The Lollipop Road

Okay, so I have a secret…I’m a huge aviation nut.  I love planes, airports and anything remotely related to flying.  Luckily our two boys seem to share my obsession, which got me to thinking about a great (and free) kid friendly activity that can be done locally or while traveling – visiting a local airport.

Unlike larger, more commercial airports, local general aviation (GA) airports are usually very convenient and accessible.  Although the aircraft are smaller, you’ll actually be able to get close enough to see the planes and enjoy the show.  If you’re really lucky, you might even be able to get up close and personal, if you ask nicely.  It’s a great activity because nearly everyone has a GA  airport nearby, whether they know it or not.  Check out AirNav for a list of airports near you.  Oh, and best of all – it’s free!

Weekends and holidays will hold the most promise for a decent amount of traffic, as will clear and sunny days.  Some local airports even have restaurants!  Even better – you can sit back, relax, have lunch and enjoy the planes zipping around the airport.  If it’s larger planes you’re after, even major airports with commercial traffic have some great viewing spots within the terminal and outside of security.  For example, TGI Friday’s at Newark Liberty International Airport (Terminal A) has some amazing front row seats that overlook the field.  It may be a bit unusual, but the kids will love it!

That brings me to my all time favorite airport for watching planes.  Unfortunately, it is halfway around the world on the Thai island of Koh Samui.  The open air terminal sets the stage for ideal viewing.  Standing about 15 feet from the runway, you can almost feel the vibrations from the sleek jets that scream down the runway in front of you.  It’s absolutely awesome!

So, the next time you’re wondering what to do with the kids, take them to the local airport.  Watch the planes, have some lunch and enjoy the (free) show.

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Your third trimester has just arrived and you could no doubt use some rest and relaxation, right?  Well, although most airlines allow you to travel right up until the very end of your pregnancy, most cruise lines impose more severe restrictions during this period and you just might be out of luck.  Maybe traveling during pregnancy isn’t the best idea anyway, but you’ve had enough of just sitting around and waiting and you’re in need of some serious pampering, so you decide to go for it and book a cruise.

Have no fear, so long as you cruise before your third trimester (weeks 28-40), you should easily be able to find a cruise line that will allow you to sail.  Although the majority of cruise lines require that you are no more than 23 or 24 weeks along at the time of disembarkation, you can find a few that will allow you to stretch it out a bit…or indefinitely, although that isn’t necessarily recommended.

There are only a couple of mass-market cruise lines that provide a bit more flexibility.  Costa Cruise Lines will permit you to sail as long as you’re 24 weeks or less at the time of embarkation, which depending upon the length of sailing, could bring you right up to your third trimester.  MSC Cruises also has a more liberal policy, allowing you to cruise if you’re 27 weeks or less on the day of disembarkation.  In both cases, your doctor will still need to demonstrate your fitness for travel.

Moving into the specialty market will definitely grant you more flexibility.  Fred Olsen Cruise Lines. Star Clippers and Swan Hellenic all allow pregnant women to sail right up to 27 weeks (based upon disembarkation date).  You’ll even find a handful of cruise lines that have no formal written guidelines or allow you to cruise throughout the third trimester (AMA Waterways, Cruise West, Peter Deilmann and Viking River Cruises).  However, this does not necessarily mean that there are no restrictions.  At the very least, you’ll need to demonstrate your fitness for travel by providing a physician’s report and you should also fully understand the risks associated with traveling during your third trimester.

No matter which cruise line you choose, you should plan on visiting your physician the week prior to sailing.  Because cruise ship medical facilities are not equipped to handle medical emergencies, you should not travel if you are experiencing a high risk pregnancy or if you are not in perfect health at the time of departure.  Be sure to contact your travel agent or cruise line well in advance to confirm their policies and requirements.

Bon Voyage!

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Convincing a four-year-old that he’ll have lots of fun and see lots of neat stuff on a two-mile hike can be a bit of a challenge.  Come to think of it, it might be a challenge for your teenager too, but they’re definitely tougher to persuade.  One sure way of getting your youngster to make the arduous trek (anything other than standing still probably fits this description) is to pick a trail with a quirky name that your child can relate to.  You know what I mean; you’ve all seen them.

Situated in the midst of California’s Lava Beds National Monument, Big Nasty Trail is a fun semi-loop trail that got its name from the brush covered lava beds that protrude from the landscape just to the north.  The name should get a good laugh and make your little one want to find out just what is so big and so nasty about it.

Moving a bit east to Yellowstone National Park, you’ll find plenty of interesting attractions…and signs.  Dragon’s Mouth Spring may be a bubbling, belching cauldron, but kids love the name all the same.  Just tell them you’re going to see a dragon and they’ll be right there by your side. 

Signs and names don’t always cut it, so sometimes you’ll need a story to back them up.  That’s the case with Yellowstone’s Chinese Spring.  Located along one of the many elevated wooden pathways in the Upper Geyser Basin (near Old Faithful), this spring was named for its function as a place to do laundry.  Yep, they used to do laundry in them there springs…ouch!

So, next time you’re planning a trip to one of our great National Parks, remember, look for the attractions and trails with the quirkiest names and the most interesting stories.  You’re kids will love it and happy kids make for a happy family!

Enjoy the photos!  For more amazing photos, please visit Photo Friday at DeliciousBaby.   

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Before the establishment of Camp David (ex Shangri-la) as a Presidential retreat by Franklin D. Roosevelt, there was another more rustic, more secluded and smaller Presidential retreat known as Rapidan Camp, or Camp Hoover as it was called from 1948 until it opened to the public in 2004.  Nestled in the wooded mountain backcountry of what would become Shenandoah National Park, this simple ”cabin” was built on a perch high above the Rapidan River.

Conceived of as an escape from the high profile business of Washington, DC, this secluded retreat would serve as Hoover’s home away from home.  He had three simple requirements – the location had to be within 100 miles from Washington, DC at an elevation of no less than 2,500 feet (to limit mosquitoes) with a stream or river nearby for fishing.  A location was found and the Hoover’s sought to purchase the land and construct a lodge along with several other buildings (13 in all) for a total cost of about $24,000. In fact, the only Government funds used to construct the camp was the labor provided by the Marine Corps.

Rapidan Camp would serve President Hoover, his family, friends and dignitaries during the four years that he was in office.  After being defeated in 1932, he donated the land and buildings to the Federal Government to (perhaps) be used by future Presidents.  In 1935, the camp officially became part of the newly completed Shenandoah National Park.

After almost a decade of non-use, the Boy Scouts of America leased the property to be used as a summer camp.  After the Boy Scouts withdrew from the lease early due to building decay and excessive operating costs, all but three of the original buildings were razed and Camp Hoover once again became a retreat for government officials.  The National Park Service took over the restoration in 2001 and in 2004 it opened to the public as part of the National Park Service’s Ranger lead tours in Shenandoah National Park.

Today, during the summer months, you can climb on board a van for the bumpy 15-minute drive from the Visitor Center at Big Meadows to Rapidan Camp.  During the guided tour, you’ll have the opportunity to see the President’s Cabin, Prime Minister’s Cabin and the Creel.  Having been carefully restored to their 1929 era glory, these structures provide a glimpse back in time to a simpler life.

You’ll have plenty of time to explore the outdoors and the exhibits before you endure the bouncing ride back to the Visitor’s Center.  Of course, that just might be the most fun part for the kids!  For the more adventurous, you can also make the 4 mile hike (each way) to the camp where park rangers are usually stationed to offer impromptu tours and answer questions.

Visiting Rapidan Camp is a great summer activity for the family.  Kids learn a bit of history while mom and dad can catch a quick rest on the porch where President Hoover sat.  If you want to take the tour, you’ll need to sign up in advance, as seats are limited.  There may be a small fee for participation.  Oh, and do bring bug spray – despite what Mr. Hoover thought, the mosquitoes do nest here. 

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It’s deal day again and now that cruise lines have raised some of their last minute fares, we’re looking a little farther out to this summer.  If you’re looking to cruise in June, now is the time to be booking.  Check out some of the deals below!  Pricing is based upon 2 adults and 2 children (one under 2 – except HAL) in the same cabin, including all taxes and fees.

The standout this week is Holland America Cruise Line with it’s 3-day super sale on 3rd/4th passenger fares.  With 3rd/4th passengers sailing free on many itineraries, families can save big!   Be aware, however, that  Holland America does charge a higher fare for children under 2.

To book any of these sailings, contact your local travel agent or visit Royal Caribbean, NCL, Holland America or Carnival online.  Remember to ask about past passenger, senior or resident discounts or bonuses for these sailings to get an even better deal!  Bon Voyage!

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Over the past few months, we’ve gathered many new readers and embarked on many new adventures.  Since we post nearly daily, wading back through all of those posts for a new visitor can be quite overwhelming.  So, were putting together a list of our most popular posts according to visitors.  If you’ve missed any of these, you’ll want to read and share with your friends!  Here are the lucky 7…

• Travel Deals, especially family cruise deals are the most popular amongst readers
• Checked Baggage Fee Roundup By Airline – Updated March 1st!
• Cruise Line Babysitting Options Reviewed
• Live Blogging Onboard Norwegian Jewel
• Joshua Tree National Park – Family Friendly and Educational
• Visiting Yellowstone in Winter – A 3 Part Series
• Choosing a Family Friendly Cabin

If you have a topic that you’d like to see us cover, please leave a comment!

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We all thought that it would be a much bigger deal than it turned out to be, but it’s still a memory that will remain with us forever.  If you’re Irish, married to someone who is Irish, or just love drinking a good Guinness now and again, visiting Ireland should top your list of things to do with your kids before they’re out of college and have long forgotten about vacationing with their parents. 

As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, I’m flooded with wonderful memories of a family vacation to Ireland taken many years ago, right around this time.  To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, we’d planned on trudging out early into the cold, damp morning to marvel at the entertainment of Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  It was quite a long walk from our hotel to the parade route, but we were so looking forward to this once in a lifetime experience, I mean, it’s St. Patrick’s Day and this is Ireland.

Strange...

We’d anticipated large crowds of people vying for a good spot from which to view the spectacle.  When we arrived at the place where we thought we should be, we wondered if we had taken a wrong turn.  There were fewer than a thousand people within our sight – perhaps as a result of the inclement weather, we thought.  The crowd did grow a bit by the time the parade started, but it wasn’t until later that we’d realize that the St. Patrick’s Day Parade back home was a much bigger deal than it was in Ireland.

What the heck...?

There was some strange stuff in that parade!  Oh well, we enjoyed it all the same!  It was a once in a lifetime experience.  Enjoy the photos and check back with us again to read more on traveling throughout Ireland.

Playing The Bagpipes

Enjoy the photos!  For more amazing photos, please visit Photo Friday at DeliciousBaby.   

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Airline extras and fees have been a hot topic lately.  As airlines continue to figure out new ways to make money, priority and advanced seating assignment fees are becoming more popular.  Although Northwest Airlines recently dropped its Coach Choice program, that move was not a sign of the program’s unpopularity or lack of revenue generation, but rather a result of their merger with Delta and Delta’s inability to maintain the program on their web platform.

Fortunately, most major domestic carriers have to this point resisted charging a fee for advance seat assignments or premium seating.  However, advance premium seating is still typically reserved only for the most frequent flyers and highest fare paying passengers.  So, perhaps the opportunity to snag a premium seat for a little extra cash might not be a bad thing, so long as you can still assign any regular seat for free at the time of reservation.

Unfortunately, however, the low-cost carriers have begun to exploit the flying public, especially families.  Most families want or need to sit together, so not obtaining seat assignments in advance might cause significant problems on the day of departure.

The biggest offender to date has been Spirit Airlines.  As you can see below, you can’t obtain seat assignments until check-in (24 hours in advance of your flight) without paying a fee.  To add insult to injury, Spirit Airlines only allows a random seat to be generated for free at check-in, without the ability to change it.  This nuance makes them the least family friendly domestic airline in this roundup.

To their credit, Southwest Airlines has taken the extra step of singling out families by guaranteeing those traveling with young children a priority boarding spot between their “A” and ”B” boarding groups.  Of course, this means that they have eliminated priority boarding for families, so I’m not sure if this is really supposed to be an “enhancement”…you decide.

Keep in mind that most fees are per segment, not each way, so if you have a connecting flight, you’ll pay that fee twice.  The chart below outlines advance seat reservation fees as well as premium seat fees for domestic airlines as of February 25, 2010.   First or Business Class upgrades may also be available for an additional fee.

So, as you can see, not all airlines are created equal when it comes to fees.  Make sure that you take into account all fees when choosing the “least expensive” fare.  Check out our roundup on checked baggage fees and stay tuned for future reviews of even more fees being imposed by the airlines!

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