Travel with Grandkids

This past weekend we took the little on a long-awaited trip to Florida. Because of pandemic restrictions at Disney, we decided to forego Orlando altogether and head south to Winter Haven. I didn't think the little could handle not meeting the Disney princesses, so best to avoid the situation until things are right side up again. We were so glad with our decision. We spent the weekend at LegoLand ! On Saturday, when we knew crowds would be bigger, we visited the waterpark. Crowds are restricted currently, but we had no trouble getting in and finding spaces to play and rest. One note, though, if you go before restrictions end, bring food. Or eat before you come. Lines for food are bananas. We came after lunch, but I spoke to one person who waited for more than an hour for her burger. The waterpark was small, but the little had no trouble using every second of our time there. She slid and swam and splashed in the sun. I sat comfortably in the shade watching her.  On Sunday we returned...

 As usual, I'm working on an article for Christian Living Magazine for next winter. The story will feature South Dakota destinations that can be enjoyed in the winter months. We based ourselves in Rapid City for most of our trip due to its proximity to the big monuments (Rushmore and Crazy Horse). The little, as usual, tagged along. She was not impressed with standing in the cold staring at people's faces on the sides of mountains. So, we promised her that if she was very good, we'd spend the last day of the trip doing things she wanted to do.  She was very good. So, the last day of the trip was spent eating mac 'n' cheese and visiting the Watiki Indoor Waterpark Resort . I am not usually one for waterparks, but even I'll admit that relaxing in a hot tub in a balmy 85 degrees was a pretty good way to spend a day, especially because it was well below freezing outside.  We opted for the VIP package so we could have reserved seating and towels. The package even cam...

We were ready to get out and about again with the little. While New Orleans seemed a bit too crowded for us still, we enjoyed a lovely day trip to Louisiana’s Plantation Alley, a stretch between Baton Rouge and New Orleans where many historic restored plantations are open for tours. We chose to visit Laura Plantation, one of the largest sugarcane plantations in its day, which pays homage to its creole heritage. The tour itself was interesting enough for the little to pay attention (quite a feat, in my opinion), and it encompassed the colorful main house, the gardens, and slave quarters. We were impressed with the safety measures in place, and our tour group was small, giving the little more room to wiggle. When you visit, be sure to pick up a copy of  Memories of the Old Plantation Home  written by the plantation’s namesake, Laura Locoul Gore. Learn more about the plantation here:  https://www.lauraplantation.com/

I’m working on a story on visiting Finnish Lapland for  Christian Living in the Mature Years Magazine . Before heading to the great white north, we spent a few days acclimating in Helsinki. Our restless Little was with us, and we had no trouble keeping her entertained. Helsinki (and the whole of Finland, really) is a fantastic place for children. Playgrounds are everywhere, it’s clean, it’s walkable. We were there for two days and one night before hopping an overnight train north. Here’s what we did. In the Sky After arriving in the morning on the first day, we were tired and jet lagged. We decided to take it easy and not book any tours. After freshening up at the hotel, we walked around Esplanade Park to get our bearings. We walked along the waterfront, marveling at the architecture. From the dock, we bought tickets for the  Helsinki Skywheel , a large Ferris wheel with enclosed cars. The Little loved it! We took in views of the city and its stunning architecture as the sun s...

I was recently in South Padre Island in Texas working on a story for  Christian Living in the Mature Years Magazine . The little wasn’t with me on the trip, but I sure wish she had been. One of the activities we participated in while there was a sandcastle building class with  Sand Castle Lessons . Image by  reuben east  from  Pixabay Over the course of an hour, we learned how to build a proper sandcastle (it takes a lot more water than I expected), decorate the castle, and build onto the structure. We learned different methods of building, including soft packing, hand stacking, and the drip technique.The little would have loved it. I loved it! We learned that the sand on South Padre Island is perfectly suited for building sand structures, which explains why it’s known as the “Sandcastle Capital of the World.” The mineral makeup of the sand helps make the castles strong. If you find yourself on South Padre, with or without the kiddos, be sure t...

We recently took a trip with the little to visit family in Seattle. They took us sightseeing to Seattle Center in downtown Seattle. It is home to a number of must-see sights in the city: The Space Needle, Chihuly Gardens, the Museum of Pop Culture, and a giant playground: Artists at Play. Since we wanted to hit all of the sites above, we nabbed a couple  Seattle CityPASSes  (which included tickets to each minus the playground, which is free). We arrived early on a weekday, and the place was still packed. I recommend visiting the Space Needle first, since it had the longest wait. The Space Needle was so much fun for the little. She loved the view and couldn’t get enough of the spinning level, which has a glass floor and slowly does a complete 360° rotation. We spent a lot of time in the gift shop, then headed out to the playground. After grabbing a hot dog for lunch, we went to the Chihuly Gardens for some otherworldly art. The little was confused, delighted, and in awe...

  The Grand Canyon wasn’t so grand for the kiddo. She’s three, and we  had  been hyping it up quite a bit. The drive to get there was long. The stops were in the desert. She was hot. She was hungry. She didn’t understand why we were here and so excited to see a giant hole. For my husband and myself, seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time was a spiritual event. It literally took our breath away. For the kid, well, she just kept asking to throw rocks off the ledge and when we were going to go. If we were all going to enjoy this trip, we were going to have to revise our plan…and fast. Things to Consider When traveling to any site with kids, really, you need to see it from their perspective. While I had an entire lifetime to stare in awe at pictures of the Grand Canyon, the little had no idea what a canyon was. But she knew what it wasn’t: interactive, moving, filled with water she could play in, food. Here are a few tips when visiting the Canyon with youngsters: · ...