books and educational items - Pitstops for Kids

Travel Pop-Ups: New books that inspire travel

April 17, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

There are plenty of guidebooks out there that help parents plan family trips. We have our favorites, including Fodor’s Around series (Around London with Kids, for example) and the student guide series of Let’s Go (Let’s Go Western Europe is sitting right beside me).

However, it’s harder to get the kids inspired pre-trip. They’re not as involved in the planning process, even if you make an effort, and they have a harder time picturing the destinations you’ll be visiting. This is where inspiring travel books come into play.

Recently, the team at Candlewick Press offered to send me a selection of travel books designed for kids. I accepted, but honestly, I’ve seen travel books I’ve felt were either too silly or too boring for kids, and wasn’t sure I’d be endorsing the books. As soon as Candlewick’s Panorama Pops series and World Unfurled series arrived, however, I knew I’d be featuring them here. Why? They’re simply beautiful, and when the beauty of destinations can be captured, inspiration sets in!

Panorama Pops series:

This is my favorite. Each of the 15 pop-up books in this series is the size of a notebook, and unfold accordion style to reach nearly 5 feet. Each features a different world city and all the major attractions within it. Unfolding the Rome book, I felt a wave of nostalgia and excitement to soon share this city with my kids. After our trip, I just know this book, which fits into a hardshell slip case, will become a keepsake that sits on one of the kids’ bookshelves to remind him of the trip. Pick one up, such as Rome or San Francisco, for only $8.99. The photo does not do it justice!

Traditional Pop-Up:

For a bigger, more epic experience, try Pop-Up New York, in which each page depicts a different part of the city. Each cityscape is iconic, and information blurbs tell kids what they can expect at the various landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge or Rockefeller Plaza. Like the Panorama Pops series, this book will be just as fun after a trip, and far more meaningful to kids. Because pop-up books are fragile, I’d recommend them for kids over age three. For older kids needing a New York-specific book, also try Inside and Out: New York, which is a highly-detailed double-sided wall chart and map that unfolds to over two and a half feet. Kids can search out objects, or use it after a trip to mark things they did.

What travel books do you seek out for your kids when planning a trip?

As noted above, Candlewick Press sent us their new pop-up books at no cost, for the purpose of review.

Tips on living abroad: A Better Life for Half the Price

January 30, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

If you’re a serious lover of travel, it’s crossed your mind at least once, and you probably flirt with the idea regularly: what if we were to move outside the country, and explore a different culture indefinitely?

As a travel writer who could work from anywhere, I’ve considered the idea more than most parents I know. Most recently, I toyed with dipping my toes in the expat waters when I crunched the numbers on a whirlwind European trip and found it would actually be cheaper to stay longer in a less-traveled country and base ourselves in one location with a long-term home rental. Intriguing…

I personally know several expats with families, including my Practical Travel Gear editor Tim Leffel (also of Perceptive Travel and Cheapest Destinations blog). His latest book, A Better Life for Half the Price, came out in late 2014, and is well worth the read for anyone who loves the travel lifestyle. Outside-the-box thinkers be advised: you’ll want to start packing your bags.

A Better Life for Half the Price takes a very approachable and no-nonsense tack; even if you’re not in the serious planning stage of moving abroad, it’s an engaging read that makes you think differently about how to travel on a budget. Leffel writes conversationally, and gets to the heart of an expat’s motivation: the desire to do more, see more, and live more with less. Yes, the book covers the practical stuff, like moving your pets and getting a visa, but does so in a way that makes you feel like you’re sitting down to coffee with a friend to hear his experience and get a little advice, not like you’re reading a how-to book.

The book is structured with the nuts and bolts up front: how to reduce your bills abroad, what you can expect to be cheaper (and what won’t be), and how to make a living. The secondary chapters get into the heart of the planning stage, with 18 separate chapters on specific countries. This is where the no-nonsense part comes in, as Leffel is upfront about the pros and cons of each region. There’s no ‘best place’ to live, but rather a clear best place for each individual or family. Readers are likely to find theirs in this section.

So after reading the book (and talking with other expat friends such as Andrea Fellman of Wanderlust Living), will I be moving my family? Not yet. For the time being, my husband’s job (and the necessity of keeping it) keeps us grounded in the US, but I will never say never. And in the meantime, my mind has been opened to what possibilities exist, even–or especially–for families like ours, on a budget.

Photo credit: Flickr/sweetviscape

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of A Better Life for Half the Price for the purpose of review.

Travel gift for families: The Family Traveler’s Handbook

December 13, 2013 By Amy Hagstrom

Today, instead of offering a travel gift idea for kids, we’re reviewing a great travel gift from which the whole family can benefit. The The Family Traveler’s Handbook by Mara Gorman is a slam dunk of a stocking stuffer for any family on your list this season. This guidebook isn’t geared toward a single destination or style of travel; rather, it’s your new bible for family travel inspiration and how-to. Whether you love camping, road tripping, luxury travel, international travel, or any other sort, the Family Traveler’s Handbook helps you get started. Once you’ve targeted a destination, the book also carries you through your trip, with practical sections on making the most of your trip and traveling smarter.

What’s between the covers:

The Family Traveler’s Handbook answers the big questions first: where should you go on your annual family vacation? Should you fly or drive? How can you book hotel rooms or vacation homes smarter? I know from experience as a family travel expert that many parents get stuck right here. Travel can feel overwhelming–after all, it’s a big expense and you don’t want to mess it up! The Family Traveler’s Handbook offers answers that help parents identify what type of vacation would work best for them, and how to go about planning it.

Of course, you need the nitty-gritty, too. The subsequent sections of the book cover all those details you might not even think about, but make any family travel experience richer: how to keep your kid napping on the road. How to save money on food. Should you use public transit? Why or why not? How about public parks or local restaurants? How to know which are worth your time? All ages of kids are covered, helping parents plan whether they have toddlers or teens.

What sets The Family Traveler’s Handbook apart:

See these kids? You’re going to get to know them. And if you read author Mara Gorman’s blog, The Mother of All Trips, you already do. Let’s be honest here: even the most travel-crazy among us get bogged down reading a highly technical or practical travel guide. Instead, we want real, from-the-road stories, and in Mara’s book, you get just that. The practical information is there, don’t worry, but it’s peppered throughout with real-life anecdotes about real family travel…the good, the bad, and the hilariously funny. In other words, you’ll learn all you need to know about planning a family trip without even realizing it, you’ll be so entertained.

Read more testimonials, from additional family travel experts I know and trust, on the Traveler’s Handbook website. Pick up your copy on Amazon for just $15 or at Barnes and Noble or in ebook format. You have plenty of time to get one for the holidays!

In full disclosure, Pit Stops for Kids and yours truly are quoted in The Family Traveler’s Handbook, as we offer camping and outdoor adventure advice. However, I’d recommend the book regardless and was not compensated in any way to promote it. You can be sure it will be under our own tree this holiday season.

Follow our year-round Travel Gear We Use series, as well as our current Travel Gifts for Kids posts throughout December!

Product review: Little Passports

June 28, 2013 By Amy Hagstrom

We’re always on the lookout for educational products that teach kids about global destinations and cultures in a fun way. When we can’t travel the globe or the US, the next best thing is to learn about new places from home! Enter Little Passports. This subscription series is a home run: it’s creative, engaging, educational, and affordable.

What is Little Passports?

Basically, it’s a subscription for your kids. For the cost of a few magazine subscriptions, your kids get a package every month with activities, workbooks, art projects, and cultural lessons centered around one country or two US states. We’ve tried other educational subscriptions, but never have I seen one with so many features. Each monthly package comes with crafts, tangible items that represent the location, postcards, photos, and (actually fun) workbooks. In initial ‘Discovery’ kit includes an excellent world or US map.There’s a storyline every time which ties all the package elements together.

What sets Little Passports apart: We love the storytelling angle of Little Passports. The first month of subscription, your kids will receive a play suitcase filled with introductory materials. They’ll ‘meet’ Sam and Sofia, the two Little Passports characters, and learn their backstory: they’ve discovered a magical scooter which can take them to any state or country. (Think Magic Treehouse.) In subsequent months, Sam and Sofia return with a letter explaining what country or state they’re writing from. We find this to be a nice theme to hold the concept together: kids can immediately relate to the materials because of the fictional characters.

1. Choose the World Edition or the USA Edition:

We tried one of each, and are not sure which we like better. Our sample World Edition package was on Japan: we received our letter from Sam and Sofia describing the country and fun activities kids do there, such as origami and sushi rolling, then the kids were able to reach into the package to find a packet of origami paper and instructions, and a sushi eraser to use with the included worksheet. They got postcards from Japan, and a sticker to put on their suitcase or in their passport. Our USA Edition package included two states: California and North Dakota. There was a paper craft for each state, plus a workbook (one half on each state). Postcards, photos, and a letter from Sam and Sofia completed the kit.

Uses for your subscription: homeschooling, road trips, air travel, rainy days, boring weekends

Age range: both my eight-year-old and 11-year-old were engaged. The USA Edition actually has harder workbook materials in it for older kids, but the crafts and activities are geared to any age. My opinion: ages 4-6 with parent help (reading and helping with projects), ages 7-12 independently.

Can kids share? Absolutely. No need to buy more than one subscription per family.

Can you choose which destinations you receive? No. Therefore, Little Passports isn’t intended for travel planning or preparation in the direct sense. Rather, it’s intended for keeping kids excited about travel even when they’re at home, and for educating them about countries and states they have not visited (and may not have the opportunity to visit).

2. Choose a subscription plan:

You can buy month-to-month for $11.95, or can choose a 3-month, 6-month, or 12-month plan. If choosing a plan, you’ll pay upfront, but save money. My suggestion: opt for the 3 month plan to try it out.

Pit Stops for Kids was given a sample of Little Passports at no cost, for the purpose of review.

It’s here! Lots to Do in Line: Walt Disney World edition

April 25, 2013 By Amy Hagstrom

Over a year ago, I reviewed Meredith Lyn Pierce’s Lots To Do In Line: Disneyland. I admitted to being a reluctant reviewer: After all, I believe in not waiting in Disney lines at all! But after reading through the book, I wholeheartedly endorsed Lots to Do in Line. There was only one thing missing…all of Walt Disney World. Now Pierce is back with Lots to Do In Line: Walt Disney World, which I’m pleased to say offers the same fun trivia, games, and observations as the first edition, and covers all four main theme parks of Walt Disney World.

To gain an overview of what this book series is all about, head over to my previous review. In a nutshell, here’s why you should bring Lots to Do in Line with you on your next Disney vacation, whether it be to the Land or the World:

You’ll see things you would have otherwise missed:

Did you know there’s a secret murder mystery to solve in the queue of The Haunted Mansion? I’ve stood in that queue many a time, and have written Disney World advice for years, and had no idea. Gems like this one are peppered throughout the book. Almost every entry also includes a treasure hunt of things to locate in the queue, which means you’ll spot things you otherwise would have missed.

You’ll interact as a family (and maybe hear less talk of wanting a Dole Whip):

The entries include pop quizzes and friendly competitions where family members can earn points, which is enough incentive for my kids to sit up and take notice. They’ll be engaged while in the line instead of whining. (Not that my kids whine. Not ever.)

You’ll learn Disney trivia:

You never know when this may come in handy (during a show on a Disney Cruise, perhaps?). During a viewing of Jeopardy? Plus it’s just fun to be Disney savvy while vacationing in the World.

How to use the book: It’s pretty easy. As you enter a queue, flip to that entry in Lots to Do in Line. You’ll find a choice of the activities mentioned above with which to occupy yourself. If you’re entering a Fast Pass queue, you’ll want to flip directly to the activities with a FP symbol in the book, because remember, a FP line won’t include everything. You also get ‘land’ overviews and park overviews at the beginning of each section. While on the go, use the index at the back to flip directly to the right entry.

We hope you rarely need to use Lots to Do in Line, because if you follow our step-by-step guide to avoiding Disney lines, you’ll be too busy hopping from ride to ride. But for when you do encounter a speed bump, this book is a winner. Pick either version up at Amazon
for around $10.