You might be saying to yourself, I thought your kids were teenagers Melissa, why would you visit Athens Greece with baby? You are right….this post is from my friend Katie, a fellow blogger that I met during my European travels who has an adorable baby. She is sharing How to Spend an Awesome Weekend in Athens, Greece (with a Baby) but many of her tips work well for anyone visiting Athens and many of her traveling with baby tips work in all different locales.

Perpetually on the hunt for cheap flights, cold beers, and awesome terraces, Katie has been traveling the world since she was 16, when she somehow persuaded her parents to let her move abroad to learn the ways of hygge in Denmark. Picking up a Canadian husband and a Taiwanese street cat along the way, she’s now based in Budapest. Katie blogs at GreenActiveFamily, which is dedicated to helping parents find eco-friendly and toxin-free products for their kids.

Sipping sidewalk cocktails in hip neighborhoods. Walking through ancient monuments that are so close, you could reach out and touch them. Exploring a city that dates back millennia.  If this sounds like a memory from your pre-baby life, think again: Athens, Greece, is an easy and fun destination for new parents looking to test their chops traveling with a baby.

We recently spent a weekend in Athens (and 2 weeks in Greece) with our 10-month old. My best tips for enjoying Greece’s intriguing capital as a young family are below.

Where to Stay in Athens Greece with Baby

Kolonaki and Exarcheia

We spent two days/three nights in Athens, booking a one-bedroom apartment with a kitchen, two huge balconies with awesome city views, and a sitting room we used as a second bedroom for our baby.

We stayed on the border between the Kolonaki and Exarcheia neighborhoods, which was fairly central, super hip, and easy to get around (we walked and took the metro around the city).

There were plenty of cool sidewalk bars and cafes for an early evening drink before bedtime, as well as loads of restaurants and grocery stores for meals. We also never had a problem getting a baby chair / high chair at restaurants in this area. Score!

Link to apartment we stayed in. 

Search for more accommodation options here.

Booking.com

Plaka

If you’d rather be right in the thick of things, Plaka is more or less Athens’ historical old town. It’s touristy, but beautiful, and you’ll be within walking distance of many of the main attractions.

Tip: Rent an Apartment so Your Baby has His/Her Own Room

Now that we’re traveling as a family, we tend to eschew hotels in favor of Airbnb or holiday rental apartments. For all its faults, renting an apartment via Airbnb or booking.com has a lot of pros when you’ve got a baby in tow.

Being able to put our baby to sleep in her own room made a huge difference to our trip. We were still able to enjoy quiet afternoons during her nap, and have a few beers on the massive balconies at night. She got the sleep she needed.

Having a kitchen meant we were able to keep her diet somewhat consistent to what she gets at home, at least for breakfast. We were also able to sterilize bottles in the kitchen and store a few pre-made bottles in the fridge. All this would have been much harder in a hotel.

What to Do in Athens with a Baby

One of the things we’ve learned about traveling with a baby is you can’t pack too much into your itinerary. Knowing we only had two full days in Athens and would still need to fit in naps and an early bedtime, we prioritized seeing the Acropolis/Parthenon, generally hanging out in our neighborhood, and enjoying a rooftop bar with great views. Anything beyond that was a bonus.

Generally speaking, we stayed at home in the mornings, so our baby stuck to her normal wake-up, play, eat breakfast, nap routine, and explored in the afternoons and early evening. It worked well, and I’d recommend it to anyone new to traveling with a baby!

Changing of the Guards

We arrived in Athens on a Thursday afternoon. By the time we got into the city center and checked into our Airbnb, we had time to wander around our neighborhood, pick up a SIM card, and grab dinner before it was our baby’s bedtime.

As we wandered, we managed to catch the changing of the guards show in front of the Greek Parliament at Syntagma Square.

I’m not one to get particularly excited about changing of the guards ceremonies, and our baby is generally more interested in watching pigeons than ceremonies. But the Greeks admittedly do a pretty good job of this. The costumes are unique, and the soldiers’ shoes are like tap shoes, adding a bit more interest (and noise) to the whole thing. We showed up at the right time and place, and it was worth the watch. If you have a toddler or a slightly older kid, I expect they’d be even more interested.

Acropolis Museum

We visited the Acropolis Museum and Acropolis/Parthenon grounds on our first full day in Athens.

The Acropolis Museum is fantastic, and is a nice way to orient yourself within the history and archaeology of it all before you visit the Acropolis itself. Add to that, the museum is relatively well set-up for those traveling with children. There’s a separate ticket line for people with young kids, and you’re allowed to bring your stroller and diaper bag into the museum itself (other bags need to be checked for free).

Although the museum is spread across several floors, there are elevators to get you where you need to go: no hoisting your stroller up and down stairs. The museum also has baby rooms for feeding and changing.

Because the museum is filled with ancient artifacts, they’re pretty strict about eating and drinking within the museum, and this also applies to babies. I absent-mindedly gave our baby a bottle when she was fussing, and was quickly shut down by a museum attendant. You need to go to the baby room or cafeteria if your little one is hungry.  

If you’re traveling with toddlers, you’ll need to be on high alert here and keep their random running and flailing on lock down; there are a lot of delicate and easily-damaged artifacts on display.

The Acropolis

While the Acropolis Museum is stroller-friendly, the Acropolis itself is decidedly not. If you have a stroller, you’ll need to go to the main entrance of the Acropolis and check your stroller. Getting up to the main entrance involves some stairs, so be prepared to hoist. As strollers aren’t allowed inside the grounds, we recommend bringing a baby carrier for the time you’ll spend visiting this Athens highlight.

The toughest thing about bringing a baby to the Acropolis is the heat. We visited in the third week of May, and chose to visit late in the day, arriving at 5pm. Despite still being shoulder season and despite missing the hottest time of day, it was still sweltering. By the time we had climbed up to the Parthenon, I was panicking about how our baby was faring in the heat.

We ended up finding a shady patch of ground within view of the Parthenon, spread out a blanket for our baby, and took turns wandering the grounds. This is a strategy we’ve adopted in several countries now, and is a good way to ensure you can see the attractions on your most-wanted list while keeping your kid happy (in Iceland, we discovered our baby hates waterfall mist on Day 2. The rest of our trip involved taking turns hanging with her in visitors’ centres around the country).

Tip: Visit the Acropolis Late in the Day to Avoid Cruise Ship Crowds

Prevailing Internet wisdom seems to be to visit the Acropolis early in the morning. We did the opposite, visiting the Acropolis Museum from 3 pm to 4:30 pm or so, and arriving at the Acropolis at 5pm.

You may be wondering why we did it this way. As we were traveling with a friend who had already visited the Acropolis earlier in his trip, we got the benefit of his experience. Our friend did visit first thing in the morning, and it was crawling with cruise ship passengers. When he walked by later in the day, the cruise passengers were gone, and the crowds were far more manageable.

When we visited at 5pm, the crowds were manageable for us. It was busy, but it wasn’t shoulder-to-shoulder crowds. A late in the day visit also worked better for our baby’s schedule, as she tends to enjoy being out and about at that time of day (and the distractions reduce her evening crankiness)!

Spend an Afternoon Exploring Plaka

On our second day, we spent the afternoon in Plaka. Plaka is more or less Athens’ historical old town. It’s darn cute, and is probably the most popular area to stay in Athens for tourists. It’s filled with adorable restaurants, tons of shopping (both touristy-tacky and cool-designer), and rooftop bars with million-Euro views of the Acropolis.

In other words, it’s the perfect spot to spend an afternoon wandering, stopping for a lemonade, Alpha (Greek lager) or ice cream as the day unfolds.

Plaka isn’t the most stroller-friendly, but it’s not the worst either. If you stick to the main streets, you’ll get around just fine. That said, we used a super lightweight stroller, and would suggest you do the same. We use the GB Pockit, which is only 6 pounds. Even if I do have to carry it up a flight or two of stairs with our baby inside, it’s manageable.

View from rooftop bar

Tip: Head to Thea Rooftop Bar for Great Views

We opted for Thea Rooftop Bar (21 Apollonos) for our “rooftop bar” experience and would recommend it if you’re traveling with kids. Unfortunately, smoking is everywhere in Athens, and sitting on a patio often means contending with second-hand smoke.

At Thea, we were able to escape the smoke and still enjoy the view and ambiance. The bar is separated into an open-air patio, which allows smoking, and a glass-enclosed interior that is non-smoking. Because it’s all glass, you still get great views of the Acropolis when you sit inside, without the unwanted cancer risk.

General Tips for Visiting Athens with Baby

Consider Bringing Your Own Travel Bed

Most of the places we stayed in Greece offered baby cribs, including the Airbnb we stayed at in Athens. However, as we had already decided to bring our own travel crib with us, we generally declined the offer to have a crib provided.

At one Airbnb stay outside Athens, we said yes to the host’s offer to provide a baby crib, and found the mattress was covered in mildew. Greece is hot and humid, and mattresses don’t hold up well in humidity. In that instance, we were really pleased we’d packed our own baby crib, as that one was disgusting.

Double Check Tap Water Safety (and Bring a Water Bottle for Older Babies)

We used tap water in Athens. We drank it, and we used it for our baby’s bottles of formula and drinking water. It was totally fine, and our understanding is the tap water in Athens is safe. However, if you plan on traveling outside of Athens (or Thessaloniki), double check safety before drinking the water.

Our baby started drinking water around 6 months; as a 10-month-old she drinks quite a bit throughout the day. We brought her Nuby water bottle (with a soft straw) along with us, and made sure she drank plenty of water to stay hydrated in the heat.

If your baby isn’t yet drinking water, it may be worth talking to his or her pediatrician before your trip to discuss keeping cool in the Greek heat.

Bring a Lightweight Stroller

Mentioned above, but worth repeating. We spent a total of 2 weeks in Greece, and there were plenty of times during our trip that we needed to lift our baby in her stroller to carry her up or down stairs, get her over a rocky patch, or get her up or down an escalator. If we had a heavy stroller, this would have been a huge pain, and may have changed how our trip played out.

We use the GB Pockit stroller and have nothing but good things to say about it. We even carried it on the plane. As the Pockit comes with pretty terrible sun protection (okay – I guess I have one bad thing to say about it), we bought a separate removable sunshade on Amazon that works great and is easy to pack.

Bring a Baby Carrier

Some parts of your trip will be completely inaccessible to strollers. Strollers aren’t allowed at the Acropolis in Athens, for example; you have to check them at the main gate before entering. If you plan to visit the Greek Islands after Athens, you’ll probably find some beaches are also unfriendly to strollers.

In those cases, we put our baby in our Ergo 360 carrier, which gave us far more flexibility in terms of our itinerary and activities.

Get a SIM Card

We spent 10 Euros for an 8GB plus talk SIM card at Vodafone. If you don’t have an international SIM (such as some US carriers offer) or an EU SIM with free roaming, we suggest getting a SIM card when you land in Greece. This way, you’ll be able to call police, medical, or fire in an  emergency.

Note: your phone has to be unlocked for this to work!

We loved visiting Athens, Greece with our baby, and would encourage anyone who’s considering doing the same to go for it! While your baby won’t remember the experience, your family will create great memories. As it’s a relatively easy destination to visit with a baby, you’re also likely to get a bit more confident in your new role as a traveling parent!

Yamas (Cheers)!

If you are looking for a fun family activity in Paris, I highly recommend a Paris Bike Tour.

We took the Fat Tire Tours Paris when we went to Paris and the whole family loved it. We actually went on our Paris bike tour the day we arrived from the United States so to say we were all a bit jet-lagged is an understatement. My older daughter was begging for a nap before we left for the tour. Look at that face though, a bike tour was just what we needed. [Read more…]

Teens and Tweens can be difficult. They can be opinionated and sometimes hard to please but with some planning, you can have a fantastic vacation. This article is full of tips on how to have an amazing visit to Columbus with teens and tweens.

Have them Help Plan The Itinerary

Be sure when planning your trip that you take everyone’s interests into account. You will get much more buy-in (and less complaining during the trip) if you have the teens/tweens help with the planning. I wrote a whole article detailing the itinerary my girls and I chose for Columbus. Check out our Family Vacation Ideas – Columbus Ohio here. Another great planning resource is Experience Columbus which has so much information on everything Columbus. Have your whole family check out their site and see which attractions work best for your trip.

Let The Kids Take The Lead

One our favorite activities on this trip was the Adventure in the Valley of the Unkown Exhibit at COSI. In The Valley of the Unknown is an entirely self-contained, mysterious world inside COSI. Step inside and you are transported to another place and another time: a remote island, shrouded in darkness, where remnants of an ancient culture guard a secret that only you can unlock. We split into two groups and let the kids discover clues and solve the riddles. This is a great activity for teens and tweens and I loved watching the girls work together to solve each challenge. A perfect example of when learning is fun. We completed the first level of the Adventure but there is another level that can take 20 hours to complete. This would be perfect for pass holders. This attraction does require an additional add-on admission ticket but it was well worth the price. Visit the COSI website for more information and to purchase tickets.

TIP: Purchase Tickets for Adventure in the Valley of the Unkown for the first time available. It is much less crowded and helps make the experience even more special with fewer people in the attraction.

Have a Mixture of Educational and Active Activities

Each day of our trip I tried to include some of each type of activity. COSI was full off educational and active activities. The hands-on exhibits made learning fun. The  Columbus Zoo is full of learning opportunities as well and home to over 10,000 animals. We were excited to see Nora the Polar Bear Cub and cute kola bears. In addition, we visited Zoombezi Bay which was full of thrilling attractions on a hot summer day. Since it was back to school time and we were near an amazing mall, Easton Town Center, we spent some time shopping as well. This would not have been at the top of my list but the tweens and teens LOVED it. The girls loved swimming at the hotel pool too and just hanging out. Don’t forget with teens/tweens that downtime can be just as important as attraction time.

Check Out Special Events

Be sure to check out the Columbus Annual Events Calendar when planning your trip. There just might be a great event you want to attend. Cosi had a special Game Masters Exhibition we visited on our trip which we enjoyed.

Get There Early and Avoid the Crowds

I know teens and tweens love to sleep in but getting to attractions early can help you have your best day. We arrived at the Columbus Zoo right before opening and we were able to get to see Nora the Polar Bear cub up close and personal. That is my daughter’s feet right by the glass and Nora! A zoo employee told us how very busy the attraction gets as the day goes by so we were so happy to have this experience. By arriving at COSI before opening as well, we were able to visit the museum before it got too crowded. This was especially beneficial at the Adventure in the Valley of the Unkown exhibit because it helped create that mysterious island feel.

Take Advantage of Time Saving and Money Saving Offers

My favorite time-saving tip of our trip was taking advantage of the ZOOMPASS system at Zoombezi Bay. This system was an extra price (just $14.99 per person) but it enabled us to spend our time having fun instead of waiting in line. You just use your Zoomband to check into a ride and then when it is your turn to slide an alert is sent to your band. You all can then go to a special very short line and ride. This is fantastic technology!! I wish every amusement park and water park offered something similar at such as reasonable price. Instead of waiting in line, we played in the wave pool or lazy river . Our day was so much more enjoyable since we were having fun instead of waiting in line. Additionally, we rode many more slides because without the passes we all would have just gotten sick of waiting in line and started doing other things. The ZOOMPASS system really makes a big difference and I highly recommend it.

My favorite money saving tip is if you are traveling 5o miles or more you can get an exclusive Experience Easton discount book. This book is filled with over 85 exceptional discounts and offers and makes  your visit even more rewarding! Get Your discount book here. 

Don’t Forget to Take Breaks and Try Local Flavors

It isn’t a vacation unless you have ice cream…. at least that is what my kids say. We had heard amazing things about both Graeters and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams. When I posted on my Instagram that we were in town, I was informed that we must try Graeters and it did not disappoint. Experience Columbus shared a great article with Columbus ice cream flavors to try.  We know what will be doing on our next visit!

Go With the Flow

We had hoped to visit German Village and have a leisurely lunch on the patio but we had so much fun at COSI that we stayed there longer than we expected. Instead of trying rush and try to fit it all in, we had a quick lunch before we went to Easton Town Center. I would rather fully enjoy the attractions then rush and I know the kids do as well.

I have something special for you for your next trip to Columbus. I am giving away a $100 Dine Originals Columbus card to one lucky reader! This gift card is good at any one of their almost 50 member restaurants. What a fun way to enjoy the local dining scene in Columbus.

You can enter to win below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Experience Columbus. The opinions and text are all mine.

My sister and I try to take a quick getaway for a few days each summer with our daughters. The requirements for the trip are that the location be drivable from Metro Detroit and have fun and  family friendly activities that tweens and teens will love. We both have two daughters and they range in age from 11 to 14 years old. Experience Columbus, the Greater Columbus Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, invited us to check them out and we were surprised by how much the area has to offer. When people heard we were going on mini vacation to Columbus Ohio, they were surprised and wondered would we really have a good time. Well …. I can tell all of those people and any of you out there that we had a fantastic time! Columbus is a great location for a getaway for families or for couples. In fact, there was so much to do that we wished we had more time.

Planning Your Trip to Columbus

Map Out the Attractions You Wish To Visit

The Experience Columbus website is a great resource for planning your trip. They list and describe many Columbus attractions.  After perusing the site, we determined that we wanted to visit the following attractions. There were many more places we would have loved to visit but we only had two full days in Columbus so we had to make some hard choices.

This post lists our vacation plan and then I will be sharing more pictures and tips for having a great visit at each of these attractions in an upcoming post. If you would like more information from Experience Columbus, you can check out their facebook page, twitter, Instagram and YouTube channel. This information will help you plan your best trip!

Also be sure to check out the Columbus Annual Events Calendar when planning your trip. There just might be a great event you want to attend!

Here is our family friendly Columbus Itinerary.

Day One

COSI – Center of Science and Industry – This is one of the most respected science centers in the nation, serving more than 30 million visitors since 1964. Parents Magazine recently named COSI the #1 Science Center for Families in the country! At COSI,  there are endless opportunities to explore real science and discover real possibilities for yourself and the world around you. COSI brings science to life with more than 300 interactive exhibits throughout our discovery-based and themed exhibition areas. I am all about getting some education while having fun during the summer so this was tops on our list.

German Village and the Brewery District – Located just south of downtown Columbus, German Village is one of the most atmospheric neighborhoods in the Midwest. Our plan was to have lunch and explore this area after our visit to COSI. We spent so long at COSI though that we, unfortunately, did not have time to fit in much sightseeing. This looks like a great place to visit though and we will need to add a stop on a future trip. We did have lunch at First Watch in German Village and the food was fantastic and very reasonable priced. They have a great kids menu and it is very kid friendly even for little ones. My youngest got a fruit filled crepe for lunch and it was fresh and delicious.

Easton Town Center – This is an amazing shopping destination in an upscale town square setting. The girls really wanted to do some back to school shopping and this place did not disappoint. They have so many stores and dining locations. There are stores at many different price points and even an American Girl store. If you like to shop, you need to visit this place.

Day Two

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium – The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is home to more than 11,000 animals representing nearly 600 species from around the globe. My oldest daughter loves animals and this was the highlight of her trip. The Zoo complex spans 588 acres, more than 200 of which have been developed as animal habitats and public spaces. The Zoo habitats are organized into six geographic regions: Asia Quest, Australia and the Islands, Congo Expedition, Heart of Africa, North America and Polar Frontier, and Shores. The newest region, Heart of Africa, is designed as a mixed species savanna spanning 23 acres. We spent the morning and late afternoon in the zoo but this place is so big we really needed a full day just for the zoo.

Zoombezi Bay Water Park – This park is home to exhilarating slides, a giant wave pool, interactive kiddie pools, relaxing rivers and rip-roaring rapids. This 22-acre water park is open during the summer months and is located on Columbus Zoo property. Our tickets to Zoombezi Bay included admission to the zoo. We purchased a ZOOMPASS which allows guests to reserve their spot in line and enjoy other areas of the park until their turn is up. This was well worth the money and I will be sharing details about this fantastic technology in my next post.

Accommodations in Columbus Area

We decided to stay at the Embassy Suites in Dublin Ohio. This was a perfect location to visit the attractions we chose in Columbus. We also loved the free breakfast and happy hour. This hotel is a great location for families with the two double beds and a pull out couch. It is nice to have the extra space and they had an indoor pool the girls loved. If you are planning on visiting more attractions in the downtown area, you may want to consider a downtown Columbus hotel. The Experience Columbus site is full of information on accommodation options.

Be sure to come back  on September 20 to get the full details on our trip and some tips to help you save time or money at these locations. Additionally, there is a great giveaway for a $100 Dine Originals Gift card which can be used  in Columbus at 40 independently owned and operated restaurants. You can sign up for our newsletter and the next post will come straight to your inbox. 

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Experience Columbus. The opinions and text are all mine.

So you have decided on a road trip with your kids. These road trip essentials for kids cover many of the things needed for a road trip if you want to have a great time. Hopefully, these essentials will minimize the number of times you hear those dreaded words “Are we there yet?”

Road Trip Essentials for Kids

The first thing you will need is snacks. I promise that at some point on the road trip your kids will be starving and most likely it will be about 30 minutes after you just ate. I love to have fun snacks on road trips that are a special treat. This makes the road trip more exciting for kids. All the items below are available at Amazon and you can have them shipped right to your door. You are busy enough getting ready for a trip without heading to the store too.

Snacks:

1. Herr’s Chips Variety Pack
2. Cookies, Chips, and Candies Variety Pack
3. Go Picnic Ready to Eat Meals – GoPicnic ready-to-eat meals go anywhere you go. No refrigeration or preparation required, just open & enjoy!
4. Stretch Island Fruit Leather
5. Larabar Variety Pack

Once you have snacks covered it is a good idea to have some items that help keep your trip more organized and comfortable.

Comfort & Organization:

1. Star Kids Snack and Play Travel Tray –  This car seat tray provides flat, safe area to eat and play
2. Skip Hop Zoo Neck Rest – Not only is this adorable but hopefully, it will help your little one get some sleep on the road.
3. Fleece Throw Blanket
4. Digision Backseat Organizer and Cooler – Keep your backseat passengers happy with this convenient seatback storage bag. The insulated cooling compartment allows hot or cold drinks to last 2-3 hours longer.
5. Car Toy Storage and Organizer

I find that it is a good idea to have many different types of entertainment for a long road trip with kids. You of course can keep them occupied with electronics but I love travel games that you can play on the road as well.

Entertainment:

1. Apple iPad Mini 2
2. Kidz Gear Wired Headphones
3. Kindle Fire 7″ Tablet – Be sure to download book from your local library before you go.
4. Belkin Multi-Headphone Splitter
5. Nintendo DSi Console
6. Battleship Grab ‘n Go Game
7. Spot It! On the Road Game – This edition has a new way to play while in the car: Travel Bingo. Whether you’re in the big city, cruising down the highway, or just around town, there is always something to spot.
8. Yahtzee to Go Travel Game
9. Minecraft Activity Book
10. Crayola 25 Count Pip Squeak Set

I hope these Road Trip Essentials for Kids help make your next road trip the best one ever!

My sister and I recently took a quick get away trip to the Bavarian Inn Lodge in Frankenmuth with our 4 daughters. The Bavarian Inn Lodge invited us to try them out and we were very happy to do so. Frankenmuth is just a little over an hour away from many areas in metro Detroit and an easy trip. Perfect for when you want to get away but don’t want the hassle of a long drive. [Read more…]

This post brought to you by Visit Gulf County. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Everyday Savvy.

Looking for a trip for your adventurous and outdoor loving family? You should consider Gulf County, Florida which is full of lots of outdoor activities and adventure. You can escape the traffic, cold weather and snow and simply follow the sunshine to beautiful Gulf County. Our family loves to try new things and my girls love animals so many of these activities would be perfect for us. I am adding Gulf County to our list of possible destinations for upcoming trips. Here are my top 6 reasons my family would love to visit but be sure to check out the Gulf County Adventure Guide  to learn even more!

1. Watch the Dolphin Parade – Getting to see dolphins is always a huge treat. A family happened to be up early one day in Gulf County and they saw a pod of dolphins playing and chasing a school of fish. They were so close to shore, they could see them from the deck that day. After that, they got up early so they could walk down and see them from the beach. They loved the “dolphin parade” and watched them swim by every day. My girls would LOVE that!

2. Kayak in the Great Outdoors Through the Dead Lakes –  There are guided tours available and you can kayak 100 times during the summer and always see something different. The Dead Lakes get their name from the Cypress and Tupelo trees that stand in the water. When the water is low, you can see the stumps rising out of the swamp. It’s like nothing you’ve seen before. People don’t know what you’re talking about and then they have an “aha” moment when they paddle around the shallows in the South Flats. The stumps are so concentrated; it’s like being on another planet. If you go out early in the morning in April, the birds are all coming into nest and other critters are just showing up. The fog comes off the water. It’s very still, where you feel like you’re in the wilderness.

3. Horseback Riding on the Beach – This is a fun adventure you can’t have just anywhere. It is a beautiful adventure for kids and adults alike. Early evening is the best time to go because you see the sunset over the Cape. I think this could be a highlight of any family trip.

4. Take a Ride or Walk on the Loggerhead Run Bike Path – This is an eight mile trail on Cape San Blas that runs the length of the Cape from St. Joseph Peninsula State Park to Salinas Park along Hwy 30E/Cape San Blas Road, and is great for walking, jogging or biking. Who can resist a little bit of exercise when the backdrop is St. Joseph Bay? I always love family bike rides especially in such a beautiful locale.

5. Try your Hand at Scalloping  – This is a fun activity the entire family can enjoy. It’s easy for beginners and doesn’t require much more than a saltwater fishing license and a mandatory dive flag. A mask and snorkel, gliding over the grass beds in 2-3 foot deep water is the preferred method. If it isn’t scalloping season you can snorkel. Scallop and snorkeling group trips are available at Port St. Joe Marina, and many small charter operators take private trips.

6 – Go on an Ecotour with Captain Charlene from About Fun Charters. – You will  tour St. Joseph Bay at sunset and see birds, fish, sea life and the resident dolphin – Danny. Or is it Dolly? They aren’t sure. These Ecotours are not structured. Each day is a different day on the Bay so she doesn’t force a structured program. It’s an adventure that is helped by Captain Charlene’s Master’s degree in Marine Biology and her Green Guide certification. This sound like a great time plus everyone learns a bit along the way which is my favorite type of vacation.

Gulf County has a great giveaway going on right now that can help you save on any of these adventures. They are giving away a $50 gift card to 10 lucky winners per week and the contest runs from 3/16/15-4/13/15. That is a bunch of winners and one could be you! All you have to do to try your luck is enter below by clicking $50 tell me more. Good luck! 

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Is a trip to Disney World one of your gifts for your family this holiday season? You could wrap up free personalized maps and a free planning DVD to open! This would be a fun way to surprise your family.

One of my favorite planning Disney  World tips is to determine which attractions at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom are most important for your family. When you have a plan, you can be sure to see your most important attractions. Not sure how to decide, here is the perfect easy way to make personalized Disney World maps with your favorite attractions.

These maps are great for planning your trip,  as a souvenir from previous trips or even if you are just dreaming of taking a trip to Disney World. I loved checking out the new FantasyLand attractions at Magic Kingdom.

How does it work?

First you get to pick which Disney park you want to make a map for. Then  you will get to choose the age of the people in your group. For example,  preschool, teen, family and so on. This helps you pick the top attractions for your individual group! It will show you appropriate rides and help you by making suggestions if you needed.

If you need help deciding which  attractions to highlight, simply select an age category using the blue tabs  and they will  show you the top Favorites for that park based on age category. You then place a check in the box next to any attraction you’d like to add to your map.

Once you have completed your customized Disney World maps, you can either have your map mailed to you, or you can print off as many copies as you like! They are beautiful maps and really fun for the kids. You can even have your take a pretend trip and make up maps as if they were in the parks.

Click the moving image at the top or bottom of this post to get started making personalized Disney World maps with your favorite attractions.

In addition to the maps you can also grab a FREE Disney Parks Vacation Planning DVD. This would be great to wrap up as well. You can request it by clicking the image below.

This blog post is part of a paid SocialMoms and the OnStar blogging program. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own.

I am sure not ready for summer to be over. We have had a great time this summer traveling and enjoying family time. We just got back from an amazing trip to Orlando where we were immersed in Harry Potter’s world at Universal Orlando. My girls didn’t want to leave and go back to Muggle school. They would have much rather stayed at Hogwarts.

We also enjoyed some road trips to Northern Michigan this summer and had fun boating and fishing. My daughter and niece were so excited to catch these big trout. They are about half the length of these girls! We are always glad to have OnStar in our car because with OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation, you’re only 3 steps away from your destination. Read more about this great OnStar feature here.

It is about a 4 hour drive for us to Northern Michigan so it would be great to have OnStar with 4G LTE to stay connected. It offers built in Wi-Fi hotspot in your vehicle. Next year we want to take a trip to the Upper Peninsula and visit the state parks and Pictured Rocks. Hopefully, my next car will have OnStar with 4G LTE so I can share memories from the road. Views as beautiful as this need to be shared.

Even though summer is over, YOU can still share your pictures with your friends and more. I am sure you all have some great pictures of your summer travels. OnStar launched a campaign in July called #whereintheUSA where users can share photos of their summer journeys to help inspire others to get out there and see this great, beautiful country of ours. Here’s how you can participate:

1. Instagram your favorite travel photos (you can share one or a bunch!)

2. Use the hashtag #whereintheUSA and tag @OnStarUSA in the description of your photo.

3. Be sure to include the location of where your photo was taken

The top pictures may be featured on OnStarConnections.com, or on their Facebook, Twitter or Instagram accounts. You can find out all the details about this fun campaign here.

I will be checking out the hashtag and can’t wait to see your adventures!

Looking for Cedar Point Reviews? Check out this review of our day at Cedar Point with roller coasters and dinosaurs.

Right now there are some great Cedar Point ticket specials, you will want to check out. [Read more…]

Michigan in the summer is a great place. Even though most of Oakland county is suburbs and cities, there is still plenty of great wildlife and outdoor activities. With the cost of gas, having a Staycation sounds like a wonderful idea. I have lots of great fun and frugal activity ideas here in Oakland county. (The links at the beginning of each section will take you to more detail on all these activities.)

Do you live elsewhere in the country and are looking for fun and frugal activities? Come back tomorrow for links to Staycation ideas across the country.

Metro Parks – Did you know that there are 13 different Metro parks in Oakland county or right nearby. They have tons activities including everything from hiking and biking to swimming and geocaching. The Huron-Clinton Metropark Annual Motor Vehicle permit gives you unlimited access to all 13 Huron-Clinton Metroparks in the five-county Southeastern Michigan region throughout the year for just $25.00!

Heritage Park Splash Pad –  I have heard great things about this splash park and community park. With its rolling hills, winding nature trails, amphitheater, splash pad, playground and picnic facilities, Heritage Park offers activities for every season. This 211-acre park is home to the Vagnozzi Visitors Center in the historic Spicer House, Nature Center Day Camp, the Heritage & History Center in Farmington Hills and the Longacre House, a community center. The large picnic shelter is open on a first-come, first-served basis, but it may be reserved for a small fee.

Michigan Activity Pass –  This is a great program is where Michigan residents with valid Library cards will have reduced cost or free access to over 60 arts and cultural organizations across Michigan.This is part of the Michigan Activity Pass presented by The Library Network (MAP) program, a partnership between The Library Network, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Library of Michigan Foundation, CultureSource, Michigans 400 public libraries, and arts and cultural organizations across the state.

To participate in this program, log into http://michiganactivitypass.info with your Library card number. Then print a pass to the institution you want to visit. Some cultural partners offer complimentary or reduced price admission; others offer discounts in their gift shop or other exclusive offers for MAP pass holders only.

Participating organizations include:

Buick Automotive Gallery
Cranbrook Institute of Art
Detroit Institute of Arts
Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center
Holocaust Memorial Center
Meadowbrook Hall
Oakland County Historical Society
Performance Network Theatre
Troy Historic Village
U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame/Museum
Yankee Air Museum

Adventure Park of West Bloomfield – Fun in the Great OutdoorsLooking to Zipline in Michigan? Look no further! There’s nothing like a day at The Adventure Park at West Bloomfield! Located in the trees adjacent to the JCC you will find an amazing “aerial forest park.” Experience “adventure in the trees” perfect on your own or with friends, family and parties. Experience “adventure in the trees” on your own or with friends and family. Ages five to adult are welcome!

Park It Family Fun Night – Park It evenings consist of an Outdoor Concert, kid’s activities, sponsor giveaways, followed by a family-rated movie under the Stars on our giant LED Video Screen! Check out the schedule of where they will be this summer.

A great source for more information is Destination Oakland. They list all kinds of fun family activities throughout the county. Last year we went to  Red Oaks Water Park and had a great time. Unfortunately, they no longer offer discounted tickets but $10 for residents is still a great price. Waterford Oaks does still offer discounted tickets. We may try it this year. It looks great too!

Free Summer Concerts -The Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission provides FREE concerts at Addison Oaks and Groveland Oaks county parks. Check out the schedule here.

Detroit Zoo – You can’t have a Staycation and not visit the zoo. You will want to check out the new warthog piglets  that were just born this spring. One of my favorite summer zoo activities though is the The Zoo’s Wild Summer Nights concert series. Performances will take place at the Main Picnic Grove to give concert goers plenty of space to spread out with their blankets, lawn chairs and picnic baskets. A wide variety of food — including burgers, pizza, hot dogs, ice cream, beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages — will be available to Wild Summer Nights patrons. All performances begin at 6:30 p.m. and conclude at 8 p.m., the Zoo’s closing time.

A friend told me that a stop at Taste Love Cupcakes in Royal Oak is a special treat. You  can grab some after your trip to the zoo or bring some in your picnic for the Wild Summer Nights concert. Taste Love Cupcakes won the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars.

Biking and Hiking Trails – There are bunches of biking and hiking trails in Oakland county. My favorite is Paint Creek Trail. We usually start our ride at Rochester Municipal Park which is has a nice playground, spot  for picnics and a friend has even fished here with her kids… catch and release of course.

Another way to get stay-cation activities frugally is to watch the daily deal sites. Groupon, Living Social, CBS Local Offers and Deal Chicken often have local activities at 50% off or more. I have seen daily deals for laser tag, bounce play areas, mini golf,  tours and more. Be sure to like the Bargain Shopper Detroit page where I will be adding local deals to help you save in the Metro Detroit area.

Lots of the activities I mentioned are great if you bring a picnic lunch. Since it a stay-cation you may want to buy treats your normally wouldn’t from the grocery store to make things special. You can usually grab some great deals on junk food and convenience foods with coupons.

Hope you use some of this information to enjoy all the great activities in Oakland county. What are your favorite things to do in Oakland county?

This blog post is part of a paid SocialMoms and OnStar blogging program. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own.

“How much longer?” or “Are we there yet?” if you have taken a road trip with kids and maybe even adults, you have heard this more times than you can count. Road trips can seem endless without distractions for little ones and older kids alike. What if I said that this could be a thing of the past? Would you believe that your car could become a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot and everyone in the car could connect their devices including smartphones and tablets and that the signal is powerful enough that you could stream videos and even watch live TV via an app? It seems like science fiction or something the Jetsons might have in their flying car. However, the future is almost here. [Read more…]