Hey there, fellow foodie travelers! Today, we’re in New England, talking about food! There are so many cool things to do in New England, and all that sightseeing will definitely help you work up an appetite. There are so many great New England food spots that it would take ages to try them all. So we’re going to tell you the top five things to eat and drink in New England.
Lobster
Of course, when you think of New England, you probably think of lobster. It’s everywhere, and that’s because the chilly waters of the Atlantic Ocean are prime lobster habitat. Order a whole lobster and dip the meat in butter. Have a lobster roll, lobster bisque, lobster macaroni and cheese, and every derivation you can imagine. Lobster ice cream? You can find it in New England! (When you order lobster, don’t be ashamed to wear the bib…you will be glad you did!)
Stop off on the side of the road and grab a lobster roll.
Oysters
Another New England seafood staple is oysters. You can get fresh, delicious oysters up and down the East Coast. They come in several variations and preparations, from salty to sweet. You typically order oysters by the dozen, and many restaurants will let you mix up the dozen and try several different preparations. If oyster shooters aren’t your favorite, you can also try fried oysters, oysters Rockefeller, or oyster stew.
Clams
Last on the New England seafood list is clams. Have steamed clams, fried clams, or clam chowder. They make clam-flavored potato chips. When you get fried clams, you have to choose between whole belly clams or clam strips. New England clam chowder is our kids’ favorite soup; it’s the white clam chowder, and it’s creamy and delicious!
Now that we’ve covered seafood along the coast of New England, the next “must eat” food is actually several foods. Each area of New England has a regional specialty. Often, they are sweet treats, but these are a few of our favorite regional New England foods:
A fluffernutter is a sandwich made with peanut butter and marshmallow fluff. This New England staple is so delicious, and you can get them toasted to make everything extra ooey-gooey.
Boston baked beans are a Boston staple, obviously.
Boston Creme Pie is one of Mark’s favorites
Vermont is home to Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, where you can tour the factory and try some of the newest flavors.
Whoopie Pie is another of our favorite New England desserts you should try. Invented in Maine, it’s a little sandwich made of dense chocolate cake with marshmallow fluff or buttercream frosting in the middle.
In the summer, you’ll see a lot of blueberry treats, like blueberry muffins, blueberry pie, and blueberry sundaes.
You will need something to wash down all this great New England food! Jocelyn’s favorite is flavored seltzer water. At the grocery stores in New England, you’ll find as many varieties of seltzer water as soda. Mark prefers New England beer, and there is a lot to sample! Vermont and Connecticut have some of the best breweries in the USA. (Note: liquor laws vary by state, but you can’t always buy liquor at the grocery store. Sometimes, you have to visit a specific liquor store.)
Although they do speak English in New England, there are some New England food names that might leave you scratching your head. A “grinder” is actually just a sub sandwich and a “frappe” is a milkshake. A milkshake in New England is just flavored milk! Keep this in mind as you sample all the good New England cuisine and drinks! Looking for more tips on travel in the northeast United States? Check out some of these other blog posts!
Ack, how did it get to be the second week of May? I feel like we are living in some weird time loop. We have been home for 60 days. 60 incredible, hellish, strange, boring, irritating, scary days. But somehow, I think it should still be March. Why? Because the day we went into SIP is the day my internal clock shut down.
Days and weeks are running together. It doesn’t help that I have nothing to set my day by. No appointments, no school schedules, no volunteer hours, no nothin. I get up and do a few things around the house and suddenly it is 4pm and I am exhausted. Probably because I stayed up far too late the night before binge watching Father Brown.
My sad blank month of May. I can’t quite bring myself to delete the trip that may never be.
I have been going to bed at ungodly hours. Hours that I have rarely seen since my college days, out dancing until dawn. Hours I only saw afterward to nurse a newborn or catch some insane flight out of South America (why are the flights out of SA so odd?). It wouldn’t be a big deal if I slept in but alas, sleeping in is waking at 0700 at best.
As we are well into the month of May the weather should be warm and I should feel summer coming. But that too is stuck in limbo as the temperatures have been in the 50s most days. I think mother nature must be in the time loop too. I lost almost every vegetable I planted to a frost I didn’t see the warning for. I guess when they say don’t plant until May they must mean May 30.
Yesterday was Mother’s Day. I was sad about not getting homemade gifts from the boys but my sweet husband not only had them both paint me something, he did too. We got up early made breakfast and relaxed until the boys woke up. We played games of my choosing and watched Anne of Green Gables all evening. It was wonderful. I also got my yearly gift of Mark taking the Christmas tree down. What can I say, he really loves Christmas and I indulge him, until ‘my’ holiday.
My boys with the Mother’s Day artwork they created just for me.
Several states are opening back up. There is much hubbub about the timing and methods each is using. In Illinois, our governor has set a plan for opening regions in phases. The state is divided into 4 regions, 3 more or less horizontal bands across the state with the north being divided vertically to separate Chicagoland from the western part of the north third of the state.
There is a lot of animosity in many towns with very few cases. Several have sent in propositions for creating smaller regions and opening more quickly in places with few cases. Some businesses are just defying orders and opening anyway. Some can’t afford not to. So many have already gone bankrupt.
There have been protests in other states calling for faster openings. Many people are questioning the constitutionality of some of the mandates that have been put in place. So far as I know this hasn’t happened in Illinois. Though, there have been a few lawsuits filed on similar grounds. I don’t really have an opinion on any of it at this point. I will continue to stay home, leaving only as necessary but, I will yearn to do those simple things that were part of daily life before covid. I will also pray for the many millions of Americans and others who have lost their jobs due to this epic shutdown of the world.
Breadlines in NYC Photo Credit: AP; Gene J Puskar, creator
I saw a statistic today that said 1 in 5 American families do not have enough food to eat right now. When this SIP started, I thought, it will be like the Great Depression. Liam said, there will be revolutions. I prayed neither of us would be right. I am afraid if things don’t change soon, if people cannot go back to work, if people continue to go hungry, things will become unconscionably worse. What can you do? Open town by town based on number of cases? Hope for herd immunity? Make masks mandatory for the foreseeable future? Each and every limit affects the outcome of the disease but also the livelihood of so many. How can we feed everyone if huge corporations and small businesses are all shutting down?
There are no simple answers it seems. I wish this damn virus had never come to be. I wish science could come up with an effective treatment. I wish misinformation would wither and die. I wish I could go spend a week with my and Mark’s parents. Maybe soon, probably not. I am grateful we are not hungry, yet.
Hey there, fellow foodie travelers! Today, we’re in North Carolina, talking about food! There are so many cool things to do in North Carolina, and all that sightseeing will definitely help you work up an appetite. There are so many great North Carolina food spots that it would take ages to try them all. So we’re going to tell you the top five things to eat and drink in North Carolina.
North Carolina Beer
The area around Asheville in the western part of North Carolina has some really great local brews. Asheville is a great little college town with a hippie vibe and it’s really fun to visit. The beer is just the icing on the cake! There are over 300 breweries and brewpubs in North Carolina, more than any other Southern state. Check out Asheville Brewing Company, Deep River Brewing Company, Foothills Brewing Company, and more!
If you prefer wine over beer, the Biltmore Estate in Asheville has vineyards and a winery where you can sample and purchase North Carolina wines. There are actually more than 400 vineyards in North Carolina!
Grabbing some traditional North Carolina food in the OBX.
North Carolina Barbecue Sauce
I know I’ve probably said Memphis has the best barbeque and also Kansas City. But each region of the US has its own style of BBQ. The sauce is what sets it apart from other BBQ hot spots. North Carolina BBQ sauce has a vinegar base, so it’s more tangy and spicy without the sweet side of other barbecue styles. (Don’t forget a side of hush puppies and coleslaw to go with your BBQ!)
The most common North Carolina BBQ you’ll find is of the pork variety: pulled, sliced, shredded, or chopped. Of course, you can get ribs or brisket, but true “Carolina BBQ” is pork with a vinegar smoke.
Yes, I would like to eat until I explode, thank you.
Fresh Seafood
If you’re in the Outer Banks or anywhere along the coast, make sure you take advantage of the fresh seafood that’s available. Soft-shell crab and clams are two popular seafood types you’ll find all along the North Carolina coast.
Some of the best donuts in the United States come from North Carolina. Krispy Kreme was founded in North Carolina before they went national, so they know their donuts here. You also have to try Duck Donuts. It’s like the “Chipotle” of donuts. You start with the base of a vanilla cake donut, and then go down the link, picking out your toppings. You start with a coating like powdered sugar or icing, then choose your toppings. You can even get bacon sprinkles on your donut! Finish it off with a drizzle of hot fudge, raspberry, marshmallow, or salted caramel, and you’re on your way to the best donut you’ve ever concocted! Duck Donuts started in the Outer Banks, but they’ve expanded so no matter where go you in North Carolina, you’ll find a Duck Donuts nearby.
They know their donuts in North Carolina
Southern Fixin’s
It’s easy to forget that North Carolina really is part of the south, and that means Southern food. Boiled peanuts are a southern treat you can buy along the side of the road. Fried green tomatoes are another southern specialty we love to try. And you can’t visit the South without drinking sweet tea. Skip right by the unsweetened tea and try the sweet tea. It’s a southern staple and it goes with everything!
North Carolina food is just one reason to visit this state. There are a ton of cool cities and areas to explore. From the Outer Banks to the Smoky Mountains, North Carolina is pretty amazing. Looking for more tips on travel in the southern United States? Check out some of these other blog posts!
Guest post by our friend & fellow traveler Leigh Wilson from Campfires & Concierges.
When AdventureKEEN publishers asked me to write a guide book about all the great spots in Arizona, I jumped at the chance. I had only lived there for about six months when the opportunity came my way, so this was the perfect opportunity to explore my new home state. I put over 25,000 miles on my car as I crisscrossed my way around Arizona. From iconic destinations like the Grand Canyon to off-the-beaten-path spots like the Hopi Mesas, there are so many cool places to visit in Arizona. It’s hard to narrow down my favorites, but these are ten places I recommend in Arizona. These are all included in my book, Arizona Day Trips by Theme, as well as many other amazing spots.
Arizona is gorgeous for a visit.
Watson Lake, Prescott
Prescott is probably my favorite town in Arizona and it’s a great weekend getaway from Phoenix, or a destination all its own. At an elevation of 5400’, Prescott has a much cooler climate than other parts of Arizona, and fragrant pine forests to boot. I love all of the lakes surrounding Prescott, especially Watson Lake. Surrounded by hoodoos or granite dells, it’s unlike anything else I’ve experienced in Arizona. There’s a hiking trail around the lake, a disc golf course, and kayak rentals so you can see the granite formations up close.
I didn’t have great expectations going to this museum. The name just doesn’t sound that exciting. But it’s way more than just musical instruments. It’s actually ranked as one of the top 15 museums in the country. In addition to over 7000 musical instruments from around the world, the museum has a ton of great exhibits on the history of music, featuring musical legends like Carlos Santana, the Beatles, Prince, and others. It reminds me a lot of the Experience Music Project in Seattle.
Heard Museum, Phoenix
Hands down the best place to learn about Native American history and culture is at the Heard Museum in downtown Phoenix. The Heard was recommended to me by several Native Americans, and the exhibits are truly moving. They have the largest collection of Kachina dolls in the US, many of which came from Senator Barry Goldwater’s private collection. The Boarding School Exhibition is so educational and heartbreaking; it’s truly eye-opening to see how our American history has been altered and white-washed.
In the northeast corner of Arizona lies Monument Valley. People of my generation probably recognize this area from the Forrest Gump movie, but it’s been featured in dozens of Western films since the 1930s. Iconic sandstone buttes, including the “Mittens”, make this a must-see spot along the Arizona-Utah border. This is Navajo land, so you must pay to enter. Tours and lodging are available, or you can drive your own vehicle on a loop through the park.
Jerome Ghost Town
Only 30 miles from Sedona lies the “ghost town” of Jerome. Once called the “Wickedest Town in the West,” Jerome is perched on a hillside overlooking the Cottonwood Valley. The streets and sidewalks are so steep, they seem to defy gravity. Today, the town is a bit of an artist’ haven, with bars, restaurants, ghost tours, and souvenir shops that make Jerome the perfect day trip from Sedona. You can also stop at nearby Tuzigoot National Monument to view some Native American pueblos.
Canyon de Chelly National Monument
When people ask me what is my favorite place in Arizona, I always say it’s Canyon de Chelly National Monument. It has everything that represents Arizona to me. A rich Native American history, cliff dwellings, and stunning scenery. The park is on Navajo land, and you can only enter the canyon with a Native guide. I highly recommend staying at the Thunderbird Lodge in the park and taking one of their guided tours (by Jeep or horseback) into the Canyon to visit cliff dwellings and farmland that is still occupied by Navajo today. You should also take the scenic drives around the rim of the Canyon, and don’t miss Spider-Woman, the dramatic sandstone spire.
Saguaro National Park
The first place I ever visited in Arizona was Saguaro National Park, so it always has a special place in my heart. With two units separated by the city of Tucson, you can’t beat the dramatic sunsets and towering saguaro cactus. Some of the best hikes around Tucson can be found in and around the National Park. Once the sun goes down, you’ll be amazed at the number of stars you can see, thanks to super dark skies of Southern Arizona.
Tonto National Monument
This is one of the more remote spots on this list, but I fell in love with the setting right away. Tucked into a canyon above Lake Roosevelt, there are two sets of cliff dwellings at Tonto National Monument. You can reach the lower cliff dwellings on a short but steep hike, but the upper dwellings are only open with a ranger-led tour in the winter months. It’s a unique spot to see cliff dwellings looking out over a lake that was just a valley when the dwellings were occupied. If you’re coming from Phoenix, you can take the unpaved Apache Trail through the Superstition Mountains to reach Lake Roosevelt and Tonto National Monument.
Some more gorgeous views of Arizona.
Verde Canyon Railroad
One of my favorite excursions in Northern Arizona is a day spent on the Verde Canyon Railroad. The journey starts in Clarkdale, an old copper mining town halfway between Prescott and Sedona. The train winds through the high desert until reaching the red sandstone area near Sedona before turning around. With open-air cars and first-class seating, this is a great scenic train ride through Northern Arizona. They have seasonal themes, as well. The stargazing and fall foliage rides sound incredible.
As a concierge in Tucson, this is the first place I sent anyone who was new to the area. It’s the perfect place to learn about the Sonoran desert, including the plants and animals that live here. It’s part botanical garden, part zoo, and part art museum. You can easily spend a full day exploring the gardens and galleries, and if you are looking for Arizona souvenirs, the gift shops here have a lovely selection of art, jewelry, and decor. Don’t miss the raptor free-flight demonstration, and if you’re traveling with small children, they will love the PackRat Playhouse!
For more tips on travel in the Southwest, check out these other Wolters World blog posts:
Leigh Wilson is a travel writer from Illinois, currently based in Salt Lake City, Utah. In addition to writing, she is a resort concierge and spends her free time exploring the great Southwest. You can find her travel blog at CampfiresAndConcierges.com
Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re dishing out travel tips on how to go through airport security quickly and easily. Going through airport security checkpoints is just one of those travel inconveniences that we all have to go through. If you’re a first-time flyer, there are some TSA tips you should know that will help your trip get off to a smooth start. Travel days are stressful, so we want to share our best tips for making them as stress-free as possible.
Have a Valid ID
The rules on travel documents are constantly changing. You need to make sure you have the proper identification before you leave for the airport. If you are flying domestically in the United States, you might only need your driver’s license. (Even this is changing as some state ID’s are not recognized by the Federal government or TSA. Check the Homeland Security website for the latest requirements.) If you are flying abroad, you need to make sure your passport is good for six months after your trip. You could be denied entry to your destination country if your passport is expiring soon.
These days, many of us use a digital boarding pass on our phone. Whether you carry a paper boarding pass or use your phone app, have it ready as you approach the TSA checkpoint. Don’t wait until you’re at the podium to try and find your boarding pass.
Heading off to another security check.
Give Yourself Plenty of Time
Don’t try to cut it close and save time. Get to the airport with plenty of time to spare. General guidelines are two hours for domestic flights and three hours for international flights. If you are flying out of a small regional airport, you might be able to get by with one hour before your flight. The time of day and day of the week will affect TSA wait times as well. Some of the larger airports might even post this information on their websites so you can gauge your wait times.
It’s been 14 years since the 3 oz liquid rule was put into place, but there’s always someone who tries to put a full bottle of shampoo or a full bottle of water on the security belt. Know the rules ahead of time and things will go much smoother for you. (and those behind you!) Don’t buy a giant bottle of water or a cup of Starbucks coffee before you go through the TSA checkpoint. It doesn’t matter if you bought it at the airport; you will have to dump it.
Follow the 3-1-1 Rule:
Liquids or gels must be in a 3 oz or 100 ml container
All liquid & gel containers must fit in 1 1-quart size clear container
The joys of TSA checks.
Some airports still want you to remove your clear container of liquids, so make sure it’s easily accessible. Keep it in an outside pocket or right on top of your carryon bag so you can easily pull it out and put it in a security bin.
You also need to remove any electronics that are larger than a cell phone and put them in their own bin. This includes laptops, tablets, and e-readers. Make sure these are easy to reach so you can toss them in a bin quickly.
Lastly, make sure you empty your pockets. Even loose change, a stick of gum, your keys. You can’t have anything in your pockets when you go through the scanner.
Do Not Argue with TSA
It won’t do you any good to play dumb or argue with the TSA agents. It certainly won’t make your life easier, and it could cause you to miss your flight if you cause a big ruckus. It won’t help you make any friends, either, if you hold up the security line to argue. Remember, they are not just trying to make your life difficult. Their job is to keep us all safe while flying.
Choose Your Clothes Wisely
When you are flying, you want to be comfortable, but you also want to be able to get through security quickly. If you are wearing multiple layers, you will likely be asked to remove your layers before the body scan. Jackets, vests, belts, and hats will also slow you down as you remove them. The biggest time-saver in this process is your choice of shoes. Most airports still have you remove your shoes to pass through security, so this is not the day to wear your lace-up high tops or shoes with ten different buckles. Wear something that’s easy to slip on and off. Since you’ll be following in thousands of footsteps barefoot, I highly recommend wearing socks!
With all of the documents you need, and the items that need to be scanned separately, having the right carry-on bag will make your life so much easier. If you have a giant tote with no compartments, you’ll slow things down by digging through to find everything. Something like a backpack with a laptop sleeve and several compartments will allow you to quickly sort out your items and quickly put everything back together at the other end of the scanner.
Airport security will be different at each airport.
Passing through airport security is probably one of the worst parts of travel, but the rewards far outweigh the downsides. If you follow these TSA tips and give yourself plenty of time, you’ll find that it’s not really as bad as you think. Looking for more tips on family travel? Check out these other blog posts:
Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about what it’s like to take one of the Moroccan trains from Marrakech to Casablanca. We’re pretty used to taking trains to get around Europe and even Asia, but Northern Africa? We didn’t know what to expect! If you’re planning a trip to Morocco, keep reading to see what the trains in Morocco are like and whether it’s a good way to get from Marrakech to Casablanca.
How Long is the Train from Marrakech to Casablanca?
The train from Marrakech to Casablanca is scheduled to be 3 ½ hours, however it took us closer to four hours to make the journey. You can expect to pay between $8 and $15 for a ticket from Marrakech to Casablanca. Alternatively, a flight will take 45 minutes and cost between $100 and $200 per person. Buses are also available, and cost about the same as the train, and take slightly longer to make the 250-kilometer journey.
We booked our Morocco train tickets ahead of time online. We then went to the ticket office at the train station a few days before our journey to collect our tickets. You can also ask someone from your hotel or riad to pick up the tickets for you, in exchange for a small tip.
When you select your tickets, you can choose between First Class or Second Class. The price difference is pretty small, so we think it’s worth it to pay extra for First Class. You’ll have extra space and will be much more comfortable.
What’s the Train Station Like in Marrakech?
There are two ticket offices where you can get your train tickets. They speak French, Arabic, and English, so we had no trouble communicating with the ticket sellers. The boards showing track numbers and departures times will flash from Arabic to French, so don’t worry if you first see it in Arabic and you can’t read it. Your ticket will have the train number, which is always shown on the departures board, so you can easily figure out which track to go to. (Voiture is the car # you are assigned to!)
It’s a pretty typical train station with souvenir shops and fast food choices so you can grab something to eat before boarding.
Some sights you will see on your journey.
What Should I Know About Boarding a Train in Marrakech?
When you exit the main terminal, you’ll find several lanes of train tracks outdoors. Make sure to get your ticket punched on your way to your train. Once you find your track number, verify the destination listed on the board. In our case, we were on a Marrakech to Fes train, but Casablanca is an intermediate stop along the way. So, it helps to know the final destination of your train so you don’t freak out at the last minute and think you are on the wrong train!
What is the First Class Car Like?
The First Class train cars have several compartments with six seats each. You may share the compartment with others, so be sure to check the seat number that is on your train ticket. We found the conductors to be friendly, and there’s even a snack trolley that came by frequently. There is space above the seats to store your luggage. Try to pack light as you’ll be hoisting your bags up overhead when boarding and leaving the train.
The First Class car has a bathroom with a flush toilet and a small sink and mirror. It was even stocked with toilet paper, although it did run out towards the end of the journey. Always have your own toilet paper! Also, the toilets “flush” right out onto the train tracks, so they don’t want you to use the restrooms when the train is stopped at a station, lest the station gets pretty gross pretty quickly.
There are two stops in Casablanca. The first Casablanca train station is Casablanca Oasis, and it’s further out of the city. Unless you have a specific reason to get out there, you should exit at Casablanca Voyageurs, which is the main Casablanca train station. There are plenty of taxis outside that can take you to your Casablanca accommodation.
We found the train from Marrakech to Casablanca to be very comfortable and convenient, despite arriving in Casablanca about 40 minutes behind schedule. If you’d like more family travel tips, check out some of our other blog posts:
First, let me say, may the fourth be with you. As I say that I wish there were such a thing as The Force. Wouldn’t it be lovely if someone or, many someones, could push this stupid virus away—banishing it to the outermost region of the galaxy to die in the frigid nothingness of space?
This week I made the mistake of reading some news articles. I read a few from several ends of the news spectrum and from various parts of the world. Whoa. Not a single article agreed on any aspect of the virus, its treatment, nor its containment. Shoot, some even questioned the veracity of the virus itself. I will keep from speaking any more on that subject except to say, I will refrain from reading any news related to the virus for the next 500 years. It is too depressing.
This is the last week of limbo-school for the kids. Thank God because, if it doesn’t end soon I may completely lose my marbles. Mark has been taking care of the schedule, they respond better to his way of setting out assignments than they do mine. I have been buzzing in and out helping them through those questions that stump them. But mostly I have been telling them to git ‘er dun. Which they completely ignore.
I think Dad has had it.
The boys are presently annoying the crap out of me with their inane discussions on any random thought they have, so as to avoid any actual use of brain power. The most recent argument was whether or not any country could (now or in the future) claim ownership of the moon. There were many hypotheses submitted but all were invalidated by my telling them to stop. Then by my telling them to stop louder. Then by my flat out yelling, STOP. Finally, Mark had to come sit in the same room with them to keep them quiet. They are still not actually working. The theme of our home school is apparently, Work for 5 minutes, Goof off for 25. Do my children really not understand that if they only just put their noses to the grindstone today and do their last few assignments, they can have summer earlier than ever before? No.
The weather here is beginning to be more consistently warm and that is glorious and also concerning. I spent several hours outside this week planting my few little seedlings and prepping containers for flowers. With the warmer weather people are having a harder time isolating themselves. This weekend three sets of neighbors stopped by at various times to chat. We of course were all outside and sat well away from one another but it was tough not bringing out food for everyone.
Beer with a disinfectant chaser.
As we sat on the patio, 6ft away from one another, in place of our usual centerpiece of food was a (precious and limited) container of Clorox wipes. I am physically incapable of having people at my house and not offering them a drink or food. Circumstances being what they are, I offered bottled or canned drinks and set them down with a wipe on top so that our guests could wipe them down before imbibing. What the actual heck? Quarantine sucks.
Update, as I have taken 3 whole hours to write the last two paragraphs, Liam finished his last 2 assignments (will wonders never cease)! He has officially finished third grade work, praise God. I mean it. I am far more ecstatic now than I ever have been at the end of the school year. Is this how teachers feel? Now, just one more child to get through 5 more assignments and we are DONE! Does my excessive use of !!! properly convey my excitement, no.
School’s OUT!
This weekend is Mother’s Day. This is a day of contention for me most years. Mark’s university always (I mean Every.Stinking.Year) has graduation on Mother’s Day weekend. As if moms don’t give up enough all year long, they have to give up the ONE day dedicated to them for graduation. This is probably joyous to the mothers who are celebrating their child’s graduation. To mothers of university professors—not so much. Instead of brunch and making memories with family we moms married to professors get nothing. The day is given up every year to students I have never met. But this year is going to be different.
I am going to miss those sweet Mother’s Day gifts from school.
Don’t get me wrong, I feel for those seniors who don’t get to walk that stage and take their diplomas with their left hand while shaking with their right. I hate that they don’t get to flip that tassel to the other side. Not hearing Pomp and Circumstance played after 4 years of hard work is almost heartrending. But I get to have a Mother’s Day. And I am thrilled! What I will miss are those beautiful handmade projects from school that were made with love by my sons little hands. I will miss those smears of paint and collages full of more glue than paper. Maybe I can take a 4 hour walk and Mark and the boys will think to make Mama something that will make her tear up with joy and love.
Yesterday I went out. Those four words are like a triumphant anthem to me. It had been more than 40 days since I left my house for more than a walk in the neighborhood. I took SIP to mean, stay home if you can and I could, so I did.
I finally left the house because I have been getting 3-4 migraine-like headaches a week for the last few weeks. They have been debilitating. I knew it had something to do with my neck and so I made an appointment with my chiropractor. He fixed me right up, thank God, because I wasn’t functioning very well. I told him it was my 1st time out since mid-March and I was thinking about going to the grocery and Target. He laughed and asked, so is it like a diet—you cheat and eat ice cream so you may as well eat the whole container? I said, exactly!
Pre-covid, I was in and out of my house a hundred times a day. I went to the kids’ school, the gym, the grocery, hardware stores, and anywhere else I wanted without a thought. Some days I took myself to lunch with a good book and a glass of wine just because, other days I would meander through the book store for literally hours, I volunteered, I took my work with me to any quiet public space and never thought, I should really just do this at home. Now, it takes debilitating pain to make me go out. But that is what Shelter in Place is, I think.
Far less traffic than usual.
I was a bit apprehensive and also curious to see how our little corner of the world had changed in the last 6 weeks. The first thing I noticed was less traffic, obviously. By my own unscientific estimation there were probably less than half as many cars on the road as there normally would have been. The other crazy thing I noticed was that people were driving much closer to the speed limit than usual. You know how in some towns, the general speed of traffic is at or near the posted speed limit and in others it is well over? Our town happens to be one of the latter with people regularly driving 5-10mph over, but not yesterday. Everyone was driving the speed limit or maybe 5 over. That was unexpected.
My chiropractor is located in a cute little shopping center in the middle of town. It has a few specialty food shops, several ladies’ boutiques and a men’s store, a home design boutique, and a couple of eateries. It also has notoriously small parking spaces and is generally well populated. I pulled in and had my choice of parking spots well away from others so as to avoid door dings (seriously, I’ve gotten half a dozen dings in that lot in the last few years). That was pleasantly new but also sad. Many of the shops were closed due to covid. Others were open but with just one or two cars in front. The lone Open sign that was lit seemed to be to be a sad little beacon in a desolate landscape. I’m making a point to order something from those open shops this week.
Inside the office both of the assistants were wearing masks, as was I. Most of the chairs in the waiting room were gone and the ones left were sitting 6ft apart which reinforced that lonely feeling the shuttered stores had given me. As I waited for the doc we girls chatted amiably, but muffled, through our new face fashion. They said Mark and I had the most fun masks they had seen, mine has a cartoon bear’s mouth and Mark’s has a handlebar moustache. Not a usual compliment but, it made me laugh. Between clients they sanitized the room, wiping the adjustment table and counter where clients set their keys etc. I think I saw her wipe the door handle too, though they always open the door for you anyway. So, even a place I have always thought of as immaculate is being wiped with disinfectant every 5 minutes.
From there I drove, more leisurely than normal as we have all picked up the habit of driving the actual speed limit, to Target. But along the way I saw that big orange Home Depot sign and thought, oh some potting soil! And maybe a few herbs! As I drove in the lot, I was struck by how many cars were parked with a space between them. Seriously, it was like all the sedans, trucks, and SUVs had decided they too wanted in on the social distancing. I attempted to go in through the garden center entrance but it was newly marked as, Exit Only. They had strung together grills as a means of controlling egress. Apparently, one entry/exit prevents spread?
Mask fashion is now a thing.
Most of the people I saw there had masks—except the employees. Weird. You’d think Home Depot would have masks for employees, as a home improvement store and masks being one of the things they sell. Anyway, the clientele in the garden center was the usual demographic for this time of the year, about half retirees and half childrearing age like me, but there were far fewer of us than usual on a sunny, 75degree day in late April.
Only half the shoppers had masks, and I’m not counting the sweet lady who chatted with me about strawberries whose mask was hanging off one ear protecting absolutely nothing. I did take a big step back from her as she kindly told me the best berries for jam—I felt like an absolute ass in doing so, but fortunately she didn’t seem to notice. In other social news, I got hit on. Seriously. I haven’t been outright hit on in a dog’s age but this guy tries to pick me up in the garden center, during a global pandemic, wearing a mask. Mark and I had a good laugh about that later.
I went on to Target with the sole intention of roaming those comforting aisles for an hour. I did that successfully and ,believe it or not, only bought 2 things I did not need; a new cheery doormat (you know, for all those people coming to my house during the Shelter in Place order), and a face mask (the kind you smear on for 15mins, not the kind you wear) that promised relaxation. I’m pretty sure a Tequila and Cranberry juice will give me more relaxation but, at least I only blew 2 bucks on it. I needed 15lb dumbells and went to get those to no avail, the whole flippin exercise section was basically bare. I mean there were some foam rollers and a couple of other things I have no need of but not one weight in any size. I can’t wait to see all these buff people after the covid is over!
Not a dumbell to be had.
Out of curiosity I peeped the TP and cleaning aisles. The toilet paper aisle actually had a few rolls. Just 2 months ago my boys would try and ‘scare’ me by hiding in ‘forts’ made behind the mass of TP at Target. Now there isn’t enough TP to build a fort big enough to hide a chihuahua behind let alone two boys. As for Lysol or Clorox wipes, you’re out of luck at my local Target. Not a one to be found. But there are plenty of environmentally friendly cleaning supplies. I guess if it doesn’t specifically say, effective against coronavirus, people aren’t buying it? I noticed several other areas had low stock too, video games and accessories as well as children’s books. They have them, just not as much as pre-covid.
As to my fellow shoppers, there were significantly less than normal! Far fewer of the Target aficionados were wearing masks no matter their age. Less than half had masks but at least most of the employees did. There were noticeably more young people, early 20s, than there were moms. Usually Target is full of legging-clad moms with kids in tow. I only saw 2 moms with children yesterday.
Unusually low stock in several areas.
The most positive thing I noticed was people were more friendly than usual. Having lived in the South, I have been used to everyone speaking to everyone else. In the South, you never pass by someone without a ‘Hey’ or a smile and you damn well better strike up a friendly conversation with the cashier and people in line or you’ll spontaneously combust. Where I live now, people aren’t unfriendly, they just don’t generally strike up conversation with strangers and kind of look at me funny when I do. Well, they did yesterday. I thought for sure being my first time out I would be rather more chatty with strangers than usual like, maybe I should have had a t-shirt made that said, ‘Excuse my chatter. It’s my first time out of quarantine’. But most people spoke to me before I spoke to them. Pretty sure that has never happened at my local Target before.
I drove to the grocery in record slow time and passed our local nursery and garden store which was packed. Packed as in, the whole lot was full. I can’t imagine how un-social distanced people would have to be in that store. But then I felt guilty for having gone to a chain store for my potting soil rather than a local business.
The coolest thing at the grocery store was the guy wiping down the handle of every cart. They used to have wipes for you to do that yourself but now they are doing it for you. I actually felt relief at that. I got what we needed in my usual meandering fashion. I am never very efficient in that store as they tend to rearrange the store once a year so I have to hunt and gather. I almost ran into a guy at the end of one aisle and said, excuse me. He replied, no problem, I was going the wrong way in the aisle. My eyes must have bugged out of my head when I looked down to see blue arrows on the floor of every aisle directing traffic. I practically shouted, oh my gosh, I had no idea! He and the other 2 people nearby laughed at my ignorance. No wonder the guy stocking things looked at me funny when I tried to pass him in the last aisle—I’d been going the wrong way. Oops.
No wipes or Lysol and little TP was the theme at the grocery store along with very little white rice. Loads of wild rice and aborio (the rice for risotto) though. There were a few other areas that were markedly more bare than normal but the sign limiting you to 2 dozen eggs that Mark had seen recently was gone. I have been used to bare sections or semi-bare shelves in grocery stores around the world. It isn’t that unusual outside of the United States but, here it throws you off a bit. I wonder about the supply chain and how things will look in the future. We Americans are so used to having everything we need, or frankly want, at our fingertips I wonder how that will affect us in the future.
So normal is so many places and so odd in the U.S.
Overall, yesterday was awesome. It felt good to simply get in my car and do normal things even if things weren’t quite normal. Face mask fashion is becoming a thing, people are slowing down, and most everyone has a new personal space of 6-8ft. I felt like my normal self, minus the mask, and thoroughly enjoyed my leisurely 3 hours alone.
Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re addressing some of the most frequent questions we get from our blog readers and YouTube viewers. We get a ton of questions about international travel with kids and navigating the challenges of family travel. So, today we’re talking about the best destinations for travel with family and we’re providing tips for making your family travel more enjoyable.
What Are the Best Places to Travel With Kids?
Kids love adventure. Our kids’ favorite trips are the ones that involve outdoor adventure. So, this is something we look for when planning our family trips. Sure, beach vacations or the hotel pool are great, but these are some of the outdoor adventures my kids love have included:
Snorkeling in the Caribbean
Hiking in Iceland
Ziplining in Costa Rica
Cycling around the Grand Canyon
Incorporating a physical activity is a great way to get your kids to learn about the area you are visiting. It also wears them out and can help them keep a good sleep schedule on vacation.
Yes, you should travel with your whole family.
What Are Some Other Options for Family Trips?
If your family doesn’t love the outdoors or are not as adventurous just yet, there are still plenty of cool travel experiences to have as a family. Here are a few examples of cultural experiences:
Cooking class in Morocco
Painting class in Paris
Language learning classes
Taking classes may take a bit more planning, but we’ve had so many rich cultural experiences while traveling. Giving up a bit of flexibility is totally worth it to have these experiences.
How Can We Make Museums More Fun?
Of course, you’re probably going to want to visit some museums during your travels. These aren’t always your kids’ most favorite spots, but we have some tips for making it more fun.
Don’t Overdo Museums – I would recommend a maximum of two museums in one day. We usually just stick to one and then balance the day with some fun activities outdoors.
Look for children’s programming on the museum website. You’ll have to do this ahead of time, but you can often find really fun programs tailored for kids.
If the museum doesn’t have children’s programs, make your own! Creating a scavenger hunt list is a great way to get your kids involved in a museum visit. As a bonus, you can include all the museum sights you want to see in the scavenger hunt so you don’t miss out on anything!
Ecuador was awesome with the boys
What Can We Do Before the Trip To Get the Kids Excited?
It helps to build excitement before a trip and get the whole family involved in the planning process. We love to plan a family movie night and watch movies about the places we are going to visit. We showed Caleb a Bugs Bunny video at the Colosseum before going to Rome, and he was so excited to see it in person.
Lonely Planet has a couple of series of books for kids. One is called “City Trails” and another one is “Not for Parents.” They’re available for many different regions of the world, and it puts all of the sights into a kids’ perspective. Reading these books before a trip is a great way to get your kids pumped up for a trip. The books are pretty lightweight, so you won’t mind bringing it along on the trip They even have fun activities, like scavenger hunts specific to a city that you’re visiting. It also is a great way to get them involved in planning your travel itinerary.
Having your kids help craft your travel itinerary is a great way to drum up interest and excitement. Older kids can even research a destination and find things that they think are interesting. Doing the activities that your kids choose for vacation not only encourages them to travel, but it teaches them how to research and plan. As they get older, they can be even more involved in the planning and even the budgeting for travel.
Incorporating playtime is crucial for having a successful family vacation. Make sure you balance the activities so that everyone is happy. Before going into a museum, let the kids run around a nearby park for a bit to burn off some energy. Playtime is a great incentive for good behavior as well. If they are good for two hours in a museum, reward them with more playtime outside, not another museum visit.
What Are Some Family-Friendly Destinations?
We’ve found Southern Europe to be the most family-friendly of all the places we go with our kids. Portugal, Italy, Spain, and Greece seem to have an endless supply of “abuelitas” ready to step in and help out. We’ve been invited to dine with other families, we’ve had people offer to show our kids around, or give them treats. For the kids, they’re getting a much better perspective of local culture by interacting with locals.
Iceland is another great destination for families with children. As Anne of Green Gables would say “it leaves a lot of scope for the imagination.” The landscape changes around every corner, and there’s always something fun to do. Our kids loved counting waterfalls as we drove around Iceland. The locals were also very friendly and open to our kids.
Our kids really loved Costa Rica, Belize, and Ecuador. Each of these destinations has a focus on eco-tourism and outdoor adventure. In addition to burning a lot of energy, our kids are learning about ecology. It’s important for us that travel is educational and fun, and being in a place like this is as good as any science class. In Costa Rica, we went to hot springs, rode a zipline, and took a cooking class. Ecuador contains all of the Earth’s biomes in one small country, so there’s a lot to learn about the earth through experience.
50 Countries as a family and counting.
What About a Family Road Trip?
We’ve taken several great road trips as a family. Ireland and Scotland are wonderful destinations for a family road trip. Not only are the locals lovely and welcoming of children, but there are a lot of outdoor activities for the whole family. With a road trip, you’re freer to explore at your leisure and pull off the road when you see something interesting. Without the rigid schedule of a group tour or train schedule, you can build a lot of flexibility into your trip.
I hope this helps you feel more confident about planning a family trip and gives you some ideas on where to go and what to do. International travel with kids can seem overwhelming if you’ve never done it, but we’ve had so many unique family vacations. Not only are you teaching your kids how to be good travelers and global citizens, but you’ll create an incredible family bond through travel experiences. For more tips on family travel, check out some of our other blog posts:
Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about apartment rentals, specifically with Airbnb. You use Airbnb host reviews to settle on a vacation rental, but did you know the hosts also write Airbnb reviews of guests? If you have poor Airbnb guest reviews, it can affect the apartments you are approved to rent. If you travel with kids, you definitely want to have access to good apartments with extra room for the family. We want to give you seven tips for improving your Airbnb rating on your next stay.
#1: Communicate With the Owner
When you’re booking through Airbnb, realize it’s not a huge hotel chain on the other end. It’s usually someone letting you stay in their home. They want to know a bit about the people coming into their house. Make sure you are clearly communicating your schedule to them so they know when to expect you.
A bonus benefit of communicating with the apartment owner is that they are usually locals, and can easily give you advice on what to see and where to eat. They’re usually more than happy to provide directions from the nearest train station or bus stop. We’ve even had some Airbnb owners offer to pick us up at the airport!
If you find something is broken or isn’t working, shoot the host a note letting them know. Don’t put it in your review or rating without first giving them a head’s up so they can fix it for the next guests.
You don’t need to wear a suit & tie, but brush your teeth & use a comb might help.
#2: Be Presentable and Personable at the Key Pickup
Yes, you’re going to be exhausted, especially if you’ve just landed on a redeye across the Atlantic. You don’t need to be dressed in black tie to meet your Airbnb hosts, but try to look presentable. Think about if you were handing over your housekeys to total strangers; would you be nervous the whole time? Of course, being polite and personable will go a long way. Remember, you’re putting them at ease about having you in their home. When it comes time to review you after your stay, this first impression will go a long way towards helping you get a good rating.
#3: Don’t Upset the Neighbors
One of the best ways to bomb your Airbnb rating is to annoy the neighbors. Many neighbors may already be annoyed to have Airbnb guests in the building to begin with, so if you are noisy and keep them up late at night or inconvenience them in any way, they are more likely to call the Airbnb host. Or worse, they may even call the police. If you want to party during your stay, go out for a night on the town. Remember, you’re not in a hotel where everyone is on vacation. These people likely have to get up early and go to work. Likewise, if you have kids with you, be mindful of noise early in the morning.
Treat the rental like it is your house & the owners will notice.
#4: Leave the Apartment Better Than You Left It
Yes, cleaning on vacation doesn’t sound like much fun. But this is the tradeoff of not staying in a hotel. You won’t have daily housekeeping service, so it’s best to tidy up after yourselves throughout the stay. The condition you leave the apartment in is the last impression you have to make on your Airbnb host. If they come home to a big mess, that will be reflected in your rating. If you take a few minutes to wash the dishes, take out the garbage, and tidy up, they will be super appreciative.
#5: Strip the Beds
Whether the owner is cleaning up, or if they’ve hired a service, stripping the beds is a HUGE help. It takes just a few seconds, but it shows that you took the initiative to help them get ready for their next guests.
#6: Leave a Nice Note
Many Airbnb hosts have a guest book that you can sign. If you see an Airbnb guest book, leave a nice note in it, adding something you loved about your stay. Tell them what you liked and maybe a few things you did nearby. Other guests can read this and get tips on where to eat or what to see. This also helps the hosts make recommendations for future guests.
Also, make sure you review the property you stay at. It won’t affect your Airbnb rating, as it’s a double-blind system, but it’s super helpful to both the host and future guests.
#7: Follow the Rules
This sounds so simple, but you’d be surprised at how many people have trouble following the rules. Your Airbnb listing will provide a list of rules, or they may be printed out and left in the home. Take a few minutes to read them. Make sure you park in the right spot or put the trash out on the correct day. We’ve had several hosts thank us for simply following the rules, which tells us that a lot of guests don’t do this.
Your rating on airbnb will influence who will let you stay.
Apartment rentals are a great way to save money when traveling, but it also gives you a more “local” experience. These tips apply to Airbnb, VRBO, HomeAway, Couchsurfing, or any home-sharing website. Remember: just treat the home as you would as if you were an invited guest. Having a strong Airbnb rating means you will have a better chance of scoring the perfect vacation rental. For more tips on family travel, check out some of our other blog posts:
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