by Stacey Schifferdecker

My mother-in-law has been talking about for years – taking my family and my sister-in-law’s family for a cruise. But the timing never worked out until now. This year, for the first time ever, my children’s schools and my nephews’ schools have spring break the same week. So hi-ho, hi-ho, it’s off to Mexico we go. I am a vacation planner junky, so naturally I am hip-deep in research about the best way to enjoy our cruise and keep six kids ranging in age from 7 (the only girl) to 14 happy and healthy for a week. So here is what I have learned – check back with me in March to see how the reality lives up to the research.

 

Which Cruise Line to Choose?

Which cruise line to choose was the first question we had. Of course, your departure location helps narrow this choice. Unless you have unlimited time and money for your vacation, you will likely choose the departure port that is nearest your home. The major ports for cruise ship departures in North America are

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By Michelle Donaghey

No doubt about it! We love waterparks, whether they are indoor or outdoor ones!
“Waterparks appeal to families who want quality recreation time in an extremely safe environment. After all, waterparks are the safest place to have fun in the water compared to oceans, rivers, lakes and even swimming pools,” noted Gina Kellogg, Director of Communications for the World Waterpark Association, Overland Park, Kansas. In fact, there ware more than 1,000 waterparks in North America with an estimated attendance each season over 70 million people.
“For families who want a safe place to place in the water that’s also really convenient, then, waterparks are the perfect answer,” noted Kellogg.
The reasons?
For families, one of the most obvious reasons for our love is that the rides are very similar to roller coaster rides found in top-notch amusement parks. Some of them include:

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Although you may not be able to afford a summer vacation this year, there are no-cost, fun summer activities for the whole family. Here are a few ideas.

Pick a tree in your back yard and lay down a blanket. Have some lemonade and cookies, and read the books you’ve checked out from the library. Take turns reading. Invite friends and their kids to join you. Make it a weekly event.

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With summer almost here, many families are planning a family getaway. Traveling with kids can be a lot of fun, but it can also be a bit trying for parents, particularly when the kids are small. Small children often have very short attention spans, and they’re not able to become absorbed in reading a book for instance, to while away several hours of a trip. Trips are hard on kids of all ages, because most kids want to move around and do fun things. Smaller kids have the most difficult time with traveling though, because on short hour can seem like a whole day to them. So keeping them occupied while traveling can be a challenge.

There are many things you can do to help make traveling with kids a more enjoyable experience though. Some things work well for smaller children, while others are usually best for kids a little older. Most of the techniques we cover here are for traveling with kids in a car, but some of the tips can be used for air travel, trains or buses too.

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Each year one thing we all look forward to is the family holiday; whether it is Thanksgiving or Christmas, 4th of July or Hanukah, getting the family together for a holiday is always what makes it enjoyable and memorable. With both Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner many families are thinking of traveling. While family holidays can be stressful they can also be fun and enjoyable and create memories that last a lifetime. Here are some thoughts on family holidays.

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A Disneyland family vacation can be dream come true for almost any child. Your kid will be running from one attraction to another, playing with Disney Characters and having the time of his life. A Disneyland vacation is fun for the parents too: there are plenty of restaurants and entertainment facilities for adults.

Now with the special Disneyland family vacation package it’s easier than ever to take your kid to Disneyland. On the occasion of Disneyland 50 years anniversary, one child flies free and stays free for three days at Disneyland Resort Park.

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Editorial Comment: with summer here and families taking vacation I may be a little late in posting this article. Finding a vacation that we suite everyones needs is a daunting task indeed. Especially with a large family. I found this article that I hope will be of interest. It outline 5 places that are family friendly and have things to do that will suite a wide variety of interests. I hope you enjoy.

Planning a family vacation that will suit everyone’s taste is not easy. Generally the younger kid wants one to do one thing, the other wants to do another, while the parents have their own preferences. Keeping everyone satisfied may be difficult, but it’s not impossible.

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A family vacation is a great opportunity to unwind after a lot of hard work or school. Your children will love to go on an adventure trip for the summer and you will enjoy spending some quality time with your family in a beautiful setting. However, with the increasing cost of airfares and lodging, many people feel they can no longer afford to go on vacation. The good news is that with a bit of extra effort, you can plan a budget family vacation that everyone will enjoy. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Start planning in advance.

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Editorial comment:As a child my family was too busy for an organized family vacation. In the fast paced life we have today we need to take more time for ourselves and our family. I don’t plan on letting the same thing happen to my new family. This article talks about the important of planning a trip as a whole family. That extra planning and participation can make trips more enjoyable for everyone and bring a family closer together. Well enough with my editorial comment, I hope you will enjoy the article.

A time for bonding. An enjoyable family vacation is a great opportunity to bond with your family and share some unforgettable experiences. It all begins with planning a family vacation together. The key to a perfect vacation is a good plan. If you do it the right way, the planning will be half the fun. Here are a few tips for planning a family vacation the best way possible.

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by Michelle Donaghey

POOLS
Shimmering water, clear as a bell- that is heaven to dive into when the temperature is high. Whether it be the local park or a backyard, summertime is the time for these man-made water holes. Shimmering water, clear as a bell- that is heaven to dive into when the temperature is high. Whether it be the local park or a backyard, summertime is the time for these man-made water holes.Phone first and ask questions! Planning to visit a local pool? The rule is always phone-first. While the pool may have their hours listed, often they do not list when there swim lesson times are which coincide with their hours. Before your day is ruined because you went when lessons were going on, call. Besides, you can find out if they have lockers to rent or for free and much admission is. Also ask if water toys and or life preservers or water wings are accepted- some pools allow them while others may not.

At the pool
It’s a good idea to leave the purse in the car hidden from view. Buy a small money holder that hangs around your neck that you can put change in. Pin your car key into your bathing suit and mark your towel with your name with a laundry marker- your towel may be unusual to you, but at the pool, three other people may have the same towel. And don’t forget the sunblock! Diving boards are tempting to kids of all ages, but it is best for only kids who are good swimmers to use them. It also may be tempting for you to teach your kids to dive, but it is best left to the professionals. If you really want them to learn, find out about lessons. Children are not developmentally ready for swim lessons until after their fourth birthday according to the A.A.P. which also notes that whenever infants or toddlers are around water, an adult should be within arm’s length, providing "touch supervision." "Never leave children alone in or near a pool, even for a moment," says the A.A.P.

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By Michelle Donaghey

Beaches-

For starters, a good choice is a Frisbee says Joni Jones of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. This versatile toy can be used for games or just for throwing back and forth. Even one child can have fun with one, playing in the sand using it as a shovel. If it does get windy, keep away from the shoreline! Leave kites, baseballs and bats a home. A better choice for balls might be a beachball, but they have a tendency to blow away when the wind picks up.
It may be tempting to bring Fido or Fluffy, but the beach is not the place for a pet. Pets can pick up all sorts of problems if they drink the water or eat things left on the beach. Besides, most beaches have the rule that the pet must be leashed which isn’t much fun!
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