Travel Tips
Teen Experience: Top Experiences for Teens
Giving gifts for the kids who has it all is difficult. What do you get him/her? Do they really need it or even want it? With basements, playrooms and bedrooms full of every gadget and toy imaginable, not to mention the obsession with their phone, finding a gift that they will remember, not outgrow, lose […]
Selecting the Best Credit Card for Travel
We see the offers All.The.Time for earning point from credit cards. Selecting the best credit card for travel perks is important. You can earn the points on purchases and use them for all sorts of things – including airline tickets, hotel stays and more. We used AMEX Platinum credit Card points a few years ago to purchase […]
Spring Break Road Trip Travel Tips from Max Warehouse
Road Trip Travel Tips from Max Warehouse What family doesn’t love a great vacation? Taking time out over the spring holiday allows families to reconnect and create lasting memories whether you’re flying off to a warm weather destination or road tripping to visit family. With Spring Break just around the corner, here are a few […]
Ready, Set, Go! Road Trip Games for Fun
Who is heading on a road trip this summer? I get exhausted with the “Are We There Yet?” pleas/whines. With so many digital devices available and built-in DVD entertainment system in so many family cars, one would think that kids could patiently sit for hours. LOL! We all know the truth! (Let’s not even get […]
Travel Journaling with Kids
You’ve bought the tickets. You have an idea of what you want to see and do. Now, get the kids involved! Every travel experience can be and should be educational. No, there is no need for a formal lesson, just the opportunity to learn and experience. A simple notebook turned into a travel journal can […]
Easy Motion Sickness Remedies
Nothing ruins a great vacation like being hit with motion sickness. I had my 3rd date with my husband ruined because I turned green in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay after rocking on a friend’s boat for no more than 30 minutes. That date ended quickly and I vowed never to get motion sick […]
Review of Panasonic Lumix ZS40 Video Recording
Sometimes you just need to see it to believe it. I recently took out both my iPhone 5S and my Panasonic Lumix ZS40 to try out their video capabilities. The Panasonic Lumix ZS40 was given to me at a recent travel writing conference (TravelingMom Retreat.) I had spent all sorts of time trying out its photography […]
How to Stay Happy When Traveling With Toddlers!
Wondering how to manage traveling with a toddler? I’ve recently shared some tips on how I keep my youngest entertained and enjoy the destination. One of the tips deals with markers and another with sticky notes. Curious? I bet you are! Head over to my article – – 6 Best Tips for Traveling with a Toddler […]
How to Potty Train While Traveling
Challenge: How will I potty train while traveling this summer? Solution: Potty training certainly does take some patience. It is best that you wait until the child is old enough to comprehend what potty training is all about. It will take some time for your child to adjust to using the potty at home and […]
What laundry detergent when traveling is best?
Family Travel Challenge: Stinky! How do I pack laundry detergent when I travel? Yes, doing laundry during vacation is okay. If you’re traveling for more than 4 days, you’ll likely want/need to do a quick wash for the family. Underwear, socks and sweaty shirts can’t be re-worn. Many hotels have laundry services available but they […]
Staying & Saving Green when Traveling with Kids & Medicine
Family Travel Challenge: Families run out just before a trip and spend way to much money on stuff like toothpaste, lotion and medicine. Family Travel Tip: I purchase medical travel items ahead of time and have them on hand for last-minute family travel. For example, I have 4 boxes of Band-Aids in our medicine cabinet. […]
Easy Tips for Traveling with Children
Traveling anywhere away from home can be nerve-wracking for an adult, let along a child. Being away from a familiar place can end up with you getting homesick (miss your own bed?), losing your appetite, sleep, and even getting ill. Feeling terrible while away from home can make you feel even worse. Just imagine what […]
Review of New York Pass with Families
You head to NY for a few days or even an entire week with the family. You want to do it all. You don’t know where or how to start. Our experience with the New York Pass gave us the flexibility and organization to do as much or as little as we wanted. This is […]
How I Pay It Forward in Disney
To Pay It Forward is to do something unexpectedly nice to another person. This goes beyond holding the door open or picking up a paper that fell. When I Pay It Forward I surprise someone with true kindness in a way that isn’t always what’s expected. Remember when I payed it forward at Starbucks and […]
How a Gas Price App Saved Us Money
We headed to Key West for the weekend. It was fantastic. The 160 mile drive from Miami is probably one of the most beautiful drives in the country. It’s filled with scenic views that take your breath away. Thankfully the Gas Buddy App on our Windows8X phone saved us $$$ on this road trip!! A […]
The Complete Walt Disney World 2011 Book Review
This Smart Mama family has been to Disney 14 times in the last 5 years. Yes, we know Disney. But, Julie & Mike Neal, authors of The Complete Walt Disney World 2011 know better, having tallied over 1500 visits! Most guidebooks focus on the magic of Disney but their guide goes beyond that with great tips […]
5 Car Ride Games for Road Trips
A family road trip may last a few hours, days or weeks. Sure enough you spend plenty of time with the kids in the car each week. “Mom, are we there yet?” gets old so finding car ride games to occupy and distract the kids from the drive are essential for Smart Mamas. I’ve shared some […]
An Organized Suitcase is Necessary on a Weekend Getaway
[ad#Google in Content] We are the weekend getaway family, as you may remember from Smarty Pants Daddy’s post this summer. We getaway when we can, especially when we find a good deal and have a free weekend! On most trips, I am able to pack our clothes in 2 suitcases, often a backpack comes too […]