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!
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By Amy SuskiOver the many years we've been visiting Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, the attraction map has become somewhat of a growth chart for my 3 kids. In the early years they happily toddled around the Forest of Fun, visited the horses, got their swim diapers wet in the fountains, circumnavigated the park on the Busch Gardens Railway, and then passed out from exhaustion in their strollers by 2:00.
By Amy SuskiAs a parent and history buff, I'm constantly searching for ways to engage our 3 kids in the stories of the past. Fortunately, Virginia's historic triangle of Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown is home to some of the best interactive history museums in the country. Recently, we visited the region's newest addition, the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, which officially launched in the spring of 2017 with a brand new 80,000 square foot building and outdoor living history museum.
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 SuskiNatural Beauty, Great Skiing For a real life "Frozen" experience, its hard to beat a winter trip to Tremblant in Quebec. From the 2,871 foot summit, as far as the eye can see the landscape glitters magically in ice and snow. With on-and-off gentle snowfall throughout our stay, the skiing conditions were perfect. Our two beginner skiers enjoyed the long green trails that meandered down from the summit, while our daredevil teenager found a variety of black diamond trails and snowparks to challenge him. Ranked year-after-year as the #1 eastern ski resort by SKI Magazine, this European-styled resort in the Laurentian Mountains more than lives up to its reputation as world-class ski destination. Après-ski In addition to the mountain, what makes Tremblant truly special are its Quebec hosts. Everyone we met was helpful, cheerful and more than willing to help make our stay special, even if that meant speaking only English to our linguistically-challenged family. After a day full of winter sports, the pedestrian village at the base of the mountain welcomes weary skiers to the warmth of its outdoor fireplace, charming restaurants, cozy cafes, and colorful shops. Decorated with holiday lights and snow sculptures, the village is as picturesque as the pages of storybook. But however tired you are from skiing be sure to save some energy to explore the village -- the uphill walk from the parking lot through the village is "invigorating." Fortunately, there is a lift (Le Cabriolet) to carry passengers to the top, but it runs mostly during the day, not so much at night. Super fun activities for families include iceskating by Saint-Bernard's Chapel, nighttime snow tubing at the base of the mountain, indoor water play at AquaClub Source, movies at the cinema, paint-your-own pottery at Le Studio Creatif, building your own teddy bear at Universe Toutou, and an irresistible little toy shop, Bangles et Bobinette. The kids also especially enjoyed the local treats of maple taffy on snow and poutine -- one of the greatest comfort foods on earth (french fries smothered in gravy and melted cheese). To experience fine Quebec cuisine, our family favorite is La Forge Bistro Bar & Grille, where you can enjoy fine wine, steaks cooked over a fire, and a great view of the mountain. Family Lodging Options Whether you want the full service of a hotel or the added space of a condo, there are plenty of options for families to choose from. To ease the burden of lugging our kids' gear, we recommend a hotel in the pedestrian village (such as Sommet des Neiges, pictured below) or any of the ski-on, ski-off condos. This trip we stayed at a condo in Etoile du Matin (view from our window pictured below), just steps away from the Soleil lift to the summit. The added convenience of having our own kitchen, washer/dryer, master suite, and underground parking made the family trip SO much easier. Tremblant Snow School The excellent Learn to Ski or Ride Programs offer half- or full-day ski or snowboard lessons for beginners of all ages. Mother Nature Camp for 3 and 4 year olds includes 1/2 day of skiing, lunch, and 1/2 day of daycare so that mom and dad can enjoy the mountain. Parents will also appreciate that the Snow School provides kids under 12 a free Flaik GPS so that they can be tracked anywhere on the mountain. School Holiday Breaks During the month of February Tremblant welcomes kids with special activities including toasting marshmallows, street hockey, and Saturday Night Fever dance parties. This year Washington Week (Feb. 13-20, 2016) is timed to coincide with New England's school breaks and special activities for Quebec's School Break are scheduled Feb. 27- Mar. 6, 2016. Finding Deals At press time, Tremblant was offering discounts on lodging up to 30%. Combined with a favorable exchange rate (currently 1 USD=1.37 CAD), the savings for American visitors can be HUGE: we booked our trip in the fall of 2015 during a 35% lodging discount promotion and with the exchange rate ended up saving around 65% on our trip. If you have any questions about booking your trip, take advantage of the friendly booking agents to find lodging that best suits your family's needs. All in all we couldn't be happier with the value, convenience and absolute fun of our stay at Tremblant. If you're up for an adventure, Tremblant is certainly worth the extra drive or flight. More Tips:
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The opinions expressed herein are entirely my own and do not reflect those of Tremblant or any of the other businesses mentioned. All copyrights reserved to Kid Trips.
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.]
We're big fans of the family-owned artisanal skin care company, Amalthea Ridge (see our previous blog, "Learn About Raising Kids and Homesteading From Local Mom and Founder of Amalthea Ridge"). Using goat milk from her own herd of goats, biochemist and founder, Sarah Wehri, Ph.D, creates dreamy lotions, face creams, soaps, and more. After being frustrated by the lack of products to relieve her daughter's skin irritation, back in 2011 Sarah began researching natural ingredients and decided to create something herself. Soon family and friends started making product requests, so selling them on a small scale seemed like the next logical next step. Sarah uses her knowledge of protein and lipid biochemistry to formulate unique, skin-supporting products. “From the first formulations, Amalthea Ridge has focused on high-quality, natural ingredients and our homestead fresh goat milk as the foundation of our products. We make a point of sourcing organic and fair trade ingredients with a preference for local ingredients whenever available. ” Together with her husband, Keyvan Moussavi, the family-run business is now ready for the next step. “We continue to experience increased demand for our unique skin care products from direct consumers and retail stores requesting to resell them. Our current equipment is unable to keep up with demand.” explains Sarah. “A successful Kickstarter campaign would mean the purchase of equipment to meet demand as well as materials to begin creation of the next generation of Amalthea Ridge products.” Kickstarter project backers can select a variety of rewards composed of Amalthea Ridge products. Amalthea Ridge products made special holiday gifts and gift wrap is included upon request. Sarah and Keyvan are working hard to ensure rewards ship in time for holiday gift giving! To learn more about Amalthea Ridge visit www.AmaltheaRidge.com, access the company’s Kickstarter campaign at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/570726383/amalthea-ridge-artisan-natural-skin-care, and email Sarah at homestead@AmaltheaRidge.com
By Amy SuskiIt had been 1,433 days since my husband and I last spent a night away from our three kids (but who's counting?) so we were overdue. Celebrating our 15th anniversary seemed like the perfect excuse to get away and that's how we found ourselves at this gorgeous spot, the Mount Washington Resort in New Hampshire. When you've gone so long without a grown-up vacation, it was a little bit of a culture shock to transition from a floor filled with muddy soccer cleats to THIS, but I adapted. Nestled near the base of Mount Washington (the highest peak in the Northeast), this grand resort was built in 1902 and is famous for hosting the international Bretton Woods agreement that founded the International Monetary Fund. Now owned by the Omni, the hotel has been updated with modern amenities while honoring its historic past. In addition to exhibits in the room where the agreement was signed, there are original antiques and historical anecdotes identified throughout the hotel. [If visiting be sure to look for the old telephone and grandfather clock and read about the turn-of-the-century "Princess" who still has a table set for her every evening in the dining room.]
By Amy SuskiIf you haven't yet been to an American Girl restaurant, I'll let you in on a little secret: the food is REALLY good and well worth the money any day of the week. In addition to plenty of fun kid options (fruit kebobs, mini cheeseburgers, cake pops) there are delicious adult plates, my favorites being the spinach dip and the salmon. [I've been tempted to sneak in myself after a day of shopping at the mall, but somehow going without my daughter would seem like a betrayal!]
Another secret is that you don't have to purchase a birthday package to ensure your daughter's birthday is celebrated in style. Our daughter Izzy has attended official birthday parties there before (which were a big treat) but we've had just as much fun (for less money) with a "ladies lunch" approach and a few special friends. By Amy SuskiIf there's one back-to-school assignment my daughter Izzy loves, its clothes shopping at Hanna Andersson! She's grown-up wearing the iconic striped long johns, colorful play dresses, and comfy leggings and now that she's getting older, she has graduated to putting together her own playful combinations. At Hanna's she can't go wrong -- everything is super soft and comfortable and can be endlessly mixed and matched. Put together with glittery footwear, fashionable accessories and messenger bags in fun new patterns, it was easy one-stop shopping for a terrific back-to-school look!
Some of Izzy's favorite picks from this season are shown here. [Note: full prices are listed here, but many of these items are currently on sale. For special back-to-school prices visit the website.] Top Left: Pretty in Peplum Top in Chambray ($39), Here to There Cardigan ($45), Capri Leggings ($18), and Sigrid High Top Sneaker ($55). Top Right: Now Playing Dress ($46), Cotton Crochet Necklace ($14), Livable Leggings ($20), Carine Glitter Boot ($69), and Slouchy Hat ($22). For more of Izzy's favorites a and a special discount keep reading! |
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