Out and About with the Family- Family Travel Blog

New York City's Chelsea Market

2011-02-14T12:19:00.000-08:00

New York City's Chelsea Market is a great little stop if you are in Chelsea.

The shopping mall is full of great food from lobsters and seafood to cupcakes and baked goods. You will find Eleni's, Fat Witch Bakery's famous brownies, fresh breads from Sarah Beth's Kitchen,

As a lover of fine salts from around the world I was happy to find this great shop, The Filling Station.

It is a foodies haven. Even the kitchen shop is filled with hard to find kitchen tools and gadgets.

Chelsea Market is also an architectural beauty. The Building started out as a factory for National Biscuit Company in the 1890's where Oreo cookies, Saltines and Fig Newtons where made.

Stop by have some lunch and enjoy a little bit of history.

Located:

75 9th Avenue Between 15th and 16th Streets

New York, NY 10011

If getting there by Subway:

To 14th Street and 8th Avenue

6 Favorite Treats at Disneyland

2010-01-18T13:20:00.000-08:00

I have to admit it, most of my favorite vacation memories involve food. It doesn't have to be fancy-schmancy dining, just something that creates or adds to a vacation experience.
Here are six of my favorite foods available at Disneyland...in no particular order:

1. Mint Julep
I have great memories as a six-year-old visiting New Orleans Square and listening to my older siblings rave about this drink. Ever since then, I always have to get a mint julep when I visit Mickey :). You can find it at New Orleans Square at the Mint Julep Bar, or inside The Blue Bayou Restaurant. (Make your own at home, try this recipe!)

2. Churro
This is a classic treat on my family's side. We consume loads of churros as we watch the night time firework show. You can find these at select snack carts all around the park.

3. Dole Whip
I'd argue this is the most refreshing little concoction at Disney land; it's the perfect treat to enjoy after you've been walking up and down Disney's Main Street all day. You'll find the Dole Whip just outside the Tiki Room in Adventureland at The Tiki Juice Bar hosted by Dole. Get the big size, you'll thank me later.

4. Hand-Dipped Corn Dog
My husband introduced me to these deliciously meaty treats. These hand-dipped corn dogs are a hidden gem at the end of Main Street U.S.A. Here's how you find them: As you enter Disneyland, walk to the end of Main Street U.S.A. As you reach the center of the park, turn right and look for the red cart advertising these great corn dogs. You'll love them!

5. Chocolate-Dipped Mickey Gingerbread Man
I first discovered this treat at Disney World's Epcot Center, but this cookie is available at both parks. This is a soft, chewy and perfectly spiced gingerbread cookie. And this gingerbread man's Mickey hat is dipped in chocolate! It's a winning combo. You'll find these at Marceline's Confectionary

6. Double-Dipped Chocolate Malt Balls
No trip to Disneyland is complete without a trip to the Main Street confectionery. This whimsical shop is full of every kind of candy imaginable, and I'm sure that if I gain any weight while I'm on a Disneyland vacation it's because of the double-dipped chocolate malt balls. These candies are heavenly. They are double-dipped in rich chocolate, and the crisp center has a perfect malt flavor. We always seem to buy an embarrassingly large amount!

Hungry yet? Just writing this makes me want to plan another trip to Anaheim!

So what about you? What are your favorite foods to eat at Disneyland?

By Becky Shippen-Olsen~Field Editor

Road Trip Busy Bags by Featured Guest Kelsey of Vanilla Joy

2009-12-26T21:58:00.000-08:00

Road trips with young kids can be a challenge, but having fun on the road just takes a little planning and creativity. If you’re going to be traveling, here are some great things to bring along to keep your kids busy and happy!

Travel Treats

Our favorite easy and healthy travel snacks include apple slices, string cheese, granola bars, peanut butter and crackers, nuts, carrots, cucumbers, blueberries, sugar snap peas, dry cereal, frozen grapes, and raisins. Separate your snacks into little bowls or ziploc baggies to be enjoyed after a specific number of miles, minutes/hours, landmarks, or as a reward for good behavior.
For me, a road trip isn’t a road trip without some real treats. Here are two of our favorite recipes:

Chex Muddy Buddies

9 cups Chex cereal
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (or peanut butter chips)
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1. Measure cereal out into a large bowl and set aside.
2. Microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter for 1 minute. Stir. Microwave another 30 seconds until mixture is smooth. Add vanilla.
3. Pour mixture over cereal and stir to coat. Pour into ziplock bag.
4. Add powdered sugar, seal bag, and shake. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in refrigerator.

Monster Cookies

2 sticks butter
2 1/2 c. peanut butter
2 1/4 c. brown sugar
2 c. granulated sugar
1/2 T. corn syrup
4 T. baking soda
6 eggs
1/2 T. vanilla
1 – 12 oz. package chocolate chips
1 – 16 oz. package M&Ms
9 c. rolled oats

Bake 10 minutes at 375 degrees.
We also like to bring along a package of each person’s favorite candy or treat. This gives you some leverage and will hopefully inspire good behavior when you need it most.
Travel Games and Activities
The car is a great place for family bonding if you can beat the boredom. Here are some of our favorite games to play in the car with our young kids:

Talk Show: Bring a list of interview questions to ask each child. Write down their answers or videotape the interview.
Singing Time: Bring along a new book with poems, finger plays, and songs to learn and practice some new ones. (Joanna Cole has some great books. Our favorite is The Eentsy, Weentsy Spider: Finger plays and Action Rhymes)
Rhythm band: Use the sounds of the car to give you the beat (windshield wipers, rain). Bring some instruments – a wooden spoon and plastic bowl for a drum, a paper plate with holes punched and jingle bells attached for a tambourine, etc.
Loaded Questions – On The Go (For older kids. This game is a riot and is soo much fun in the car.)

Besides games you can play together, you’ll want to bring along some little activities for your kids to do independently. We have a little busy bag in the car that we take with us always. The bag is made from a T-shirt. (Click here for a tutorial). Here’s what’s in it:

muffin tin
craft pom poms (various sizes)
coloring book and crayons
pipe cleaners
lacing cards
black paper and chalk
paper punches
cheerios
string
craft foam
glue
scissors
Sudoku (for me)

This bag has plenty of good stuff to occupy several kids. If you have older children, include some word finds, easy sudoku, and a book to read.
Well, I hope these ideas will help make your next road trip lots of fun! Happy traveling!

Kelsey blogs at Vanilla Joy-Kelsey enjoys writing about the things ” she loves to do – blogging, crafting, and mothering!”

Fur Rendezvous Anchorage Alaska by Featured Guest Michelle of Scribbit

2009-12-25T21:51:00.000-08:00

Winter in Anchorage is six months long–from about the middle of October until the middle of April, give or take a month–and it can be rather tedious, even with a season of great skiing like we’ve had.

But by February the days are getting longer however and something about having the sun coming up over the mountains while I’m driving my children to school at 7:45am makes me feel like I can survive anything. Bring it on, I’ve almost made it through another winter.

Which brings me to Fur Rendezvous. This local festival started, the story goes, from hunters and trappers meeting to trade furs and stock up on supplies after the cruelest part of winter had passed. Now it’s an opportunity for Anchorage-ites to find something to celebrate in that home stretch towards spring–an excuse to get outside to enjoy more of that rare winter sunlight that’s finally coming our way.

For one thing, Fur Rendezvous hosts the World Championship Sled Dog Races. On Fourth Avenue in downtown Anchorage, after plowing snow off the streets for four months the city hauls in snow back in to cover the pavement and provide a race track for the sled dog teams as they wind their way through the urban district. Then they plow it all up again. Go figure.

But that’s not enough–at Fur Rondy there are snowshoe softball games, parades, arts and craft exhibits, Alaska Native cultural experiences, snow sculptures, a dog weight-pulling contest, ice skating exhibitions and of course the outdoor carnival. Rather like a state fair only in frigid temperatures that normal people wouldn’t think of facing, even for the sake of the Tilt-a-Whirl.

And cold it gets. Now in Texas or California that might mean 50 degrees or (heaven forbid) a light dusting of snow in the morning. Here it’s means hovering around zero with bright, clear, thin sunny days, then plunging down in negative double-digits at night as what little heat you picked up during the day scatters into the atmosphere without a cloud cover to keep it in.

It freezes one’s giblets I tell you. But we’re hardy Alaskans, does that stop us? Never. It merely means we dress in more layers than astronauts facing a moon walk.

Even with the temperatures so cold the kids still want to try the carnival rides which means that with the wind chill factor of flying through the air on The Gravitron they be face temperatures of Antarctic proportions. Here’s a clip of Andrew with the kids riding one of the rides. I tend to worry one of them will inadvertently rest their face on the metal bar and be permanently frozen in place until the spring thaw.

You can only take about an hour of that kind of weather before you have to call it a day and limp back to the car for hot chocolate and a chance to thaw your toes but it’s worth it. What else are you going to do on a Saturday in February in Alaska?

Michelle blogs at Scribbit. ” a daily blog about motherhood in Alaska.”

“Packing For Vacation” with Kids – Kushies Travel Bag Review by Field Editor Lauren Horsley

2009-12-15T12:26:00.000-08:00

The words “Packing For Vacation” usually makes my heart race and my hand reach for chocolate. With 3 kids under 6 (and a husband who would rather travel naked than take time to pack) , preparing for a family gettaway is an extensive process filled with long checklists and a mountain of duffel bags. By the time we’re ready to go, I’ve definitely earned my vacation.
We’re heading up to The Homestead in Midayway Utah this weekend for a family reunion and so the packing process is in full swing at my home right now. However, this time I’ve got my 5 year old in on the action, trying out the very cool My Bag from Kushies. I’m already seeing the benefits!
Right away Jude was smitten with the brown and blue puppy on the front; he digs the colors, I’m loving the fact that it would be easy to spot at an airport luggage terminal. The pack is spacious, yet lightweight so Jude can carry it himself and pockets on either end make travel toys easily accessible. Upon first inspection, it’s a nice children’s travel bag. But the real fun is inside……where 5 nylon pouches and 2 padded packs keep your kiddo’s travel needs neatly organized! Each pouch is labeled with both words and pictures which serve as savvy reminders for forgetful moms like me. The “Dirty Pants” bag even comes with a zippered laundry insert so you can pop it right into the wash when you get home. The padded packs, designated as “Yum” and “Ouch” are insulated to carry food and medicine.
I was impressed with how well Kushies has thought out kid-friendly packing. The My Bag system would be very helpful when handing off a little one to grandma and super-convenient during long road trips. And while they appear to be designed with daytrips and overnighters in mind, we packed Jude up for a 3-day weekend with room to spare!

Disclosure: Kushies provided a My Bag for my family to interact with in order to produce an authentic review.  This had no bearing on the honest opinions I've provided here.

By Lauren Horsley~ Field Editor

Family Travel- Are there any Family Friendly Airlines?

2009-12-10T20:42:00.000-08:00

While I was at Disneyland I met Stephanie from Metropolitan Mama. A little while back she tweeted something about family friendly airlines-did anyone know of one. I gave a shout out to my favorite so far Jet Blue but are there any real “family friendly” airlines out there? Not really. Why hasn’t the airlines caught on to this yet? Why don’t they offer kid friendly snacks? Why not have a section for those traveling with kids so those who don’t want to travel next to kids have their own space and the parents who do have kids don’t have to feel like they are on pin and needles making sure their kids aren’t annoying those near them. Check out Stephanie’s post Which Airline is the Most Family Friendly? Airlines if you happen to read this- ask us moms for some ideas. We have a ton that would make your airlines “Family Friendly” and all those traveling your airline happy too. Just a thought.

Quick Pics with the Quick Pod Camera Stand- Giveaway and Review

2009-11-23T20:17:00.000-08:00

I’m not a shy person. That’s for sure. But sometimes when I’m on vacation I get sick of asking strangers for pictures. Anyone with me?
See, it’s just my husband and I, and as much as I love pictures of myself in front landmarks and city skylines…I can’t do that every. single. time. {I’m not that big of a narcissist}
I wasn’t about to let this annoyance stop me from documenting all of my memories. So I continued to ask strangers and moved on with my life. Until one day, when a co-worker introduced me to the Quick Pod!
This lovely mono pod has saved me a gazillion “‘ ‘Scuse me, sir. Would you mind taking pictures?” or “Um..pardon, could you take a picture for us?” and worst of all “Oh…you cut off my husband’s head…could you take another picture?”
No siree, my friends. I take these must-have pix all on my own. The Quick Pod is great for travel, every day memories, concerts {for those of us that aren’t over six feet}, hard to reach shots, hiking and more! For instance. Here I am with my husband at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in New York. {isn’t it it beautiful there? it was during the cherry blossom festival…more on that in a different post!}

Be honest with me. Can you tell that I took this picture by myself? I think not.
Crazy, right? Look closer and you’ll sorta notice that I’m actually holding the base of the Quick Pod and setting it against my jeans
Let me tell you more about the quick pod features and why I love it!
* mirror so you can make sure you are centered
* great for concerts, hiking and outdoor adventures
* they have a version for dslr
* it fits in my purse!
I got this for Christmas a few years ago and um…dont’ you want it too? I think it would make a great stocking stuffer!
Well our the picture-savvy peeps at Quick Pod are playing Santa and sponsoring a giveaway for two lucky winners. One lucky reader will win the original Quick Pod and the other winner will receive the new Quick Pod for DLSR. To enter all you have to do is fill out This entry form, marking which one you’d prefer. The deadline to enter is November 30 at midnight EST. Winners will be contacted the following week.
Click Here to Enter to Win a Quick Pod:

Quick Pod Giveaway Entry Form -This giveaway is now closed-
Check out more on the Quick Pod, they’re social.
Web, Blog, Flickr,
{ready. aim. smile!}
By Becky Shippen-Olsen~Field Editor

Where to Stay While in Las Vegas-The Las Vegas Hilton Nevada – by Featured Guest Stephanie Hansen

2009-11-13T20:50:00.000-08:00

Typically I travel with my family. However, recently an opportunity presented itself that required me to go out of town for a few days without my husband and children. Thankfully the Las Vegas Hilton provided me a comfortable home away from home while I was in Las Vegas. When you are away from home and missing your family there are certain areas of accommodation that just can’t be overlooked.

Even BlogDog was pleased

Bedding
From the 250 thread count sheets, multiple pillows, and real comforters all of the little details your appreciate from your own bed were there. I typically don’t sleep well in hotels but I did on this stay. I am not sure if it was extreme exhaustion but I would like to think it was the bedding. I really enjoy real comforters.

Internet Access
I was thrilled to discover that the Las Vegas Hilton not only has a business center with computers and Internet access. But they also provided affordable daily wireless access to all of their guests. In this day of being connected it is a must all hotels and the Hilton did not overlook that. Being able to email, and IM with my family helped the trip go by just a little bit faster. Keeping in touch is key to help fend off homesickness.
Restaurant Choices

There is something about the food in Vegas cafes that I love. Thankfully the Hilton had the Paradise Cafe to satisfy that need. I of course had my favorite club sandwich. I always browse the menu with all of the standards like burgers and onion rings but fall back on my favorite. With other dining options like Benihana and Pizza Hut it was easy to find something to cure my hunger.

The Pool
Las Vegas is warm in the winter and HOT in the summer. A nice place to relax and cool off is poolside. The Hilton has private cabanas, more lounge chairs than one could count, and umbrellas to create oasis in the desert. I could sit there for hours and just read a good book.

The Shower
I truly saved the best for last. Most people’s main complaints about hotel showers are cold water, the shower head, and the size. I am pleased to report that the Hilton has none of those areas of concerns. Hot water, no matter the time of day, flowed through a perfect pressure shower head. Not to mention the curved shower curtain rod to give you all the extra space you need.
I am looking forward to my next trip to Las Vegas and staying at the Las Vegas Hilton.

By Featured Guest reviewer Stephanie Hansen -Stephanie blogs at The Daily Barg with Blog Dog “Crazy is the new cool. And blarg is the new blog”

Travel Itinerary: California for Young Families

2009-11-10T20:56:00.000-08:00

With so many fun family options in California, it can feel like there just isn’t enough time to do it all. While this is technically true, planning a vacation filled with a variety of unique travel experiences can definitely give you a taste of all that SoCal has to offer! And it’s easier than you think…

Day 1 – The Beach – My Pick: Malibu
I’m a firm believer that any great California vacation must begin and end with the beach. Relaxing ocean-side is the perfect way to relieve the stress built up by packing, prep and transport. Be sure to tag-team between parents so you each get some down time while the other is on kid-duty. While you sunbathe with a book, let your little ones wear themselves out running from the waves. The best part is that young children are just as happy digging for shells in the warm sun as they would be in Disneyland.
Some Awesome Beaches Up and Down the South Cali Coast:

For Privacy, Peace and Quiet: Marina Del Rey, Capistrano Beach Park
These are my kind of beaches. It’s much easier to keep an eye on my little ones when the crowds are low. Plus there’s enough space for everyone to spread out a bit, which means you won’t have to listen to anyone else’s music or fend off anyone else’s dog.

For Gorgeous Scenery: Mission Bay, Newport, Salt Creek Beach Park

If you want to get into the spirit of Cali right away, check out these beaches which boast spectacular surroundings. Note: these are always crowded, especially on weekends and ALL summer days. Arrive early and plan to be surrounded on all sides by sunbathers. Keep a CLOSE eye on your little ones.

For Glam Atmosphere and Celeb Sighting: Zuma, Laguna, Venice

Hoping to spot the hottie-pants star of Lost (like I did) or a sexy movie-star mom playing with her kiddos? Here’s a list of where they hang. But remember: Being Cali-cool means NOT asking for autographs. Just sneaking photos as they drive away in their cars (like I did). Note: Again, you’ll find crowds here on weekends.

Day 2 – Theme Park – My Pick: Disneyland Have you ever wanted to fulfill your child’s grandest dreams? Well this is the place. No matter how big or small your kiddos are, there is something for EVERYONE in Disneyland (including you!) – however, this is a DON’T MISS if you have children between the ages of 2-12. The look in a little one’s eyes as they sail the high seas with Peter Pan, battle space aliens with Buzz Lightyear or enter Cinderella’s Castle for the first time is absolutely priceless. And the unique family memories to be made are a treasure that will last a lifetime.
I’ll be posting a guideline next week designed to help you plan the perfect Disneyland Experience with little ones so keep an eye out!
If you decide Disneyland is not your bag for whatever reason, here are some fun alternatives:
Legoland: Perfect for families full of toddlers. The themed lands are charming and rides range from super-mild to slightly-less-mild, which provides a refreshing absence of thrill-seeking teens and young adults. Don’t expect to take kids under 3 on the little roller coasters and such, but there are plenty of baby-friendly activities if you know where to look (DinoDig, Coast Cruise, The Hideaways Playland”, ).
Universal Studios: On the opposite side of the spectrum, heart-stopping excitement is abundant here, with a noticeable lack of options for young children. But families with adventurous school-agers can have the time of their lives on an endless supply of fast-paced, thrill-a-minute rides and some cool movie-themed experiences.

Day 3 – Nature Exploration – My Pick: Anacapa Island California is abundantly blessed with natural beauty. After a long day in Disneyland, enjoy a slower pace by exploring one of the 18 unique National Parks the state has to offer. My son and I recently journeyed out to the Channel Islands, thanks to the good people at Island Packers. Along the way we met up with dolphins and seals who swam right up to our boat! After docking at Anacapa, we spent a peaceful afternoon enjoying the flora and fauna. My son wasn’t interested in any serious hiking, but we participated in the National Parks Jr. Ranger program (which is free). While the experience was pleasantly low-key, there was plenty to do and see both on and off the boat.
Other great National Park options: Santa Monica Mountains, Joshua Tree National Park, Sequoia & Kings Canyon

Day 4 – Theme Park – My Pick: Disneyland California Adventure
If you got your fill of Disneyland on Day 2, you may want to plan a different theme park visit for this day. But if you’re like me and kind of wish you could LIVE in Disneyland, a second day in the Park is a no-brainer. First of all, it’s impossible to do it all in one day. Secondly, you wouldn’t want to, even if you could! Taking Disneyland at a break-neck pace, especially with little ones in tow, will definitely take away from your family’s enjoyment. Instead, making a two or three-day plan where you alternate the “heavy hitters” (popular rides with long lines and big excitement) with more mellow activities will better ensure a great Disney experience for both parents and kiddos.
The reason why I picked California Adventure for this second day is because it is sometimes overlooked by young families. While you will find some totally intense rides meant only for the young-at-heart (like the California Screamin’ roller coaster and The Tower of Terror), you’ll also make a pleasant discovery: a whole land made especially for tiny tots! The Bug’s Life themed “A Bug’s Land” has a great collection of kiddie-rides with that special Disney magic sprinkled about, guaranteed to produce those sweet smiles.
Day 5 – Water Sports and Water Species – My Pick: Monterey Bay Aquarium
The marine life venues in California are top-notch – not simply due to ocean proximity, but because world-class research provides jaw-dropping opportunities to interact with sea animals in their habitats. While SeaWorld would be the obvious choice, it’s the Monterey Bay Aquarium that those in the “know” can’t stop raving about, with it’s spectacular interactive exhibits and jaw-dropping under-water view into the bay. There’s at least a day’s worth of fantastic displays and educational opportunities available, all larger than life – enormous sharks, giant octopus and wolf-eels with tails longer than you are tall.
If you’d rather be on the other side of the glass and swim with the fishes, there are a myriad of water sports that make a perfect day of family fun. Snorkeling, kayaking, para-sailing, jet skiing and body surfing are just a few of the adventurous activities available. Get off that beach blanket!
Day 6 – Beach – My Pick: Balboa Peninsula
If California is anything, it’s chill – and you want to take that home with you! Ending the way you began, on the beach, will once again bring an aura of relaxation to your vacation as it winds down. I recommend Balboa here because it has a great assortment of family-friendly activities, should you need more than just the sand and the surf. After a day of fun in the sun, you’ll all be ready for a good night’s sleep and refreshed for the journey home.

By Lauren Horsley~ Field Editor

Skiing in Utah this Winter? Good Eats in Utah Valley

2009-11-01T20:57:00.000-08:00

{photos by www.pictorialstudio.com}

If you happen to be planning a skiing trip to Utah this winter or visiting for other reasons we have a couple of wonderful places for you to eat just down the canyon from Sundance Ski Resort. Chefs Joseph Mcrae and Colton Soelberg with the experience of working in some of the finest kitchens created Pizzeria 712 and their newest restaurant Communal. Joseph and Colton believe in using the freshest finest ingredients available from locally grown heirloom tomatoes to award winning Amano Chocolate.
Communal is a family style restaurant which means you sit down and share the dishes. You will find dishes like Jacob’s Cove heirloom tomato, bread pudding, potato leek gratin and a perfectly seasoned airline chicken.

Pizzeria 712’s thin crust Italian style pizza is cooked on a wood fire brick oven. They serve savory panini for lunch along with seasonal salads and desserts. You’ll find quotes from Alice Waters on the chalkboard and original fine art on the wall and some nice jazz playing in the background.It is food and atmosphere that will make your dinning experience relaxing and memorable.

Another nice thing about these great restaurants is that they are family friendly. Utah in general is a family friendly state so bring the whole family along is not a problem.

{photos by Sweet Life in The Valley}

As Colton & Joseph put it so well “What the Pizzeria is to pizza, Communal is to Sunday dinner. See you soon.”
Communal
100 North University Avenue
Provo, Utah 84601
801.373.8000
Pizzeria 712
320 South State Street #185
Orem, Utah 84058
801.623.6712

2009-10-28T21:05:00.000-07:00

We have our winner for the Disneyland Be Our Guest giveaway! Stephanie H. We are so excited to go to Disneyland with Stephanie and her family for the wonderful Christmas Time celebrations.
Thanks to everyone who entered.

2009-10-28T21:01:00.000-07:00

{in front of the It’s a Small World ride in our chocolate & blue coordinates}

When we knew we were heading off to Disneyland for the first time one of the first things that came to mind as a mom is what are we all going to wear? Since we would be taking a lot of photos I wanted everyone to look good. I also did NOT want to wear the matchy matchy all the same tee shirts. I wanted our family to be stylish and coordinated so we looked nice, felt comfortable and looked good in our photos. DownEast Basics allowed us to coordinate colors for the boys, myself and my daughter while still looking like individuals.
We coordinated our colors for the three days at Disneyland. The first day our colors where dark red, navy blue and white. Day two was blackberry, gray and black. Day three was chocolate brown, and shades of blue,.yYou can see the Chocolate Polo & Sky Vintage Polo the boys are wearing and the Uptown Cord Skirt with the Teal Lace Cami layered with chocolate top and leggins my daughter is wearing in the photo above. I wore the Tuxedo Top in Tapestry layered with the Chocolate Lace Cami to coordinate with them. I loved that we could choose something for each of us to wear that was coordinating in color and style without wearing the exact same thing.
I am so happy be choose to coordinate like we did. All of our photos turned out great. Everyone was comfortable. We loved everything we got from DownEast Basics.

{on the Dumbo ride on our boysenberry, gray & black coordinates}

Given a sample by vendor/agency/brand-samples do not affect our review opinions we only write about products we truly recommend

A Good Travel Buddy – Zoobie Pets

2009-10-17T21:06:00.000-07:00

Have you seen Zoobie Pets before? They are a good travel buddy for you and your kids. A Zoobie pet can be a toy or you can unfold it half way to become a pillow or unfold it all the way and it is a blanket. They are so easy to carry on to the airplane or to take along on a road trip. Zoobie Pets gave us some to try on our trip to Disneyland and we all used them and loved them too. You know how airplanes can get cold, the blanket came in handy. My son used his as a pillow to take a nap. They were also a little bit of entertainment in the airport while we were waiting for our flight. They even have a really cute irresistible Turkey for Thanksgiving who is even cuter in person. Our Zoobie Pets will be traveling with us from now on.
{Zoobie Pets offered us an affiliate discount code SweetLife for a 10% discount}

2009-10-12T21:10:00.000-07:00

Just like taking “me” time as a mom is necessary for my sanity, taking “we” time as a couple is necessary for a healthy relationship—and my family’s sanity. My husband Nathan and I have four children ages 12, 9 ½ (that half is very important), 4 and 2. While we love parenthood (most of the time) life can get pretty crazy and we often find our relationship with each other slipping between the crumb-filled cracks. When that happens it’s time for a parental timeout.
Usually our timeouts consist of dinner and a movie, which is often enough to help us remember why we like each other, but sometimes you need more than good food and a good laugh. That’s when you plan a little—or big if you can swing it—vacation.*
Starting last year Nathan and I made a pact, secret handshake and all, to take one adult vacation a year. Last year it was Hawaii via a timeshare and this past September it was our very first cruise. We have quickly discovered that traveling together as a couple is reminiscent of those dating days when all you did was find numerous ways to enjoy each other’s company.
You have complete conversations without being interrupted 15 times because your four-year-old needs a yogurt RIGHT NOW. Your alarm clock are the roosters who run wild in Kauai or the ship’s engine as it docks in Antigua and someone else gets to figure out what’s for dinner. I am literally sighing with contentment while writing this post as I remember only weeks ago walking hand in hand with Nathan around Old San Juan.
Of course an adult vacation doesn’t mean it is just the two of you. Both times we’ve escaped gone on vacation we’ve traveled with other adults. Last year we traveled with my parents and my sister and brother-in-law, and when we took our cruise we planned it with four other good friends. Talk about feeling 10 years younger—I haven’t laughed that hard in a really long time! It’s like a week long play date complete with inside jokes (“sure didn’t”); crazy adventures (try driving on the left side of the road in St. Lucia); and snacks (shave ice or mofongo, anyone?)

It’s amazing what a serious parental timeout can do for your relationship with your spouse. Laughing together, playing together and rediscovering one another makes for a happier and I think healthier relationship…and when Mom and Dad are happy, everyone’s happy!
* Note: I use the word vacation, which means you’ll be traveling sans kids. As far as I’m concerned, “family” and “vacation” don’t belong in the same sentence. The proper term would be “family adventure” or “family experience.”
Emily is so excited to have one of the first guest posts on Out & About with the Family. She is a big fan of Sweet Life in the Valley (and a big fan of April) and can’t wait to see all the amazing things she’s going to do with her new site! You can read more of Emily’s musings on Freshly Baked

Disneyland Giveaway with Out & About with the Family and Sweet Life in The Valley ~Be Our Guest!

2009-10-09T21:32:00.000-07:00

This giveaway is now closed...

{Please Note You Must Follow ALL the Steps to Qualify to Win}

We are SOOOO excited! We get to invite one of you to Be Our Guest to join us at Disneyland on November 21st for the Disneyland Christmas Festivities! We will spend the weekend at Disneyland experiencing Disneyland the happiest place on earth during the happiest time of the year, the Christmas season!

What a better way to welcome our wonderful site than with a really special fun trip Out & About with the Family to Disneyland!
We have several different ways to win this trip for four to Disneyland. It all starts with spreading the word about our two blogs Sweet Life in The Valley and Out & About with the Family.

{Step No. 1}

-be sure to verify your subscription to qualify to win-

To enter to win a trip for four to Disneyland including airfare for four from Salt Lake City to Orange County, a two night stay hotel room for four, four park-hopper tickets for 2 days to Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure Park and Dinner on Saturday night, please Subscribe to Out & About with the Family updates via email here:

{Step No.2}

Then fill out our Disneyland Giveaway Sweet Life in The Valley and Out & About with the Family~ Be Our Guest! Entry Form.

Disneyland~ Be Our Guest Entry Form

Guess what? If you head over to Sweet Life in The Valley you can fill out a second entry form.

A City Guidebook the Locals are Willing to Steal-Not for Tourists

2009-10-09T21:26:00.000-07:00

I always remember my dad telling me, “Rebecca, if you fail to plan you plan to fail!” I think we can take my pops advice for vacations. You have to do research when planning a vacay. Plain and simple. As you get to know me, most of my passion for travel and savvy-ness came from living in NYC. The day after I arrived I decided that I was going to make the most out of every moment I would spend in that city. My first trip out of my tiny apt was to the Columbia University Bookstore. I searched and search through guidebooks and stumbled upon a goldmine: NFT! The Not For Tourists guide to {enter city}. In my case, New York City.

My reasoning in buying this guidebook compared to {or in addition to} other tourist books was that I wanted to see a side of New York that most tourists hadn’t. I wasn’t going to be spending all my time in {gasp} midtown. I was past that. {If you aren’t, hope I didn’t offend you}. I wanted to explore each and every neighborhood and live like the locals. The NFT guide broke down Manhattan by each borough and neighborhood and listed everything from coffee shops to bike shops, community gardens to car rentals and gyms to banks. Of course you get all the great restaurant, shopping, landmarks, museum and nightlife information as expected. It was perfect.

Three of my favorite features about my NFT guide book:
1) the recommendations in each neighborhood for restaurants
2) awesome maps, including subway maps and a street locator
3) space for me to write my own notes and cool finds!
I like the compact size and sturdiness of the guidebook. It can fit in my purse; coat pocket or even men’s pant pockets. It’s a solid weight but not backbreaking. And if you’re not the paper type–then NFT is still for you. They have developed an iPhone app! You can also download PDFs and maps. These people are here for you!
To illustrate how wonderful NFT is let me offer this anecdote. In August I returned to New York City, the event marked my one-year anniversary from leaving the glorious place. Naturally I brought my NFT guide so I could navigate, return to old favorites and explore new places. After a night of relaxing and having a fabulous meal I realized I might have left my NFT book at certain amazing cheesecake place. So the next day I returned to ask the staff if they had found it. I figured there was no chance but I had to check.
I arrived at the restaurant and told the hostess that I left a black tour guidebook the night prior the hostess’ eyes lit up.
“YES! The NFT book! It was on the table and a waiter took it to the back. I’ll be right back.” Suddenly I let out a deep breath of relief thinking, “Gosh, New Yorkers are so honest…I’m getting my cherished book back.” Well, not exactly.Here’s how the rest of the conversation went: Upon her return the hostess says with somewhat of a weird and guilty smirk, “Yeah, it’s not here.” I then reply, “Wait, what do you mean? You said you saw it and that an employee brought it to the back.” Suddenly the conversation was about to take a sketchy turn… Hostess “Yeah, well everyone knows what an NFT book is…they are the best!” Me, puzzled, “What? So your saying someone took it home?” Hostess: “Let me ask my manager?” Things were getting weird now. Hostess “Yeah, it’s gone.” Now I’m mad. But desperate. Me: “Are you sure? That’s my book. It has all my notes and prized memories of New York.” Hostess: “Um…yeah.” Me: “I don’t care. I’ll even buy a new one if they bring it back.” Hostess: “We’ll give you a call if we find it.”
Let’s just say. I got a slice of reality from that dang cheesecake establishment. After pouting and complaining the remainder of the morning. I bought a brand new NFT book. And a few words to you mister/miss dishonest: I hope you are enjoying all my notes and memories!
I guess I’ll just continue to build new ones. So there you have it, friends.
By Becky Shippen-Olsen~Field Editor

Three Generations in One Minivan -Traveling with children, parents, grandparents, & grandkids

2009-10-09T21:22:00.000-07:00

Traveling with extended family is a delicate art. Whether your a grandparent on vacation with grandchildren or a young family brining nana along on a road trip, there is awesome potential for both delights and disasters!

In my many travels, I’ve had the pleasure (and the pain) of spending time with my grandparents, in-laws, and including my own mom in recent vacations with my little fam. The experiences we’ve shared are unique and priceless: Visiting my grandmother’s childhood town and wandering through the massive graveyard she crossed on her way to school each day, hearing my father-in-law’s army stories while climbing the Swiss Alps, sharing the excitement of my childrens’ Disneyland visit with my mom.

All these memories are precious to me and have brought me closer to the people I love.
However… (and that’s a BIG however)

It is easy, almost inherent, for difficulties to arise. The intricacies of managing children, travel details, excursions plans, meals, sleeping arrangements, etc. is a spectacular balancing act in itself! Accommodating extended family can quickly tip the scales in the wrong direction if you’re not careful. Anticipating the pitfalls will help you enjoy the pleasures of piling three generations in one minivan.

Contribute or Freeload?

As much as everyone hates to discuss money, it is absolutely necessary that a budget is clearly defined before you vacation with extended family. Making sure each traveler knows what part of paying they will be responsible for ahead of time allows everyone to anticipate, save for and plan on costs involved. So often my generous grandmother would offer to pay for our travel activities spur of the moment, and the agonizing back-and-forth would ensue:
“Oh, no, mom put your wallet away”… “No, I really do want to do this”… “No, you can’t afford it. We’re fine, thank you.” …. “I’ve got plenty – you need to save your cash”…and on and on until someone got their feelings hurt enough that they simply gave in.

Another issue to consider is what you will allow someone else to pay for. When my grandmother would win out on these arguments and lay down her social security money for Disneyland tickets, resentment from other family members always followed.

Recently my little family invited my own mother along on a California weekend getaway. We were able to provide most of her travel accommodations and asked her along so she could enjoy her grandchildren…and help us with them. She politely deferred to us throughout the trip when discussing each day’s plans, but would then grumble when things didn’t go smoothly, with “I told you so” implications. It became very stressful on both she and I.

In a Nutshell: Be very careful and very clear about how financial matters will be handled and how this plays into planning the vacation.

Friend Or Figurehead?

This is a question specifically for those traveling with young kiddos, because little ones require you to expect the unexpected. Bringing Grandma and Grandpa along can be an absolute blessing when parents need an extra set of hands or a night out. However, the last thing your children want or need while adjusting to the change in routines, schedules and locales is a THIRD parent. I guarantee this will set off a disastrous chain reaction, with resentment building towards and from well-meaning family members who step in to your family dynamic.

If you are bringing along your babies (which I absolutely encourage you to do in 99% of all travel experiences), be sure to discuss beforehand what parenting style will rule while on the road. Do you plan to spoil the kids rotten in Disneyland? Let everyone party all night and sleep in late? Stop all activities everyday for those crucial nap times?

Parents: Be extremely clear about what sort of help you would appreciate from fellow family travelers and where that jurisdiction ends. Otherwise there will be an embarrassing scene in the Disneyland bathroom between your screaming 3 year old and your mother-in-law. I guarantee it. Discuss what rules will be hard-and-fast (and possibly the source of delays or drama) and what will be allowable while traveling. Consider sharing these rules with your children, so they understand what is expected and who is in charge. Be prepared to gracefully receive unsolicited advice from well-meaning loved ones.

Grandparents and other Extended Fam: On the flip side, be upfront about where you feel comfortable lending a hand. If you don’t want to be the one in charge of feeding the baby at a fancy restaurant, say so. And be ready to bite your tongue ALOT – most parents are willing to relax their policies in exchange for good memories while on vacation. If you can’t keep your eye-rolls to yourself, get some distance by branching out on your own for an afternoon to give everyone a little space. Also, bring ear plugs. Always.

Get Up and Go or Just Say No?

After tactfully tackling the issues discussed above, SLEEP ON IT. All of you. Seriously consider the needs and quirks of all involved and make sure your plans are truly practical. I will say it plain: There are some people that, while great at being related to one another, probably shouldn’t vacation together. You may want to spare those relationships the stress of co-travel.

I’m not trying to scare you here – my goal is to help others avoid the difficulties I’ve encountered, and take advantage of the unique bonding that family travel can and should be! Exploring the world with the people you love the most can be extremely rewarding when you take the time to foresee potential problems and take the time to consider how each traveler can best enjoy the experience.

By Lauren Horsley~ Field Editor

Car Emergency Kit * Emergency Essentials, Quilts and More

2009-10-05T22:06:00.000-07:00

With the holidays just around the corner many of us are Out & About with the Family on road trips to visit relatives. Before heading out it is always good to be prepared. Preparations can be fun like the activities and snacks but you must also remember to prepare for emergencies. We suggest starting with a good emergency car kit like this Road Wise Emergency Kit by Emergency Essentials.
This kit includes:

Aqua Blox

Hand and Body Warmers

Emergency Poncho

Emergency Sleeping Bag

Strike-Anywhere Matches

5-in-1 Survival Whistle

Light stick

LED Headlamp and Batteries

Toilet Paper

20-Piece First-Aid Kit

Medium Backpack

Multifunction Knife

Emergency Tape

3600-Calorie Food Bars

Candy Pieces

{See how to make a heavy quilt like this one for your car kit here: Upcycled Quilt}

In addition to this car kit we include a large warm blanket or two, snack bars such as Larabars which are a favorite in our family, baby wipes even with older kids, camp chairs and tissues.
If you are a family with younger children you might want to add some diapers, a bottle or other items that your family would need if stranded for any length of time.
You never know when you are going to be stopped in traffic for hours or stalled on the side of the road. It is always better to be prepared.

Car kit for photo provided by Emergency Essentials.

2009-10-02T21:39:00.000-07:00

{stylish coordinating clothes for the family by DownEast Basics}

Disneyland invited our family to join them for their new Halloween Time celebrations this past weekend. Disney really knows how to do a holiday celebration. I love how they pay attention to even the smallest of details. All throughout Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure Parks Halloween was in the air.

Everything from the costumes the Disney characters including Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse are wearing to the big Jack O’ Lantern on main street to the amazing new Halloween Screams fireworks display featuring Tim Burton’s Jack Skellington from the Nightmare Before Christmas. These are more than just fireworks they are an amazing Halloween “spooktacular” show. They have transformed the popular Space Mountain into Ghost Galaxy just for Halloween Time. All the fun Halloween festivities will run from now until November 1st including Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. An added bonus to visiting Disneyland in the fall, the lines are really short. Most only had a wait of about 20 minutes and that is on the weekend.

Country Inn & Suites- Perfect for Family Travel

2009-09-19T21:52:00.000-07:00

Last month our little family took a mini-vacation just north of our home to Salt Lake City. While we were there we stayed at the Country Inn & Suites. I was very impressed with the accommodations. The kids had a great time swimming in the pools.

I really loved the special touches they provide like the fresh fruit and baked cookies in the lobby as well as free newspapers. They have free WiFi in all of the rooms which is very important to me since I work from my laptop. On top of all these things they have a wonderful breakfast as part of your stay that includes waffles, bagels, eggs toast and more. When I was getting my breakfast one of the employees over heard a little boy asking his mom for a cinnamon roll. With in minutes the employee found a cinnamon roll for him. When I asked the front desk if there was some diet Dr. Pepper available they hunted down a can for me.

My kids loved that when we arrived to our family suite there was a big basket full of drinks, snack and treats for them. The rooms have plenty for room for a family included a comfortable pull out sofa bed. Another great feature for your kids is the Country Inn and Suites reading library. The kids can borrow a book from the library and return it to any Country Inn and Suites along on your trip.

I would say Country Inn & Suites is about the details. They make you feel welcome. I recommend this family friendly Inn.
April~Living The Sweet Life

Table Topics Conversation Starters for Family Trips

2009-09-15T22:04:00.000-07:00

Traveling can be long and get old quickly. We are all use to ” are we there yet?” and “I’m bored.” There several standby games for road trips but I found a fun game you can take along to get to know each other better. Table Topics conversation starters. I love all the great questions that can bring up memories, ideas and even things you may have never known about each other. Here are a few of some of the questions in the Family Gathering Edition and the Family Edition:

who in your family met someone famous
what’s the biggest technological change you’ve seen in your life time
is it more fun to be a parent or a child
what’s your favorite family tradition
would you rather live for a week in the past or the future

Table Topics has a large selection of editions from the Teens Edition to the Decades Editions to the Gourmet Edition. I also love that they are in a strong heavy clear plastic box that will out last traveling with the family. I am excited to take it on the road with us. We have already had fun reading the cards and asking the questions.

{note: please see our review info for more details about our reviews on Out & About with the Family}

About Us

2009-09-05T21:36:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Out & About with the Family. We are excited to share our experience traveling as a family. Traveling with the family at any age is the perfect way to experience the beautiful world we live in, learn more about each other, and bond in our relationships as families. We are including everything from travel tips to city guides to great destinations to reviews of products you need for traveling to how to travel with extended family plus so much more. Our goal is to help you create a traveling experience with the family that is fun and exciting for all.
Thanks for visiting!
April Atwater {Founder & Field Editor}

Contact Us

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General Questions: If you have a question please do ask and we will try to get back to you.

outandaboutfamily@gmail.com

Submissions: Would you like be considered as a guest blog post writer or would like submit your trip to be featured on Out & About with the Family? Send us an email to

outandaboutfamily@gmail.com

Advertising: For advertising rates and site information please send us an email if you have a business, service or product that would fit our site to

outandaboutfamily@gmail.com

Product Review: We are a PR friendly site. If you would like your travel related products to be reviewed please email us at

outandaboutfamily@gmail.com

{All reviews do require a product to be provided for consideration. Please note that sending a product does not guarantee a review. We only feature product we like. We do not accept payment for reviews.}

PR & Marketing: If you would like to work with Out & About with the Family please let us know. We are always open to new ideas and projects. Please email April at

outandaboutfamily@gmail.com

Our Favorite Blogs

2009-09-05T20:45:00.000-07:00

Out and About with the Family Field Editors

2009-09-04T20:21:00.000-07:00

{April Atwater~Founder & Field Editor}

I am the founder of Sweet Living Blogs – Out & About with the Family, Living The Sweet Life, Sweet Life in The Valley and my newest endeavor Simply the Sweet Life Magazine. I grew up all over the U.S. including Utah, Illinois, Texas, Maine, Colorado & Vermont. I feel like the whole country is my home. My love of travel inspired me to creating a site where families of all ages can learn and share some great tips, travel experiences and even that great find right in their backyard. I am a freelance photographer, writer & set stylist. I collect vintage finds. I like to mix the old with the new. I love to celebrate and create new traditions as well as honor the old. I enjoy gardening. My favorite colors are light blue, pink, raspberry & butter yellow. I love to bake & cook. I am single mother of three tween-teens whom I home school. Our motto for our home school, which we borrowed from BYU, is “The World is our Campus.” Here on Out & About with the Family we will be sharing some of our experiences with you. You can follow me on twitter at @sweetlifeinthe .

{Becky Shippen-Olsen~Field Editor }

I love traveling. I have distinct memories of hours packed in the back of my parent’s blue station wagon with my six siblings. I loved road- tripping to California and collecting cheap souvenirs and cheesy t-shirts and of course sporting my turquoise blue and florescent green fanny pack.
But my real love for travel sprung from seeds planted in the greatest city in the world: New York City. A few years back, I had the opportunity to live on the Upper West Side of Manhattan for a season and I absolutely fell in love. The city awakened me with a new passion and curiosity that hasn’t left me.
I get a thrill each time I enter in a new place, asking myself questions about everyday living, like “Where do the locals eat?”, “What would I do on a Saturday morning?”, or “What is completely unique to this town?”
One of the greatest lessons I learned from these adventures was discovering that I could live each day like it was a new excursion. I even saw my beautiful home state of Utah in a new light. Now I’m constantly finding new places to eat, play and learn all while discovering little native gems.
I hope you can join me on my journeys at home and afar. My hope is you’ll discover new lands and places, and mostly come to appreciate that place you call home!
Becky is a communications professional currently working for a food products company where she specializes in public relations and social media. She is also the editor of two blogs, Utah Loves Cupcakes and Project Domestication. You can connect with her on twitter at @DomesticBecky.

{Lauren Horsley~ Field Editor}

Lauren is passionate about family travel and determined to show parents how to get out of town with their little ones. After living and traveling all over the world, Lauren is now settled at the foot of the Rocky Mountains and is mama to 3 sweet kiddos (ages 5,3,and 1). She currently runs SuperMom Central, a parenting blog, where she hopes to pass along to others the love she has for motherhood. Her writing can also be found at Traveling Mom, Momaroo, Little Window Shoppe and Type-A Mom. She has made several appearances on KSL/NBC’s Studio 5 in Salt Lake City @supermomcentral on twitter.