Summer is upon us, people, and with that comes a whole new list of daily mom problems—and many of them are worth a good laugh. Love or hate it, here’s a batch of some of summer’s best parenting memes to get you through another day of the longest, hottest season of all!
—Heather Millen
featured image: iStock
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Last minute vacation plans? It can be tempting to book that European getaway or cruise to the Bahamas when a last second deal pops up, but what about securing a passport? Now thanks to a FedEx passport service you can get your passport in just one day.
FedEx has partnered with RushMyPassport to offer an expedited passport service. At any of FedEx’s 2,000 locations nationwide or online you can update passport photos, rush new passports or renewals, get children’s’ passports and replace lost, stolen or damaged passport all in just 24 hours. Meanwhile to process a new passport or passport renewal through the standard process can take six to eight weeks.
photo: 27707 via Pixabay
Of course you’ll pay extra for bypassing that wait time. FedEx charges $449 to process the passport in 24 hours. In addition, you’ll need to pay for rushed shipping, which could cost as much as $180, and the $170 federal government fee. Altogether you’re looking at nearly $800 for the whole thing, but if you’re in a bind, it could be worth it.
“Routine passport processing can take weeks, which can mean the difference between enjoying that dream vacation you’ve spent months planning or canceling it,” Mosie Miller, CEO of RushMyPassport, said in a statement. “You also have to factor in the possibility of issues with documents you finally receive in the mail, causing further delays and even more headaches. The combined service offering of RushMyPassport and FedEx Office helps travelers overcome these issues, giving a smooth and secure way to handle passport needs.”
—Shahrzad Warkentin
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One of the familiar challenges of planning a family vacation is finding a place where everyone can relax, enjoy themselves, and have fun. (Including you, the parent.) Nassau, Bahamas’ Baha Mar resort is a sophisticated tropical vacation destination that really does have something for everyone, from incredible kid’s pools and activities, to spots where parents can do grown-up things. And of course, lots of places where you can all chill out and have fun together. We checked it out—here’s our report!
photo: SLS Baha Mar
The picture postcard tropical vacation with crystal blue waters and gorgeous beaches is not as far away as you might imagine. (From NYC, the flight is less than three hours.)
Perhaps the best news? Touch down and you’re essentially there; hop in the SLS shuttle for a 10-minute drive to the resort.
photo: SLS/Baha Mar
As mentioned, at Baha Mar, you’ve got options, and that includes where to stay. The resort is home to three hotels: The Grand Hyatt, luxury property Rosewood, and the contemporary and comfortable SLS Baha Mar (pictured above)—all of which have access to the resort’s amenities. We stayed at SLS, and loved its combination of chic surroundings, thoughtful design (charging ports, and lighting controls next to the bed FTW), and superior yet warm and welcoming service.
If you’re looking to have an extended stay, or one with a large group, stylish residence suites make it easy, with a spacious living room, equipped kitchens, two bathrooms, a washer/dryer, and dreamy beds. You can even have the kitchen stocked with essentials for you before your arrival.
While Baha Mar itself is large, with three hotels, numerous restaurants, shopping, and even a casino, it does not feel overwhelming. (We weren’t there during high season, but it also did not feel crowded.) The resort is also well-designed in that somehow, no matter where you are, it doesn’t take long to get somewhere else—your hotel room, the beach, a pool on the other side of the property, etc.
photo: Mimi O’Connor
If your idea of a vacation is relaxing by the pools, you’re in luck: there are an incredible 11 pools on site at Baha Mar, each with its own vibe and target audience.
Kids (and kids at heart) flip for “Dean’s Blue Hole”—named for the popular Bahamian snorkeling scuba diving destination—home to two “cliffs” for jumping into the pool, as well as The Grotto, where you can get an underwater view of schools of fish, sea turtles, nurse sharks and stingrays through an aquarium-style wall of glass. Also here is a very kid-friendly pool of varying depths, and bar for drinks and light bites.
But that’s really the tip of the tropical iceberg. Other options include “Drift”, with a wade-in pool that increases in depth gradually, cool platforms with rain shower walls at the touch of a button, and private cabanas available for rental. From SLS, you can roll right into “Bungalow”, a deeper pool with a Mediterranean feel; the raucous pool is “Privilege”, where the tunes are loud and the floats oversized, while other pools in the resort offer a more tranquil experience.
photo: Mimi O’Connor
Steps from the pools is the clean, white-sand Cable Beach, where you’ll find clear blue, temperate waters. Take a walk on the pier, relax on lounge chairs under beach umbrellas, then take advantage of the free water fun accessories such as snorkeling gear, kayaks, water hammocks, and more. (Pro tip: it’s first come, first served, so get there early.)
photo: Mimi O’Connor
Aside from the considerable fun kids can have at the pools and the beach, Baha Mar also offers kid’s programming dubbed the “Explorers Club,” for children ages three to 12. Activities with engaged and experienced staffers include arts and crafts, wildlife encounters, games, movie nights, and more.
There are three sessions per day, morning, afternoon, and evening and cost $55. In-room babysitting services can also be booked. (Deal alert: the Explorers Club daytime sessions include a visit to the resort’s BEACH Sanctuary, home to various aquatic life, an experience that is $65 if booked separately.)
photo: Mimi O’Connor
One of the crown jewels of Baha Mar is the BEACH Sanctuary, home to nurse sharks, stingrays, sea turtles, and tropical fish. (The Grotto provides an underwater view of the habitat.) Guests can tour the facility during feeding times twice daily for free, or book a one-on-one interactive experience with the marine life.
photo: Mimi O’Connor
In addition to sea creatures, you’ll also find lots of birds at Baha Mar. Step into The Aviary and make new friends instantly as the resident birds literally come and eat out of your hand. ($10 per food serving.)
The head over to Flamingo Cay, where the Baha Mar flock of pink birds resides. Don’t miss the Flamingo Parade, a free happening held twice daily by the resort’s Chief Flamingo Officer.
photo: Mimi O’Connor
Baha Mar is also a spot where you and your partner can have some adult fun as well. Pick your pleasure: a treatment at spa ESPA; cocktail hour at the SLS rooftop spot Skybar (pictured), or gaming at the casino, which is not only the largest casino in the Bahamas, it’s got windows.
If you golf, there’s par-72 course designed by famed linksman Jack Nicklaus himself, and if you’d like to pick up a little something for yourself, you can swing by one of the resort’s shops, which include everything from Tiffany & Co. and Cartier to MAC, Lily Pulitzer, and local retailers.
photo: Mimi O’Connor
As with everything else, there are many options for food here. While none of it is a bargain (guac and chips with a glass of wine will set you back $40), everything we ate was a cut above. And, great news: every restaurant has a kid’s menu.
For coffee and quick bites on the go, try French spot Cafe Madeleine or Starbucks. Casual by- and on-the-beach food can be grabbed at various airstream trailers (so cute) and stands by the shore; choices include Umami Burger, beachside Mexican, poke bowls, pan-latin cuisine, and more.
In addition to a noodle bar and gastropub, Baha Mar also features numerous “destination dining” restaurants, many outposts of celebrated chefs. A sampling includes steakhouse Carna by Dario Cecchini, and Italian eatery Fi’lia (where you can book an experience with the kids to make your own pizza). Just off the lobby of the SLS hotel is Cleo Mediterraneo, which not only serves tasty Mediterranean cuisine inside and out on a patio area overlooking the pool, it’s also where you can feast on one of the best breakfast buffets we’ve ever encountered. (Be sure to sample the bread pudding.) Heads up: kids five and under eat free at all SLS restaurants this summer.
Online: bahamar.com
—Mimi O’Connor
We were guests of Baha Mar and SLS but all opinions expressed here belong to the writer.
Cover photo: Baha Mar/SLS
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Does your summer memory-making vaycay include a trip to the Grand Canyon? If you act soon, you can save some serious cash on your next family trip!
Grand Canyon Railway’s newest promotion gives you sweet summer scenery, a historic train ride and a place to stay—and bonus, kids are free! The round-trip package leaves from Williams, Arizona and brings you straight to the Grand Canyon, with one or two-night stay options available.
Travel in the train’s Pullman Class to get a free child fare and so much more. The limited-time promotion also includes an overnight stay at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel and a buffet breakfast and dinner at the Railway’s Fred Harvey Restaurant. And yes, kids also stay and eat free.
Visit the Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel website here to check rates (you’ll have to pay for yourself and any adults traveling with you) and book your vacation!
—Erica Loop
Featured photo: Courtesy of the Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel / Xanterra Travel Collection
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A lot of people balk at the idea of traveling with small children, but I find that it’s one of the best times to plan a vacation. Not only do you have one or more small humans to remind you of the importance of naps while you’re on holiday, but it can also be a unique way to spend some time together before things like work or school get in the way. With my oldest daughter starting school in the fall, my husband and I decided that it was the perfect time to plan a vacation.
And you know what? We had a blast. Here’s what we did in Windy City and why I loved my family vacation in Chicago.
Just Far Enough Away From Home
We considered a lot of vacation destinations during our planning stage, from Vegas (with two kids? No thanks) to Florida (Disney is crazy in the summertime) before finally settling on Chicago. The beautiful thing about Chi-town is that it’s just far enough away from our home state of Pennsylvania to feel like a vacation without having to spend an insane amount of money on airline tickets. Instead, we just piled in the car and made the 9-ish hour drive, and saved a ton of money that we later spent on souvenirs and experiences that we’ll never forget.
And yes, my 8-month-old daughter is too young to remember these experiences but that means we’ll have to come back and enjoy them again once she gets a little bit older.
Day 1 — All The Animals
Day one of our vacation was actually day two of the trip because of the length of the drive. We got to Chicago late, made it to our hotel and passed out for the night. Even the 8-month-old slept most of the way through the night, despite sleeping most of the way there.
My oldest daughter was most excited to see all the various animal attractions that the city had to offer, so we spent the morning at the Lincoln Park Zoo — which is a fantastic place to spend some time, plus it’s free — and the afternoon at Shedd Aquarium. Both of these attractions are designed with young kids in mind. In addition to their attractions, each has a play area where you can set the kids loose and let them burn off some energy.
If we had to do anything different, I think we’d do the aquarium first — it got really crowded in the afternoon, making it difficult to navigate with my youngest in a stroller, but that didn’t detract from the fun that we had. We did end up having lunch at the Bubble Net food court, and I’m not sure who had more fun watching the dolphin show — me or my daughter!
Day 2 — Sightseeing Galore
Day two was spent mostly sightseeing which was just as fun because there is a ton to see in Chi-town. We visited Navy Pier and popped into a few of the attractions there. We made our way over to Millennium Park so my daughter could marvel at the iconic Bean sculpture.
Yes, I know it’s not actually called The Bean — it’s the Cloud Gate — but it looks like a bean so that’s what we’ll call it. Plus it really annoys the artist who created it and he’s a bit of a jerk so…we’ll just leave it at that.
We climbed up to the Sears Tower Skydeck, where my 5-year-old kept a death-grip on my leg because she’s apparently got a little fear of heights. The view was spectacular though.
There is a lot to do in Chicago and we barely scratched the surface — mostly because of the age of my children. There are plenty of things to do for older kids, like the Adler Planetarium or the Art Institute of Chicago that we avoided because of the attention span of a five-year-old.
Day 3 — A River Cruise than Home Again
We were supposed to head home on day three but we couldn’t leave Chicago behind without visiting one final attraction — the Wendella River Cruise. Yes, I know it’s touristy, but it gives you a phenomenal view of the city, even though my daughter was more interested in the birds chasing the ship and the fish she could occasionally see in the Chicago River. It was a phenomenally relaxing way to end our vacation and helped tire out the kids just enough that they happily slept most of the drive home.
Why I Loved Chi-Town for My Famly
Chicago ended up being the best choice for my family — not quite a staycation, but far enough away from home that we really felt the distance. My girls were happy to get home and sleep in their own beds but we took pictures, ate amazing food — including some iconic Chicago deep dish pizza — and created memories that will last us a lifetime.
The Windy City might seem like the kind of place that caters to the adult tourist crowd but there are plenty of things for you to do if you’re traveling with little ones too!
Jennifer Landis is a mom, wife, freelance writer, and blogger. She enjoys long naps on the couch, sneaking spoonfuls of peanut butter when her kid's not looking, and binge watching Doctor Who while her kid's asleep. She really does like her kid, though, she promises. Find her on Twitter @JenniferELandis.
Disneyland’s Main Street Electrical Parade is headed back to the park to delight young fans and give older ones a big dose of nostalgia. The iconic parade is back for a limited time only, so you’ll want to book your next Disney vacation soon.
The Main Street Electrical Parade was an instant classic from its debut at Disneyland in 1972. The floats covered in thousands of glittering lights and its signature sounds dazzled audiences for decades until it was retired in 1996.
The parade has been modernized and revived several times with the last version parading through the park in 2017. Now Disney Parks is bringing back the fan favorite one more time.
The classic parade with its “electro-syntho-magnetic musical sounds” will be winding its way across Disneyland one more time this summer, nightly from Aug. 2 to Sep. 30.
—Shahrzad Warkentin
All photos: Courtesy of Scott Brinegar/Disneyland
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If treehouses and llamas sound like the perfect recipe for a family vacation, you’ll want to book a stay at a llama and alpaca sanctuary in Atlanta.
Atlanta resident Kara O’Brien has transformed her backyard into an animal sanctuary that is home to two llamas and four alpacas who are free to roam around the property and mingle with the guests who book a stay in the Alpaca Treehouse or Llama Cottage.
According to the Airbnb listing the relaxing retreat is the number one most wish-listed Airbnb in Atlanta. “It’s a place where people can come together and celebrate each other and are really happy,” O’Brien told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “and that’s something that we didn’t really expect when we started.”
If you can’t foot the bill for the $375 a night stay in the rustic treehouse, you can can enjoy a one-hour Atlanta Llama Alpaca Experience at the sanctuary for $50 per person that will give you the chance to get up close and personal with the animals and feed them.
—Shahrzad Warkentin
All photos: Courtesy of Airbnb
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Planning on a family vacation to the Magic Kingdom this fall? You’re in luck. Disney Parks has just announced an expansion on it’s special early morning hours with the addition of extra, Extra Magic Hours at Disney World.
The end of summer will bring plenty of exciting new attractions to Disney World, including the highly-anticipated Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Just in time to beat those long waits and big crowds the Disney World Resort will be rolling out additional time on its popular Magic Hours with entrance into the park as early as 6 a.m.
photo: Thomas Kelley via Unsplash
The new extra, Extra Magic Hours will be offered starting Sep. 1 and available through Nov. 2, 2019. These special hours will be added on top of the Disney Resort’s already existing Extra Magic Hours, but only in the mornings at select Disney World Parks.
The Disney Parks participating in the extra, Extra Magic Hours are Disney’s Hollywood Studios, including Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which will have hours between 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, both of which will have hours from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.
In order to participate in extra, Extra Magic Hours you must be a guest staying at either the Walt Disney World resort hotel or one of several other resort hotels including Walt Disney World Swan Hotel, Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel, Shades of Green Resort, Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels, Four Seasons Resort Orlando, Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek and Waldorf Astoria Orlando.
—Shahrzad Warkentin
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Traveling can be a big investment, especially with the addition of kids so when you plan that family vacation you want to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth. Now Fodor’s is making planning a little bit easier with the first Fodor’s Travel Awards.
Influential travel guide publisher Fodor’s has just launched their first annual awards for all things travel, including the Best and Worst Airports in the nation. Bad news for travelers headed to Disneyland and the new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, as Fodor’s has ranked Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) as the worst in the nation. Luckily another Los Angeles area airport is at the top of the list.
photo: Oleksandr Pidvalnyi via Pexels
The Hollywood Burbank Airport has been named the best in the nation by Fodor’s. “Burbank is an airport free of most of the hassles that take the fun out of travel plans,” Rachael Levitt, managing editor of Fodor’s Travel, said in a press release.
Fodor’s also awarded the best international airport to Singapore’s Changi Airport. London’s Heathrow Airport was named best for shopping, Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey best for foodies and Jackson Hole Airport in Wyoming is best tiny airport.
The inaugural Fodor’s Travel Awards covered several other areas of travel as well, including airlines. Delta Air Lines was named the best airline overall, while the best airline for traveling with kids is Qatar Airways.
—Shahrzad Warkentin
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Now you can pretend play Reese Witherspoon’s role from Big Little Lies IRL. The majestic Monterey home (which isn’t actually in Monterey) is available for rent—and now you can book your dream summer vaycay.
Even though Witherspoon’s character lives in Northern California, the real-life real estate stunner is located farther south in Malibu. But that’s pretty much the only major difference between what you see on TV and what you’ll get with the home.
The seven-bedroom, eight-bath Cape Cod style beachfront property comes with pretty much everything you see on the show. Leasing agent and daughter of the home’s owners, Stacie Clunies-Ross, told SFGate that the show did make some pretty major decor changes to the interior. But the design do-over did impress the owners enough for them to keep the new wallpaper, paint and fixtures. That means whoever rents the home will get the same interior (and exterior too) they see on Big Little Lies.
How much does it cost to rent the beachy Malibu property? According to reports, the home goes for $3,000 to $5,000 a night or $70,000 to $100,000 a month. So if you’ve got a few thousand in extra cash sitting around, visit Malibu Luxury Vacation Homes for more info.
—Erica Loop
Featured photo: Big Little Lies via Instagram
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