National Geographic's Best Family Vacation Destinations

National Geographic has compiled their favorite family vacation destinations here. Ranging from low key destinations like Burlington, Vermont to International destinations like a Kenyan Safari. They truly make me want to get up and go, and they all go to show that the road less travel is still quite possible, even with little ones.

Burlington, Vermont.

For the more adventurous amongst you out there, they also list their favorite family adventure trips. With one of my dream vacations, The Galapagos Islands, and look who else thought Sayulita would be a great place to go with the family...

SYD, AMS, ATL, SFO, YYT... Airports for Kids - Most Child Friendly Airports

There's one word I learned to hate back in my work travel days: "layover", now that I no longer travel for work, but for the actual fun of it (because travel for work is not vacation) I still dread the word. In fact there's nothing worse than a long layover when traveling with small ones.

Some airports have understood that in order to limit the amount of screaming, crying, unhappy children (or contain them in one area anyway) a children's play area can be a saving grace to exhausted, sleep deprived parents of overactive, hyper children.

Here are some that almost make you want to travel through their airports:

Both the Sydney and Auckland airports have awesome play area for kids.

SYD - Sydney, Australia:

As part of the T1 redevelopment new children's facilities are being developed both before and after check-in. Landside between check-in counters A & B and at the end of check-in counter J. Airside you will find a kids cinema and play area between Gates 31 & 33 in Pier B and between Gates 58 & 59 in pier C.

Children's Play Area @ SYD


AKL - Auckland, New Zealand

Many nursery rooms with cribs and changing tables are available for babies visiting this airport. As for older children, activities include a Lego activity centre, Crayola colouring-in corner, Funstation, flight simulator, Sega Rally and the Lookout Lounge which has play equipment for young children.

The Family Zone @ AKL

AMS - Schipol - Amsterdam 

seems to be *the* place in Europe.

Beyond passport control on Holland Boulevard, between Piers E and F, The Kids' Forest at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is a great place for children to let off a little steam. Children can play in forest-like surroundings, with actual treehouses, slides and a range of climbing and play equipment. I can already see E. not wanting to leave the airport... imagine that.

The Kids' Forest @ AMS

SIN - Singapore

Imagine strolling by the Bamboo garden (T1), on the way to the Cactus garden (T1) before getting to the Playground (T1), or maybe if you prefer going to check out the Koi pond (T2) and the Sunflower garden (T2) before going to the playground? You can in the Singapore airport! And if the older kids are getting impatient, send them for a walk to the Transit Mall to play at the X-box stations. Somehow, I don't think it will take much asking. The Singapore Changi airport really does get top marks for family entertainment, you almost (!) forget you're in an airport.

The X-Box Arcade @ SIN

For US bound travelers, the american airports also have their fair share of good bets.

Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Orlando (MCO) and San Francisco (SFO), are amongst the best. And with Atlanta being Delta's largest hub, Chicago being United's largest hub with another in San Francisco, American Airlines having their hub in Boston and well, Orlando being home of theme park heaven, it seems like one of these should seem pretty likely. Here's why you want a stop-over.

ATL - Atlanta, GA

Various displays of artwork created by children in grades kindergarten through 12 are located throughout the Airport. The Youth Art is a component of the City of Atlanta Department of Aviation Airport Art Program. A replica of a 33-foot-long dinosaur greets and entertains visitors to the Airport Atrium. The Yangchuanosaurus skeleton is provided by Atlanta’s Fernbank Museum of Natural History. Play areas near Gate A8 and Gate A23 are an added bonus, especially if the kids have extra energy they need to burn. Oh, and for the anti-social pre-teen, Play Station re-charging units are located throughout the concourses. No kidding.

BOS - Boston, MA

Expending energy is the name of the game at the two Kidport areas located in Terminals A and C. Designed by Playtime and the Boston Children's Museum, each area fosters imaginative play through airplane or control-tower climbing structures, a baggage-claim slide, a magnetic poetry wall as well as baby and toddler play spaces. Also worth a look is the work of local artists from the South End, Fenway, and nearby Winthrop—all spread throughout Terminals A, C, and E.  Especially for Babies, Boston Logan has rocking chairs located throughout the airport as well as family restrooms with changing stations and rooms for nursing mothers. Maybe I'll just move to the airport...

Kidport @ BOS

Kidport @ BOS

ORD - Chicago, IL

Oh, Chicago... Memories of overbooked United flights flood my mind... It seems like just yesterday I was waiting for hours (4 hours actually) for the next flight. Too bad E. wasn't with me seeing as in Terminal 2, kids can explore structures, "fly" planes, "handle" baggage, and "direct" air traffic. A restored World War II fighter plane (also in Terminal 2), as well as the enormous model of a Brachiosaurus—courtesy of the Field Museum—at the center of Terminal 1 (in Concourse B) would have at least made one of us happy.

SFO - San Francisco, CA

Somehow, I have a feeling we will meet again soon. There's something about San Francisco's Bay Area that makes it the location of all these cute towns I want to go visit. Really, it's almost a joke now. If I find an amazing place to go to, not only will it *of course* be in California, but odds are it's in the Bay Area...  Regardless, as I probably will be there in the somewhat near future, E. can look forward to the best airport for kids and parents alike. SFO is an accredited museum with an incredible array of rotating exhibits spread throughout all terminals. Highlights include: Buddhist Art, Majolica, and The Golden Age of Aviation Toys. Small scientists will love the SFO Kids Spot (Terminal 3, Boarding Area F), which features weather-related exhibits courtesy of the Exploratorium, as well as imaginative crawling apparatus. There are also three different aquariums designed to teach kids about various kinds of ocean life (pre-Security, Terminal 1, Departures level). E is waiting with baited breath, or maybe it's me.

Okay... now last but not least, I'm slightly embarrassed for my own Canadian airports, as the only one which seems passable, and I guess it makes sense since almost everyone flies there (we took the ferry), is   the airport in St-John's Newfoundland.

YYT - St-John's, Newfoundland

Yet another reason for a great family vacation in Newfoundland, their airport also provides places for Mom and Dad to entertain the kids or where they can entertain themselves. Children's play areas are located in a number of areas around the terminal building including outside the arrivals area and in the departures lounge. Both locations allow the children to play with the structures in addition to being equipped with TVs broadcasting children’s programming (Now if only my own city could take the hint instead of showing those horrible, obnoxious Just For Laughs - Gags clips).

Play area @ YYT

Because your life sucks when they're bored

Sometimes all that traveling can be difficult, especially when the small ones are bored. Luckily, one of my favorite blogs gave me a great idea of what to get E for the next trip. It's compact, it's magnetic and can get you talking with the little one about the magical place you are going to, for hours and hours of non-stop fun.

You can buy the World Traveler Dress Up Doll online on Mudpuppy and explore the world and try on traditional clothing from Mexico, India, Japan, Germany, Hawaii and Kenya and learn to say "Hello" in the native language too!!

Family friendly acommodations in Scotland

When E was about 3 months, we went to Scotland for my cousin's wedding (which took place at the top of a mountain at this beautiful monument). Although we had planned to only go for 10 days at first and go to Italy for another 10 days, we ended up saving Italy for the future (i'm still waiting) and spending the full 3 weeks for a complete road trip, north to south. Along the way we came across some great places, and some not-so-great places - the type where the people who own the b&b say "oh... you have a baby" in the same way one would say "oh... you have the measels" and then would say "well... we don't have any cribs" and then I would explain that at 3 months E would be sleeping with my husband and I anyway and then they would look at m in a funny way... but enough about them!!! Here are some of the good ones:

Islay was one of our favorite places we went to. This small island off the west coast of scotland offers amazing landscapes, great whiskey (there are 8 distilleries on this small island including Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Bowmore, Bruichladdich,  Lochindaal (owned & operated by Bruichladdich) Bunnahabhain, Coal Ila, and the microdistillery Kilchoman Distillery) and great people.

The Bruichladdich Distillery, Islay Scotland

We stayed at this great little b&b just down the road form the Bruichladdich distillery called the Anchorage B&B. More than happy to do anything she could to accommodate us Mrs. Macdonald also makes a great breakfast and will make you a packed lunch upon request. It's hard to be far from anything on Islay (pronounced eye-la), so even though the island's big town is Bowmore (home of the distillery of the same name) is not close, it's also never a far drive. The only thing is this: don't get caught without dinner reservations. I can't bold/underline this enough. There are only about 5 restaurants on the island and all get filled quick. Really quick. And there's not much else. Otherwise, it's heaven.

The Anchorage B&B, Islay Scotland

The round church in Bowmore, Islay Scotland

My cousin had his wedding at the Ben Wyvis Hotel in Strathpeffer, a former spa town where people in the Victorian era would travel to to "take the waters" of the sulphurous springs for their purported health benefits. The town still has a spa, though no longer offering the benefits of the sulphur springs, and offers some of the best of the Scottish Highlands. For total comfort, splurge on the Superior rooms as the difference is totally worth it. Brunch has everything you can ask for and did I mention the hotel had it's own movie theater (in case you have to spend time inside)?

Superior room at the Ben Wyvis Hotel in Strathpeffer, Scotland

Ben Wyvis Hotel, Strathpeffer Scotland

Me and baby E on the ferry to the Orkney Islands, Scotland

  

desperately seeking... florence? maui? palm springs? san juan... any vacation will do.

I'm itchy, my palms are sweating, I can't focus - sorry what did you say? I didn't hear you... I think I'm close to seeing things. It's been 5 months, 2 weeks and 4 days since my last vacation. I'm getting pretty desperate. Worse more,and this is maybe more than I'd like to admit, but *cringe* I have nothing in the foreseeable future... it hurts just thinking about it.

Although my vacation hours are accumulating, the credit card bill is not decreasing, so it doesn't look very likely that I'll be going anywhere soon. However, that being said, it doesn't mean that I don't have vacation ideas ready to pull out of the bag.

Here are a couple (one can always dream, right?):

Sayulita

Only 26 miles from the Puerto Vallarta airport Sayulita is not what pops to mind when one thinks of vacationing in Mexico and especially not Puerto Vallarta. In a different state, on a different bay, and in a different world, Sayulita is home to about two thousand, most from three extended families, with a beach unspoiled by large scale development.


The complex is composed of huge majestic private villas, some which are right on the beach and has 4 private pools, which is great for kids. The villas accommodate 6 to 8 people, so maybe invite another family to come along and bring the  kids. The village is charmingly rustic with many family friendly places to eat and not blow the budget. A perfect off the beaten path Mexican family vacation.

Sayulita Villa

Amazing snorkeling is available in Islas Marietas, where decades ago, Jacques Cousteau filmed his diving specials and has wildlife here which is only also found on the Galapagos Islands. There is also the San Cristobal Estuary where you can take a boat upstream and see crocodiles and hundreds of beautiful white egrets... It's enough to make me want to go and not leave. And since it's easy to find low prices to Mexico, it offers a very tempting lure.

One of the pools on the Sayulita complex

Crocs at the San Cristobal Estuary

Or, if Mexico isn't your style, how about trying the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs?

Ace Hotel - Palm Springs

Swim Club, Ace Hotel - Palm Springs

Near the Joshua Tree National Park and the Salton Sea this boutique hotel has a great pool & swim club, great rooms at very reasonable prices (starting around $100/night) and an onsite spa, horse stables, golf, tennis and hiking.

Simple Suite - Ace Hotel, Palm Springs

Did I mention some rooms come equipped with turntables? My husband will love this, seeing as Palm Springs is less than a 2 hour drive to one of the best record stores in the world... And yes, by records, I mean vinyl.

10 ways to save money while on vacation

The amazing folks at Delicious Baby wrote up a list of the top 10 ways to save money while on a Vacation in Hawaii. The thing is, I pretty much think most these rules almost apply regardless of where you travel to.

A great place for online coupons is retailmenot.com which also have coupons in the UK, Canada and other international locations.

Bummis is also one of my favorite places for reusable swim diapers (they are the mecca of the reusable diaper) because, yes, one reusable swim diaper costs the same as 1 pack of disposables. I usually keep 1 pack of disposables (in case of accidents) handy but use my reusable one for E 90% of the time.

London (part 3): The best of the rest

Lastly, I thought I'd add a few more favorites that weren't really related to the London Pass or the Merlin Combi Ticket that we discovered along the way...

The Tate Modern & The Tate Britain:
I did both of these in a day with E. and it was great. First of all if you don't go to the temporary exhibits, they are both free. Both places are also very stroller friendly and I timed my first visit to be the Tate Modern to coincide with her nap. I had a lovely 2 hours to visit the museum and take it all in. Museums are pretty quiet places too, so naps last long :)
She then woke up and I finished visiting for another half hour and then we had lunch. The café at the Tate Modern offers great choices and kids eat FREE (when an accompanying parent eats). They gave E crayons and a kids placemat to colour on and the food was great. It makes such a difference when you eat with kids in a place that welcomes them.

From the Tate Modern there's a boat you can take which will go along the Thames and take you to the Tate Britain. E loved riding the Tate to Tate boat and since we had a travel card it was only 3.35 pounds (it's 5 if you have no travel card), no charge for E. The boat allows you to be on the outside deck if it's nice out and is a change from the bus & underground, was very stroller friendly and probably the most direct way to get from one place to the other.

So E. was awake for the Tate Britain and loved running around the big open spaces, stopped to appreciate and enjoy some of the art (I particularly enjoyed pieces of one of my favorite painters) and enjoyed some of the fun programs they had for kids . All in all, a great day.

Camden Market:
This was also a great day although I really do recommend a stroller because you may not want to have your child loose. E loved all the different stalls. My favorite area was Camden Lock Place where we found some great books at Black Gull Books and some adorable Owl Pillows for E which she now refers to as the "Owls from London" at The Arc.

The Arc in Camden Market

Black Gull Books in Camden Market

Last but not least, one of our favorite places which we found walking by on Regent Street on our first day in London. We then returned to the National Geographic Store two more times. The have a great café for a nice breakfast or lunch, an exhibit space with some amazing photography (we bought 2 prints including this iconic shot), a wide range of merchandise including furniture, clothing, accessories, hand-crafted items and a great, great children's section where they have demos on the weekend which E absolutely LOVED. Really, something for everyone on 3 floors. The day we were there they had a small reptiles & birds demonstration in the morning (what we saw, and inspired my idea for E's birthday party) and they had mammals &  large reptiles in the afternoon. We also bought an amazing stained glass lamp. Seriously, we could have gone back every day.

E at the National Geographic Café

We wish we could have taken part in the amazing family programs at Wigmore Hall, but they were already all booked and starting in October 2010, a fantastic exhibit featuring the work of Lauren Child of Charlie & Lola (E's absolute favorite) fame will be taking place at The Discovery Centre...

I guess we'll have to go back soon.