Newark Airport Makes Efforts to Help Autistic Kids Cope with Air Travel

Atula
-
0
Newark Airport Makes Efforts to Help Autistic Kids Cope with Air Travel
Flying with kids is a daunting task for most parents when they have to continuously come up with new ideas to keep them entertained. But for autistic kids, the journey can be more intimidating because of the sea of new faces and confused activities going around them. To help these kids and their parent with the in-flight experience and also make the crew adept to handling such situations, the “Autism Explores” program was introduced for the first time at the Newark Liberty International Airport.

The program invited five families with autistic children to be on board a pretend flight that involved all the activities of a real flight experience accept the plane never took off from the ground. The children were allowed to get familiarized with the initial process before getting into the flight, the uniformed screening agents and also the queue of other passengers boarding the flight. The program also intended to help the parents who not only have to deal with their scared kid but also the reaction given by co-passengers who are not aware of the child’s basic difficulty. 42 year old Jennifer Bahani, who is mother to Mathew and was part of the first program says,
“When you’re in a public situation and that happens, people are not always kind. It can be isolating.” She even avoids going to the mall with Mathew.
The Autism Explores program was developed at the Kevy K. Kaiserman Center for Developmental Medicine and Genetics at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia. It was launched last month at the Philadelphia International Airport and plans are to take the program nationwide. Another part of the program is to familiarise the airport staff with the idiocyncrasies of autistic kids. At the Newark Airport pretend flight several Transportation Security Administration officers and Continental flight attendants were onboard to get a practical experience on the situation. It was especially beneficial for them because attendants are not usually trained to meet the needs of autistic children in particular.
“It’s been very helpful,” said Justin Bourgue, 33, of Lake Hiawatha, a TSA behavior detection officer, “We don’t want to misinterpret behavior.”
To make the experience as real as possible for the children the pilot and the co-pilot also made the customary announcements of flying conditions and weather although the flight was on the ground.
“It’s a beautiful day for flying. Sit back and enjoy the flight,” announced the pilot, Geoff Bender, a real Continental skipper.
The pilot, himself, father to 13-year old Teresa who is autistic, especially thought it was an important program that makes parents a bit more assured of their autistic kids future as adults and when they need to grow much more independent.
“I wonder what’s going to happen to my daughter when I’m not here,” Bender said
Rest assured, with this program, many autistic children may get to experience the real joy of flying. – Atula, Staff Writer SOURCE

More Working Moms Planning Affordable Family Vacations

Atula
-
1
More Working Moms Planning Affordable Family Vacations
More working moms are taking time off from their multitasking roles and planning a family vacation a new national survey reveals. young family on vacation Nashville-based WhyMomsRule.com conducted a survey between 14 and 17 January involving 634 women who had at least one child at home. They found that 64 percent of the working moms looked forward to taking all of their paid vacation time. The trend was much higher than last year when only 57 percent of the women thought of a family vacation. However, just like last year most of these corporate women planned to pay for the trip from current resources rather than using credit. The poll also found that while 26 percent moms book three to six months in advance for their trip, most of them book for the travel close to the date of departure.
David Bohan, chairman and CEO of BOHAN, an advertising and marketing firm that created the poll for WhyMomsRule.com says, “Moms are pocketbook prudent when it comes to travel. They’re taking the long view, declaring the importance of family vacations while being careful how they pay for them.”
Almost half of the moms planned to pay for the vacation from their monthly savings followed by tax refunds. A very small percent really considered using credits for the family trip. Regarding the travel season choices, 61 percent preferred summer while 32 percent preferred spring. There has also been a shift in the way moms cut back on expenditures to afford the vacations. According to the poll in 2010, 42 percent of the women cut back on restaurant dining for the whole year to save for the trip but this year the percentage has reduced to 33 percent. The emphasis this year is to make more prudent spending during the vacation itself. The working women also prefer to fly over driving. The percentage grew from 28 to 36 percent this year with more flight preferences. Moms are looking for new destinations as well the trend growing from 25 to 32 percent. Not the ones to be ignorant about current issues, the moms were found to be well aware about the Gulf Coast region and the tragic oil spill. But showing their optimistic side, more than 57 percent were ready to travel to that destination again. The caution was only raised when it came to allowing their kids to dive in the waters at the coast. 37 percent did not want their kids in the water, 30 percent were not sure and 32 percent considered it okay.
“Consumers have long memories about travel destination disasters. Destination marketers have a long road to travel to educate people about current facts – long after the original trauma is gone,” Bohan said.
The poll clearly indicated though that working women were well aware of different travel destinations, wanted to experiment with new destinations, but at the same time prudent enough to plan an affordable family trip. – Atula, Staff Writer SOURCE

Featured Review: phil&teds lobster

Tanya
-
0
Featured Review: phil&teds lobster
How many times have you been places with no where to feed your child?    phil&teds has introduced a new portable highchair that will making eating out effortless. The lobster clamps onto almost any table, weighs less than four pounds and is sturdy enough to hold a thirty seven pound child. Besides that, the lobster is stylish as well as functional, while sporting a chrome frame, and a robust polyester fabric seat. It even comes with its own tote bag. The phil&teds lobster ($80) is a step up from their metoo – with a wider and deeper seat, thicker aluminum supports, extra-padding throughout, and a removable plastic tray. The lobster is designed to hold a child up to 37lbs, which means you could potentially use it up until your child is approximately 3 years old! I found the lobster extremely easy to use!   Not only is it light weight, it comes in a handy carrying case that makes it easy to tote around.  This on-the-go seat simply unfolds and is ready to attach to a table within seconds.  The plastic covered knobs easily turn to adjust the “claws” to accommodate tables from .8 to 3.75 inches thick. At first my son wasn’t sure about being placed in the lobster, perhaps it was the unfamiliarity of the seat (compared to his highchair) or the fact that he finally got to sit so close to us at the table… but he quickly adjusted and now he loves being such an active participant at the dinner table. We like to eat out, and the lobster gives us the ability to easily do so anywhere, while giving us the piece of mind that our tot isn’t chewing or eating off of a germy restaurant highchair. If I could change one thing about the lobster I’d like to see the padded harness covers be removable.  I like that the fabric set can be removed and cleaned, but I found it a little challenging to slide the harness up or down while adjusting it and having the ability to remove them would make for easier cleaning. I would, however, highly recommend the lobster to parents who like to travel and eat out or for those who are short on space and really can’t fit a full size highchair in their dining area. Once again, phil&teds knew what parents needed and went above the mark to meet it with the lobster! – Tanya, Staff Writer

Featured Review: Aprica Presto

Kiersten
-
0
Featured Review: Aprica Presto
The reintroduction of Japan’s Aprica to the US market has brought us the innovative lightweight Aprica Presto. At 13.7 pounds, this stroller will go anywhere you want to take it. Not only is it lightweight, but it offers features that will make any baby happy. The Presto offers 4 wheel suspension and a comfy padded seat that is higher than average, so baby is closer to you and has a very nice ride for such a compact stroller. Assembly Out of the box all that is need is to just pop on the wheels & canopy and you’re ready to go. It’s really just a few minute process. Features This may be a small stroller, but it’s big on features. The 2 most impressive are the high seat and the fold. The higher seat gets your baby up closer to the action, especially nice if you’re stopping to eat. This also reduces bending when fastening the harness or lifting your child in and out. The fold is really different. Not your typical hinged umbrella fold, the frame slides up, which gives you 2 great benefits. The first is that all 4 wheels stay together, easier to store the stroller without the dirty wheels ending up on something. The second is that the stroller stands securely when folded. Other features include a nice, washable padded seat, a secure, height-adjustable 5-point padded harness, a full, vented sun cover with mesh peek-a-boo insert and pop-out sun visor, easy one-hand recline, good sized basket and an included rain cover. A really great touch that I love is the side reflectors. Such a great addition.The rear brakes are not locked, so you do have to lock each wheel, but not really a big deal. In Use The Presto is very easy to operate and it is great to have so many features on such a lightweight stroller. It is very lightweight, with a convenient carry strap, so easily portable, perfect for quick trips, lots of in & out of the car trunk, travel and public transportation. Many lightweight strollers are rather bare on features, but not the Presto. It also offers quite a bit for the price of $199. From the fold and design, I would expect a much higher price tag. It’s a very stylish stroller that you will be please to be seen with. We tested the ‘Tea Leaf Green’ which is gorgeous with the black frame. The high seat is nice especially if you need to take your child out often and it offers more legroom especially for bigger children. It is rated for ages 3 months and up, but has a huge 70 pound weight capacity, so you will be able to use it for as long as you need a stroller. I had my tall, 45 pound 5 ½ year old take a ride and not only did he say that the stroller is very comfortable, but he still had plenty of headroom, yet my 1 year old daughter also could sit comfortably in the same seat. It’s very sturdy and solid and the suspension really does well on sidewalks. It’s also very agile and compact, so is great for tight or crowded spaces. This would be a great city stroller or perfect to travel with. It’s also nice that Aprica has really thought through the comfort of the rider and made it a priority with the comfy seat pad, padded harness and vented seat and canopy. And I always love it when the rain cover is included. The fold is easy, just flip the rear fold lock and slide the handle up to collapse the stroller then click on the manual lock and you’re all set. It will then stand when folded, but you need to be sure the wheels are in the correct position. If it rolls, just flip them around and you’re all set. The Aprica Presto is a fabulous lightweight stroller for a great price. It l ooks like it should carry a much higher price tag and the features will please both you can your child. It’s perfect at home and on the road, has great longevity, innovative features and looks great too. The Presto really is super cool. The Presto is also available in 3 more gorgeous colors, ‘Loft Brown’, ‘Highrise Grey’ and ‘Metro Orange’. This gorgeous, modern looking stroller will anywhere you need to be. Specifications
  • Stroller Weight: 13.7 lbs.
  • Folded Dimensions: 13.31”W x 9.53”D x 40.87”H
  • Unfolded Dimensions: 19.21”W x 21.10”D x 43.31”H
  • Length (wheels front to back): 21.10” Length (wheels left to right): 19.21” Wheel Size Front: 5.5” Wheel Size Rear: 5.5”
  • Seat Back Length: 18.0” Seat Length: 11”

8 Cool Indoor Waterpark Hotels!

Lisa Arneill
-
0
8 Cool Indoor Waterpark Hotels!
Families looking for a quick get away without the cost of flying south may want to look at spending a couple nights at an indoor waterpark hotel. Located all over the US and Canada, these full featured resort-like hotels are a great destination for families who want to get away but don’t want to go far.  They are perfect for a 2 day vacation and offer more excitement than most 5 star resorts! With some of these waterparks offering hundreds of thousands of square feet of play, they are a destination, not just a place to stay. We have listed some that have that impressed us.  Here are our 8 favorites! 1.  Dubbed ‘America’s Largest Indoor Waterpark’, Kalahari Resorts has locations in Wisconsin, Ohio and soon to be – Virginia. Families can relax in their own private indoor cabana or catch some rays under the Texlon transparent roof while enjoying the 12,000 sq. ft. wavepool! Thrill seekers will love the Swahili Swirl 60′ diameter bowl raft ride, Zip Coaster uphill water rollercoaster waterslide, Cheetah Race 4 lane mat slides, Rippling Rhino or Victoria Falls raft rides.  In addition to all of the excitement poolside, this authentic African themed resort offers a variety of suites that can accommodate families from 4 -8 people. 2. Fallsview Indoor Water Park, Niagara Falls – The Fallsview Indoor Waterpark is Niagara’s newest and largest indoor waterpark. This waterpark offers an impressive 3 acres of indoor water fun including sixteen thrilling waterslides (some as high as six stories), a massive indoor wave pool, year round outdoor sundeck, an activity pool, the mammoth “Beach House” Aqua Play area and much more. For your convenience, the Fallsview Indoor Waterpark features direct indoor connections to three of  Niagara Falls hotels, the Sheraton on the Falls, Crowne Plaza Niagara Falls-Fallsview Hotel and the Skyline Inn.

3. Great Wolf Lodge -With 12 locations, Great Wolf Lodge is the biggest chain of indoor waterparks in North America.  And while not every location offers the same features each one has an expansive water play area that includes huge water slides, pools, a giant water fort and a lazy river to ensure that the whole family has a good time.  When bedtime comes your family can join all of the other pajama-clad kids down at the Clock Tower in the lobby to wind down with Story Time.  Some suites are decorated to feel like you are at camp.   Your crew will love sleeping in their own a private and cozy tent right inside your room, complete with bunkbeds and their own TV! 4.  Zehnder’s Splash Village Hotel and Waterpark – located in Frankenmuth, MI. this amazing hotel offers  30,000 square feet of aquatic fun for the whole family. Enjoy the Splash landing play area, Dumping bucket or for the more adventurous take a wild ride on the Giggling gorge and Perilous plunge 4 story tube slides. Relax in the whimsical whirl hot tub or just float along the Crooked Brook Creek lazy river.

5.  Caribbean Watercove Indoor Waterpark – Attached to the Holiday Inn at the pyramids in Indianapolis, this amazing entertainment complex offers a warm and summery vacation on the coldest day!  Families will enjoy  50,000 sq. ft. of waterplay.  A splash pad, 3 massive water slides, a plunge pool, lazy river and a pirate ship with a dumping bucket of water await your water loving crew.  Also on site is an arcade and 4 restaurants. 6.  KeyLime Cove – Located in Illinois, KeyLime Cove Waterpark Resort is also situated conveniently across from Six Flags Great America, which offers two great destinations for family fun(season permitting).  Their 65,000 square foot indoor ‘Lost Paradise’ Waterpark has so many waterslides that they had to run the chutes outside the building to have enough space for all of the fun. On top of that they have a wave pool, lazy river, adults-only grotto and a play pool for your little swimmer.  Family Friendly rooms accommodate parties up to to 12 people with connecting rooms. 7.  Named as America’s Largest Waterpark Resort the Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells has over 500,000 sq.ft. of indoor and outdoor waterparks. That is over 12 football fields of water fun to explore. Where will you begin? Well you could start at the Wild WaterDome, a 70,000-square-foot indoor waterpark that features the nation’s largest indoor wave pool, Dueling Mammoths, a thrilling family raft racing ride that allows families to race against each other through twisting and turning tunnels and a 2,200 square foot ‘zero-depth’ play lagoon for the smaller ones.  After that you could move on to Klondike Kavern another 65,000 square feet water park with a 180-foot body slide, two 500-foot tube rides which drop five-stories, a 400-foot lazy river and Bonanza Bluff, a huge play feature which includes 50 play & spray features, a 750-gallon tipping bucket, a 20 foot body slide and a 4 foot side by side children’s slide.  They apparently don’t mess around in Wilderness territory because this expansive resort also has 2 – 3D mini golf courses, laser tag, a kids club, an arcade and a park for play. 8.  CocoKey Waterpark – This Indoor Waterpark chain has 10 locations in 9 states.  Like with Great Wolf Lodge, CocoKey’s different locations all offer different play options.  Families, however, can look forward to a multi-level interactive play island with 4 slides for younger children, an activity pool for kids 6+ that features water basketball and a lily-pad adventure and three 40-foot thrilling body and raft water slides. Other amenities include private poolside cabana rentals, 5 dining options and an arcade.

2011 Traveling With Kids ~ Cruise Vs An All-Inclusive Vacation

Lisa Arneill
-
0
2011 Traveling With Kids ~ Cruise Vs An All-Inclusive Vacation
One of the questions that I get asked often by friends and family who know that we love to vacation is what is better for a family – a cruise or resort vacation? While both vacations are very different, each one offers a lot of great opportunities for vacationing families. For us, a cruise is a good way to see a lot of places, where a resort vacation allows you to experience everything an island or destination has to offer. For years we have used cruising as a way to figure out where we would like to go back and stay. Cruising is a nice way to experience everything, without the week long commitment. Vacationing at a resort is nice because you don’t have to go anywhere. There is no schedule, no expectations and no risk that a trip to the other side of this island could leave you stranded if you’re not back in time. You’ll often hear cruisers say that they need a vacation from their vacation and it’s true. So much to do and see, you don’t want to stop even for a second. Dining A staple at most all-inclusive resorts is the buffet. And while they aren’t always gourmet cuisine, many resorts make their a-la-carte restaurants available to guests for at least 2 meals a day. Food on a cruise is not only tasty but plentiful. At breakfast, lunch & dinner, diners have every choice available to them and when there isn’t a restaurant open – there’s always room service. My husband has been known to wake up in the middle of the night to order room service – just because he can. Value For families, an all-inclusive vacation can often cost less because kids of a certain age stay free or at a reduced rate , whereas many cruise lines don’t offer discounts for little cruisers. On most cruises, your accommodations, meals, snacks, and onboard activities/entertainment are all included. Extras like shore excursions, beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) gratuities and transportation to and from the airport are usually not part of the deal and can add up quickly. An all-inclusive vacation normally include meals, transportation, beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), non-motorized water sports, and gratuities. Excursions, spa treatments and the kid’s club are normally extra. Both vacations offer value but in different ways. We don’t drink, so it isn’t a big deal to us that alcohol isn’t included. Parents who like to enjoy wine with dinner or daquari’s by the pool will see the bill add up as staff adds a 15% gratuity to all bills. Accommodations When booking a cruise you will quickly realize that rooms at almost any resort will be bigger. A couple will find an inside or oceanview acceptable, but a family will be cramped in both spaces. When we cruise with our boys, we always opt for a balcony because it gives us an extra 20 or 30 sq.ft of space for them to play in. Yes, I just suggested that a space that is the size of a bathroom is a bonus and a selling feature. When you figure that the average size of a cabin comes in at a meagre 170 sq. ft. – a balcony is a gift. With that being said, sitting out on your balcony at night after the kids are in bed is worth the lack of space. At a resort, rooms average 400 sq. ft with sitting areas, which is much more comfortable for a family of 4 – especially if you need a crib. This can be the deciding point for a family on a budget as it can get expensive if you need to move into a suite to get more space and amenities like a bathtub. Activities From themed cruises to kid’s clubs, waterslides to splash pads, some cruise lines have really stepped up their family friendly activities over the years. This is a big selling point for parents who want to make sure that their kids have lots of do while away. All of these amenities are not available on all ships but some of the new ships are stacked with options right down to skating rinks. The majority of all-inclusive resorts have not taken the same initiative. While most have kids clubs and smaller pools, not many have added extras like splash pads, watersides or kid friendly areas. This, however, can be made up with the presence of a sandy beach – something you can get on a cruise, but you have to travel a bit of a distance to find. In short, your family will have a great time on a cruise or at a resort. If it does come down to price a resort vacation will more than likely be a better deal as there aren’t as many add-ons. A cruise can also be had at a great deal, but it might take a bit of research to get it done. – Lisa, Editor

Traveling With Kids – Health Tips for Caribbean Travel

Jen R
-
0
Traveling With Kids – Health Tips for Caribbean Travel
The winter blues prompt many to escape to the Caribbean for a week or two at this time of year.  How can you blame them?  Day after endless day of dull, cold, grey weather will drive you crazy after a while.  If you are planning to bring young children on your island break this winter, there are a few precautions you may want to take. First and foremost, ensure that everyone has adequate health insurance for the trip.  You know what they say, ‘if you’re ready for anything, nothing will happen.’  Better safe than sorry. Pack all necessary medications, in their original packaging.  It doesn’t hurt to bring along a copy of the prescription too. Make sure that your child’s immunizations are up to date and check with your doctor to see if any additional inoculations are recommended or required for the trip. Surf the World Health Organization’s website and the website for the Centers for Disease Control.  These sites will let you know if there are any special health advisories for the region you are planning to visit. Malaria is present throughout the Caribbean, but is more prevalent in certain regions and at certain times of year.  Anti-malarial medications may be recommended for your chosen destination.  More likely than not, you will simply be advised to protect against mosquito bites.  During the periods of dawn and dusk, use an insect repellent that is safe for your children.  Avoid spraying the repellent near the child’s mucous membranes.  Instead spray the repellent on your hand and wipe it on the child’s face.  Long pants and sleeves are also a good idea, at dawn and dusk. Stick to bottled water for drinking and brushing teeth.  It is very possible that the water will not be potable in your hotel room.  The food in the restaurants, of a reputable resort, should be cleaned and prepared with purified water.  Off the resort, choose cooked foods and fruits that need to be peeled (bananas, oranges).  Anything that is raw and has been cleaned with contaminated water could be a source of disease. As an extra layer of protection, travelers may want to take Dukoral; an oral vaccine that protects against the most common causes of travelers diarrhea.  It also protects against cholera, which has made its way from Haiti into the Dominican Republic, in isolated cases.  Children over 2-years can take Dukoral, but it doesn’t protect against everything.  You still need to use common sense when deciding what you and your child are going to eat and drink. It never hurts to consult with a doctor or a travel health nurse before you depart on a trip.  Prepare, take reasonable precautions and then stop stressing and enjoy your vacation.  You’re there to relax, after all. – Jen R, Staff Writer
[ad]

Cruising With Kids ~ Carnival Cruiselines

Lisa Arneill
-
0
Cruising With Kids ~ Carnival Cruiselines
The first ‘big’ ship I cruised on was Carnival’s Fascination. I will never forget the fun our family had on that cruise. Not only did I get engaged, but we had a blast on the watersides, at the pool and eating day and night at the 24-hour pizza bar. Now, many years later, Carnival is still one of the leading family cruiselines with 22 ships in their fleet. Still famous for their onboard water activities, their ships offer a long list of exciting amenities for cruisers of all ages. Every year Carnival welcomes an impressive 650,000 kids. To keep their little cruisers busy they created a children’s program, “Camp Carnival,” which caters to kids ages 2 to 11. In addition to a full schedule of fun, morning-til-night activities, “Camp Carnival” features such amenities as expansive indoor play areas – some as large as 5,500 square feet — stocked with a wide variety of games and toys. Arts and crafts centers, including spin and sand-art machines, “activity walls,” indoor climbing mazes and computer labs are also featured on several vessels. The line has also added a number of new activities, including programs emphasizing reading, art, music, geography, physical fitness. Kids who prefer to play outdoors will have a blast playing on the jungle gyms and other playground equipment. Additionally, they offer outdoor games and activities such as ping-pong, volleyball and shuffleboard, along with multiple swimming options, including children’s wading pools and main Lido deck pools offering the line’s signature “Twister” water slides, some as long as 300 feet. Something I like about Carnival is that they offer cruises starting from 3 days to accommodate families of all budgets and vacation schedules. Spacious staterooms, adjoining rooms, babysitting (for a fee), and a special children’s menu are also great features that make their ships attractive to families. Parenting looking to visit Europe this Summer will also be happy to know that Carnival’s newest ship – Magic will be sailing there from May to November. The 3,690-passenger cruise ship will also have expansive family-friendly spaces including more than 19,000 square feet of space catering to kids and families. If you can’t make it the Mediterranean, look for Magic to make her home in Galveston, TX where she will sail to Cayman, Cozumel and Jamaica.

Disney Introduces New Tour ~ Wild Africa Trek

Atula
-
0
Disney Introduces New Tour ~ Wild Africa Trek
Your next trip to Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Orlando could easily seem like a trip to Africa as the creators of the park are all set to launch a new tour called Wild Africa Trek. The real attraction of this new tour for visitors will not just be the theme that has been thought to revolve around Africa, but the real life experience of going over the river and through the woods to previously restricted areas of Animal Kingdom’s Pagani Forest and Harambe Wildlife Reserve. Visitors will also be able to see animals like hippos and crocodiles as close as they can get, by hanging on to a cliff attached with a lifeline. Because of the elasticity of the cord, the trekkers will be able to stretch towards the animals without leaving the ground. The tour also offers passing a rickety rope bridges positioned above the Safri River, a croc-filled ravine, and dirt trails, through the real and living forests. The initial tour price has been set as $ 129 per person with tours happening at regular intervals. A group has been limited to 12 people aged 8 years and above. It would be a 3 hour long adventure. The starting point is an outfitters shack in the Harambe village, where visitors will be strapped into a harness vest with clamps. They will also be provided with earphones and a transmitter to be in touch with their two tour guides. The unique thing about the adventure is that trekkers will be able to enter the restricted areas of the park unlike other visitors. They will also get to see the animals more closely than the guests taking the Kilimanjaro safari. The bush trail eventually will lead to the savanna where trekkers will board a specially designed open-air truck to view giraffes, gazelles, elephants and wildebeest. The trekkers might also take a break at a fancy open-air safari camp platform equipped with tables and chairs, watching animals as they munch on food. The new Disney tour has surely been created to give visitors as real a wild African experience as possible. – Atula, Staff Writer

Five Awesome U.S. Destinations You Should See With Your Kids – Part 5: Death Valley National Park

Jen R
-
0
Five Awesome U.S. Destinations You Should See With Your Kids – Part 5: Death Valley National Park
It seems fitting, somehow, that our final Awesome U.S. Destination is Death Valley National Park in California. They call it Death Valley for a reason.   It’s an extreme environment; one of the few places in the US where nature will actually try to kill you.  It is the hottest and driest place in North America and nearly the world.  But, don’t let that put you off.  It’s the extremes of the place that make it an Awesome Destination.  It’s a challenge and it’s a point of pride to say you’ve been. Death Valley is on a lot of bucket lists.  I know this because every time my husband wears his Death Valley t-shirt, he is approached by people asking, “Have you been there?”  “What was it like?”  “I’ve always wanted to go.” My husband is a, not particularly closeted, weather enthusiast, and environmental extremes are his raison d’être.  So naturally we traveled to Death Valley with our two-year-old son. It may seem nutty to take children on a vacation to such a severe place, but if Death Valley is a place you’re excited to see, your enthusiasm will spill over to your kids and an amazing adventure will be had by all. We planned our trip, into the valley, during the ‘dog days’ of summer.  What would have been the point in seeing the second hottest place on Earth if it wasn’t searing hot?  The temperature hit a shocking 116°F (47°C). We stayed right in the middle of the park, at a beautiful oasis called Furnace Creek Ranch.  We lucked out and nabbed one of the semi-detached cottages in the older section.  It was like a quaint little neighbourhood. The ranch is decked out with plenty of amenities.  It has a store, a couple of nice restaurants, a museum and air-conditioning galore.  They have a swimming pool, but it isn’t particularly refreshing.  It’s spring-fed; to keep it cooler than it would be if it was baking in full sun all day, but it still does very little to cool swimmers down.  Nevertheless, it was interesting to try it out. There are a few other anomalies to get used to when you’re staying in the dessert.  First, there is no such thing as cold water.  Turn on the cold water tap, run it as long as you like, and it will never cool down.  I brushed my teeth with a hot toothbrush; it was weird. During the day, the sun is so blazing hot; the playground equipment is too scorching to use.  There are actually signs posted in the playground, at the ranch, warning parents to keep their kids off the equipment during the afternoon.  Our son got to play in the evening, after the sun went down. Young children shouldn’t be exerting themselves at all, in temperatures like that.  They can over heat pretty quickly.  We had a bit of a scare with our little guy shortly after we arrived in the valley.  He had been too active, in the heat, and had started looking ill, like he might faint.  After that, we had him sitting in a stroller, holding a cold bottle of water, anytime we were outside, during the day. There are a number of beautiful places to investigate in Death Valley National Park, but the most popular stop is a place called Badwater.  It is the hottest and lowest point in the park at 282 feet below sea level.  There is a small pool of very saline water and then a massive salt flat that stretches out for miles.  I don’t normally eat off the ground, but in this case, I was inspired to eat the ground itself; or to taste it at least.  It was salty – go figure. Death Valley is an extreme place, and you have to take precautions, especially during the summer months.  Always follow the advice and guidelines handed down by park officials. It’s a lonely place, in a way.  There are few other motorists on the roads, there are no plants and the animals are hard to spot.  The highway is just a string of warning signs.  But, the trip is an honest, mind-broadening adventure.  It’s a journey that will be remembered by anyone who dares to take it.  Death Valley is a truly awesome destination, and one you should see with your kids. – Jen R, Staff Writer Related Articles:
[ad]
1...535455...57Page 54 of 57