Fall Family Adventure, Ski & Snowboard, Things to Do, Travel, Winter Adventure, Winter Travel

Family Vacation Destination: Waterville Valley Resort

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Waterville Valley is a nice, quiet, uber-family friendly resort nestled in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The best part of the resort is that everything is right there where you need it, no need for driving around. In the winter there’s skiing on four differenwaterville valley resort in new hampshire, family friendly vacationt peaks, and in the summer there’s plenty to do as well.

It has a town square, places to dine, pool, fitness centers, shopping and has that special, New England country resort feel. It’s a little bit dirty dancing, a little bit Tremblant, but on a smaller scale. Trailmap for waterville valley resort in new hampshire

There are 50 trails, 4000 foot elevation and plenty of terrain parks. There’s also the option of going Nordic to break up the week. You can also take the kids tubing and even dog sledding.

It’s a great place to reconnect with family and the outdoors.

Check out their site for more information on Waterville Valley Resort. waterville valley resort, a great family destination in winter or summer

 

Ski & Snowboard, Things to Do, Travel, Winter Adventure, Winter Travel

Family Ski Destination: Gore Mountain, New York

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Gore Mountain Ski Resort, North Creek, New York

Gore Mountain Ski Resort is a well known family friendly ski destination to upstate New Yorkers. Not too far from Albany, this is a serious size mountain with a little bit of everything for any type of skier.Family Vacation Spot, Ski at Gore Mountain Resort, NY

Take the family to Gore Mountain to Ski and Snowboard This isn’t the mountain where you spend most of your time waiting in line to get on the lift; this is the mountain where you re-discover your love of the slopes. A mid-peak stop at the rustic mid base lodge for some après ski/coffee gives you an unparalleled view of the Adirondacks and Vermont and makes you fall in love even more.

Serious East Coast Ski Spot

Gore has 109 trails, boasts 2,537 vertical feet, and is known for helping beginners and experts continue to grow with the sport. The 15 lifts including the eight-passenger Northwoods Gondola and two luxurious high-speed quads keep you out of lines, with more time on their four peaks. There are also six dining options scattered across the mountain, you can refuel and keep skiing or riding without missing a beat.

Bring your child to the Mountain Adventure Center for lessons and coaching, open to all levels of skiers and riders, from beginner to advanced black diamond. Children are grouped by similar age and ability. Take the family on vacation to Gore Mountain Ski ResortAll-day adventures and two-hour sessions are available daily. Your younger kids will love their Mini Learning Park, just for 4-6 year old beginner skiers.  Choices include daily group and private lessons, holiday camps and season long programs. There’s also a Bear Cub day care area where they will keep your little ones entertained while you tear it up on the slopes.

 

Here’s a good video that really gives an overall view of the kind of terrain you can expect at Gore Mountain. I told you it was a serious East Coast Mountain.

 

Fall Family Adventure, Things to Do, Travel, Winter Adventure, Winter Travel

Winter Camping: How to Make a Camp Fire in the Snow

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Afraid to Winter Camp Because You Don’t Have a Clue How to Get a Fire Going in Snow? Fear Not.

Ever wondered how to make a camp fire in the snow? And then how to cook on that said camp fire, in the woods, in the dead of winter?  Have you been putting off winter camping until you got around to figuring it out? Here’s one delightful couple that shows us how to get the fire going and then cook on it. I imagine their kids are going to have some fun trips.

When Building a Fire in the Snow with Kids

If you are doing this with kids, I’d recommend bringing a shovel for them to help you dig a bit as well as set them up for playing in the snow while you’re doing the leg work. Keep an eye on them as you don’t want them wandering off while you are immersed in fire pit shoveling mode.

Be aware of any rivers or streams in the area (like the one in the video). If you don’t have another adult to watch them, make sure they stay in your line of vision while you are working on your fire. Also make sure they have some snacks and are dressed appropriately. You’ll likely be working up a sweat but if they are not moving around too much it won’t be too long before they get cold. Have them help you gather wood.

Don’t forget to make sure to tell your children what you’re doing and why. As you’ll see in this video it’s a great learning opportunity about not just making fire but physics as well. For example, listen carefully to why you can’t just make the fire on top of snow.

 

Educational Adventures, Fall Family Adventure, Halloween, Summer Adventure, Summer Travel, Things to Do, Travel

Travel Destination: Go on a Historical Adventure With Your Children to Colonial Williamsburg

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Family Adventure and Travel Destination: Colonial Williamsburg

Colonial Williamsburg is like no other when yTravel Destination: take the kids to spooky Halloween at Colonial Williamsburgou want to take the kids on an educational travel destination adventure that focuses on our nation’s history. It’s even better when you take the kids during the holidays like Halloween, Christmas and Independence Day.

I remember going there as a kid and now it’s even bigger with more attractions.

Visit a real colonial village, learn about what day to day life was like, watch and participate in costume’d Fife and Drum Corps, be a spy, make bricks, go Travel Destination: Take the Kids to Colonial Williamsburg for a spooky colonial Halloweenon archeological digs, and experience what it was like in 1775 at the very beginning of the American revolution.

Colonial Halloweens are always a fun way to spend time with kids on one of Halloween Travel Destination: Take the Kids on a spooky Halloween adventure in colonial Williamsburgtheir favorite holidays. Apple cider, pumpkins, ghost tours, home-made doughnuts. They can range from cute and sweet to all out spooky and there’s something for every kid at every age. And since there’s probably no more place more Colonial America than Williamburg, this is the place to be on Halloween. For spooky fun check out these ghost tours:Travel Destination: Take the kids on a travel adventure to colonial williamsburg

Halloween Fun for Kids

Colonial Ghosts

Your journey will include Indian burial grounds, witches, stories of murder, tragedies of war, and bitter betrayal across hundreds of years. Click here for Colonialghosts

Have older kids who are looking for a little more of an adrenaline rush on your adventure? How about a real ghost hunting tour.  For an extreme version of a take the kids on a travel adventure to colonial williamsburgghost tour of colonial Williamburg, where you are provided with real ghost hunting equipment, check them out here at the Ghost Tour

And just for fun, check out these videos posted by colonial ghost tours depicting some recent ghost sightings.

Ghostly organ playing in empty church on the ghost tour.

Anytime Fun, Fall Family Adventure, How To, Parenting, Summer Adventure, Summer Travel, Things to Do

How to Teach a Kid to Ride a Bike

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How to Teach a Kid to Ride a Bike

Seems simple right? We all went through it. But it’s been a long time since you sat on that seat feeling awkward and being afraid you’re just going to topple over. It really is a weird thing when you think about it. Sitting there suspended on two wheels, the only thing keeping you balanced is the fact that you are moving. Besides having to worry about your balance now you have to worry about where you are going and if you can stop in time. So it’s good to put yourself in their shoes for a bit. It will help you have patience. And bbiking with kidselieve me it’s worth it. There’s nothing I enjoy better than looking back at my daughter’s beaming face as we ride through the streets of NYC, central park or out in the country together. She’s so darn proud of herself.teaching your kids to bike

So what do you need to do to get your child on the bike and eventually out on a biking adventure with you? If you live in a major city there are programs galore geared toward helping kids bike. Check out your local town’s website for information. But to do it yourself, here’s how to get started.

1) The Bike

Go to a bike shop and have her fitted for the bike. She should be able to stand comfortably over the seat. Hold onto the handle bars and let her sit on the bike. Her legs should be able to extend but not stretch. Make sure the seat is not just too low or high. If it’s not the seat, then the bike is either too big or too small. Don’t get a bigger bike hoping she’ll grow into it. You’ll just have a miserable kid who tosses it down in frustration. Better to pay a little less or get a used bike to start with then try to get one with room to grow.

2) The Bike Gear

Helmets, get one that fits her head. Many helmets have adjusters in the back. That will give you a little room to grow. Get one that is sturdy, is from a reliable manufacturer and be ready to replace it every few years. Once it’s taken a few hard hits, it’s time to get it replaced. Keep it from sitting out in the sunlight as well as it can damage the material. Never put it in the back window of your car

3) Forget the Training Wheels

They just teach kids bad behavior and they use them like a crutch. Better to take the pedals off and lower the seat. Let them scoot around on it in an open area. It will be much easier to get the hang of it. Let them focus on balancing and turning. No need to pedal just yet.

4) Scoot Around

When they’ve gotten used to the feeling of scooting around on the bike and can balance, put the pedals back on and adjust the seat to accommodate for the pedals.  Let them try it in a flat, wide area. No hills please.

5) Practice Turning

Make nice wide loops (that’s why I said to find a big wide area). Let them go in and out of circles. Keep them big and then go smaller and smaller, then change to turn the other way.

6) Learn to Stop

Once they are comfortable with the pedals they need to learn to stop. Teach them to step on the petal to break or use whatever breaking system the bike has. Most importantly remind them to be ready to put their feet down as the bike comes to a stop.

7) Take it Slow

Keep going around in your wide flat area until they feel super comfortable. Next it will be good to branch out to a quiet road. A rails to trail type bike path makes the perfect place for kids to practice.

8) Don’t Push Them

Remember, it’s about getting them out there and experiencing it for the firs time. If they hate it or feel pressured, you’ll be hard pressed to get them back out there. So be realistic about what they can do the first few times out. Don’t worry, I promise they’ll be ready for those longer jaunts in no time.

Educational Adventures, Fall Family Adventure, Halloween, Parenting, Things to Do, Travel

Fall Adventure: Go Apple Picking with the Kids

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There’s nothing that says Fall like a crisp, sunny day out in an apple orchard picking apples with friends and family. You may end up wondering what you are going to do with all these apples (seemed like a good idea at the time) but that’s not a big deal. Apple sauce is always a safe bet and the least time consuming. If you are looking for a good place to go Women’s Day magazine has compiled a great list, one of the places on the list, Applewood Orchards in the Hudson Valley of New York is a frequent family favorite. Check out their story here.
10 best Apple Orchards for Apple Picking and Family Fun.

take the kids apple picking

Educational Adventures, Fall Family Adventure, Halloween, Parenting, Things to Do, Travel

Salem, Mass–Haunted Happenings, Witches and Halloween Fun

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As I write this I’m sitting here watching a show on the travel channel about what went down in the 1600s in Salem. It’s still so hard to understand that a whole town went crazy over a bunch of kids trying to get out of doing housechores and this crazy puritanical cult life they found themselves in.

But last October we took a ride up to Salem to check out the scene and we had a great time. We went to the witch museum and learned more about the story. Did you know if you coveted your neighbor’s property and would like to see it up for auction so you can take a shot at it, all you have to do is accuse them of being a witch. What a crazy time.

But how ironic is it that the place is now an awesome place to rock out Halloween. Here’s some of the details:

Places to Go for Family Fun: Salem Massachusetts

Salem Massachusetts is one of the oldest seaports in America, and infamous for what happened to twenty innocent people back in 1692. These people, puritans, became victims of mass hHalloween in Salem Mass , Places to Travel with Kidsysteria known as the Salem Witch Trials and it’s been chronicled in the famous book by Arthur Miller, The Crucible.

 

Salem During Halloween

One of the beHaunted Happenings in Salem, Places to Go with The Kids for Travel Adventurest times to visit Salem is during the month of October, during it’s Haunted Happenings season.

Haunted Happenings in Salem, Places to Go for Family Fun on Halloween

Over 250,000 people come to visit and be a part of the grand parade, fireworks, masquerade balls, live music, haunted houses and chilling theater.

Check out the fun show at the Gallows Hill Theater

Even spookier is the Psychic Fair and Festival of the Dead. 

The future with a psychic reading at Salem’s longest-running psychic fair! Hosted by Christian Day, Brian Cain, and the Witches of Salem, The Annual Psychic Fair and Witchcraft Expo features the Witch City’s most gifted Psychics, each one officially licensed by the city of Salem! Wander an emporium of magical gifts, meet real practicing Witches, and make an appointment with one of Salem’s talented psychic readers as you delve into your destiny!

Besides all the witchy stuff, Salem is also a great place to learn about colonial seaport life.

Salem’s History

Salem also played a major role in American History. Located at the mouth of the Naumkeag river at the site of an ancient Native American village and trading center, Salem was first settled by Europeans in 1626, when a company of fishermen[16] from Cape Ann led by Roger Conant arrived.

During the Revolution, the town became a center for privateering. Although the documentation is incomplete, about 1,700 Letters of Marque, issued on a per-voyage basis, were granted during the American Revolution. Nearly 800 vessels were commissioned as privateers and are credited with capturing or destroying about 600 British ships.[34] During the War of 1812, privateering resumed.

Now, tourism is the backbone of Salem’s economy. Tourism based on the 1692 witch trials dates back to at least the first half of the 20th century, when dry goods merchant Daniel Low sold souvenir spoons with witch images. Such tourism expanded significantly in the 1970s, when the television situation comedy Bewitched filmed several episodes in the city.[134] Witch-related tourism expanded significantly in the 1990s

How To, Parenting, Summer Adventure, Summer Travel, Things to Do, Travel

Surfing Lessons for the Kids (and You) Waikiki Beach, Honolulu Hawaii

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Surfing is a great sport for kids. It gets them out in the fresh air, surf and sun, teaches them balance and is something the whole family can do. But you don’t want to take them out into the big surf without being prepared. Waikiki Beach in Honolulu Hawaii is where surfing was invented. There’s a great section of the beach that for all intents and purposes makes for a perfect bunny hill for wave riding. There are non stop lessons going on everywhere you look.  We visited Waikiki to check out the surf and we weren’t disappointed. We got together with friends and took lessons through Big Wave Dave’s Surf Shop. It was a great day of mom and daughter bonding. At one point we even got up on the boards at the same time. That’s something we’ll never forget. Big Wave Dave is where my friend, a Hawaii local takes her kids for lessons and I couldn’t recommend them more. Prices are reasonable and you can get a package of professionally shot photographs (with a long range telephoto lens) to capture the moment. Click here to sign up for surfing lessons   kids learning to surf Hawaii Waikiki Beach

Fall Family Adventure

Take the Kids Apple Picking This Fall

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It’s always a bit sad to have to say goodbye to summer but the upside to it is that Fall is on it’s way, in all its colorful glory. And one of the fun things about the fall is of course apple picking.  Just about every state has some form of pick your own apple farms.

There’s nothing like getting out in the country with your family and friends and spending the day in the apple orchards. Of course with that often comes sampling homemade doughnuts and apple cider.

Don’t forget there’s also a range of other things to do while you are out there. Puppet shows, baby animal petting zoos, games, hay rides, mini-villages and towns for kids to play in. There’s always something to do at the orchard besides just picking apples.

Here are some tips to make your trip the best it can be.

1) Check the hours of the orchard. Also it’s a good idea to check their websites for updates on when the apples will be ready.

2) Leave the pets at home. There are usually a lot of people and not every facility is pet friendly. It’s best to leave the pup at home.

3) Don’t eat the apples in the fields. The orchards make their money once a year on apple picking and they work hard to make it a great experience for you. Don’t cheat them. Make sure to bring your apples back for weighing, then wash them and chow down.

4) Line up the recipes. You will never be able to eat all the apples that you pick whole. You will of course, pick far more apples than you need, if there are any kids involved in the process. Plan to do some apple pie baking. Apple sauce is a great idea.

5) Make it a tradition. Kids look forward to annual expeditions with you. It’s an adventure your family will always remember.

For the best places to go apple picking, check out this list.

Apple Picking in Any State

Varieties of apples and seasons vary

Places to Apple Pick in New York Area

New York season usually starts after labor day and ends in October. Don’t wait until Halloween, there’s usually not much left on the trees by them.

Picking apples in Massachusetts

September to mid October marks the peak of apple picking season in Massachusetts

Pick your own apples in California

New England doesn’t get to have all the Fall fun, so too do the left coast dwellers. Sept to October is prime season for apple picking.

San Francisco Bay Area

Apple Picking in the Oak Glen Area

Here’s a video that explains how to pick the best, healthiest apples.

How To, Summer Adventure, Things to Do

Taking The Kids on A Whale Watching Adventure Canadian Style

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If you’re like me, you’ve probably gone on at least one whale watch in your life. Maybe it was a big tour boat, while at the Jersey shore. But if you are ready to up your game in some serious adventure-quality whale watching, then you need to take a ride to Les Escoumin in Quebec. It’s about a 12 hour drive due north of New York City so a four day weekend, is definitely doable.

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Les Escoumin is a little town of about 2000 people located on the St Lawrence River that offers so much for the adventure seeking parent. It’s one of the oldest “high north country” towns on the river. There’s fishing, hiking, mountain biking, camping, scuba diving, kayaking, and blueberry picking, but today we’ll focus on whale watching. In my opinion, whale watching is particularly awesome in Les Escoumin. For starters you can take a ride in a zodiac, the kind you see GreenPeace zipping around in to get between the whaling ships and whales. They are rubber dinghys with a motor and they allow you to get super up close to whole pods of whales.  Here’s a good video I found that shows what you can expect. The boat launched from a nearby town. 

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For your adventure you’ll don an survival suit (The St Lawrence is super cold with Arctic water). Yes, a survival suit. The next thing you’ll do is zip out with the crew to find the whales. There are minkes, blues, beluga, orca, dolphins, and seals. When I went I didn’t know which way to look first. If you really want to get eyeball to eyeball with a whale this is the place.

At LES ÉCUMEURS DU SAINT-LAURENT, the season is from May 30 to early October. Prices at start at $48 Canadian for adults and $38 for kids under 14.
When you are finished with your amazing whale tour, you’ll be happy to know you are in French Canada. And what are the French known for? Food! There are wonderful restaurants, cafes and bakeries in Les Escoumin.To book a room or find out more about Les Escoumin, click here.

More places to book a hotel and tour.