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Five Family Fun Features For: Montreal

Want to take the kids to Europe, but dread the six-to-nine hour flight?  Not sure if your children would enjoy Europe at their age?  Why not test the waters with a much shorter trip to Montreal?  The city's official language is French (although most everyone speaks nearly flawless English as well), it has a decidedly European feel, and, although the loonie has gained about 40% on the U.S. dollar the last few years, it's still looking a lot better than the Euro, exchange rate-wise. 

And, there's plenty to do with kids in both their nice summers and brutal winters (I haven't been in spring and fall, but I'm guessing there's stuff to do then, too):

1. Biodome.  No, not that awful Pauly Shore movie (which your kids may also like), but a great place to explore when it's too cold to do much outside.  The Biodome is a huge, well. . .  dome, containing four different ecosystems.  In layman's terms, you can go from seeing sloths in a tropical forest to penguins in the Antarctic in about 10 minutes.  All the ecosystems have great layouts so that you're walking right through the middle of the exhibit, surrounded by plants and animals (safely on a railed walkway). 
2. Mont Royal.  At a little over 750 feet, it's not exactly Everest. But, for a mountain in the middle of a major city, Mont Royal is pretty cool and offers several activities.  You can: take in great views at the Chalet du Mont-Royal; go for horse-drawn carriage or sleigh rides, picnic in the summer; and zoom down the hill on rented inner-tubes in the winter (Travelin' Mom's imitation of the "agony of defeat" ski-jumper from the Wide World of Sports opening still remains a personal travel highlight.  At least after determining she was unharmed).  Or you can just join the masses of tourists and locals going for a nice walk.  That being said, it's also a long walk, so getting transportation to the top and then walking down is the way to go.
3. Jean-Talon Market.  If you ask your kids what they'd like to do today, "Walk around an outdoor food market" probably won't crack the top 20.  But, the Jean-Talon Market is no ordinary market.  It seems like it's where tout de Montreal comes for its produce.  There's a flurry of activity on the weekends and an equally dizzying array of free samples to keep kids interested and happy.  And, if all else fails, bribe them with the best ice cream and sorbet in the city at  the Havres aux Glaces' store in the market.  They have tons of unique flavors, but ignore the vanilla at your own peril. 
4. Vieux Montreal.  Old Montreal, although a tad touristy compared to some other areas, is the most European-looking part of Montreal (which probably explains why it's a tourist magnet).  Old Montreal has beautiful architecture and there's plenty to do with kids.  The entire area is easily walkable and contains tons of fun shops and restaurants (along with a few too many t-shirt/souvenir shops).  The Notre Dame Basilica, which dates back to 1829 and rivals some of the best European churches, is a must-see, while kids will enjoy the Old Port area, with skating (ice in winter, in-line in summer), biking, a giant maze, and more.   
5. Jardin Botanique.  I'm not much for botanical gardens, but this one's pretty cool, with 30 different themed gardens and ten greenhouses open year-round. 

Get a sitter and: eat to excess.  Montreal is a great food city and Au Pied de Cochon has been catching a lot of foodie buzz lately.  With ribs the size of your arm and a pork chop as thick as a dictionary, you won't go hungry.  And don't get me started on the foie gras.  I think APdC has a team of scientists working around the clock to discover new places to stick duck liver.  While APdC is somewhat pricey, it's also sort of casual and definitely loud, so you could even bring your kids with you.  I don't think they have a children's menu, but I'm sure they could fashion you a four-pound chicken nugget if you ask nicely. 

Mother's Day: Bored While Waiting to Go Onboard

We have sort of a bad habit of cutting it close in the airport.  During our trip to Maine last summer, we arrived to O'Hare so late, that we missed the 45-minute deadline to check our bags.  But since that episode, we've tried to reform, and we now make a genuine effort to get to the airport a little earlier.  Of course, this is a double-edged sword, because now we have more time to "entertain" TJ in the airport.  Luckily, there are a number of things for kids to see and do in most airports.  Here are a few favorites:

• Moving Walkway.  TJ LOVES riding these back and forth for endless hours, yelling "Hi, Daddy!" every time we pass TD.  It is scary how fast he can run with the help of this automated walkway.  I like it because it tires him out and gives us a 1 in 10 chance he'll actually sleep on the plane.
• Gift Shops.  Every airport has a token toy store, and multiple gift shops.  TJ likes looking at everything from stuffed animals to magazines to magnets.  Some airports have great specialty stores for kids.  For example, Mindworks is in Philadelphia International Airport and the National Geographic store is in LaGuardia.
• Pay Telephones.  In the age of wireless cellphones, no wonder TJ is so amazed to see real old-fashioned phones with big buttons and fun cords to play with.
• People-Watching.  People are surprisingly friendly in airports.  TJ gets a number of high fives (especially from men) when he runs up to them babbling about something or other, and he especially likes to watch passengers deboarding planes.
• Soft Pretzels.  Auntie Ann's or any other variety is a big hit.  They keep TJ munching and happy.  If you can't find a pretzel outlet, try any other kid-friendly snack.
• Find An Outlet.  If you are truly stuck in the airport for a long time (once TD and I were stranded in Las Vegas McCarran Airport for 11 hours - thankfully we had left TJ at home that trip!) - look for an outlet to plug in your DVD player.  Often you can spot one that is used to plug in vacuums at the base of a column or pillar.

Additionally, before you go on your next flight, check out Cheapflights.com's Kids Airport Diversion Guide (warning- you have to sign up for their free weekly newsletter to receive this)-- a great guide to kid-friendly museums, play areas, and other entertainment, listed by airport.  I can't believe I just discovered that O'Hare has a Kids On The Fly interactive exhibit sponsored by the Chicago Children's Museum.  I've never seen it before, but thanks to Cheapflights, I'll be heading to Terminal 2 next time we're in the airport with TJ!

Trip Report: This Stuff Actually Works. . .

What better time to test travel tips than the Thanksgiving travel rush, right?  Okay, maybe the busiest travel days of the year are not the best time to experiment.  But, if your experiment works out, it can be (to paraphrase Peter Griffin) pretty freakin' sweet.

We had just such a freakin' sweet journey to New York for Thanksgiving, thanks to heeding a couple of key travel rules:

• Go on off-peak days or at off-peak times.  Not that there's really much of an off-peak around Thanksgiving.  But, instead of throwing elbows in the airport on the Wednesday before and Sunday after Thanksgiving, we enjoyed hearing our own echoes while flying out Thanksgiving morning and returning Monday afternoon.  The airport was so uncrowded Thanksgiving morning, Travelin' Junior used the moving walkway as his own personal treadmill/launching pad (depending on which direction he was running).
• Use alternate airports.  Instead of using the delaynamic duo of O'Hare and LaGuardia, we flew out of Midway and into Islip airport.  We began to feel very smart when the radio was reporting three-hour delays at LaGuardia due to weather Monday, while our flight left Islip on time and arrived Midway early. 
• Use an airline that might get you there on time.  Granted, price usually factors into our airline decision more than anything else, but we were comforted knowing that Southwest has a better on-time record and does a better job turning planes around quickly than most of its legacy carrier counterparts (I'm looking at you American and United). 
• Be lucky.  Okay, this isn't a travel rule, but I also didn't want to get struck down by the travel gods for bragging about how wisely we planned our trip.  When everyone departed just fine the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and we heard snow in the forecast for Thanksgiving day, we were certainly regretting our date choice.  Fortunately, the snow wasn't a factor and we too departed on time.  But, it just reinforces that all the planning in the world can't guarantee a smooth trip.  All you can do is grab every possible advantage to tilt the odds a little more in your favor. 

Giving Travel-Related Thanks

In honor of the holiday, here are a few travel items I'm thankful for:

• Our 30 inch Samsonite Mobilite Spinner.  You know you've got a good suitcase when, on your twentieth trip with it, you still take the time to stop and say, "Damn I love this suitcase."  That's how I am with the Mobilite Spinner (although it really annoys the people walking behind me in the airport when I do that).  With free hands at a minimum and all our stuff jammed into one case, I can't tell you how nice it is to have a suitcase whose wheels rotate 360 degrees, so you don' t have to worry about maneuvering around obstacles or tipping over.  Oh wait, I did just tell you that. 
• Our car seat carrier bag, sort of.  For every time I stop to praise our Mobilite Spinner, I spend equal time stopping to either curse our car seat carrier bag or trip over it.  Unlike the spinner, it's got only two rigid wheels, meaning you have to drag your car seat at at the precise angle.  And because the strap you grab it with is too short, taller people have to lurch down just to hold the thing at a proper cruising angle.  So, while I hope to upgrade in the future to something like this, it still beats having no carrier at all.
• The portable DVD player.  Sure, the I-Pod has made video much more portable, but when TJ's calm, well-behaved face glows from the reflection of that 9 1/2 inch screen, I know it's worth lugging a few extra pounds. 
• The snack trap.  When I first saw this thing, I figured it was just another useless invention to make money off of parents who will buy any gadget invented.  I  certainly own enough items in that category to know or thing or two.  But, I must say, snack trap, I was wrong.  I misjudged you.  Thank you for keeping my son happy and quiet while also keeping the goldfish crackers from spilling everywhere.  I'll never take you for granted again. 

I'm also really hoping I'm thankful that our Thanksgiving flights weren't delayed by weather this weekend.  If not, I may need to be extra thankful for the snack trap and portable DVD player.

Mother's Day: Treating Gas Problems

Anyone not driving a hybrid has felt the sting of skyrocketing gas prices lately.  According to AAA, the current national unleaded average is $3.09 per gallon.  Compare that price to a year ago - only $2.23 per gallon.  Not only does the price of gas affect our daily lives (now it costs TJ and me more to run our weekly errands), but it also affects trip-planning.  With Thanksgiving here, driving to Grandma's never looked so pricey.  Here are two websites to help you find the cheapest gas on your route. 

• AAA Gas Price Finder allows you to enter an address and intersection, and a search area of 3, 5, or 10 miles.  It then provides you with the addresses of the cheapest gas around, along with the respective prices.  According to their website, AAA Gas Finder uses information from credit card transactions, derived from more than 85,000 outlets around the country to find the most affordable gas stations.
• GasBuddy.com lets you search by zip code or city in the United States and Canada to help you find cheap gas prices in your city. 

One especially cool feature that both of these websites have- if you don't happen to know where the Chevron Station at 3849 Browns Mill Road is off the top of your head, there is a map feature that shows you the exact location.

Because fuel prices can vary by 20-30 cents per gallon or more within a small area, it really is worth it for motorists to shop around before they get in the car to find the best deal on gas.  And hey, you can use the money you've saved on gas for other things to help your ride to Grandma's go more smoothly, like a new Elmo's World DVD.      

Weight Watching

Before Travelin' Junior came along, Travelin' Mom and I had a strict carry-on only policy, making it easy to go standby and bypass luggage lines.  Post-TJ, we carry enough gear to outfit a small arctic expedition, forcing us to join all those we formerly mocked in the checked luggage line.  Making matters worse, we only have so many hands (TJ isn't doing much heavy lifting at this point) to carry the stroller, car seat, and carry-ons (all while corralling TJ), so we pack for three in one giant suitcase. 

Although three in one bag is no problem size-wise, it's a little trickier weight-wise.  Thanks to the airlines' 50-pound suitcase weight limit, we routinely play the carnival game of guessing our bag's weight before heading to the airport.  Of course, if the guy guessing your weight at the carnival misses, he owes you a cheap stuffed animal.  If you guess your suitcase weight wrong, you may be shelling out $50 or more to the airline. 

Fortunately, as with most games, this one gets easier over time.  I barely even need to do the ol' weigh-yourself-then-hold-your-bag-on-the-scale trick anymore.  On a recent return from New York, our bag weighed in at an even 50.0 pounds.  It was all our gate agent could do not to applaud. 

For those who don't want to deal with the weight-game hassle, or just like any gadget they can find, Ricardo Beverly Hills actually makes a suitcase with a scale in it.  I'm not sure how popular it is, since I've never seen one in my travels (believe me, I'd notice).  I'm also not sure how durable the device would be after a couple of baggage handler beatdowns, but it's an interesting idea. 

Should you eschew the suitcase scale route, keep in mind that some begging may get you an essential extra pound.  We had our bag packed to weighty perfection on our return from Austin, Texas last week when my friend dropping us at the airport handed me the 800-page book I had loaned him last year.  Since I really did want the book back, I toted it along and hoped for the best.  Our bag originally weighed in at 49.5.  When I placed the book on top of the bag, the scale hit 51.  The AA gate agent must've seen my dejected look, because she said we were close enough and let me throw the book in the suitcase.  My shoulders and neck cannot thank her enough. 

There's of course one obvious alternative.  Just pack less. I guess I need to retrain myself on packing light.  Fortunately, there's a good primer website available.      

We Are Not Alone

It seems family travel is getting more popular.  According to a Chicago Tribune article, the Travel Industry Association reports that the number of vacations with children has risen nearly 14 percent since 2000, from 183 million trips to 208 million in 2006.  The main reasons given for the increase are: (1) the psychological impact of 9/11 causing families to value quality time over money and (2) parents' endless work schedules keep them away from their kids more, prompting them to take mini-vacations with family when they can string three or four days together.

As to where we're going, the number one family getaway involves visiting relatives or friends.  Probably not the most exciting vacation, but it can certainly make traveling with kids cheaper and logistically easier.  No matter where you are, getting family help with small kids certainly gives the parents a little vacation.

That being said, tour company statistics indicate that families are taking more adventurous vacations together as well:

• Austin-Lehman Adventures, an outdoors adventure-oriented tour operator said that the family travel end of its business is up 30 to 40 percent, and makes up about 55 percent of its total business;
• Family Travel tour company Tauck Bridges said the family market has been growing by 15 percent a year.  Beginning in 2008, it will offer 13 all-inclusive packages on four continents; and
• High-end travel company Abercrombie & Kent reports a 22 percent increase in families traveling with them over last year, with the biggest increases to the Galapagos and Egypt. 

Want to follow the crowd?  Check out the offerings from one of the tour operators linked above or just plan your own little trip.  Whether going to the Galapagos or Grandma's, it's always nice to get away. 

Five Family Fun Features For: Austin

Same rules, different week.  Here are five fun things to do with your family in Austin, Texas:

1. Park it.  If your kid had to describe his dream park, it would probably sound a lot like Zilker Park.  Where to begin?  Probably at the playground, which is massive and includes a full size-antique fire engine that the kids can climb on and pretend to steer.  TJ logged about 50 fake miles our last visit there.  Now you're probably saying, "Big deal, every town's got a playground."  But does every town's playground also have  a miniature working train?  The Zilker Zephyr is a 3-mile ride that loops around the playground and other parts of the park.  And, if your kids gets overheated in the Texas sun from all that activity, they can always cool off in the Barton Springs pool, a massive 3-acre swimming pool fed by underground springs that keep the water temperature a cool (refreshing?) 68 degrees year-round. 
2. Go Batty.  From about mid-March to early November (with the best time being the summer months) kids of all ages will be amazed by the nightly flight of the million-strong Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony.  The bats take off around sunset in search of food.  If you're looking for a more specific time, check in at the desks of one of the hotels Near Town Lake and the bridge, like the Embassy Suites or the Four Seasons, or call the bat hotline (no, its not a red phone) at 512-416-5700.  For best viewing, try the bat observation area at the bridge's southeast corner. 
3. Longhorns and Turtles.  You'll figure out pretty fast that the University of Texas resides in Austin, as every other item of clothing you'll see is either burnt orange, contains a longhorn, or both.  But, that's a good thing, as the campus is a fun place to visit.  There's the UT Tower, which, in 1966 was the infamous site to one of the earliest school mass shootings.  Between that and subsequent student suicide jumps, the tower was closed for many years.  It reopened in 1998 and provides great views of the campus.  There's also fun shopping and eating along "The Drag"-- Guadalupe street between 19th and 29th.  If you're lucky to go during a football weekend, you'll see the campus at a whole different level.  Pre-game tailgates abound, with locals usually welcoming a visitor with a Shiner beer and whatever meat product they're grilling this week.  Should you go to the game, you may be more impressed by Memorial Stadium's new "Godzillatron", one of the largest high definition video screens in the world, than by the 2005 national champs.  If you're looking for something a little more serene, check out the turtle pond just north of the UT Tower.  TJ loved watching the fish and turtles bobbing through the water. 
4. Dinner at Chuy's . . .  Chuy's may only be a Mexican restaurant, but it's a destination unto itself.   Chuy's serves fresh, inexpensive tex-mex and great frozen margaritas while doubling as an Elvis shrine.  Kids love the tacky decor and laid-back attitude.  Chuy's also has a great kids menu, with everything from Mexican offerings to the usual burger and chicken fingers (and even those are really good).  There are three Chuy's in Austin, with the original at Barton Springs Road.  The one warning-- they don't take reservations and waits can easily exceed an hour or more at peak times. 
5. . . . Dessert at Amy's.  If you miraculously still have room after eating at Chuy's, head to one of the ten Austin locations of Amy's Ice Cream for dessert (if not, go the next day!).  Although the 14 percent butter fat ice cream is fantastic (you haven't had vanilla until you've had Amy's Mexican vanilla), it's never too tough to win kids over with ice cream.  But, Amy's has an equally impressive floor show to match its flavor.  After picking your ice cream, you choose what "crush'ns" you'd like mixed in.  Then, the usually eccentric, always entertaining counter help will furiously chop and flip the ingredients together like Benihana chefs, usually throwing in a few aerial tricks for good measure  (think Tom Cruise's bartending moves in Cocktail, but not nearly as cheesy).  The end result:  some entertained, well-fed, and happy patrons. 

Last but not least, 

Find a Sitter and:  Hear some live music.  Austin bills itself as the "Live Music Capital of the World."  With all the different offerings available every night, I won't argue.  Pick up the free weekly Austin Chronicle for show listings. 

TSA: The Misses Just Keep Comin'

We've unfortunately heard a lot of news lately about the TSA's inability to detect bomb components during airport screening (unless they're tipped off first, that is).  Now, the latest frightening development:  the Government Accountability Office conducted covert tests at 19 airport checkpoints earlier this summer and was able to smuggle liquid explosives and detonators past security at each one.  The Associated Press report details some discouraging examples, including:

• On March 23, a TSA screener would not let one investigator through a checkpoint with a small, unlabeled bottle of shampoo, even though it was a legitimate carry-on item. But the same investigator was able to bring through a liquid component of bomb that would start a fire.
• On May 8, an investigator placed coins in his pockets to ensure he would receive a secondary screening at the checkpoint. But after doing a pat-down and using an electronic hand wand, the screener was not able to catch the prohibited items the investigator brought through the checkpoint.

Doesn't exactly give you that warm holiday-travel feeling, does it? 

For anyone wondering whether it would be less risky just to drive your family to your holiday destination, there is some good news.  More cars made the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's safest cars list than ever before.  Of course, I don't think the IIHS tested the likelihood of family members strangling one another during the car trip, so you'll have factor in that part yourself when making the fly/drive comparison.

Mother's Day: Kid-Friendly Restaurants

Eating out is a big part of traveling - whether it be to other cities or just a new local neighborhood.  Travelin' Junior has been to all kinds of establishments, and we've noticed a few trends about the types of restaurants he likes the best (the ones in which we can actually enjoy our meals, as opposed to the ones we have to flee abruptly because TJ is throwing a fit).  Here are some things we've found help make for kid-friendly restaurants:

1. Easily Accessible - Pick a restaurant that is easy to get to, with convenient or free parking, or within walking distance.  If you have a stroller in tow, consider whether there will be space to store it at the restaurant. Also, check in advance that a high chair/booster seat is available.
2. Yummy Menu - Ideally, the restaurant will have a kids menu with food your child will like, but also look for entrees on a regular menu that your kid might enjoy, like macaroni and cheese, grilled chicken strips, or a turkey burger.  A bread basket is great for young kids to nibble on, and free chips and salsa is always a big hit with slightly older kids.
3. Quick Service - Actually, this should be number 1 on the list.  Maybe numbers 1 through 5. It's just that important.
4. Lots To Look At-  This is a big one if dining with small children.  TJ's attention has been captured by TVs, fans, pretty lights, nice artwork, good music, other children dining in the same restaurant, looking out a window at a busy street, and facing toward the restaurant's door so he can welcome new customers. 
5. Bells & Whistles- Some restaurants really cater towards children.  Crayons/coloring pads, stickers, and special sippy cups go a long way toward making TJ happy.  One of our favorite Mexican restaurants made TJ a complimentary "baby pizza" and he was happy for, well, minutes.  Which can be like hours in family dining time. 

It's not always easy to pick out the kid-friendly restaurants when eating in an unfamiliar neighborhood or city.  You can do some advance research for kid-friendly restaurants at sites like lilaguide and yelp.  Or, do a walk by.  A good rule of thumb: if you see several other children eating in a restaurant, it's probably safe for you to venture in with your child too.  Also, don't think popular or trendy restaurants are necessarily off limits- just try them at off-times.  You've probably noticed that many restaurants have two waves:  the kids zone (around 5-7 p.m.) and the people-who-have-time-to-order-coffee-and-dessert zone (7 and later).  On the bright side, they never run out of the catch of the day when you're the first diners!

Bon appetite!   

Trip Report: Austin, Texas

Just returned from a great long weekend in Austin, Texas.  Since that's where the University of Texas is located, it's only appropriate that we learned a few things:

• Scheduling flights around nap time can backfire.  Travelin' Junior couldn't fall asleep on the plane even though he was desperately tired.  This led to a little more whining and crying than our neighbors probably would've liked.  Plus, then he's tired for the rest of the day.  But, at least TJ managed to get a big laugh when, upon us getting him up from his car seat to exit the plane, he turned to the crowd behind him and pitifully muttered, "night night."  File that under too little, too late.
• Knowing a few phrases in the local language really does go a long way.  That old travel adage holds up in the U.S. as well as abroad.  TJ made instant friends by constantly repeating the two phrases he associates with Texas:  "Touchdown!" and "Hook 'em Horns!" 
• Your hotel can be the highlight of your trip.  TJ enjoyed the sights of Austin, but not nearly as much as he enjoyed the big fish tank in our lobby, or the little waterfall outside the hotel, and certainly not as much as the glass elevators he rode as often as possible, cheerfully announcing "going up!" even when going down.  I like to think that's the optimist in him.
• Quitting playgrounds cold turkey is tough.  I'll admit, TJ has a bit of a playground problem.  He's probably up to about a two playground-a-day habit.  Maybe three playgrounds on a weekend.  So, it shouldn't have surprised us when TJ would quickly turn away from the UT Tower or some other site in order to ogle a dilapidated little slide and swing set.  We finally caved on Sunday and took him to a nearby park for an hour.  Although it's not the most exciting way to spend a vacation, until they come out with some type of playground patch, it's only fair that we give him what he craves. 
• There probably is a limit to the human body's capacity to ingest Tex-Mex and margaritas.  Fortunately, that limit cannot be reached in a 72-hour visit.  Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go punch an extra hole in my belt.   

Five Family Fun Features For: New York

Same rules as last week, different city.  Here are five fun things to do with kids in New York:

1. Park it.  There's so much to do in Central Park, it could take up all five spots on this list.  It's like the Park that ate all the other parks.  Because it covers 50 city blocks north to south, you shouldn't try to do the whole park in a day.  But, some fun activities to choose from include: the Central Park Zoo and Children's Zoo, the carousel, a walk around the reservoir, a visit to the turtle pond, or just hanging out on the Great Lawn.  There's also a great lunch or dinner spot in the park:  The Central Park Boathouse restaurant.  In nice weather, you can sit outside and enjoy casual fare while overlooking the lake.  Or, you can go a little more upscale and eat at the restaurant inside.  Although the prices may seem high, considering your location (New York in general, overlooking a body of water in particular), they're really not too bad. 
2. Skate by.  When people think ice skating in New York, they think Rockefeller Center.  And they should, it's fun, it's iconic . . . it's also very crowded-- which can be uncomfortable and cause waits at popular times.  If you don't have your heart set on skating in the shadows of 30 Rock, a giant Christmas tree, and the Prometheus statue, Wollman Rink (yes, it's in Central Park, but we'll discuss it here instead of #1) is another excellent option.  You have a little more room to skate, much less chance of a wait, and you can still enjoy a picturesque view of the city while skating.  It all depends on what you prefer, but you won't be disappointed by either venue. 
3. Look down on people.  You may have heard that New York has some tall buildings.  There's that Empire State Building, which has been around since a little before King Kong took Fay Wray up there in 1933.  You can head to the 86th floor observatory for about $20 per adult and lower prices depending on your kids' ages.  The coolest part of the ESB is that it has both indoor and outdoor observatories, something lacking from tall buildings in many other cities.  So, if you want to see what the weather's like 86 stories up, this is the place for you.  If you prefer something more from the King/Kong/Naomi Watts-era, you can check out Top of the Rock, the observatory that opened at the top of 30 Rockefeller Plaza in late 2005.  Although "only" 70 stories up, Top of the Rock also has an outdoor observatory and boasts arguably better views than the ESB. 
4. Give your regards to Broadway.  While not every show is family friendly (I'm looking at you, Spring Awakening and Avenue Q (both great shows, by the way)), there are always a couple of shows appropriate for children of most ages.  For example, depending on your children's ages, right now you could go see The Lion King, The Little Mermaid or Hairspray.  If you haven't been to New York in a while, I'm sorry to inform you that Cats was finally put to sleep.  You can get tickets in advance from each show's site or at a general site like Broadway.com.  Or, play it by ear and get discounted (up to 50% off) day-of tickets at one of two TKTS booth locations:  either the well-known and extremely crowded Times Square location or the much less well-known and much less crowded South Street Seaport venue (note:  no credit cards taken at either location). 
5. See New York's only palm trees.  The World Financial Center may not be a destination worth traveling across town to see by itself, but it's a very cool stop if you're in the area.  The gorgeous atrium has plenty of room for kids to roam, great views of the Hudson River and, yes, what I believe are New York's only palm trees.  There are also plenty of lunch spots and other shops.  If you're in the area, you might also choose to visit the former World Trade Center site, which was right next to the World Financial Center.  Admittedly, I haven't been back to the site in a couple of years, so I can't provide any updated visiting information.  In addition, the ferry to the Statue of Libery and Ellis Island is only a short walk from here.

Enjoy!

Know the Score: Walk Score

As the comedian Steven Wright used to say, "Everywhere's walking distance if you have the time."  Unfortunately, most of us find our time in limited supply.  So, it helps to know exactly how far a walk one location is from another. 

That's why I was excited to read a recent entry from National Geographic Traveler's great "intelligent travel" blog about a site called Walk Score.  As the entry mentions, Walk Score was primarily designed to help real estate buyers determine how "walkable" a prospective home's location was in terms of what was within walking distance.  But, the site has obvious travel applications, too.  Deciding between two hotels?  I'm sure both hotels' websites will tell you how "conveniently located" they are.  Why not let walkscore.com break the tie by providing objective measurements (another plus-- like Steven Wright, people's subjective definition of "walking distance" can vary greatly) down to hundredths of a mile?

As a test, I input our hotel address for an upcoming trip and was quickly greeted with a walking distance list of, among other things, nearby grocery stores, drug stores, restaurants, coffee shops, bars, movie theaters, and, ready for this families traveling with young kids?, . . . PARKS!  If you click on any of the destinations provided down the left-hand side of the results page, a little bubble pops up in its corresponding location on the center-page map, providing the destination's exact address and a link to any yelp reviews of the destinations. 

Rather than rely on my convoluted explanation, check the site out for yourself.  Using it is a walk in the (hopefully nearby) park.

Mother's Day: Behold the Power of Music

Simply put, kids love music, and this is a powerful thing to remember while traveling.  For example, packing a favorite night-time CD can lull your child to sleep in unfamiliar surroundings.  And throwing a few favorite CDs into the car can turn an otherwise boring ride into a downright enjoyable and educational experience for everyone (or at least keep everyone alive until you reach your destination).  Here are a few CDs topping Travelin' Junior's playlist that Travelin' Dad and I find palatable enough to adult ears (no Barney, please).   In keeping with Travelin' Dad's list of fives lately, the following are five favorites in our household:

1. African Playground by Putumayo:  this lively multicultural collection of African songs will cheer up any cranky car traveler.  The rhythms are upbeat, and you'll be shouting "jambo!" along with the music in no time.
2. Folk Playground by Putumayo: or as TJ refers to this CD: "GITAR!"  This knee-slapping CD includes traditional folk music passed down through the generations like "Froggie Went A-Courtin."  TJ's favorite song is #4 (scary that I know it by number, isn't it?) "Got No Strings" sung by Michelle Shocked.
3. Songs For Wiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music:  this kid-favorite CD is packed with classic rhyming songs sung by different artists such as "Wheels on the Bus" and "Five Little Monkeys."  TJ's favorite songs come back-to-back, #10 ("Peanut Butter & Jelly") and #11 ("If All of the Raindrops").  Each song is only a few minutes long, so even if you aren't a fan, remember, it will be over quickly. 
4. Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 by NDR Orchestra:  This symphony was one of the few things that calmed TJ during those first colic-filled months, and is now one of the best things to soothe Travelin' Mom and Dad's nerves when we just can't take another version of "Old MacDonald." 
5. Planet Sleeps by various artists: This is TJ's favorite nighttime CD, and, to paraphrase the Old American Express commercials, we never leave home without it.  It's only fitting that this compilation of songs from all over the world has been played in hotel rooms and strange bedrooms all across this country.

So, give some of these a try.  And, even if you don't agree with TJ's taste in music, be sure to bring your child's favorite CD next time you travel in the car or plan to spend a night away from home.  Because nothing sounds sweeter than the sound of a happy child.

TSA Can't Even Cheat Right

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned how TSA screeners at some airports had failed miserably at detecting decoy explosives, missing between 60% to 75% of the decoys.  Well, it seems the TSA lacked confidence in its screeners' abilities long before those results came out.  The Associated Press reports that, in an April 2006 e-mail, a TSA official warned a dozen recipients, including airport security staff, about an upcoming undercover security screening test.  The e-mail included descriptions of the testers' physical appearance and alterations they had made to their travel documents. 

Once this information became public, the TSA responded that they are "confident in the overall integrity of the program" and that tip-offs are not a systematic problem because they "do so much testing."  Frankly, I think the easier response would've been, "If we were cheating, do you really think our test results would be this bad?"

Let's all hope not.

Save the World, Have a Ball

Travel is obviously a great learning tool.  We can't wait to show Travelin' Junior more of the world and watch him experience some of the same lessons we have, whether it be witnessing the Cambodians' ability to maintain a smiling, positive disposition in the face of extreme poverty or seeing South African township citizens exiting their tin shacks in suits and uniforms to begin the long walk to work or school.  But, TJ isn't even two yet.  Even if we were up to the logistics of taking him to South Africa or Southeast Asia, we know he won't remember being there.  So, those trips will likely wait.

But, it doesn't mean we can't start teaching him similar lessons even earlier at home.  For example, Right to Play, the fantastic charity working in more than 20 countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, uses sports "to improve health, build life skills, and foster peace for children of communities affected by war, poverty, and disease."  Right to Play has teamed with adidas for the "Red Ball Campaign."  In short, if you donate $10 to Right to Play, you receive an adidas mini red ball with the Right to Play name and slogan.  So, TJ gets a fun little ball to play with now and hopefully a lesson about helping those less fortunate later.  And you can benefit from your good karma immediately, as adidas (whose site you ultimately order the ball through) currently has free ground shipping for the holiday season (note: it says something about orders of $99, but our order was under $99 and we still received free shipping).  So, your total cost for the ball is exactly $10. 

In full disclosure, we just placed our order, so I can't say how "mini" the Right to Play mini-ball actually is.  But, I'd like to think this is one of those rare occasions where size truly doesn't matter.

Five Family Fun Features For: Chicago

We're going to try a new weekly installment.  Since it's Friday and since I like alliteration, we're going to discuss "Five Family Fun Features" for a given city each Friday.  FFFF will be a firsthand account of fun things to do while traveling with kids in various cities.  Because it's a firsthand account, this series will probably run out sooner rather than later (we've only been so many places with Travelin' Junior and, sadly, we were somewhat oblivious to potential family activities during our pre-TJ travel experiences).  But, I'll hope to add to the list as we add to our travels.  Here are some other basic disclaimers:

• These lists are just what they say they are:  five things to do with kids in a given city.  It's not the five must-see attractions or the five things kids will enjoy doing most.  It's simply five suggestions of things a family might enjoy when visiting a particular city.  Think of it more as a brainstorming tool than a definitive list.
• Unless a specific age group for a particular activity or destination is mentioned, you can assume that it's generally good for, in the words of Nat King Cole, kids from one to ninety-two.  But, you can probably tell from the descriptions what age groups will get the most enjoyment out of a particular spot. 
• Many of these activities may be weather dependent.  I'll try to mix in a few indoor and outdoor activities on each list, but it should be easy to figure out what can be enjoyed when. 

Okay, with all the preliminaries out of the way, here are five fun things for families to do in Chicago:

1. The Lakefront and/or Beaches.  Chicago is one of those rare cities where you can take in an impressive skyline while walking along (or swimming in) an equally impressive body of water.  A flurry of activity occurs on the walking/jogging path that winds along Lake Michigan for miles.  You can bring your rollerblades, rent bikes, or just walk.  If your kids like the path, they'll probably love the beaches.  Walking from the northern end of Michigan Avenue, you can have the sand of the immensely popular Oak Street Beach between your toes in about fifteen minutes.  Since there's no parking there, if you're driving, consider North Avenue Beach, just about a mile north of Oak Street and almost equally popular.  Because of that popularity, parking can actually be quite a hassle.  So, if you're willing to trade a great skyline view for an equally nice and more easily accessible beach a few miles north, you can try Foster Avenue Beach.  But, if you're making it a day at the beach, Foster has only a little snack bar, while both Oak Street (Oak Street Beachstro) and North Avenue (Castaways) have very good dining options.   
2. Millennium Park.  Words escape me when trying to describe how great Millennium Park is.  You've got the amazing "Cloud Gate" sculpture (better known as "the Bean"), the kid-favorite Crown Fountain (containing two 50-foot video screens/water walls that flow into a reflecting pool  full of wading kids in the warmer months), and, if you're traveling to Chicago in February this year (not that I recommend it), a new, 95-foot long ice creation called "Paintings Below Zero."  If you'd rather hear your art than see it, you can bring a picnic and catch a free outdoor concert at the Pritzker Pavilion.  Don't worry about disturbing other patrons-- the running, dancing kids probably outnumber the more serious concert-goers some nights.  Set up shop near the back of the pavilion and nobody will even look twice.  If you work up an appetite from these activities, the Park Grill serves up great food both in a more casual, outdoor setting and in a fancier (but still kid-friendly) indoor setting.  In the winter months, the outdoor portion of the bar and restaurant converts into a skating rink. 
3. Navy Pier.  Yes, Navy Pier is "touristy."  So, what, you're a tourist!  Your kids will be too busy checking out the fantastic Children's Museum, the musical performers, fun house, ferris wheel, and beautiful Lake Michigan views to worry about the local vibe.  There's also an abundance of kid-friendly restaurants, as well as a large food court stocked by mostly local Chicago restaurants.  During the summer, there are often free nighttime fireworks shows, too.  The only downside to all these activities in one place?  The parking, while available, is expensive.  If you're staying downtown, ask about the free Navy Pier trolley service that runs about every 20 minutes from select locations. 
4. The Notebaert Nature Museum.  A couple of miles north of downtown, the nature museum provides an excellent wintertime activity for stir-crazy kids.  There are tons of hands-on activities, with the main attraction being a 2,700 square-foot greenhouse containing more than 1,000 butterflies.  It's the closest thing you'll get to an outdoor activity when the weather turns brutal. 
5. Shedd Aquarium.  The Shedd bills itself as the "world's largest aquarium."  I've never measured, but it's got, like, a lot of stuff.  Some of the best include:  (1) the "Caribbean Reef"-- a 90,000 gallon circular tank where a diver feeds the animals while talking to the visitors through the speaker system; (2) a huge oceanarium with regular dolphin shows; and (3) a "Wild Reef" exhibit containing more than two dozen sharks.  There are several other great exhibits and two kid-friendly dining options:  a food court and a nicer sit-down restaurant with beautiful Lake Michigan views.  Come to think of it, several parts of the aquarium have amazing views of Lake Michigan and the city.  It's definitely one of those spots the adults will enjoy as much as the kids. 

So, there are five suggestions of things to do with kids in Chicago.  And, because this entry isn't painfully long enough, I'll throw in an added bonus:

Find a Sitter and:    Go see sketch comedy at Second City.  The comedy troupe that launched careers from John Belushi to Tina Fey is still going strong.  Unfortunately, many of the topics covered are a tad "mature" for younger audiences.  Plan ahead, because weekend shows usually sell out a week or two in advance.  If the main stage is booked, try for a ticket at the smaller E.T.C. stage, whose revues are usually equally funny.