Planning a family trip to an amusement or theme park this Summer? You've come to the right place! These 10 parks earned high marks from us for their diversity, family-friendliness, cleanliness, and ability to accommodate the needs of you and your kiddos. Hitting up an amusement park with kids in tow might not be the most low-stress form of travel, but your little ones will love you (even more) for it! Without further adieu, our top 10 . . .
Planning a Summer vacation? It's the perfect time to get your kids excited about their upcoming travels. Pick up a book (or two) that focuses on your family's destination, and they'll know exactly what to expect before you hit the road, rail, or air!
A family traveling from Washington state to Miami had an unexpected change in plans when 3-year-old Daniel Yanchuck was kicked off of an Alaska Airlines flight for not obeying the directions of flight attendants. "He was cranky. He was trying to get out. The seatbelt was on him, but he was trying to get out and I was holding him down," Daniel's dad, Mark Yanchuck, told KIRO 7 Eyewitness News.
Flight attendants moved the boy's mother, who was seated near the front of the plane with her younger son, 1-year-old Dennis, back to be near him, and she said that she was able to calm Daniel down. The plane moved about 50 feet ahead, and then stopped, the pilot announcing that they were headed back to the gate. When it arrived, the family was asked to disembark. A spokesman from Alaska Airlines told reporters that at one point, flight attendants saw Daniel lying across the seat with his legs dangling and the seatbelt near his neck, while the Yanchucks maintain that they were treated unfairly. "I thought we were treated like criminals," mom Svetlana told KIRO 7. What do you think? Was the airline simply following safety procedures, or is kicking a 3-year-old off of a plane too extreme, no matter the circumstance?
Source: Flickr User dchousegrooves
When your kids' food allergies rule out fast-food stops and airport kiosks as travel-day options, what's a mom to do? "Plan ahead!" says Amie Valpone of The Healthy Apple. Through her clean eating consulting business, Amie helps Manhattan moms come up with manageable, delicious solutions for dealing with food allergies from gluten to lactose intolerance, nut allergies, and more, both on the go and at home. All it takes is a little advance preparation to ensure that everyone stays satisfied and happy, whether your journey takes one hour or six!
Source: Flickr User Martin Cathrae
Traditionally, honeymoons are thought of as a time for a newlywed couple to escape for a few days (or weeks) of postwedding bliss. But when the bride and groom are parents, stepparents, or both, does the definition of the honeymoon change? Some parents view the honeymoon as an opportunity to bring the newly blended family together, while others relish the opportunity to be alone with their new spouse before "real life" takes over.
Whether you've been through this experience before, are going through it now, or just have an opinion, we want to hear what you think.
Source: KT Merry, Tom Robinson Photography
Get your little ones extra excited for your next vacation with these playful, practical luggage picks. There's a smart, sensible option for any occasion, whether you're heading cross-country or just to grandma's house across town. Here are some of our favorite luggage choices for tots, featuring everything from sports to animals to popular Disney characters.
Have you seen this crazy new invention, the Ride-On Carry-On? Developed by a flight attendant mom, the concept is a collapsible, kid-size chair that slides over your rolling luggage's handle. Buckle your child in and wheel them off to your gate. It saves you the hassle of having to check a stroller and streamlines the entire airport experience. Once you're in your seats, the Ride-On Carry-On folds flat to fit in an overhead bin. The device sells for $40, or parents of multiple lil ones can get two chairs for $70.
At first glance, it looks a bit ridiculous, but for anyone who's ever trekked through an airport with a child on one hip, a carry-on on the other, and a rolling bag trailing behind, there just may be some appeal here! What do you think?
In Condé Nast Traveler's April issue, the magazine's editors present a comprehensive guide to 8 Great Family Vacations: Where to Eat, Where to Stay, and What to Do in Paris, Kyoto, and More. Check out some of the highlights, and if your inner jet-setter is up for it, pack up the diapers and the Pack 'n Play, and go!
When it's time to spice up the weekend routine, but there are no upcoming vacation days in sight, pack up the car and hit the road for a family day trip. We've found some of the greatest spots to explore with kids, all across the country. Use this guide as a starting point, and discover something special in your area this weekend!
Source: ThinkStock and Flickr User Fairy Heart
We first met the very talented British photographer Tom Robinson through his "I'm Going to Be a Dad" series. Once he broke his big news, and Tom's daughter Matilda was born, he began to use his "Feet First" photography project as a way to document his growing family's history and travels.
"While sitting on Brighton beach (England) back in 2005 with my new girlfriend Verity, I suddenly thought the view of our feet pointing out to sea would make a nice photo. Ever since then, we've continued to document our travels in this way, resulting in a collection of more than 90 photos. In 2011, the series took a new twist with the arrival of a third set of feet — our daughter Matilda," Robinson said.
Read on to get a glimpse of Tom's family's travels, as told through their feet!
Source: Tom Robinson Photography
