Blog, Destinations, Kiddos Without Carry-ons

Kid-friendly Outdoor Adventures in Northwest Washington

We’re getting outside these days more than ever. Despite the changing seasons (and accompanying Pacific Northwest rain), outdoor adventures are good for our souls. Our exhausted, anxiety-ridden, eight-months-into-a-pandemic souls. With masks and hand sanitizer in tow, we’ve been heading out to lots of local parks and trails. I always consult the AllTrails App and the Washington Trails Association App for current trail conditions before departing. Here are my favorites in and around Bellingham: 

Larrabee State Park 

This park features beautiful views of Samish Bay and the San Juan Islands and there’s just a short hike down to a pebble beach (a favorite picnic spot of ours).  It is the perfect spot for exploring tide pools. 

Camping is available. It’s a state park so you’ll need the Discover Pass or a one day pass (automated machines available in the parking lot). 

Clayton Beach

This beach is technically a part of Larrabee, but you must access it via its own trail. There is a parking lot on Chuckanut Drive across from Fragrance Lake Road (and the sign for the trail is across the street from the parking lot). There is one steep rock scramble near the end of the trail as you get close to the beach; little ones will need a hand to hold! This is another great beach for exploring tide pools, and the hike down to the beach is an adventure of its own. 

Lummi Island

Bordering the San Juan Islands is Lummi Island, a small, bucolic island west of Bellingham. It’s a quiet paradise until we arrive with our kids – then it’s a louder paradise. Biking the island is a great adventure if you have a bike trailer or your kids are old enough to ride independently. A small, open-air car ferry will take you there, but we leave our car behind and just walk on with our bikes and kids in tow. You can do a lovely seven mile loop from the ferry dock, which is a quick and easy way to see the beauty of the island. There are lots of animals to stop and see, there is a public beach accessible behind the Congregational Church (as well as at the ferry dock), and during the summer and early fall nearly the entire island is covered in wild blackberries. 

The ferry leaves via Gooseberry Point on the Lummi Indian Reservation, only takes about six minutes, and is fun for the kids (especially if you’re used to traveling on the massive Washington State Ferries).  

Semiahmoo Spit (Semiahmoo Park)

There is a paved walking path (stroller friendly) with beautiful views on each side (0.8 miles one way). We usually just let the kids play at the beach during low tide. There are views of Mount Baker and the Twin Sisters, there are several picnic tables, and you’re guaranteed to see lots of birds, especially during the winter. 

Hovander Homestead Park

350 acres of paradise for children: farm animals, a playground, river access, and there’s even a Children’s Story Garden. The kids love the Tennant Lake Marsh Boardwalk (1.4 mile loop)- just make sure to hold the hands of wiley toddlers. 

Boulevard Park and Taylor Dock

Located along Bellingham Bay in Fairhaven, this is a wonderful park for kids. Picnic tables, a playground, and a rocky beach perfect for little kids. Woods Coffee is located within the park and they have a to-go window near the playground. The park connects to Taylor Dock, an elevated boardwalk over the bay that connects the park to downtown Fairhaven. 

Lake Whatcom Park

Some of my favorite hikes with kids are located in this park:

Chanterelle Trail– It’s only 4.8 miles but is basically straight up hill… so it’s a great workout, especially if you hike up the Wickersham Truck Road instead, which we’ve been doing recently to avoid the possibility of any crowds. The view at the top is worth it. 

Hertz Trail– This trail is flat and has so much to see that your toddler will forget that she’s hungry, tired, and forgot all her dollhouse toys at home, etc. You’ll pass by streams, a waterfall, and a few pieces of beach that are swimmable during the warmer months! The trail is wide and stroller friendly, and it’s perfect for social distancing. (6 miles out and back).

Deception Pass State Park

This park is a bit of a trek from Bellingham, but it’s worth the drive. There is much to love about this park: 35 miles of hiking trails, the Puget Sound shoreline, access to three lakes, and the views of the San Juan Islands. There are options for boating, camping, fishing, and swimming, and there are many good spots for whale and seal watching. 

The park is located on two islands– Fidalgo to the north and Whidbey to the south. Discover Pass required, or there are automated pay stations in the parking lots.

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Blog, Kiddos Without Carry-ons

Canoeing with Kids

For Mother’s Day my husband gifted me the thing I never knew I needed for my quarantine sanity: a canoe. We took our kids out in the lake almost every weekend over the summer. I didn’t really know what I was doing at first (…my husband grew up on a lake and knows what he’s doing, thankfully), but I watched a few YouTube videos about paddling and as long as I’m at the bow and not expected to help steer, we do just fine. 

As with most adventures with kids, we’re in it for the long game. Our kids are toddlers and we’re trying to build the foundation for a lifetime of recreation outside. The first few trips out were rough and we expected that. It got better, especially after figuring out what we needed to bring to keep the kids happy and comfortable, what length of time was best, and what time of day was optimal for their schedules. Our goal is to be able to take the kids canoe camping next summer, and I think the kids will be ready. Here are our tips:

★ For young children, get them their own paddles (and tether the paddles to the boat). We have these collapsible ones. Kids like to feel involved, even if they’re just making things a little harder for you… For older kids, binoculars could help them look out for rocks, find good swimming spots, etc. 

★ Establish clear safety rules (don’t stand up in the boat without asking, no leaning or jumping over the side, life preservers on at all times, etc.) Our three year old is good about following these rules– our one year old, not so much. For this reason, the littlest one sometimes sits at the bow locked between my legs. 

★ Stick to an enclosed body of water, unless you’re pros.

★ Seat pads make it much more comfortable for toddlers to sit in the boat.

★ Snacks, always… and water bottles. We give each kid a bag full of a variety of snacks for the ride. 

★ Sun protection. We like hats that cover the backs of the neck (like these), and we put the girls in full-length rashguards/clown suits so that we can use less sunscreen.

★ Be prepared with games to keep them engaged: I spy, etc. We also play music on our phones (…lots of Moana these days…)

Do you have any other tips to share? Would love to hear them in the comments!

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Blog, Destinations

Best Activities Near Tucson With Toddlers

Taking a toddler to a desert is a great exercise in teaching her how to follow directions: “Don’t touch the cactus! Hold still while I douse you in sunscreen! Look out for rattlesnakes!” The desert is deadly, folks, but it’s a *very* fun place to visit. Tucson is a family-friendly city and just a fun city in general (…just watch out for Gila monsters, rattlesnakes, scorpions, Africanized bees, coral snakes, tarantulas, brown recluse spiders, black widow spiders, blister beetles, desert toads, and all those prickly cacti…) Here are my favorite things to do with toddlers in the area (and at the end of this list I’ve included some activities that would be fun for older kids).

Children’s Garden at Tohono Chul

Tohono Chul – Botanical gardens that have a children’s garden that is awesome! My daughters floated boats down a little stream and played in a sandbox while I got to relax and bask in the sun (for 30 seconds). There’s a bistro, too, if food is always a priority for you like it is for me.

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum – This is usually at the top of any ‘Visit Tucson’ list and for good reason– it’s a zoo, aquarium, natural history museum, botanical garden, and art gallery. There are a ton of activities for kids and the new Packrat Playhouse is one of the coolest indoor play areas I’ve seen (and is a great respite from the sun).

Children’s Museum Tucson – I’ve become somewhat of a children’s museum connoisseur and this is a good one. Bring 20 gallons of hand sanitizer with you.

Honey Bee Canyon

Hike in Honey Bee Canyon Park in Oro Valley – The trails are a perfect length for little ones (~2 miles) and there’s not much elevation change (plus beautiful views of the Pusch Ridge!) There are two different trails; one leads to petroglyphs which might be interesting to you and a good snack spot for your kids.

Marana Pumpkin Patch and Farm Festival – Make this drive north of Tucson if you’re visiting in the fall or in the winter around the holiday season. This is where I first learned about “jumping pillows” and my two year old bounced happily for two hours.

Reid Park Zoo – We hear this is a good one, but we didn’t actually go because we’d just visited the San Diego Zoo. I had to include it on this list, though, because seeing animals is always a hit with little ones.

Our kids are young, but there are many more wonderful activities for families with kids who are a bit older: Old Tucson, Kartchner Cavern State Park, Sabino Canyon, Pima Air and Space Museum, Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium, Biosphere 2, and Saguaro National Park.

What are your favorite spots for kids around Tucson?

Did you know that you can rent baby/toddler gear while visiting Tucson? It’s affordable and extremely convenient!

“Wherever there is injustice, you will find us. Wherever there is suffering, we’ll be there. Wherever liberty is threatened, you will find… @kiddosandcarryons/ The Three Amigos [filmed partly in Tucson]”

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Blog, Travel Tips

Renting Baby Gear for Travel: All You Need to Know

On our recent holiday trip to visit family in Arizona, we left our hiking child carrier behind. It’s just so bulky and we would’ve ended up having to pay at least $60 to check it. After our first hike in Arizona with our two year old, we instantly regretted leaving the backpack carrier behind. 

The Kelty Journey PerfectFit

And then… Christmas came early when Baby’s Away Tucson saved the day and gifted us a loaner carrier for the week! It was a Kelty Journey PerfectFit backpack and looked brand new; they delivered it to where we were staying and then they retrieved it at the end of our stay. It could not have been more convenient and it has me thinking… “Why have we never rented gear??”  I really think renting baby gear is the answer to so many of our “travel with kids” conundrums:

“How to pack and check a car seat?” DON’T! Just rent it! 

“What if my AirBnB doesn’t have a crib or pack n’ play?” RENT one! 

“My newborn will only sleep in a swing and there’s no way we can pack that!” RENT a swing!

And of course.. My most recent problem: “My toddler is getting too big for the Ergo and she isn’t yet able to walk for extended periods of time on hikes…” RENT a backpack carrier!   **Ergo refers to our favorite soft carrier, the ErgoBaby 360. We’ve never traveled without it.

Here’s how renting gear at your destination can make travels with kids a bit easier: 

★ You’re able to pack lightly. Babies need a lot of stuff… well, that’s not technically true, but having a lot of gear makes the day to day with a baby much easier. So when you leave most of your baby gear at home for travels, you’re immediately giving up part of the comfort and routine of life at home. When you rent gear, you’re able to keep the comforts of home with you, without having to schlep it around. Whenever we travel with our car seats, there is always an overwhelming sense of freedom when we check the car seats with the airline and I know that I’m no longer responsible for transporting them. Most baby gear rental companies will deliver items to you, wherever you may be: airport, rental car company, hotel, or in our case on this last trip, my parents’ house.

★ You don’t have to worry about damaging your own stuff. When we fly, we now put our car seats in padded bags, but before that we would bubble wrap them! We were concerned about them getting damaged, and rightly so… they get tossed around at the airport! When you rent gear, including car seats, damage is protected under the business’ insurance policy so you don’t have to worry about it. 

My daughter perched happily in the backpack carrier.

★ You’re ensured clean, sanitized, high quality gear. This isn’t always the case in other situations, like say, renting a car seat with your rental car (believe me, those seats are sometimes not in the best condition. I’m sure some rental car companies are better than others). The backpack that was delivered to us on this last trip looked like it had never been used.

★ You’re able to have the convenience of home while traveling, which makes sticking to routines much easier. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve stayed in a hotel or AirBnB and tried to find interesting things for my kids to play with. We always pack a few toys, especially entertainment for the flight, but most of the kids’ toys are left behind. Baby’s Away and other rental companies will provide tubs of toys for your kiddos! They’ll also provide high chairs, swings, changing tables, infant bathtubs, monitors, sound machines, security gates, bottle warmers, bottle sanitizers, bouncy seats, exersaucers, wagons…. really, whatever you use at home, they will probably have available to rent. When you’re able to provide a similar environment to your home, especially for sleep, it makes travel with kids much easier.

★ You can try out big ticket items before purchasing. I think this could be a great way to try out pricey items (like double jogging strollers) before making the purchase at home. Our backpack carrier is a different brand at home, so it was nice to compare products in case we want to buy another one in the future (which we certainly will because we have two small kids and we do a lot of hiking). 

★ Renting gear is affordable, especially when you take into account the cost of checking baggage on flights. Baby’s Away rents gear at a daily rate, with an additional fee for delivery. A car seat rents for about $7 per day, while a backpack carrier like the one we borrowed rents for about $8 per day. If you’re traveling for only a few days, these prices are much less expensive than paying to check them on flights (well… car seats are free of course) but the cost of potential damage to your own items is much higher. 

For future trips, this is the gear that I will consider renting at my destination:

Stroller– especially a double jogger. We swear by our collapsible radio flyer wagon, and I don’t see us leaving it behind on a trip any time soon. But my normal routine at home involves running with the girls in a double jogger, and if I can do this while traveling then it is a total win. We never bring our double jogger on flights because it is just too expensive to risk damage. 

Car seats . They’re bulky and it makes travel so much more simple when you don’t have to haul them around. We sometimes borrow car seats from rental car companies (if we’re renting a car) but we’ve had experience with the company providing very worn, dirty, car seats. 

Crib or travel cot. We’ve never had a problem borrowing a pack n’ play or crib from hotels, but many AirBnBs don’t provide them. Rather than packing one, I’d rent one.

Baby’s Away exists in over 90 locations around the U.S. but there are many other companies that provide baby gear rental as well. A simple internet search can yield information about rental companies at your specific travel destination, in the U.S. or abroad. 

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Best Gear for Traveling with Multiple Kids

Maybe it’s the inundation of ads I’ve been seeing constantly since the weekend, or maybe it’s the lengthy text I just sent to a friend offering some (solicited) packing tips for an upcoming holiday trip… but travel GEAR is on my mind. The holiday season is upon us and if you’re traveling with kids this season then you know that you probably won’t be traveling light. We’ve just returned from several trips with the kids and as I unpack and prepare to re-pack for our next flight I thought I’d share some of our favorite gear for travel with multiple kids (and how to lighten your load). [We ALWAYS try to pack light. Before we were married, my husband once packed an electric pencil sharpener (like the large ones used in classrooms) for a trip to Panama. So… he’s really down-sized since having kids.] If you’re traveling with an infant, you may also want to check out this checklist of important items.


So, this is where I went wrong: I ordered two different colors of blue for my kids… I really like blue, obviously. File this one under “good ideas that I’ve executed poorly”

★Packing Cubes

I used to think packing cubes were a waste of money but now, with two kids, I’m pretty much sold on anything that can make my life more efficient/organized since I can barely remember my own name. Each of our kids have different color cubes to make for easy retrieval of items on the go and to try to organize clothes at our destination. Artos Collections recently sent us a hanging cube to review and we’re sold (they’re packing cubes that hang up at the destination, preventing toddlers from “reorganizing” all the clothes).

★Collapsible Wagon

This wagon comes on all trips with us!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: best purchase for travel with kids. It’s airplane friendly, collapses with the pull of one hand, and can be gate-checked. The Radio-Flyer model that we have has a detachable sun canopy, which is #goals for protecting your kids’ skin on adventures! I’ll also add that we have, on multiple occasions, carried one of our daughters in her car seat inside of the wagon- something that I’ve never seen a normal stroller capable of doing with a toddler-sized car seat. (**This is definitely a DO AT YOUR OWN RISK maneuver; we always walk slowly with the other parent right behind).

The girls sleeping peacefully after a long flight. The car seat fits well inside the wagon, but do this AT YOUR OWN RISK!

If I’m not bringing the wagon I’ll opt for a cheap ($15-20) umbrella stroller, sometimes purchased at my destination and then donated before I leave. 

Some misc. items that we never travel without (and we’ve traveled without them in the past and quickly realized our mistake):

★Noise machines. There are portable noise machines and apps for the phone, but we travel with two Marpac Dohm Classic machines and they’re not small. We know the importance of keeping to routine while traveling and our kids notice the difference if it’s not the white noise they’re familiar with. Most other things can be modified to mimic their home sleep environment (like this method for make-shift blackout curtains) but lost sleep on top of the challenges of travel with kids can be a nightmare so we try to avoid it. 

★Kids’ body wash and my daughter’s electric toothbrush. My kids have sensitive skin, so rather than use random products offered from the accommodations I bring a little bit of their soap. I use empty prescription pill bottles (you know, the little orange ones) and fill it with their soap. This also works well for lotion. It’s never leaked. I also fill one with the dish washing liquid I use for bottles. Obviously, this is for shorter trips– if we’ll be in one spot for several weeks then I’ll just wait and buy it at the destination (unless we’re traveling abroad because they might not sell the same brand there). My toddler now uses an electric toothbrush at home and we use it on trips just to stick to routine.

★I never skimp on SNACKS. Often I think I’m being crazy by packing too many but we almost always go through them. Kids Eat in Color once suggested that you fill each compartment of a weekly pill organizer with snacks (and she notes specific snacks that are good for air travel). I’ve used this with my toddler and it’s fun for her and is a small, portable way to bring a variety of foods.

★We travel with baby monitors, unless we’re staying in a hotel and know that the kids won’t be in the room unsupervised. At home we use video monitors, but when we travel we use cheap, portable ones. 

Some heroes don’t wear capes… they wear car seat backpacks.

★Luggage scale. Most airlines make you pay for everything these days, which makes space in checked bags a hot commodity. We travel with a small luggage scale so that we can weigh our luggage in order to transfer items between bags so that we don’t end up paying an exorbitant overage fee for baggage. 

Car seat backpacks. This is another thing that was initially a hard sell for me but has proven invaluable, especially when I’m flying with the kids but without my husband. When I’m solo-parenting, I carry one carseat on my back and put the other on the collapsible wagon until I can check them ASAP. 

★External battery pack. You’ll likely have some sort of tablet with you if traveling with kids (**highly advised), and you’ll have your phones of course, so bringing an external battery pack for charging on the go is always a good idea. 

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My Favorite Family-Travel Resources

One of my goals for starting this blog was to be able to connect with other like-minded families who choose to travel with their kids. I met a mom at the park the other day who told me she’d be taking her five week old baby (and two other kids) to New Zealand and my first thought was “Ohhhh, you’re my kind of crazy…” Lucky for me, I’ve connected with alllllllll kinds of pretty crazy travel families on social media and hence, have learned some invaluable tips and tricks when it comes to travel with kids. For whatever reason- I chalk it up (somewhat) to Google Search Engine Optimization- a lot of really great resources for specific travel destinations go under the radar on the web. In the past I’d found it incredibly difficult to find family travel advice that resonated with me and my family’s travels (but found plenty of articles from large parenting platforms with less-than-ideal advice). But great resources do exist and I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorites. If you’re searching for travel tips, itineraries, looking for general family travel inspiration or just some travel horror stories to make you feel better about your last trip, start here: 

Platforms that share tips and itineraries written by parents for other parents:

Nugget Travel. Beyond suggestions for day-trips (like this one I wrote about a hike in Iceland) and overnight trips and accommodations for destinations around the world, Nugget just started recording podcasts for both parents and kids alike (I recently listened to one of the kid-friendly episodes and think it could be an awesome resource for classroom teachers as well). When my kids get older, I plan on building their background knowledge for upcoming trips by listening to podcasts like these ones.

Travelokido. Beyond family-friendly itineraries, Travelokido also has a magazine as well as an entire section dedicated to family-friendly accommodations around the world. 

Trekaroo. A self-described “community of tens of thousands of travel savvy parents,” Trekaroo also has an App that can help plan your next family vacation. 

Little City Trips. Features tips, itineraries, and packing lists, all geared for travel to big cities (currently 18) around the world. They also have a podcast now, too!

In addition, there are several other blogs that have great information and can serve as inspiration as you prepare to travel with your family:

The Cluster Cast Podcast. These guys are funny, call themselves “filterless” (and it’s true, thankfully)…. Sometimes it can be so boring seeing beautiful pictures of families traveling with kids on social media when you KNOW that travel with kids is just plain messy. Beyond humor and not sanitizing family travel, they actually have really great tips. I just listened to their episode about road trips and will absolutely be implementing their idea of having an activity schedule throughout the drive. 

Family Can Travel and Baby Can Travel are two websites with lots of great information. They’re created by a Canadian couple who travels with their kids (and their kids are older than mine, so I’ll definitely be looking for their advice as our children grow). There is a wealth of information on these sites and many collaborations with other traveling families (I collaborated on this article about top destinations for travel with toddlers). 

We3Travel is a site run by a Rhode Islander (woohoo!) who travels frequently with her now-teenage daughter. She has some great suggestions for mother-daughter trips and travel with teenagers in general– a field that I don’t know much about aside from that weekend trip to Boston I took with my middle school students a few years ago that I hope to never repeat. 

Yes, there a ton of other great blogs out there with amazing resources, but these are my favorites at the moment. What are your favorite family travel resources that I haven’t mentioned?

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Charlottesville, VA with Kids

If you like the Avett Brothers, Dave Matthews, fabulous restaurants, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, I’ve got a place for you. Some place warm, where the beer flows like wine, where beautiful women instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano. I’m talking about a little place called… Charlottesville. (If you haven’t seen Dumb and Dumber, none of that will have made sense, just move on and then go watch that movie).  

I was fortunate enough to grow up in a couple of the most beautiful cities in the country and Charlottesville, Virginia is one of them. It’s nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, was the home of Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe, and is the home of the University of Virginia. It is truly a beautiful city, incredibly family-friendly, and fall is the perfect time to visit when the temperatures start to cool and that southern humidity begins to fade. Here are my top recommendations for family-friendly spots in the area:

★Downtown Mall

C’Ville’s Downtown Mall

There’s a little bit for everyone on the brick-lined pedestrian mall that runs through the middle of downtown Charlottesville. But who cares about “everyone” when you’ve got kids… Your kids will love the many ice cream shops (Splendora’s Gelato and Chaps are my favorite), toy store, and the Freedom of Speech Wall (give them a piece of chalk and let them add a masterpiece). The BEST stop on the downtown mall is the Virginia Discovery Museum. I’ve been to a ton of kids’ museums and this one ranks highly in my book. There’s an antique carousel out front that’s fun, too. Across the street from the mall is the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library and it has a fabulous kids area (ahem, named after my father- you’ve got to check out the John Halliday Reading Room). 

★Wineries 

If you’re traveling with toddlers or babies, you’ll probably need some wine/cider/beer. The Monticello Wine Trail boasts over thirty wineries, all inspired by Thomas Jefferson’s winemaking at his plantation (Monticello). If you’re questioning why I’m putting wineries on my list of family-friendly destinations then clearly you are not a hot mess mother in need of wine or you simply prefer breweries (of which there are several, so you’re in luck. My favorite is Blue Mountain Brewery). In my dream world I would sip wine at an outdoor patio while my little ones played happily in the grass. In reality I usually end up guzzling down my drink while trying to run after my children. My baby ate a bumble bee the other day because I looked away for two seconds. Either way, it’s still a fun time. My favorite wineries are Veritas, Barboursville, and Pippin Hill. You probably can’t go wrong with any of the ones on this list. King Family holds Polo matches from Memorial Day Weekend until early October and all kids love horses, right??

★Monticello

Speaking of Monticello, the actual house is worth a visit. I should know– I was dragged on the tour over a dozen times as a child. There are family-friendly tours, geared for kids between the ages of 5-11. You’ll spend at least of couple of hours doing the tour and walking around the grounds, and the Visitor’s Center and Cafe are also worth a visit. 

The Saunders-Monticello Trail leads up to the Monticello Visitor’s Center and is a kid-friendly hike. The trail is stroller-friendly, very well-maintained, and is about 4 miles round-trip. I’ve walked up to the Visitor’s Center with a baby in the stroller, had a nice lunch at the cafe, and then walked back down. It’s a nice outing. 

★Michie Tavern

On your way up to or back from Monticello, Michie Tavern is a fun stop for lunch (and for picking up souvenirs). Servers are dressed in period attire and the food on the buffet is based on 18th century recipes. Added bonus, kids under six eat free. Bonus bonus, there’s the opportunity to dress your little ones in period attire because nothing says “get a taste of the 18th century” like snapping cute photos on your iPhone. 

★Visit an Orchard 

Chile’s Peaches is our personal favorite. They host a pancake breakfast on weekends from April-December. They also host music on Friday evenings during the spring and summer. If you have little kids and are visiting mid-week, stop by their “Come Grow with Us” Sessions featuring crafts, a cooking project, snacks, and story time!  

Carter Mountain Orchard is a favorite for apple picking and there are great views from the top. Through the summer and early fall they have a Thursday Sunset Series with dinner, live music, and hay rides.

★Hiking

There are lots of child-friendly trails in the area thanks to the proximity of the Shenandoah National Park, the Rivanna Trails and the Ivy Creek Natural Area. Use the AllTrails App to find one that suits your family’s difficulty level. The Saunders-Monticello Trail (noted above) is my favorite hike with babies in strollers. 

★Outdoor Concerts

Castle Hill Cider

Through the spring, summer, and fall there are lots of free outdoor concerts around town, perfect for taking a picnic and letting your kids run and dance around. In the summer, Fridays After Five holds free concerts at the Sprint Pavilion (on the downtown mall) with food/beer trucks. Castle Hill Cider has a beautiful tasting room in Keswick and hosts live music alternating Thursdays and Fridays, May through August. Many of the wineries have live music during the warmer months.

 
For more information about family-friendly events happening around Charlottesville each week visit https://charlottesvillefamily.com/

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Getting There is Half the Fun: How to Road Trip With Kids

Guest Post by Peggy Windsor Halliday aka My Mom! She wrote this in 1992 and it absolutely holds up today.

The key to successful travel with children is realizing that it requires hard work but that the rewards are tremendous. Traveling together is one of the most important things you can do as a family. Shared experiences are among the best gifts that you, as a parent, can give your children. But there is a lot more to it than throwing the kids in the car and driving away. Good planning and realistic expectations make the difference between a successful trip and one you would rather forget. 

Why is Family Travel Important?

These are the days of “living in the fast lane”. Parents and children alike are busier today than they have ever been– busy for the most part with activities that don’t intersect the lives of other members of their families. Many families share a home but little else. Even meals together are rare. 

Family vacations draw us together through mutual experiences in an atmosphere removed from the distractions of work, school, daycare, friends, and housework. The family is responsible only to itself and for itself. Family vacations build the traditions and memories that bond us together for the rest of our lives. 

Car travel throws us together in such a way that we have no choice but to be together, in a place where we must rely upon ourselves and each other for our entertainment. While this may actually discourage some of us from planning long car trips, it should be looked upon as an inducement.

Busy parents who have little time during the course of a normal day to simply sit and play with their children can really benefit from the “idle” hours spent in the car. At home it is a luxury for parents to be able to give their undivided attention to their children for more than a few minutes at one time. Even in the middle of a family activity it is difficult not to jump up to check on dinner or answer the phone. In the car, parents are their children’s captive audience. For the parents it can be a delightful opportunity to teach, to play, to listen, and to learn more about their children and their special, unique ideas.

Expectations

We have all heard horror stories about family vacations which left the parents on the brink of divorce and offering to give the children away to anyone foolish enough to take them. The usual cause for such disappointment is unrealistic expectations. 

Most people have so little vacation time that it is natural to want every minute of it to be perfect. They expect the children to be well behaved and to appreciate everything they have planned for them, and they expect to return home feeling rested and relaxed. 

Be realistic. There is no need to romanticize car travel, but neither is there reason to dread it. Don’t expect the children to be interested in everything that you are. Don’t expect to finish that nine hundred page book you started when you were expecting your first child eight years ago. Realize that the children will fuss and argue some of the time but there are things you can do to minimize this and help them have a good time. 

It is not uncommon for the beginning of a long trip to be a bit rocky, and it helps if you expect this. The start of a trip is a period of mass unwinding, a time for each family member to settle into the changes in routine and find a niche in which he is comfortable. Older children, accustomed to being passively entertained by television, suddenly find themselves responsible for their own amusement. Initially they may intensify their quarreling with siblings, then surprise you by calling a truce for the duration of the trip. Boredom and restlessness produce an anxiety which often leads to great creativity. One creative idea which frequently emerges is that it is better to play together than alone. And together there is no end to the games and activities your children may invent.

Getting Psyched

Try to get everyone in the family excited and involved in the planning. Present older children with maps and guidebooks and ask them to research places of interest along the way. They may enjoy planning where to stop for the night. If you intend to stay at a motel, give the kids a travel guidebook you trust and let them circle places that meet your guidelines. If you are camping the same can be done with a campground guide. 

Children of all ages like familiarity. They will be more comfortable with the idea of being away from home if the places you are going have been a topic of family study and discussion. Show them drawings and photographs of the places you will visit. If you will be seeing friends or relatives tell them as much as you can about these people and show them any photos you may have. Even if you have seen them fairly recently, keep in mind that young children have short memories. 

Take advantage of the public library. Look for story books or chapter books that take place where you are traveling. There are also many videos available which will help familiarize even preschoolers with a wide variety of places.

Before you leave lay out a map which covers the entire route and have your family trace it with a pencil. Each day or when your trip is complete the children can color the line with a marker. Each time your children add a line to the map they will be very proud of the new territory they have covered.

Packing

Everyone has his own method of packing and entire books have been written on the subject. The three best tips for family car trips are:

1. Don’t use suitcases. Instead, pack in colored duffle bags which are soft and flexible and will fit almost anywhere- under feet or smashed into corners. Even the smallest member of the family should have his own bag. With a different color for everyone you know at a glance whose is whose. When you arrive at your daily destination each child can grab his own.

2. Have each child pack a minimal amount of toys in his own backpack and keep the backpack beside him in the car. Backpacks should be no more than half full (more about this later).

3. Always pack a Front Seat Bag, which is kept within reach of a parent. This bag may be a large paper sack, or a beach bag works well, too. Fill it with solutions to potential problems which may arise, things your children might need RIGHT NOW. A Front Seat Bag could contain band-aids, wet wipes, visors and sunglasses, crackers and fruit snacks, small flashlights, CDs (humor, children’s, foreign language, Broadway musicals), books, a jug of water and cups with lids, and baby bottles. Packing the Front Seat Bag requires some forethought about what your children might require to keep them happy. It is worth every minute of effort you put into it. 

On the Road

Finally the time has come and you are on your way. What are some tricks to keep things running smoothly?

Use bribes, not threats. Okay, call it positive reinforcement, if it makes you feel better. This is where those half empty backpacks begin to fill up. Don’t tell the kids the horrible things you will do to them if they misbehave; tell them that if they are cooperative they will get a surprise every 100 miles (or 50, or 200, depending upon your pocketbook and your children’s ability to delay gratification). 

Keep a sack of wrapped presents in the Front Seat Bag, or beside it. Wrapping the surprises is worth the extra mess. You might want to give out the first round of presents as you leave town to ease everyone through that rocky start. Surprises may be as simple as a pack of lifesavers or a box of raisins or some baseball cards, or they may be toys to add to the backpacks, such as washable markers and a notebook (a good first present), a sticker book, sewing cards, a maze or puzzle book, an action figure, or a magic paint book. A ratio of two or three snack treats to every toy treat helps keep down the cost. 

Rotate seats, including adults if you have more than one driver. Everyone needs a change of scene after a couple of hours in the car. If you have put an older child to work entertaining very young ones, be sensitive to what hard work it can be to sit next to a baby or toddler. Adults may want to take their turn in the back seat as well.

Make rest stops interesting and productive. Never feel pressured to stick to a schedule; after all, you are on vacation. Get off the interstate and find a park or a school with a playground where the kids can be physically active for twenty minutes or so. Twenty minutes may not sound like much but it is longer than the standard school recess. If you can’t find a playground any large grassy areas will do or a quick game of catch or tag or follow the leader. You may even stumble upon a local fair or parade. If the weather is bad look for a fast food restaurant with an indoor or covered play area. Letting the kids expend some of their energy seems to make all the difference in how well they travel and get along with one another. 

Don’t forget to let babies out of car seats while the car is stopped, even if they are not protesting. Babies need exercise, too.

Try to work in as many scenic detours as you can. If your children did research ahead of time they will appreciate you taking the time to follow some of their recommendations. This is the part of travel that will serve to broaden their experiences, and possibly yours, too. 

Games make car travel a breeze. Here are just a few suggestions for children of various ages. 

3-6 Months: “Grab-it Bag”: Fill a small drawstring bag with items of various shapes, sizes, colors, and textures, such as a small bean bag, a soft hair brush, a rattle, and a string of wooden spools. An adult or older child can use these objects to play a number of games with the infant, such as tug of war or peek-a-boo as you hide them and find them. Save this bag to use only in the car and keep your eyes out for interesting items to add to it. 

6-12 Months: “Bag of Animals”: Fill a drawstring bag with plastic animals, the ones too big to swallow. Have a baby pull them out one at a time, and ask her, “What is it?” and “What does the _____ say?” Show her the sounds and she will be repeating them before you arrive at Grandma’s house.

1-2 Year Olds: Toddlers need frequent, brief stops and lots of toys and games. “Simon Says”, Colorforms (which stick on windows), washable markers and coloring books are popular. Picture books, small cars and trucks, purses filled with safe odds and ends, and music will hold a toddler’s attention for a time. When all else fails you might have an older sibling or parent “sing a story”. These made up adventures can go on indefinitely and become so outrageous and amusing you’ll have everyone in the car wanting to take a turn at being the singer. 

3, 4, and 5 Year Olds: Once children reach three years old it becomes much easier for the driver to participate in entertainment because the children love to experiment with language. Car travel is an ideal time for memorization. Practice anything you have been working to teach your child, such as his full name, address, telephone number. Practice counting, saying the alphabet, rhymes or opposites. Try memorizing short poems. 

6 and Up: Mazes, books, writing or drawing in journals, and coloring are perfect for independent play. Favorite group games and the ages they work with are:

“Quizzes” (age three and older): Mom or Dad asks each child a question in turn on any academic subject appropriate to her abilities. One point is given for each correct answer. Sample questions might be (for a five year old), “Who was the first president of the United States?” or (for a ten year old), “Name three oceans.” Children love this game, especially if it is a close contest, and it is the parent’s job to make sure that it always is. 

“How Well Do You Know Me?” (age five and up): This is a great game because it gives you sometimes surprising insights into your children’s personalities. One person is asked a question about himself, such as, “Who is your favorite sports figure?” or “What was your favorite birthday?” Everyone has a chance to guess his answer before he tells what he really would have said. 

“Travel Bingo” is a great game for readers. Before the trip, make a list of thirty or forty things you might see along the highway, such as a windmill, a New York license plate, a “men working” sign, and so on. Make enough copies for everyone. Pass them out in the car and see who can check off everything first. 

“Stump the Driver” (age nine and up): All you need for this game is a paperback dictionary and some paper and pens. One person selects a word from the dictionary that no one can define. He writes the definition on a piece of paper, changing the words just a little. Everyone else makes up his own definition and writes it down, then all players pass theirs papers to the one who selected the word. He reads all the definitions aloud. The driver must decide which is the real one. This game is fun for the children and helps keep the driver alert. [Editor’s Note: There’s a board game similar to this, called “Balderdash”.]

The list of enjoyable car games could go on and on. If you draw a blank just ask other families for suggestions. People love sharing their own favorites.

Car travel can be the perfect opportunity to encourage your children to become more imaginative and creative, to increase their attention spans, and to become responsible, with your help and encouragement, for chasing any boredom. So, if you’re going on a trip, leave your impatience at home. And remember, getting there really can be half the fun!

Blog, Destinations

Iceland with Babies and Toddlers

Our toddler was just over a year old when we took her to Iceland. We went in mid-May, low season in Iceland, and it rained and was pretty cold many of the days we were there but it was still an ideal location for kids. The country is welcoming to kids and just think of all that open green space- a toddler’s dream! I never thought “lots of land for running around” would be a priority when choosing destinations but here we are. As long as you dress your kids like Randy from A Christmas Story you’ll be totally fine.

So much open space for RUNNING!!

While we’re usually pretty good about thoroughly researching our destinations, we didn’t do a lot of prep before buying some cheap flights we found to Reykjavik (from Boston on Wow Air which recently went out of business) and thought we’d made a really great financial decision only to realize once we’d started planning that hotels and food and basically everything in Iceland is very expensive. Plan to shell out a lot for accommodations and food, although you can make some budget choices like we did (see below) and definitely plan to book in advance since Iceland has become a popular destination. I’d recommend traveling in the low season if you’re up for braving some bad weather— prices are cheaper and there are fewer tourists.

Jet lag wasn’t terrible for us since we were traveling from Boston, only a five hour direct flight to Reykjavik. Our normal jet lag strategies worked well. Definitely consider throwing a few black garbage bags in your luggage in case you need makeshift black-out curtains in your room. When we were there it didn’t get dark until almost midnight.

These are some of our recs based on our experiences:

The Flight: We used our normal strategies to entertain our toddler on the flight. This is also the trip in which my husband pretended to be the robot Alexa to keep our toddler amused on the plane. Do whatever works, guys.

Pack appropriately! Plan to wear three layers because the weather in Iceland is always changing, even in the span of an hour. Wear a waterproof outer layer and sturdy rain shoes (we mostly wore hiking boots and put our toddler in duck boots). You definitely need a hood. Also plan to wear heavy socks and gloves and don’t forget a hat! We made great use out of our Ergo baby carrier. I wouldn’t recommend bringing a stroller as it’d be tricky to use on rough terrain.

Accommodations: Hotels/AirBnBs were all great about providing a crib. Most even had toddler-sized sheets, blankets and pillows which are rarely provided in the U.S. (and rightly so due to risk of SIDS) but this was a nice touch and I always stole our daughter’s pillow because I like to have a lot of pillows. One hotel even provided us with a mini robe for baby which was such a nice touch and totally unnecessary because we hardly ever bathe her. ‍

At the Farmhouse Lodge near Vik

A note on co-sleeping: It would be tough to do in Iceland because most accommodations provide twin beds that are pushed together to form a double bed. This is a thing in Scandanavia! In my point of view it’s totally superior than our shared marriage beds (is that what you call them? Or is that term from like the 1800s?) because there are two sets of sheets, two comforters, etc. which means there’s no cover hogging. But it does mean there’s a crevice that could open between the beds and baby could slide into. Maybe this isn’t a legitimate fear and just my own paranoia, but… I wouldn’t put my baby there.

Eating lunch at the Icewear Outlet in Vik

Eating out: All the restaurants we visited had high chairs, and most were high quality (Tripp Trapp, Stokke, etc. The ikea chair is popular, too.) We brought our travel high chair and would recommend doing the same (we have this one but there are lots of good ones). A portable chair is handy for meals in your apartment/hotel room. We also traveled with these silicone placemats that make cleaning up a breeze and are easy to roll up and throw in your bag. It also protects your kid’s food from germs on the table.

When you’re so hungry that you have to steal your toddler’s food…

I’m embarrassed but not too embarrassed to admit that we ate a lot of pizza and a surprising amount of Quiznos subs because we weren’t willing to splurge on many nice dinners out with our toddler in tow (and we were on a budget). We did have a couple of wonderful meals- lamb, seafood stew, etc. We packed lots of snacks for ourselves and pouches for our toddler and did NOT regret it. This was the trip in which I made fun of my husband for eating our daughter’s pouches. Now this is commonplace because those things are damn delicious and healthier than most airport food. If you stay in an apartment or AirBnB you can also make use of the kitchen to cut down on the cost of eating out.

Transportation: Don’t skip renting a car! Activities are weather dependent and there were many times when we sought refuge in our car so the weather could blow over before we could explore more. Public transportation in Iceland is excellent (or so we hear) but the logistics of bus rides and a toddler’s routine just don’t mesh well. Also, lugging around the car seat from town to town would be miserable, and all buses require that you use them.

Car naps FTW

Rental Car/Carseat: Keep in mind that if you go with the most budget-friendly rental car (like us) you will probably get a tiny European car, which is great as long as you don’t have much luggage (and I’d advise packing light anyway). We rented a car seat from the rental company and it worked out fine. Europe has different car seat laws than the U.S. and doesn’t require (or allow) the chest clip on car seats like the U.S. does. It seems that Europeans view the clip as MORE dangerous than not having one since so many parents use it incorrectly. That being said, if we’d brought our American car seat with us (again, we chose not to) I’m certain we would have been able to use it in our rental car without a problem.

Itinerary:

When we’re with our kids, we tend to stay more constrained geographically. There’s so much to explore in Iceland that unless you have a ton of time and want to spend a lot of time driving, your best bet is to stay confined to a smaller area for more time outdoors and to have more time to rest – prime considerations with our kids.

We stayed mainly along the Golden Circle after spending our first day in Reykjavik. I think one full day in Reykjavik is sufficient with kids- you’re able to visit several museums and get a feel for the city. Our favorite museums in Reykjavik were the Culture House and the National Museum and both have kids’ areas set up with toys and books. We wanted more time for hiking/seeing the natural wonders outside the city so our time in Reykjavik was brief. If I were doing the trip again, I’d choose a “home base” somewhere along the Golden Circle and take day trips from there. We spent each night in a different location which meant we had to pack up our things each day and relied on car naps for our toddler.

Blue Lagoon. What could be more relaxing than a visit to one of the top wellness spas in the world… with a toddler? So you probably won’t be able to get a massage in, or take a luxurious shower… basically locker rooms with toddlers are chaos any way you cut it. But the Blue Lagoon was worth it and I’m so glad we took our daughter. (The Blue Lagoon now requires kids to be 2+ years old. Nobody checked the age of our child and we were determined to get her in. Shh, don’t tell.)

We took a red-eye from Boston, so we arrived in Iceland around 5am. We went immediately from the airport after arriving so we were the first ones there. Book tickets well in advance, and you’ll need to book a specific arrival time so make sure that you’ve planned your itinerary before booking. We planned it this way since we couldn’t check into our apartment until afternoon and had time to kill. It was a great way to experience the lagoon early in the morning without crowds. They have delicious skyr smoothies for breakfast at the cafe.

Some of our favorite sites around Iceland:

Hveragerði – cute town with an excellent restaurant called “Skyrgerðin Cafe and Bistro” (and we stayed at the Guesthouse which was great as well).

Seljalandsfoss

Waterfalls! (They’re everywhere) Our favorite was Seljalandsfoss because it had a ton of space  for our kid to run around as well as restrooms and a snack bar. We also saw Skógafoss and Gullfoss.

Thingvellir National Park

Geysir

Seljavallalaug

Selljavallalaug Pool. Short hike to a hot spring pool built in the 1920s. It’s located off of Ring Road 1 on 242 (marked Raufarfuell) just after the Iceland Erupts Exhibition. You’ll see signs marked for Seljavellir and then you’ll drive straight along an unpaved road until you reach a parking lot next to a little shack (there’s nothing else around so you really can’t miss it). From there it is only a 15-20 min walk along the rocky mountain valley, complete with a river coming down off Eyjafjallajökull Glacier (you may have to jump over a little stream but it’s still safe for kids). The view is unbelievable.

Visit local pools wherever you go. For a small fee you can visit a warm water (geothermal) pool and it’s such a huge part of Icelandic culture that it’s a neat way to see part of the local life. This New York Times article gives a great overview of the importance of pools in Icelandic society.

Vík is a great stop if you need to refuel with gas, food, or warm weather clothing. It’s the southernmost village in Iceland and was our last stop before heading back towards the airport in Keflavik. The gigantic Icewear outlet has souvenirs and any clothing you might need, as well as a great cafeteria with delicious food. Game of Thrones fans will appreciate that Vík was the launching point for filming parts of Season 7.

Dyrhólaey is a peninsula close to Vik, has great views of the coast, and is supposed to be a great place to see puffins. We didn’t see any while we were there, though, because I think it was a little too early in the season.

This post highlights some other general tips we have for traveling with little ones. We hope you enjoy Iceland as much as we did!

Blog, Destinations

Little Rhody for Little Rascals

We sing this song by Blossom Dearie to our toddler:

And you, you come from Rhode Island
And little old Rhode Island
Is famous for you

It’s a great song but truth is our toddler was born in Rhode Island and her first two years were spent in the state, but rather than being famous for our curly-haired ragamuffin child, Rhode Island is actually famous for some really strange things because it’s a weird place. Hot wieners lined up a sweaty cook’s arm served with chili, “bubblers” for water fountains, and the official state drink of coffee milk that my elementary school students would slurp up for breakfast like crack, to name a few. The thing about Rhode Island is that it IS a weird place but Rhode Islanders don’t flaunt it like say… Vermonters. Well, we moved to RI from VT and I gotta say, RI wins in the weird department.

But I’ve got all kinds of nostalgia right now as we pack up our house preparing to move across the country from Little Rhody. And… it really is worth a visit because it’s a beautiful state with a ton of character. If you’re traveling to Rhode Island, and Providence in particular, here are some of my recs for places to take your own little ragamuffin toddler, which is pretty much my domain right now:

She’s usually only half soaking wet after this

Providence Children’s Museum. This one’s well worth a visit and located right downtown with a parking lot, so you don’t have to schlep your kiddo around the streets of the city. In the warmer months there’s a play area outside, and all year round the two story building has a variety of stations toddlers will love. My own toddler loves the water play area the best, and I do too because it allows me to sit on a bench and relax while she splashes to her heart’s content. There’s also an area for infants-four year olds with a tree house, slide, and bear cave.

Play Date. To native Rhode Islanders, driving more than fifteen minutes constitutes a “long drive” but for the rest of us that’s normal and fine. So if you’re staying in Providence I think it’s worth driving across the state line to Seekonk, Massachusetts to visit this cute play place. The decor is #instaworthy, there’s a coffee bar for parents, and the toys are top notch and great for a wide range of ages- there’s even a baby area for non-walkers. Toys come and go to keep it exciting and the most recent installment is a wooden pirate ship… arrrrrrrre you kidding me?!  So cool!

Children’s Library
(Just Kidding)

The Providence Athenaeum. This is one of the oldest libraries in the country. But don’t quote me on that because I’m not a historian and frankly don’t know what I’m talking about. Architecturally it’s beautiful if you care about that sort of thing, which I do, but my toddler certainly doesn’t which is why it’s great that they have… Story Time! Tuesday and Thursday mornings in a cute children’s library complete with toys and stuffed animals. It’s located smack dab between RISD and Brown.

Biomes Marine Biology Center. One of my best friends is the Queen of Warwick, RI- born, raised and rules the land like Khaleesi herself but without the dragons- and she introduced me to this place (located in North Kingstown). It’s in a strip mall so you’d never guess it has actual marine life inside. They have fish, sharks, turtles, frogs, and feeding demonstrations (bring the Purell!), touch tanks, and a little play area with marine-themed toys for kids.

Blackstone Boulevard and Hope Street. A fun outing with my toddler is going to Blackstone Boulevard, a 1.6 mile tree-lined path on the East Side of Providence. Lippitt Memorial Park is right next to the path, so when my toddler tires of the path we just hop over and play at the playground. At the top of the path on Hope Street is Three Sisters which is a wonderful little cafe to cap off a hard “hike” with toddler, aka twenty minutes of playing with rocks and dandelions on the path while I try to coerce her into a stroller so I can get some exercise. But Three Sisters has homemade ice cream, and when ice cream is involved everyone’s happy.

RUN, don’t walk, to treat yo’ self to PVDonuts

India Point Park and Playground. Located on the East Side of Providence, very close to PVDonuts which is a must. So basically this rec is for PVDonuts. You will NEVER find better donuts and… don’t you also mainly feed your toddler donuts? No?

Impossible Dream Playground. Really awesome, huge playground in Warwick. This place has it all— swings, slides, trains, cars, miniature golf, picnic tables. It’s sort of hard to explain how expansive this place is. I’ve never been to the indoor play space in the winter, but there is one. Easily accessible off I-95.

Painting with water = relaxation time for mom

Roger Williams Park Zoo. If you, too, have a toddler then you’ve probably been to your fair share of zoos and this one’s a winner. Not for the animals mind you, those poor creatures are still in cages adjacent to one of the busiest highways in the country. But it has about 40 acres and over 100 species of animals so it’s a land of enchantment for the kids. Camel and train rides in the summer, a “contact yard” aka petting zoo with enough animals to bring a 20oz bottle of Purell. Hasbro’s Our Big Backyard has a treehouse, water play in the warmer months, musical instruments and more. My own toddler could, and has, spent hours painting with water on a blackboard easel while I basked in the warm weather. A+ outing.

Roger Williams Park. The park itself is huge with a big pond with swan boats and a “Carousel Village” complete with, you guessed it, a carousel. The Hasbro Boundless Playground is close to the carousel and is a good one. There’s a snack bar and Del’s Frozen Lemonade carts are usually around when the weather’s nice.

Toddler for scale.

Roger Williams Park Botanical Center. This place is fun for little ones to run around, especially to get some fresh air inside during the colder months. But don’t tell them I sent you because I’m sure they want to instill a sense of peace and tranquility. Fairy Days is a week-long event in April and while my toddler couldn’t care less about cute little fairy homes built into the gardens, she loved the books and chalk area set up as well as the food trucks (and Del’s Frozen Lemonade obviously, because Rhode Island).

Food Truck Friday is held at the park in late spring through the summer! You can eat and drink while your kids ride the carousel or the donkey/camel/pony/whatever animal they have that evening. I’m a sucker for any activity involving food, so I find this to be a good one.

Beaches. I’m gonna be honest- we’re not really beach people. We like going to the beach in the late afternoon for picnics, but we don’t like to spend hours sunbathing because we’re about as pasty you can get. And our children inherited our fair skin, so we tend to avoid beaches which is funny because “Ocean State.” But if you’re looking for some good beaches, there are a lot of them. Just pull up RI on Google Maps, close your eyes and point and you’ve probably landed on a good beach. We like Misquamicut State Beach in Westerly, but it’s a bit of a drive from Providence. Narragansett is also good and you can visit Crazy Burger Cafe for delicious burgers while you’re there. My friends like Easton’s Beach (aka First Beach) in Newport and there’s a playground and carousel there for little ones. I also did some research, i.e. I asked my friend the Queen, and she suggested Blue Beach in North Kingstown and Mackerel Cove in Jamestown. This is beginning to sound fun, maybe I should go to the beach more often.

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