Friday Finds: Disney at the Great Wall, Stress, and Vegas (Baby)
October 2nd, 2008 | by Jane Rytina 7 comments
Like many moms of school-aged children, I’m not able to travel as much as I’d like. Here are some new and not-so-new posts that allowed me to to travel vicariously this week, even as I was home packing lunches.
Disney takes the magic on the road
Though I am a Disney skeptic, I read Disney Ventures Far From Parks in the New York Times with interest. I would love to take my kids to The Great Wall. Apparently Disney has invested in 370 worldwide adventure tours for families. Anybody tried these?
Cool airplane toy
I have crossed the Atlantic dozens of times with my young kids, and survived. But playing hide-and-go-seek for 10 hours on a 747 has its limits. Meg Keough, who pens the family travel blog Backpack to Buggy, advises the making of personalized photo books in The Best Travel Toy (I ever kinda made). She even thoughtfully provides templates for the less creative among us. Thanks Meg!
Wait. What about kids?
Darren Cronian of Travel Rants recently highlighted a travel survey by e-bookers, which claims to know what stresses you out about going on holiday. I kid you not (no pun intended), there is no mention in this survey of traveling with children. But there is mention of the stressful issue of—wait for it—eating while on vacation. Um, what?
Vegas (Baby)!
The LA Times has great family travel guides for those planning to come West. One of my favorites is Las Vegas for Families and Kids. Now, I do not personally have a great relationship with Vegas. This may date back to the days when I managed trade shows there. Or maybe the time I had to extract my hysterically laughing parents from The Venetian’s mock St Mark’s Square (they are European). But after reading the LA Times guide, I am packing up my kids to give it a try.
Loss-proof blankie? Check.
For those of us who have kids who refuse to go anywhere without “blankie”, check out this review of Secure2Me Blanket on Traveling Mamas. A couple of these blankets should make traveling mothers’ lives a lot easier.
Got a good link for us? Please send it to jane@travelsavvymom.
Recent posts by this author
Amy @ The Q Family on October 3rd, 2008
I have read about Disney tours on Traveling Mamas. It sounds really neat. As usual, when you slap the Disney name on it, the price tag is quite high. But I’m sure it’s well worth it. One of these days… :)
-Amy @ The Q Family
Kristy Hall on October 3rd, 2008
I really like the photo book idea. Perhaps this is just the thing to get the Mr. involved in trip prep. Currently, he sees his role as more managerial (a la Office Space).
Kayt Sukel on October 4th, 2008
Where to eat is a stress?! Really?
Um, not without kids it ain’t.
I love the photo book idea, too. Unfortunately, I doubt I could get one shipped before we leave this month. I may try to hack it with a spiral notebook and all those photo doubles that I never remember to send to the fam.
Jane on October 4th, 2008
Amy – I agree. I am definately going to check the tours out – as long as Mickey doesn’t come along.
Kayt, Kristy – I have DONE the book idea, though not as well as Meg, using Apple photo service. I made a photo book. It was cool. My kids still look at them. About the only thing I’ve ever made them mind you!
CajunMama on October 6th, 2008
My mom wants a Secure2Me blanket for my brother and his wife. The thing is, they aren’t preggers yet.
DesertMama and I went to Vegas a few weeks back for BlogWorldExpo 08. I really don’t consider Vegas a family destination and personally think it was the worst marketing plan the LVCVB came up with. Circus Circus was just gross when I visited 2 years ago and the AdventureDome looked like all the rides were falling apart and unsafe. As of my recent visit, when we stepped into the Hilton, Star Trek: The Experience had a sign that stated is is closed for good.
However, I would stay one night in Vegas if the family was doing a roadtrip to the Grand Canyon or something. The MGM Grand seemed to be a fun place for families.
Enjoyed the roundup, Jaimie.
Jenny on October 6th, 2008
THis is a great idea! I’m sure the kids will love it too.
Susanna (A Modern Mother) on October 13th, 2008
The travel rants post cracked me up.
Travelling, and life, was so much easier without kids.
I didn’t step on a plane for three years after one transatlantic flight with a crawling 10-month-old and a fidgety two-year-old. Did I mention I was three months pregnant with morning sickness…
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