Trip Ideas By Activity
There are so many ways to vacation with your children.
City explorations, museum sleepovers, condo-style rentals, road trips, mountain and lake cabins, beaches, cruises, and all-inclusive vacations stretch budgets. Resorts run the gamut from moderate to pricey. Staying midweek or during shoulder season saves money.
Dream trips—African safaris, Galapagos treks, polar bear watches—deliver the thrill of wildlife encounters but at a hefty price. Farmstays, state and national parks, and hikes through Costa Rican rain forests let you enjoy animal encounters at a fraction of the cost.
Time travel fascinates kids. At living history parks, march with the militia and meet pioneers. In Europe, tour centuries-old castles, climb atop medieval walls, and stroll streets laced with 18th-century buildings. Go back millions of years to the dinosaur era. Satisfy your kids’ curiosity by going on a dinosaur dig, walking in dinosaur footprints, and ogling fossils of these fierce critters in museums.
Build sandcastles at the beach, canoe and fish at a lake, get tossed, twirled, and dropped on rollercoasters at an amusement, ski downhill, or snowshoe through snowy woods.
Stay overnight, for a few days, or a week. Plan carefully, allow for spontaneity, know that things will go awry, and maintain your sense of humor. Have fun.
Take Home a Pennsylvania Dutch Quilt
Mapquest||by Candyce H. StapenCategories: City and Cultural Vacations, Family, Historic, Northeast United States Destinations, Trip Ideas, United States DestinationsHandmade by Amish and Mennonite women in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, these prized possessions are museum-worthy.
Sweet summer souvenirs in Lancaster County include guaranteed-to-be-fresh corn, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe and other produce from the area’s many farms.
This is the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, a region populated by the descendants of German and Swiss immigrants. With 30,000 Amish residents, Lancaster County claims to be the oldest and largest Amish community in the U.S.
At Witmer Quilt Shop, visitors can find a permanent memento from the region. For more than 40 years, Emma Witmer has been selling quilts by local Amish and Mennonite women. Such quilts, prized for their precise handwork and iconic American designs, appear in museum collections, including that of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.
The quilts take 4 to 6 months to create. “They aren’t sewn in summer,” says Witmer. “In summer there’s lawn mowing, canning and freezing to do. The quilts are done in winter.” By the time warm weather arrives, Witmer’s shop blooms with hundreds of colorful spreads in a variety of styles.
Attired in a blue dress and wearing a white prayer head covering, Witmer patiently provides answers inquisitive shoppers’ questions about patterns. She peels back layer upon layer of stacked quilts, pointing out such traditional configurations as log cabin, flying geese and wedding ring.
Witmer doesn’t sew the items, but, she says, “I supply all the fabric and create the designs. I love putting colors together.” She relies on about 30 local women, each a master of her particular skill: cutting, sewing and quilting (or attaching the top to the bottom with batting in between). “There’s no machine that can make as small a stitch as a hand. Machine-quilted pieces feel stiff, more like a mattress,” says Witmer.
“I sold a queen-size Lincoln quilt the other day,” Witmer says. “It’s called that because Abraham Lincoln had one. That quilt had more than 37,000 little pieces.” The quilt sold for around $650, among Witmer’s top prices. Witmer also creates eye-catching, contemporary versions of classics that ripple with color.
Witmer Quilt Shop, 1076 West Main Street, along route 23, New Holland, PA. 717-656-9526. Open Mondays and Fridays 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Open Wednesday only by appointment and closed on Sunday.
Insider Tip: Emma Witmer of Witmer Quilt Shop will custom design a quilt in a shopper’s favorite colors.
Best new products for summer family travel
USA TODAY||by Candyce H. StapenCategories: Babies to 2 Year-Olds, Family, Family Travel Tips, Pet Travel, Preschoolers Ages 3-5The right gear and gadgets go a long way toward making a family vacation successful. These new products make traveling easier for families by doing away with such common “trip-ups” as bored kids, lost dogs, cramped tents, too much to carry and not enough luggage.
Pick the right travel stroller for planes and trains
Forget about gate-checking a stroller at the airport and then wishing for three arms when boarding the plane with your tot. Designed for tots 6 months old to those weighing 33 pounds, the Babyzen YOYO, released in North America in March, rolls down the plane — or train — aisle with your child in it. A luxury version of the classic umbrella strollers, the sturdier YOYO comes with a padded seat, storage, sun canopy and five-point harness. The pièce de résistance: the ability to hold your tot while you release a lever with your free hand to collapse the YOYO in thirds, creating a 20.5-inch-by-17-inch-by-7-inch package that fits in most carry-on bins.
To reconfigure the folded stroller, use one hand to shake it open like a rolled-up scarf. This may take some practice, since the YOYO, while relatively light at 12.8 pounds, still requires a certain amount of strength to unfurl. Use the convenient shoulder strap to wear the YOYO like a big purse when you must carry baby and her gear up and down stairs and escalators.
The Babyzen YOYO costs $469 and is available at Saks.com, Little-Circus.com and other retail outlets.
Use one stroller for city and country adventures
A sister to Indie, Bumbleride’s popular jogging stroller, the more compact Indie 4 ups the utility to create what Bumbleride calls a “crossover stroller.” No need to pack two baby buggies, one for city jaunts and one for jogging. Because of the air-filled, over-sized tires — yes, tires — the Indie 4 rolls easily on sidewalks and maneuvers through dirt, gravel and grass. That means it can handle pebbly lakeside trails as well as unpaved national park paths. The adjustable handlebar has enough positions so that short and tall partners can find their sweet spots for running, hiking and shopping.
The included bassinet stretches your budget by making the Indie 4 functional for infants. The fabric is easy to wipe clean, the seat reclines fully for kiddie naps and the attachable bar enables the stroller to carry some car seats. Although the Indie 4 folds up to 29-inches by 24.5 inches by 15 inches, collapsing the 22-pound stroller takes practice.
The Indie 4, available in early June, costs $599 and accommodates kids weighing up to 55 pounds. bumbleride.com.
Fire kids’ imaginations
En route to your destination, keep your kids busy with the XO Tablet, created by the charitable organization One Laptop per Child (OLPC). The tablet lets them dream about what they want to be. When youngsters choose one of 15 career options — mathematician, teacher, athlete, artist, engineer — kids get a screen with a brief biography of a famous person and a list of apps. The games build skills that support grown-up ambitions. Young math majors, for example, shoot down rockets to learn subtraction and budding teachers follow clues to figure out how to plot graphs. Kids can also access the 100+ apps from a list.
Discovery Communications, Oxford University Press and TED are among the organizations that contributed material. Many of the apps engage youngsters though some, developed by lesser-known companies, may bore tech-savvy kids accustomed to gee-whiz programming.
At 7.6 inches by 4.6 inches by .4 inches, the XO Tablet fits nicely into small hands and makes a good first tablet, especially for ages 4-10, although OLPC targets it to ages 4-14. A big bonus of the XO: the ability to switch between English and Spanish, making it effortless for kids to pick up phrases in a second language.
The first commercial venture by OLPC, the XO became available to the public in August 2013. Buying an XO helps your kids do well and also allows you to do good as proceeds support One Laptop per Child’s mission of educating poor children.
Target, Amazon, Walmart and Toys R Us sell the tablet for $80-$130. xotablet.com.
Make room for more stuff
Kids are born collectors, but you don’t want to purchase another suitcase to tote home their buckets of gathered seashells or the flippers and goggles from your family snorkel outing. Eagle Creek’s Morphus delivers two bags in one. The duo, a wheeled base with a removable backpack/shoulder bag, improves upon traditional zip-offs. At 2,925 cubic inches, the detachable gear bag is roomy, has a sleeve for tablets and pockets for cell phones. Uncoupled, the “mother” bag expands to hold another 2,875 cubic inches of souvenirs. Durable, water-resistant fabric covers both pieces.
Bundled together, the F13 Morphus 22-inch, carry-on bag weighs 7 pounds, 14 ounces and costs $395. The F13 Morphus 30-inch costs $470. Available July 1, the new F14 Morphus carry-on adds an exterior foot stand for added stability, weighs 2 ounces less and costs $395. The F14 Morphus 30-inch bag costs $470. eaglecreek.com
Keep the dog safe
To make sure that your dog is not one of the 2 million canines stolen each year, don’t leave your pooch unattended. Foil dognappers and prevent your four-pawed pal from wandering by using Safespot Locking Leash. The adjustable collar and lead made of steel cable that’s difficult to cut has been for sale at Orvis for about six months.
The locking collar unspools so that it can fit dachshunds to Dobermans, although the collar would feel heavy on a miniature breed. Then you wrap the other end, which also has a lock, around a tall post or other immovable object. Even though the leash is too short to allow Newfoundlands and other giant breeds to lie down while tethered, Safespot will keep your dog sitting right where you left him.
Safespot Locking Leash is available for $69 from Orvis. orvis.com.
Fit the family in one tent
Family hikes go better after a good night’s sleep, something difficult to obtain when cramming your child, your spouse and you into your old two-person tent. The redesigned Mountain Light XT 3-person tent from L.L. Bean features a lighter frame, more durable fabric and a price that’s $50 lower than the previous versions. At 90 inches by 72 inches, the interior shelters three people and comes with space to stow some gear. The no-see-um mesh canopy helps keep bugs out and the two vestibules reduce the crawling over and waking up of your tent mates when someone has to use the “facilities” after bedtime. Rolled-up the XT is just 23 x 8 inches and weighs 5.12 pounds, light enough for your junior camper to carry.
L.L. Bean’s Mountain Light XT 3-person tent sells for $249. llbean.com.
Say aloha to authentic Hawaii
USA TODAY||by Candyce H. StapenCategories: Adventures, Beach Resorts, Beaches, Cruises & Resorts, Family, More Lodging, Restaurants, Trip Ideas, United States Destinations, Western United States DestinationsThe conch shell call to the ocean, the cascade of a waterfall tumbling in a rainforest, the taste of seared ahi and the lingering resonance of slack-key guitar chords.
USA TODAY’s Candyce H. Stapen samples the sights, sounds and tastes of traditional Hawaii on a visit to Maui.
Island flavors
Hawaii cuisine melds the foods and spices used by the Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Filipino immigrants brought to work on the sugar and pineapple plantations.
Da Kitchen, with locations in Kahului and Kihei, serves what the owners call “island soul food” — noodles, tempura fish sandwiches, and amazing, supersized plate lunches, a mix of proteins that grew out of the swapping of tasty bites by plantation workers. The Kanak Attack, a “loco moco” local dish, tops rice with chicken, beef, a fried chicken cutlet, two eggs, onions, mushrooms and gravy. Entrees: $10-$20.
At Ka`ana Kitchenin the Andaz Maui at Wailea, my favorite island breakfast buffet features local fare with a modern twist. Try the chorizo pork with scrambled eggs in steamed bao buns served with homemade hoisin sauce, and chicken sausages made with feta cheese, cranberry and spinach. Entrees: $21-$56.
Located in the Grand Wailea Resort, Humuhumunukunukuapua`a is named for Hawaii’s state fish. With its thatched roof, tiki torches and setting atop a large saltwater lagoon, Humu evokes old Hawaii and serves macadamia-nut crusted mahi-mahi and Korean-style fried chicken. Table 70, called the most romantic in Hawaii, juts out over the water and has expansive ocean views. Entrees $31-$64.
Ko,Hawaiian for sugar cane, serves island fare inspired by the cultures of the sugar cane workers. Winner of the 2013 ‘Aipono Awards for Restaurant of the Year and Best Regional Hawaiian Cuisine, it features such highlights as Portuguese bean soup, lobster tempura, lavender honey macadamia nut shrimp and the best paella I ever had. Entrees: $30-$58.
Hotel cultural programs
Even resorts offer Hawaiian cultural programs.
Hyatt’s new Andaz Maui at Wailea has a full-time cultural adviser who gives free talks on Hawaii’s history. maui.andaz.hyatt.com. Rooms from $499.
Maui News readers rated the Fairmont Kea Lani in Wailea as having the best Hawaiian cultural program. fairmont.com/kea-lani-maui. From $549 for four people.
Ocean adventures
Typical experiences include outrigger canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding.
I join one of the Fairmont Kea Lani’s free six-person outrigger-canoe trips. Before we push off, one of the guides blows a conch shell, then chants a prayer. Rhythm is key. When our other guide shouts “hut,” we finish our strokes, and on “ho,” we switch paddling sides. But no one moves when we spot the T-shaped flukes of humpback whales diving deep.
Aboard the Hina, Maui’s only outrigger sailing canoe, I feel the power of the wind and spot a green sea turtle. “King Kamehameha sent hundreds of these single hulls across the channel between the Big Island to conquer Maui,” says Donny Abernathy, our guide from Hawaiian Sailing Canoe Adventures.mauisailingcanoe.com. Departs from the Fairmont Kea Lani. $99.
Stand-up paddleboarding, the popular sport with a Hawaiian heritage, looks easy. And for my fellow newbies on Napili Bay, it is. After Tiki Man SUP instructor Corby Hettler demonstrates the basics, the others effortlessly glide. But not me. I give up and watch Hettler do perfect yoga positions on his board. tikimansup.com. 90-minute lesson, $125.
Land experiences
From rainforest treks to artisanal shops, Hawaii boasts an array of uniquely local attractions.
To find the classic Hawaii of rainforests and waterfalls, I join Hike Maui’s outing in the Ho’olawa Valley. En route to 40-foot Twin Falls, guide Jake Noury points out the pineapple patches, taro plants, ti leaves and ginger and heliconia flowers. He picks fiddlehead ferns for us to taste. At the second waterfall, Jake demonstrates how to cannonball into the natural pool before letting the willing in our group take the plunge.hikemaui.com. $149 with hotel pick-up.
In Wailuku, Native Intelligence is the place to find well-designed items that reflect Hawaiian culture and are crafted by local artisans. There are lauhala hats fashioned from pandanus leaves; uli uli, the seed-filled gourds decorated with feathers for hula dancers; and hand-printed pillowcases with contemporary versions of traditional designs. www.native-intel.com
Local music
No authentic Hawaiian experience is complete without slack-key guitar or ukelele music.
Master slack-key guitarist Ledward Kaapana, recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship, headlines at the Napili Kai Beach Resort during the week I visit. “There was always music,” Kaapana says. “When I grew up in Kalapana, there were no stores and no electricity. My dad, mom and uncle played. I learned from them.” When picked, the slack, or loosened, strings resonate, adding a lingering sound. The host, George Kahumoku Jr., a four-time Grammy winner whose songs are on the soundtrack of The Descendants, also plays tunes with English and Hawaiian lyrics. Evening show: $45. Both musicians teach at the Annual Slack Key Guitar and Ukulele Workshop at the Napili Bay Beach Resort, June 15-22.
Ukulele musician Derick Sebastian performs free at the Andaz Maui, where he also leads free ukulele classes for guests.