LilSugar

Non Voyage When Labor Day Weekend Plans Are Ruined!

LilSugar — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:00:06 PDT

There's one thing that storms can't affect, and that's a family's level of fun. If Hurricane Earl or bad weather has you amending Labor Day plans, use a bit of imagination to staycation at home. Whether your children are interested in a sand and sea getaway, boarding a cruise ship, or exploring America's big cities, we've got tips and tricks for how you can give them any and all of those experiences while making memories. Skip packing bags or printing out itineraries and check out our choices!

The Great Outdoors: Pitch a tent for a backyard adventure without having to worry about any campground regulations!

Cruise With the Kids: Leave the ocean sickness at bay and participate in some of these shiptastic activities!

Life's a Beach: Plan a coastal getaway tailored to your kiddos. Bring home the surf, sand, and sea.

Rev It Up For the Ranch: Giddyup lil doggies! It's time to get the wee ones fired up for some time on mama's kickin' dude ranch!

Keep reading for more local options.

Nine Ways to Non Voyage!

LilSugar — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 06:00:45 PDT

There's one thing the economy can't affect and that's a family's level of fun. If budget cuts and pink slips have you grounded this Summer, use a bit of imagination to staycation at home with the kids. Whether your children are interested in a sand and sea getaway, boarding a cruise ship or exploring America's big cities, we've got tips and tricks for how you can give them any and all of those experiences while getting a lot of bang for your buck. Skip packing bags or printing out itineraries and check out our choices!

Non Voyage: Leave Your Heart in San Francisco

LilSugar — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:23:05 PDT

You don't have to travel to San Francisco to leave your heart there. As we continue our week of metropolitan non voyages, we head to the city by the Bay where the kids can get in on the West Coast fun.

Famous for being just seven by seven square miles, San Francisco is completely walkable. Have your children slip into some comfortable shoes and go for a scenic jaunt.
Fisherman's Wharf is a circus unto itself with all of kinds of activities. It's well known for its fresh seafood and sourdough French bread, so see if your local fishmonger has any Dungeness crabs and prep a delicious hands-on meal with the kids.
Lombard Street is incredibly crooked, and children love taking the slow ride down the residential street. Recreate a pint sized experience with a crazy course on your driveway for your tots to man their trikes through.
Cable cars are moving landmarks that attract tourists and locals alike. Though a ride on the trolleys may be hard to simulate, craft some models out of shoe boxes and other materials.
The city is richly diverse and has many cultural neighborhoods including Chinatown, which is the largest one outside of Asia. Set up your own little area with beautiful fans and lanterns and introduce lil ones to dishes like chicken lo mein or pineapple fried rice. Don't forget to have the kids use chopsticks!
During the Summer of Love, hippies with flowers in their hair migrated to Haight Street. Celebrate peace, love and happiness by tie dying colorful tees with your tots.
From the beat poets to political activists, San Francisco is a place of progressive thought where people are celebrated and appreciated for their unique opinions. Have your children put pen to paper and jot down their ideas in a poem.

Non Voyage: Bringing the Deep Heart of Texas Home

LilSugar — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:00:39 PDT

As our non-voyage moves across the country, we head on south to the great state of Texas where cowboy hats and boots abound. The destination offers up a number of kid-friendly activities that can be experienced right at home.

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center introduces both kids and adults to wildflowers and other native plants. Pack up the kiddos for a lil hike and see just how many different flowers they can find on the trip.
The Alamo may be one of the main attractions in San Antonio due to its historic place in the Texas Revolution and the role Davey Crockett played in the battle. Help tots re-enact the battle by building a real-life backyard fort. Allow them to eat, sleep and play in the fort for a day and see how creative they can be with their limited space.
Austin is known for its live music festivals like Austin City Limits and South by Southwest. Check your local calendar to see if there are any live shows planned for your area. If not, start your own! Gather up the neighborhood kids, have them each pick a song they want to "perform" and call all the parents around for an evening of fun and music as your tots take the stage. To make the evening even more festive, consider adding some colored lightbulbs to the lamps.
You can't get more Texas than a little line dancing. Grab your tots and swing them round with an afternoon of toe stepping just for them. Either search for some line dances on YouTube, or use a video as your guide.
If the plains of Texas are calling out to you, consider recreating the ultimate ranch-hand experience with these ideas.
Chowing down has never been more fun than when you let your kids build their own meal. Tex-Mex-style items like burritos, tacos and fajitas are delicious and nutritious. See who can include the most colors in their creation.

Non Voyage: A Capital Celebration Where You Need DC to Be

LilSugar — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:00:16 PDT

If the new administration has your family dreaming of our nation's historic roots, a trip to Washington DC is sure to inspire the next generation of public servants. We continue our week of big-city non voyages in the nation's capital with activities and food that will help families recreate the DC experience without breaking their wallets.

The National Mall is lined with some of the best museums in the world, and one of the most popular is the National Air and Space Museum. Teach your budding astronauts about the history of manned space flight and then have them create their own rocket ship that will transport them to the moon. Rockets can be built out of blocks, cardboard or with any scraps you have lying around.
The International Spy Museum is one of the most unique places to visit in DC, where children and adults alike can learn about the CIA and FBI's covert operations and the techniques used to keep the nation from harm. Recreate the experience with a backyard scavenger hunt where lil ones can search for hidden treasures and practice their detective skills. Don't forget the trench coats and magnifying glasses to make them feel official.
Even in the age of email, everybody still loves to get mail and the National Postal Museum shows kids how their letters get delivered. Visit your local post office and have the kids pick out their own stamps and mail letters to their family and friends. See if the postal workers will allow your tots to view the sorting machines in the back too.
It's hard to imagine what life was like before cars, computers and modern conveniences, but Mount Vernon, George and Martha Washington's home, does just that. Give your children the colonial experience by turning off the phone and computer for an afternoon of retro cooking with recipes from the birth of our nation, including johnny cakes, shepherd's pie and apple butter.
Washington DC brings Southern hospitality and Northern sophistication to the Mid Atlantic and the city's food reflects those cultures. President Obama has already visited the famed eatery, Ben's Chili Bowl, where the deliciousness is used to smother hot dogs, sausages and burgers, so make some of those goodies at home. The Obamas are also ushering in a new era in organic cooking at the White House so take your youngsters to the local green market or farm and let them choose the ingredients they would like to nosh on that night.

Non Voyage: Make Chicago Your Kid's Kind of Town

LilSugar — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:00:05 PDT

When you are through celebrating the bright lights of New York, head to the Midwest to give your children a taste of Chicago. The Windy City, which isn't really as breezy as kids might think, offers a scaled down version of big city living with its own unique flavors and sights.

The newly reopened Shedd Aquarium is one of the hottest destinations for Chicago-bound kids with its up close and personal looks at beluga whales, sea otters and sharks. Try visiting a local aquarium to get an aquatic animal experience. The Shedd's Polar Playzone allows kids to dress up like penguins and practice waddling around with an "egg" between their legs, sliding down ramps and experiencing life in a freezing atmosphere.
The Crown Fountain at Millennium Park is a big attraction for tots with its 50 foot towers bookending a reflecting pool of water and its video images that spout out water at unexpected times. Recreate the fun water experience with a backyard sprinkler that the kids can run through to cool off on a hot day.
Fill the kids up on local specialties like deep-dish pizza and Chicago-style hot dogs. Gino's East may make the perfect deep-dish pie in their restaurant, but instead of having it flown in, get your family to create your own perfect cornmeal-crusted deep-dish creation. Chicago-style hot dogs are known for their heaping piles of toppings like mustard, onions, relish, pickles and celery salt, so have the tots race to see who can build the tallest frankfurter.
Navy Pier has become a giant amusement park for kids, complete with its own 150-foot tall ferris wheel. Recreate the ferris wheel with markers and scissors with these unique instructions.
The new SkyDeck at the Sear's Tower allows visitors to stand 1,353 above the city and look through a Plexiglas floor at the busy streets below. The experience can be easily recreated by placing tots on steps or a deck overlooking their toy cars and trucks on the ground below. See if they can identify the colors and models of the toys from such a height.
Finish off the day with some movies that showcase the Second City in all of its glory, like Adventures in Babysitting, Home Alone and Uncle Buck while serving one of Michigan Avenue's famed treats – caramel corn.

Non Voyage: Bring New York's Bright Lights Home

LilSugar — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:00:36 PDT

Get your walking shoes on and prepare to see the bright lights of some of our nation's biggest cities! Families looking to explore the culture and variety that urban centers offer can do so in the comfort of their own homes with projects and foods that celebrate the metropolitan destinations. Our week of big-city "Non Voyages" kicks off in the largest one of all – New York City.

Start the morning off with Eloise's favorite mealtime delight - room service. Kids will love seeing their breakfast served bedside.
Lady Liberty has long been a hot spot for families visiting the Big Apple and the just reopened crown provides great inspiration for tots. There are 354 steps from the base to the top of the statue. Have kids try to stack that many blocks to see the height. And, use construction paper to create your own crown hats.
The Museum of Natural History is known for its dinosaur exhibit so put together some 3D dinosaur puzzles and study the giants.
Even though it's not as bright as the lights of Times Square, check to see if there are any local theater productions that appeal to your tots. Introducing children to theater is wonderful even if you're way off Broadway! Or, prepare for a marathon of Disney movies including The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, and Mary Poppins, all of which are currently playing in the Big Apple.
They say there's a great pizza shop on every corner of New York. Get down to business in the kitchen and create the ultimate thin-crust pie. Just be sure to eat it like a New Yorker – folded down the middle with the grease dripping off.
Serendipity's frozen hot chocolate is beloved by all visitors to the city. Re-create it at home and give your kids a new perspective on the treat.

Non Voyage: Rev Up for the Ranch

babysugar — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:31:57 PDT

Giddyup lil doggies! It's time to get the wee ones fired up for some time on mama's kickin' dude ranch. Heading to the Big Sky territory may not be in the credit cards this summer, but there's plenty one can do to create the same atmosphere in their own backyard for a ranch style non voyage.

First off, invest in a musical triangle that can double as a dinner alarm. The kids will get a kick out it when mama hollers, "Cooome and geeeet it!"
Serve up a ranch style breakfast with eggs, biscuits, bacon and grits on a red checkered table cloth.
Get a bail of hay and spread it around the lawn. If you have a wagon, toss the tots in for a mini hayride while they sing songs along the way.
Visit a petting zoo where the wee ones can learn about small animals.
Set up the kiddie pool for an afternoon of fly fishing!
Take the kids to a local stable for an afternoon of horseback or pony riding.
Build a campfire and bring out the musical instruments for some entertaining improvisation.
For the final night, gather the troops for a talent show. The youngsters will enjoy preparing for it all week and the results are sure to be enjoyable. Make sure the video camera is charged up!

Non Voyage: Bring the Surf, Sun and Sand Home!

LilSugar — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:00:33 PDT

A lengthy stay at a coastal getaway can be pricey for families so bring the beach to your abode! This non voyage doesn't require much advance planning - just oodles of imagination! Slather on the sunscreen, slip into swimsuits, sun hats and shades and head out to the backyard!

Pack the cooler with fresh squeezed lemonade, Popsicles, fruit salad, sandwiches and bottled water then roll it on out so everyone has easy access to the refreshments.
Lay beach towels out on the lawn so everyone has space to spread out and dry off.
Invest in a sand and water activity table so children can scoop and pour as daily activities. Or fill a basin or tot pool full of sand for castle building!
Go for a dip under the garden hose or take a run through the sprinklers to cool off. If your lil fish prefer to be submerged, fill up the kiddie pool.
Set up a seashell scavenger hunt so the kids can find hidden treasures you've strewn around the property.
Have your youngsters snorkel in the bath and spy all their oceanic tub toys. Then, give them magnet rods and let them fish.
Bundle up in sweatshirts and head back outside for a bonfire! Roast marshmallows and admire the stars after the sun sets.

Non Voyage: Get Ready to Cruise!

babysugar — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:00:58 PDT

Pack your bags kids - it's time for a Non Voyage! Families planning on spending the Summer at home can still embark on a mock vacation by carefully planning projects and themes for each day. We're sharing tips on how to turn a "Non Voyage" into a weeklong cruise affair. Leave the ocean sickness at bay and participate in some of these shiptastic activities.

Rise and shine with an $8 gentle fog horn. The neighbors may not like it, but adding a blare to wake wee ones will certainly help corral the troops.
Serve it up buffet style! The only place more famous for their rows of food is Vegas. Allow tots to line up for their feast and come back for seconds.
Simon Cowell is notorious for telling American Idol contestants that they sound like cruise ship performers. Give the kids a chance to shine in the mediocre spotlight with a night of open mic karaoke. Mom and Pop can also get into the action making it a full family affair.
Hit the deck, I mean driveway, for a mean game of shuffleboard, hop scotch or jump rope.
Fire up the water hose for an afternoon in the water or head to the local pool for a dip in the "ocean."
If there's a storm a brewin', paint the afternoon away or settle down to a nice movie on the cozy couch.

Take pictures to keep the momentum going and one day the whole crew will fondly remember their trip aboard the Love Boat.