Travel Tip: Snacks from Around the World
One of our favorite parts of traveling is experiencing the local cuisine…especially the snack food! Tasting a variety of local foods provides an authentic and inside look into culture and is especially fun and engaging for children. Now your family can taste the world from the comforts of your home. Universal Yums sends you a box of snacks and candies from a different country every month. The products they select are delicious, unique, and often extremely difficult (or even impossible) to find in the United States. Each box also comes with an interactive guidebook to steer your culinary adventure and to learn more about the country – including trivia, games, recipes, culture, and more!
Trip Review: USVI Boat Charter
The Silverstein Family from Parkland, FL are avid boaters and understand that a private boat charter is an ideal and popular way to have a socially distanced family vacation. The family of 8 gathered this month in St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands for a week-long sailing around St. Thomas and St. John. They explained that their arrival at the St. Thomas airport was very efficient. Health forms and test results were sent in advance with temperatures taken and test results reconfirmed at the airport. The boat sailed to a variety of bays (including beautiful Magan’s Bay, Maho Bay, and Princess Bay) where they anchored and used the ship’s 38 ft. dinghy to reach land for their daily activities. Highlights of the trip are plentiful. They appreciated having all of their recreation, food, drink, and even laundry needs met by the ship staff who even arranged special birthday and Hannukah celebrations. They let us know that the food service was 5-star with all of their different needs considered. The family group ate their meals outdoors at the versatile table at the back of the boat and used the upper deck/bar area for pre-dinner drinks and appetizers. They really enjoyed the variety of activities and getting some exercise to help alleviate the guilt of eating so much wonderful food. The ship was nicely decked out with two dinghies, snorkel equipment, kayaks, paddleboards, wakeboards, and seabobs (cool water sleds that can be used above and below water). The family are avid hikers and were surprised by the variety of trails on each island (St. John is actually 60 percent national park). They especially enjoyed the mountain hikes and didn’t mind swimming to land to reach one of the remote trails. They hiked Cinnamon Bay, Annaberg, and Leinster Bay; all with amazing island views. Wildlife sightings on their hikes included deer and wild donkeys while on one of their snorkel outings, they saw squid and sea turtles. For relaxation and much-needed downtime, the ship had a large hot tub and several sunbathing areas. Inside the salon, there was another large table for gathering and large couches for watching movies on the pop-up TV with movie theater-quality surround sound. Overall, the family really enjoyed the relaxed pace of this trip and spending quality time together. The trip was exactly what they wanted in a vacation! Since the charter is all-inclusive, it is actually a good value for large families and family groups traveling together.
Travel Tip: Podcasts for the Road
Looking for some family friendly entertainment for your next long drive (or hopefully a flight someday soon)? Here is a list of recommended and engaging podcasts from families who travel the globe. Enjoy a creative array of stories, learn about world geography, and have a few laughs!
Grandpa’s Globe: Purple Rocket (https://purplerocketpodcast.com/category/grandpas-globe/): Travel the world with twins Sawyer and Suzie using their Grandpa’s magical globe, explore the universe aboard the Space Train, fly with fairies, discover an underground civilization with Digger, and so much more!
Brains On (https://www.brainson.org/): This science podcast for curious children and adults from American Public Radio finds answers to fascinating questions about the world sent in by listeners.
Six Minutes (https://app.kidslisten.org/pod/Six-Minutes): A mystery unfolds in Alaska in just six-minute episodes, twice a week…all year long.
Story Pirates (https://www.storypirates.com/podcast): A group of world-class actors, comedians, improvisers, and
musicians adapt stories written by children into sketch comedy and musical
theater.
Wow in the World (https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510321/wow-in-the-world): Journey into the wonders of the world around you.
Little Stories for Tiny People (https://www.littlestoriestinypeople.com/): Features original children’s stories lovingly written and performed with attention to the whimsical senses of humor children often possess.
Trip Review: A Look Back
Traveling is transformative, especially when you experience new places and cultures as a child. It’s why we love family travel so much as our own parents taught this to us through their love of exploring and appreciation for world culture. Exposing children to the way others live gives them a greater perspective on our own lives and where they fit into this world. It’s humbling. We thought it would be nice to showcase some of our own favorite family trips and why they were so memorable and meaningful to us. Lauren’s most favorite and transformative family trip was her first to Israel at age 16. Mindy and Lauren’s father was very active in Jewish fundraising and had been to Israel many times as part of charitable missions as well as to sell the family candy. His list of friends in Israel was rapidly extending in many different directions. Our parents decided to take our family of 6 to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary with a grand party at the Dan Accadia Hotel in Herzliya, Israel. Afterward, we traveled around to many parts of the country with a private guide. Touring this small country with a private guide is still our favorite way to book Israel for our families. Guides are a prized profession there; so only the best make it through the rigorous training with all its detailed and illustrious history dating back to biblical times. Creating custom itineraries sets the pace that makes sense for your family’s needs and travel style. After a few days of beach time (always good after the long flight) and all the generous hospitality from family friends, we headed north to explore the Sea of Galilee, the Golan Heights, Safed, Rosh Hanikrah, Nazareth, Haifa, Acre as well as taking in multiple archeological sites, synagogues, churches, and national parks. We then headed to Jerusalem to spend several nights at the fabulous and historical King David Hotel and to explore the Old City, the three major religions, and the city’s surroundings. A day trip down to Jericho as well as Masada and the Dead Sea were also included. The experience was truly magical for us as a family. We were in a place where our father had dedicated so much of his time to aid and had developed relationships with so many wonderful people. We understood and felt his passion. We learned so much about the country’s history, our ancestors, our religion, other religions, and Zionism which helped create the State of Israel. We amassed so many fond memories of our shared travel experience. The country definitely affected Lauren who would end up returning to Israel another 13 times experiencing a variety of youth, college, and volunteer programs as well as a year-long study/work program post-college. And she cannot wait for her next trip to Israel!
Trip Review: Aruba Getaway
The Parasuramans from the Philadelphia area (2 adults) traveled to Aruba this month to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Note that Aruba currently requires a valid COVID test (different rules apply depending on where you reside), a health form in advance, and the purchase of COVID travel insurance on arrival for a reasonable price based on your age and length of stay.
The couple stayed at the lovely Ritz Carlton Aruba. Located on a private section of Palm Beach, the 320-room resort showcases several pools, a watersports provider, spa, gym, 6 restaurants, casino, and a supervised children’s program. The Parasuramans ventured off the resort for many of their meals. They ate at Atardi at the Marriott next door and said the ambiance, service, and fresh seafood were excellent. This pop-up fine dining experience is set up right on the beach for a romantic evening and sunset. They also enjoyed Faro Blanco for Italian food and Wilhelmina in downtown Oranjestad. Sunday brunch was a delight at Windows on Aruba on Eagle Beach.
To explore this flat and deserty island, the couple rented a car for two days and went to Baby Beach, the Ayo Rock Formations, Natural Bridge, the California Lighthouse, and more. They look forward to returning to Aruba and renting a four-wheel drive to experience Arikok National Park which comprises almost 20% of the island. Overall, they let us know that they had a nice and relaxing trip, and thought Aruba was both beautiful and safe.
Travel Tip: City Guesser
Looking for a fun and free way to test your family’s geography knowledge? Check out City Guesser. Created by teen web developer Paul McBurney Jr., the website shows screen clips of strolls in world cities, but without identifying them. The object of the game is to use clues seen in the videos to guess which cities they were filmed in. If you think you know you can “Start Guessing” and pin your guess on a world map. The map is rather vague though. If your guess comes within one mile of the actual site, virtual confetti drops. If the guess is off by more than that, the game reveals how much. The game has a library of some 600 clips (the 2nd one we tried was easy…the Penn campus in Philadelphia!), and you can choose to watch videos from walks around the world (most challenging) to videos that only show monuments, or you can narrow down to distinct regions or countries.
Travel Tip: Circle Round
Folktales are an entertaining way to learn about world culture! Check out the Circle Round podcast from WBUR. Their stories were created and produced by parents of young children who have adapted folktales from around the world into sound- and music-rich radio plays for kids ages 2 to 102. Each episode explores important issues like kindness, persistence, and generosity, and ends with an activity that inspires a deeper conversation between children and grown-ups. Check them out at https://www.wbur.org/circleround.
Trip Review: Vail Summer Getaway
The Delatorre Family from Greek Oaks, IL (2 adults and 2 boys ages 16 and 17) traveled to Vail for a relaxing summer getaway. They stayed at The Sebastian Vail and let us know it was gorgeous! This upscale property offers hotel rooms, suites, and residences and is located in the heart of Vail Village. The family enjoyed their spacious Residential Suite and chose the property in part for the expansive heated pool that features underwater benches and a waterfall. It also has a spa, gym, playroom for young children, restaurant, and a unique art collection that was appreciated by this art-loving family. In winter, the hotel also offers slope-side ski valet services. In the summer, outdoor activities abound in Vail. The family sailed over the forest at the Top of the Rockies zip line in Leadville, went white-water rafting on the Colorado River tackling class IV rapids with Sage Outdoor Adventures and the boys biked down the Vail Pass, the only Colorado mountain pass with a bike path the entire distance on both sides. This foodie family also appreciated all the fine dining options available and the hotel breakfast by the pool. Their favorite dining experience was at the Alpenrose Vail with its Alpine chalet vibe complete with waitstaff attired in the old style of a famous South Tyrolean mountaineer. They loved the selection of European beers, fondue, and dishes like beet spaghetti! Overall a much-needed and relaxing getaway.
Travel Tip: Packing Cubes
Recently travel agents were surveyed for their top travel tip. The surprising winner was the use of packing cubes! These cubes make packing easy and well organized. They come in different sizes and fabric choices and also in a compression version that frees up space in your bag if you have collected a few extra souvenirs along the way. The cubes also come in a variety of price ranges depending on overall quality. A solid option is Eagle Creek which also has a lifetime warranty. Check out https://www.eaglecreek.com/shop/packing-cubes.
Trip Review: NC Mountain Escape
Lauren and her family traveled to Blowing Rock and Asheville, NC last week to escape the Florida heat and relish in the boundless nature and beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. We have done multiple driving trips this summer with our safety and health at the utmost importance. For the ride, we packed plenty of drinks, food, table covers, hand sanitizer, wipes, and masks and enjoyed picnic lunches at the rest stops. We stayed our first four nights at the family-friendly Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock in a spacious condo. The resort offers 1- to 3-bedroom units along with a lodge and inn. Each day we hiked different trails of varying lengths and abilities and witnessed gorgeous waterfalls and vistas, historic homes, and saw lots of families of all ages enjoying the great outdoors. Other resort activities include a stocked lake for fishing, tennis, pickleball, disc golf, children’s summer camp, and spa. The pool and gym were closed. Outdoor adventures abound in the area including a zip line, white water rafting, rock climbing, rappelling, kayaking, and more. The resort’s delicious on-site restaurant has plenty of outdoor dining and tables inside that were spaced out appropriately. In the charming town of Blowing Rock, there were plenty of dining options with outdoor seating and the shops were open.
To get to Asheville, we drove the Pisgah District section of the famous Blue Ridge Parkway for about 90 miles. The parkway actually runs a total of 496 miles: from the Shenandoah Mountains National Park in Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. The views along the way were breathtaking and the ride slow and steady on the winding mountain road. Highlights included amazing biodiversity, plenty of hiking trails, the Linville Gorge (the deepest gorge east of the Grand Canyon), and Mount Mitchell (the highest mountain peak in the eastern U.S.). A travel planning app can assist you along the way. In Asheville, we stayed in the historic residential neighborhood of Chestnut Hill just outside of the downtown area. The Princess Anne Hotel was our home for the next two nights. This deluxe inn with 16 suites was built in 1924. It was a great value with hot breakfast and free baked goods included throughout the day. The hotel had paused their afternoon wine & hors d’oeuvres hour for safety reasons and instead threw in a nice bottle of wine. Our spacious one-bedroom suite had a fully stocked kitchenette. It was fun to explore the fiercely independent and funky downtown area on foot. We also spent a full day at the expansive Biltmore Estate touring the 250-room mansion, meandering through the myriad of gardens, and taking in the new Downton Abbey exhibit. The Biltmore House is the largest private residence in America. Adult and children’s audio guides usher you through the house or choose a variety of private tours for more behind-the-scenes action. You can also experience the entire 8,000-acre property with bike rentals, horseback riding, carriage rides, hiking trails, or off-road in a Land Rover. There is also a lake for watersports and fishing, clay pigeon shooting, falconry, a winery, shops, restaurants, and more. Plan to spend the day or stay a few nights in their various accommodation options. Overall this road trip was a great success and we look forward to planning another one soon!
