With only 18 summers in a child’s life, it’s very important that you make an effort to plan for something special to capture those childhood memories with your kids and if possible extended family.

Have you ever considered a vacation with your extended family?

I personally recommend planning for a summer vacation getaway with your children and children’s grandparents. Planning it at the end of the summer somehow seems to make summer feel longer. It’s also a special way to end the summer making memories before the business of the school year starts.

For our family, it’s our way of pressing pause and really enjoying moments with our children and with our parents.

Disclosure: Wyndham provided us with a complimentary vacation condo during our stay. I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. All opinions expressed are my own and my family’s.

Planning a Trip with Extended Family

We planned a multi-generation stay in Orlando with grandparents who are visiting us from India.
This summer trip we were invited as guests at the WyndhamBonnet Creek Resort in Orlando. Here’s a sneak peek of our stay at this gorgeous resort along with some tips we’ve learned after traveling with our whole family for many years.

These tips can help you plan your next adventure with your extended family to your favorite destination.

As you begin to plan for your family vacation getaway it’s always best to get together and find a system that works for everyone. Here are a few online tools that we use as a family with my parents, my husband’s parents, our siblings and their families, and even close friends when we plan vacations with a large group.

We’ve planned quite a few trips with kids that include family members and I’d like to share some tips that work best while planning. It takes a little time and finesse to plan all your fun vacation activities.

Pick a Destination

This is probably the hardest task of them all!

As a family, we keep an ongoing list with our extended family of places we’d like to explore.
We each try to find budget-friendly deals at those locations when possible. We’ve traveled to the beach, mountains, and even a cruise together with multi-generations but pretty much any location can work.

We have a Pinterest Board filled with Places to Travel if you’re looking for inspiration. This summer we wanted to be in Orlando with a variety of options to choose from.

{Click here} for my post about places to Visit in Orlando.

Find a Destination to Accommodate a Large Group

As you are choosing a vacation destination I recommend looking for a location that can hold a large group with multiple rooms. Booking a large space at times can be more budget-friendly too.

We all need space at times during the extended trip, especially when you have little ones who need naps too so having separate sleep areas can help. Be sure that it provides a full kitchen. With a large group on vacation, you can save a lot of money making meals at home together. Many larger places require a week’s stay so keep that in mind while you are searching.

We planned our trip at Wyndham Bonnet Creek in Orlando at the end of summer because of the choice of having 1, 2, or 3 bedrooms with your vacation condo. The condo had a large common area for all of use to spend time together and at the same time also had the ability for us to each get ready in our own areas and for the kids to have some playtime together too. 

The full size kitchen and eating area was a helpful feature so that everyone could sit down to eat together at mealtime. There’s something very special about having all of your family eating meals together for a period of time that helps to build connections and memories.

One thing to keep in mind as you schedule is to give your family time to just enjoy the space that you’ve booked for the week. Many facilities have great amenities to keep your family entertained. Our resort, Wyndham Bonnet Creek, had far more amenities than we could ever have anticipated. Plus they have a daily activities calendar too. We enjoyed discovering all of the features together each day. 

They had 5 pools, splash park, 2 lazy rivers, private cabanas, hot tubs, kids’ playground, volleyball court, ping-pong tables, pool tables, walking path, fitness center, game rooms, picnic area with grills, kids craft center, and much more! We packed a few family games that we knew everyone loves to play too for back in the room too when we need downtime to refresh.

Honestly the lazy river, near our condo in Tower 5, attracted our family the most and we spent several hours there floating around the pool in our tubes. I loved that there were grandchildren, grandparents, aunts, uncles and parents all doing the same thing with smiles, laughter and relaxation.

We floated and swam around it as we enjoyed the castle features and cannons that splashed us. We packed a snack and drinks in our cooler so that we could stay there a bit longer. A few of the pools even had water slides, one even looked like a pirate ship!

One of the highlights of our trip at Bonnet Creek was each night to be in our room on the balcony when it was time for Disney’s Fireworks. Since the resort is on Disney property you are so close! From our balcony all of us joined together to watch them at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. They were gorgeous reflecting over the water.

Create a Vacation Board on Pinterest

• Research Local Attractions together as a whole family and add pin ideas onto a shared Pinterest Board.
• We usually make our secret board so no one needs to see what we’re planning outside of our family.
• Plus then we can type below in the comment section opinions about things and why they are ideal.
• You could even add the price of the venues on the pin description so you can budget accordingly.
• We make ours a Place Board so we can also highlight where the locations are that we are pinning. Makes it so easy to find when you are at your destination.

One tip is to start with a hotel’s feature page. Many Hotels have already done the search for you on what’s close by. Many hotels and visitors bureaus have also started creating their own Pinterest Boards too.

Ideas for Things to do in Orlando

We did spend quite a few days at Bonnet Creek Resort however since we were there for a whole week we also had days to go on adventures together in the mornings or afternoons. We spent time at Downtown Disney Area near the Resort. Then we drove up to International Drive to explore the new Sea Life and the Orlando Eye.

We also drove over to the Florida Mall to go to the new Crayola Experience. No trip to Orlando is complete without a beach trip so we drove up to the Central Florida Zoo on our way to Daytona Beach. It was so much fun exploring these locations together as a whole family. 

Plus we had our good friends who are local join the fun a few times too! The more the merrier!

Of course, with the resort on Disney property, we could have easily spent time visiting the Disney amusement parks.

We’re saving that for our next time visit this fall when it’s a bit cooler. Here’s our Planning for Disney Pinterest Board we can’t wait!

Perhaps a quick trip to SeaWorld too, we loved it last holiday season.

Create a Google Calendar-

One way that we’ve found to be effective is to use a Google Calendar to schedule out our days. Once you add multiple people to an experience it’s helpful to be sure everyone in on the same page and has felt that their interests are being expressed.

You could even add in a link from your Pinterest board pin to be sure everyone knows what’s planned.

Communicate on a Google Document or Facebook Group–

Find one method that works for your family to discuss the trip. We’ve done both ways and either way using a Google document or a Facebook group with files works well. It’s a way that no matter where you log in, you can view it and add to it when needed. It also keeps an Audit track of who added what notes.

Share Responsibilities with Everyone–

We took turns being the person who does various roles such as cooking dinner. It’s a vacation and trust me it takes a little bit of work with so many people in one spot to be sure one person doesn’t feel that they need to take care of the whole family. The kids really get into helping when they know what’s expected of them too. 

We hung the task list up on the fridge so everyone could remember what they committed to. Having so many family members in one space it’s important to keep things organized.

Create a Vacation Meal Plan Together-

We all have our own little things that we enjoy eating so take time before the trip to plan out what needs to be added to the grocery list. My suggestion is to only send one person or two to the store to grab all the items on the list.
It can be overwhelming if everyone joins the shopping adventure.

Take a peek at the area you are visiting and find a few select restaurants that you want to save as special experiences together. With larger groups see if they take reservations so that your family isn’t having to wait for long periods of time for a table. Bring something for ALL the kids to do so that they are entertained. Bigger tables tend to take a little bit longer for service, especially when all the grown-ups are having fun talking.

Discover Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort

Our vacation at Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort had a variety of options to keep our family entertained and make lifelong memories together. The property was well maintained with active and friendly staff. The landscaping surrounding the entire property made you feel like you were in a tropical paradise. Our condo itself was beautifully furnished with everything you need for your family to live there for a week but still make it feel like a special experience in an upscale family friendly space.

The Vij Family Review

Our family had an amazing vacation at the resort that we will never forget. I’ve already asked my parents to look at their calendars to see when we can book a trip with them and the kids to return. The kids’ favorite was the lazy river feature. The view from our room in Tower 5 on the 10th floor made our experience extra special each morning and night.

Grandparents Review

Our favorite was the fireworks each night with our grandchildren and the evening walks around the beautiful lake.
Being able to spend time together as a family was priceless.

Aunt and Uncle’s Review

It was such a fun trip for our extended family to stay together and enjoy quality family time at Wyndham Resort. Kids enjoyed the lazy river with cousins and activities offered by the resort. Watching fireworks from the balcony was one of the memories that will stay with us forever. We can’t wait to plan our family reunion again there.

We hope you find these tips helpful as you plan your next vacation getaway with extended family. With the convenience of online tools, you’ll be set for success and able to spend quality time with your whole family making memories that last a lifetime.

Have a tip for vacationing with extended family? Please tell us below in the comment section.

Thank you Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort

Thank you to our new friends at Club Wyndham for inviting us to be their guests for the week. Club Wyndham is a leader in providing world-class vacation ownership experiences, with more than 75 resorts found in America’s most popular destinations.

Be sure to follow them on Facebook,Twitter,Instagram,Pinterest and visit their siteto check out how you can book your next trip

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Here is one activity that keeps my 2 youngest, ages 2 and 5, happy and busy for at least 15 minutes.

DIY Travel Busy Bag for Writing Practice

Affiliate links included.

Materials Needed:

• Multipurpose Paper
• Construction Paper
• Heavy Duty Quart Freezer Bags
• Stapler
• Permanent Marker
• Low-Odor Dry Erase Marker

How to Make the Writing Practice Travel Busy Bag

1. Cut your multipurpose paper to fit inside your plastic bag.

2. Write letters, words, patterns, or shapes on the paper.

3. Stuff the paper inside the bag. 

4. Assemble a set of filled bags together with the tops facing up. Include 1-3 bags with the tops facing
down. These bags will hold your marker and eraser. The kids also like to make their own tracing sheets, so they can slide theirs into the bags that can open.  Staple one time to hold. 

5. Place the set of bags inside 2 pieces of construction paper. Staple shut at the top.

6. Cut the cover to look like a bag if you want or leave it rectangular.

How to Use the Writing Practice Travel Busy Bag

1. Sit down with your child and talk to them about the letters and the words.
2. Encourage them to trace, making sure to start at the top and using downward strokes.
3. When they are done, have them erase with a damp sock or white board eraser.

*** all baggies will work, but the heavy duty freezer bags tend to hold up better to erasing.

My 5 year old traced the letters and said them.
My 2 year old was excited to trace the circles.

Here are a few tips for the secrets to surviving a long flights with kids.

Busy Bags for Little Travelers

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:

Engineering Kits: Kids’ Travel Sized Stacking Cups // Lemon Lime Adventures

This activity is great for helping kids to hone in on their problem solving and building skills. Keep this activity kit in the back of your car for on-the-go engineering.

Colouring Page Airplane Scavenger Hunt // Mama.Papa.Bubba.

Print this scavenger hunt out if you are headed on an airplane trip this summer with your littles. Play this activity to encourage your little traveler to use their observation skills and record what they see.

My Busy Book for Travel // Powerful Mothering

Are we there yet? My oldest child likes to write, so having a notebook filled with little activities is the perfect way to keep her entertained and learning!

Tic Tac Toe Busy Bag // The Pleasantest Thing

Games are the perfect way to pass the time while you are waiting for your airplane to arrive. Try this updated version of the classic tic-tac-toe.

Color Road Sign Match Up Activity // Mommy Needs a Coffee Break

This busy bag is the perfect combination of math and fine motor skills.  Make sure to talk about colors and shapes. Introduce the concepts of sides and vertices too! It is amazing what little kids can learn.

Printable Road Trip Games for Kids // Lalymom

Print this packet of games, hole punch, and throw them in a 3 ring binder for easy traveling. Don’t forget to include a page of stickers in too. Encourage your child to give themselves a sticker after they complete each activity.

Free Airport Scavenger Hunt // Playdough to Plato

We always talk about expectations for behavior while at the airport. Print this sheet out before your trip and use some of the pictures to guide your discussion. Then, while you are in the airport, color in the items that you see.

Little Red Riding Hood Finger Puppets // Easy Peasy and Fun

Finger puppets are one of my go-to travel activities. They lend well to open ended play and my kids will spend at least 30 minutes creating their own stories. Print and make this set of finger puppets for a classic story-telling busy bag. Include a notebook in this busy bag for older kids to write their own spin on the story.

DIY White Board Busy Bag for Kids // Sugar Aunts

Practice building and writing words with this cute travel size white board busy bag.

Magnetic Buttons Busy Bag // Teach Me Mommy

Don’t worry about loosing your buttons on the floor of the plane (Oh, I have lost so many things on airplane floors including plastic dinosaurs). These ones have magnets on them. A great travel activity to do while you are sitting next to your child. Make sure to store the magnets out of the reach of little ones.

Transportation Memory Game // Itsy Bitsy Fun

There are many ways to get from place to place. Play a game of travel memory to pass the time while traveling with a preschooler.

You may also enjoy these activities for kids…

SeaWorld Christmas Celebration

This past weekend we were invited by SeaWorld as media to attend their Christmas Celebration in Orlando, FL. It was so much fun to wake up the girls with a big SURPRISE we’re going to SeaWorld today!  For many years our family has enjoyed scheduling a trip to spend the day and night there. Starting in late November, the entire park is transformed into a Holiday Wonderland. 

For us with our busy schedules, this visit helps to create special holiday memories together for our family with so many moments that are unforgettable.  

SeaWorld Christmas Celebration is available Nov 28 to Jan 2, so you still have time to go!

As you enter SeaWorld you first start with the HUGE Christmas tree that welcomes you as you enter Seaworld.  Shamu is often there with his Santa hat, so plan to stop for a photo opportunity. We even grabbed our Santa hats at home to bring with us this trip to make it even more special for the kids.

The decorations as you arrive make you feel like you’ve stepped into a Christmas story. Be sure to give yourself time for photos during your trip as there are lots of photo opportunities.  We’re sharing tons with you in this post, I couldn’t choose just a few it’s that much fun!

My biggest tip for planning out your SeaWorld Christmas Celebration trip is to look online ahead of time at the schedule and decide what you want to see and do as a family. During the holidays this transformation at SeaWorld allows you additional opportunities for your family to enjoy so plan accordingly. At an additional cost SeaWorld provides a Christmas Family Fun Tour, Santa’s Fireside Feast  & Christmas Show Seating.

We like to arrive early when the park opens so we can also see all the Sea Life at Seaworld and still have time for the special evening events. Right now my daughters’ favorites exhibits are the Penguin Encounter and the Aquariums under the Manta Roller Coaster.

Here are our top 10 Favorites at Sea World During the Christmas Celebration! 

Top 10 Ways to Celebrate the Holidays with SeaWorld 

The Polar Express Experience 

First things first we headed to see a very special visitor at SeaWorld.  We had the chance to become a part of the story Polar Express, trains as all! We watched a video as we journeyed to the Wild Artic to discover the North Pole and scenes from the movie including a very large Christmas tree and SANTA himself along with his sleigh!  

Love the special touch as you leave with the ticket with the words BELIEVE.  It’s quite magical with your child to experience.    

Shamu’s Happy Harbor Rides 

Then we headed to the children’s section of called Shamu’s Happy Harbor. We were surprised that our 4 year old was tall enough now to ride all the rides at 42 inches. There was hardly anyone in line so she had a blast with her big sister and Mommy and Daddy riding them for the first time. As we were riding the rides drummer boys walked by with elves playing the drums!

Plus as we left we had a photo opportunity with Santa Shamu and Mrs. Clause Dolphin.     

Elmo’s Christmas Wish 

Next up on our list was to visit Elmo and his friends to see what Elmo’s Christmas wish was.  With bubbles and snow and Holiday music and dancing this show was a big hit with my two girls who are 4 and 8.  

O Wondrous Night 

This was a special show for our family, we had not yet seen O Wondrous Night in previous years.  The lines at times can be long for this show, so be prepared to arrive early for a spot for your family. Through 30 songs seamlessly put together the angels sing the story of Christmas. There are adorable puppets that each tell their side of the night Jesus was born, it’s a creative way to keep the kids entertained and parents too.

The end is really moving with a true living nativity including camels, goats, sheep, an alpaca, a zebu and a flock of white doves. The audience at the end gave a standing ovation, which I hear happens at just about every show.

Winter Wonderland on Ice 

Ice skating outdoors in Florida? Yes it happens at the SeaWorld Christmas Celebration and I’m in love!  The combination of songs and costume changes makes it such a special experience to watch. The talented team of skaters take your breath away and help you find your holiday spirit.

The surprise element is the water fountains with lights and sea of trees behind the performers that are choreographed to the music.  Simply breathtaking.  

Shamu Christmas Miracles 

The last show that we went to was to see the Orca whales performing to Holiday Music.  It focuses on the everyday miracles that surround us in our lives. The big surprise for me is the way the utilize the water fountains to light up with the music making it a light and water show along with the whales, musicians and trainers.

Sea of Trees 

Day or night the Sea of Trees puts you in the holiday spirit. The entire waterfront is covered with over 100 Christmas trees that dance with lights to the holiday music. The first show that they start it’s fun to stand on the bridge and be surrounded by the light and music show. <

Holiday Reflections: Fireworks and Fountain Finale 

Even though it’s a bit later in the night for little kids after sunset, it’s a must see for the holiday season.  SeaWorld celebrates the holiday season with soaring fountains, dazzling tree lights, and festive fireworks, choreographed to joyous holiday musical favorites.

Our favorite spot to watch is fireside near the waterfront.  There are a few vendors there too with hot chocolate and holiday treats for the kids.  Plus it’s close to the exit of SeaWorld to save a little bit of time as you leave.  

Snow Flurries at SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration

The best part is as you leave it’s snowing!  Yes at least it’s the one place in Florida I know it will snow for my kids to experience for just a little bit and imagine what it’s like to have a white Christmas.  

Enjoy a Special Trip during the Holiday Season with your Family {Take LOTS of photos}

This experience was one that my family will remember for many years to come.  We had so much fun spending the day together allowing the Christmas spirit into our hearts.  We enjoyed listening and singing to Christmas songs, the beautiful Christmas decorations and characters dressed up like Santa Clause.  

For us the memories of our trips will be one special gift to our family for Christmas.   

Ticket Information about #SeaWorldChristmas Celebration

SeaWorld’s holiday shows are included in regular park admission. One-day tickets are $95 ($90 for ages 3-9). The park is offering one free child’s admission with each paid adult. That offer runs through Dec. 31.  In addition they have special holiday seating available to help ensure you’re able to see all the shows up close that your family wants to see.

Disclosure: SeaWorld provided us with 4 media tickets for our family to experience and share about their Christmas Celebration. All opinions expressed are my own from years of enjoying this special event with my family. #seaworldchristmas

One special beach that we enjoy the most is St. Augustine Beach.  We excited to discover that KOA was located there just 3/4 mile from the beach.

We decided to discover “What’s Behind the Yellow Sign” and book our first stay at KOA Kampgrounds.

This is a sponsored post by KOA Kampground and Trekaroo, all opinions expressed are my own. 

Learning about History at Florida Beaches

Florida is packed full with history with its beaches up and down the coast line and one of the most famous places is St. Augustine Florida, the oldest city in the United States of America. In fact they are getting ready to celebrate their 450th Anniversary.

We took our family to St. Augustine for two nights to enjoy the KOA campground and explore the city in way that we’ve never done before. Typically we’ve always done day trips there from where we live. While researching our family adventure about the campground I was impressed that they have so many resources available on their website.  

KOA even sent us a reminder as we were getting ready for the trip with things to pack and how to prepare for camping. I can imagine as a first time camper, like our family, this is quite helpful as well as the app that they’ve created for campers.

Read my review on Trekaroo

Learning About History While Camping at St. Augustine Beach

The #1 spot to start your Adventure into History is the St. Augustine Fort called Castillo de San Marcos .

Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry fort in the continental U.S. Originally constructed by the Spanish between 1672 – 1695 with major modifications from 1738 – 1756. Later, the British, Spanish and Americans all made changes to the Castillo before it was finally retired as an active fortification in 1900. 

There are more areas in St. Augustine as well that we plan to visit on our next trip there they are Fort Mantanzas National Monument and Fort Mose Historic State Park .

One of the easiest ways to get our town is to either park at the Visitors Center Parking Garage or spent a little and enjoy the Old Town Trolley Tours. 

Thanks to the Florida Historic Coast we were provided complimentary media passes to use the tour bus and visit the main attractions in St. Augustine to share with you. The KOA General store even sold tickets for the Old Town Trolley.

St. Augustine Tourist Attractions

Here are some of our favorite places we to visited in St. Augustine to learn about US history. There are so many to choose from!

• St. Augustine Old Jail
• Old Store Experience Museum
• St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum
• Oldest Wooden School House
• Colonial Quarter
• Lightner Museum
• Flagler College
• Ponce de Leon Fountain of Youth Archeological Park
• St. Augustine Lighthouse Museum

Look for a feature next week of St. Augustine with details on each location we visited!

St. Augustine Beach KOA Kampground

The deluxe cabin has a deck looking over onto the lake. The lake it is filled with wildlife including some turtles, fish, ducks and cranes. We took a few walks around the fishpond and observed so many different kids of birds.

There were even paddle boats available to rent. The kids enjoyed observing the turtles the most while we were there. In fact of all the things we did that was their favorite.

Here are some additional tips for camping with kids.

The deck itself was it’s own escape for the adults with a gas barbecue and table and chairs with an umbrella to make picnicking fun.

My only wish was that we booked our trip in the cooler months to enjoy the fire pit, makes me want to return again in the winter in Florida because it would be amazing with the kids to do Smore’s out by the fire.

I must confess the Deluxe cabin was so comfortable with it’s air conditioning inside. My husband and my two children were a perfect fit in this deluxe cabin two-bedroom cabin was a perfect fit.  

It was helpful having the kitchenette there with mini refrigerator and cabinets filled with plates, cups and utensils for our meals.

Staying Overnight in St. Augustine Beach

Having the campground so close to things to do in the city of St. Augustine Beach made it so convenient.  We were able to catch two sunrises while we were there.  I wish my girls both road bikes well and we would have just biked our way to the beach from the KOA campground.  This is one of my favorite times at the beach with my girls. 

Celebrating the day as it arrives and collecting the sea shells left out from the nightly low tide.  Then we would head back to the cabin for breakfast, a quick swim in the pool and get ready for our day in the city of St. Augustine. What a fun way to start each day of vacation.

When you’re visiting the oldest city in the United States of America there is quite a few things to choose from. it was so cute to see my girls take their map from St. Augustine’s Visitor’s Bureau and decide what they wanted to do. Here’s a list of all the Attractions in St. Augustine.

Planning Out “Kid Time” When Exploring History

We spent two days of seeing as much as we could learn about in St. Augustine and when you have siblings are varying ages they don’t all understand on the same level the places you are exploring. One thing we’ve learned is to plan a kid-focused activity to end the day. 

The first day we went on an adventure on the water with the St. Augustine Scenic Cruise . It was a great way to sit back and relax on a boat, enjoy the sunset and get a view of the Lion Bridge, The Fort and the Lighthouse. We even were able to watch a group of dolphins swimming along with us. 

I can only imagine the stories on the waterways from all these years of travelers, including the pirates. Then we headed back to the cabin for a BBQ on our deck.

The second day we planned a trip to the beach at the of our day. After raising kids for many years, I have to admit this is our favorite time to take a family to the beach. The sun isn’t quite as strong and it’s behind you on the east coast.

It was fun to watch the kids explore the low tide and even catch a few tiny fish. A perfect way to end our adventure in St. Augustine.

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“Eat. Walk. Be Merry.” How can you not love a company who have that as their motto.

We received complimentary tickets from Chicago Food Planet to share about our experience on the tour with our readers. We accepted the invitation and shared on my instagram account at each stop while we were on the food tour. All opinions expressed are my own… ok confession well maybe my husband’s too.

Chicago Food Tour

Chicago Food Planet offers four different types of tours as you explore Chicago. Even on our trip to Chinatown in Chicago I was able to peek at their tour there and see what they’d recommend. Plus a little tweet out and they responded back with a link which was super helpful.

Here’s a peek at our experience on the Gold Coast and Old Town Tour.

We first met in the Gold Coast Area of Chicago, the homes in this area are so pretty and the spring flowers made everything so happy and cheerful. We met with our group at Lou Malnati’s home of the deep dish Chicago style pizza.

One of my favorite features on the food tour was the history and details the guide is able to share with you about the location and food you’re sampling. The pizza to be honest was hard to resist eating just one slice, it was so delicious but we had to save room for the rest of tour. We did work our way back there on another day to enjoy our very own deep dish pizza in Chicago.

One nice thing is that the tour book includes coupons as well.

Then we walked over to Tee Gschwendner for some raspberry mango green tea and a little background information about the types of tea.; I was amazed at the variety of loose teas they had available.  It was the perfect time for the tea as we had a little walk ahead of us to Old Town Chicago.

Next up was Kamehachi which is the first sushi restaurant in Chicago. We sampled their sushi and saki in the upstairs area which had beautiful Japanese interior design influence. Our guide Angela was such a treat to listen to at each stop as she explained in detail this history of the restaurants in Chicago.

Across the street we ventured over to The Fudge Pot with a little back scene tour of their shoppe and some history about chocolate.  We enjoyed our chocolate covered butter toffee, wish we would have stopped to bring some home to our girls or perhaps a molded chocolate, they had so many choices to choose from.

When I met my husband I was exposed to so many new spices with Indian food but those were nothing to our next stop at the world famous The Spice  House. We ventured to a gorgeous outdoor area in the back and explored a variety of cinnamon and a few other spices.

Our final destination was a big win in my books with Europeans pastries at the Delightful Pastries. The was the first time I had tried a pierogi, so delicious! Plus the macarons where so moist and popping with color and flavor.

My husband and I had such an amazing time together on this 1.3 Mile trip to explore 7 Chicago hot spots for food. Once we finished up we continued north to do a bit more sightseeing in Lincoln Park including the Lincoln Park Zoo and Chicago History Museum. I must admit walking the streets of the town in Gold Coast and Old Town was such fun appreciating the architecture and local businesses in Chicago.

Although it was just my husband and I on this trip, I can imagine how much fun our kids would have had on this food tour with Chicago Food Planet. Food Tours can be a useful tool for exposing your child to new foods and location in a fun environment. One of the teenagers on our tour tried sushi for the first time and found out she liked it. We look forward to bringing our kids with us the next time we go on a Food Tour while traveling. It’s the best way to explore a city, through their tummies.

Have you ever gone on a food tour? Where? Share your experience in the comments below.

Thank you Chicago Food Planet Tours!

Click here to read more about Things to DO in CHICAGO

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I am amazed at how many fun things there are to do in Chicago with kids.

Disclosure: I received 2 complimentary passes from Smart Destinations for this review and have included my affiliate link for you. 

Chicago Attractions to See

Visiting cities for the first time can be overwhelming at times, especially when you live in a smaller town like we do. Then add to the mix traveling with kids and it gets a little more complicated.

One tip I suggest it to check out the Go City Chicago Pass in the region you’re traveling to and see the top place they make as options to a pass.

What is a GoCityCard

They’ve basically hand picked the top spots so that you can go their with a discount. We selected Go City Chicago All-Inclusive Pass to maximize the spots we could visit while in Chicago on our first trip there. It’s an all inclusive pass that gives you a ticket to all of their featured locations to choose from.

Chicago’s pass included 25 different locations plus discounts to quite a few more.

Purchase All-Inclusive Pass: Go Chicago Card

Attractions to Visit in Chicago

Here are the tourists attractions that are included with the Go City Card in Chicago.

• SkyDeck Chicago
• 360 CHICAGO
• Art Institute of Chicago
• Shedd Aquarium
• Adler Planetarium
• The Field Museum
• Museum of Contemporary Art
• Museum of Science and Industry
• Chicago Architecture Foundation
• Chicago Children’s Museum
• Navy Pier Ferris Wheel and Rides
• LEGOLAND Discovery Center
• Brookfield Zoo
• Chicago Theatre Tour
• Chicago History Museum
• Robie House
• Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio Tour  
• Lincoln Park Zoo offers

Go City Chicago Pass: Save up to 55% on 25+ Chicago Attractions, Museums, and Tours for one Low Price!

Transportation Options Included on your Go City Pass too

• Hop-on/off Trolley: 2-day pass
• Architecture River Cruise
• Classic Lake Tour
• Tall Ship WINDY
• Panoramic and Scenic North Side Tour
• Grand Tour
• Historic Chicago South Shore Tour

So many things to choose from as you select which package to get from Go City Pass. We used a 2 Day pass and were able to complete quite a few from the list. Let me show you where to start as you decide what locations are right for you and your family.

Selecting Places to Visit in Chicago

We went the kid-friendly route so that we could share with you where to maximize your time as you visit Chicago with your family. As we choose where to go we also kept in mind the ease of getting their and maximizing your time with your pass.

The south side of downtown by Lake Michigan has the Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium and The Field Museum plus an incredible view of the city of Chicago. We started here and used their parking lot.

I wish we would have taken one of the blue bikes for rent in town once we were done so we head to the Navy Pier the route looked so beautiful as we drove past it and they are pretty close to each other.

We decided to park the car there at the Navy Pier and take the Architecture River Cruise which was probably our favorite out of the whole trip. The guide discusses all of the buildings as you stroll past them on the river.  Plus a little history about the river itself. 

So much fun if you only do one thing in Chicago I’d recommend this tour.

Once we returned we took a peek at the Children’s Museum which was simply amazing. A perfect spot for you to allow the kids to just be kids and explore and discover for a bit. There are several rooms there for your child to choose from to play in.

We finished up with dinner at the Navy Pier and a fun ride on the Ferris Wheel.  We also walked down to the end of the Pier for a peek at the view of Lake Michigan and of the city at Sunset, quite a view!

Don’t miss the water fountains indoors too, the kids will love those. 

We started our second day with the GrayLine double-decker bus tour so that we didn’t have to wait as long in the lines for the Skydeck Chicago and 360 Chicago. The nice part about the Go City Pass is that you get to skip the line as many locations to the fast pass line. 

If you grab your tickets for the Hop On Hop Off Tour bus ahead of time at Palmer House you can also jump onto that bus tour once you’re ready to move on from this location. That way you can hop around the city listening to the history about it and take in the sites plus you can finish and enjoy the things at Millennium Park once the last bus makes it run at 4:45.

We enjoyed the guided tour around the city as we jumped on the bus from Millennium Park and took it to 360 Chicago and also walked around the Historic Water Towers and grabbed a little chocolate treat from Ghirardelli’s and Hersey’s. My daughter wanted to be sure we saw the American Girl Doll Store as well.

Then we hopped back onto the bus to head to the Skydeck Chicago at the Willis Building (aka Sears Tower) The bus took us through Magnificent Mile on Michigan street and down beside the river past and even past the Chicago Theatre, it was quite a fun ride as well. One of our tour guides Frank even played a few famous Chicago songs to add to the experience.

A must-stop on your tour of Downtown Chicago is a walk to Grant Park to see the Buckingham Fountain and other statues at the park. Plus head over to Millennium Park to see the Cloud Gate, BP Steel Bridge, and new children’s park Maggie Daley Park from this area.

These areas are all free of cost but I must mention that The Art Institute for Chicago is there as well which most of the locals told us is a must for your list. It’s included on your go city pass.

We found off 9th Street there were a few parking garages that were much less in cost and not too far of a walk if you’re just visiting this area.

Choose How to Get Around Chicago

One thing you need to know about Chicago is that parking can be quite expensive and at times hard to find. We found that if we found zones where we were going to visit we could have a few parking spots where we could leave the call all day and know it would be a budget friendly choice.

There are a few zones where you can find quite a few attractions which work out well too. The metro can be another option to get around town or the buses. Each local we chatted with mentioned how great the public transportation is there. Plus there are always taxi’s or uber available if needed.

Here’s my driving in the city of Chicago. (Click here)
Looking for a Food Tour in Chicago (Click here

My husband and I were able to cover to many places using our GoCity Pass. We would never have been able to see all of the choice with a 2 day pass but they do have 3 day or 5 day too. I love that you can pick and choose what do see based on your interest. There were so many things that would have been PERFECT for my two younger children to enjoy and also my college-aged son.

I hope you have a chance to explore Chicago soon! 

Share with me what your favorite attraction is in Chicago when you visit!

Click here to see more Places to Travel

Go City Chicago Pass

Thanks to Driveshop I had the opportunity to experience a weekend getaway to find the top 10 Educational Products while testing the Kia Sedona with friends Jennifer from My Boys and Their Toys and Penny from Penniless Teacher.  

I must admit I spend quite a bit of time in my vehicle with all three of my kids and my hubby. We truly enjoy traveling and just being adventurous as a family. We often have extended family with us too from India. It’s the little things that really make daily driving manageable and road trips like this so much easier. I shared a few things that I noticed on our trip on instagram and twitter during our road trip. Below are a few of the images and tweets…

 Driving home to Florida in a @Kia from @DriveSTI pic.twitter.com/nXE7JclI9S
— Kim Vij (@EducatorsSpin)

When Jennifer and Penny arrived to pick me up in this Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) I was amazed at the amount of space still left for my luggage in the back.  With laptops and luggage for 3 people, there was still room to spare. The Dual Power Sliding Doors and Smart Power Tailgate feature were so helpful as I loaded up my things.

Almost to the Florida Georgia boarder!  @Kia @DriveSTI #roadtrip @PennilessTchr @Lovesmytwoboys #kia #I75 pic.twitter.com/MyIKayrMbQ
— Kim Vij (@EducatorsSpin)

Then I jumped in and discovered the amazing seats in the back of the Kia Sedona.  I’ll admit I’m usually the one in the driver’s seat so it felt like a dream to sit back in the rear with my own Rear Air Conditioning and have my USB port to plug in the things and sit back in my own zone.  

Plus the dual sun roofs were gorgeous. The name MPV was quickly changed to MVP in my books!

Having fun on our road trip in this awesome @kia Sedona from  @DriveSTI #kia #roadtrip @Lovesmytwoboys @PennilessTchr pic.twitter.com/BKF7q9Qi0K
— Kim Vij (@EducatorsSpin)

There were little things about the Kia Sedona that stood out while it was my turn for driving.  The Lane Departure Warning System, Blind Spot Detection, Smart Cruise Control, and Surround View Monitor put me to ease as this was a new car to all of us on the freeway. Road trips always make me a bit nervous and these extra layers of safety features where top notch.

Loving the Surround View Monitoring System on the @kia Sedona @DriveSTI #roadtrip cameras on the side view mirrors pic.twitter.com/YB2INvD6rQ
— Kim Vij (@EducatorsSpin) 

These award winning features made it so much easier to know while each of us was driving we had an added layer of safety features to keep us alert to our surroundings. I imagine with a car full of my own children it would come in handy too.

Thanks you to @DriveSTI for letting me experience your @Kia Sedona for our road trip. Must admit I’m in love! pic.twitter.com/wp3ab3uNds

— Kim Vij (@EducatorsSpin) 

Kia Sedona is Road Trip Ready for your Next Adventure

This experience with the Kia Sedona has my hubby and I talking about what our next step is with my vehicle. It’s always nice to test drive and see how others experience goes.

If you’re in the market for a vehicle or even starting to plan for one – I definitely recommend test driving the 2015 Kia Sedona! Stay up-to-date with all the latest Kia news by following them on Twitter and visiting their Facebook

Shopping for a new car? You may also like these car reviews…

A big thanks to Driveshop  for providing this vehicle loan for review. All opinions are mine alone.

I shared with you a few months ago that I got the chance to escape for a week with my husband to this famous area.

Here’s our visit to Half Moon Bay, trust me a place you’ll want to visit too!

Top Places to Visit in San Francisco Area

Here are a few spots if you’re in San Francisco you don’t want to miss. I’ve linked them up to their destination sites for easy reference when you’re picking a location to visit.  

Many are free, we also used our Go City Pass to visit quite a few of our favorite spots!

Travel Tips for a San Francisco Weekend Get Away 

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to stay for the weekend in a very special hotel with my husband. We were invited by the owners, brothers Tom and Robert Field, to the San Remo Hotel on Mason Street in the local North Beach Neighborhood. Built after the famous earthquakes of 1906, it’s a famous Victorian Style Hotel with unique charm. 

It’s not very often when you can feel like a part of a community while on vacation but this spot does just that. Plus it was so convenient to everything near Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39 we could walk everywhere!

Stepping Back in Time in San Francisco Bay

San Remo Hotel has this unique Old World feel to it with Victorian Heirloom furnishings and hallways that are a walk through history with pieces hand-selected. You can tell that the owners put great thought into it as they renovated it.

Every day we started bright and early and were out the door for our next adventure walking down to the bay, the Cable Car, or the Sight Seeing Buses, so convenient! The hotel staff was so welcoming no matter what time you passed by the front stairway to head to the street you were greeted with a friendly smile and hello.

There’s no technology in the rooms just charm and history and a fun way for couples to reconnect and share your favorites from the day’s adventures.

We had never stayed so close to the San Francisco Bay before and were pleasantly surprised with how convenient it was to be there without a car. 

The City of San Francisco Visitors Bureau was very welcoming to their city with a top-notch website that makes finding just the right spots to visit easy to find.

Here are some of my favorites that we were able to walk to from our Hotel quite easily.  

• Pier 39
• Fisherman’s Wharf
• Boudin Bakery
• Ghirardelli Square
• Aquarium of the Bay
• Lombard Street 
• Blue and Gold Fleet (Don’t miss the photo opportunity at the end of your trip, I love the informational book that comes with the package about the Bay.)

Take the SightSeeing Buses in San Francisco

One of the best things we did was use our Pass to the City SightSeeing San Francisco Tour Bus. We appreciate that they extended a media pass to us to explore how their tour bus line works.

Before on my trips to San Francisco, I had always driven the city and had honestly no idea what I was missing by handing over the steering wheel and enjoying the ride throughout the city.

Places to Visit by the San Francisco Bay

If you’re stopping by the San Francisco Bay my favorite spots we were

• Crissy Field
• The Presidio
• Palace of Arts
• Exploratorium
• Golden Gate Bridge
• Painted Ladies at Alamo Square  

Day Trips from San Francisco

We were even able to enjoy a Day Trip Adventure by bus to

• Sausalito
• Meir Woods
• Napa Valley 

You could also consider taking a rental car to

• Half Moon Bay
• Yosemite

Sites to Visit in San Francisco Area

The next few days we explored around the San Francisco Area even more. These are some of my favorite places to visit.

• Golden Gate Park
• California Academy of Science
• Tower at de Young Fine Art Museum
• Lands End Trail
• Sutro Baths

Are you ready to schedule your trip!

Take advantage and use this guide Visit San Francisco and the Virtual Visitors Guide.  If you’re looking for a budget friendly and memorable experience take a look at the San Remo Hotel and book your visit.  

Don’t forget to check out the Official San Francisco Pinterest Board with tons of ideas for where to visit with gorgeous pictures.  Love using Pinterest to plan my trips!  

Here’s the link.  http://www.pinterest.com/onlyinsf/ 

What place would you visit first in San Francisco?

Tell me in the comment section!

Click here to see more Places to Travel

Follow The Educators’ Spin On It’s board Places to Travel and Tourist Spots to Visit on Pinterest.

Disclosure:  This post was not sponsored. We did however receive a complimentary stay at San Remo Hotel for two nights. The San Francisco Visitors Bureau gave us complimentary Go City Pass, Pier 39 Passes and City SightSeeing Tour Bus passes. All opinions are 100% my own and my husband’s and our many travels to the bay area.

This week our family hit the pool and stayed cool with Capri Sun as part of this sponsored post.

One thing that is common about all of our adventures is making sure we pack the right things for our adventures to keep the kids well fed and hydrated. The summer sun can get pretty busy, especially when you’re running around having fun with family and friends.

Our Summer Travel List Contains

• Drinks
• Snacks
• Change of Clothes
• Books
• Activity Bag
• Sunscreen
• Bug Spray and Anti-Itch Cream
• First Aid Kit

One special treat we’ve found is Capri Sun Roarin’ Waters. With its shiny silver pouch the kids think it’s a fun way to hydrate*.

I love storing it in the freezer overnight before our outing and then popping it in the cooler when we head out. The kids think they are getting a special treat but they are really getting lightly fruit flavored water.

Plus it contains no artificial colors or flavors and it’s low-calorie. That’s a win in my books!

Summer Fun Tip for Capri Sun:

Want to make Capri Sun poaches seem ever more special?

Put them into the freezer and take out to defrost for just a few moments and you now have a summer slush to enjoy after your outdoor adventures.

Eco Fun with Capri Sun Box:

On all those road trips we like to pack a few books to read for the car ride. This summer we are making book boxes to keep in the car for our adventures. So simple to make too. Just reuse your Capri Sun box, eco-friendly & fun! With my daughters, we took the box and covered with scrapbooking paper.

Then each time we head out she loads with a few books for the car.

MOM FACTOR:

Have you seen the new bottoms on Capri Sun? My oldest daughter loves this feature now and I have to say as a Mom I do too! Check out this video on how Mom’s inspired the clear bottom on Capri Sun Pouches. 

Wishing your family an adventurous summer filled with memories. Having the right things packed makes it so much easier. Are you ready for a fun family summer?

This is a sponsored post, all opinion are 100% my own. See my full disclosure here.
* Consume a variety of beverages every day

You may also enjoy these summer activities for kids…

It’s hard to believe that it’s almost here! I’m excited to share this resource of great things to do in cities all across the United States. We’ve partnered with over 60 bloggers to share our favorites.  

Yesterday I shared tips for a staycation in Orlando, Florida

Staycation on a Budget Ideas

Check out the posts below for your favorite city for a Staycation! 

States are listed in alphabetical order.

A – D 

Phoenix-Metro, Arizona ~ Mom Endeavors 
Scottsdale, Arizona ~ Saving For Someday 
Fullerton, California ~ More with Less Today 
San Diego, California ~ Southern Cali Saver.com 
Denver, Colorado ~ Bargain Blessings 
Washington, District of Columbia ~ Kidventurous 

F – I 

Jacksonville, Florida ~ Saving The Family Money 
Orlando, Florida ~ The Educators’ Spin On It
Tallahassee, Florida ~ SwagGrabber  
Chicago (and suburbs), Illinois ~ A Savings WOW! 
Chicago, Illinois ~ Entertaining Chicago 
Fort Wayne, Indiana ~ Simplified Saving 
Indianapolis, Indiana ~ Chaos Is Bliss 

K – P 

Orlando, Florida ~ The Educators Spin On It
Northern Kentucky (Boone, Kenton, Campbell Co) ~ Simply Sherryl 
Annapolis, Maryland ~ The Happy Housewife 
Boston, Massachusetts ~ Maven of Savin
Grand Rapids, Michigan ~ Give Me Neither 
Metro Detroit, Michigan ~ Saving Dollars and Sense 
Oakland County, Michigan ~ Everyday Savvy
South Haven, Michigan ~ Bargain Briana 
Kansas City, Missouri/Kansas ~ Kosher on a Budget 
Kansas City, Missouri/Kansas ~ Kansas City Mamas
Omaha, Nebraska ~ Family Fun in Omaha 
Reno (& Northern), Nevada ~ Premeditated Leftovers 
Buffalo/Niagara Falls, New York ~ Anns’ Entitled Life 
Syracuse, New York ~ I am That Lady 
Cincinnati, Ohio ~ Adventure mom 
Columbus, Ohio ~ Cleverly Simple 
Dayton, Ohio ~ Savings Lifestyle 
Northeast Ohio ~ Raising Lifelong Learners 
Northeast Ohio (Canton, Akron, Cleveland) ~ Sisters Shopping on a Shoestring 
North Central Oklahoma ~ From this Kitchen Table 
Portland, Oregon ~ Frugal Living NW 
Harrisburg/Central, Pennsylvania ~ Family Balance Sheet 
Lancaster, Pennsylvania ~ Pandora’s Deals 
Northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA) ~ Bucktown Bargains 

R – W 

Providence, Rhode Island ~ Everyday Family Living 
Beaufort, South Carolina ~ Kathy’s Cluttered Mind 
Chattanooga, Tennessee ~ Living Chic on the Cheap 
Nashville, Tennessee ~ The Hands-On Homeschooler 
Arlington, Texas ~ Baby Boomer Rants 
Bryan/College Station, Texas ~ How to Homeschool My Child 
Dallas, Texas ~ Surviving The Stores 
Fort Worth, Texas ~ Coupons and Freebies Mom 
Houston, Texas ~ Melissa’s Bargains 
Katy, Texas ~ Moms Confession 
Rio Grande Valley (McAllen), Texas ~ iLoveMy5Kids 
Salt Lake City, Utah ~ Teach Beside Me 
Charlottesville, Virginia ~ How to Have it All 
Richmond, Virginia ~ Vacation Maybe 
Williamsburg, Virginia ~ The Talking Suitcase 
Seattle, Washington ~ Thrifty NW Mom 
Oshkosh, Wisconsin ~ A Little Bit of This and That

Where are you traveling this Summer? I’d love to know where you hope to travel this summer.

A big thank to The Happy Housewife for hosting this Staycation Series.

Tips for Traveling with Kids 

I am always looking for ways to help you with your traveling with kids and sharing them on our Traveling with Kids Pinterest Board.  Plus we’ve just started a Place Pins Board that has a map of specific locations of Places to Visit Pinterest Board.

Learning About the States with Kids 

Are you looking for more ideas to learn about States with your child? If you’re planning a staycation this year you can also plan some virtual trips with your child to other locations.

Check out our Booking Across the USA Project for resources for all 50 States. 
Click now to find all 50 States and Activities!

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