Some of the problems that we’ve had to overcome when taking crochet projects on the road include:

• Taking little parts along. Some of the easiest crochet projects for kids don’t just include yarn. Jewelry, for example, sometimes uses beads or other accessories. Toys require craft eyes and sometimes ribbons. What we quickly learned is that it’s a hassle to take these extra parts on a trip with us (with the most common problem being that they get lost). We’ve had to make sure that the projects we take traveling are projects that don’t require anything except a single hook and some yarn.
• Packing up the yarn. Yarn doesn’t take up a lot of space when it’s in the car so it’s fine to take crochet projects on road trips. When it comes to traveling by plane, however, you quickly realize that yarn can get bulky. One solution has been to make sure that we are all working on a single-color yarn project using the same yarn so that we can share yarn. We have a special tote just for yarn now that becomes the carry-on for one of the kids.
• Running out of yarn. Inevitably, we have run out of yarn during a trip. In order to finish a project, we needed to go to a craft store. This takes time away from other trip plans and involves spending more money on the trip than we had budgeted for. That’s not a good situation so we’re having to work on that by preparing better and accepting that when we do run out of yarn we’ll need to wait until we get home to finish the project.
• Crocheting too much on trips! I am very glad that the kids have taken so well to this craft. However, I’m concerned about the fact that it’s taking their attention away from other trip experiences. They aren’t playing as many car games or taking as many photos to prevent boredom since they can crochet instead. While I do want them to be crafty, I don’t want them to miss out on true trip experiences. We’re working on limiting crochet time on the road in favor of other trip-related activities.

All in all, I continue to believe that teaching kids to crochet is a great asset to family travel. I just didn’t anticipate that there’d be so many things to deal with in adjusting to this new travel activity!

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Animals are always the subject of a child’s interest. Pass one by that they’ve never seen before and they’re sure to want to know more about it. Even animals that they see every day, like their own cats and dogs, are able to get their attention when you can’t.

This is something that’s great to keep in mind when you’re traveling during the summer. As soon as the kids start to complain that they are bored, you can remind to have them keep an eye out for the animals that will entertain them. Here are ten animals to look out for while you travel this summer:

1. Butterflies and moths. They’re out almost everywhere that you might go. They’re magical and kids love to watch them.
2. Birds. Challenge the kids to keep track of how many different types of birds they see on your trip.
3. Cows. If you’re taking a road trip then one of the animals you’re most likely to see on the side of the road is a cow. Also look out for horses.
4. Fish. Maybe you’re actually going fishing or perhaps you just want to see if the kids can spot the fish in the water at ponds and rivers that you visit.
5. Lightning bugs. These summer critters are getting harder and harder to find but the kids will still enjoy spending the evening hours searching for them.
6. Frogs. Kids can also easily waste a few hours out of the day looking for frogs if you’re near the water. They may also try to catch crawdads. This provides free entertainment for at least a little while.
7. Whales. Take the kids out on the ocean and do some amateur whale watching. You can also look for dolphins, otters and sea lions. Kids love to see these things.
8. Squirrels. Animals like squirrels might not be as exciting as whales or lightning bugs but they are an option if you’re going to be in a city or state park.
9. Bugs. You might not love to catch bugs but your kids can enjoy this activity. Or watch an ant colony for a little while to see what hard workers they are.
10. Zoo animals. If all else fails, you can always head to the zoo this summer to see some animals with the kids. Skip the zoos at major cities and go for the smaller, cheaper zoos instead.

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Summer Family Travel in June

June is a favorite time to travel. It’s not too hot yet in most destinations (compared to later summer months anyway). There are affordable deals on travel during the month of June. Many destinations have great festivals during June that you can check out for free. Some of the spring flowers will still be alive on plants if you’re going hiking at your destination. But there is one drawback; traveling now means that you still have a long summer ahead of you at home with no trips to break it up.

Summer Family Travel in July

Traveling in July is smart in terms of timing for the kids being out of school. They are starting to get restless since a month or so has passed since school let out. Yet, they’ll still have downtime at home after the trip to chill out before going back to school. The downside is that July is one of the pricier months to travel since it’s such a popular choice. This is especially true if you try to travel at the start of the month when it’s near Fourth of July.

Summer Family Travel in August

Traveling in August is a nice way to end the summer. It’s something that the whole family can spend the summer looking ahead to. It means that you can do projects related to travel planning during the summer which is always fun. However, it does mean that you’re traveling during a very warm month. It also means that you’ll be returning to work and school right away which can be a little stressful.

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When I was younger, my family used to all pile into the car and take off on long road trips together. This is something that we now do with our own children as well. Although there are drawbacks to road trips, I generally think that they’re a a great way to travel. They’re fun, educational and slowed-down compared to flight-based trips.

My siblings and I have been tossing around the idea of re-living some of our great old memories by taking a road trip together. We’ve even been talking about the option of including Mom and Dad. If we did this, we’d be taking four generations of the family (us, our kids, our parents and one great-grandchild).

In some ways, this sounds overwhelming. Mom and Dad aren’t exactly the spry young things that they once were. They don’t have the health or stamina to take a very long road trip. We aren’t as patient with them as we’d like to be. Between the grandparents and the children, we’d have to stop frequently.

And of course, there’s always the hassle of choosing destinations and restaurants and activities when you’ve got a big group of people on a trip. What we always loved about road trips was the spontaneity of them. We’d pull off to roadside signs and see what there was to see. We do this with our kids, too. However, taking so many people out on one trip means that coming to decisions about these things might be tougher.

Despite these drawbacks, I think it could be an amazing trip. We’d be able to relive some really great memories while creating new ones. It won’t be long before Mom and Dad can’t do these types of trips at all. I’d love to let the grandkids travel with them like this while they can.

I think that the key to doing this (if we decide to do so) is going to be good planning. We’ll need to make it a relatively short trip and plan some of our stops in advance so that there isn’t a lot of bickering and frustration on the road. I also think it’s wise to take multiple vehicles so that we can alter our pace as needed for the different people in the family.

Has anyone out there tried a multi-generational family road trip like this? Any thoughts or tips?

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One of the goals that I have this month is to start teaching my children how to crochet. I think it’s a fun craft activity that they will enjoy. More importantly, I think it’s a craft that will be very useful during summer travel.

Why crochet is great for summer travel:

• It’s inexpensive. Crochet can be a very inexpensive hobby. The crochet hooks don’t cost much at all. And you can buy inexpensive yarn especially for kids’ projects. Any craft that is a cheap craft is good in my book!
• Crochet travels well. Crochet projects are really easy to take with you anywhere that you’re going. They fit into bags and backpacks. They don’t cause any problems or require a lot of equipment. This is definitely something to look for in a traveling craft.
• Can be done in a car. Unlike many other crafts, it’s easy to do crochet in a moving vehicle or on a bumpy airplane ride. This makes it very convenient for traveling.
• The supplies are generally welcome everywhere. Many crafts require scissors or needles that aren’t allowed in some places when you’re traveling. Crochet hooks rarely cause a problem on airplanes or anywhere else.
• It’s simple but can be skilled. Crochet is really easy to learn in terms of the basics. However, it also has a lot of advanced things that can be learned. This means the kids won’t get bored with it easily. I hope!

Some great summer crochet craft projects for kids:

• Jewelry. Kids love to make things like friendship bracelets. This is easy to do with crochet and it doesn’t use up a lot of yarn.
• Toys and stuffed animals. There are a lot of great simple patterns for kids’ toys and stuffed animals.
• Pillows. The kids can start a pillow at the beginning of a trip and have it ready to lay down on for the ride back home!
• Tote bags. Who doesn’t need more of these for trekking around during travels? Letting kids make their own is a great summer activity.

And of course I love the idea of getting a chance to do some of my own crocheting during with the kids during a trip!

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We are coming up on that time of year when road trips are looming. I love road trips with the family. I also hate them. You know how it goes; they’re fun for the most part but they have a bunch of hassles and headaches that come along with them. The ubiquitous “are we there yet?” is just the start of things on some trips.

However, I’ve learned a few tips over the years to make family road trips more fun than annoying. Here are five of them:

1. Plan in advance but leave room to be flexible. It’s best if you can plan the road trip in advance. Figure out what you want to see, where you want to stay and approximately how long the trip is going to take. Then cushion every part of the trip with some extra time. This allows you to be flexible to account for those fun side trips and unexpected delays that are inevitable parts of a road trip.
2. Get the kids involved in the planning. Road trips go a lot more smoothly if the kids know what it is that they are looking forward to during each step of the trip. They’re even smoother when the kids get to help with the planning. Let them pick some weird things to see on the way.
3. Take entertainment along with you. Every family has different rules about this. Some let kids take their video games and cell phones and others don’t. Whatever the rules are, though, you need to have a source of entertainment for everyone in the car. A book, a tape for sing-a-longs, whatever it may be … you all need something!
4. Practice your patience. In the weeks leading up to a road trip, it’s a good idea to practice meditation. Practice letting go of the letting things. Practice laughing instead of stressing out. This will be put to good use on any road trip.
5. Set the rules in advance. Make clear rules for the road trip. How often will you be stopping? What are the rules about ordering at fast food restaurants? Who gets to sit where in the car? What is the punishment for fighting on the trip? Set the rules and discuss them in advance to prevent a lot of problems on the road.

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One of the things that is easy to let go of during family travel is healthy eating. Here are some of the reasons why that is:

• You aren’t cooking. It’s easy to know how healthy a dish is when you’ve cooked it yourself. It’s not as easy when someone else is making it for you.
• Finding good food on the road is tough. It’s not easy to find healthy eating choices at airports, train stations or on road trips. You don’t want to take time out of your trip to hunt down healthy food so you sacrifice and get the junk.
• Local foods may not be healthy. You want to get the chance to taste new local foods when you are on vacation. Unfortunately, they may not be healthy.
• Schedule is thrown off. Your normal schedule is thrown off when you’re on vacation. You eat at different times and get cravings during odd hours of the day. You may eat more often than usual, too.
• Many other rules have changed. A lot of family rules, such as strict bedtimes, get relaxed during travel. It’s easy to relax the rules about eating healthy as well.

Luckily, there are some things that we can do to eat healthier when we travel. The following tips might help:

• Pack some snacks. Prepare healthy snacks ahead of time and take them with you on the trip. This will reduce the amount of junk that you buy when traveling.
• Get familiar with making smart fast food choices. People often eat fast food when traveling. Do some research into the nutrition content at your favorite fast food places. It will help you make smarter choices when faced with these menu boards.
• Research good local food in advance. You’ll know where to go to find it and what type of nutrition to expect when you get there.
• Limit how much you relax your rules and schedule. Vacation is a great time to relax and bend the rules a bit. However, it’s best for the whole family if you stick to a somewhat normal schedule. This includes a normal eating routine.
• Choose hotels that have a mini-kitchen. A microwave and refrigerator will allow you to make some foods yourself during the trip.

What do you do to maintain healthy eating habits when traveling?

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I hope you had a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day! It was beautiful here. We did some silly crafts with the kids and checked out a local parade. I wish that we had gotten a chance to go on a little vacation but it wasn’t in the cards for us this year. However, we’re beginning to ramp up our travel talk around my house now. That’s because Spring is just about here and we think that’s the ideal time for family travel.

Some of the reasons I enjoy taking family travel time in the Spring include:

• The weather is beautiful almost everywhere. This is a wonderful time of year. The weather in most places is starting to warm up. In another month or so, it’s going to be perfect weather in almost any destination that we might want to visit. That is the single best reason to travel with the family at this time of year.
• The parks are beautiful. Everything grows in the spring. We love to enjoy outdoor adventures during our family vacations and it’s especially pretty to indulge in that at this time of year. Hiking to see waterfalls and wildflowers are some of our favorite springtime travel activities.
• It’s affordable. The peak travel time doesn’t come around until summer. It’s easy to find good prices on flights, deals on hotels and cheap tickets to attractions during springtime travel.
• We have most places all to ourselves. There are not nearly as many families traveling during Spring as there are during the summer. This means that we can enjoy busy family destinations during a time when the crowds are much sparser. That’s always a treat.
• The kids love getting out of school. We don’t mind taking them out for a week or so during the spring. It makes the vacation seem that much more exciting.

We love traveling during the summer, too. However there’s something much more appealing about traveling as a family during the Spring. I’m excited that Spring starts this weekend! Are you?

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Some tips for single travelers that come from smart parents include:

• Always be prepared for injury or illness. Parents know that it would be awful to be stuck in a new city trying to hunt down a 24-hour pharmacy to get medication for a sick child. That’s why they pack the basics including a first aid kit. It’s a smart thing for single travelers to consider doing as well.
• Pack clothes that layer. Kids complain that they’re too hot and then too cold. That’s why we dress them in layers when traveling. Single travelers would find all destinations more comfortable if they got used to doing this.
• Leave yourself a lot of time. Parents traveling with small children know that everything takes longer than they expect it to. They leave a lot of room between flights to make sure that they catch the second flight even if the kids are cranky, hungry and need to stop at the bathroom. They assume the road trip will take longer than it probably does. Single travelers would save themselves a lot of stress if they, too, gave themselves this type of time cushion.
• Don’t pack your days too full. Kids need time to sleep, rest, relax. It isn’t good to rush from sight to sight without a break. Adults who learn this lesson can enjoy their solo trips a lot more too.
• Budget hotels may give you more for your money. Parents know that good economy hotels will give you great service, good amenities and a full breakfast. Why pay more for less?
• Go with the flow. It’s great to plan out the perfect vacation but things inevitably go wrong. Parents learn to go with the flow. Single travelers will enjoy their trips more if they can do this too.

I wish I had known all of this before I had kids! Don’t you?

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There are many tips out there about how to save money on hotels. These tips are varied in how applicable they might be to you. If you happen to be someone with a family who really enjoys family travel then you’ll want to look specifically for ways to save money on hotels when you’ve got the whole brood with you.

Here are five tips for saving money on hotels when you bring the kids along:

1. Look for “kids stay free” deals. One of the best hotel deals that you’ll frequently see offered is that kids can stay free. Often this also means that they can eat for free as well. Pay attention to the details of the deal to make sure that you’ll be saving money.
2. Stay in a place that has complimentary breakfast. Yes, you’ll all get breakfast for free, of course. However, if you’re smart then you can also get the kids snacks and lunch out of the deal. Choose an economy hotel that has a full breakfast and take muffins, cereal, juice boxes and other extras to go. You’ll save money on meals out during the day while you’re trekking around.
3. Choose hotels that have entertainment for kids. If there is a lot for your kids to do at the hotel then you won’t need to pay to take them out for entertainment as much. Of course, you’ll still enjoy your trip but you can also just spend some time in the hotel’s pool or bowling alley and spend less money.
4. Find a hotel that offers affordable daycare. There might be a few fancy things that you want to do with your spouse during your vacation. Sure, you could take the kids along to a nice restaurant, a Cirque du Soleil show or some other event but you’d be spending a lot of money for the extra bodies. If your hotel has a childcare service that’s safe and affordable then you can enjoy an adults-only part of your trip for less.
5. Stay at hotels that advertise being kid-friendly. The best thing about these hotels is that local businesses often network with them. You can get deals and discounts on kids’ activities in the area when you’re staying at one of these places. Ask about this when making reservations.

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