney World, or during a beach vacation pondering the questions, “How much sand can an infant actually eat? Why is my infant eating sand in the first place? Doesn’t it taste bad?”

The course my life has taken thus far has given me a great appreciation and love of travel, but since having children of my own, travel has taken on a whole new meaning and I’m excited to now be able to experience destinations through their eyes, as well as my own!

A LITTLE ABOUT ME…

I’m a Mississippi girl that had the privilege of growing up on the Gulf Coast - think white sand beaches, family-owned businesses, casino fun, water skiing on the bayou, crawfish boils and Mardi Gras! However, after a childhood vacation to New York City, I fell in love with palpable energy and inspirational atmosphere of life in the Big Apple, and knew I had to live there! After getting my bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Public Relations, then graduating from law school, I had brief stint working with my father at a legal practice, before “retiring” from my law career to follow my dreams and move to New York.  I’ve now had the good fortune of doing PR and social media for incredible brands like Mikasa, Henri Bendel and Harry Winston, and couldn’t be happier in my new home!   

Two days after moving to the Big City, I met my amazing, fabulous, magnificent husband, Ashley, (aka Hubs), who hails from England. As fate would have it, he also left home and moved to New York to pursue his career as an entrepreneur (lucky for me!), but my in-laws still live across the pond, about a four-hour drive north of London - five hours if it’s Christmas Eve with a 6-month old baby – happy to tell you that story if you’d like!

MY TRAVEL HISTORY

I've been traveling with family in one form or another for most of my 35-year life. We were lucky to get to travel frequently as kids, leaving me with many great memories, from my first plane ride at the age of 3 to Austin, TX, to my brother and I learning to water ski in the Caribbean. Growing up in Mississippi, we also took many road trips to Disney World – every kid’s dream! It took us two days to get there and I distinctly remember my dad using an Atlas for that trip. He and I share a love of maps and I can recall many maps in my travel history.

In college, I traveled with classmates to Europe and hopped trains from country to country.  By the end of the summer we’d been to Belgium, Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland, Prague, and even Budapest and we did it all with our maps, our guide books and our big American backpacks in tow. 

After moving to New York and meeting Hubs, who as I mentioned is from England, travel became even more important, since we were quite a ways away from both sets of parents. Since we’ve been together, we’ve received countless new stamps in our passports and even decided to have a destination wedding in Barbados!

Since having our oldest daughter, Khloe, we’ve visited the in-laws in England, grandparents on the Gulf Coast and Savannah, and recently had our first trip to Disney World (more to come on that in another post!). No invitation for a birthday party or baptism is ever turned down. Even if it requires great-granddad Bill in Vancouver to hop a plane to the Coast or if 80-year old GG needs to update her passport for family Christmas in England! You’d be shocked by how many times in the last five years our entire extended families have actually all been together for one event or another.

However, it’s true that kids change the game - and it’s especially true when it comes to family travel [I used to have a carry on and a checked bag both for me, now I’m lucky to have one corner of one bag for the entire trip. Nothing in my carry-on is actually for me anymore. Nothing! ]  But seeing our family and experiencing all the world has to offer are the most important things to my husband and I, and its part of why we’re together. Geography doesn’t get in our way. We agree, based on both our own childhoods, that travel and family are both invaluable parts of what made us who we are.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO READ IN THIS BLOG

Here, I hope you’ll learn from my travel smarts and experiences and as well as from my travel mistakes. I’m going tell you every thing I know and everything I’ve ever tried when it comes to the sometimes mind boggling topic of family travel.

You can expect to read how to make traveling with your family easier, lighter, safer, cheaper and ultimately way more fun!

Hopefully you’ll be inspired to travel with MORE of your family, MORE often, because nothing compares to the memories you’ll create for your kids and yourself, and the stories you’ll one day be able to tell your grandchildren!

Together, lets have fun, travel with our families and create many family vacation photo albums together (online of course- I can’t scrap book)!

Stay tuned here for tips on family travel and updates about the places I’ll go both in life and in parenthood.

Diana Heather writes at ParentingsATrip.com. She is also the Chief Mom, both at home to her two girls and at Totsy.com. You can follow Diana on Twitter @ParentingsATrip.