Life has a way of pulling us in many directions, but I am working hard to filter what I would really like to devote my time to and what could go. My poor, neglected travel blog has made the cut. When I think of my true passions in life, outside of my family of course, travel is right up there at the top. If I could, I'd be jetting off on a trip every month. Lately that's almost been my schedule and I am so sad I have not taken the time to keep this updated along the way.
It's never too late to catch up, though, so here is my fresh start and commitment to help you make your dreams of a family vacation come true.
Family Vacation. How do those two words make you feel?
Nervous? Excited? Happy? Apprehensive? Miserable?!
When I think of those two words, I feel excitement and joy.
My husband and I love taking our family on the road. It is not all sunshine and roses while we're away, but seeing the country and the life experiences that go along with it are worth it. Over the past year we have taken the kids to our favorite North Carolina beach, Texas, and Arizona. The first two were road trips that took us through 14 states and the latter (though originally intended to be a road trip) turned into a quick plane ride west where we added two more states to our travel log for the year.
The underlying theme to our trips? Age-appropriate and a budget. If you would like to take the leap and take a family vacation, this is where you need to start.
The most important decision is determining your budget. Vacations are meant to be a relaxing, fun break from reality. Taking a vacation that you cannot afford will only add stress. Set your budget and stick with it. Family vacations look different for everyone. You can have an AMAZING time on any sized budget.
Once you've figured out your budget, you need to be considerate of the age of those in your family. A trip to Washington D.C. to see all of the historical sites may sound like an amazing opportunity, but if your kids are young and unable to understand the importance and significance of the landmarks and they don't have the endurance to walk around all day, it will likely leave you all with a bad taste in your mouth.
There are wonderful opportunities for kids of all ages all over the country. Make a list of the places you'd love to see and determine what will work for your family in this season of life. Planning a vacation that is age-appropriate will make your time away much more enjoyable. Your memories will be mostly filled with happy moments (there's always something, right?!).
If you're hesitant to take a family trip, answering these questions may help you throw caution to the wind and take the first steps toward making life-long memories with your family. If the idea of a family vacation makes you squirm, start small. Take a short road trip for a few nights to get the ball rolling.
A change of scenery can make a world of difference in your family atmosphere. Our kids count down the days until we set off on our next adventure and are always sad when they have to end. We have all done activities that have pushed us out of our comfort zones, seen the amazing natural wonders all over the country, and had some amazing experiences we would have never had if we had stayed in the comfort of our little town.
What are you waiting for?! Don't know where to start? I can help!
Gina is a mom of 4 who LOVES to vacation. More times than not, her family hits the road together, but occasionally she and her husband have the opportunity to travel alone. Want help planning your vacation? Email Gina today! You can also check out her website: www.qcbusybee.com
Monday, May 2, 2016
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Stop #2: The Carolina Basketball Museum
Our second stretch of driving was from Louisville, Kentucky, to Durham, North Carolina. It was a LONG day of driving, but filled with beautiful scenery! We opted to travel through Tennessee, a state I had never been too nor the kids, and enjoyed our views of the smokey mountains. We hit a few bad rain showers, but overall the views were pretty amazing.
While driving through Gatlinburg, Tennessee, we noticed a sign for white water rafting that piqued our curiosity. My husband made a mental note to check into it more once we arrived at the beach. A quick Google search found information on a family float option in the Smokey Mountains. Guess what's on the agenda for the trip down next year? That ought to be an interesting adventure!
We stopped off for dinner in Asheville near the Biltmore Estate. Both my husband and I had heard of it before, but didn't really know what it was. After looking into that a bit more, I think next year I'd like to drive by just to see what it looks like!
We arrived at our hotel much later than we had expected, but were relieved to find the Homewood Suites in Durham near I-40 to be very clean and the extras we had requested for our room already there. We quickly got unpacked and the kids transferred to their beds with relative ease.
Some of the troops were pretty worn out and slept in quite late the next morning, which put us a bit behind schedule. After most of us had breakfast, we debated whether to go to Duke or UNC's campus. After some discussion, we decided to venture over to the University of North Carolina campus and the Carolina Basketball Museum.
After a quick drive around campus, we located the Dean Smith Dome and the Museum. The Museum, which is free to the public, did not disappoint. It is very nice and filled with everything from the center court at a championship game, to trophies, clothing, and displays of some of the most notable UNC players. We were very impressed and so glad we made the stop. Growing up as Bulls fans, my husband and I both thought the Michael Jordan display was pretty awesome.
Our oldest son really wanted to see the inside of the Dean Dome and as luck may have it, it was open for a basketball camp that day. He got to go inside and check it out. It was one of the highlights of his trip. I remember feeling the same way when I was in middle school and saw it for the first time!
Once we wrapped up at UNC, we loaded up the troops and began our last leg of our journey to the beach. It wouldn't be long now!
While driving through Gatlinburg, Tennessee, we noticed a sign for white water rafting that piqued our curiosity. My husband made a mental note to check into it more once we arrived at the beach. A quick Google search found information on a family float option in the Smokey Mountains. Guess what's on the agenda for the trip down next year? That ought to be an interesting adventure!
We stopped off for dinner in Asheville near the Biltmore Estate. Both my husband and I had heard of it before, but didn't really know what it was. After looking into that a bit more, I think next year I'd like to drive by just to see what it looks like!
We arrived at our hotel much later than we had expected, but were relieved to find the Homewood Suites in Durham near I-40 to be very clean and the extras we had requested for our room already there. We quickly got unpacked and the kids transferred to their beds with relative ease.
Some of the troops were pretty worn out and slept in quite late the next morning, which put us a bit behind schedule. After most of us had breakfast, we debated whether to go to Duke or UNC's campus. After some discussion, we decided to venture over to the University of North Carolina campus and the Carolina Basketball Museum.
After a quick drive around campus, we located the Dean Smith Dome and the Museum. The Museum, which is free to the public, did not disappoint. It is very nice and filled with everything from the center court at a championship game, to trophies, clothing, and displays of some of the most notable UNC players. We were very impressed and so glad we made the stop. Growing up as Bulls fans, my husband and I both thought the Michael Jordan display was pretty awesome.
 |
| Practicing his form |
Our oldest son really wanted to see the inside of the Dean Dome and as luck may have it, it was open for a basketball camp that day. He got to go inside and check it out. It was one of the highlights of his trip. I remember feeling the same way when I was in middle school and saw it for the first time!
Once we wrapped up at UNC, we loaded up the troops and began our last leg of our journey to the beach. It wouldn't be long now!
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Stop #1: Louisville, Kentucky
We opted to take a new route to Topsail Island this year and make a pitstop in Louisville, Kentucky. After stopping off to visit my brother-in-law and have some pizza in Columbus, Indiana, we arrived at our hotel later in the evening. Downtown Louisville was all lit up and our hotel was conveniently located right off of the Interstate. We unpacked our luggage and sleepy kiddos and enjoyed a good night's rest at the Hampton Inn.
The next morning we had some breakfast at the hotel and took off on foot to the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory. We had hoped to arrive when it opened at 9:00, but after taking off in the wrong direction, we arrived around 9:30 just in time for the 9:40 tour. Tours of the factory begin every twenty minutes and take about thirty minutes to complete and are very reasonably priced.
Overall, we thought the tour and the museum were pretty spectacular. This baseball loving family enjoyed learning about the history of making the bats and seeing the process in action. On that particular morning, they were making bats for Dustin Pedroia of the Boston Red Sox. When the tour was complete, we all received a Louisville Slugger mini bat (just what we needed: six mini bats!).
After the tour, we checked out the museum. The kids were able to hold bats used by real major league players including Mickey Mantle, Derek Jeter, Joey Voto, David Ortiz, Johnny Bench, and Cal Ripken Jr. Our kids thought it was pretty awesome to hold some of those heavy bats!
Naturally, we checked out the gift shop before we left. My oldest son got a youth ash bat and my husband picked up a few things as well. There is an opportunity on the website for a 10% off coupon if you sign up. Just don't forget it like I did!
If you have some baseball fans in your family and the opportunity arises, check out the Louisville Slugger Factory and Museum. We give this tour and museum two thumbs up!
The next morning we had some breakfast at the hotel and took off on foot to the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory. We had hoped to arrive when it opened at 9:00, but after taking off in the wrong direction, we arrived around 9:30 just in time for the 9:40 tour. Tours of the factory begin every twenty minutes and take about thirty minutes to complete and are very reasonably priced.
 |
| The World's Largest Bat |
 |
| Mini Bats and Babe Ruth's Bat (in the case) |
Naturally, we checked out the gift shop before we left. My oldest son got a youth ash bat and my husband picked up a few things as well. There is an opportunity on the website for a 10% off coupon if you sign up. Just don't forget it like I did!
If you have some baseball fans in your family and the opportunity arises, check out the Louisville Slugger Factory and Museum. We give this tour and museum two thumbs up!
 |
| A Photo Op in the Dugout |
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Overnights Before Arrival
We just returned from our 10-day vacation to Topsail Island, North Carolina, a few days ago. My plan was to update the blog as we traveled, but I spent very little time in front of electronics and a whole lot of time on the beach with my family and a good book. I'll just go to Plan B and write after the fact!
Today I'd like to touch on traveling to your destination. Our drive was about 17 hours and there were a few stops we wanted to make on the way out. We stayed at the Hampton Inn in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, and the Homewood Suites in Durham, North Carolina. Both were excellent hotels and we will stay there again if our travel plans require a stay in either city.
I do my best to efficiently pack for our trips by designating one bag for our nights in a hotel. I use a wheeled carry-on bag for all six of us. Each child gets a gallon Ziploc bag which contains two complete outfits and a pair of pajamas and their toothbrush bags. This only takes up half of the suitcase. The other half is for the adult clothes, a sound machine, and an extra crib sheet to be used for the infant cribs at the hotel since they never seem to have a sheet that is the right size. Throw in a mesh laundry bag, too, to keep all of your dirty clothes in one place.
We bring a backpack for our bathroom bags and electronics we did not want to leave in the van overnight, as well as a few sleeping bags, pillows, and a cooler to keep our picnic items cold. All-in-all, it takes one trip to get everything we need inside and makes it relatively easy to unpack and pack the back of the van at each stop.
It's the little things that make a trip go just a bit more smoothly!
Today I'd like to touch on traveling to your destination. Our drive was about 17 hours and there were a few stops we wanted to make on the way out. We stayed at the Hampton Inn in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, and the Homewood Suites in Durham, North Carolina. Both were excellent hotels and we will stay there again if our travel plans require a stay in either city.
I do my best to efficiently pack for our trips by designating one bag for our nights in a hotel. I use a wheeled carry-on bag for all six of us. Each child gets a gallon Ziploc bag which contains two complete outfits and a pair of pajamas and their toothbrush bags. This only takes up half of the suitcase. The other half is for the adult clothes, a sound machine, and an extra crib sheet to be used for the infant cribs at the hotel since they never seem to have a sheet that is the right size. Throw in a mesh laundry bag, too, to keep all of your dirty clothes in one place.
 |
| Bags for kids' clothes |
We bring a backpack for our bathroom bags and electronics we did not want to leave in the van overnight, as well as a few sleeping bags, pillows, and a cooler to keep our picnic items cold. All-in-all, it takes one trip to get everything we need inside and makes it relatively easy to unpack and pack the back of the van at each stop.
It's the little things that make a trip go just a bit more smoothly!
 |
| The packed suitcase |
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
"Are We There Yet?" Entertainment For the Ride
Taking a long road trip with kids can prove to be a challenge. If you're not equipped with a wide variety of entertainment, you might be in for a long ride! Our kids have a six-year age span, so in order to ensure I am prepared for all of them, I spend about a month scouring dollar bins, Amazon, my Usborne stash, and finding forgotten treasures in our home.
If you're heading on a long road trip, make a surprise bag for all of your children and keep it up front with you. We have decided to share a surprise with our kids roughly every hour of our trip. At first the kids are clock-watchers and love to remind us it is time for a surprise from the bag. If they have had good behavior, I happily oblige. As time goes on, though, they lose track of time a bit and I do my best to stretch it out. If all goes well, I'll still have a few surprises left for the ride home!
So, what do I put in these bags? Special treats, books, craft activities, activity books, and small toys to suit each of my kids. No two bags are alike and the kids love to see what treasures I've found.
I also have each of my kids assist me in packing a backpack. They typically want to include a few of their favorite stuffed animals and books. We also pack a notebook, pencil, and crayons, as well as a binder or folder filled with some road trip games, stickers, and maps. I found many great printable pages for scavenger hunts, license plate games, and tic-tac-toe. For our oldest son, I provide an outline of each state in the correct order. We talk a bit about the capital and well-known cities and then I ask him to make some notes inside the state regarding what he sees. This is a great way to keep track of our progress and he can keep the other kids updated on how many states we have left to go. I purchased this road trip atlas for my older two to use during our travels as well.
Last year I got lucky and found lap desks on clearance. I picked one up for each of the kids, so they all have a flat surface with a light to work on their activities.
I worked really hard to come up with an idea to keep my younger son busy. He loves cars and I wanted to find a way he could play with them while on our trip. I did it and he loved it! Using a cookie sheet from The Dollar Tree, I created this road (and train track on the opposite side) so he could drive magnetic vehicles and trains as we were driving down the road. It worked out pretty well and he is looking forward to getting it out again. You could use this concept for anything from a castle to a jungle!
His other favorite activity was my sticker book stash I purchased from Usborne. He has difficulty sticking with anything for long, but these did the trick and quickly became a favorite. Several times throughout the trip he pleaded for his "homework." I truly cannot recommend these enough!
Of course the kids watch their fair share of DVD's. You can pack your own or stop at a Redbox along the way, grab a movie, and exchange it in another city. We do our best to take a break in between movies and not spend the whole time missing all of the scenery. They are especially helpful, though, while our youngest naps. Headphones are a blessing! My husband and I take advantage of the quiet time and talk or turn on one of our favorite Pandora stations. We need to have some fun, too!
If you're planning a long road trip, the time you spend prepping some fun entertainment for the kids will be well worth it. Happy kids makes for a great day on the road!
If you're heading on a long road trip, make a surprise bag for all of your children and keep it up front with you. We have decided to share a surprise with our kids roughly every hour of our trip. At first the kids are clock-watchers and love to remind us it is time for a surprise from the bag. If they have had good behavior, I happily oblige. As time goes on, though, they lose track of time a bit and I do my best to stretch it out. If all goes well, I'll still have a few surprises left for the ride home!
So, what do I put in these bags? Special treats, books, craft activities, activity books, and small toys to suit each of my kids. No two bags are alike and the kids love to see what treasures I've found.
 |
| Surprise Bag |
Last year I got lucky and found lap desks on clearance. I picked one up for each of the kids, so they all have a flat surface with a light to work on their activities.
 |
| Lap Desks With a Light |
His other favorite activity was my sticker book stash I purchased from Usborne. He has difficulty sticking with anything for long, but these did the trick and quickly became a favorite. Several times throughout the trip he pleaded for his "homework." I truly cannot recommend these enough!
 |
| The Coveted Sticker Book! |
If you're planning a long road trip, the time you spend prepping some fun entertainment for the kids will be well worth it. Happy kids makes for a great day on the road!
Monday, May 18, 2015
Planning a Family Vacation: Finding Your Accommodations
You've made the decision to take a family vacation (good for you!), but where do you start? Assuming you have already chosen your destination and set your budget, the first place to start is selecting your accommodations. For some it may be a hotel and others it may be a less-traditional route such as a condo or vacation home rental. Luckily, there are options for families of all sizes with a wide range of budgets. Today I'll share a few tips for finding the perfect place to stay while you're away from home.
If you are choosing to stay in a hotel, may I first suggest finding a brand that suits your budget and sign up for their rewards program. If you plan to do a lot of traveling, this can really work in your favor. The points from those stays add up and a free night's stay is a wonderful perk and a way to save money over time. Generally, hotel brand websites will guarantee the best price, so if you do find it cheaper on a website such as Hotels.com, Expedia, or Orbitz, you can send a quick email to get the rate and often a bonus discount as well.
My husband travels for his job and has chosen Hilton as his hotel brand of choice. This works wonderfully for our family, since the majority of their hotels offer free breakfast. We are partial to Homewood Suites, as it gives our large family the space we need for a reasonable price. They also offer dinner Monday-Thursday, which is another way to save some money while on the road. The Embassy Suites is also a great option, because they have a cook-to-order breakfast which gives us a full belly before hitting the road.
Once you sign up, be sure to watch for promotional emails which may offer bonus rewards such as double points. Typically, you must take the time to sign up for the promotion on the website, but it only takes a few minutes and the return is well worth your time. We have capitalized on the current double points promotion and will be using many free nights for our second big road trip of the summer.
If you would like to find a vacation rental, there are many great sites to check out. We have stayed in many home rentals and love it! My personal favorite is VRBO. You can search your travel dates and specify how many bedrooms you need, location, pet policy, etc. Their sister sites, Home Away and vacationrentals.com are also good options. Searching through the housing options can get confusing after awhile, so I recommend setting up a favorites folder and adding the links for rentals you are interested in to the folder. It will save you time in the long run.
You may also find local real estate companies who specialize in vacation rentals as well. A quick Google search for your particular location will generally provide you with your options. If you are interested in a North Carolina beach vacation, for example, you may want to check out RentABeach. There are hundreds of homes to view listed by several real estate companies.
Finding accommodations can take some time, but once they are arranged the rest of the planning seems like smooth sailing. Save yourself time by having your stops along the way to your destination planned out and creating favorites folders to keep everything in one place. I am guilty of spending hours looking through options, but I love finding the perfect place and the time is well worth it! If you are looking for help planning your family vacation, email me at minivanmemories@gmail.com.
If you are choosing to stay in a hotel, may I first suggest finding a brand that suits your budget and sign up for their rewards program. If you plan to do a lot of traveling, this can really work in your favor. The points from those stays add up and a free night's stay is a wonderful perk and a way to save money over time. Generally, hotel brand websites will guarantee the best price, so if you do find it cheaper on a website such as Hotels.com, Expedia, or Orbitz, you can send a quick email to get the rate and often a bonus discount as well.
My husband travels for his job and has chosen Hilton as his hotel brand of choice. This works wonderfully for our family, since the majority of their hotels offer free breakfast. We are partial to Homewood Suites, as it gives our large family the space we need for a reasonable price. They also offer dinner Monday-Thursday, which is another way to save some money while on the road. The Embassy Suites is also a great option, because they have a cook-to-order breakfast which gives us a full belly before hitting the road.
Once you sign up, be sure to watch for promotional emails which may offer bonus rewards such as double points. Typically, you must take the time to sign up for the promotion on the website, but it only takes a few minutes and the return is well worth your time. We have capitalized on the current double points promotion and will be using many free nights for our second big road trip of the summer.
If you would like to find a vacation rental, there are many great sites to check out. We have stayed in many home rentals and love it! My personal favorite is VRBO. You can search your travel dates and specify how many bedrooms you need, location, pet policy, etc. Their sister sites, Home Away and vacationrentals.com are also good options. Searching through the housing options can get confusing after awhile, so I recommend setting up a favorites folder and adding the links for rentals you are interested in to the folder. It will save you time in the long run.
You may also find local real estate companies who specialize in vacation rentals as well. A quick Google search for your particular location will generally provide you with your options. If you are interested in a North Carolina beach vacation, for example, you may want to check out RentABeach. There are hundreds of homes to view listed by several real estate companies.
Finding accommodations can take some time, but once they are arranged the rest of the planning seems like smooth sailing. Save yourself time by having your stops along the way to your destination planned out and creating favorites folders to keep everything in one place. I am guilty of spending hours looking through options, but I love finding the perfect place and the time is well worth it! If you are looking for help planning your family vacation, email me at minivanmemories@gmail.com.
 |
| Find the perfect spot |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)