Travel Tip

Some great tips from the National Parks Conservation Association for exploring our national parks with your children:

We go to the parks to feel small again. These are places of enormous grandeur which fill us with wonder and remind us that we are all part of something much bigger than ourselves. And so we are drawn, year after year, to the rim of the Grand Canyon, the floor of Yosemite Valley, the base of Denali, and we measure ourselves against those expanses.

But what about those of us who are small?

For children, the most meaningful interactions with the natural world are hands-on, and they often happen on a smaller, more intimate scale. While we might marvel at a massive rock formation, a giant sequoia, or a vast sweep of seashore, a child might be captivated by an individual stone or leaf, or the tiny life to be found in a tide pool.

Our national parks—from the wilderness parks that span millions of acres to the urban parks in the backyards of millions of Americans—are incomparable places for fostering and affirming  the vital connection between children and nature. Simply by remembering that children perceive the natural world on a different scale and explore it at a different pace, we can make their experiences more enjoyable and rewarding.

1. Keep it simple
For each step that you take, a child might require two just to keep up. Remember to move at a kid-friendly pace, with frequent breaks for resting and refueling. Resist creating an ambitious itinerary in favor of keeping one goal at a time—and rather than making a beeline to your endpoint, try to choose trails and paths that offer a variety of natural features and points of interest along the way.

2. Keep it flexible
Because the destinations themselves can be so incredible, it’s easy to focus on simply reaching them. For children, however, curiosity is the greatest guide and each step along the way is part of the adventure. When possible, let children lead the way and remain patient with frequent stops to investigate new discoveries. Stumbling upon interesting insects, unusual rocks, and unexpected animal tracks all are rewards unto themselves.

3. Keep it positive
The parks are wonderful learning environments, and that learning is often preceded by a sense of wonder. Keep your eyes and mind wide open and you might experience the same joys as the children in your care—or at least enjoy them seeing things for the first time. Discoveries are waiting to be made in even the most familiar settings, which change with the seasons, the weather, even the time of day. Remember, too, that for children, repetition can be a prerequisite to mastery. Be patient if their adventures take them along the same paths to explore the same settings, and try to see the extraordinary in the commonplace. At first glance, the leaves of a tree might seem unremarkable, but they are a marvel of colors, shapes, textures, and patterns worth investigating—even of mysteries to solve. (Why, for example, are the leaves on the lowest branches of a tree larger than those at the top?) Share your knowledge, but remember that showing often beats telling, and that discovering together can be one of the most effective ways of teaching.

4. Keep it safe
Equip children properly for whatever environments you will encounter, paying special attention to having the right footwear and breathable layers that can be added or shed as body temperatures fluctuate. Pack sunscreen and hats for protection from the sun’s rays and be sure to have plenty of water on hand to avoid dehydration—as a rule of thumb, divide a child’s weight by two for a quick estimate of his or her minimum daily water needs, in ounces. Stick to established trails to reduce exposure to possible hazards like ticks and poison ivy, and to steer clear of potential falls or injuries.

5. Keep it stress-free
There’s something about the parks that fuels our sense of adventure, but a visit with children is probably not the best time to be blazing new trails or exploring unfamiliar backcountry. Know where you’re going–and make sure others know where you’re going as well. Avoid the possibility of becoming lost by choosing reasonable trails and having good maps; a mobile phone with GPS is a useful safety net. Empower children by letting them use trail maps and spot the blazes and markers that define the trail. Consult park rangers and staff for advice on family-friendly trails, and to learn about activities and programs tailored to young visitors.

Trip Review

The Berkowitz family from Bala Cynwyd, PA (2 adults, their daughter, age 17 and her friend, also 17) traveled to Switzerland over spring break.   The family stayed at the lakefront Four Seasons des Bergues in Geneva where they found impeccable service.  This landmark hotel was the first in Geneva; built in 1834.  A fondue dinner was a fitting start to their vacation.  The next day they rented a car (with GPS which the hotel happily programmed for them in English) and headed to Annecy, France for a day trip. It is just an hour from Geneva.  This charming town, called the Venice of France, has many canals, old world charm and a 14^th century chateau to explore.  They rented a boat to tour the town by lake, then by foot with a tasty picnic lunch by one of the canals.  The following day they drove around Lake Geneva (the northern route) on their way to Lucerne stopping in quaint towns along the way.  Their favorite stop was in Morges, where Audrey Hepburn spent the last 30 years of her life.  The family walked around town and stumbled onto a street festival where they witnessed the local flavor and culture.  At the end of the street fair was an animal rescue tent where they got to play with cuddly St. Bernards, the unofficial dog of the Alps.  In Lucerne they stayed at the Grand Hotel; another lovely experience.  Their spacious rooms provided spectacular mountain and lake views.  Wondering around Lucerne was fun with friendly and accommodating people everywhere they went.  They took a day trip to Mt. Pilatus via gondola (the cog wheel train only runs May-November) and had a nice lunch while enjoying the breathtaking scenery.  On this mountain, families can enjoy great hiking, the longest summer toboggan track, rock climbing and the biggest suspension rope park in the region.  The family departed Switzerland from Zurich where they spent the night at the Movenpik at the airport.  Another wonderful hotel experience.  Overall it was a great trip filled with amazing scenery, wonderful hotels, excellent food and lovely towns and cities.

Trip Review

Lauren’s family of four (with two teens) traveled to New Orleans for a spring break getaway.  We picked this unique city for its interesting history and culture, fabulous food, great array of hotel options and to learn more about the affects of Hurricane Katrina and what has transpired since the horrific disaster in 2005.  We stayed at the lovely Omni Royal Crescent ideally located just a few blocks from the French Quarter and Warehouse District.  This helped ensure a quiet place to sleep at night.  We appreciated the boutique feel of the hotel, helpful and friendly staff, fun restaurant, small gym and jacuzzi as well as free internet and morning beverages delivered to the room as members of their frequent stay program.  We didn’t appreciate the soft beds.  We enjoyed a variety of experiences in New Orleans including a visit to Mardi Gras World to see how many of the parade floats are made, the Audubon Zoo and a City/Katrina van tour which unfortunately was arduous and rather boring although chock full of interesting history and views of the reconstruction in a variety of neighborhoods.  The tour did stop at beautiful city park where we were able to sample yummy beignets.  We also rode the St. Charles Street car through the Garden District and visited cousins Uptown who attend Tulane University.  Our meals were certainly a highlight and included Domenica, GW Fins, Palace Cafe, Camelia Grill and the American Sector at the WWII History Museum.  Overall a nice trip with enough variety for a lovely few days.

Travel Tip

Air line tickets are much more complicated than just finding the best fare.  The Family Traveler is often helping you with travel delays, seats and baggage issues.  Here are some great tips to share:

FLIGHT DELAYS

-Are there long lines at the customer service counter and long hold times for the airline’s reservations number after your flight is delayed?  Try calling one of the airline’s overseas numbers.  You’ll pay long-distance rates, but might not have to wait.

— Consider buying a one-day pass to the airline lounge. For one thing, there are usually free drinks and light snacks. But the real secret to the lounges is that the airline staffs them with some of its best — and friendliest — ticket agents. The lines are shorter and these agents are magically able to find empty seats. One-day passes typically cost $50.

SEATS

— Set up alerts for seat openings. ExpertFlyer.com offers free notifications when a window or aisle seat becomes vacant. For 99 cents, it sends an email if adjacent seats become available.

— Check the airline’s website five days before the trip. That’s when some elite fliers are upgraded to first class, freeing up their coach seats. Another wave of upgrades occurs every 24 to 48 hours.

— Check in 24 hours in advance, when airlines start releasing more seats. If connecting, check for open seats 24 hours before the second flight departs.

— Keep looking. Even after checking in, seats can be changed at airport kiosks and on some airlines’ mobile applications.

LUGGAGE

— Weigh a bag at home first. Anything over 50 pounds (40 pounds on some airlines like Spirit) will generate a hefty overweight surcharge — typically $100 — in addition to the typical $25 checked bag fee.

— Before your bag disappears behind the ticket counter make sure the airline’s tag has your name, flight number and final destination. As a precaution, place a copy of your flight itinerary inside your suitcase with your cellphone number and the name of your hotel.

— You could be asked to check your carry-on bag, given today’s crowded overhead bins. Pack a small canvas bag inside the carry-on. Use that to hold onto your valuables if you have to check the carry-on.

Trip Review

Mindy and her family (2 adults and 2 teens ages 16 and 14) spent part of their December holiday vacation aboard Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas. They chose this Southern Caribbean cruise because of the unique itinerary- which included stops in St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Aruba and Curacao. Cruising from San Juan was easy– no customs required! Their excursions were the highlights of their trip. Mindy pre-booked independent tours through our supplier Shore Trips and they did not disappoint. Unlike some of the crowded and impersonal excursions offered through the cruise line, they enjoyed small group and private trips. In St. Thomas they sailed on a catamaran to Buck Island, where they snorkeled and swam among sea turtles. In spite of the torrential down pour on the return, it was a fabulous trip. In St. Kitts they arranged for a private fishing trip with one of the local fisherman. They trolled for native fish, but only ended up catching barracudas! The kids particularly enjoy the “fishing seat” which was planted on the rear of the boat to allow them to brace themselves while reeling in the catch. In Aruba, they rented a car to explore the island checking out the natural rock formations, a lighthouse and beautiful beaches. They spent most of the day on Baby Beach, on the southern tip of the Island, where there are rental chairs to enjoy the gorgeous white, silky sand. Curacao turned out to be their favorite island. The natives are so warm and welcoming, and the Dutch culture is quite interesting. They had pre-arranged a snorkel safari on double jet skis and it turned out that they were the only ones on the trip. While the ocean was rough they learned that if you keep your speed up you can more easily handle the waves. Fortunately, they were only in the ocean for a short time. The majority of the trip was spent in lagoons and more protected areas where the snorkeling was unrivaled– they saw fish and coral of all kinds above a ship wreck. You barely needed a mask to enjoy the views under water. While Mindy and Rich did the driving on the way out to the reefs, the kids took over on the return. Jordan got to practice her driving skills while Max got his first driving lesson. Smiles galore!  While the ship was older and in need of repair, it was still an enjoyable cruise. They were disappointed by the food, but the time they enjoyed together as a family without internet, computers and cell phones, was priceless!

Travel Tip

We are sharing this information from Budget Travel magazine about scams that prey upon tourists in Paris, but these are applicable to many places in the world.

Please Sign My Petition for a Super-Worthwhile  Cause! This scam is really banking on you being a nice person who  wants to help change the world…and a silly tourist who can’t understand French  writing. I was standing on the “Love Bridge” at Pont  de l’Archeveche, looking for a spot to attach my lock when a young girl  approached me with big, sad eyes, said nothing, and shoved a clipboard in my  face that said, “Won’t you help the blind and the deaf?” There were a few  signatures to indicate that this was a petition, but the rest was all in French,  and as our Tour Manager informed us, most likely said something along the lines  of, “If you sign this, you have to give me 500 euros or else.” Recognizing the  scam for what it was, I simply said, “No, sorry, no,” until she took the hint  and moved onto the next person. Watch out for this one around any major city  sight, and never sign anything while you’re away from home just to be on the  safe side.

The String Trick This particular scam is most commonly  practiced throughout the Montmartre area and our group ran into it on our way  from the Metro to the giant staircase (described below) that leads to the Sacre  Coeur, a popular stomping ground for tourists. Honestly, this is the one I  really want you to watch out for—the other scams are all based on distractions  and tourists not knowing any better, but this one could actually get ugly if  you’re not paying attention. What happens is someone will approach you on the  street with a piece of string, yarn, or other crafty-looking item and ask if you  want them to make you a “Friendship bracelet” or “Friendship Ring.” Whatever  you do, just say no and keep walking. Trust me. Our Tour Manager explained  how if you agree, the person will slide the string over your finger (or wrist)  and tie it so tight that it’s impossible to escape from. This person (and  possibly a few of his or her larger friends) will then lead you over to the  nearest ATM, only setting you free from the trap after you’ve emptied the  contents of your bank account. A group of hopefuls approached us as we walked,  but we knew it was coming, so were able to say, “No” and keep walking away, no  harm done. We did, however, spot a woman on the other side of the street having  a bracelet made, so it was a rude awakening that this actually does happen. Just  say no thanks, and keep going.

The Ring Trick Deeply based in distraction and the hope  that the victim will fall for just about anything, there are several versions of  the Ring Trick that usually involve a gold ring or otherwise valuable looking  object being left in plain sight. When the unsuspecting tourist picks it up and  tries to see who it belongs to, someone either steps forward and demands money  for your newly-found “gift,” or tricks you into believing it’s worth paying  crazy amounts of money for. Our Tour Manager said he’s heard of people paying 50  euros for a gold ring they were promised would bring them luck. Please,  oh please, don’t be that tourist. If it’s not yours, just leave it alone.

Did You Drop Something? (A variation of the Ring Trick) I  encountered this one on the steps of the magnificent Sacre Coeur in the  Montmartre neighborhood of Paris, just moments after ascending what has to be  the world’s longest, steepest, tallest staircase—at least it feels like that.  (Lesson learned, next time, just suck it up and take the nifty little funicular  stationed right next to it!) Anyway, it’s a distraction technique guaranteed to  draw your eyes—and your attention—off your wallet. Basically, if you’re standing  somewhere and hear something drop to the ground, but you know you haven’t  dropped anything, just walk away. The idea is to make you think you did actually  drop something of value, and bend over to look for it, thus giving the person  who really dropped it enough time to snatch your wallet. Sneaky, huh?

Trip Review

Over Thanksgiving, Mindy and Lauren’s families stayed at the Boca Raton Resort and the Boca Beach Club. The property proved to be a relaxing escape for all. The Boca Raton Resort sits on Lake Boca Raton in an iconic building called The Cloister that opened in 1926. The historical charm is evident everywhere you look. Mindy stayed in the attached Yacht Club with views of the lake and where you can find rooms with two queen beds. Lauren stayed at the oceanfront Boca Beach Club with a super modern design. The resort also offers rooms and suites in the main Cloister building, Tower building as well as bungalows that have views of the golf course. It sits on 356 acres and offers several pools, watersports (including surfing lessons), kids clubs (ages 3-12), spa, marina, golf, tennis, several dining and shopping options and more. For the holidays, they also had an ice skating rink and offered lessons. A variety of family activities change according to the seasons. Their popular hotel scavenger hunt called Mizner Quest teaches families about the local nature, wildlife and interesting historical facts. Fans of modern art can take a tour of the funky sculptures that are boldly placed around the resort. We appreciated the boat and bus transportation to get around the resort, the variety of dining options including takeout food outlets with plenty of healthy food options and the plentiful and overly attentive staff.

Travel Tip

We hope your travels are always smooth and safe. Here are some tips to avoid headaches:

TRAVEL DELAYS

— If you miss your connection — or bad weather causes delays — the airlines will automatically rebook you on the next available flight. However, with flights at near capacity, the next open seat could be several days away.

— Don’t like the flight you’re rebooked on? Call us or get in line to speak to a customer service representative. But also, call the airline’s toll free reservations. If the phone lines are jammed, try the airline’s overseas numbers. You’ll pay long-distance rates, but might not have to wait. Finally, consider sending a Tweet.

— Consider buying a one-day pass to the airline lounge. For one thing, there are usually free drinks and light snacks. But the real secret to the lounges is that the airline staffs them with some of its best — and friendliest — ticket agents. The lines are shorter and these agents are magically able to find empty seats. One-day passes typically cost $50.

— Travel insurance will reimburse you for expenses related to travel delays (depending on the amount of time you are delayed).  Don’t travel without it!

SEAT ASSIGNMENTS

— Book your flights as early as possible to get seats together.

— If you and your loved ones don’t have seats together already, and don’t want to pay an extra $9 to $99 domestically for a “premium” coach seat, it’s very likely that you will sit apart.

— Set up alerts for seat openings. ExpertFlyer.com offers free notifications when a window or aisle seat becomes vacant. For 99 cents, it sends an email if adjacent seats become available.

— Check the airline’s website five days before the trip. That’s when some elite fliers are upgraded to first class, freeing up their coach seats. Another wave of upgrades occurs every 24 to 48 hours.

— Check in 24 hours in advance, when airlines start releasing more seats. If connecting, check for open seats 24 hours before the second flight departs.

— Ask again at check-in and at the gate. Even after checking in, seats can be changed at airport kiosks and on some airlines’ mobile applications.

LUGGAGE

— Weigh your bags at home first. Anything over 50 pounds (40 pounds on some airlines like Spirit) will generate a hefty overweight surcharge — typically $100 — in addition to the typical $25 checked bag fee.

— Before your bag disappears behind the ticket counter make sure the airline’s tag has your name, flight number and final destination. As a precaution, place a copy of your flight itinerary inside your suitcase with your cellphone number and the name of your hotel.

— If you can’t live without it, don’t check it. A lost bag can take days to recover. Don’t pack medication or outfits for tomorrow’s meeting or wedding in the bag you’re checking. The same with jewelry or electronics.

— You could be asked to check your carry-on bag, given today’s crowded overhead bins. Pack a small canvas bag inside the carry-on. Use that to hold onto your valuables if you have to check the carry-on.

Trip Review

Amy and Gary Barss from Seattle enjoyed a couples-only anniversary getaway to the brand new Andaz Maui, on the island where they honeymooned. This property is well suited for romantic getaways as well as for family trips. The Barss thought that the service was excellent with a knowledgable and friendly staff who were happy to share information about the island (such as where to get a ukele and where to find the best seared ahi sandwhich at Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Ship!). Located in Wailea, the Hyatt property showcases stylish and modern decor and sits on 15 acres of beachfront. No reception desk here, you are checked-in via iPad in the expansive lobby. Recreation abounds with 4 infinity pools, 2 restaurants (including a Morimoto outlet), watersports,  spa, gym with fitness classes and yoga, free kids club for ages 5-12 (there will be a charge for nightime programs) and Hawaiian cultural experiences. Plus free property wide wi-fi. The Barss really enjoyed the food as well as the watersports including snorkeling, stand-up paddle boarding and surfing lessons. The Shops at Wailea are less than 10-minute walk away with plenty of golf nearby. Accommodations range from standard rooms up to four bedroom villas.

Travel Tip

Did you know that children as young as age 10 can complete Junior PADI open-water scuba diving certifications that allows them to dive as low as 40 feet with a parent or dive professional?  At age 12, children may go to a depth of 60 feet and children as young as eight can learn dive skills in a pool through the PADI Seal Team program.  Finding the right PADI course and child-friendly teacher are important as is finding child-friendly dive sites and an experienced and PADI-certified guide or dive shop.  Using a private guide is best with younger children. Check out http://www.padi.com/scuba/padi-courses/diver-level-courses/kids-courses/ for more details.