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    Are We There Yet? A Travel Guide For Parents
    Tuesday, September 29th, 2009 / admin

    You’ve all heard of the horror stories of family trips. No matter how long you are staying at your chosen destination, when traveling with children the longest part of the trip can be your journey there. Kids get fidgety, even aggressive during especially long car rides or airplane rides. You will need plenty of activities to keep their minds busy.

    1. Keep Them Busy

    Chances are, unless you are going to a very kid-centric location, your children will be very bored. Try purchasing travel games such as tiny versions of chess or checkers. There are also plenty of low cost games you can play in a car like eye spy or 20 questions. Having a variety of games and activities to keep their children occupied and keep their minds off of the journey is always a good idea.

    2. For Long Car Rides

    Keep in mind when designing an itinerary of games that children typically get tired of playing the same game twice. For your benefit, you can design games that take a long time to complete. For example, you can play the ABC game. In this game, you have to find all the letters of the alphabet from signs, licence plates, etc. Letters can only be found outside the car and must be verified by others in the car to make sure that they are not just making up signs. As an added challenge and to prevent cheating, you can remove licence plates from the possible things you can get letters from. It can be quite difficult to find the letters Q,U,V,X,Y and Z. To keep things interesting you can make it a race and whoever finishes the alphabet first wins. This is a great game for small children as it reinforces their learning the alphabet.

    3. Keep Things Novel

    You might want to buy some new toys or games for your children. A new book, especially, can last an entire trip if your child loves to read. Just be careful, however, as reading while in a car can, for some people, make them feel nauseous.

    4. Babies & Flights

    Lot’s of parents wonder whether or not they should bring their baby’s car seat with them when they go on a plane. The question to ask is are you going to be travelling by car at your destination? If so they you’ll need to bring the car seat anyway. If you are not travelling by car and forget or decide not to bring your car seats, you can sometimes rent them. In general however it’s a better idea to take the car seat with you. Another tip is to give your baby a bottle while the plane is taking off to calm them down and prevent your baby’s ears from popping.

    5. Strollers

    Let’s face it even tiny babies feel heavy after a while in your arms, and don’t forget about toddlers who all of the sudden tell you they can’t walk any longer (often they tell you this at the most inconvenient times). A baby stroller solves these problems. The great thing is that most infant car seats snap onto a travel system stroller. This makes it both simple and easy to take both the stroller and the baby seat along on trips. The other option is a lightweight stroller that has a built in carrying strap, that’s comfortable and easy to haul around.

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    World Cruise – a Relaxing Experience
    Friday, September 25th, 2009 /

    Have you ever thought what it would be like to just relax quietly under the sun and at sea-no hustling or bustling, far away from the madding crowds in a casual attire and in clean air and just a small group of likeminded people as company? You are on a World Cruise- around the world, Australia and New Zealand, the Orient, South America, South Pacific, Asia, Europe and the Mediterranean. The ships are equipped with spacious, well-furnished cabins with private facilities having a well-upholstered lounge, a library, good deck space and a small pool. The fares typically range from $70 to $130 a day and the world cruise is for duration from about four to ten weeks, but some are two to three weeks and some are longer.

    With World Cruise, you cover 27 nations on five continents. You navigate through the French Polynesia, Great Barrier Reef of Australia, glacier carved fjords of New Zealand, enchanted China’s landscapes and the forbidden palaces. You pay a visit to bazaars in Hong Kong and the buddhas in Bangkok, the colonial and modern blend in Singapore. Enjoy exploring Delhi, Jaipur or the Taj Mahal at Agra and the tombs and temples under the ruling King times. The World Cruise even takes you to Antartica -the ultimate destination. It sure is a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the grandeur of Rome, the glory of Rome through the warm waters of the equatorial Atlantic.

    Taking the world cruise will be the most memorable vacation you have ever undertaken. You would cherish this experience for the rest of your life where you learn about history or diverse cultures the world over or simply unwind yourself. World cruises provide American customers a service of a lifetime-delicious meals, sightseeing, and entertainment combined with a relaxed friendly atmosphere-value for money as you may understand. Now you can sail in style and comfort- Volga river, Moscow canal, Volga/Baltic canal, the Svir River, the Rybinski Reservoir, Lake Ladoga, Lake Onega, and the Neva River. You will certainly be the envy of the Byzantine Emperors as you travel the legendary route between Scandinavia to Kiev and the Black Sea until you reach Dnieper River. Great works of art-’the Panorama of the Sevastopal Battle’ and you can also visit the room where Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin signed the Yalta Treaty in 1945.

    Age is no constraint to take the World Cruise-whether you are 79 or reaching 80, you are welcome aboard. Of course, if you are under 13 the insurance companies might restrict your entry into the cruise. A month prior to departure, you will receive the boarding information along with the ticket package. You may receive a mailing list with port agent addresses with your ticket package-so you can be in touch with your family and friends while sailing. The only change you can expect is the change in the boarding date. However, you may not know the actual time of boarding until the day before or day of boarding.

    Do not forget to carry cash, US currency only. Personal checks, traveler checks and credit cards are unacceptable. For you to undertake the world cruise emergency medical/evacuation is necessary. This covers you medically in foreign ports and allows you to avail medical treatment in case of illness. Mostly if you are over 65 years, it is obligatory to have a medical certificate within ninety days of sailing. You need not worry about canceling your trip due to covered reasons as you are covered for it too under trip cancellation/interruption insurance.

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    The Top 5 European Art Galleries
    Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009 /

    Europe is known for its culture and beauty in nearly every form. Those who visit this continent come away with a feeling of high class and social sophistication that is hard to find else where in the world. The continent is full of wonderful art galleries that feature some of the most priceless works of art that are known to man. Set in an old-world style with classically styled buildings and such, the art community of Europe is one for the senses.

    The Federal Republic of Germany Art Hall is one of the finest art galleries in the entire world. Located inside one of the oldest buildings in the country, the Art Hall is nothing shy of amazing. The constantly changing exhibits make frequent visits all the more appealing. The curators work hard to give the building and the art the proper feel with low lighting and high class style. One of the more famous times is the Guggenheim Collection stop. Each year the top galleries from the US loan pieces to the Art Hall for display.

    The Paula Modersohn-Becker in Bremen brings about a feeling of the early Victorian Times. The building itself is hundreds of years old and has been completely restored to its natural state. The five-year project cost more than seventeen million dollars to complete and required craftsmen from around the world. The current tastes for exhibits run to the modern era with pieces from artists like Renoir and Feininger. Skilled guides make a visit to this site enjoyable and educational at the same time.

    The Victoria and Albert Gallery of London has made waves in the world with its unique exhibits. They have granted exhibits to some of the most controversial artists in the world and have made sure to bring the news to everyone. While it was once thought that this would mark its demise, the exact opposite has happened. The gallery is thriving and receives hundreds of visitors a day. The current offerings are from the modern era of 1914-1939 with pieces by Ray and Aalto to name a few.

    The Fitzwilliam Gallery of Cambridge is becoming more and more popular every day. The main focus of late has been war time art, with images from the world wars and others. There is a collection of paintings and photographs currently on display created by soldiers from the Second World War. A portion of the receipts will go the Veterans’ Affairs department which provides relief to disabled war veterans.

    The Kiasma Gallery of Helsinki is a post modern gallery with huge amounts of appeal. The current humanity exhibit features sculpture and paintings from the world about the acts that humanity commits. The exhibit is very provocative and is stirring the world with its over the top look at life and the people who live it. This exhibit is not for children as certain images contain nudity or are very gruesome.

    No matter where you go in Europe , a great art gallery may be found. Do stop by at least one as they provide experiences nothing short of amazing.

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    Family Vacation Ideas: US Holidays with a Theme
    Friday, September 18th, 2009 / admin

    Themed holiday vacations are a fun idea to plan for your family. One of our most memorable vacations was our “Cowboy and Indian” vacation. We took our sons through the West, stopping at tourist sites along the way. We stopped at Dodge City to explore the cowboy side of life, and then made our way to Southern Colorado to explore the ancient ruins of the cliff dwelling Pueblo Indians. It is hard to choose only four family fun options, but I chose those I thought my grandchildren would enjoy the most.

    Of course, the first to come to mind is a Disney-themed holiday vacation. Who can resist the thought of being in Florida during the cold days of winter and enjoying the sites and sounds of Disney World? This is a favourite of children and adults alike. The sheer number of attractions will make it hard to decide which to visit first. You have the Magic Kingdom , Epcot Center , Universal Studios, MGM studios and even the Disney cruise liner. The ship has all the Disney characters on board, so this will be a delight for any Disney fan. Disney World is not the only attraction in the area; the Kennedy Space Center is also nearby. Inside Disney World, you can stay in a hotel that has a monorail train to take you to all the attractions.

    Are you thinking of a winter holiday vacation in sunny Southern California ? You will find many attractions and they are easily worked in around your available time. The San Diego Zoo is a popular attraction with adults and children as well as Sea World. LegoLand is also found in the San Diego area and is a big hit with the little ones. If you’re looking for theme parks, go north just up the road to the Anaheim and Los Angeles area. There you will find Disneyland, Six Flags Magic Mountain , Universal Studio, and California Adventure Theme Park . After taking in what sites and attractions you wanted to see, take a day or two to just relax and soak up the sun on the many beautiful beaches on the coast of Southern California . Drive a little further north up the coast and visit historic San Simeon and the beautiful city of Carmel . Take a tour around the area on the 17-mile drive in Monterey California and stop for a moment just to see the beauty of Pebble Beach Golf Course. There is something for everyone in the sunny state of California .

    One of the best themed family vacations we had was our historical trip to the East Coast. We wanted our sons to be immersed in the colorful history of our Country. We had some fun times, stopping in Hershey Pennsylvania . We visited Hershey Town and stood amazed at the light poles in the shape of candy kisses. We visited historic sites in Virginia , including George Washington’s home. In Virginia , southern hospitality shines through. It is always a pleasure to visit. Washington D.C saw us picnicking in the park, going up the Washington Monument , visiting all the Presidential Memorials, and even touring the White House. Being a history buff and full of patriotism, the highlight of my son’s trip was our visit to the sacred land of Arlington Cemetery . The Smithsonian is an experience that no one should miss. There are so many different buildings and sections in the buildings that it was difficult to cover them all in the limited time we had. It will be a memorable family vacation and can instil in your child, a real love and patriotism for their country.

    National Parks and Monuments is another wonderful themed vacation the whole family will enjoy. Those “must see” attractions could include Yellowstone National Park to see Old Faithful go off, or a trip to the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. The Grand Canyon is a natural wonder that everyone should see at least once in his or her lifetime.

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