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Last week my family got to experience another wonderful, fun-filled trip around Pennsylvania. This time we spent three days and two nights in Lancaster and Hershey, home to some amazing family-friendly vacation spots, including Dutch Wonderland, Hershey Park, the Strasburg Railroad, Choo Choo Barn, and much more. For those who live in the mid-Atlantic area, this is such a wonderful and close place to vacation. For those further away, it is so worth it to come to this area for a family trip! Read on to learn more about this exciting area…

Our Stay at the Willow Valley Resort
We started off our trip at the Willow Valley Resort, a fabulous family destination central to everything in Lancaster and about 45 minutes from Hershey. This was our hub for our trip and it was very comfortable, relaxing, and a nice place for our family to stay. Our double room in the Atrium building was nice and upgraded with granite, had a refrigerator (great for storing milk, fruit and snacks!) and was a convenient walk to everything on property: 2 restaurants (with great Smorgasbords!), a bakery, an indoor swimming pool and water playground, a beautiful lake with playground, and a family-friendly farm.

My children really enjoyed their time playing on the property throughout our stay. They loved the water playground and one of the highlights of the trip was a visit to the Willow Valley Farm. My boys learned about all of the animals there, got to feed them and give them water, and pet the animals, too.

We also liked the fact that the hotel was centrally located to Dutch Wonderland, the Strasburg Railroad, and the Lancaster outlet shopping (all about a 15 minute drive), Hershey Park (about 45 minutes) and was around the corner from a nice supermarket (which we went to numerous times!)

Take a look at some more pictures of the hotel and our stay in Lancaster/Hershey.

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This past June we were looking down the nose of a loooong boring summer. We’d snoozed through camp sign up season, feeling rebellious and sick of driving carpool. We vowed we’d go to the beach and pool instead. The lure of staying home and doing “nothing” was strong too. It lasted all of a week. And then I heard the swine call of summer that every parent dreads the most. “Mooooooom. I’m so booooooored!!!”

“Go outside and play,” I responded. As if I was genetically programmed to say this, like my mother and her mother before me.

“Cool,” they said, seeing their big chance to sneak one over on me, ” can we go jump on the neighbor’s trampoline?”

Cue hair standing on end, visions of ambulances and general mom mayhem. I’m the unfun mom. The one who makes her kids ride bikes on the sidewalk and forbids them to jump on the neighbors trampoline.

Of course I swore early on we’d never get a trampoline. Never, ever, ever. This is what happens when you have an ER doc and a neurosurgeon in the family. Your kids wear helmets when they ride bikes, you look askance at sneakers with wheels and you swear off backyard trampolines. You embrace your neuroses.

But then I heard about Springfree Trampolines and one by one my objections were dealt with and dismissed. This isn’t the dangerous head injury-waiting-to-happen trampoline of my youth. In fact, it’s about the closest thing I have to a padded cell in which to toss my 18 month old whirling dervish. For this alone, the trampoline can stay. Honestly, I lay down in there with a good book and let him jump all around me when he gets into that kamikaze mode that usually ends in a headfirst dive off the couch. He gets his yayas out and I use fewer bandaids.

You don’t need me to tell you that jumping on a trampoline is fun. You’re probably not surprised to hear that rebounding is also good exercise. We can all use more of that, kids and adults alike. In this way, Springfree trampolines are like any trampoline. Bouncy, fun, and good for you. But they are also totally different in both construction and safety.

Springfree has eliminated the bulk of all trampoline accidents (impact injuries) by eliminating the springs and poles that usually pose a threat. Even with a thick layer of padding on top of the springs that surround traditional trampolines, impact injuries are common and can be very serious. Likewise, the poles that are traditionally used to hold up the netting (so your kids don’t fall off the trampoline) can cause serious injuries on old-style trampolines. Not so with the bowed, lightweight and flexible rods that hold the Springfree enclosure in place. Check out this video demonstrating the difference between the old style trampolines and Springfree.

Everyone in my family sat gaping wide eyed and slack jawed for a good long time when I told them we were getting a trampoline. They asked me at least five times, ” Are you SURE mom? Are you feeling ok? Can I borrow fifty bucks?”

But here’s the thing: After the kids go to bed at night, it’s MY TURN. My mom never let me have a trampoline. Too unsafe. That was then. This is now, baby! I’ve got air! Summer staycationing is a whole lot more fun when you turn off the TV and get on the trampoline.

I’d be a bum bouncer if I did not share with you a quick chance to win your own Springfree Trampoline Staycation. Bounce on over to Bellaziza’s Picks and comment on her review for a chance to win one.

One last note about our Springfree Trampoline? It’s not just a Trampoline. It’s also a clubhouse. And a perfect place to spend a warm summer night. This sleepover looked so comfortable, even I wanted to spend the night!

Woodloch

Throughout the month of August my family has been taking various trips around the state of Pennsylvania, exploring great family destinations and creating awesome vacation memories. Our first trip was to Woodloch, an amazing all-inclusive family resort in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, very close to New York state. (Here is a quick link to a slideshow of photos from our trip)

From the minute we arrived to the time we left, we were treated like we were part of the Woodloch family, with friendly smiles and attentive service. The owners of Woodloch personally meet and greet each person multiple times during your stay and truly make you feel like you have known them for years. Beyond the amazing hospitality, we couldn’t get over how peaceful and beautiful this place is, with its incredible lake, beautiful trees and trails, and spacious, nicely appointed rooms and suites. The meals were delicious and plentiful, in a very homey and comfortable dining room. Finally, everyone there, from toddlers to grandparents, can stay as relaxed or as busy as they choose, with the vast amount of activities happening all throughout the day.

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Isn’t San Francisco gorgeous?! Even especially in the foggy, misty cold?  Every time we make the drive in and over the Golden Gate Bridge my heart leaps into my throat and I feel like a kid again.  It’s a city full of so many possibilities, so many potential adventures, so much fun.

Our first stop after the magnificent drive over the bridge was the Argonaut Hotel where we were staying for a night.  I was so surprised to find it immediately off the wharf, so close that with the windows of our room open we could hear the water at night when the sounds of the city died down a little.  I could smell the ocean from my bed!  It just doesn’t get better than that.

The kids got to choose a toy out of the treasure chest at the front desk {a whoopee cushion and a noisy balloon, of course} and had the option of playing the Wii in the lobby, so there was no complaining on their end. I was thrilled about the Aveda products in the bathroom, the plush animal robes in the closet, and the fact that they offered me a heating pad to use for the night. Seriously, Heaven, are you calling?

There’s so much to do in San Francisco, it’s hard to narrow it down to just a few things. We had three days in the city but I really feel like it would take a whole Summer to really do everything I want to do: the museums, the shops, the restaurants, Golden Gate Park, and on and on. Three days doesn’t really do San Francisco justice, but we gave it our best shot. Since we got there late-ish we didn’t go anywhere exciting, we spent the remainder of our first day there walking along the wharf, popping in and out of little touristy shops finally settling on dinner at In ‘n Out by the hotel. A cop out for food in San Francisco I know, but we wanted something fast and familiar, and I really don’t think you can ever go wrong with a burgers, fries, and a strawberry shake.

The best part about day one? Even though it was cold, we slept with the window cracked so we could smell the sea salty air and feel the fog seeping into the room. We had the most gorgeous view of the bay and it would have been a shame to cover it all up with curtains.

Summer is here, and my kids are ready for action. They’ve already played the “I’m bored” card, but now we’ve got our Green Toys to keep them busy!

My son is busy putting all his tiny plastic, paper, and aluminum into this fun “green” recycling truck.

And my daughter is jump jump jumping away with her cute pink jump rope, made with 100% recycled plastic handles.

So try out these fun environmentall friendly toys at your house, keeping the kids happy and our Earth safe with Green Toys!

We always love to go to Disneyland. Where else can you see grown men roaming around in silly hats on a regular weekday? Here are a few of the hats we snapped on a recent visit. What should we take pictures of next at Disneyland? Tattoos? Strollers? Leave us a comment!

Andalucia, Spain

I have a confession to make; I can sing ‘this little piggy’ in rap, operatic, and country style. OK, so I’m fully aware that I will never make the X-Factor with my bizarre renditions; but I reckon an in-car-entertainment company would be mad not to snap me up and cash in on such talents! Yes, I can make a family car journey kinda fun and having travelled more than 16,000 kms during the course of this past year I’ve realised that you do need to think creatively.

If we’re on a super long journey I always make sure I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve to keep my little munchkin smiling. Back in December we drove 2,5000 kms from the South of Spain to England over the course of 4 days. Now for my husband and I we could quite happily have driven quietly and just watched the passing landscapes, which across the south of Spain are breathtaking as well as varied. From the majestic Sierra Nevada, which was coated with a blanket of snow when we drove through, to the dramatic descent through rustic rock faces into Granada, followed by the long, slow, smooth drive toward Seville where olive groves spread out in ribbed terraces of green for as far as the eye can see. Forgive me, I digress; but even though I’m writing about travels with my daughter, I do love to try and get you there with me.

Anyway, Isabella was more than happy to watch out of the window for a couple of hours, but then it was time to move the entertainment up a notch. We keep a selection of CDs in the car, which vary from Pooh Bear stories to children’s nursery rhymes and when she’s in the mood for a car boogie we can get away with some Oasis, Prince and Robbie Williams too; all of which she loves. These worked for a period before it was time to switch to my own songs, although I know my husband was trying to drag out the CD scenario for as long as possible – like I said; I’m not going to make X-Factor even if I can rap this little piggy with robotic arms thrown in for good measure! When even Milla (our dog) was covering her ears in dismay we knew it was time for a stop so we pulled up by a roadside tapas bar and got out to stretch our legs, let Isabella and Milla have a run around and eat our picnic lunch before hopping back in the car. After a stop I tend to swap places with Milla and sit in the back seat so that I can do some colouring with Isabella, read her some stories and get her settled for a doze.

For us it’s the after doze that we dread because this is when Isabella gets that look on her face and we know she’s thinking: “OK guys, I’ve been good as gold and hardly moaned a smidgen, but now I want to get out and no amount of you telling me it’s only another 5 minutes is going to wash.” Hmmmm, what to do? Well, I rely on a glovebox road map because when she’s extra fractious she likes to read this. Don’t ask me why, because I don’t know, all I do know is that since she was very small this has always worked as a last resort! She also has a bicycle pump for such emergencies. I think it must be that feeling of thinking she’s not allowed something (even though we know she is) that gives her that happy glow and keeps her busy. What I also did for this trip was buy her a few one-EURO toys, which I whipped out at truly difficult moments. There’s nothing like something new to recapture her interest. The result of all these tricks is that Isabella is content and very often mummy and daddy do get to peacefully enjoy quite a lot of the scenery that’s on offer in Europe, which makes for a pleasurable trip all round.

Have you survived a long car trip with your child/children? Would love to hear your stories and feel free to share your tips with fellow mums if you have some!

Alice Griffin’s passion for travel started early with imaginary trips. When she grew up she opted for real ones and travelled the world solo writing for a travel guide. Now a married mother she is on a long-term family road trip through Europe, stopping at various destinations along the way with the thought that maybe one day she’ll wake up without itchy feet! Read more about Alice here.

It’s a craft project and a super cool way to show your friends and family just where you have been, where you wish you were, how far you have come. Next time you hit the road, make sure to pack these super cool Stitchable Map  Postcards.

What is it about an orb that makes us feel so good? Is it not the most comforting and happy of shapes? The earth, balloons, balls, bubblegum, truffles, marbles – they are all good things, and all round.

But what if we could do a little better? What if we could take all that is good about our favorite shape and throw in fuzzy, adorable, and squishy?

We’d have Squishables.

Squishables are not really stuffed animals. And they are not really pillows. I’m not even sure what to call them other than irresistable. So irresistable that it was sheer folly to think we could ever be happy with just one. World War 4 has broken out in my living room over who gets to sleep with the Penguin Squishable next. Peace treaties have been signed with the concession that a certain 4 yr party reserves the right to roll atop the Squishable as needed, often on an hourly basis. The baby wishes he was old enough to lay claim to the Penguin. But he’s not (recommended for age 3 and up) so a certain adult (ahem) is using the Squishable as a lap desk at this very moment. Shhhhh.

Oh how I love these soft furry balls of cuteness. Go be a good parent. Get someone a Squishable to keep them company on their travels. Or get one for yourself. It’s the perfect pet and always good for a cuddle in the car on the way to whatever your destination.

I’ve already proclaimed my love of Zoobie Pets. These clever stuffed animals are the perfect travel companion, serving as a pal, a pillow and holding inside, a super snuggly blanket. No surprise that all of my children have a Zoobie that they won’t leave home without. All except the baby that is.

Up until recently he was on Zoobie hold, waiting to grow into the pet we had selected for him. At only six months of age he is somewhat small for a full sized stuffed animal and requires a much smaller blanket. The geniuses behind Zoobie pets must have heard his impatient cries because they have just created a Baby sized Zoobie pet that is, to use the words of Goldilocks, “Just Right” for little ones.

Our baby could not be happier. He’s on the road the most of all of our kids, napping in the carpool line and snoozing while cruising the grocery aisles. Now he doesn’t have to snooze alone. He has a fabulous Baby Elephant Zoobie to keep him company and ensure that he stays comfy. I can’t think of a better baby present for a family on the go!