This past March, my sister flew to visit us for a spring break vacation. Since her husband couldn't leave work, she traveled alone from one coast of the U.S. to the other with her two-year-old and infant. A daunting task? Of course. One guaranteed to encounter a few bumps along the journey (turbulence notwithstanding)? Sure. In fact, she was pretty much betting on it. What she wasn't counting … [Read more...]
Great Wolf Lodge MagiQuest: Step by step guide for parents!
April 15, 2011 By
Great Wolf Lodge MagiQuest, the resort's signature live-action adventure game, is one of the best things about the fun of Great Wolf, but first you have to figure out how to play. Tweens and teens can usually figure it out on their own, but for younger kids, adult participation is required...at least at first. Anyone who's ever stepped into the controlled chaos of a MagiQuest shop with an … [Read more...]
Great Wolf Lodge water safety: why you don’t need to worry
April 10, 2011 By
As a family travel expert, I've experienced many family resorts with my kids, and can sum up Great Wolf Lodge's water park safety measures in one word: impressive. During our recent stay at the Grand Mound location, we enjoyed the water park under the supervision of literally hundreds of lifeguards during our three days at the resort, and observed only professional, polite, and friendly … [Read more...]
Disney done right: Making the most of your Disney vacation
January 16, 2011 By
At Pit Stops for Kids, we're big fans of Disney, but we know planning (and enjoying) a Disney vacation with kids can be overwhelming! In our upcoming series of articles, Disney Done Right, we offer our (kid and parent tested) tips for making the most of your time in the happiest place on earth! 1. Plan an extended visit. If possible, book at least one week at Disney World or three days (This is … [Read more...]
Home (Away) for the Holidays: Introducing an Alternative to Hotels
November 4, 2010 By
Halloween is over, and for me and my family, that means one thing: the holiday travel season is upon us! Instead of staying home for the holidays, the Pit Stops family is excited to be reviewing >this beautiful HomeAway property near Lake Tahoe, CA during the week of Christmas, and can't wait to share the experience with Pit Stops for Kids readers! Does your family travel for the holidays? If … [Read more...]
How to Choose the Right Backpack for Family Travel
August 6, 2010 By
I can't travel without a trusty backpack, so while on our most recent road trip, I paid close attention to the types of bags and packs other families carried in and out of restaurants, museums, picnic areas, and on hikes and tours. As you'd guess, I saw a vast assortment of styles and solutions ranging from fanny packs to Camelbaks to messenger bags, and for good reason: the family pack is an … [Read more...]
When Pit Stops are Far and Few Between
March 30, 2010 By
When we first planned our recent spring break trip to Death Valley, CA (more on that to come!), I knew pit stops en route would be in short supply. I'd noted the lack of places to stop and play on Google Maps, and I thought I'd planned accordingly. Even so, I was concerned anew once we'd turned onto lonely I-95 shortly after our overnight in Reno, NV. For hundreds of miles, there's … [Read more...]
