By Amy SuskiTo escape the summer heat, this July our family headed north to the Laurentian Mountains for a 4-night stay at the Tremblant resort in Mont Tremblant, Québec. After a lot of road-tripping this past year, it was a luxury to just park the car and forget it. By staying at the Westin in the pedestrian village at the base of the mountain, everything from the summit to the beach was in walking distance. We were able to give our kids wilderness adventures during the day and in the evening relax in the ambience of a french-speaking lakeside village with fine dining, street cafes, and live music. Although there is too much to do in one trip, we packed a lot in!
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By Amy SuskiThe older the kids get the harder it is to hold their attention on a family trip, so we decided to do something radical. Over spring break, instead of heading to the beach we hopped on the "Sushi Express", a Japan Airlines direct flight from Boston to Tokyo, known for flying freshly caught tuna from New England coastal fisherman to the famed Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo. Without question, it was one of the best family trips we've ever experienced. From the amazing food experiences, the bright city lights, and the grace and hospitality of the people, Japan had us at Konnichiwa. Cool Thing #1: The ultra-modern and super comfortable Dreamliner flight took just 13 hours. I'm not sure I'd try that with a toddler, but our teens were more than happy to plug into a lazy day of eating, sleeping, and watching movies. Plus, flying over the Arctic Circle was very cool! Cool Thing #2: The best way to get from the airport into Tokyo is the Narita Express (NEX). If you purchase a Japan Rail Pass in advance of your trip online (which I highly recommend if you are traveling to any other cities outside of Tokyo) this train is included. A Japan Rail pass will give you access to the famed bullet trains, which we used to travel from Tokyo to Kyoto and Kyoto to Nara. Tip: when validating your pass, take the time to make seat reservations. Reservations are free and will save the anxiety of trying to find seats together while boarding. Cool Thing #3: Nothing says "hey, we're not in Kansas anymore" than fish and pickled vegetables for breakfast. Surprisingly, the kids were eager to dive into their traditional Japanese breakfast, even after discovering that the little orange crunchy things had eyes. Cool Thing #4: If you've seen films like Lost in Translation or The Tokyo Project you'll definitely want to try the so-called "Shibuya Scramble" for yourself, where thousands of people and cars cross the same web of intersecting streets in synchronous time under the glare of millions of pixelated lights. While there, be sure to visit the famous dog statue of Hachiko. After his owner died, the loyal dog continued to wait for his owner's return outside the train station every day for the rest of his life. Tip: The best aerial view of the intersection is from the second floor of the Starbucks. History is Fun: Review of Jamestown Settlement and The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown3/30/2018 by Micaela WilliamsonUPDATED: This post contains new and previously published information from Kid Trips. Repeat after me, "History is FUN!" Yes, you heard that right. If your memories of history include memorizing timelines and writing definitions in composition notebooks, then it's time to create new memories. The perfect place for hands-on history is the historic triangle of Williamsburg, Yorktown, and Jamestown. Here, history truly comes to life. We've written about this area in the past, and as our children grow and change, it's a place that we keep coming back to learn more.
We especially love the immersive historical environments of the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown (read our previous post here) and Jamestown Settlement. By Amy SuskiTo be honest, with the heightened concerns of terrorism, we were a little nervous about taking the kids to Paris last summer. But since my sister lives there with her two boys (as do millions of Parisiennes), we were determined not to let our fears keep us from hanging out with my adorable nephews in one the most beautiful cities in the world. It was sobering to be strolling down a street only to realize we were steps away from the site of a recent atrocity. However, the joie de vie of the city is still very much alive, which I can attest to because it was hard to sleep with all the late night merrymaking in the lively Marais district (where some of the attacks last year occurred and where our hotel was located). Unfortunately, France's tourism industry was hard hit last year, with about a million fewer visitors than expected. If a trip of your own isn't in the cards right now, to show support and help those affected, a list of charities appears at the end of this blog. And now for the fun stuff: let me tell you about our amazing trip!
By Amy SuskiWe just got back from a two-week long vacation through Great Britain and France with 3 kids, 3 iPhones, 1 iPad mini, 1 Macbook, 2 iPods, and a digital camera. (In case you're wondering this is not an advertisement for Mac products -- our family just happens to be addicted to them.) To power all these devices, adapt to international currents, and connect to WiFi we needed a strategy. Here I share with you what worked and what didn't. 1. Accell USB Charging Kit with International Plug Adapters: this little kit automatically detects and switches to the correct voltage for the country you are in and was essential for quickly recharging our iPhones, iPods and iPad. It has two USB ports so we could get two devices charged at a time, plus it can be used at home whenever two USB devices need to be charged in the same outlet. Another bonus: the 2-pronged US plug folds down so that it is easier to carry. The kit retails for $21.99. 2. International AC Plug Adapters: although most of our devices were covered by the Accell USB charger above, in order to charge the MacBook and digital camera, we needed another set of adapters for converting their AC plugs. I was lucky enough to find a set of adapters from our last trip that worked just fine, but next trip I'm going to bring an extra set since competition for charging devices was at a premium. 3. SkyRoam Personal Hotspot: The WiFi provided for free by train stations, airports, and hotels was spotty at best. Since I had to bring work with me, I wanted to ensure I could work online, especially when hanging out in a waiting area with nothing else to do. For $99.99 we purchased this handy device which for a daily fee of around $8, gave us unlimited WiFi for up to 5 devices. In addition to allowing me to work on my laptop, it allowed us to access directions, travel information, and reservations on our iPhones without racking up roaming charges. Every day we slipped it into our backpack and more than once it saved our bacon by allowing us to use Maps when we were lost, search for a nearby restaurant, or summon a ride through a car service app when our feet were just too tired to go on. The only problem was that the battery life wasn't long enough to get us through a whole day of traveling. Next time, we'll be bringing a back-up power source (#4). 4. Back-up Power Sources: My kids were smart enough to bring small chapstick-sized back-up power sources for their devices. I didn't and regretted it. We had many long days pounding the pavement and none of my devices could make it from start to finish, so my husband and I tag-teamed turning on and off our phones so that we could conserve our connectivity. 5. Upgraded Phone Plan: Given that we were renting a car, traveling in unfamiliar areas, and occasionally needed to make reservations on the fly, we definitely wanted some cell service. By purchasing a one-month international plan before we left the US, we avoided costly roaming charges. For about $40, the Verizon plan allowed one month of limited voice and messaging, but no data. I missed the significance of this last point until I'd racked up $25 in international data roaming charges. For the rest of the trip, I turned OFF data roaming and relied on the WiFi we were able to get through SkyRoam. Although we didn't come close to using our voice or messaging allowance, for peace of mind I'm glad we invested in the international phone plan. Next time, I'll just be smarter about the data settings to avoid unnecessary charges. Of course, once we mastered the art of charging and connecting our devices, we couldn't wait to turn them all off. Although it was nice for the kids to be able to communicate with friends, snap pictures of Big Ben, and entertain themselves while waiting for a flight, we really didn't want them immersed in a video game while their vacation happened around them. We needed to teach our kids that sometimes the best memories of travel can be caught while idly people watching from a cafe or counting cows during a car ride through Normandy. So my advice is, once you are comfortably connected, charged-up, and ready for every possible travel conundrum, power down and just enjoy! The opinions expressed herein are my own and do not reflect those of the businesses mentioned.
By Amy Suski Our family recently visited Seattle for the first time and although it was a relatively short visit we managed to pack in a some very special experiences. With its famously relaxed vibe, getting around Seattle with kids is low-stress. Dad enjoyed sampling the microbrews, I loved the natural beauty of the Puget Sound and the mountains, and the kids got a kick out of the colorful street life (e.g. the Gum Wall, which has since been scrubbed clean and is in the process of being 're-gummed'). As a down-to-earth, kid-friendly city, Seattle gets ten thumbs up from our family of five. In no particular order, here are some highlights from our trip: 1. Puget Sound: Looking for an inexpensive 'tour'? Although not officially a "tour", we really enjoyed taking a round-trip ferry ride to get a better look at the water and city skyline. As a bonus, you may even see some marine mammals. The views were amazing, the kids were happy with the onboard cafeteria, and we even saw some harbor seals swimming by, so it was cool way to spend a morning without spending too much. If we're every able to visit during the spring or summer, I'd love to do a proper whale watching tour or trip to the San Juan Islands. [Note: perpetual house-hunters will also enjoy a peek at some of the big-money homes along the sound, a fair number probably owned by Amazon and Microsoft royalty.]
By Amy SuskiThinking of traveling to Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, or Europe later this year? Traveling by car or cruise ship and not sure whether everyone in the family needs a passport? Now is the perfect time to do your research and get your family's travel documents in order. Passport agencies aren’t as busy as they’ll be in the spring and summer and since the regular process can take 4-6 weeks, it makes sense to take care of the paperwork now. You should also be aware that many countries require passports to be valid for at least 6 months after the date you begin your visit, so even if your passport is valid for another few months at the time of your trip it may not be enough. In addition to a valid passport, depending on where you are visiting, you may also need a visa. And if you are traveling with children, special rules may apply. Seem like a lot to sort out? It is! We recently booked a non-refundable ski trip to Canada and then panicked when we realized all of our passports were out of date. After some research we learned that the kids could travel to and from Canada with certified copies of their birth certificates, but I needed an expedited renewal of my passport (which we were able to obtain within 2-3 weeks by paying an extra fee). Learn from my mistake and ALWAYS check with the Department of State and the foreign country you plan to visit well in advance of your trip. Requirements can change and you don't want a missing document to ruin your big trip! To get you started, here are some general guidelines. By Amy SuskiGrowing up and through my twenties I loved to ski. But the thought of lugging ski gear for a family of five was enough to deter me from skiing with my own kids until we hit a family milestone: the point at which all three kids could be counted on to carry their own stuff. I realize there are plenty of families that manage preschoolers on skis, but I'm just well, LAZY. And parental laziness does have its benefits: by the time we got our school-aged kids skis they were so ready for it that they didn't even need our help. No leashes, harnesses, or other parental assistance was required...they were up and away within on their first run. The rest of my admittedly slacker-like tips for skiing with kids follow:
By Amy SuskiFall is undeniably the most beautiful time of year in Massachusetts. Beauty is around us wherever we go, whether its the walk to school, a drive to the hardware store, or a more deliberate family outing to a local farm. These are just some of my favorite iPhone pics taken in the Massachusetts towns west of Boston (quality of the photos isn't always great, but you'll get the idea). Pictured above is the Assabet River -- a favorite for kayakers and swans. The river flows through the Assabet National Wildlife Refuge, a sanctuary for migratory birds.
By Amy Suski If you've been longing for a European family vacation without the jet-lag or sticker-shock, our Canadian neighbor Montreal is the perfect choice. With old world cobblestone streets, sidewalk cafes, chic shops, open air markets, and world-class performing arts venues and museums, Montreal has all the panache of a European city with some key differences. First, although French is the official language, most signs and menus are also in English and most residents are more than happy to switch back-and-forth with visitors. Second, Montreal is not a pretentious city. There is a casual, friendly vibe in Montreal that welcomes families to come as they are and simply enjoy. Finally, although it's a foreign country (don't forget your passports!) you can drive there -- which is a huge savings when traveling with kids.
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