Welcome to the latest Friday blog post Q&A series called #WellTraveledFamily Friday. Each week on Fridays, we’ll interview thought leaders, family travel experts and everyday families that are blazing trails and are living examples of raising confident, more culturally aware and confident families through travel. These inspirational families inspire us to travel and explore the world with our kids, and I hope that they will inspire you to do the same.
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This week, we’re visiting with Colleen Lanin, author of The Travel Mamas’ Guide, a book about how to vacation with babies and children…and stay sane. As the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of TravelMama.com, she inspires families through the mission to “help parents and children better connect with each other and the world around them through travel.” Without further adieu, here is Colleen Lanin, with her tips on being a #WellTraveledFamily:
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Q: What does “Well Traveled” mean to your family?
To me,“Well Traveled”means getting out there and exploring the world, whether with weekend camping trips, amusement park adventures, tropical vacations or journeys to distant lands. It means being a citizen of the world. Not everyone can afford fancy family vacations but we can all learn more about the world around us through simple getaways, home exchanges, nature walks, and even reading about other cultures and destinations.
Q: What advice would you have for parents looking to travel more?
Make a plan. Wishes don’t have a timeline, plans do (to paraphrase Dr. Phil!). Decide what kind of vacation you want and put the approximate travel dates on your calendar. Start saving from every pay check to make that trip into a reality. You may even want to set up a separate vacation checking or savings account and have money automatically deposited into it each month.
Rather than getting your heart set on a particular place, think about what your family wants to get out of your vacation. With older kids, have a family meeting to find out what everyone really wants. Is it relaxing by the pool or at a beach? Is it exploring museums and historical sites? Is it connecting with nature? There are affordable ways to do all of these types of trips. Once you narrow down what type of vacation you want, start searching for destinations that can meet your needs. Look at Mapquest to figure out drive times to do-able destinations. For flights, check out Farecompare.com to find cheap airfares from your hometown.
Q: What are your top 3 must-have items when heading out on vacation?
It’s not very original, but I bring my iPhone with me wherever I go. I use it as a watch to tell time, a map to find our way, a camera when I don’t want to lug around my fancy digital camera, and an easy way to keep up with emails when I’m on-the-go. Of course, the iPhone is great for entertainment too. I don’t use my Kindle anymore—I just read on my iPhone. When dining in a nicer restaurant, after the kids have tired of their crayons and puzzles, my iPhone keeps them entertained with games, movies and kids’ books.
Travelers tend to get a bit, ahem, backed up when away from home. I always bring along some fiber to keep things moving along. I pack Benefiber Stick Packs to mix into a cup of coffee or juice. I like the original taste-free version but they also make fruit-flavored versions. If that doesn’t do the trick, I also bring Miralax NeatPAX, a laxative that dissolves in any beverage. Trust me, it is NO FUN to travel with a constipated child!
I am always sure to pack some Dramamine too. Since I am a family travel writer who travels A LOT, you might be surprised to learn that I often suffer from motion sickness. My daughter does too, but this doesn’t stop us from seeing the world via boat, car, plane and beyond. There are chewable Dramamine tablets for children age 2+. Personally, I prefer the Less Drowsy formula.
Q: What is the most unique thing you’ve experienced during your travels as a family?
The most unique thing I’ve experienced during our family travels was probably discovering I had a stowaway in my belly during a Disney Mediterranean Cruise, thanks to a pregnancy test I had packed. That was our last big trip before our family of three became a family of four.
Really, it’s the little moments that have made the biggest impact on my family vacation memories: watching dolphins leap in the ocean from our beach chairs on a California beach trip; taking forever to hike a simple trail with our children because they want to stop and explore every flower, every bug, every stick; or soaring through the air on Dumbo’s back at Disneyland while my toddler clapped and squealed…pure joy!
Q: Where is next on your family’s travel bucket list?
I have always wanted to go on an Alaskan cruise and this summer we will get our chance! My husband, two kids and I will set sail through Alaska’s inside passage with Celebrity Cruises in August. I am looking forward to watching Grizzly bears pluck salmon from a river on one excursion sans children and embarking on a summer dog sled adventure with the kids.
What does being a well traveled family mean to you? Share with us in the comments below, or on Facebook and Join the WellTraveledFamily Movement.
Colleen Lanin is the author of The Travel Mamas’ Guide, a book about how to vacation with babies and children…and stay sane! She is the founder/editor-in-chief of TravelMamas.com, one of the world’s most popular family travel blogs. A blogging instructor and contributor to the TODAY Show website on NBCNews.com, her articles have also appeared in Parenting Magazine, the Chicago Tribune, Working Mother Magazine and more. You can connect with Colleen on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for some more great tips!