Sedona is a resort town in Arizona known for its stunning red rock canyon and spiritual vortexes. USA Weekend has rated it as the most beautiful place in America. Located at the mouth of the Oak Creek Canyon about two hours from the Grand Canyon and Phoenix, Sedona is considered Arizona’s second most popular tourist attraction behind the Grand Canyon. Its climate is often cooler than Phoenix and warmer than the Grand Canyon, and its beautiful landscapes were the setting for many Western movies, and there are fantastic hiking opportunities. Our visit to Sedona with kids was an idyllic weekend destination.
Visiting Sedona, Arizona
Sedona has recently become a New Age mecca. In 1981, Page Bryant, a psychic and writer, identified seven vortexes in Sedona. Vortexes are cosmic energy fields that are believed to exude high-octane spiritual energy ideal for facilitating prayer, meditation and healing. Vortexes have been identified at Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Boynton Canyon and Airport Mesa. While the New Age vortexes were not what drew us to Sedona, the beautiful rock buttes, mesas and spires are so beautiful that our visit there was definitely spiritual.
Cathedral Rock
Our family visited Sedona in February as part of a trip to the Southwest that also included Las Vegas and Grand Canyon. For our four and seven year old boys, our visit to Sedona served as an extension of the geology and biology lessons that we began during our “field trip” to the Grand Canyon. They were fascinated to learn that high concentrations of iron-oxide (aka rust) cause the rock formation’s red coloring and were also excited to explore the desert plant life. Our six month old daughter was already a seasoned traveler and spent most of her time exploring Sedona relaxed in her carrier.
Sunset at Airport Mesa, Sedona
After watching a beautiful sunrise and sunset at the Grand Canyon, we wanted to make sure we had a great view of sunset in Sedona. We chose to view sunset from Airport Mesa, one of the four vortexes. This is a very popular sunset location, and there is convenient parking right near the knoll vista. The short walk to the viewpoint was kid-friendly, and I carried our infant in her carrier. Because of the popularity of this location at sunset, we were definitely not alone.
We loved the view of Coffee Pot Rock, which resembles a percolator style pot and even has a spout.
Coffee Pot Rock
There was a drone with a camera taking pictures of sunset. Drone photography was still pretty novel (at least to me) in 2015, and I would have liked to see those shots.
Sunset from Airport Mesa was beautiful not only because of the changing colors and shadows on the rock faces and the panoramic view of the Sedona area but also because of the fantastic silhouettes created. This helicopter was a special treat, even though it was noisy.
The view from Airport Mesa would be spectacular at any time of day and likely less crowded when the sun is not rising or setting. However, we didn’t mind the crowd and definitely stayed longer than we expected.
Fay Canyon Trail, Sedona
Sedona is known for its fabulous hiking opportunities. We definitely wanted to do some exploring but also knew we were limited traveling with both grandparents and an infant in addition to our two young boys. We chose the Fay Canyon Trail, an easy 2.2 mile loop with 150 foot elevation and were not disappointed. The boys were especially enthusiastic to check out all the desert plant life along with the red rocks, and my daughter enjoyed her view from her carrier until my hiking lulled her to sleep. It was a perfect day for hiking with a brilliant blue sky.
Although the plant life was very beautiful, the main attractions of the Fay Canyon Trail are the red rocks and the arch. We missed the turn off to the Fay Canyon Arch trail, which is a moderate trail with 300 feet elevation (some scrambling required) that forks from the main trail about .6 mile from the parking lot and leads to a natural arch. Although the pictures look amazing, this side hike was really beyond the capabilities of our group.
At the turn around point of the hike, my husband scaled the rock for an amazing view of the valley.
Panoramic view
The rest of our group waited while my husband explored. The boys particularly enjoyed some “rock climbing” of their own.
Rock climbing, four year old style
The Fay Canyon Trail was particularly family friendly and worthwhile. Next time, we’ll definitely check out the arch.
Chapel of the Holy Cross, Sedona
Our last stop in Sedona was the Chapel of the Holy Cross, a cross-faced chapel built into the red rock that is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix. The Chapel was commissioned by Marguerite Brunwig Staude, a local rancher and sculptor, and completed in 1957. We parked in the parking lot and followed the winding path to the Chapel and were amazed by the view.
Chapel of the Holy Cross
The Chapel is part of the St. John Vianney parish, where we attended Sunday Mass, but there are no Masses (and no weddings) celebrated at the tiny Chapel.
The Chapel is located near Eagle Head Rock, Twin Nuns and Mother and Child Rock, and we were ecstatic to locate the Twin Nuns.
Two Nuns
Sedona is also known for its vibrant art community, star-gazing tours, New Age shops and spas and Pink Jeep tours, but these were not part of our brief visit. Even without fully experiencing all Sedona has to offer, it is a fantastic add-on destination to a family trip to the Grand Canyon or Phoenix. Our visit to Sedona gave our boys a chance to really explore desert plant life and geology while enjoying brilliant views of a red rock canyon that is quite different from the nearby Grand Canyon. When traveling to Sedona with kids, make sure to check out our other favorite Arizona and Nevada destinations.
Our family visits the Washington, DC area almost annually and always stays in Gaithersburg, Maryland near my husband’s uncle. From there, we usually take the Metro or drive into DC to explore museums and monuments for at least one day. But, we always spend much of our time hanging out in and around Gaithersburg. We have explored restaurants and shops at the RIO Washingtonian Center and Clarksburg Premium Outlets. There are so many fun things to do in Gaithersburg, Maryland.
Gaithersburg With Kids
Visiting Gaithersburg With Kids
On our recent visit to DC over Spring Break, we spent a glorious day with Nancy and her boys visiting the national monuments. Due to a busy week of travel for both of our families, we didn’t attempt back to back days on the Mall and decided to see what fun family activities Gaithersburg had for us to explore. I thought maybe there was a museum or a great spot for families that we had overlooked on all of our previous visits and posted a question on one of my favorite family travel groups on Facebook. Similar requests for destination advice for Africa, Granada and Croatia receive over a dozen helpful responses from this group of over 3,200. To my surprise, no one responded to my request. So, I was on a mission to make our own fun in Gaithersburg.
Due to different hotel reward programs, we booked separate Gaithersburg hotels that were conveniently located around the corner from each other. Of course, all five kids wanted to head straight to the pool after leaving the National Mall. Because the pool was an indoor/outdoor pool, the indoor pool temperature was a bit chillier than ideal. As a result, the kids spent more time in the hot tub than the main pool. We did catch this adorable moment between our three year olds before a “discussion” about plastic fish ensued.
Pool time
Gaithersburg Restaurants
Nancy and I decided what we really needed was to order in and have a pizza and wine party in our hotel room. Nancy placed a Grubhub order from Manhattan Pizza & Pasta for pepperoni pizza, cheese pizza and antipasto, and they delivered with paper plates. We jerry-rigged the desk to function as a table and all enjoyed dinner. Nancy and I did some We Go With Kids strategizing and reminisced about the firm where we met ions ago while the kids vegged out and watched television. There may or may not have been a “discussion” about stickers before the night ended, but that’s par for the course when traveling with three year olds, especially those who really did not get proper naps…. It was a perfect end to the day regardless, even though we have no photographic evidence to prove it.
I don’t think we’ve ever visited Gaithersburg with kids without a lunch at our favorite Indian buffet, Minerva and regularly enjoy dim sum at New Fortune.
Lake Whetstone Park in Gaithersburg
After a good night of sleep, we met at the nearby Lake Whetstone Park the next morning. We visit Lake Whetstone every time we are in town and even brought bikes with us at least one time when the boys (and their bikes) were much smaller, but Nancy’s family had never been. The kids always have fun at the play area, even though there isn’t any of the typical metal and plastic structures to be found. Nancy brought balls (quintessential park necessities), which could probably keep them occupied for hours. Hats and gloves were certainly helpful as it was substantially more chilly than the previous day, but the kids warmed up after a bit. Nancy and I enjoyed the view, particularly the blossoming trees.
Lake Whetstone Park
Whetstone Lake visitors can rent canoes, rowboats and paddle boats by the hour from May to September. Boats appeared ready to go, but it was definitely far too cold on the day of our visit. We also did not stroll along the walking paths around the Lake, but that is a perfect summer activity.
Boats available for hourly rental
Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg
After we all had a fresh dose of fresh air, we headed to the nearest Starbucks for some hot chocolate. My GPS directed us to the main entrance to the Gaithersburg shopping center, Lakeforest Mall, and we wandered down the main concourse until we ran into the Starbucks in the middle. We found some tables that just so happened to be next to the Mall’s kiddie rides. Guess who was immediately more interested in the kiddie rides than their kids’ temp hot chocolate?
Unavoidable mall kiddie rides
Honestly, I avoided these kiddie rides that seem to have sprouted up at most malls like the plague for years. I didn’t want it to become a “thing” and really don’t regularly carry cash or change and am not all that comfortable feeding my credit card into one of these things. I have to admit, though, that my third child kind of broke me, and I manage to find a quarter or two at the end of most shopping trips and let her pick her favorite ride. What came as a bit of surprise to me at Lakeforest Mall was that the roller coaster simulator featured the Gemini and the Blue Streak, two wooden roller coasters from Cedar Point, the amusement park we visit each summer in Sandusky, Ohio. The Gemini just happens to be my favorite roller coaster, and my second grade son recently wrote an essay about his ride on the Blue Streak at the end of our day at Cedar Point last summer. Clearly, my kids were not even going to have to beg for a ride this time. I just fed the machine my dollar bill and could almost feel the wind in my hair myself as I watched from behind them.
Riding the Gemini
Why We Love Gaithersburg With Kids
So, we followed up a day of seeing five of the top 12 landmarks on the List of America’s Favorite Architecture at the National Mall and peak cherry blossoms with a hotel pizza party, some time at a lake and a mall. There was absolutely nothing novel, historical or educational about any of it, especially for a pair of travel bloggers. Our kids weren’t always perfect, but they had fun getting to know each other. Considering it has been ten years since Nancy and I last met in person, we have no idea when the next time we’ll get our two busy families together. But, I hope it’s sooner rather than later and that there’s some adventure and some low-key fun involved because that’s really what we go with kids is all about….
Thank you to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the Carnegie Museum of Art and the Duquesne Incline for providing complimentary tickets and a tour for my family. All opinions are my own.
Pittsburgh is known for its steel production, bridges and sports teams. It’s only about two hours from our home in Cleveland and where my college roommate lives, so we often get the chance to visit. In the 19th century, Andrew Carnegie became one of the richest people in the world by modernizing steel production in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh, where the Monongahela River joins the Ohio River. Now affectively called the “Steel City,” Pittsburgh used to be known as the “Smoky City” because of so much pollution from the mills. Very little of its industrial past remains in this city now known for its hills, bridges, parks and biking and jogging trails.
Accommodations in Pittsburgh With Kids
My husband often travels to Pittsburgh for business, so I took a few days off over our kids’ recent Spring Break, and the rest of the family tagged along for a two day trip. We stayed at the Fairmont Pittsburgh and were very fortunate that our room was available when we checked in at 9 am. It was great to drop off our bags and freshen up before heading off to explore some museums. The Fairmont offers well-appointed guest rooms and luxurious and bright bathrooms, complete with a bathtub and separate shower area. There is no pool, but we have never found a hotel in downtown Pittsburgh that offers a pool. My kids’ only complaint was that the room didn’t have two bathrooms like our suite at the Treasure Island Beach Resort. Sorry, kids, a hotel room with two bathrooms is not the norm….
Our room at the FairmontOur bright and beautiful bathroom
Our trip happened to coincide with the Pirates‘ Opening Day, and we were lucky to have a view of PNC Park from our window. Our boys enjoyed checking out the festivities while their sister attempted to nap in the afternoon. Strangely, we couldn’t find the game on television, but score updates from Siri sufficed, and a single firework signaled the Pirates first home win of the season.
A room with a view of Opening Day
Food in Pittsburgh With Kids
The Fairmont is centrally located downtown, but it was pretty cold during our visit, so we didn’t do as much exploring as we would have liked. We did met my college roommate and a friend around the corner at NOLA on the Square for happy hour. NOLA nailed the New Orleans vibe, both in its architecture and the art work displayed on the walls. Because it was a relatively quiet Monday night, our group of seven was seated in the dining area but permitted to order from the pretty amazing happy hour menu. With $4 cocktails, $4 appetizers and $1 gumbo ya-ya, we’ll definitely be back the next time we are in town.
After happy hour, we all enjoyed a delicious dinner at Nicky’s Thai Kitchen. My husband regularly frequents Nicky’s and knows that their 1-5 rating is spicier than most. Our family often orders our food in the hot category, but three was plenty spicy for us. My husband once ordered a four and totally regretted it.
We really enjoyed our quick trip to Pittsburgh with kids and recommend these five fun family activities to other family travelers:
#1: Carnegie Science Center With Kids
It’s no secret that my kids love museums. Of the dozens of museums my 10 year old has visited, the Carnegie Science Center is his favorite. He’s probably not alone, as this is Pittsburgh’s most popular museum. The “science” portion of the museum is pretty cool, but the real draw for him is Highmark SportsWorks®, which is housed in an adjacent building and uses more than 30 interactive sports exhibits to show how physics, anatomy, biology and chemistry control sports. The Carnegie Science Center is part of the Carnegie Museums, and members can visit all four on the same membership, but we use our ASTC Travel Passport Program membership for free entry.
When we visited the Science Center on the day after Thanksgiving, the line for the new Ropes Challenge was too long. So, on this visit, my sons went straight for the Ropes Challenge line when we arrived. The Ropes Challenge consists of a series of challenges, including a rope bridge, rolling logs and a horizontal net that culminate in a zip line. This is probably my boys’ favorite “exhibit” ever, especially the zip line.
My daughter was pretty excited to try the SkyTykes Ropes Course, located under the Ropes Challenge, while her brothers waited for their turn.
My little explorer
Other highlights of the sports complex include a 24-foot rock climbing wall (which even my daughter tried out), a batting cage, a 10-meter dash and various challenges for endurance and balance.
Father-son climbRace against Olympic sprint times
My kids may not have left the Highmark SportsWorks® with a deeper understanding of center of mass and inertia or reciting facts about physics or biology, but the interactive exhibits are certainly fun and provide some basic exposure to the concept that science is everywhere. This bright complex is also a perfect place for kids to burn energy, especially on cold or rainy days.
Inside the Carnegie Science Center, my boys’ favorite exhibit is Roboworld, which is considered the world’s largest permanent robotics exhibition. Roboworld features more than 30 interactive displays, including a robot who shoots baskets with impressive precision and another who challenges visitors in air hockey. My kids could spend hours playing air hockey with a robot or comparing basketball precision.
We also checked out the Little Learner Clubhouse for the first time on our last visit. Because many exhibits focused on a younger audience have an age limit for participation, we often avoid them even when we have two adults. However, I was glad that this exhibit is designed for children six and under and their families. So, my older sons were able to accompany their younger sister, who absolutely loved the water table. Even though this exhibit was clearly geared for younger children, my boys had fun with the tomato stand.
The Miniature Railroad & Village is a fun but unexpected exhibit at the Science Center. This enormous village provides a tour of western Pennsylvania and includes over 250,000 trees. Of course, our favorite miniature was Fallingwater.
We’ve had lunch at Center’s River View Café several times. The Café is currently under renovation and open with only a limited menu, but its convenience is key as there really does not seem to be any other lunch options within walking distance. My kids thoroughly enjoyed their hot dog kids’ meals and cheese steak sandwich. A new wing is also currently under construction, but the exhibits are all open during the renovations.
E-motion cone
Kid Facts: The E-motion cone, which is a large inverted cone on top of the Science Center was installed in 2000. It is lit up at night with colored lights that signal the weather forecast for the next day. Red means warmer, blue means cooler, and green means no change. The cone flashes when precipitation is expected, and the color yellow indicates severe weather.
Pro Tip: Because of its proximity to the Steelers’Heinz Field, the Carnegie Science Center is closed when the Steelers have home games with 1 pm or 4 pm kickoff times and may close early for evening games.
#2: Carnegie Museum of Natural History With Kids
The Carnegie Museum of Natural History was founded in 1896 by Pittsburgh industrialist, Andrew Carnegie, and gained notoriety in 1899 when its scientists found the fossils of the Diplodocus carnegii. Carnegie gifted a cast of its diplodocus skeleton to England at the request of Edward VII, and “Dippy” was featured in Hitze Hall of London’s Natural History Museum for many years before being replaced by Hope, a blue whale skeleton, in July 2017. Dippy is currently on tour across the United Kingdom for the next two years. The original diplodocus skeleton was admittedly a major draw for us to visit the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. It is housed in a space that oddly resembles a hotel lobby, but the exhibit is still a dream for any young paleontologist.
The Carnegie Museum of Natural History maintains one of the world’s most prominent dinosaur collections. The Dinosaurs in Their Time exhibit is the world’s largest collection of Jurassic dinosaurs and the third largest collection of mounted dinosaurs in the US and includes two Tyrannosaurus Rex skeletons and a triceratops skeleton.
One of two Tyrannosaurus Rex skeletons
My kids are fascinated by gemstones, so the Hillman Hall of Minerals and Gems was a big hit. Over 1,300 specimens are artistically displayed throughout several rooms.
I see a few that I’d like
The Bone Hunters’ Quarry gives kids 10 and under a chance to dig for bones with brushes and chisels. This interactive exhibit occupied my children for a solid 10-15 minutes until the 10 year old started getting bored.
Kid Facts: The diplodocus skeleton was found on an expedition to the Morrison Formation sponsored by Carnegie. The Morrison Formation in Utah is the most fertile source of North American dinosaur fossils.
#3: Carnegie Museum of Art With Kids
The Carnegie Museum of Art was founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1895 and is housed in the same building in Oakland as the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. One of the most unique features of the Carnegie Art Museum is the Hall of Architecture, which includes the world’s third-largest collection of plaster architectural casts. Andrew Carnegie financed a tinted cast of the West Portal of Saint-Gilles-du-Gard, which may be the world’s largest architectural cast. Saint-Gilles-du-Gard is considered one of the most beautiful Romanesque portals. The Hall also includes almost 140 other full-size plaster casts.
We were also pretty excited to find the special exhibit, Hiroshige’s Tōkaidō Road, had opened just a few days before our visit. This series of woodblock prints depicts landscapes and people that master printmaker, Utagawa Hiroshige, encountered when traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto. We enjoy Hiroshige’s art so much that we have one of his prints at home, but our print is not one of this series. This special exhibit includes a complete set of 55 prints from the first (Hōeidō) edition of Hiroshige’s Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō. Vincent Van Gogh collected ukiyo-e with his brother, and their collection included Hiroshige’s works. Van Gogh incorporated similar bright colors, natural details and unconventional perspectives into his own works.
Like most major art museums, its impressionist gallery includes paintings by Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet. Van Gogh’s Wheat Fields at Auvers Under Clouded Sky was one of his famous series of wheat field paintings. While Van Gogh and Monet are our favorites, we didn’t make it here until well past nap time for my three year old, who found the large bench very comfortable.
Van Gogh’s Wheat Fields at Auvers Under Clouded SkyMonet’s Water Lilies (Nymphéas)
I love the convenience of two museums in one, which made it logistically possible to visit two museums on the same day we drove to Pittsburgh and still spend most of the afternoon relaxing in our hotel room. While we did not have a chance to explore all the galleries, the collection was impressive, and we look forward to future visits.
The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh is an interactive museum for kids that is also a member of the ASTC Travel Passport Program. We visited twice previously before our recent trip, and this is the only museum where I have spent an entire day back when my boys were 1.5 and 3.5. While most families likely visit for only 2-3 hours at a time, there is definitely enough to occupy kids all day. We had a wonderful day thoroughly exploring each and every exhibit in detail and spending hours in the Studio creating works of art.
Our recent visit was during our second afternoon in Pittsburgh and took place after a morning at the Carnegie Science Center. My daughter didn’t get a nap until we were in the car headed back to Cleveland but was so excited about all the exhibits that she forgot to be cranky. As soon as we arrived, she headed straight for the two-story climber that thankfully has entrance and exit openings only at the bottom. Her brothers followed her in but quickly came out, indicating that the climber had a strong odor of feet. Nevertheless, this climber attracted my daughter like a magnet. She probably spent a solid 20 minutes climbing all the way to the top and then back down while my boys worked on draw bots in the MAKESHOP®. She did get a bit stuck at one point, but she got a bit of a boost from a slightly bigger kid and kept moving. At the very top, kids are out of sight for a few minutes, which was a bit disconcerting at first, but the other parents milling around at the bottom assured me that the same thing happened with their kids.
A dream climber for kids
My boys happily worked in the MAKESHOP® just opposite the climber while I hung out at the wall dividing the two areas to keep an eye on all of them. The kids used household boxes to anchor markers in place and then attached motors to make them move on their own. The project involved tape, hot glue and a lot of trial and error, and this was my boys’ favorite exhibit at the Museum. My daughter was too young to create one on her own, but she enjoyed spectating and working on a draw bot with one of the Museum guides (who did most of the heavy lifting).
The Museum’s Studio offers hands-on creating opportunities for kids of all ages. Because we were short on time and stayed for a long time at the MAKESHOP®, we did not make it to the Studio this time, but it’s a beautiful multimedia space with wonderful supplies that allow kids to create paint, sculpt and silkscreen. The Studio is housed in a former planetarium and is a beautiful and bright space to inspire creative juices, and smocks are available. Because I am not crafty by nature, I really appreciate prepared craft projects.
The Studio’s ceilingCreating in the Studio
My boys really enjoyed the Waterplay exhibit on our previous visits. Honestly, I judged other museum waterplay exhibits against this one for years. Previously, full length rain ponchos and crocs were available for kids to use while exploring in the water. This time, only smocks were available, and almost all the other kids had changed into swimming attire or had stripped down to their underwear, and it seemed more like a spray park than it had been before. An ideal day at the museum for me does not involve hauling swimsuits and towels, and even my three year old would not be comfortable wearing only panties in public. My kids were hesitant because they did not want to get soaked, so this exhibit definitely lost some of its luster this time around. While the snow table was unique, we all agreed that the Wonder Lab at the Children’s Museum of Cleveland is now our waterplay gold standard.
All geared up during a prior visit to the Waterplay area
My daughter was pretty excited to find a puppet of her friend, Daniel Tiger, in the Museum’s Nursery.
We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh and will definitely be back. While some of the exhibits are more age appropriate for my daughter, her brothers had fun accompanying her as she explored those areas and particularly enjoyed the MAKESHOP®. I think it’s been offseason or rainy on each of our three visits, but we hope next time, we can check out the Backyard.
Kid Facts: Mr. Rodgers’ Neighborhood was filmed in Pittsburgh from 1968 to 2001, and the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh maintains some great memorabilia.
Pro Tip: Try to visit the Studio first so that art masterpieces dry before it’s time to leave. The Studio is housed in a former planetarium and is a beautiful and bright space to inspire kids’ creative juices.
#5: Duquesne Incline With Kids
The Duquesne Incline in Pittsburgh is an amazing example of living history that combines a trolley ride up Mount Washington, engineering genius and an amazing city view. We visited on Thanksgiving before our turkey feast with friends. The beautifully detailed original trolley cars sit on platforms that keep them level while transporting Pittsburghers and visitors up and down Mount Washington without a driver. The 794-foot wooden track was both an engineering masterpiece and a work of art.
Interior of the trolley car
Wooden track
At the station at the top, there are historical exhibits that provide an overview of the history of Pittsburgh, its many inclines and the engineering challenges that the engineers had to overcome to build and operate the Incline.
Trolley car traveling down the Incline
Tom Reinheimer’s tour of the Upper Station gave us an overview of the history of Pittsburgh, its many inclines and the engineering challenges that the engineers had to overcome to build and operate the Incline. Tom then took us to the David H. Miller Working Museum to tour of the Incline’s hoisting machinery. The Incline still uses its original hoisting equipment that features giant cogs with wooden gear teeth.
Hoisting equipment
The highlight of the Incline is the magnificent view of Pittsburgh’s “Three Rivers” – the confluence of the Allegheny River and the Monongahela River, which together form the Ohio River and the city’s “Golden Triangle” central business district. Other highlights include views of the outline of Fort Duquesne, the Steelers’ Heinz Field, the Pirates’ PNC Park, the Carnegie Science Center and many bridges (up to 18 can be visible). For more details, check out our Spotlight feature on the Duquesne Incline.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, We Go With Kids will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Opinions are the author’s.
Packing for Iceland’s potentially very cold, wet and windy weather has challenges, especially when traveling on Iceland’s budget airline, WOW air, which charges additional baggage fees for bags larger than a personal item (e.g. a small backpack). We are often asked what to pack for Iceland. It’s further complicated by the fact that clothing and gear in Iceland can cost many times the average for similar items in the US, so it’s not wise to plan to pick up needed items upon arrival. However, we were able to fit the luggage for our family’s 10-day trip into one large checked suitcase and five small backpacks. We packed most of our clothes in our individual backpacks that we carried as our free personal items. This method kept our clothes separate and organized. We packed all our gear and large items in the suitcase, which almost exactly hit WOW air’s size and weight limits. If I went back, I would definitely be even more efficient in terms of packing. Note: The link to the links to our Iceland packing list is at the bottom of the post : ).
Iceland Packing List – Rain Gear
It is essential to bring layers and good rain gear to Iceland. None of us had ever owned rain pants, and I was a bit skeptical about whether or not they were really necessary when I purchased a pair for each of us. (Toddler sized rain gear was hard to find, so we brought a pair of light snow pants for our two year old instead.) We chose Mountain Warehouse Pakka for the boys and Swisswell for my husband. I even left the tags on to return if they ended up not being needed. However, we discovered in the first few hours in Iceland that rain pants were definitely necessary and served as great protection from both the rain and the wind. Don’t head to Iceland without a rain jacket and rain pants for everyone traveling to Iceland. These are not optional items, but feel free to leave the tags on the pants just in case. Due to high winds, I don’t think we ever found umbrellas to be helpful, but we probably brought one or two in hopes that any rain we experienced would not be accompanied by crazy wind.
Iceland Packing List – Layers
Layering is key in Iceland. We purchased base layers from 32 Degrees Heat (check out women’s top and pants and kids’ set). On cold/wet days, we wore hats, gloves, base layers, shirts, fleeces, rain jacket and rain pants. On warmer and sunnier days, long-sleeved shirts were sufficient, but we generally needed to have a light jacket available. Even during our trip in June, we wore our heavier coats on occasion when temperatures were in the low 40s with high winds. With a fleece, rain jacket and heavier coat for each of us, that was a lot of luggage space dedicated to jackets. The perfect fleece/rain jacket combo could have replaced the heavier coats, but especially after heavy rains, we were very happy to have a dry alternatives.
Iceland Packing List – Clothes
We selected clothing items for versatility and quick dry capabilities. We only brought casual clothes and did not need more formal attire anywhere we went, and the weather was never warm enough for shorts. Because we wore rain gear and jackets most of the time, our clothes were rarely visible in pictures. We found we had more changes of clothes than we really needed, especially because we did laundry every few days.
Iceland Packing List – Shoes
I had read that waterproof hiking boots were absolutely necessary in Iceland. We purchased hiking boots for the boys during our local Stride Rite‘s store going out of business sale but discovered on a practice hike that even with additional waterproofing, they did not repel water adequately and chose not to bring them. With the relatively high cost for each pair of waterproof boots and no plans to do any serious hikes during our trip, we decided not to invest in waterproof hiking boots but brought two pairs of sturdy shoes each. Our shoes were sufficient, and we didn’t regret not springing for more appropriate footwear that we would likely not use at home. While visiting the muddy Hverir near Myvatn, we did wish that we had disposable shoe covers that the tour companies clearly were giving out. Luckily, none of our shoes were destroyed by the mud, but if someone was selling them by the entrance, I probably would have been willing to pay many times their actual value.
Iceland Packing List – Swimming Gear
Iceland is not a beach destination, but geothermal pools should not be missed. Packing for Iceland’s pools is definitely unique, though. When swimming outdoors in cold temperatures, pool side lounging is not a thing. Flip flops are not permitted in changing rooms, and the only geothermal pool we saw them used at was the Blue Lagoon. Even in June, it was too cold to wear them outdoors, so they are really only usable in hotels and at the Blue Lagoon. Personally, I wish I left our flip flops and also my pool cover up at home. Floaties are provided at all pools, and I’m not sure if ones brought from home would be permitted. Also not needed are beach toys. The black sand beaches are gorgeous, but not the ideal location for sand play. We brought suits, pool towels and goggles with us. It was possible to rent suits and pool towels, but the rental cost was equal to the cost of pool admission (and renting suits was not something I would want to do). Although not typical “swimming gear”, visitors to the Blue Lagoon who want to take pictures while bathing with their mobile phones will want to bring a waterproof case, such as the Lifeproof case, to avoid shelling out some ridiculous amount on site for something similar to a ziplock bag. We left our phones in the lockers and brought our waterproof camera instead.
Iceland Packing List – Medicine
Over the counter medicine is available in Iceland, but not 24/7. As usual, we brought both children’s and regular ibuprofen and a thermometer but luckily did not need it.
Iceland Packing List – Food
Food is widely available but expensive in Iceland. It’s helpful to pack snacks for the plane and at least food for breakfast upon arrival as most flights get in before groceries open. Our favorite grocery stores in Iceland were Bonus, Kronan and Netto.
Iceland Packing List – Stroller/Carrier
Iceland is not a place to bring a stroller as there is virtually no use for it outside of the Keflavik Airport where free strollers are available. The terrain in most of the country is just not conducive to stroller use. In heavy rain, wind or particularly rocky terrain, I carried our toddler in our Beco Baby Carrier, which worked out great. The only place we could have used a stroller was during our brief visit to Reykjavik’s mall, Kringlan.
Iceland Packing List – Car Seats
WOW air permits a free stroller or a car seat for each child under seven. Because we were not bringing a stroller, we brought a convertible car seat for our daughter. We knew there was a chance that our LATCH system convertible car seat might not work with ISOFIX. We brought installation instructions for the seat and its safety clips but were pleased that the seat installed perfectly with ISOFIX. For each of our boys, we brought an inflatable BubbleBum Travel Booster Seat. These fit into our suitcase easily but needed to be re-inflated frequently.
Iceland Packing List – Miscellaneous
When traveling to Iceland in the summer, an eye mask may be helpful if sleeping during day light is an issue. Also, neck pillows are especially helpful for travel on Wow air as the seats do not recline. We brought our Garmin GPS, which includes European maps. It was helpful, but we wished we had a good map of Iceland as soon as we arrived. Also, there were some complications due to the complexity of the Icelandic alphabet, so we wished we needed to record the GPS coordinates of our destinations in advance.
Planning your own trip to Iceland with kids? Check out our listing of all Iceland posts or join our Facebook group We Go To Iceland With Kids, a forum to ask questions and share ideas about family travel to Iceland and our Iceland Trip Packing List (use tally marks to keep track of what is packed).
Thank you to One World Trade Center Observatory and the 9/11 Memorial Museum for hosting our visits to those attractions. All opinions are my own.
New York City is one of our favorite cities to visit. The “City That Never Sleeps” is the largest metropolitan area in the US and boasts Broadway and Wall Street, along with world-famous landmarks and museums. Nancy previously covered Five Fun Family Activities, but because this is one city that has a seemingly never-ending list of great tourist attractions, I have a few more to add. With so much to see and do, traveling to New York City with kids is a great family vacation.
Visiting New York City With Kids
I’ve enjoyed New York City as a tourist and while visiting friends. My mom and I had a whirlwind weekend in 2005 where we made it to most of the stops on her mile-long must-see list. My husband and I used to travel to the Big Apple each summer before kids, but we generally spent most of our time with friends and relaxing at the Long Island Beach. We have visited New York City several times with our kids, most recently in October 2016 as part of a trip to Princeton, New Haven, Amherst and Chautauqua and look forward to future visits to Manhattan as a family.
Checking out the view of Midtown from Bloomberg’s employee snack bar
For families who need a break, there are some amazing playgrounds in New York City for kids to explore. It’s hard to pass up the opportunity to see a Broadway show, and there are options to score cheap Broadway tickets at the last minute.
Accommodations in New York City With Kids
While in NYC, I have stayed several times at the Millennium Hilton New York Downtown in the Financial District. The guest rooms are very comfortable, and the hotel also offers an indoor pool. But, the highlight for me is the view of One World Trade Center and the Oculus, the World Trade Center Transportation Hub that opened in 2016 with retail and restaurants. The Millennium Hilton is conveniently located for both business and pleasure.
Millennium Hilton guest room with view of OculusView of One World Trade Center and Oculus from my room
Restaurants in New York City With Kids
New York is also known for amazing restaurants. Eataly is one of my favorites. This Italian marketplace includes several restaurants, food and beverage counters and retail stores. The food counters offer very reasonable but delicious meals, and the retail sections are beautifully curated.
Eataly’s higher end restaurant, Osteria della Pace is also a great option for lunch or dinner.
Osteria della Pace
I also enjoy Casa Lever, an Italian Restaurant that features original Andy Warhol paintings to complement its ultramodern décor. Casa Lever does not offer a kids’ menu and is not particularly child-friendly in the evening, but the food is superb, and the original Warhol paintings alone are a reason to make me want to go back.
Original Warhol paintings at Casa Lever
For breakfast, Stage Door Deli offers overstuffed sandwiches and a classic New York deli experience. We stopped for coffee and bagels after an early morning flight, and our wrapped bagels were thrown from the back of the store to the register for added flair. Stage Door is one of only two businesses to reopen on Vesey Street after September 11.
Here are my five fun family activities in New York City:
#1: The Metropolitan Museum of Art With Kids
The Metropolitan Museum of Art boasts a permanent collection of over two million works and is the largest art museum in the US and the fourth largest in the world. The Met’s main location is on Fifth Avenue, and we were a few of the Met’s over 7 million visitors in 2016. Admission to the permanent collection was previously by suggested contribution only, but the Met announced in January 2018 that it would begin charging a fixed admission of $25 for visitors who do not live in New York State. General admission gives visitors free entry at The Met Fifth Avenue, The Met Breuer and The Met Cloisters for three consecutive days. It would probably take that long to get through all the exhibits, but we did an abbreviated visit with our three kids, aged 2, 6 and 8.
Times Square is the world’s most visited location with about 360,000 pedestrian visitors daily and over 130 million visitors each year. Excluding residents from the count makes Times Square the second most popular tourist attraction behind the Las Vegas Strip with almost 40 million annual tourists. The Broadway Theater District is located in Times Square, which is especially known for its billboards.
Over the years, I’ve visited Times Square a number of times, but until my recent visit, my last photographs were from 2005. Even before the rise of digital screens, it was still a sensory overload experience.
Times Square – Summer 2005
I was absolutely blown away with the transformation of the Square since the development of digital screens on my recent evening visit. The largest billboard in Times Square was completed in 2014, spans an entire block and features almost 24 million LED pixels. A pedestrian plaza completed in 2016 offers tiered viewing of the Square, including the humongous new billboard pictured on the right below. Find out more about things to do in Times Square.
Times Square – 2018
Kid Facts: The New Year’s Eve ball drop at Times Square has been an annual tradition since December 31, 1907. However, it was placed on hiatus in 1942 and 1943 because of World War II lighting restrictions. Over a million visitors celebrate each New Year in Times Square. The new energy-efficient LED ball installed for the centennial celebration is now a permanent fixture in the Square.
#3: National September 11 Memorial & Museum With Kids
While I am familiar with tragic events like the World Wars, the Pearl Harbor attacks and the Vietnam War from history books, September 11 is one day that is burned in my memory. I had visited NYC for the first time only a few months earlier and spent an entire day exploring the Financial District in the shadows of the famous towers. On the morning of the terrorist attacks, I was numb as I sat glued to my television and watched the World Trade Center crash to the ground.
The 9/11 Memorial Museum is a very somber museum that chronicles the World Trade Center’s 1993 and 2001 terrorist attacks. The Museum honors both the victims of these attacks and also the first responders. The Museum’s collection includes more than 40,000 images, 14,000 artifacts, 3,500 oral recordings and 500 hours of video. It may not seem like a family friendly attraction due to its content, and I noticed on my recent Monday morning visit that there were not any young visitors. I happened to be in the Financial District on business without my children when I visited, but I would not hesitate to take them to the 9/11 Memorial Museum.
My boys learned about the September 11 terrorist attacks by reading Lauren Tarshis‘ I Survived the Attacks September 11th, 2001. Tarshis’ series of historical fiction books is brilliant because they tell stories of some of the world’s worst disasters through the eyes of a pre-teen boy (except one book featuring a female main character) experiencing the situation first-hand. In I Survived the Attacks of September 11th, 2001, the narrator is Lucas, the son of a New York City fire fighter who happens to visit his dad at work on the morning of the attacks. My boys are familiar with the events of September 11 because of Tarshis’ book, and a visit to the 9/11 Memorial Museum with them would definitely be meaningful, but might be a quicker overview than the lingering visit I had with my colleague. The Museum offers a seasonal Youth & Family Tour with an interactive activity and the Art Memorial Cart, which offers age-appropriate self-guided explorations and art activities.
The Historical Exhibition chronicles the events of September 11, the events leading up to September 11 and the immediate aftermath. This exhibit includes first-hand accounts, television footage and a variety of items on display. Photography is not permitted in this exhibit, but is allowed in other areas of the Museum that feature items damaged on September 11, such as a fire engine from Ladder 3. All 11 firefighters who traveled from in this engine died in the World Trade Center. Also displayed is a segment of the radio and television antenna on top of the North Tower and the Last Column, which was the last piece of steel to be removed from Ground Zero and is now considered as a symbol of resilience.
Fire engine destroyed on September 11Piece of the radio antenna from the North TowerThe Last Column
The National September 11 Memorial located outside the Museum includes two large, recessed pools with cascading waterfalls that are set within the footprints of the original North and South Towers of the World Trade Center. The bronze parapets that surround the pools are inscribed with the names of those who lost their lives in the attacks.
September 11 Museum and Memorial
Kid Facts: The Memorial opened to the public on September 12, 2011, and the Museum, which is largely underground, opened on May 15, 2014. Roses are placed by victims’ names to commemorate their birthdays.
#4: One World Trade Center Observatory With Kids
New York City has no shortage of skyscrapers, but One World Trade Center towers over all of them as the tallest in the Western Hemisphere and sixth tallest in the world at 1,776 feet (a reference to the year the Declaration of Independence was signed). This new structure has the same name as the North Tower of the original World Trade Center and is located on the site of Six World Trade Center, an eight-story office building that was destroyed when the North Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed. The building opened in November 2014, and the Observatory, located on floors 100-102, opened in May 2015 and offers visitors a view of NYC from 1,250 feet in the air.
The experience begins at the Global Welcome Center where visitors are greeted in their native language. A live counter shows stats related to number of visitors and country of origin. The next stop is a walk-through montage, which includes personal stories of all the people who helped build One World Trade Center. The elevator ride to the 102nd floor is a special treat. Visitors travel 1,250 feet in less than a minute while watching a high-definition time-lapse video on the elevator walls. After a quick 3D film on NYC, visitors have the chance to check out the real highlight of the Observatory, the 360 degree views.
View of Midtown from One World Trade CenterThe Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
We did not have time to eat at ONE Restaurant (which requires admission to the Observatory). Our visit to the Observatory concluded with the high-tech and super-fast elevator ride down, which is as exciting as the ride up.
Kid Facts: The top floor of One World Trade Center is the 104th floor, but the tower actually has only 93 stories, and 103 and 104 are mechanical floors.
#5: Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island With Kids
Liberty Enlightening the World (aka the Statue of Liberty) was a gift from France to the US and is an icon representing opportunity and freedom. The Statue of Liberty is a 151 foot copper statue located on Liberty Island. It was designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886. It has been maintained by the National Park Service since 1933.
The statue’s pedestal and base were closed for major renovations in October 2011 and reopened on October 28, 2012, one day before Hurricane Sandy. The statue did not sustain direct damage due to Hurricane Sandy, but the storm did destroy the ferry dock. As a result, Liberty Island remained closed until July 4, 2013 for repairs.
The Statue of Liberty
Nearby Ellis Island was the busiest immigrant inspection station in the US from 1892 to 1954 and was the gateway to over 12 million immigrants. The descendants those immigrants now make up almost half of the US population. After sustaining major damage during Hurricane Sandy in 2012, Ellis Island was closed for one year for extensive renovation. The Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration is located in the main building on Ellis Island. About 5,000 immigrants filed into the Registry Room each day for medical and legal examinations.
Registry Room
The view of lower Manhattan from Ellis Island is pretty spectacular.
View of Manhattan from Ellis Island
Kid Facts: While Ellis Island had been considered part of New York, a 1998 Supreme Court case determined that about 90% of the Island is in New Jersey. While the land originally given to New York by an 1834 interstate compact remains under the control of New York, land later reclaimed is now under control of New Jersey.
Find Out More About New York City With Kids
New York City is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the US but is not just for adults. This traveler’s mecca offers many wonderful opportunities for families. Make sure to check out all of our posts on NYC before your next trip.
Travel nightmares like cancelled flights, flight delays, mechanical issues, winter storms and lightening unfortunately happen from time to time. While on a recent business trip to New York City, I received a text and email messages from United Airlines stating that there might be a travel disruptions due to weather. As a result, United was waiving change fees to provide travelers with additional flexibility. My colleague and I were booked on the 7:15 p.m. evening flight but definitely did not want to be stuck in NYC during the unexpected winter storm. We tried to change our flight online to the afternoon departure, but the only options available were for the following day, when the storm was predicted to be at its worst. After waiting on hold for a United Airlines customer representative for over 30 minutes, I learned that the only way to possibly fly standby on the full 3:15 pm flight was to inquire at Newark Airport.After our meetings concluded around noon, my colleague and I decided to go straight to Newark. The United representative at the counter checked the flight and indicated she could not help us but directed us to someone else. The second representative did some additional checking but told us that she also could not process a change but that possibly the representatives at Travel Assistance near the gate could help us. We proceeded through security with our 7:15 p.m. tickets and headed straight to Travel Assistance, which had no line. The representative confirmed that the 3:15 p.m. flight was fully booked but that no one was on the standby list. We asked if it would be possible for us to fly standby, and she indicated that the change would require a $75 fee. I inquired about the travel waiver in place because of the storm, and she said that while she did not see the 3:15 p.m. flight as an option for the fee waiver that she would go ahead and process our standby tickets. We were delighted to find that there were a few available seats after boarding completed and were absolutely relieved to be heading home well in advance of the storm. It turned out that our 7:15 p.m. flight was only slightly delayed, but just about all flights were cancelled the next day.
My travel companion was impressed with how my “savvy traveler” skills scored us the standby seats, but I assured her that I did not utilize any specialized knowledge. Instead, I just made sure to be nice while navigating through Newark. It is important to recognize that not every representative has the ability to make a specific change; however, each representative may be able to lead me to someone who can help. And, customer service representatives are far more likely to help kind travelers as opposed to unpleasant ones, even when there is a valid issue.
Airport board every traveler wants to see
When dealing with travel disruptions, try to remember these five things:
#1: Be kind: This is the most essential travel rule.
#2: Recognize limitations: Not all airline employees have the authority to make every kind of change but may be able to direct travelers to someone who can help.
#3: Phrase requests as questions: I find it helpful to ask questions like, “Is this a full flight?” or “Is it possible…?” rather than, “I want….” or “I need….”
#4: Be patient: Some waiting is inevitable in any travel disruption situation.
#5: Travel with carry on luggage whenever possible: It is much easier to accommodate a last-minute travel change if checked luggage is not involved.
Travel disruptions are no fun for anyone, but making travel adjustments can make them less painful.
Check out our other Travel Tips for more advice about traveling with kids.
Las Vegas with kids, really? Sin City may not be an obvious location for a family vacation, but we had a blast. As full disclosure, gambling and night clubs weren’t a draw before we had kids, so it was no biggie to forego completely after kids. Many families wonder if it’s expensive to travel to Las Vegas. Because Vegas offers more hotel rooms than any other US city. Competition for amenities and value is intense, and mid-week hotel prices are quite reasonable compared to similar hotels almost anywhere else, even including the standard resort fees. The weather is nice most of the year, and kids find the Strip’s “neon canyon” as entertaining as adults. Las Vegas Boulevard (aka the Strip), has been named as the world’s most visited tourist attraction with almost 40 million annual tourists and offers shows and activities for all visitors. We loved our trip and would go back in a heartbeat because there are so amazing things to do in Las Vegas with kids.
The famous Strip
We visited Las Vegas when I was six months pregnant with our first son and then again seven years later with our three kids, aged 7, 4 and 6 months. During our “babymoon” trip, we flew into and out of Las Vegas and also traveled to Grand Canyon National Park, Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park. We would love to visit Bryce and Zion with kids, especially after reading 10 year old Andrew’s review of Zion, but we weren’t able to add those on during our 2015 trip to Las Vegas, which was inspired by our oldest son’s desire to see the Grand Canyon. We flew to Las Vegas, where we spent a few days at the beginning and end of the trip and visited Grand Canyon National Park and Sedona in the middle.
Beautiful Las Vegas view from our room at Caesars Palace
Our hotels in Las Vegas have been highlights of our visits. Our favorite hotel on the Strip is the Bellagio, which featured a gorgeously appointed room that had an amazing city view. We could check out the water fountain shows from our room.
Our room at the Bellagio
Off the Strip, our favorite resort is Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa, which is located about 15 miles west of the Strip. We booked a night at Red Rock after such a lovely stay at sister Station Casinos hotel, Green Valley Ranch, Casino, Resort & Spa. Both resorts are significantly more low-key and relaxed than those on the Strip. While Green Valley is more conveniently located close to the Airport, the scenery surrounding Red Rock gives it its edge.
The boys loved Red Rock Resort
We have also enjoyed some great meals, including the one of the most popular buffets on the Strip, Bacchanal Buffet in Caesars Palace. Bacchanal opened in 2012 and has been ranked as the top Las Vegas buffet by USA Today. We enjoyed the modern food presentations in this upscale restaurant. Our favorite Thai meal was at Lotus of Siam, which was rated as the best Thai restaurant in the U.S. by Gourmet Magazine. It’s located in a strip mall not far from the Strip, and the food was quite tasty. Here are five fun family activities to consider when visiting Las Vegas with kids:
Las Vegas Kids’ Activities
#1: Visiting Las Vegas’ Casinos
Las Vegas hotels and casinos are lavishly themed and fun for kids of all ages. Most of the interesting parts of the casino complexes are separated from the gaming sections and have nothing to do with gambling.
Caesars Palace is the Strip’s oldest hotel that opened in 1966. This opulent resort features reproductions of Roman statues and the high-end Forum Shops mall. Kids will particularly enjoy the moving statues at the Forum.
Caesar’s Palace
The Bellagio is a $1.6 billion resort that opened in 1998 with an Italian theme. The main lobby of the Bellagio features Fiori di Como, an installation of 2,000 colorful handblown glass flowers designed by Dale Chihuly. My kids loved the flower displays in the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, which were decorated for the Lunar New Year, the Year of the Sheep, at the time of our visit. As a bonus, there is no admission fee for the Conservatory.
Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
The Venetian is the world’s second largest hotel with more than 7,000 suites and beautifully recreates Italy’s most romantic city with reproductions of famous frescoes and Venice landmarks. The gondola ride through the mock canals and outdoor man-made lake is a popular attraction.
Venetian Gondola Ride
The Luxor is a 30-story bronze pyramid, named after the Egyptian city, and opened in 1993. The entrance is through the legs of a giant Sphinx, a recreation of the Great Sphinx of Giza. A xenon light beam is projected from the apex of the pyramid at night and can be seen from planes as far as 250 miles away and supposedly from space, too. The hotel elevators (aka “inclinators”) travel along the inclines of the 350 foot pyramid at a 39 degree angle.
We also enjoyed Mandalay Bay’s tropical theme, the Excalibur’s medieval theme inspired by King Arthur and his knights, and Paris Las Vegas‘ Parisian cobblestone streets.
Families with children can walk through most casinos but cannot stop. Note that the distances between casinos are deceivingly large, and driving is the best way for families to get around. Luckily, the casinos generally offer free parking, even for non-gamblers. Because the weather was ideal, we did walk to the nearby casinos on either side of us and across the street but drove when visiting further casinos. We also took advantage of the free tram that runs between the Excalibur, the Luxor and Mandalay Bay.
Kid Facts: Steve Wynn opened the Mirage in 1989 as the city’s first mega-resort, the largest hotel in the world and the most expensive hotel-casino ever constructed. Its success led to the transformation of the Strip as old casinos were torn down to make room for massive complexes styled after some of the world’s most desirable tourist destinations like Rome, Venice, Paris, Egypt and New York.
#2: Checking Out Las Vegas’ Outdoor Displays With Kids
The Bellagio’s 8.5-acre artificial lake features the famous dancing fountains, The Fountains of Bellagio. The 1,200 jets stream up to 460 feet into the air and burst choreographed water accompanied by over 4,500 lights. The fountain show runs every quarter or half hour in the afternoons and evenings. Make sure to check out the schedule. With different music showcased, it is enjoyable to watch more than one show! We were so glad we visited the Bellagio with kids.
The Mirage’s Volcano “erupts” at 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. each evening and also 10:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. Our kids were mesmerized by the fiery eruption, which we caught a few times during our stay. The Volcano fits in nicely with the Mirage’s Polynesian theme.
Mirage lagoon before the eruptionEruption!
The Eiffel Tower in Paris is one of the world’s most recognizable icons. It is the #1 destination on my middle child’s bucket list. While Paris-Las Vegas’ half-scale, 460 foot Eiffel Tower replica is not a substitute, it fueled his desire to see it in real life. Years after our visit, my son remembers vividly how the Eiffel Tower replica was built around and into other buildings in the resort’s complex.
Paris-Las Vegas’ Eiffel Tower
Kid Facts: The Fountains of Bellagio were the largest fountain in the world when they opened.
#3: Visiting Pools at Las Vegas Family Resorts
The pools we have visited in Las Vegas are particularly extravagant and cater to guests of all ages. Most pools allow only guests to use their pool facilities, so it’s important to do some pool research before booking a resort or plan to visit one of the pools that permits non-guests with an admission fee. My daughter had her first pool experience at Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis at Caesars Palace and loved it. These pools are modeled after Roman baths and include Roman statues and reminded me of the Hearst Castle pool. Obviously, this was a memorable place to first experience a pool.
The pools off the Strip also have gorgeous pool facilities. We enjoyed the swimming complex at Red Rock Resort before heading to the Airport for our red-eye flight.
Red Rocks pool
We particularly enjoyed the luxurious chaise lounges at Green Valley Ranch’s pool, which did not require an additional booking fee like many on the Strip.
The pool at Green Valley Ranch
Many resorts in Las Vegas also have complimentary spa indoor facilities for guests over 18, including an indoor hot tub. One downside to traveling to Las Vegas with kids is that adults have to take turns in order to enjoy these facilities.
Indoor hot tub at Green Valley Ranch
Kid Facts: I could find no interesting facts about Las Vegas pools, but almost all kids will love them!
#4: Visiting Las Vegas’ Red Rock Canyon With Kids
The natural red rocks just outside of Las Vegas are the perfect contrast to all of the artificial lights on the Strip. We thoroughly enjoyed the scenery of the sandstone and limestone cliffs when traveling to and from Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa. We did not have a chance to hike the scenic loop at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area but definitely hope to do at least part of that hike on our next trip.
Kid Facts: The Red Rock area was under an ocean 600 million years ago. Sandstones were deposited about 250 million years ago, and oxidation of iron in the sediments caused the red coloring.
#5: Visiting Las Vegas’ Hoover Dam With Kids
The famous Hoover Dam is a 726 foot dam located on the Nevada-Arizona border about 35 miles from Las Vegas. The water flow of the Colorado River used to rise dramatically in the spring and slow to a trickle in the summer and was therefore an unreliable water source. Hoover Dam was constructed to control destructive floods, ensure a steady water supply to the Colorado River basin and generate inexpensive electricity. The Dam continues to provide water and electricity to Nevada, Arizona and California. Las Vegas benefitted substantially from the influx of construction workers, who started arriving in 1931, the same year that gambling was legalized. By the time this engineering masterpiece was completed in 1935, there were a number of gambling clubs open in Las Vegas.
The top of the bridge is open to pedestrians and vehicles. We took the opportunity while visiting Hoover Dam to explain how a dam works. The boys were particularly interested in how the changing water depth effected the mountains on the water’s edge.
The half-hour guided power plant tour gives visitors the chance to see the still-functioning generators up close. We were amazed at the architectural detail inside the dam.
Kid Facts: Construction of the Hoover Dam cost $49 million. At its base, the Dam is 660 feet thick (compared to its 726 foot height). The amount of concrete used could build a two-lane highway from San Francisco to New York.
There are so many wonderful things to do in Vegas for visiting families even after you strip out the gambling, shows and night clubs. Luxury accommodations are generally available at a significant discount compared to other cities. The casinos are a feast for the eyes, and buffets and famous restaurants provide a real feast. The hotel pools rival some of the best in the world, and we would love more Las Vegas family fun, especially because Vegas is conveniently located near Grand Canyon National Park and other amazing Southwest destinations. We definitely recommend traveling families consider a trip to Las Vegas for kids.
Vacation is often a time when Catholic families forego attending weekly Mass due to inconvenience or lack of familiarity. However, we make a point of attending Mass when traveling and have had some pretty amazing experiences along the way – even when the service isn’t even in English. By attending Mass, we have the opportunity to see how Catholics around the world are united by this weekly ritual, which is not something you can generally experience by merely touring a church or cathedral.
Attending Mass while on vacation requires advance planning, especially when we are traveling with or visiting non-Catholics. We regularly consult Mass Times online before our trip to find Mass schedules for churches near by our accommodations. The Mass Times site has helped us locate a services for Easter Mass in Toronto, near a work retreat in Columbus, a few blocks from our friends’ Upper East Side apartment in Manhattan and a newly constructed church in Frederick, Maryland. One of the most unusual Mass experiences was at Basilica of Mary, Queen of the Universe in Orlando. The Basilica is not a parish and does not have weekly bulletins but was built to service Catholics tourists. It’s congregation is almost entirely made of up tourists each week.
St. John Vianney in St. Pete
Following our favor of fives, here are the five most memorable Catholic churches we visited around the world.
#1: Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve in Goa
The time we attended Mass in Goa under the protection of armed guards made me realize that I too often take religious freedom for granted. We spent Christmas 2006 in Goa, where a terrorist alert was issued indicating that Al Qaeda was targeting the area for an attack on tourists. The church where we attended Midnight Mass was heavily protected due to the large gathering of Catholics. Luckily, no attacks occurred, but that truly an unforgettable experience.
#2: Saint Anthony’s Friary Church and the Holy Ghost Church in Bangalore
Spending Holy Week in Bangalore was another unforgettable experience. While Hinduism is the most common religion in India, there are also almost 20 million Catholics. Holy Week services at our church at home are well attended but the church is not packed. If you arrive 20 minutes early on Easter Sunday, you are pretty much guaranteed a seat. The services we attended in India gave “standing room only” a new meaning. Multiple services are held almost hourly in different languages, and hundreds of chairs are set up outside with large screens live video streaming the Mass. We attended Holy Week services at Holy Ghost Church and Saint Anthony’s Friary Church. We arrived at least 30 minutes before each service began to park and then wait outside the doors for the prior service to finish. As soon as the prior Mass ended, people rush in to find a seat. Nonetheless, everyone is dressed up and reverent and patient with the large crowds. The Masses we attended in India were all in English but celebrated with very different music and crowds than we were accustomed to.
Waiting for Mass
#3: Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica of Saint John the Baptist in San Juan
Attending Mass on vacation often includes language barrier issues. While honeymooning in Puerto Rico, my husband and I attended Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica of Saint John the Baptist, one of the oldest cathedrals in the Americas and conveniently located in Old San Juan just across the street from our hotel. The entire Mass was in Spanish, and while we didn’t understand the exact words being said, we could follow along during the readings, songs, prayers and homily. The service gave us the opportunity to quietly reflect – a rare opportunity in the excitement of the past few weeks.
The Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica of Saint John the Baptist
Our experience in San Juan helped us realize that attending Mass in another language can be quite special as well. On a recent trip to the D.C. area, the most convenient Sunday Mass for us to attend happened to be in Spanish. Due to our scheduling Jenga necessary to fit in everything we had planned, we decided that the timing was more important than attending Mass in English. We forewarned our boys, but our two year old daughter was quite confused and stated rather loudly at a quiet moment of the service that she did not understand what they were saying.
#4: St. Peter’s Parish in Akureyri, Iceland
Our visit to St. Peter’s Parish in Iceland was definitely an experience we will never forget. The entire population of Iceland is only about 330,000, and the country has about 12,000 Catholics, seven Catholic churches and about nine priests. We were lucky that we stayed in Akureyri, the second largest metropolitan area outside of Reykjavik (with a population of 17,000) because one of the few churches outside Reykjavik is located here. St. Peter’s is located in a building the size of a house. The sanctuary was comparable to a large living room and seated maybe 25-30. The priest flew in from Reykjavik for Sunday Mass, which was said in Icelandic. After the service, we were invited to the church hall in the basement for coffee and pastries. The priest could not attend because he was headed to the airport for another Mass. Our kids never want to miss our church’s monthly Donut Sunday and were thrilled to find a similar tradition in Iceland. We sat with a few parishioners and had lovely chats. My daughter was mesmerized by an older gentleman with a long white beard who she was convinced must be Santa. We were pretty far north, after all.
St. Peter’s Parish
#5: St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City
We have had some pretty extraordinary experiences even during “typical” English Masses. While attending Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, my mom and I were fortunate to hear Archbishop Edward Egan say Mass. Our visit was just a few months after Egan participated in the 2005 papal conclave. He served as Archbishop until his retirement in 2009 and died a few years later in 2015.
St. Patrick’s CathedralArchbishop Edward Egan
When I was leaving for a recent work trip, my daughter reminded me that I needed to go to church in Phoenix. I wasn’t able to fit Mass into my short, packed, mid-week trip, but was thrilled that she sees travel and Mass to be intertwined. Our tradition of attending Mass on vacation gives us the opportunity to spend an hour not as tourists but as fellow worshipers. Despite different songs, prayers and even languages, we are united with Catholics all around the world in our weekly celebration. This cultural and spiritual experience only enhances our travels.
The Grand Canyon is a gorge of the Colorado River that is often considered one of the Wonders of the World. The mile deep canyon was carved by the Colorado River over the past 6 million years as rugged plateaus have been cut into the rock. Grand Canyon National Park‘s magnitude is astounding, and pictures cannot capture its breathtaking proportions or the beauty of the fine details and shadows. Even on my fourth visit, I was giddy with excitement for that first peek over the rim. We all loved our family trip to the Grand Canyon.
Lightning over the Grand Canyon
Why Visit the Grand Canyon With Kids?
In February 2015, Phoenix hosted the Super Bowl, which highlighted the Grand Canyon. My son, who had recently learned about canyons in his first grade classroom asked me, “When are you going to take me to the Grand Canyon?” The fact that my husband and I visited while I was pregnant with him and that he technically had been there was no consolation. I promised him I would take him someday. Someday turned out to be much sooner than expected when we happened to find a flight deal as part of Spirit Airlines‘ expansion into the Cleveland market to Las Vegas with perfect timings overlapping our kids’ upcoming Presidents’ Day holiday. The Grand Canyon was definitely a bucket list location for my inlaws, who immediately wanted to join us. We decided not only to book a trip only two weeks in advance, but to keep the destination a surprise for our four and seven year old boys. We had no concerns about how our six month old, who was already a seasoned traveler, would handle her first red-eye flight and also added on a few days in Sedona.
Visiting the Grand Canyon when I was six months pregnant with our first son
My seven year old had only two guesses for the location of our mystery trip – 1. Disney World and 2. the Grand Canyon. He was certainly ecstatic when we told him at the airport that we were headed first to Las Vegas for a few days and then to Arizona to see the Grand Canyon. It was our first time flying on Spirit Airlines, which requires additional fees for checked and carry on luggage. Our family of five was able to pack all the layers and gear we needed for a wide range of temperatures into one large suitcase and had an easy flight to Las Vegas before driving to the Grand Canyon a few days later.
Visiting the Grand Canyon
Within Grand Canyon National Park, there are two rims, which may be only a maximum of 18 miles apart, but traveling from one rim to the other takes over 200 miles by car or a really long and treacherous hike through the Canyon. We visited the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The South Rim is open year around and far more developed than the North Rim, which is open only from May 15 to October 15 each year when it offers restaurants, accommodations and a campground. We wanted to visit Grand Canyon National Park rather than the Skywalk, which is located about 2.5 hours from Las Vegas and drove about 4.5 hours to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon after three nights in Las Vegas. We were not able to find accommodation inside the Grand Canyon National Park for this last-minute trip and booked one night at the Grand Hotel, which was located in Tusayan about one mile from the South Entrance. The Grand Hotel had a felt like a lodge and features comfortable rooms and a heated swimming pool.
We were all thrilled to see the canyon. My son’s immediate reaction was that the Grand Canyon was much wider than he expected but not as deep. Because we visited during the off-season, we were able to drive along Hermit Road to each of the vistas. This seven-mile road is closed to private vehicles from March through November when it is serviced by a shuttle bus. While my husband and I used the shuttle bus during our October 2007 visit, the flexibility of driving our own cars with our large group during the off-season was certainly helpful. Because we were visiting the Grand Canyon in February, there was a risk of snow, but we totally lucked out with good weather and avoiding crowds. Here are five fun Grand Canyon activities for families:
#1: Grand Canyon Rim Trails
Hiking along the Rim Walk on the South Rim is a fabulous way to explore Grand Canyon National Park without the treacherous descent to the floor of the Canyon. I had previously taken a few hour hike about halfway into the Grand Canyon and then back up while visiting the North Rim in 2002, but that wasn’t something I wanted to attempt while pregnant or with kids. The entire Rim Walk follows along the Canyon along for about 13 miles on mostly paved trails. The hike from Hermit’s Rest to Grand Canyon Village is about eight miles.
Enjoying the view from the Rim Walk
When the shuttle operates along Hermit Road from March to November, it is easy to hike from one shuttle stop to the next along the Rim and then pick up the shuttle. The Hermit Road Greenway Trail is even suitable for biking. My husband and I enjoyed some of these hikes during our “babymoon”. Traveling with a group of eight including two grandparents, two young kids and an infant, we chose to limit our hiking to the paved path of the Rim Walk around Grand Canyon Village. This stroller-accessible hike offers spectacular views, which we regularly stopped to enjoy. Next time, we hope to try some more adventurous but easy hikes, including Shoshone Point.
The trails into the Grand Canyon have many switchbacks
Rim Walk Facts: Much of the Rim Walk follows the 1912 alignment of Hermit Road.
Rim Walk Caution: It is necessary to keep a close eye on young kids anywhere near the rim of the Grand Canyon. The barriers are definitely not child proof. It may seem extremely dangerous, but have only been 53 fall fatalities between the mid-1800s and 2015.
#2: Sunset at the Grand Canyon’s Hopi Point
Watching sunrise and sunset at the Grand Canyon’s Hopi Point is definitely a must-do. It’s amazing that the sun rises and sets so brilliantly every day, but we only seem to appreciate it when we are traveling. The sun makes truly exceptional entrances and exits at the Grand Canyon as the colors and shadows constantly change. Even after spending most of the day exploring the various viewpoints, watching the sunset is definitely a highlight. Hopi Point is the most popular west-end vista for sunset views because of its unobstructed views of the western canyon.
Hopi Point offers a view of the Colorado River. Seeing the creator of this canyon masterpiece was a particular treat.
Hopi Point Facts: Hopi Point is named for the Native American Hopi tribe of Northeastern Arizona.
#3: Sunrise at the Grand Canyon’s Grandview Point
Grandview Point offers an amazing sunrise view but requires a bit of a hike as it is located 12 miles east of Grand Canyon Village along Desert View Drive. Waking up early enough to catch the sunrise may be more challenging with kids, but we used the fact that our kids had not fully adjusted to the time change to our advantage. We were prepared for chilly temperatures with winter coats, hats and gloves. This is a heavily wooded area, and our boys enjoyed climbing some low trees while waiting for the sun to make its appearance.
Grandview Point Facts: The Spanish are believed to have first seen the Grand Canyon from Grandview Point. The original canyon lodge was originally at here as well.
#4: Eating at the Grand Canyon’s El Tovar Dining Room With Kids
The El Tovar is a historic hotel that sits on the edge of the Grand Canyon. El Tovar was designed by Charles Whittlesey, a famous southwest architect, and looks like a Swiss chalet from the exterior and a log-house on the interior. We had an amazing lunch at the El Tovar Dining Room on Valentine’s Day. While our group was strolling along the Rim Walk, I sped ahead of the our group to arrive before the restaurant opened for lunch service. I gladly accepted the separate dining room that I was offered, which was perfect for our party of eight. We all enjoyed our lunch and made sure to sit on the front porch afterwards to take in the view.
El Tovar Facts: El Tovar opened in 1905 before the area was designated as a protected national park and has been a National Historic Monument since 1987.
#5: Participating in the Grand Canyon’s Junior Ranger Program
Like most National Parks, Grand Canyon offers a Junior Ranger program for its young visitors. Our boys had previously earned Junior Ranger badges at Yosemite National Park and were excited to participate again. We picked up South Rim Junior Ranger Activity Book, and they each completed their age-appropriate activities. Then, we attended a ranger-led program, and the two of them took the Junior Ranger pledge and earned their badges at the edge of the Grand Canyon.
We discovered lots of fossils on our ranger-led program
Junior Ranger Facts: The Junior Ranger motto is “Explore, Learn, and Protect!” The Junior Ranger Pledge is, “As a Junior Ranger, I promise to teach others about what I learned today, explore other parks and historic sites, and help preserve and protect those places so future generations can enjoy them.”
As part of the Every Kid in a Park program, all fourth grade students in the US can receive a free pass to visit all federal lands and water with their families, including National Parks, for one year. My little guy who inspired this trip three years go just received his, and we can’t wait to put it to use.
Grand Canyon National Park with kids is definitely bucket-list worthy for any family. With easy trails and the Junior Ranger program, we found Grand Canyon kid-friendly. It’s likely to be a destination that requires more than a “once in a lifetime” visit. When traveling to the area, make sure to check out our other favorite Arizona and Nevada destinations.
The Phoenix Museum of Art is the Southwest’s largest museum for visual arts. It attracts highly acclaimed temporary exhibitions, but also houses a permanent collection of contemporary European and American art. The Museum offers voluntary donation hours throughout the month. When in Phoenix, it’s definitely worthwhile to stop at the Phoenix Museum of Art with kids.
Kid Facts: The Phoenix Art Museum opened in 1959, just 47 years after Arizona became the 48th state to join the US.
Visiting the Phoenix Art Museum With Kids
The Phoenix Art Museum’s family focused activities are outlined in the Museum’s “I’m Here With Kids” pamphlet. The Museum offers Discount Tire Free Family Weekends every second weekend of the month and also Make It!, which includes hands-on activities on the last Wednesday of the month (during the Museum’s voluntary donation hours). The unique outdoor sculpture garden is a highlight for those visiting with kids, especially Sui Jianguo’s Jurassic Age sculpture of a caged red dinosaur. This sculpture is reminiscent of Clifford, the big red dog and particularly interesting to kids.
The Museum’s child-focus extends to the James K. Ballinger Interactive Gallery (aka the Hub). The Hub offers an open area with stadium seating, bright paintings and books for kids to interact with art at their own pace.
Kid Facts: The current exhibit on display in the Hub is Poetry in Motion, which includes works of art that use line, color, shape and form to as poetic reflections of the world.
Favorite Exhibits at the Phoenix Art Museum With Kids
Our favorite exhibit was Carlos Amorales’ Black Cloud, which is on display at the Phoenix Art Museum for one year. Black Cloud includes 25,000 black paper moths and butterflies affixed to gallery walls. Mexican artist Carlos Amorales was inspired by the annual migration of monarch butterflies and conceived of a plague of moths swarming through the Museum. The sheer number of moths and butterflies is overwhelming and reminded me of an eerie scene from Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds, but the beauty and detail of each individual insect was stunning.
Kid Facts: This is the second time that Black Cloud, which premiered in 2007, has been on display at the Phoenix Art Museum. More than 30 different species of moths and butterflies are depicted.
Gilbert Stuart’s painting of George Washington definitely required a double take. This was one of Stuart’s paintings of Washington that served as a basis for the image that appears on the front of the one dollar bill. I found $1 in my handbag to compare.
Kid Facts: Artist Gilbert Stuart is best known for his unfinished painting of George Washington known as The Athenaeum, which is the basis for the 75 copies, including this one.
Yayoi Kusama’s You Who Are Getting Obliterated in the Dancing Swarm of Fireflies is a mixed-media installation with LED lights on exhibit through 2020. This was definitely a surreal installation and disorienting at first. Kusama was inspired by a Japanese folk tale about a person in a field with 10,000 fire flies. Kusama brings the tale to life in a dark, mirrored room with dangling LED lights. It is one of the few art exhibits in which “do not touch” does not apply. It is impossible not to touch a few of the thousands dangling lights while weaving through the installation. Photographs just cannot do this exhibition justice. It has to be experienced in person.
Kid Facts: Kusama is a contemporary artist and is one of the most well-known living Japanese artists.
Cornelia Parker’s Mass (Colder Darker Matter) was another favorite exhibit, which was made from burnt wood of a Texas Baptist church struck by lightning, wire and string. The burnt wood appears to float in place in mid-air and is stunning to view from many angles.
Kid Facts: When Cornelia Parker was nominated for the Turner Prize in 1997, she exhibited Mass (Colder Darker Matter). The Turner Prize is the UK’s most prestigious art honor that is awarded annually to a British visual artist by the Tate. The only time the Turner Prize shortlist included only female artists was in 1997.
The Phoenix Museum of Art features artists from the American Southwest and Mexico, as well of area landscapes. We particularly enjoyed Thomas Moran’s Zoroaster Temple at Sunset, which magnificently captures the Grand Canyon.
Kid Facts: Thomas Moran was a landscape artist famous for his paintings of Yellowstone. He first traveled to the Grand Canyon in 1873 to document this natural wonder and completed this painting in 1916.
Phoenix Museum of Art With Kids
We were glad we stopped at the Phoenix Museum of Art and definitely suggest planning a visit to the Phoenix Museum of Art with kids for a wonderful educational experience about art and the Southwest. While we had only had a few hours in Phoenix during this visit, we can’t wait to check out all the other family-friendly things to do in Phoenix the next time we are in town.
Every so often, we encounter a place that is so fabulous for those traveling with kids that it is worthy of being featured on its own. For more of our favorite locations, please check out our other Spotlight features!
We also love Claude Monet’s Water Lilies, so the Met’s Water Lilies, a smaller version than many others we have seen in this series, was a real treat. We are fortunate to frequently visit 
My boys learned about the September 11 terrorist attacks by reading 
After our meetings concluded around noon, my colleague and I decided to go straight to Newark. The United representative at the counter checked the flight and indicated she could not help us but directed us to someone else. The second representative did some additional checking but told us that she also could not process a change but that possibly the representatives at Travel Assistance near the gate could help us. We proceeded through security with our 7:15 p.m. tickets and headed straight to Travel Assistance, which had no line. The representative confirmed that the 3:15 p.m. flight was fully booked but that no one was on the standby list. We asked if it would be possible for us to fly standby, and she indicated that the change would require a $75 fee. I inquired about the travel waiver in place because of the storm, and she said that while she did not see the 3:15 p.m. flight as an option for the fee waiver that she would go ahead and process our standby tickets. We were delighted to find that there were a few available seats after boarding completed and were absolutely relieved to be heading home well in advance of the storm. It turned out that our 7:15 p.m. flight was only slightly delayed, but just about all flights were cancelled the next day.
Hopi Point offers a view of the Colorado River. Seeing the creator of this canyon masterpiece was a particular treat.
The Museum’s child-focus extends to the James K. Ballinger Interactive Gallery (aka the Hub). The Hub offers an open area with stadium seating, bright paintings and books for kids to interact with art at their own pace.
