Destination: Park City, Utah!

Discovered by prospecting soldiers in the late 1800's, Park City, Utah was a bustling mining town for many years. In the 1920's, skiing became popular and Park City became a vacation haven! Today, Park City, Utah is a family-friendly resort town packed with a world of activity – no matter the season! Conveniently located only 35 minutes from the Salt Lake City International Airport, Park City has everything you could ask for in a family vacation spot – and then some!

The town of Park City is truly a premier resort town. In the winter, you can enjoy world class skiing and snowboarding as well as Nordic skiing on groomed trails, guided snowshoe tours, and snowmobile tours. Park City even features winter hot-air balloon rides! Winter visitors to Park City can also enjoy sleigh rides, tubing, first-class restaurants, and so much more! Park City is truly designed to provide endless fun for your family!

To catch even more excitement, plan your visit for January or February! Each January, Park City plays host to the Sundance Film Festival! And February finds revelers enjoying Park City’s Winterfest; a celebration that takes place over two weeks, during which it is rumored the town never sleeps! The annual festival features concerts, fireworks, skiing, snowmobiling, sled dogging events, and an ice sculpture competition.

If cold and snow isn’t your cup of tea, don’t worry, Park City has something to offer year-round! In the warmer months, there are a wide range of outdoor activities nearby to entertain visitors of every age; from rock climbing, and hiking, to mountain biking, horseback riding, or even golfing, there’s something for everyone!

In addition to a myriad of activities, Park City’s historic Main Street offers some terrific window shopping with its numerous galleries, shops and restaurants! With architecture dating back to the renovation of the town following the “great fire of 1898,” Main Street offers the romance of the old west and an eclectic mix of everything from contemporary art to sportswear and handcrafted furniture!  With its turn of the century silver mining history, visitors to the "old town" section can even enjoy charming mining shacks that have been renovated and converted into ski homes.

No matter what season you choose to visit, Park City is a vacation paradise! For lodging information, check out Park City Hotels. Happy travels!!!

- Destination Mom

Baby's First Vacation

So you've finally settled in to your role as a new parent; you think you have mastered most of the tasks required to hold you over until your little bundle of joy heads off to preschool...  then you come face to face with your first vacation with your baby!  Whether your child is weeks old or starting to crawl, your first vacation can be a big wake up call!  Gone are the days of throwing a few essentials in a small case for a week-long getaway!  But there's no need to panic; with a little organization and planning, you can be ready for whatever comes along!

Making a list will save you a lot of frustration and time.  You'll want to pack to address everything from your child's health, to his or her day-to-day needs in terms of feedings, elimination, entertainment, safety, and comfort.  Much of what you will need to pack will be determined by your destination, but the goal is to pack as efficiently as possible, minimizing the amount of unnecessary gear you bring along.  In addition, you will need to address some basic health and safety precautions before you set out on your adventure.

Know Before You Go:

Schedule:

Scheduling your journey during your child's nap or bedtime is a great idea - after all, the more time your child spends sleeping during the journey, the less time you will need to occupy with play or other distractions!  Just remember to bring along comfortable pajamas, books, or anything else that is a part of your usual routine. 

Health:

If you are travelling with an infant, it is important to check with your pediatrician to be sure your child has had all necessary inoculations. Babies do not have fully formed immune systems and are far more susceptible to contracting illnesses than adults.  In addition, it is always a good idea to pack any medications your child may require in a bag that will be easily accessible during the journey.  A carry-on or diaper bag is a good choice; beware though, if you are flying you will need to familiarize yourself with the limits regarding how much liquid you may carry on with you. 

Packing:

Clothing:

Packing clothes is relatively simple: a good rule of thumb is to pack a few more outfits than your baby would go through at home, and remember it never hurts to pack a few extra pajamas, socks and onesies! For extended trips, you may want to check with your lodging provider to see if they have laundry facilities. What you spend doing laundry you will easily save in excess luggage fees.

Diapers and Wipes:

For the majority of destinations, it is safe to assume that you will be able to acquire diapers, wipes, ointment, etc. once you arrive. But plan to pack enough for the flight or drive, plus a few extras for any unforeseen accidents or travel delays.

Toys:

Travelling without toys to occupy your child will inevitably result in disaster.  Pack a wide variety to keep baby distracted along the way, including old stand-bys and a few new surprises! Avoid bringing noisy toys or items that could prove annoying to fellow travelers. 

Gear:

The less gear you need to haul, the happier you will be, so look for items that can serve multiple purposes (i.e. a car-seat that converts to a stroller, a pack and play that can be used as both a play pen and for sleeping etc.).  Another alternative is to explore the availability of rental gear; many popular vacation destinations have local companies that offer car seats, strollers, or other baby gear that you can borrow for the duration of your stay for less than it may cost to lug all that gear on a plane.  Also, many lodging providers now offer cribs, play yards, etc. upon request, which can help cut down on what you need to haul!

Once You Arrive:

Safety:

Most lodging is designed primarily with adults in mind, often overlooking the safety or comfort of young travellers, particularly newly mobile babies or toddlers.  So upon arrival, plan to do a quick evaluation of your room; you may need to rearrange furniture to make play space and remove decorative items that could pose a hazard to your little explorer.  You will also want to bring along some basic child-proofing devices to child-proof your hotel room.  The Travel-Tot Childproofing Kit is an ideal option with it's broad range of deterrent devices (outlet covers, corner guards, foam door pinch guard, multipurpose straps, cord guard etc.).  The Kit components that require installation are specially designed not to harm surfaces; each piece goes on strong but comes off clean thanks to the 3-M temporary adhesive strips  -  you can even re-use many of the pieces! The Kit provides a layer of protection between your child and common hazards, while simultaneously affording you the peace of mind of knowing you won't be incurring extra expenses due to inadvertent damage to hotel property!

- Destination Mom

Boutique of the Week: Wild Child!

Located just north-west of Boston proper is a bright, enchanting boutique called Wild Child!  Owned and operated by Lauren Goglak, Wild Child is widely regarded as a premier source for baby gear and baby gear knowledge in the Boston area.  And it's not just their patrons who are singing their praises; they have earned the prestigious Best of Boston award for their children's clothing and been named one of the top 100 coolest children's stores by "Child" magazine!

Self-described as "a kids store designed with parents in mind," Wild Child carries everything from car-seats and clothing to innovative gifts! They pride themselves on carefully selecting and testing each of their products to make sure they meet the needs and standards of today’s parents. From their stroller selection, to their fashionable and functional clothing, they choose only the items and brands that meet their high standards for usability, design, and value. They subscribe to the philosophy that while parenting can have its challenges, shopping and selecting the best for your child shouldn’t be one of them! 

Lauren and her knowledgeable sales staff pride themselves on providing excellent customer service.  They work with each customer personally to find the best stroller, car seat or accessory to suit their needs, with no pressure to buy something they don't need.  With their online store, they are just as eager to make each customer comfortable and satisfied!  They invite their on-line shoppers to contact them for assistance with picking just the right stroller, gift, or gear, if necessary; providing honest, earnest advice without the pressure of a hard sell.

Their website also has a link for registry creation and access for expectant parents and a calendar of their in-store events; including their weekly reading hour each Friday at 1:00pm!  Wild Child has established an even broader reach with their insightful and fun blog, The Wild Side.  Featuring everything from baby gear advice to whimsical gift ideas, The Wild Side is chock full of valuable information!

So if you find yourself in the greater Boston area, don't miss Wild Child; a boutique with a brilliant selection of merchandise, a knowledgeable and helpful sales staff, and a friendly, comfortable atmosphere!  We love them, and we're confident you will too!

- Destination Mom

Surviving a Long Flight With Children!

Every parent knows that young children are not generally able to sit still for long. So being restricted or confined in an aircraft for a few hours can be a recipe for disaster culminating in tantrums or crankiness, much to the embarrassment and frustration of their parents.  Add to that the discomfort from the change in cabin pressure and the potential for air sickness and you have a nightmare waiting to happen.  Sadly, there is no magic potion to prevent meltdowns in flight; there are, however, several things parents can do to help alleviate the severity of these issues while flying with children!

Pack & Play!

Packing a few favorite toys to keep children entertained can provide distraction and activity for several hours!  Before leaving home, have each child pack a favorite toy or two. For toddlers, you may want to bring a few toys.  By taking the packed items out one at a time you can not only maximize the novelty of each one; you will fill more time with play, and that's the goal!

For older kids, coloring books and crayons or colored pencils can go a long way! Many airlines even offer coloring sets, puzzles, and mini games for children. If the family is visiting friends or relatives, bring along a small photo album filled with pictures of the people they will see; you can even tell stories about their houses, pets, places you will be visiting, etc.

Plug & Play!

Long distance flights generally feature childrens' programs, movies, and games on the TV screen in the back of the seat. Packing headphones will save you a few bucks, and provide hours of entertainment!  Also, portable personal gaming systems (Didj, Nintendo DS, Gameboy, Sega Genesis, Playstation, etc. ) will keep many kids occupied for long stretches of time.

Managing Discomfort or Illness

Once you've provided as much distraction and activity as you can fit into one carry-on, its important to prepare for the other major hurdle you could face; sickness.  Air sickness affects some children, so plan to eat far in advance of the flight's departure time. If your child should become ill, simply use the air sickness bags provided, or pack a few of your own.

Some children complain of ear pain during take-off and landing. Providing pacifiers for babies to suck on and liquids for older kids to sip and swallow  can help relieve the ear pressure. For older children, chewing gum or sucking on hard candy can also help relieve the pressure.  If you don't happen to remember to bring these items, the stewards or stewardesses can often get them for you.   You can also purchase soft ear plugs from most pharmacies that can help both with equalizing the air pressure on each side of the ear drum and with reducing some of the noise of flying.

Your mileage with these suggestions may vary, but with a little advance planning, even the longest trip can generally be weathered with reasonably good results; think of it as a whole different way to childproof when travelling!  Happy travels!

- Destination Mom

Car Seat Safety Away from Home

It's no secret that we at Travel-Tot feel strongly about childproofing hotel rooms and other away-from-home lodging accommodations; but what about keeping your child safe while you are in transit?  Often families get so caught up in the planning, packing, and preparations for a family getaway that they don't remember that their mode of transportation may not already be child-safe.  Airplanes, taxis, and loaner vehicles are rarely equipped with properly installed safety devices; so what is a parent to do?

Bringing your own car seat or booster is one option!  There have been great strides made in developing safety seats that can be easily transported when not in use.  For example, The Car Seat Lady recommends several fabulous options ranging from infant carriers that easily snap to compact strollers to combination stroller car seat/booster options.  These are great because they not only offer a safer seating option for flights or other vehicular transport, but they can be rolled (with a child it in!) through expansive airports or along sidewalks to taxi or bus depots; freeing up parental hands, and saving backs and sanity! 

If you forget or cannot bring your own car seat or booster, rental car seats are another option.  If the taxi or rental car agency offers to provide a safety restraint seat for your child, be certain to check that it is appropriate for your child's age, weight, and height.  Also be certain it is properly installed and that it is in working order with no broken straps or latches.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website provides a fabulous page with age-appropriate safety seat guidelines if you are unsure of what type of seat to request.

The emergency-only option for families travelling with a child is to use whatever safety feature is available (usually a lap and/or shoulder belt).  While it is true that any restraint is better than no restraint at all, using a safety belt alone on a young child is a last resort option and should never be done if an appropriate car seat or booster seat can be obtained.  If you are in a situation where there is no option other than to use a standard seat belt, there are several important steps you can take to ensure that the restraint offers the best protection it can:

• Never buckle more than one person into a car seat belt.  Buckling more than once person into a car seat presents the risk of the top person being fatally crushed in the event of a crash. 
• Never put the shoulder belt behind the back or under the arm of a passenger.
• Be vigilant about seat belt use for everyone riding in the vehicle; studies have shown that restrained passengers are 4 times more likely to die if someone else in the car is not restrained.

Used properly, car seats and seatbelts save lives... a little planning and research can provide you with the knowledge you need to determine which option will best suit your unique needs. Safe travels!

- Destination Mom

Boutique of the Week: USA Baby & Child Space!

This week, we're heading down to the Lone Star State for our featured boutique: USA Baby & Child Space, Houston!   With two locations in the greater Houston area, USA Baby & Child Space is a specialty baby and teen furniture store, and so much more!  From nurseries to children's furniture, they offer affordable and elite designer styles that fit any family budget.  But USA Baby & Child Space is more than just a furniture store; it's one-stop super shop!  With a broad range of products, from strollers and car seats to solutions for childproofing and fussy sleepers; they are a parent's dream!

Part of a nationwide chain (with 60 locations throughout the US, Mexico and Puerto Rico), USA Baby & Child Space, Houston is family owned and operated.  As part of a larger organization, they are able to expand their reach by offering a convenient nationwide shower registry and a centralized return policy.  They take great pride in their expertly trained sales team and strive to deliver the kind of customer service that new parents expect; and to be the low price leader with the best choices in products from around the world!

With so many years of experience, such a wide variety of furniture in stock, and so much product knowledge, their sales staff is able to find a solution for almost every need; but they do acknowledge that sometimes ordering delays are beyond their control.  To avoid frustration and headache, they offer the below advice:

1. Start shopping for furniture well in advance.  The more time on your side, the less worries you will have if you need to order pieces.
2. Have a back up plan! Pick a bassinet, cradle or mini-crib to use for the first few weeks. Doing so, may save you time if any problems arise with your furniture order.
3. Consider taking advantage of the furniture available in stock; 80% of the time, USA Baby & Child Space has full collections available for purchase and same day take home.
4. Keep an open mind! There are many different styles of furniture, in a wide variety of colors and prices. One of their expert sale associates will help you find one that matches your décor or style.
5. If you already have some furniture and wish to try and match remaining pieces, bring a drawer or small piece (knob, etc.) to ensure a good color match.

USA Baby & Child Space is open seven days a week, with flexible hours that can accommodate even the most demanding schedule.  What differentiates them most from their competitors, however, is their on-site warehouse, which is also open seven days a week!  They even accept orders via phone!  All this, plus  price matches with local competitors, free six month layaway, and a terrific rewards program makes USA Baby & Child Space a perfect choice for everyone from first-time parents, to growing families!

- Destination Mom

Destination: Williamsburg, VA!

Family fun is in large supply in Williamsburg, Virginia!  Located approximately 150 miles south of Washington, D.C., Williamsburg boasts two major theme parks (Busch Gardens and Water Country USA) and a world of historical attractions.  With so much to see and do, it's no wonder that it has become a family hot-spot!

With over twenty rides, loads of shows and attractions, a variety of dining options and impeccably kept grounds, Busch Gardens Williamsburg is a veritable paradise for travelling families!  Divided into multiple European-themed sections, Busch Gardens features a variety of attractions from cultural experiences and animal encounters, to seasonal shows and rides for children of all ages! Their newest addition, "Sesame Street: Forest of Fun" features family-friendly rides, playgrounds and even a 4-D Sesame Street movie!  Also, each year from late November through New Year's Eve, Busch Gardens transforms the park for its annual Christmas Town Celebration; featuring special holiday shows, attractions, and  rides!  Opening hours and offerings vary seasonally, so be sure to check the website for details!

If you're looking for a water park adventure during the warmer weather months, Water Country USA is nothing short of a watery fantasy land!  From May to early September, slide, splash and swim at this great water park featuring acres of rides for children and families. Shoot down any number of adrenaline-rush-inducing slides, relax at the Aquabatics high-dive and gymnastics show, splash and play in your choice of three water play stations designed for younger children, or just float around in the lazy river.  There's something for everyone!  Again, opening hours vary seasonally, so check the website for more details.

For a glimpse of colonial America, don't miss downtown Colonial Williamsburg.  Offering a variety of family-oriented programs year-round, the historical district features a tour with many stops designed especially to appeal to families with young children; from the Wig Maker's Shop to the Blacksmith, you'll be treated to numerous demonstrations and programs by actors bedecked in colonial garb!  History truly springs to life in Williamsburg, in ways that get little minds working!   Check out their Family Fun Itinerary for some great ideas and must-see attractions!

Williamsburg is within easy driving distance from most mid-Atlantic states, and can be reached via air or rail for families travelling from more remote locations.  The area also features a variety of lodging options, from Bed and Breakfasts to hotels and motels - there's something for every budget and comfort need!  Discover Williamsburg - a charming, timeless, fun-filled family vacation spot!

- Destination Mom