Great Travel Giveaways!

First, the Tiaras and Teacups Sweepstakes from DisneyFamily.com. This is the ultimate princess trip! Tiara, limo, luxury hotel, photo shoot and breakfast with the Disney Princesses! Enter daily! Rules are here. Contest ends July 15, 2009.

There are four prizes in the Travel & Leisure Weekend Getaway Sweepstakes (also sponsored by CNN & Infinity). The grand prize is a 7 day/ 6 night trip for 2 values at $20,000; three (3) first prize winners receive a 4 day/ 3 night trip for two valued at $5000. Enter daily! Rules are here. Contest ends September 30, 2009.

Travel & Leisure, along with American Express Publishing, is also the sponsor for the $25,000 Dream of a Lifetime Sweepstakes trip to Spain & Venice. Rules are here. Enter as often as you like. Contest ends January 29, 2010.

For more great travel contests visit the Have Kid Will Travel Fun Stuff page!

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Ibiza Convertible Flight Tote by Hayden-Harnett

I love a great bag. And a great travel bag? I'm so there. So when Mom Select sent me this Ibiza Flight Tote last week I was pretty excited.

In the past week I've gone from adoring this bag, to wondering if it would work for me, and back to really, really liking it.



When I first opened the bag I was in awe of its size. It is huge. Which will make it seriously great for travel. Then I touched the leather trim. Soooo soft. As I started to play with the bag I found huge "hidden" pockets- two in the front with those fancy leather pulls and one in the back, all sheltered under that soft leather. Nice.


The bag's interior is roomy with three divided pockets on one side, a deep zippered pocket on the other and a lightly padded section with a snap tab to hold a laptop, magazines or files.

So far so good, right?

Then I filled the bag, like I would for a trip. And I began to have my doubts. First problem: I have a 17" laptop. It fits, but it was a hassle to get it into that pocket. I didn't feel like the long leather strap was really supportive enough to carry that large of a laptop comfortably; if I took it off the shorter shoulder straps were too short for that much weight.

But, I decided to really try the bag before I wrote it off. And, after two days I've come to really appreciate this bag and I can't wait to use it on an actual trip.

Here's what I like:

• I don't actually take a 17" laptop when I travel; I take an Pink Acer Aspire One, 8.9" that weighs 2.2 pounds. I carry it in a wonderful Janine King Laptop Sleeve with the cord and accessories in a matching wristlet. Both items fit very nicely in the pocket.
• The "hidden" pockets are absolutely huge! The single back pocket is the perfect place to keep travel documents safe and organized. It can easily hold a large passport/ ticket folder. And since it is close to your body it's safe.
• The two front pockets are great for those odds and ends that you always end up carrying when you have kids: notebooks, pens, crayons, playing cards, food.
• The three divided pockets on the inside kept my phone, iPod Touch and business cards easily accessible.
• The zippered pocket on the other side is roomy enough for a medium wallet or to keep make-up and toiletries.
• The size of this bag... Wow. It is huge. I could easily fit a one gallon bag with a change of clothes (undergarments, shirt, socks) and a pair of comfy shoes in here. As well as a book or two, a couple of magazines and snacks. And still have room.
• It can be worn over the shoulder or cross body.
  

The only remaining issue I had was with the straps. Luckily Hayden-Harnett has a How to Wear Your Ibiza page. And there I found my answer. If I unhooked the strap from one of the O-rings (which is just gorgeous. I wish there was a good photo of the O-ring somewhere because it is practically art), ran it through the opposite O-ring and hooked both clasps to the same O-ring I had a perfect length, perfect tension strap.

It was almost as if the clouds parted and I could bring myself to love this bag again. OK, that's dramatic, it did feel a little bit that way...

One more great feature of this bag- which truly makes it wonderful for travel with kids or a weekend jaunt... It "downsizes". On the rear of the bag are three snaps and leather loops at the bottom corners. Simply snap, clip those O-rings through the loops and you have a smaller bag. You can put in a few smaller items and have room to expand for souvenir stops and shopping excursions. Or just the weekend farmer's market.

The specs:

The tote is made of a sturdy nylon twill and can be spot cleaned. The leather requires a quality leather cleaner.

The bag measures 19" long x 18" high.

Available in olive (this is the one I have), smoke blue, red, chocolate and violet.

Price $198




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Win a Wisconsin Dells Vacation!

Wisconsin Dells is a huge vacation destination if you live in the Midwest! Some members of my family went last year & loved it. You can read my sister's account of their trip here. I have fond memories of my trip in the late 90's. It's just fun.

If you want to go, wonder what all the hype is about or want to return enter this great Wisconsin Dells Vacation giveaway! It's a $2000 value. One entry per household. Contest ends at 11:59 am July 1, 2009.

For more travel contests visit the Have Kid Will Travel Fun Stuff page!

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Fun Free iPod Touch/iPhone App

I got an iPod Touch a couple of months ago. I love it! Funnily enough I have no music on it. I also don't have any videos or movies. What I do have are some great apps- most of them free!

One of my favorites, which is great for travel (and education) is the USA Factbook Free app by ADS Software Group. You'll find it in the education category.

It includes

• Documents: Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation & the US Constitution
• State information: flag, seal, capital, area, etc.
  
• Maps: regions & roadways, highways, ancestry, territories & more
• Anthem (with lyrics and sound) and flag information
• Major cities
• Presidents: including previous occupations, military service and education
• Quiz: capitals & locations

It's definitely a fun and educational app. Great for keeping older kids occupied while you drive or fly- and educated on your destination!

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Salem, Massachusetts: More Than Witches

Once in a while traveling with kids and off season can keep you from doing the things a town is famous for. Because, when you think Salem, you think witches. It's automatic. Kind of like baseball & hot dogs. So when we ventured north of Boston to Salem I fully expected to be taking in some witchy fun.

In fact, it's difficult to avoid the witches as the Heritage Trail is marked with these lovely ladies. From the Witch Museum to the Witch House, the wax museum to Witch Village, and the multitude of tours it's difficult to escape the witches. Many of these attractions were either closed for the season (which begins in May and ends just after Halloween) or we were warned against taking our daughters in as they would probably become frightened.

This statue, despite it's frightful appearance (and the fact it stands directly outside the Witch Museum) is not actually a witch but is Master Roger Conant, who led the first settlers to Salem in 1626.

Upon settling in Salem, then called Naumkeag which means "the fishing place" in the language of the local Native Americans, the settlers made their living from the sea. Maritime industry expanded and flourished for almost 200 years.

In 1628 Naumkeag was renamed Salem which, ironically, means "place of peace".

We arrived in Salem late in the morning, found a parking spot very near NPS Visitor Center where we grabbed a map and visitor information. The visitor center is filled with information about Salem and the surrounding area and is staffed by the National Park Service. There is a children's area near the rear- they can add thier artwork to the "Fish & Ships" wall. For older kids ask about the Junior Ranger Activity Booklet to earn a badge by following in the footsteps of Elias Hasket Derby and Nathaniel Hawthorne.

We left the visitor's center as the girls began complaining about being hungry. Just across Essex was The Old Spot. We chose to sit in the pub (there is also a dining room) to enjoy our lunch.


I highly recommend the fish & chips; the hamburger the girls shared was perfectly done. My mom got the fish sandwich and was disappointed- it was mostly bun. The desserts were fabulous! The brownie sundae was big enough for the girls and I to share and Doug raved about the spotted dick.

Fully fortified we set out to explore the town. Following the Heritage Trail we passed many witch related sites, restaurants and shops, explored the Common and set out for Salem Harbor.

We stopped at the Maritime National Historic Site where the girls tried dressing as sailors.

We viewed the Friendship of Salem, walked along the wharf and saw both the Customs House and the Derby House, the oldest brick house in Salem.

We did a bit of shopping at Witch Way Gifts (quite a fun shop! We found great gifts and souvenirs)on our way to the House of the Seven Gables.







This was, quite honestly, the highlight of our time in Salem. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable, and we were lead through every nook and cranny of this house; up through a fireplace and into the attic! This tour is a "must do" in my opinion!

Also on this property are the counting house- with play area- and the house where Nathaniel Hawthorne, who wrote The House of the Seven Gables and The Scarlet Letter, was born.

For more on the House of the Seven Gables visit my post at UpTake Attractions.

Back near the center of town you'll find the Old Burying Point Cemetery and the Witch Trials Memorial.

You'll also see the Peabody Essex Museum, one of the largest museums in the nation. This complex will take a day (at least) to explore, separate from Salem. The 200 year old Yin Yu Tang Chinese House looked amazing from the outside and the art museum is ranked as one of the nation's top 10 for children. This is definitely on our "must do" for a future visit.

To the west a few blocks is the McIntire Historic District, a walking trail named for Samuel McIntire who designed some of Salem's most distinctive houses.

Getting to Salem:

Though we didn't get to take it I'm going to recommend the Salem Ferry as a relaxing and enjoyable day trip from Boston. I wish it had been operating while we were there; we took commuter ferries into Boston and enjoyed the smooth, quick ride.

The MBTA commuter rail connects to Salem via Boston's North Station, Newburyport, Rockport and Gloucester.

If you are driving directions can be found here: Salem.org.

Where to Stay:

Because we were staying in Scituate we didn't expereince any of the local lodging. Salem offers hotels, bed & breakfasts, camping and dormitories.

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Win a 3 Day Vacation in Hershey, PA!

Back in 2004 I was in Hershey, PA on business. It is such a nice town; the streets were so clean and the people so friendly!

Unfortunately I didn't get a a chance to visit HersheyPark. What's not to like? Amusement park, water park & chocolate. I've been playing the WeJustGotBack.com scavenger hunt to win a 3 day trip. You can enter once a day through July 15, 2009.

For more travel contest visit Have Kid Will Travel's Fun Page!

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My Favorite Things: Moleskine City Notebooks

I love a good notebook. Though I claim to be a geek of all things "techy" there is really nothing better to me than paper and a pen. So when I found the Moleskine City Notebook for Boston I was enthralled. I now had a great book to note our explorations, thoughts and information from our time in Massachusetts for a future visit and to reference when I write about places we've been.



The city notebooks are small, pocket sized books measuring 5.4 x 3.7 x 0.8 inches and each is customized for the city it features. Bound in basic black, the city is stamped on the spine.

The Boston notebook, for example, has a subway map & station index and 32 pages of zone maps & a street index. Dublin, which I also have, features the DART map & station index and 18 pages of zone maps & a street index. Both also have blank pages (54 and 76 pages, respectively), 96 tabbed pages for city files, 32 detachable sheets for notes and an expandable pocket on the inside back cover. Also included are sticker tabs to name some of those page groups and tracing paper to map directions for your sightseeing (they conveniently stick to the pages).

My Boston book doesn't just contain Boston information, however. I named tabs "South Shore" and "The Cape", for example. In the Dublin book I have tabs set up for other counties in Ireland.

These notebooks are not travel guides, rather a great place to compile your own, ultimate travel guide. I recommend taking notes in this small journal and packing it for your trip instead of carrying around three or four books that each only have a tiny bit of information you want. Plan your vacation before you go, gather information in one place and have it easily accessible. Take notes while you explore: Shops to visit? Restaurants to try? Closest tube station? You won't forget if you write it down.

In addition, this little book is a great way to relive your vacation. You can read your notes, remember what you ate and recall that funny little shop you happened upon. I open mine often, just to remember our adventures.

Moleskine City Notebook is available for 44 cities across the globe. Moleskine City has the complete list as well as basic info, updates and curious facts.

"For every traveller who has any tast of his own, the only useful guidebook will be the one which he himself has written."
~Aldous Huxley

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Plymouth, Massachusetts: History Comes Alive

Even though Plymouth was only half an hour from our rental house in Scituate we waited until our time in Massachusetts was almost at an end before visiting. Mainly because Plimoth Plantation didn't open until the end of March, but more than that, we really wanted some nice, warm weather.

Thankfully the Saturday we chose for our Plymouth outing was amazing- blue skies, sun, warmth. And Sunday promised to be even more beautiful- which was lucky for us as we needed another day to explore what Plymouth had to offer. And we still didn't see everything!

If you want to see both the Mayflower II and Plimoth Plantation (and if you're visiting Plymouth I'm gonna say it's pretty much a given that you want to experience that history) I recommend you buy your tickets from the Jenney Grist Mill. While you won't "technically" save any money on your tickets you will get a tour of the mill for no additional charge. I also suggest scheduling yourself for the Historic Walking Tour- it was the best part of our first day. Just a note: the Jenney Grist Mill only accepts cash for the combo tickets. Visa and Mastercard are accepted for all other tours and merchandise.

Nancy Martin, who with her husband Leo (the miller), cares for the mill, was incredibly helpful when I inquired about scheduling our first day. Her suggestion: Tour the Mayflower first, then head out to the Plantation. Do the grist mill at the end of the day, followed by the walking tour.

Getting Around Plymouth

Plymouth's downtown area is walkable and parking is plentiful, though most of it is pay-parking. There are a few free parking areas, one of which is at the Jenney Grist Mill. To get to Plimoth Plantation you will need a car or get in touch with America's Hometown Shuttle to inquire about routes and pricing.

Things to Do

My recommendation for your first stop, ok your second stop after you get your tickets from Jenney Grist Mill, is the visitor center on the corner of Water Street & Memorial Drive. Pick up the great (free) visitor's information: the Plymouth Guide, the Pilgrim's Path & Town Square "Walk Through History" brochures from VisitPlymouth.com and the Best of Plymouth map with a close-up of the downtown area on it.

From the visitor center it is an easy walk to the Mayflower II.

The Mayflower II is a recreation of the original Mayflower, a late 16th century merchant ship. You can explore the decks and chat with costumed staff members about what the journey would have been like. Off the ship are exhibits with information about both the Mayflower and the Mayflower II (which sailed the Atlantic in 1957). Check out the list of passengers- maybe you'll find a distant ancestor (I did: William Brewster).

Just past the ship, back on dry land, are two rough hewn log buildings which house the gift shop. You will find many of the same items at Plimoth Plantation, although there are some maritime items that we only found here.

Walk a bit farther and you'll find Plymouth Rock, probably the most celebrated sediment in the US.
Plimoth Plantation, a recreation of the original settlement, is a couple miles from the downtown area. If you are a history buff or you enjoy talking to people I suggest planning few hours here. Luckily the combination ticket we purchased allows for entrance into the plantation two consecutive days. We went through quickly on the first day and went back for the entire afternoon the next.

The plantation has 6 areas:
Visitor Center: view the orientation program, grab something to eat in the cafe, visit the gift shops and view the Thanksgiving exhibit.
Wampanoag Homesite: Here you will meet Native People and learn about their history and culture. We spent a lot of time here learning and talking. The staff in this area wear traditional clothing and practice traditional skills. They are not re-creationists, however, but preservationists of their culture. We spent a lot of time here both days we visited talking of life and listening to stories.
Eel River Boardwalk: This is a beautiful way to get from one site to another. Lots of fauna and wildlife.
1627 English Village: The staff here recreate the original colony settlers. You have stepped back to 1627. Look inside the homes, talk with the settlers and learn their life stories as they all represent actual people. Ask in modern language- but be prepared for questions and clarifications: a bathroom hasn't always been called a bathroom!
Crafts Center: We missed this on the first day and spent over an hour here on the second! We all enjoyed watching the artisans at work and listening to them discuss what they were doing and how. There is another gift shop here featuring pottery made on site.



Nye Barn: Learn about the rare breeds of animals that didn't used to be so rare.

Jenney Grist Mill: A recreation of the Jenney Grist Mill built on the site of the original mill (the first mill built in the US; the original mill burnt in 1837.) Learn why the mill was so important to Plymouth, how big a grinding stone is, and why John Jenney built a fish ladder. Talk with Nancy & Leo about the history of the mill and their dreams for the John Jenney house and bakery, located across the Town Brook. And reserve a spot on their Historic Walking Tour. Leo is full of information from past and present. We learned so much from him during our tour (he's got great back-story on "Hollywood East".)



Next to the Jenney House is the Sparrow House, the oldest house in Plymouth. It's a great pottery shop (among other amazing finds).

The National Monument to the Forefathers is well worth seeing. It sits away from everything else but signs will lead you to it.


If you get your fill of history there's lots of shopping. Souvenir shops line Water Street; head up to Court Street for eclectic shops.

At the end of Water Street, past the free parking, is Nelson Street Memorial Playground. Picnik areas, great equipment and a sandy beach for walking. Nothing better on a nice day.


Eating in Plymouth

Isaac's on the Waterfront was elegant without being imposing. Our daughters were welcomed and the food was quite good. Salads, seafood (of course), sandwiches and specialty burgers. $10-$15 entrees.

New Tokyo is located at the edge of Plymouth just off Hwy 3. We drove down a couple of times. Go for the Hibachi. The traditional Chinese food was a let down a couple weeks later. Kids eat free Wed-Fri. Expect to spend $25 per person, not including drinks.



The British Beer Company has a location downtown. We ate at a BBC in Pembroke. Fun atmosphere, good food.

For a picnic in the park visit Tedeschi, in the heart of downtown. Huge deli sandwiches, made to order.

Skip the Ming Dynasty near the waterfront. The food wasn't very good, the service was terrible and the prices were high for the quality.

Summary

Plymouth was one of those places we would have liked to spend more time. No matter how much we saw it left us wanting to experience more.

Because the house we rented was so close by we didn't stay in a hotel here. There are plenty of lodging options: hotels, B&Bs, camping and home rentals. (If you're renting a house though, I suggest Ocean Perch.)

I have many more pictures on my Flickr page...

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