Archives for July 2016

Great Vacation Books for Kids …

July 26, 2016 By admin

If you think summer vacation reading is just for grown ups, think again! Help kids keep up their reading skills over summer (and sneak in some learning) with these easy-to-pack books for kids…

Great Vacation Books for Kids.

5 Great Vacation Books for kids…

50 Things You Should Know About American Presidents – Elementary school age kids are fascinated with history and this book gives a great overview of the last 50 United States Presidents. I love how each section of this colorful book features a different president along with interesting fast facts, maps, timelines and historical tidbits. If your summer travels bring you to Washington, DC, be sure to bring this one along.

Unofficial Minecraft Lab for Kids – Minecraft is all the rage and this book is a great option for hands-on family friendly projects that will sneak in some educational STEM learning along the way. The book uses the game’s four modes (survival, creative, adventure and spectator) to guide families through different quests (like scavenger hunts, circuit building, gardening, crafts and more) as they earn stickers and badges along the way. A lot of these activities can be done while traveling like the City Planning, Theme Park and Restaurant Research making this a great companion for summer travels.

Outside – A Guide to Discovering Nature – If your summer travels include a camping trip (far away or in the backyard), this kid-friendly text book will help you answer any and all questions about trees, flowers, rocks, beaches, animals, rainbows, stars and basically anything else that lives outdoors. The illustrations are gorgeous and kids will love trying all the interactive activities while they learn about science, astronomy and more. This book will be a great resource for kids of all ages making it a great gift for inquisitive kids.

Journey Around the World – This Discovery with Playmobil book is a kid friendly travel journal like you’ve never seen. Using Playmobil toys and characters, the book showcases more than 30 countries around the world using creative photographs and a pull-out map of the world. Kids will learn about different cultures through easy-to-digest travel stories that weave topics like sports, history, cuisine and pop culture together. This is a great book for globetrotting kids as well as kids who want to learn more about different cultures.

Dad’s Book of Awesome Projects – This book is filled with 25 DIY projects for crafty families. The book features lots of photos, easy-to-follow directions and helpful tips for dads (or moms). Some activities are great for staycations while others are perfect for vacations and I love that the activities are divided into day projects, weekend projects and school break projects. Some of the things kids can make include Duct Tape wallets (perfect for travel), friendship bracelets and super hero capes, or more complicated terrariums, birdhouses, popsicle suspension bridges (think Golden Gate Bridge), or fruit crate scooters. If your kids need some crafty inspiration, this book is sure to please.

I was gifted some of these books for review purposes but all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Water Parks 101: What to Bring …

July 19, 2016 By admin

If you follow me on Instagram, you know my family and I love to visit water parks. Indoor water parks are fantastic in winter (or extreme heat) while outdoor water parks are perfect for a sunny day. If you’re planning a water park trip, here’s a rundown on everything you’ll want to bring.

Water Parks 101: What to bring plus Kalahari Resort giveaway! Splashdown Safari is the main attraction at Kalahari Resorts in the Poconos.

And, if you’ve never been to Kalahari Waterpark, Resorts and Conventions in the Pocono Mountains, read on to see how you can win an overnight stay at this amazing family-friendly resort and water park.

Top 10 Must-Have Items for Water Parks

Water Parks 101: Be sure to pack waterproof footwear.

1 – Waterproof Footwear – For indoor and outdoor water parks, you’ll want to wear comfy, waterproof footwear. For kids, swim socks or rubber beach shoes are great because they can wear them on the rides. Crocs, Keens, Native, flip flops, shower shoes and other waterproof shoes will work outside. I am surprised how many outdoor water parks feature very hot and/or slippery pavement so you definitely don’t want to be walking around barefoot.

Water Parks 101: Take water park photos with a water-resistant phone case.

2 – Waterproof Phone Case or Dry Bag – If you’re splitting up your family or if you feel naked without your phone, invest in a waterproof phone case, wearable pouch or dry bag. You’ll be able to take photos on rides and you’ll be able to capture your kids in the splash pads and lazy river. If you want really great underwater shots and movies, you’ll want to bring a GoPro.

Water Parks 101: Master Lock SafeSpace portable safe is perfect to store small valuables.

3 – Portable Safe – I have a Master Lock SafeSpace® Portable Personal Safe and it has become one of my favorite summer accessories. I’m a paranoid New Yorker so I hate letting anything valuable out of my sight but I also hate paying $20 for a locker especially when I’m moving around from place to place. With this portable safe, I can safely lock up my valuables, secure it to a lounge chair or table, throw a towel on top and jump in the pool. If you’ve got a lot to secure or if you’ll be gone for an extended period of time, I’d suggest a locker but if you just want to take a quick trip around the lazy river, this is an easy and affordable solution.

4 – Floats – For kids who haven’t fully mastered the art of swimming, be sure to pack a float. I recommend the Stearns Kids Puddle Jumper Life Jacket Vest (one of the few coast guard approved devices) for toddlers or a backpack type floatation device like the Water Gear Back Float 4-Color Split Back Float for older kids.

Water Parks 101: Don't forget to stay hydrated.

Water Parks 101: Bring labeled water bottles so everyone stays hydrated. I love Mabel’s Labels because they look great wash after wash.

5 – Water Bottle – Bring along a labeled water bottle for each family member so everyone stays hydrated and be sure to refill them with ice water throughout the day. My favorite leak-proof bottles include Hydro Flask, Owala, Camelbak, Contigo, and Nalgene.

6 – Skin Protection – If you’re visiting an outdoor water park, you’ll need to reapply sunscreen throughout the day. Kids know the drill but packing some easy-to-use sunscreen sticks will make the process less painful. Don’t forget to bring sun protection lip balms as well.

7 – Quick Dry Towels – Some water parks provide towels so be sure to find out before you go. If you need to bring your own, try a lightweight microfiber travel towel or microfiber beach towel, or easy-to-pack towel tablets.

8 – Sun Protection Clothing – For an outdoor water park, you’ll want to bring rash guards, sun hats or visors, and a cover-up. Be sure to label your clothing with waterproof labels like Mabel’s Labels.

Water Parks 101: Don’t forget the goggles.

9 – Goggles – If your kids have never been to a water park, be sure to bring along some goggles. Some kids are sensitive to the splashing water so goggles help on rides and in the splash parks.

10 – Sunglasses – Last but certainly not least, be sure to bring along UV protection sunglasses for kids and adults.

Ready to win a trip to Kalahari Waterpark, Resorts and Conventions in the Pocono Mountains? Here’s your chance.

Water parks 101: Enter to win a Kalahari Resorts Giveaway

Kalahari really stands out in the sea of waterparks with its expansive waterpark (soon to be even bigger!), signature aqua lessons (FlowRider and mermaid, oh my!), spacious accommodations, fine dining, pampering spa, family-friendly activities, and kid-centric arcade and game area. Be sure to read about our Kalahari family trip for more details.

We had the best time visiting Kalahari this spring and I’m sure you and your family will too. Enter below to win a one-night stay (including two full days at the waterpark!) at Kalahari Resorts and Waterpark in the Poconos for a family of four (up to two extra guests can be added for $25 each). The prize is valid for a Sunday-Thursday night stay and expires within one year of the issue date.

To enter please leave separate comments for each:

Leave a blog comment below telling me your favorite water park memory.
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This giveaway ends at midnight EST on Friday, August 5th.

Thanks to Kalahari Resort for sponsoring this post. This post contains some affiliate links but all opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Vacation or Staycation: The …

July 12, 2016 By admin

If you’ve got a picky little fashionista in your house, read on for my picks for the Best Summer Clothes for Girls at home and on vacation.

Vacation or Staycation: The Best Summer Clothes for Girls.

When my daughter turned three, she started to choose her own outfits, shoes and accessories. Some matched and others didn’t but I loved seeing her creative juices flow as she would carefully coordinate each item. Over the last few years, I noticed that some items were worn over and over while others were just taken out on occasion or never at all. She’s gone through a dress phase, legging moment and gym look but the one consistent factor in her outfits is always comfort.

If you’re looking for some comfortable yet stylish (and affordable), summer clothes for girls, here are some of our favorites…

Vacation or Staycation: The Best Summer Clothes for Girls. Stock up on summer favorites with kidpik Basics.

Stock up on summer favorites with kidpik Basics

You know when you find something you really love and buy it in every color? Kidpik has simplified shopping with a new kidpik Basics website that sorts items by color and styles. We went to check out the colorful styles at the NYC launch party and they were so cute and stylish. Is your daughter just into purple this summer? Just click on purple and she can easily pick out her summer favorites. Did your daughter fall in love with an item in her kidpik subcription box? Here’s your chance to order more of that same item in a selection of colors. I love that the styles range from casual to dressy so you can mix and match the pieces and create several different looks. With prices starting at $6.50, you can buy an entire summer wardrobe and still have money left for a summer getaway. Win, win!

Vacation or Staycation: The Best Summer Clothes for Girls. Stock up on casual and cute summer dresses from H&M.

Casual and cute summer dresses from H&M

Every NYC girl I know has a few of these cotton dresses in her closet. At just $5 each, you can let your daughter choose her favorite patterns without breaking the bank or worrying about getting messy. From classic patterns to quirky designs (shop in store for the best selections), these sleeveless jersey dresses are just perfect at home and on vacation. Dress them up with strappy sandals or down with flip flops and you’re ready for any amusement park, museum visit, alfresco lunch, summer BBQ or other adventure.

Vacation or Staycation: The Best Summer Clothes for Girls. Sporty styles from Old Navy are great for home and away.

Sporty styles from Old Navy Active

If you haven’t already heard, kids of all ages are jumping on the “athleisure” bandwagon. These comfy gym inspired outfits are perfect choices for summer camp, yoga classes, sightseeing and beach walks. A lot of stores offer this type of clothing but I really love the affordable and colorful options from Old Navy Active. These styles are perfect for travel when kids want to be comfortable on a long plane or car ride and the matchy-matchy looks are super easy for kids to coordinate when packing on their own.

If you’re still looking for summer shoes, be sure to check out my choices for Best Summer Shoes for Kids story.

What are your favorite summer styles for girls? Tell me below in the comments.

I received some items for review purposes but all opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

The Rockettes New York …

July 5, 2016 By admin

Seeing the Rockettes perform at Radio City Music Hall is one of my favorite New York City winter activities. Watching their synchronized dancing, fighting the Rock Center crowds and seeing the iconic Christmas tree just never gets old.

The Rockettes New York Spectacular – Awesome Summer Fun for Families

When my daughter saw a poster for The New York Spectacular, the Rockettes’ summer show, she immediately begged to go and I secretly cringed inside. My expectations were low but I figured it would be a fun outing to celebrate the end of the school year. I invited my mom to join us and planned a big NYC girl’s day to kick off summer.

The Rockettes New York Spectacular – Awesome Summer Fun for Families

It turns out, the New York Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes was indeed spectacular! In fact, all three of us thought it was better than the Christmas show. I was pleasantly surprised to see how family friendly the story line was but what was most impressive were the amazing sets, cool technology, fun music and the choreographed dance moves that really made New York City come alive on stage.

The show follows two kids who accidentally get lost from their parents. The kids make their way around the city’s popular sights and attractions until the family is finally reunited at the end. Its a great sightseeing tour of NYC, as they visit the Empire State Building, Wall Street, Central Park, Times Square, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Fashion Avenue and other popular sights.

The Rockettes New York Spectacular - Awesome Summer Fun for Families

The Rockettes New York Spectacular – The Met comes alive on stage.

Along the way, famous statues and artwork come alive as the kids search for clues to find their parents.

The Rockettes New York Spectacular – Alice in Wonderland statue from Central Park.

The show opens with Taylor Swifts’s “Welcome to New York” and closes with Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York.” In between, the acts feature a mix of classic show tunes and modern music as well as an interactive scene that gets everyone dancing in the aisles. Some of my favorite musical scenes were the Rockettes tap dancing to “Singing in the Rain, dancing to “Money, Money,” surrounded by giant dollar signs and projections of stock-market tickers” and prancing around in a stunning red, white and black fashion show set to Madonna’s “Vogue.”

The Rockettes New York Spectacular – Singing in the Rain.

The Rockettes New York Spectacular – Money, Money.

The Rockettes New York Spectacular – The Vogue fashion show was amazing.

Kids will have no trouble following along with the story line and they will especially love seeing Central Park’s Alice in Wonderland statue come alive and watching the famed New York Public Library lions Patience and Fortitude perform a rap number. Its a little hokey but it all works.

The Rockettes New York Spectacular – Outside the New York Public Library

And of course the grand finale stole the show…

If you want to escape the heat and see NYC from the comfort of Radio City Music Hall, head over to the New York Spectacular before it ends on August, 7, 2016. There is no intermission during the 90 minute show so plan snacks and bathroom breaks accordingly.

Have you seen a Rockettes show? Tell me below in the comments.

This post is not sponsored. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!