8 tips for traveling with kids

Hi friends, I hope you are enjoying a long weekend with family.  Our kids had Friday off from school, so it was a 4 day weekend for us!  We were really excited to head up to Seattle and visit the Pacific Science Center for a member's preview of the new exhibit - The Art of the Brick.  The artist, Nathan Sawaya, uses Legos to create sculptures and other artwork.  It is an incredible experience!  My kids love building with Legos, and seeing the possibilities of all these sculptures through their eyes was priceless. Sometimes day trips require just as much planning ahead as weekend trips, and it got me thinking about some tips for traveling with kids - things to pack and also things to plan for.  I have my list of travel tips in the article below.  If you have more tips for traveling with kids, please send them my way and I may include them next time! Have a magical week, sweet friends!            Facebook Website Email Instagram Getaway Glimpse This week's Getaway Glimpse is from one of my happy places, Lake Chelan in my home state of Washington. This beautiful lake community is very busy with travelers during the summer months, and home to the Apple Blossom Festival, the Harvest Festival, Crush Weekends (Grape stomping!) in October, and more!

Mark Your Calendars:  Upcoming Events from Disney Parks! Summer 2016 - Awaken Summer at Walt Disney World - unforgettable experiences in all 4 parks June 10, 2016 - Final day to book the Summer Promotion at Walt Disney World September 2 - October 31, 2016 - Mickey's not so Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World (Select Nights) September - October 31, 2016 - Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland (Select Nights) November 7 - December 22, 2016 - Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Walt Disney World (Select Nights) 8 tips for traveling with kids Whether you are taking a day trip, a road trip or a trip on a plane, advanced planning definitely helps when traveling with kids.  This doesn't cover everything - but it's a great start for when you are traveling with kids. 1 - Take your time.  Kids move at their own pace - if you rush them through wherever you are going, you will undoubtedly end up frustrated yourself, and with a frustrated kid.  Be sure to plan for breaks during the day also.  If you are at a theme park for the day and start early - take a break mid day - head back to the hotel, cool off at the pool or take a little nap in the room.  Recharge your batteries before heading back out for the evening to enjoy the fireworks and nighttime shows. 2 - Snacks!  I don't know about your kids - but mine seem to always be hungry.  Having some sweets on hand can be good for bribes (don't judge!) but keep a healthy mix in there.  Our favorites include: pretzels,apple sauce squeeze pouches, granola bars and fruit. 3 - Have activities on hand for downtime.  Have a bag of activities ready for the lull of waiting for a room to be ready, on the airplane, in the car for a road trip, etc.  Coloring books and activity books are great. My kids love the activity cards with dry erase pens so they can use them over and over. 4 - Pack your carry-on wisely.  Keep your essentials on hand - like your travel documents, identification, medicine, baby wipes, etc.  If you are flying to your destination, having a full change of clothes packed and ready in case there is a delay in luggage, or the need to change mid-flight can be very helpful!  Pack your swimsuits too, in case you have the chance to get to the pool before being reunited with your luggage. 5 - Know what you bring!  If your kids are bringing some prized possessions - favorite pillow, blankie, stuffed animal, make a list of what your child brings so that when it comes time to leave - you can check each item off the list and nothing is forgotten! 6 - Daily Safety.  At the start of each day, snap a photo of your child so that in case you end up separated from your child, you have a very current photo of what your child is wearing and you can share it with local security.  Another tip - write your cell phone number on their arm, or somewhere on their skin so that if you are separated, someone that finds them can quickly call you. 7 - Souvenirs - undoubtedly, if your vacation takes you to a place with a souvenir or gift shop, your little one may want to purchase a new item.  Having them earn money in advance and then setting a budget with them helps keep their spending within a limit.  When we travel to Disney, we encourage our kids to look at all of the shops before settling on an item - so we don't have any 'buyers remorse'  during the trip.  Having them purchase their items towards the ends of the trip helps solve this for us. 8 - Photos.  Photographs can be the ultimate souvenir of your trip - aside from all the fantastic memories you will be making.  Don't forget to get photos of yourself with your kids - when your kids grow up, they will love seeing you in the photos with them.  Also, let them take photos!  There are kids cameras available or there are still disposable cameras available to let them take photos of what is important to them.  You'll be amazed at what your vacation looks like from their point of view! It's not too late to plan your trip this Summer or Fall and take advantage of the discounts available - even Free Dining at Walt Disney World!  Send me an email or fill out a quote request HERE to get started planning today!