Strawberry fields forever! With summer in full swing, your CSA box full of berries, and the kids clamoring to go strawberry picking, now is the perfect time to bring on the strawberry recipes and get creative with this fave seasonal treat. From desserts and salads to awesome ice cream, we’ve gathered up a few ideas that will give your usual summer fare a very berry upgrade. Click through the slideshow below to discover recipes that give strawberries the spotlight.
— Abigail Matsumoto
Floating in the pool is fun, but sometimes you have to kick it up a notch and go for a tricked-out water slide. Whether you’re a waterpark daredevil or more of a lazy river type, you can appreciate these off-the-wall water slides. Click through the slideshow below to see our favorite extreme water rides across the country. Who knows—you just might find your next splash-worthy vacation destination.
What’s your favorite water slide? Share your picks with us below!
—Sommy Rhee with Christal Yuen and Susie Foresman
photos from whitewaterwest.com unless otherwise stated
photo: Pixabay
One of the greatest gifts America has is its amazing national parks. A trip to one makes for an unforgettable family vacation, and now thanks to Airbnb, it’s even easier to visit them.
In a newly announced partnership with the National Park Foundation, Airbnb will be offering an easier way to find accommodations within close proximity of the parks. A new page on the Airbnb site is dedicated entirely to unique places to stay, like teepees and log cabins, that are all located near 10 major National Parks, including Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Teton National Park and Sequia and Kings Canyon National Park.
The idea behind the collaboration is to make it easier for visitors to access the parks, especially during the peak summer travel season when campgrounds and hotels fill up quickly. It also aims to help boost tourism in the small, rural communities that surround many of these parks. As a family you can explore a natural wonder and discover a hidden gem in a small town while you stay.
Have you used Airbnb for a family vacation? Share your experiences in the comments below.
How are you feeling about the summer? Happy? Relaxed? Stressed? Nervous? Depending on the ages of your children and your work and family situation, you may be feeling any or all of those things. Summer can be great, but it also can be very stressful for parents.
One of the things that adds to our stress is the expectation we put on ourselves to create an “amazing summer” for our children. We tend to think that they need all sorts of activities and “experiences” during the summer – endless camps, teams, trips, lessons and outings. If we don’t have an activity planned for a certain day (or, heaven forbid, an entire week!) we tend to feel nervous and stressed, maybe even a little guilty.
And if they attend a day camp while we go to work, we feel guilty about that too, because we think we should be at home creating “amazing” summer experiences for them.
But is that really what they need during the summer, during the 10 or 12 weeks that should serve as a break from the pressures and busyness of the school year? Sure, those kinds of activities are fun, and we want to ensure that our children get to enjoy some of them. But when we try to create a summer that consists of one exciting experience after another, are we giving them what they need the most?
Maybe not. More than any previous generation, children today are scheduled and stimulated day in and day out. They run from one activity to another, and when they’re not running they’re planted in front of a screen.
They don’t have time to slow down, to think, to create, to relax – sometimes they don’t even have time to play. And they rarely have time to get bored, which was a summer staple when I was a kid. (Yes, I’m dating myself!)
Having time to think and create – and even to be a little bored – allows children to use their brains, to come up with new ideas, and to develop coping skills. It gives them a chance to relax, to chill out, and to enjoy time with friends and family. It lets them know that life isn’t about being “on the go” – or being entertained – every minute of every day.
If you’re worried that you don’t have enough planned for your children this summer, let go of some of that anxiety. Instead of trying to entertain them every waking hour, give them some time and space to relax, create, experiment and – yes – even figure out what to do when they’re bored.
Get out the books, art materials, blocks, Legos, board games and sports equipment (maybe not all at once!). Give them some ideas, help them get started, and then let them decide what to do. Give them an opportunity to figure some things out for themselves.
And give them time with you and your family. Plan low-key family activities, like hikes, picnics, soccer in the backyard, or swimming at a park. Honestly, I think that kids sometimes enjoy those activities more than an elaborate vacation or week at camp!
If you take a vacation, keep it low-key too. You don’t have to spend every day doing something “amazing.” On previous vacations, our kids often enjoyed swimming at the hotel pool or playing putt-putt as much as many of the “fun activities” we planned.
And remember that summer is for you too – not just for your kids. Take time to decide what you really want this summer, and take steps to slow down and make sure those things happen. If you do get away for a vacation, make sure it includes some rest, relaxation and fun for you and your spouse – not just endless activities for the kids.
Our kids need to have fun this summer, but it may not be the kind of fun that our competitive, social-media driven culture leads us to believe. Instead, they may need (and want) the kind of fun that allows them to slow down, relax, create, and spend some time with family.
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I'm a wife, mom, MPH, technical writer, exercise lover and semi-adventurous cook. In 2012 I created CalmHealthySexy.com, which encourages busy wives and moms to slow down and recharge so that they can live a healthier life and enjoy a happier marriage.
photo: Beth Shea
Deciding where to go on vacation often boils down to one very important question: is it kid-friendly? From hotel accommodations, to activities and dining options, the best spots for families are ones that cater to kids by keeping them entertained and well fed. A new survey lays out the top cities in the U.S. for a family getaway.
A new study conducted by RewardExpert, a travel company that helps you find the best ways to spend your miles and points, compared 53 of the largest cities in the country and evaluated them based on 16 key metrics in three key categories: kid-friendly recreation, city profile and affordability. Based on the data collected, they gave each city a ranking. The top five most kid-friendly cities overall were:
1. San Diego, Ca
2. San Francisco, Ca
3. Portland, Or
4. Atlanta, Ga
5. Washington, D.C.
They also ranked cities based on specific categories, like the best playgrounds, where San Diego also ranked first. Tampa topped the list of most kid-friendly accommodations, Washington D.C. had the most kid-friendly museums and Atlanta was the best in kid-friendly dining. For the full list of rankings click here.
Where are some of your family’s favorite destinations? Tell us in the comments below.
photo: Princess Carriage Rentals via Facebook
Why push your tots through the “Happiest Place on Earth” in an ordinary stroller, when they can ride like royalty aboard a mini Cinderella Carriage stroller. Make your little princesses and princes’ dreams come true without even having to say Bibbidi, Bobbidi, Boo!
photo: Princess Carriage Rentals via Facebook
Princess Carriage Rentals, a new company in Florida, has just started offering rental strollers for Disney World visitors that look exactly like miniature versions of Cinderella’s magical carriage. The blue and silver carriages adorned with swirling metalwork and fitted with two blue-tufted seats will add one more magical element to a family vacation at the Magic Kingdom.
photo: Princess Carriage Rentals via Facebook
Just like a regular stroller, there is still plenty of room to stash all of you belongings and even cup holders built into the elaborate design. The stroller carriages are not an official Disney Parks item, but can be rented in advance through Princess Carriage Rentals. The rental price of $299 per day includes red carpet chauffeur service to and from your hotel to the Magic Kingdom. When the driver arrives at your hotel, he will literally roll out a red carpet, hand your royal rider a rose and play Disney music the entire drive over.
Would you rent one of these carriages for you next Disney World vacation? Tell us in the comments below.
Your summer to-do list includes soaking up as much sun and sand as possible. Get a head start on your planning by checking out these top 10 beaches across the country that offer more than just life guards and bathrooms for families in search of a memorable vacation. Flip through the gallery to discover the top beachy destinations hand-picked by our friends at Family Vacation Critic.
Have you visited any of these beaches with your family? Tell us about your experience! What other destinations should Family Vacation Critic add to their list? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
— Erin Lem with Family Vacation Critic
Disneyland and LEGOLAND will no doubt be on the vacation wish list, but we’re here to tell you the following museums are giving amusement parks a serious run for their money. From tiny towns to giant locomotives, your kiddos will be begging to stay another day. Click through the gallery below to learn about our favorite spots from across the country.
Do you have an incredible museum to take kids to near you? Tell us about it in the comments section, below!
—Shelley Massey
A couple years ago, an article came across my Facebook feed that changed my life (see? Facebook is not a waste of time!). It argued that every mom should take an annual vacation by herself.
What.
I obviously shared it and tagged my husband. Two months later, I landed in Istanbul. By myself. When it came time to get on the plane, I had a lot of second thoughts about ditching my kids. But you guys. That trip transformed me. (And my kids were totally fine. They actually had a blast with Grandma.)
Chances are, if you’re reading this and you’re a mom, you already have some ideas in mind for why moms need solo vacations. Being a mom is hard. I mean, most jobs are hard, but the thing about every other job is that sometimes you get to clock out. You leave the office or you turn off your pager (hey, doctors still use those) or walk away from your building for the night or the weekend. Not so with parenting. And while the great dads of the world are doing more and more to contribute, the reality is that moms still do most of the parenting and household work in most families, even when they have jobs outside the home.
I don’t have to tell you that running on empty and still having to do all that work is bad news. You have no physical energy to live and parent the way you want to. You have no mental or emotional space left to enjoy your family or pursue your goals. And life just starts to feel really terrible.
I have always taken little breaks on the weekend to go hang out at the library or coffeeshop to write or browse. These breaks have been my sanity over the years. But sometimes we just need more. I’ve had a few more mom vacations since that first one (I’m kind of addicted), and I’m telling you, it’s a life changer. Here are five reasons why I’m passionate about moms making room in their lives for solo travel.
1. Solo vacations give you a BREAK
This is the obvious one. Everyone needs a nice long break from their job every now and then. That’s why we have vacations. We need to refuel to meet the demands of our lives. But a solo mom vacation is about having a break from all of your jobs.
Let’s face it. Vacation with kids isn’t really vacation. It actually feels a lot like normal life, only harder. You still have to feed the little animals, change the diapers, and referee the squabbles. But now you get to do it in unfamiliar places! With unfamiliar things! And perpetually exhausted children! And while you do all the normal, life-sustaining stuff, you also get to corral your crew through herds of people or on long walks or through museums that really weren’t made for kids. Oh, and then at night, after you’ve done all those exhausting things, you get to sleep (or most likely, not sleep) with your entire family in one room.
To be sure, these experiences have loads of value and create great memories and stories that “will be funny someday” (and if you’re really lucky, even a few that are funny now). I believe devoutly in family vacations. I think they’re so worth it. That’s why we do a lot of them. But a family vacation is anything but a refueling break for parents.
2. Traveling solo allows you to connect with yourself
When I’m traveling alone, I’m finally aware of my own thoughts! It’s amazing! Both daily life and traveling with kids are fraught with the logistics of making everything work, getting through the day with a minimum of missed enrichment classes and forgotten birthday parties (incidentally, I was guilty of both just within this last week). There’s not much bandwidth left to just be alone with your thoughts or think about your big life goals. I have a rich inner life where I long to be much of the time, but my day-to-day existence can make that difficult. Getting away alone finally lets me connect with myself. I can process my life and make sense of it all. I can dream and make plans. I can just be.
Of course, both of these things could be satisfied by spending a couple nights at the hotel down the street. So why go somewhere else?
3. Traveling solo is transformative, even (especially!) for moms
“Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” –Mary Ritter Beard
Most people would agree that travel expands our minds and souls. We see the world differently—we see ourselves differently—when we’re in a new place. Travel transforms us. That’s just true for all people, and while I know this is a radical notion, moms are people. Yep. I said it. We didn’t relinquish our peopleness just because we made more people. We still deserve to have those soul-expanding, dream-inspiring experiences. But they’re really hard to have when you’re juggling logistics or people are complaining about going to another museum or someone is tugging on your purse with a potty emergency.
4. Solo travel makes you feel alive!
Speaking of moms being people, traveling alone really makes you feel human. It’s incredible! For moms, whose entire lives revolve around other people’s developmental needs and sleep schedules and food preferences (or allergies) and bladder emergencies and ideas of fun, being alone in a new place is mind-blowingly invigorating. You can wander down the street at your own pace, no reluctant dawdlers or anxious speed walkers (unless you want to be one). If you see something interesting, you can stop and check it out. If you see something delicious, you can just eat it. You can sit on a terrace in Tuscany and sip wine while looking out over the rolling hills (I’ve done it!). And then you can go back to your hotel room and get a solid, quality night’s sleep.
Nobody needs these things more than the people who tend to lose themselves in their devotion to caring for other people.
5. Solo mom travel is actually good for your family, too!
Who doesn’t feel like a better mom after filling her own bucket a little bit? But I saved this one for last, because too often we justify self-care by pointing out its benefits to others, as if that’s the only thing that makes it okay. I very strongly believe that we deserve wellness and wholeness because all people deserve to feel whole. And remember how moms are people, too? The fact that whole, happy humans tend to make better parents and partners is a wonderful bonus, but is not the only justification for self-care.
And maybe it’s just my kids, but a little time away from Mom is exciting! Especially because it usually means time with just dad or just grandma, and that’s what great memories are made of. The whole dynamic is different when it’s just my husband and the kids (or so I hear). How often does he get to go to the park with the kids by himself and watch them play? How often does he get to be the guy who leads the apple picking in the fall? How often do the kids get to wake up to Dad’s breakfast and Dad’s music, and follow his rhythms for the whole day? Never. It’s enriching to experience each other in different contexts. It adds depth and dimension to our relationships.
So really, solo mom travel is a win for the whole family!
Have you had a solo mom vacation? Or do you dream of one?
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Adrienne lives in the Washington DC area and homeschools her four kids. She writes about travel and books at Mom's Flight Out (because sometime's mom's night out just doesn't cut it). She loves gardening, butter, and late-night living-room karaoke with her husband, where show tunes and Adele reign supreme.
Oh the joys of vacation with small kids.
Sunshine.
Memories.
Quality family bonding.
And some seriously epic fails great enough to test the patience of a saint.
If you have ever traveled on an airplane with a toddler then you know this is a total win right here. He is sitting and not screaming and dad has both hands free. Unorthodox…yes. Win…YES!
Kids just loooooove to see your vacation Pinterest photography dreams crash and burn. This will not be this year’s holiday card I am guessing.
When you gotta go, you gotta go.
Just a relaxing afternoon lazing by the pool. On the plus side: at least he’s not drowning.
Listening to THIS for eight straight hours in the car. Every. single. time.
How does this happen? It’s like the bathing suits and underwear procreate while we sleep.
You have never actually experienced over-packing for a trip until you have traveled with a baby.
Somehow kids can not sleep on the plane nor in the car or their own bed …but THIS spot will do.
You attempt this stuff once and only once. After 10 minutes in the car crumbs are everywhere, the workbook is on the floor and they are drawing on the windows. DVDs for everyone!
Traveling usually means dining out…a LOT! Get used to this face three times a day.
Happy travels!
Kristin is a blogging SAHM of 4 unruly princesses. When she is not busy raising humans and vacuuming up toys she can be found at the local Target or hiding in her laundry room where she writes for Red Tricycle, Suburban Misfit Mom and Sammiches and Psych Meds.
