TripLearning

Battleship New Jersey In January we purchased a membership to a local museum ( Havre de Grace Decoy Museum ) because I knew we could get the NARM reciprocal benefits . Many museums are connected to various groups like NARM or ASTC and then members are able to use their membership at one museum to get into other museums. This is how our family is able to visit lots of locations affordably. To help you see the benefits of such a membership, here is where we have gone so far and how much it would have cost: Havre de Grace Decoy Museum ($12) Delaware Museum of Natural History ($36) Battleship New Jersey ($65) Penn Museum ($44) Hagley Museum ($27) Eastern State Penitentiary ($32) These visits would have cost $216 and I didn't even take the whole family on these outings. The Association Membership at the decoy museum cost $100. We still have almost 11 months left to use this membership and have already saved over $100. I also like being able to support a local ...

Do you like art museums? Are you intimidated by the idea of taking your kids to an art museum? Don't be. Art museums are for all ages and there are many art museums that are free, have free days, or pay-what-you-wish times. Many have a wide variety of art, so you may find pieces you love and pieces you detest in the same building. That's part of the fun! Pick your favorites and least favorites. Baltimore area residents:      We have 2 amazing art museums in Baltimore that are free!       The Walters Art Museum has a wonderful collection of ancient art, as well as European, Renaissance, Asian, and more. If you have kids that find ancient Egypt interesting, they will enjoy this museum. It has a variety of rooms and displays, so explore the various floors. They even have magnifying glasses for kids to use in some of the rooms to look at jewelry and smaller items. Walters Art Museum- Special Faberge exhibit on 1st floor       B...

In case you haven't heard of WOW air yet, I want to let you in on the secret. If you have always dreamed of flying to Europe, but haven't been able to justify the cost of a plane ticket, this might be your chance. WOW air is a discount airline similar to Southwest, Spirit, or Frontier. You have the ticket cost and then you have to pay for everything else as add-ons, from luggage to seat assignments to food. This way you can have more control over your ticket price and not pay for things you don't need. WOW air has its hub in Reykjavik, Iceland and flies to several places in Europe, the U.S., Canada, and Israel. Right now, they are also running a special spring deal of 25% off (see below for code). I heard about WOW air from a friend who used it to fly to Germany from BWI and her family was very pleased with the price and planes. My husband and I have been wanting to do something for our 20th wedding anniversary, so I was able to get round trip tickets for us to fly...

We love books, so listening to books and stories has been a great pastime at home and on trips.  Before our firstborn was old enough to read, he would listen to audiobooks during his daily quiet time.  Here are some great resources for listening to stories that will entertain and stimulate the imagination.      Libraries - Most libraries have online access to Overdrive where you can check out audiobooks, ebooks and even stream movies.   Storynory   - This is a site full of stories you can listen to online or easily download to a mp3 player, tablet or smartphone. Audible.com - This is a huge resource for audiobooks.  You can try it for free before subscribing. Adventures in Odyssey - Focus on the Family has been recording these stories for years and continue to make new CDs. The Pond - These are stories for children that my husband even enjoys because of the humor. Amazon - You can buy CDs, mp3s and download ...

Playing games is a great way to pass the time on a long trip.  Here are some ideas for fun, easy games to play that don't require the use of any electronic devices. 1.  Alphabet Naming Game   This is an easy activity that my kids often do on their own and I have tried it out on other kids and adults as well with good responses.  It's really simple and requires NO supplies.  First, pick a category.  A few examples:  animals, super heroes, movies, TV shows, fictional characters, song titles and books.  Second, beginning with letter A everyone tries to think of something or someone in the category that starts with the letter A.  The goal is for everyone in the vehicle to come up with a name before we move on to the next letter.  We will help each other, especially the little ones who don't always pick for the right letter.  Third, after each person names something for the letter, we move on to the next letter and work through the ent...

2011 With four children ages 5 to 13, we have traveled thousands of miles over the last 13 years with children in tow.  All of our children have traveled since they were babies and have learned to enjoy the journey, for the most part.  As summer begins and families make plans to go on trips, here are some tips and tricks that have worked for our family.  Feel free to share additional tips in the comment section too! 1.  Pack plenty of snacks and drinks.   Offer small snacks frequently to keep kids from getting grumpy from hunger.  We usually mix in special treats along with healthy fruits and veggies.  We only offer water to drink.  Caffeinated beverages for children or adults can lead to more frequent bathroom breaks. 2.  Plan and bring a variety of activity choices.   As our children get older they are able to help plan and bring items that will keep them occupied.  If your children can read and don't get carsick doing th...