It has been our family’s experience that if the children are not kept busy, boredom sets in quickly. One would think that spending the day in one of Disney’s four theme parks would satisfy their need to go and do, but even after running around in one of the parks for 8-10 hours the children still want to know what they will be doing next. Although mom and dad may want to relax a bit, the children want to keep busy.

The Boardwalk Inn and Disney’s Boardwalk Villas has become our favorite resorts because both offer plenty of activities and entertainment opportunities that will keep everyone busy so that we never have to hear the children say “I’m bored.”

So what do the children like to do to keep busy when we are not in a park? Usually, the first thing everyone wants to do at the resort is to swim. The resort’s main pool is located on the Villas side of the property. It is called The Luna Park Pool and it has a 200 foot water slide called Keister Coaster. It is a recreation of a 1920s roller coaster. The slide empties into the pool through the mouth of a clown with the slide as the clown’s tongue. The pool is colorful, exciting and it provides enough fun to keep the children busy for several hours.

In addition to the pool, The Boardwalk Inn and Villas also offer other free activities like tennis, a small playground, and a fitness center. There are other activities that cost extra that can be enjoyed as well. There are two arcades on the property. The biggest is at the ESPN Club located on the Boardwalk.

One activity that we enjoy as a family is renting a surrey bike. The rental stand is located on the Boardwalk just beyond the courtyard area of the resort known as the Village Green. You can rent a 2, 4 or even a 6 seat surrey bike to take for a ride along the Boardwalk and around the ¾ mile walkway that circles Crescent Lake. The walkway has plenty of small hills and even a few not so small hills that make it lots of fun and sometimes a bit of a challenge for those who are pedaling the bike. Most of the time our family ends up laughing so hard after struggling with the smaller hills that we have to get off and push the bike in order to make it up the larger hills. This experience provides us with some good old fashioned family fun and enough memories to share for years to come.

Even though we enjoy all of these activities, we especially like to walk around the boardwalk at night. The sight of bright neon lights, the sounds of midway games, the energy of the live entertainers and the smell of the food coming from the restaurants and the venders all combine to make the Boardwalk come to life with an energy and excitement that only Disney could create.

So the next time you want to take your family on a vacation where the children will be occupied and entertained consider going to Walt Disney World and staying on property at The Boardwalk Inn or Disney’s Boardwalk Villas. Not only do these two resorts offer fun and exciting activities and recreation opportunities they have the added benefit of being conveniently located next to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and at the International Gateway entrance into Epcot.

Well, when kids are with you, you need to be more prepared because as we all know they have special needs and we have to respond to such needs. With the tips provided below, it would surely help you get yourself prepared for the entire travel.

You have to bring with you some of the most useful things you could carry with you as you travel and as you reach destinations:
•    Band-Aids
•    antiseptic hand gel
•    small tissue packs
•    sun screen
•    Dr.’s phone numbers
•    Tylenol – children’s & adults
•    a rubber door stop can provide extra security for a hotel room door
•    small plug in nightlight – to help find the bathroom in the middle of the night

* These things re for the activities you could have together in order not get bored and to get their attention fully
•    Crayons
•    mechanical pencils
•    highlighter – good for word search games
•    paper
•    deck of cards
•    zip lock bags (collecting shells, storing food, wet clothes)

* These are other things for travel uses:
•    sun glasses
•    hats/visors
•    light weight wind breaker
•    umbrella
•    camera with extra film
•    keep a photo of your child in your wallet – incase you loose them in a crowed area
•    extra copy of birth certificates, photo id, travel reservations, airline tickets

With these pointers in mind, you would not surely miss the thrill and the fun, you would also be able to good at preparing for traveling like from the simple trips to those that require loads of planning.

Flight Planning

1. If you are travelling with a small child below the age of two, some airlines do not recommended infants flying within the first seven days after birth unless approved by a medical officer.

2. Airlines do specify what are the approved car seats onboard for your child. The seat must be safely secured onto the aircraft passenger seat by the aircraft safety belt and must conform to all applicable safety standards certified for use in aircraft.

3. A limited number of bassinets are available onboard on a first-come, first-served basis. Different airlines have different bassinets sizes supporting different maximum weight.

4. Children’s meals are often provided. Requests for these meals should be made at the time of booking. Airlines may also provide other items such as disposable bibs, diapers, feeding bottles and baby wipes. Sometimes, baby food will be provided for an infant under two years.

Activities Planning

1. When you are planning a vacation, ask yourself what is the objective of this vacation ? Is the vacation meant for relaxation, for learning, for unique experiences or for fun ?

2. With the objective in mind, plan activities according to the interest of your kids.

3. Do not pack the day with many activities, which will exhaust the kids.

4. Expose your kids to new adventures, to learn new stuff or to acquire a new skill during the vacation.

5. As children tend to have shorter attention span, do not plan activities which are exceptionally long.

6. Ensure that the places which you are visiting are kids-friendly, as some attractions and activities may have age or height limitations.

7. Always find out what are the policies concerning children such as extra charges, half price or applicable child discounts.

8. If you are visiting attractions such as museums, consider if your child is able to understand the materials presented.

9. Always be flexible during your journey as children are likely to have different demands at different places.

10. Always visit the homepage of the attraction or activity-provider to find out if there are any family passes or discounts.

Accommodation Planning

1. Look for accommodation which is child-friendly. Usually, these accommodations will be able to provide baby cribs, roll away beds, adjoining rooms or baby sitting services.

2. If you are travelling on a budget, do consider family-friendly hostels. They provide great service as well. Otherwise, find hotels where kids stay free or hotels with free nights.

2. Do consider spending a night at the zoo. There are many zoos which offer zoo snooze programs. Their interesting activities may include night and morning tours of the zoo, live animal demonstrations, animal related activities and/or craft. Usually, snacks and breakfast will be provided.

3. Hotels with kid’s club are excellent as they could keep your kids occupied with fun activities while you can have a break.

Others

1. Encourage your children to write a journal for the trip or make a scrapbook to record their wonderful memories.

2. Don’t forget to find out where are some of the child-friendly restaurants and have a happy meal with your kids.

Have a happy and blessed vacation.

A vacation for kids need not be the same every year. Always look for fresh ideas to surprise your kids. Encourage them to learn a new skill, to acquire new knowledge or simply let them have some unique experiences for each vacation. Here are some simple ideas for an extraordinary vacation for your kids.

1. Accommodation Fun

You need not always head for a hotel for your vacation. Stay overnight at the zoo with the zoo’s snooze program. Kids will enjoy the Zoo Snooze Program which often includes an up-close animal encounter, craft activities, night tours and games. Alternatively, join the aquarium’s overnight program ! It is a rare chance to explore the aquarium after hours, and you can get to participate in a variety of activities organised by the staff. With an expert guide, you may get to visit the aquarium’s behind-the-scenes areas and the food-preparation area to learn how the animals are cared for and fed. If your kids love animals, why not plan for a farmstay ? Have them engaged in interesting farm activities such as milking the cows, collecting eggs, feeding out the hay, riding on a tractor and watching sheep dogs at work. Your hosts may also bring your family for a farm walk or organize some sidetrips, guided tours or fun activities such as scuba diving, trekking and forest walks. Don’t forget to bring a little gift to thank your hosts for their warm and kind hospitality.

2. Great Rail Journeys

There are many great rail journeys around the world. Sit back and relax. Enjoy the spectacular and breathtaking scenery which the trains will happily bringing you. Many rail companies are now having interesting activities for children on board. Kids may get an activity book, which has a variety of cut and paste, and colouring activities. Sometimes, special activities such as games and video shows are featured at designated cars in the train. Kids will be delighted to know that there are menus specially for them as well. Usually, families with kids will be entitled to priority boarding. Babies and infants under 24 months usually travel free provided that they do not occupy a seat; while children are often entitled to child discounts. Otherwise, look for family passes.

3. Scenic Adventures

Do you know that there are many scenic places which are part of the UNESCO sites ? Take time off to admire the beautiful creation of God, who is the maker of heaven and earth for your next vacation. Many of these sites are mountains, reefs, islands, or national parks where kids can have a wonderful time roaming around and feeling the breathe of nature. Kids will love the gondola rides to the mountain tops; or fish, dive or snorkel at the amazing reefs, or have a fun time trekking at the national parks. You can even camp overnight with your kids at some national parks ! For a comprehensive list of the UNESCO sites, you can visit the UNESCO website for more details.

4. Wildlife Fun

Kids love wildlife ! There are many ways to enjoy wildlife. A visit to the zoo is a good start. Check the events calendar of the zoo and do not missed the animal shows. Animal shows are always interesting and often include audience participation games, keeper chats and animal demonstrations. There are also zoos which allow kids to touch, pat or cuddle the animals. Then, plan a trip to the aquarium. Enjoy their training sessions where you can watch the aquarists feeding and training the sea animals. Why not encourage your kids to be a zoo or aquarium keeper for a day ? Another way of getting to know wildlife is to embark on a wildlife cruise. Observe animals such as whales, dolphins, penguins as well as other sea birds in their natural habitats. Usually, the cruise is fully narrated by a skipper who has a wealth of knowledge of the wildlife. Majority of the catamarans are suitable for families and for young children. Do ensure that your children are supervised at all times for their own safety. Remember to clothe your kids with warm clothing, bring a hat and apply some sun screen lotion. Have a good time experiencing an aquatic adventure that your kids will remember for a lifetime !

5. Children’s Museum

The children’s museum is always a child’s delight. Meant for kids, it offers a myriad of activities and hands-on opportunities for them to unleash their creativity and imagination. A children’s museum is usually a nonprofit institution. You can help the Children’s Museum by making a donation of time, money or services. Different museums will have different themes and galleries ranging from physical and natural sciences, history, world cultures and the arts. Check the events calendar and find out the featured programs of the museum.

6. Learning Journeys

Vacations are great learning journeys. Take the opportunity to acquire new knowledge or learn a new skill during your next vacation. You can learn to dive with sharks at the aquariums or swim with the dolphins, learn how to snorkel at the reefs or surf at the beaches. Plan a visit to factories and learn how cheese and jam are made, or simply have fun watching demonstrations at the ginger factory and honey factory.

7. Enjoying Festivals

Every country has her own festival celebration. By being part of the celebration, it allows you to gain a better understanding of the diversities of cultures and their practices. Why not plan your vacation to coincide with some of the festivals of your desired destination ?

8. Themepark Fun

Themeparks are always a draw for kids. Remember to observe the safety precautions and rules of the themepark. Not all rides are suitable for children as some have age or height restrictions. You can obtain information on the available kids rides from the website of the themepark. Remember to dress comfortably. Protect your family from the sun with sunscreen and headgear, even on cloudy days. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water and have a fun day at the themepark.

9. Appreciating Nature

Even if your kids are not flower lovers, they will not be able to resist a landscape of flowers blooming in their smiles. Plan a trip to the magnificent gardens to have a better knowledge of the plants, flowers and trees. Some gardens have seasonal highlights for spring, summer, autumn and winter; while others have a blooming calendar identifying the varieties of flowers in bloom for different seasons. You may wish to print out the pictures of the flowers from the website and get your kids to colour them during the trip. Bring your kids to the interactive botanical play zone or the children’s garden for a time of play. Alternatively, enjoy a guided tour at the garden.

10. Unique Experiences

Always make your vacation a fun trip for your kids. Give them plenty of opportunities to explore and discover with all their senses. Allow time for them to reflect about the journey. Other unique experiences which you may wish to consider for your vacation include helicopter rides, glacier walks, skiing, or take a trip to the sky with a hot air balloon ride.

The above are just some simple ideas for an extraordinary vacation for your kids. There are definitely more places for you to explore and discover a new adventure for your family. Have a happy and blessed vacation.

Of course you can travel just about anywhere with your kids on a budget. Like any travel experience on a budget you need to research and plan well to make the most of your travel dollar. Many places, however, are family or kid friendly and will throw in added extras for the children. So whether you intend traveling at home or abroad, look for places that will cater to your family’s needs.

RV trips are a great way to travel on a budget. In fact, traveling with a car is almost essential for families. It is usually cheaper than buying rail passes or catching taxis everywhere. But more importantly, it gives you that ‘door to door’ freedom that is necessary when traveling with kids.

If you are traveling overseas, have you considered staying in a hostel with your family? This is a much cheaper option than staying in hotels and many hostels are family friendly and have no age limit (except in Bavaria where you can’t be older than twenty six). You can request a room with enough bunk beds to accommodate your family and you can cook your meals in the communal kitchen. Huge savings to be made!

In the USA there are many places to travel with your family on a budget. Consider these options:

1. Camping. The cheapest option around for any travel adventure. Many campsites have activities for kids and if you don’t like the idea of staying in a tent, many places have cabins to rent that are still cheaper than a hotel room. Camping gets you up close and personal with nature and gets the kids outside and running around.

2. What about spending some time at a Working Farm or Dude Ranch? Look around for reasonably priced holidays at these destinations and you will find plenty of activities and atmosphere for kids and adults alike.

3. Head to Disneyland in off peak season for big savings.

4. The same can be said for traveling to Hawaii. Check the packages available in low season and see how affordable it is.

5. You’ll also find some excellent deals in traveling to Mexico. Go for all-inclusive resorts, especially in the low season.

What about if you want to travel overseas? Where are some good places to take the kids on a budget?

* Although Australia is a long way away and can be a bit pricey to get there, it is a very child-friendly place with lots of cost saving adventures to be had for the kids. Australian off peak is different from North America so do some research.

* Europe can be done on a budget with kids. Pick your destinations with the kids in mind. Get them involved in your itinerary. Stay in hostels and travel by car. You’ll be amazed at how much you save and how much you see.

* Some island resorts are very child friendly. In Fiji there are resorts where children under twelve stay and eat for free. Do your research!

* How about a family cruise? Cruises are great because they are all-inclusive, cater for families and you get to explore lots of places. There are some good family package deals to be found with most cruise companies.

So get planning and get packed. Plan your family vacation and check out the deals available. Going off peak is the best way to save money. If you are going to take the kids out of school buy them a journal so they can record their experiences. It’s amazing how much they’ll learn by traveling with their family.

Going to the zoo can be an enriching experience for your kids. They can learn about how animals behave, where they come from, their eating habits and sounds they make. They can make comparisons between adult and baby animals and animals within the same family. Here are some tips to plan a meaningful zoo trip with your kids :

1. Before visiting the zoo, visit the zoo website with your kids to help create interest. Some zoos may feature on-line activities or printables for kids.

2. Learn about the history of the zoo, its mission, and the direction it is heading.

3. Check the calendar of events for the zoo.

4. Print out zoo newsletters, if any.

5. Print out pictures of the animals and have your kids identify them at the zoo.

6. At the zoo, get your kids to count the animals.

7. Bring along drawing papers and encourage your kids to draw the animals.

8. Learn about the programs which the zoo offers. Some zoos allow you to feed the animals at allocated times.

9. Take your kids for an animal show. Animal shows are always interesting and often include audience participation games, keeper chats and animal demonstrations.

10. Bring a camera to capture shots of animal movements.

11. Encourage your kids to make a scrapbook of the zoo trip.

12. Pick up any worksheets at the zoo, or design some worksheets yourself.

13. Learn about the zoo’s conservation projects.

14. Visit the Kid’s Zoo. Usually, the Kid’s Zoo will have many interactive activities, animals, storyboards, and other opportunities for kids to be creative. Kids can experience touching, creativity, play and fun-filled learning.

15. Some zoos allow kids to be zoo-keepers for a day. This interesting program allows kids to have a close encounter with the animals.

16. Join a zoo camp. Campers can enjoy the tours, animal demonstrations, crafts and activities.

17. Stay overnight at the zoo with the zoo’s Snooze Program. Zoo Snooze Programs usually include an up-close animal encounter, craft activities, night tours and games.

18. Compare zoos. Every zoo is different. Get your kids to discover their differences and similarities.

19. Observe zoo manners. Teach your kids what they must not do at the zoo (e.g. no littering, no smoking, do not climb over the fences, do not provoke the animals, etc.).

20. Learn about the zoo’s adoption programs.

21. Write suggestions to the zoo on how to provide better facilities and services.

22. Be a zoo volunteer. Sometimes, zoo will advertise the kind of help that they need at different times. Zoo volunteers may assist in animal food preparation, educating visitors and school children during zoo camps, etc.

23. Teach your kids to support the zoo by making a donation. Some zoos have special programs which require funding. You can also help to sponsor an animal.

Have a nice trip at the zoo !

If it’s been a while since you’ve visited Las Vegas, it’s time to go. And this trip, bring the kids! That’s right. Las Vegas is now kid friendly Vegas, and it’s not because the gambling age got lowered. Las Vegas is just as kid friendly as Disney, and just as chock-full of things to do for kids of all ages. Check out these reasons why kid friendly Vegas should top your next kid friendly travel list.

Kid Friendly Las Vegas Amusement Parks, Theme and Water Parks

Here are the thirteen major kid friendly play spots on and off the Strip that will keep your kids smiling.

? Adventuredome
? Doolittle Pool
? Freedom Park
? Coney Island Emporium
? Star Trek: The Experience
? Buffalo Bill’s Amusement Park
? Stratosphere Tower
? Las Vegas Wet Indoor Water Park
? The Eiffel Tower Experience
? The Roller Coaster at NY NY
? SPEED the Ride
? SkyMania Fun Center

And keep your eyes open for the little tucked away fun spots that you’ll find inside all the Vegas kid friendly resorts like Excalibur, the fairytale castle kid friendly Vegas resort that’s every bit as impressive as the one that the famous mouse lives in.

Las Vegas Kid Friendly Shows and Kid Friendly Restaurants

Depending on the season and who’s in town, there are always at least 20 great kid friendly shows that your children will still be talking about long after their Vegas family vacation is over. Some of the especially kid friendly shows include these:

? Blue Man Group
? Lance Burton Magic Show
? World’s Largest Permanent Circus
? Gregory Popovich’s Comedy Pet Theater
? Monty Python’s Spamalot
? Steve Wyrick Magic Show
? Xtreme Magic Show Starring Dirk Arthur
? ICE at the Riviera Hotel and Casino

And don’t miss the Tournament of Kings interactive dinner show at the kid friendly Excalibur. And speaking of dinner, a family friendly vacation requires child friendly restaurants, and Vegas is overflowing with them.

Kahunaville at Treasure Island and the Rainforest Café are the top two kid friendly Vegas restaurants, but you’ll also want to experience the Pasta Pirate at the California Club, and America at the New York – New York.

Other Vegas Family Friendly Vacation Ideas

If you want to sneak a few educational experiences into your Vegas kid friendly travel plans without the little ones being any the wiser, Vegas offers plenty of options. Topping the list is the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay, followed by the Lied Discovery Museum and the Las Vegas Springs Preserve.

Vegas Kid Friendly Travel, Naturally

If you have time, take the kids to the Grand Canyon in nearby Arizona. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime trip that your kids will be telling their kids about. A little closer to Vegas is the Red Rock Canyon, Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, Lake Mead, and the Floyd Lamb State Park.

Kid Friendly Vegas is worthy of a visit, so make it your preferred kid friendly travel destination.