New Orleans is one of those cities where you are going to do a lot of walking. You just can’t get around it. Sure there are street cars and cabs, but you are still going to do a ton of walking. Like I said the other day in my hiking post, my kids whine and whine and whine walking around the city even though they will run and play at parks and go for nature walks for hours. Well, I think I might have found the cure for the whining…at least a temporary one!
After a long morning of trekking all over the city (and whining by two whiny children), we took a break to snap a few pictures. My son took a picture of me and my daughter.
And then my daughter (the 4 year old) took one of me and my son:
Then they proceeded to fight over who was going to get the camera next. You know these moments I am talking about…the ones where you start throwing treats or threats or promises at your kids because you just can’t stand to listen to it any longer? Anything to make them stop what they are doing? Oh wait…don’t you have those moments occasionally? Despite my reservations, I was so over the whining and arguing that I decided to do something rash.
I gave my 6 year old son my camera. My fancy Canon DSLR camera.
And then my daughter started to whine because she wanted a turn.
So my son suggested I give her my phone.
My “this is a big splurge because I had a cell phone that hardly even sent texts until the end of last year” Android phone.
And I did. And then we continued to walk.
We walked from the Audubon Aquarium to the Audubon Insectarium. We spent an hour exploring the Insectarium. Then we headed towards the hotel by way of several detours. All the while, my children were happily snapping pictures and I didn’t hear a single whiny word out of them. The ENTIRE time we walked all over New Orleans.
I call this series of photos New Orleans As Seen through my Six Year Old’s Eyes.
This one is titled MOM!
His sister!
Around the city:
Did I mention the Easter Bunny is bringing them each a camera on Sunday (just in time for our week long road trip!)?
Stop by Delicious Baby for Photo Friday!
Posted in Biloxi on April 21, 2011
When I emailed the Biloxi CVB for some family friendly activities, the email I got back said that I absolutely had to do the Biloxi Shrimping Trip. We were only in Biloxi, Mississippi for one day and had several activities that we had to check out so I figured there was a good chance we were going to miss this boat trip.
When we were about an hour away from Biloxi, I called to get the departure times and was pleased to learn that a boat would be departing about twenty minutes after we arrived. We headed straight over there and made it just in time!
I am so glad we did not miss the Biloxi Shrimping Trip. This was the highlight of our roadtrip for my children and they are still talking about it!
Head over to Traveling Mom to read more about our Shrimping Trip and what we did!
Have you heard of Every Trail, yet? For this edition of Travel Blogger Tuesday, I would like to share this website with you! It is this great website community where you can create trips and guides that anyone can download to their computers or phones.
Guides include fabulous hikes like these throughout Lassen Volcanic National Park, a park that I used to visit with my family when I was little. I would love to do this cupcake crawl or Brooklyn Bridge walk in NYC someday! EveryTrail is also adding family friendly outings like this one in Boston.
Recently, I have been doing some work for Every Trail and have been busy writing some family friendly guides for some of our favorite Southern cities. I hope you don’t mind if I share them with you today! So far, they include Jacksonville with Kids, Panama City Beach – Family Fun in the Sun, A History Lesson in St. Augustine with the Family, Pensacola with Kids: A Fantastic Family Friendly Destination, and Biloxi with Kids. I look forward to putting together more guides in the near future and I hope that you will stop by Every Trail and check it out!
I’m on 
Recent guides by jclose
Cashiers, North Carolina has a number of wonderful hiking trails that lead to mountain vistas and waterfalls. As part of my solo road trip with kids, we are headed to Cashiers, North Carolina to be guests of the High Hampton Inn and Country Club. I am looking forward to strolling around Hampton Lake, having afternoon tea, and exploring the nearby hiking trails.
My kids will whine about walking across a parking lot to get to the store but will run for hours when we are on a hike or a nature walk. When we were in New Orleans last week, the kids complained as we walked from spot to spot through the city but once we hit our destination they were all too happy to run and jump and play until their hearts were content! I am hoping that this holds true when we arrive in Cashiers. Now that my foot is healed and I have been released from physical therapy, I am looking forward to hiking with my kids and exploring Cashiers.
What are you dreaming about? Stop by Mother of All Trips to see other travel dreams!
Photo Courtesy of KE4SFQ via Flickr
This month, we are going to be on two separate road trips. When I say we, I mean me and the kids. Daddy J’s work schedule is preventing him from joining us. We are still trying to work some things out, but I am going into these trips with the mindset that I will be doing them both on my own (we are meeting up with grandma for one of them though!).
We are headed to New Orleans for a few days where I hope to enjoy some of our favorite activities as well as visit some family friendly spots we have missed on our past visits. Don’t worry…we will be eating copious amounts of beignets while we are there! Barring a flat tire or any other number of things that could go wrong, I am expecting this road trip to be smooth. We try to travel to New Orleans at least twice a year for the past eleven years. I am familiar with the city and I know my way around town.
The second road trip kind of scares me a little. We are going to two cities that I am not really familiar with (one of which I have never visited) but I am still excited! We are heading to Cashiers, North Carolina and then we are heading to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
To help these road trips go smoothly, I am doing a little bit of prep work. The Easter Bunny has gotten the word that they would like a few travel items in their basket. They will be finding these adorable magnet play sets, WikkiStix, some new books and some snacks. I will review each of the gifts once we have been able to try them out on the road!
What are you dreaming about today? Visit Mother of All Trips to see what other people are dreaming about today!
Should you spend the extra money and purchase an Express Plus Pass when you go to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure? This week, over at Traveling Mom, I weigh the pros and cons to purchasing the Express Plus Pass. I hope that you will stop by!
It has been over two months since I wrote my 33 Things I Want to See and Do the Year I Turn 33 post and I haven’t done a single update. I have actually already checked a few things off my list and I will write about those things in the next few weeks (I have been such a blogging slacker!) but today I want to share with you the completion of a HUGE goal!
I have an article in the latest issue of Southern Child Magazine, an online publication. EEEEEEEEKKKKKK!
A screenshot of my article!
When I started this site three years ago, I wasn’t really sure where I wanted to go with it. Deep down inside, I knew that one of my goals was to get published in some format…book, magazine, pamphlet, other online sites. As I have continued this journey, I have learned a lot and met some amazing writers, editors, and publishers. Amazing men and women who have given me opportunities that I would never have had. Amazing men and women who are quick to offer advice to help me become a better writer. I still have a LONG way to go, but I am so honored that my first published article is in such a great magazine.
I love Southern Child Magazine and their mission. Not only do they provide information about many topics to help educate parents, they also provide affordable advertising. If you have a product that would be a good fit with Southern Child Magazine, drop them a line. They wonderful to work with!
That isn’t all they do though. Their main mission to help place foster children with their forever, or permanent, families. They share photos and bios of children who are waiting to connect with families.
I would be grateful if you stopped by to check out my article titled Pensacola with Kids in the Seeing the South section. You can find it on page 113-115. While you are there, take some time to read those bios as well as some of the other great articles. There is a Savvy Stroller Guide where they reviewed a ton of strollers so you don’t have to go nuts trying to find the perfect stroller. There are articles about Easter crafts and treats, and teaching children about sustainability.
Posted in Tips on March 24, 2011
The word staycation has always made me cringe; however, I see nothing wrong with family travel in your own city or town. There are so many great things in your very own city that you probably haven’t even thought about exploring yet because work, school, or just wanting to spend your day off on the couch always seems to get in the way. We are going out of town this year for spring break, but for the past few we didn’t. Work schedules, ball schedules, and saving money for later trips kept us home. Staying home for your family vacation does not mean that your vacation has to be completely miserable!
Read Guidebooks for Your Area
Have you ever looked at a guidebook for your own city? If not, stop by the library or spend an afternoon in a bookstore. Jot down some activities that you haven’t had time to experience. Look for activities and restaurants that take you out of your comfort zone. For me, that meant trying activities that are in a neighboring town twenty minutes away. We don’t take the time to drive over so there are a lot of great activities that we never get a chance to do.
Involve the Kids
When you are planning your stay at home family vacation, ask the kids if there is anything that they have really wanted to do. There might be some great park, movie, or other activity that their friends keep talking about. Use this opportunity to explore something you have avoided because of time or cost.
Find a New Park
If your kids are still at the age where they enjoy a good park, then head to your local Parks and Recreation (sometimes called Leisure Services) website and find a park that you have not been to yet. Look for a park that offers something that your favorite park does not.
Try a New Food
Just because you aren’t traveling to another region or country doesn’t mean you need to stick to the same old food. Try a restaurant that serves a dish you have never tried before. Pick a restaurant that you might have avoided in the past because of the crowds, the wait, or the length of the drive to it.
Don’t Wait Until Your Vacation
You don’t have to wait until you have vacation time to explore your own town. Head out on a weekend and explore a new nature trail or visit a new playground. We have been visiting a new playground twice a month and my children love guessing what kind of equipment will be at the playground! Just enjoy the time spent together as a family!
Always one to save money while traveling, we have avoided staying at a Disney property (with the exception of one trip several years ago) when in Orlando. I never saw what was so exciting about a Disney property and I could never justify spending the money. On my Traveling Mom retreat, we stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and I learned that I was wrong! Read my post on Traveling Mom as to why I think splurging on a Disney property during your Disney vacation is well worth it!
I read an article in our local paper where the writertalked about how they didn’t like parades but it turned out they just didn’t like bad parades. After attending a Mardi Gras parade in true Southern style, I think even the truest parade hater will fall in love with the revelers throwing beads, moon pies, and Frisbees at you!
In honor of Fat Tuesday, here are a few pictures from the Pensacola Grand Mardi Gras parade. This parade is very family friendly and my two kids loved every minute of it. I loved the time we spend together as a family laughing and dancing to the music!
Waiting so patiently for the parade to begin…
Oops! Right before the parade began, we found out what happens when you don’t follow directions or read the street signs!
The front of the line!
Heading back to the car with bags full of loot!
