So over Spring Break we took a much needed trip to the US Virgin Islands. While we stayed on St Thomas, we took the car to the ferry in the morning and headed over to St John’s by the port in Redhook.
My advice is to get to the ferry early. Sometimes there are not as many ferries as expected because they are still rebuilding on the islands after the Hurricane, and may need the ferry for supplies. Other times one is just plain ol’ broken down, so you have to wait for the next one. Even if you get on the line, the ferries can fill up quickly so you might find yourself parked and waiting for the next one that could be an hour later. Welcome to island time.
Making the Ferry
If you miss the ferry it’s not the end of the world as you can walk over to the little shops and cafes across the street from the Redhook ferry and get a smoothie and chill out and drool over all the beautiful yachts parked in the Marina. Then you can dream about how you will sell everything and move down here and live on one of them.
Me after we missed the ferry and had to wait for the next one at Redhook. I had to drink smoothies and check out yachts in the beautiful weather. Poor me.
It only really stinks if you’ve already gotten a really late start. Remember the last boat back is around 6 pm so its not a bad idea to book a room for a night or two on St John’s, if you are going to head over there and really want to see it. I know people do it without renting cars but I think it’s a much better experience if you get to drive wherever you want.
The Beaches
We drove to the different beaches in St John’s and while parking can be an issue, the beaches are absolutely amazing. And remote. Think Blue Lagoon remote. The beaches on St John’s are very raw and pristine and don’t have a lot of amenities or restaurants nearby, so make sure you bring your own water and snacks. Some of the beaches look like they had amenities but then the Hurricane came along and wiped them out. However, every one of the beaches we went to had bathrooms, so that’s one thing not to worry about.
We drove with my picky, hot and sweaty teen to see the various beaches on St John’s and finally stopped at Turtle Bay. We parked and strolled right in and vegged out on this medium-sized, blue-water gem, and there were only a few other families around.
Me at Turtle Bay on St. John’s Island, US Virgin Islands
Across the way from the Turtle Bay parking lot, we went for a hike on the nature trail and my daughter was in her glory looking for Golden Orb spiders. She thinks she saw one in between discovering all the other critters she was enthralled with–deer, hermit crabs, lizards, spiders, dragonflies, and Lord knows what else. This trip was great for getting her out in the woods and breathing in the sea air. She only took out her phone to either take pictures or look up what she’s looking at.
Cell Reception
Be aware that you don’t get a ton of reception on this island and it’s dead in some places. We also got a text while we were on the East side of the island that our AT&T International plan had kicked in because we must’ve been close enough to the UK part of the Virgin Islands. We had to pay $10 for that but I’m sure if I gotten around to to to call AT&T I would’ve likely gotten that reversed. Same thing can happen when you are near the Canadian border by the way.
We then drove through all the twisty, narrow, island roads, got turned around a lot, and then eventually made our way back to town in time to pick up the ferry.
Morgan looking for her Golden Orb spiders
Of course we were the first car in the cut off and had to wait for the next one so we parked the car and headed into town to check out the scenery and get some food. We went into one restaurant and ordered a chicken burger.
Free-Range Chickens
As I was about to bite into my chicken burger, I felt a pair of eyes staring at me. I looked up from my burger and there was a big Red Rooster with his big flowing tail feathers, glaring at me. And his girlfriend was right next to him. Clearly they were horrified. I felt a little guilty but once he strutted off down the aisle and out the door I went back to eating my burger.
Feeling guilty in a restaurant eating chicken on St. John’s with a rooster giving me the stink eye.
So apparently, this is a pretty common thing in St John’s. Free-range chickens alright. They have the life these guys. After we left the restaurant, we strolled around into a few shops and art galleries, a and had a lovely conversation with a woman who had moved down there from Boston and opened her own gallery. It was great to hear her story and chat with the locals. We also bought some nice jewelry out in the plaza.
More Ferry
I am an awesome car ferry parker!
Morgan and I started heading back to the ferry and there were already cars going around us and getting on the boat. I was freaked out thinking we’d missed our spot but there was still plenty of room. So I turned the car on and headed on. I then found myself having to go through the Herculean task of parking super close to every other car on the boat, and squeeze right up on the side of the boat.
It was no small feat. While I was comfortable driving stick, I had to stay away because the stick was on the right, like any other car in the US, but the roads were opposite. So it’s like driving in England with an American car so you have to stay really aware of your surroundings.
Here are some pics from our trip to St John's Island in the Virgin Islands
Rooster
Turtle Bay
Turtle Bay
The Sugar Factory Ruins, St John's VI
Nature Hike on St John's Island, Virgin Islands
Morgan looking for her Golden Orb spiders
Church on St John's Island, VI
Church on St John's Island, VI
St john's
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On the ferry at St. John's Island VI
Me on St. John's Island, Virgin Islands
View from road on St. John's VI
The road along St. John's Virgin Islands
Turtle Bay, Virgin Islands
Me at Turtle Bay on St. John's Island, US Virgin Islands
Hawksnest beach, St Johns Island, Virgin Islands
Amazing Views on St. John's Island, VI
I got help from the guys working on the boat who were guiding me in from the outside, but I will say after I finally turned the car off, I felt like I’d killed my first buffalo. If you didn’t have to drive the car off the ferry in a half hour I’d otherwise recommend a good stiff drink after that. But either way, you make it. And you’re on an island, in the Caribbean, so you know…just chill.
For more information about Turtle Bay and the rest of St. John’s, go here:
My daughter and I went to the US Virgin Islands for Spring Break and I managed to find this nice resort at the last minute. It’s about a half hour away from the airport on a quiet side of the island and right near the ferry.
When we got to the Crystal Cove Resort we missed the entrance at first and had to drive back. There’s a little building in the front of a gate where you pick up the keys. The lady was very nice and gave us our keys and some beach towels and explained how the gate worked. Make sure you keep the gate number. I just put it on my phone and that’s all I needed.
Our Unit
Our unit was clean but I have a feeling this was probably the last one available because of the decor. They are privately owned units that the resort handles renting out. They are condos and you can either get a studio style place or a larger one with a master bedroom. The studio though is actually a Murphy bed with two single beds that come down. Not as comfortable as a full bed. The condo was dated and while it was great to have a kitchen, the utensils were a little cheap and the stove was old and the whole thing would get super hot.
The Twin Murphy Beds We Slept on For a Week. View from the Kitchen
I joked to my daughter that the Ropers must have left this to us for the weekend, but she didn’t get it. I had to explain Three’s Company to her but she didn’t get it. Anyway, totally Mr’s Roper’s kitchen. The porch was also not usable and clearly where they stored some things. But the price was reasonable and the place was clean and everything worked. The resort itself was very nice and right on the beach. I think we’d be happy to go back, but just be a little more discerning about which unit I’d get. I spoke with some other guests who talked about how beautiful their units were.
Hey, Mrs. Roper called and she wants her couch back!
The Caribbean Vibe
When we arrived it was Sunday and there was a great party vibe going on down by the bar and restaurant. We went and got something to eat and I had my first Pina Colada in awhile. It was great. The beach was beautiful and it has some great views. The only downside was that the bar closes at sundown, so I had thought I’d go home, take a nap and come back out. However, when I got there it was all closed down and each day it closed early. I had envisioned making dinner for my daughter, and then walking down the walkway and grabbing a Mai Tai in the evening with the adults but it was completely quiet by 7pm. Oh well. It was still relaxing.
The Wildlife
One of the first things we noticed was the free range chickens. It’s a thing in the Virgin Islands. It’s not like pigeons but these chickens just roam around freely and the chicks are so cute. Also, iguanas are fairly common so my daughter was in her glory. My daughter told me on the plane she’d love to see an iguana close up so mission ACCOMPLISHED!
Talk about free-range, cage-free chickens. If I were a chicken this is where I would want to be.
The Beach
Each morning I got up early and went out to the beach to watch the sun rise. It was so relaxing and of course, I would have brought my daughter along but you just try to get a teenager up at dawn to sit on a beach on their week off. So one of our days there I just got to the beach in the morning, took a swim and when I came out of the water there was a woman hanging dresses in a tree. So for $20 I got the loveliest tie-dyed beach coverup/dress. I wish I had bought a few more.
You can tell that the resort got hit hard during the Hurricane but they have done a lot of work to restore everything and focused on the areas where people would use most. There’s also another resort next store that shared Sapphire Beach with us that has a nice pool and also looks really nice. So when booking I’d take a look at both of them.
The Kitchen in Our Unit at Crystal Cove Resorts
Either way if you are looking for a clean, chill, quiet beachfront condo, this is the place for you. But make sure you know the specific unit you are getting and what it looks like so you can avoid the dated rooms with the ancient VCRs and resin utensils.
However, no matter what condo you get you absolutely can’t beat the sun rises. Check out my pics and also go here for more info about Crystal Cove Resort
So my daughter and I needed to get out of the city and get in some beach time. I thought the US Virgin Islands would be the easiest thing for us to do because it’s not a long flight, and there were several direct flights to St. Thomas. We went for Spring break.
Renting a Car
The best move I made was rent from Paradise Rental Car instead of going through a more well-known rental. I set the whole thing up by email and a nice man was waiting for me right at the airport with the keys to our car. In true island style we got in the car, pulled to the side in the parking lot and exchanged paperwork. It’s not a big airport and doesn’t have a lot of parking so it was great to be able to hop in and get going. I highly recommend renting a car. It made it a lot easier to go where we wanted to go. Yes the roads are a little tight, but just take it slow.
Morgan’s first discovery dive in the Virgin Islands.
Where to Stay
We stayed at Crystal Cove Villa on Sapphire Beach, which is not far from the ferry to St. John’s. It was a nice clean beach and reasonably priced. Our condo was pretty dated, with all the wicker furniture and the ancient utensils I felt like the Ropers had left it for us for the weekend. That said, I think each condo is different as they are rented out through the resort. So before I stayed there again I’d ask about the unit itself. It was a nice quiet resort though. The beach is chill, perfect views and there’s a restaurant on the premises. Just know that it closes around 6 so don’t plan on getting drinks at the bar unless it’s the weekend. The location was great though. Close to the ferry, beaches and grocery stores and a bit away from the main city part of St. Thomas.
We could see the damage still left over from the Hurricane a few years ago so I was happy to spend our money there and put some back into the economy.
We did a number of awesome things while in the Virgin Islands so I’ll I’ll focus on scuba diving here
Scuba Diving at Coki Point Beach
I am a certified scuba diver and I wanted to introduce my daughter to the wonderful world of diving . So it was important for me that we find a good spot and she had a good enough time that she’d want to go back. She absolutely loved it. We did a Discovery dive with Coki Dive Center and it was perfect. We got there about two hours early, which was perfect because they gave us some snorkel gear and we snorkeled around, getting my daughter used to using the goggles and flippers in ocean water as it had been awhile.
Putting on our scuba gear at Cokie Point Beach thanks to Cokie Dive Center.
The guy I worked with at the Dive Center couldn’t have been cooler. He hooked us up the day before and had everything waiting for us when we got there. And the instructor was very patient. We had another girl in the group who just was too afraid to try and so she backed out. No big deal but I thought the instructor was very good about it while not holding up the rest of the group too much. As for the man who set up our reservation, he also set us up with an underwater rental cameral so I got some really great shots of my daughter snorkeling and feeding the fish. By the way, SO MANY FISH!!!
Morgan getting acquainted with the local fish
And what a brilliant idea. They gave us each a big dog biscuit and the fish went nuts over them. I can’t believe I’d been scuba diving for thirty years and never thought of that. So we got some amazing shots. My daughter is now completely hooked on diving and is planning on getting her open water cert. shortly.
Close by there’s also Coral World maybe 500 feet away. After you dive, you can hang out on Coki beach itself. It’s very chill. There are some food shacks, good places to get some good drinks and a couple of spots to buy some things like T-shirts and sun tan lotion. Also, during the day they were playing some music. Very relaxed, cool place and different than the rawness you’ll find at most of the beaches at St. John’s for example. Parking can be a bit tricky so get there early if you can.
No Morgan, that means you want to go up. But glad everything is OK. Discovery Dive at Cokie Point Beach, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.
Here we are downhill mountain biking in Chamonix France.
We went to visit friends in Geneva Switzerland and took a drive out to Chamonix, France to get some downhill Mountain biking in. Amazing views, great trails, psychedelic mushrooms growing trail-side and all, I could do this every day.
Morgan Prepping Downhill Mt Biking Chamonix France
When my fourteen-year-old daughter Morgan told me she wanted to be an art major, I said well if that’s the case we’re going to do it right. So I started hunting for cheap tickets to Italy.
She’s only fourteen but she got into an art and design high school in New York City, so I knew she was serious. So if you have a little artist in your family I highly recommend a trip to Italy to tour the museums, see the Sistine Chapel, check out the architecture and eat great food. By the way, my daughter is now completely spoiled when it comes to spaghetti and wants to go to art school in Florence. I’m all for that. We went back to school shopping in Florence, how is that for serious Mom points?
My daughter Morgan and I started our trip in Rome. While I knew it was going to be hot there, because we were going in August, we dealt with it. It wasn’t too bad if you embraced it and packed for it. The hot weather also meant smaller lines and less crowds.
Landing in Rome
While I have a dual EU passport (Thank you Grandpa), when I’m traveling with my daughter I usually keep my EU passport handy but use my US passport. We already have different last names so I don’t need any hiccups. But when we got to Rome we discovered there is an agreement in place between the US and Italy to allow US passport holders that are fourteen years of age or older, to fast track through immigration the way they Europeans can. We were brought to a different line, put our passports in a scanner, had our pictures taken and were sent through. We never even had to speak to a human. This was a great thing to discover because there was no need to pull out the permission to travel from my daughter’s father because it was just my daughter and I. We’re divorced and sometimes it’s a hassle to ask him to go out of his way to provide a document with permission and get it notarized. But I think it’s still best to get it signed and have it with you. I know the one time I don’t bring it will be the time I need it. I did bring the letter, and even though we flew into Italy, Switzerland and Germany we were never asked. Still, why risk it if you don’t have to?
So anyway, first night in Rome. We stayed near Trevi fountain and Spanish steps in this cute hotel called the White Hotel. It was in a perfect location. A friend of mine had recommended a few hotels near the Pantheon, but I liked this area way better. The little streets and shops were perfect for finding a good spot to eat or shop and wander.
I saw a number of cute hotels in the area, so my recommendation unless you really want to focus on the Vatican or Coliseum, consider staying near Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps.
Rome is not very big in actuality, so we walked to the Coliseum from our hotel and back. There are also those hop on and off buses. By the way, I used my Chase Sapphire points not just for my hotel but also, since it’s really a white-labeled version of Expedia, I was able to use my points to buy our hop on bus tickets as well as the tour of the Vatican. That came in really handy.
We spent three days in Rome and did all the usual activities. We didn’t tour the Coliseum weirdly enough but we did walk around it. My teen was in a mood and didn’t want to go in, so we walked around the outside. Fine, there was plenty to do. And she was far more interested in the gelatto at times than the sites.
Italian Breakfast and We’re Off
On our second day there my daughter discovered what an Italian breakfast was. Coffee and a pastry. We had tea because the two of us with our Irish roots never managed to get used to the taste of coffee. So we had our tea and pastries and off we went. Morgan got used to saying Grazie for everything. I laughed when she said it on our layover in Dusseldorf. 🙂
In Rome we saw the Trevi Fountain and then walked to the Spanish Steps. New thing to know about the steps, don’t sit down on them or you will be fined. They are really serious about that now. Afterwards we went to the Vatican and signed up for an English speaking tour. Of course, there was a family there from Iran and so the Italian guide had to say, “we have Americans here, you don’t have a nuclear bomb do you?” Har Har. It’s always fun to be the easy target for cracks when traveling. There’s something about being American that just makes people have to make cracks whenever they get the chance. What are you going to do?
Hitting the Vatican
So the Vatican was phenomenal and we got to see the Sistine Chapel. Watching her face as we walked through the door and the room just opened up to her, was priceless. I looked at Morgan and thought, “yes, mission accomplished.” We stared at the ceiling for awhile and listened to people get yelled at for taking pictures of the ceiling. The people that paid for the restoration hold the rights to the ceiling, or the Vatican does and they hold it for them. Either way, no photos. Morgan was very disappointed there that the Raphael rooms were closed so she could not see the school of Athens painting that she was dying to see. But what can you do. That will give us an excuse for another visit.
The Castle
Another great spot I admit I missed on my other trips to Rome, was the Castel St. Angelo also known as the mausoleum of Hadrian. It was well worth the entry fee and the views are spectacular. Morgan loved the little cafe at the top and sat there enjoying her tea as she looked out through the thick portico windows out at the Vatican, complete with pigeons peeping in at us from the outside. There’s a museum inside with some pretty cool armour and frescos, and just a good all around stop before heading to the Vatican. Make sure you get some good pictures on the beautiful bridge right before the castle.
After we had our fill of restaurants, gelato and walking, we took a taxi to the train station to head out to Florence. So I’ll write about that in my next article.
Travel Scams
One thing I want to tell you about though is the scams they try to pull on tourists. Several times during our trip an African man would approach me and ask me where I was from and tell me I look like I’m from East Africa. And he kept trying to talk to me. As a female traveler with a child in tow I don’t need to stop for conversation in a fairly remote section of the tourist area, so I voiced a firm, “No Grazie,” and he went on his way. I wasn’t sure what was going on but found out later, the scam is the men will walk up to you chatting with you and when they get close enough will slip a cheap “friendship” bracelet on your wrist that you can’t untie and then demand ten Euros. So just stay clear.
Taxis
And for the taxis, check that the meter is on. If the driver tells you the meter isn’t working, get out and get in another one. The meter will tell you exactly what your fare is and sometimes they turn it off and tell you it’s broken and then overcharge you. And they sometimes round up without asking you first. If they have to move luggage for you, a tip is fine, otherwise it’s not necessary, so ask for your change back please. Better yet, use your credit card.
Also, make sure to bring an debit card if you are coming from the states. In many of the ticket machines, it will ask you for a pin number. If you are using a credit card and don’t know the pin, or it doesn’t have one, you’ll get stuck. So bring a debit card that requires a pin with you as backup. Or make sure you know the cash pin on your credit card.
First off, get over the idea that you’re going to hike like the animal that you were before you had kids if you are bringing said kids. It’s not all about you and how far and how fast you can go. It’s about making sure the next generation is exposed to the outdoors and will remember what an awesome parent you are for taking the time to do it. Your kids are lucky they have a parent that wants to do this stuff with them and even if they whine now, they will remember it when they have their kids…and the circle of life, yadda, yadda.
But in the here and now you need to be practical. So here are my tips for having fun hiking, staying sane and making sure everyone wants to do it again.
1) Take it easy on yourself and give yourself every advantage. Charge the phone and the juicepack. Make sure you have a map as a backup, or download them on your phone before hand. Don’t be a martyr. Download some apps that can give you details on flora and fauna as you hike in the area. Also do yourself a favor and download some pics of Poison Ivy, Sumac and Oak. You’re welcome.
2) Dress according and bring extra clothes. Weather changes on a dime and a cold or overly hot kid, is a miserable kid and a miserable hiking buddy. Bring T shirts and an extra sweater and depending how long the hike, extra socks etc. Cold weather requires multiple layers. Think Under Armor.
3) Bring food and water. Duh, you say but how many people go out without enough water. Remember you’re bringing not just for yourself but the kids too. Snacks, snacks, and snacks. And throw in a few Hershey’s kisses and get over it. A low blood sugar meltdown in the middle of the woods has it’s own special place in hell.
4) Wear the right gear. Suck it up and buy the kids the best hiking boots you can afford. You don’t have to go crazy, but get some kicks with serious all terrain treds. I moved to NYC and went on a three day trip with my daughter’s fourth grade class. I thought I’d see 40 pairs of overachieving, top-of-the-line hiking boots that could handle Everest, lined up outside the bunks. And there were some. But I was surprised at how many kids were hiking in rubber rain boots. Don’t do that. The kids managed but the steep slopes were extra treacherous. I’d rather they were in sneakers.
6) Ticks. I can’t emphasize enough how much you don’t want your kids getting bit by a tick. As someone who suffered a long time with Lyme Disease, it’s not fun, or pretty, and can be expensive. I hate telling kids to wear long pants on a summer hike, but if you can, do. And if you don’t hike in long pants, make sure you cover everything with bug spray including the hair lines and socks, then hose off or shower and do a good tick check under the arm pits, behind the ears and knees, ankles afterward. And be diligent even for a good twenty four hours afterward. If you do see an embedded tick, save it and take pics of it if you can. Oh and a word on DEET. If you have a homeopathic bug spray that works, go for it. Me personally, I go for the strongest thing I can get my hands on. Yes, it was so powerful it peeled the ink off the marshmallows package and transferred it to my legs where it touched (my legs were covered in Deep Woods OFF), but I’m willing to take that. And the freaky thing was, the only way to get the imprint of the marshmallow label off my legs was more bug spray. I know, I know. I don’t like all the chemicals either but I like Lyme disease even less.
6) And bring these other things accordingly:
Hats, sunscreen, diapers, bottles, backpack, baby carrier, baby food, towels, swim clothes, swimmies, band aids, neosporin, and don’t forget the aspirin, you’re probably going to need it.
Family Adventure and Travel Destination: Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg is like no other when you 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 on 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 their 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:
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 ghost 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.
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 believe 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.
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.
on archeological digs, and experience what it was like in 1775 at the very beginning of the American revolution.
their 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:
elieve 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.