You not only can pull off a fanny pack—you should!

I’ve become a fanny pack evangelist because I love fanny packs. They’re practical. They save me from neck and shoulder pain. And they’re cute!

(Just don’t call my fanny pack a belt bag—I’m not in denial. It’s a fanny pack.)

Not convinced? Read all the reasons why I love fanny packs, then get yourself one. At the bottom of this post, I’ve pulled together my favorite ones (including the galactic fanny pack I wear, of course!) and tips on how to wear a fanny pack.

I promise: You can pull this off. Here’s why you should try.

This post contains affiliate links, which adds no extra cost for you. When you click through, I may earn a small income, which helps me continue to bring you family travel tips for free.

Fanny packs: The ultimate mom accessory

Whether you already rock a fanny pack (high five!!!!) or are wondering how to wear a fanny pack, these reasons to love ’em will have you embracing the 80’s throwback in no time.

1. Go hands free

When you wear a fanny pack, your hands are free to take photos, dole out snacks and hold onto your kids’ hands.

(Even still, my youngest says, “Mama, think of what you could do with eight hands!”)

2. Pockets when you wear leggings

I am an unabashed fan of wearing leggings all the time. I’m pretty sure you agree that leggings 24/7 is the best mom uniform ever: All the comfort and the cute styles without having to worry about what to wear (or a dry cleaning bill).

The only problem with leggings is they have no pockets!

The brilliant solution: Fanny packs. Wearing a fanny pack is basically like adding pockets to leggings.

3. Carry what you need—and no more

If you’re like I was before I started using a fanny pack, your purse is full of stuff. You have whatever you need—and a whole lot more. I would find random toys, doodads from birthday party goodie bags, used tissues and bouncy balls in my purse.

But now that I use a fanny pack, I carry my wallet, phone, keys and a snack for the kids. I have just enough room for what I need so I don’t end up being a pack mule.

4. Hike with just what you need

On a related note, I wear my fanny pack when my family goes on short hikes. If we’re out walking the dog or hiking for just a mile or so, I don’t want to carry a big backpack—it’s overkill. But I can carry just enough with my fanny pack.

5. Find that perfect accessory to babywearing

My kids are 3 and 5 now, so I don’t wear them that often (though I still do on the trail sometimes). When they were smaller, though, babywearing was constant. Yet my Lillebaby carrier (which I absolutely love and still sometimes buy for friends’ baby shower gifts) didn’t include a pocket, so I had nowhere to put my keys and phone.

I started to wear by fanny pack along with my baby carrier and my problem was solved!

6. Stash a secret pocket

My fanny pack has two zippers—the front one, where I carry everything I need, plus one that lies flat against my belly. It’s safe and secure, which is why I carry my passport there when I travel abroad (like here, when I visited Huaca Pucllana in Lima, Peru). I also keep a small set of just-in-case items there at all times: In a snack sized ziplock I carry a few band-aids, several Ibuprofen and a hair tie.

(Wondering where I am in this photo? Check out my post about the best things to do in Lima, Peru.)

7. Save your shoulders and neck

Recently I learned I have several bulging discs in my neck. (Glamorous, I know). Suddenly it made sense why I’d get severe neck and shoulder pain when I wear a purse: Having anything on one shoulder threw me out of alignment and aggravated my injury.

When I wear a fanny pack, I have so much less neck and shoulder pain. We moms are constantly holding a million things at once—a kid on one hip and 40 pounds of groceries in the other hand, for example—and we need to give our bodies a break. Wearing a fanny pack is one easy way I do just that.

8. Stop hitting people with your purse

Moms, you’ve been there: You lean over to see your child eye-to-eye or tie their shoe, and your purse swings forward, bopping them in the face. Ow!

Fanny packs stay put. No more hitting people with your shoulder bag!

9. Avoid gross situations with your purse

You know when you use a public bathroom and there’s no hook to hold your purse? You end up wondering what in the heck to do with it while you do your business. And when you sit down at a café or restaurant, you probably put your purse on the floor, picking up whatever germs other people’s shoes left behind. Yuck.

When I wear a fanny pack, I don’t have to worry about where to hang it. I just keep it on.

How to wear a fanny pack

Now that I’ve convinced you to love this mom-friendly accessory, you might be asking how to wear a fanny pack.

Personally, I wear mine on my front, so it’s actually more of a belly pack. When it comes to how to wear a fanny pack, I prefer it on my front so I can easily grab what I need.

I wear it low over my hips, not around my waist.

You can also wear a fanny pack in the back, over your bum. Sometimes I’ll swing it around this way if I’m carrying one of my kids so it doesn’t get in the way.

On the other hand, if I’m in a crowd, I don’t wear my fanny pack in the back because I worry someone will pick my pocket.

Thirdly, you can wear your fanny pack across your chest. I have friends who do this, making a fanny pack a hybrid shoulder bag. It’s not ideal if you have neck or shoulder pain like me, although it’s better than a purse because it stays close to your body and therefore doesn’t pull you to the side as much.

However, wearing a fanny pack across your chest doesn’t work as well if your bust is on the bigger side.

My favorite fanny packs

Now that you’ve been won over by my fanny pack evangelism, you might be wondering which one to buy. The great news about fanny packs is they tend to be durable but not that expensive, so you can totally buy several and rotate them, just like a (cheaper) purse.

Need some ideas? Check out my 8 favorite fanny packs below!

Glitter glamor

I’m actually putting this glitter fanny pack on my wish list for Christmas/my birthday (since they’re around the same time). I could definitely use a little extra glam in my day-to-day!

Totally radical 80’s throwback

This hologram-like fanny pack makes me want to break out my scrunchie and leg warmers.

Utilitarian and unisex catch-all

If you want something that’s not flashy, this no-frills fanny pack is ideal. (And you might be able to persuade your husband to wear it! Maybe…)

Flirty flair

Sometimes girls do just want to have fun. I like this tropical-inspired fanny pack because it makes me think of beautiful warm weather (and cocktails with umbrellas in them).

Preppy practicality

I love this simple fanny pack because it’s cute (and comes in many colors), but it’s also understated—perfect for traveling moms who might be more comfortable in collared shirts.

Sleek style

Ok, so this red belt bag isn’t actually a fanny pack, but for those of us who need a bit of a gateway drug to fanny packs, embrace this red tailored leather!

Sporty spice

Whether you actually run marathons or just like athletic wear, this sporty fanny pack is adorable and practical.

Space kitties!

You could also buy the space cats fanny pack I wear every day—then we could be fanny pack twins!

It’s no secret I love fanny packs, but how about you? Would you try out this mom-friendly style now that you know how to wear a fanny pack?

The post 9 reasons I love fanny packs (and why you should rock a fanny pack, too) appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

Raise your hand if you’ve been there: You’re on vacation with your family. You’re traveling to a new place. It’s time to eat—but you don’t know where to go. You end up googling and Yelping, and the kid friendly restaurant searches are coming up with nothing that looks good (to you or your picky kids). Meanwhile, your kids are getting more hangry by the minute, and you’ve run out of granola bars and fruit leather. DISASTER! Or is it?

You see, my kids went through the pre-meal meltdowns so many times that I just knew there had to be a better way to find a kid friendly restaurant no matter where we traveled.

Then I figured it out: Pretty much wherever you go, you can find a midrange to high-end grocery store that’s guaranteed to have plenty to keep any kids happy and well fed. When we’re on a family vacation, we often eat at Whole Foods, local natural food stores and even Safeway—and we always find something good to eat.

Read on for my tested tips and recommendations to find a kid friendly restaurant on vacation—at the grocery store!

Find a kid friendly restaurant ANYWHERE

Picky kids? Impatient husband? Gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, Paleo, keto, vegan? No matter what the combination of your dietary requirements and preferences, most grocery stores can satisfy your whole family.

First of all, even picky eaters can find something to eat at a grocery store. Hot delis have corn dogs, cold delis have sandwiches, and the rest of the grocery store is a treasure trove of ready to eat, kid friendly food.
Secondly, eating at a grocery store is waaaay cheaper than a restaurant (especially considering that your kids might not eat anything at the Thai place you picked after an hour of searching for family friendly restaurants on Yelp.)

Yes, you’ll want to branch out and explore other (actual) restaurants, but if you’re ever in a pinch and need to find a kid friendly restaurant like NOW, the grocery store is your best bet. Here’s how to make the most of the grocery store for any meal.

Rock the hot deli

For my older daughter’s fifth birthday, her Grandma offered to take her to lunch anywhere she wanted. Where did Edie choose? The fancy grocery store 5 minutes from our house.

She and her sister love the macaroni and cheese there. I also get them jojos, and occasionally a corn dog.
Other common hot bar options to turn the grocery store into a kid friendly restaurant: pizza, chicken tenders, stir fry and much more.

Many higher end grocery stores also serve made to order foods. Our neighborhood store, for example, serves customizable burritos and burgers.

Don’t forget the salad bar

My kids love salad—what don’t yours? OMG kidding! My girls have literally never eaten a piece of lettuce. But that doesn’t mean the salad bar is off limits.

Even when the girls get mac n cheese (which is, let’s admit, every single time), we stop by the salad bar to make our yellow and beige meal slightly more colorful.

One more thing I love about supplementing our meal with goodies from the grocery store salad bar: I can get a wide variety of healthy foods in small portions. I can also satisfy both of my girls. (For example, Edie loves beets because they turn her mouth purple, and Maxine almost always will eat hard boiled eggs.) Finally, I let my kids choose what they want (and how much), which gives them power over their meal—and makes them more likely to actually eat it, research shows.

The most common delicious (and healthy!) tidbits we get from the salad bar to make the grocery store into a kid friendly restaurant:

• Cubed turkey
• Grilled chicken
• Cherry tomatoes
• Beets
• Hard boiled eggs
• Raisins
• Peas
• Bell peppers

Find your jam at the cold deli

Many grocery stores have a huge spread just waiting to get on your table. And with so many options, there’s something to please all the members of your family.

In addition, the deli staff are happy to serve you whatever size portion you need. So if your littlest is the only one in the family who likes quinoa salad, get just a scoop and let everyone else pick what tickles their fancy.

Don’t be limited to the potato salad and coleslaw though. Although those picnic favorites are familiar, many grocery stores have so much more. Take for example my local grocery store, which serves teriyaki salmon skewers and chicken pot pies they’ll warm for you while you wait. There are so many options!

You can also get, say, a quarter-pound of your favorite deli meat and pair it with an avocado and a piece of fruit. That’s a gluten-free, keto-friendly meal I’ve taken advantage of many times while traveling.

Sandwich bar #ftw

This is the area of the grocery store I first head to when I eat at the grocery store. There’s something for everyone at the sandwich bar, even those of us who are gluten free, since most grocery stores now offer GF bread.

I usually choose a build your own option and load it up with all the veggies (which is even more important when you’re on vacation and get out of your healthy eating routine). My sandwiches usually include lettuce, tomato, spinach, cucumbers, avocado, pepperoncini and even shredded carrots.

Not everyone loves a sammie loaded with all the fixings though. Kids can pick the toppings they like, including the plain turkey and cheese option.

What’s more, many grocery stores offer a kid friendly peanut butter and jelly sandwich too. You can’t go wrong with that!

Finally, if you’re in a hurry, there are usually premade sandwiches ready to grab and go next to the sandwich station.

Groceries for lunch make the fastest meal ever

Sometimes when you’re on vacation you just want to eat something familiar —and the same goes for your kids. (Probably even more so for your littles, whether they’re picky eaters or not).

So when you’re on a family vacation, it’s 100% legit to put together an entire meal from ready to eat groceries.

Don’t feel any guilt whatsoever: you’ll end up eating well, with fewer complaints from the kids.

If they (or you) need any persuading, consider this: Picking up ready to eat food from the grocery store is perfect for getting a picnic ready in record time.

Ideas to make a meal out of grocery store options:

• String cheese
• Yogurt
• Sliced lunch meat
• Sliced cheese
• Baby carrots
• Premade crudités with hummus
• Avocado dip
• Fresh fruit
• Peanut butter and crackers

Yes soup for you!

I’m a giant fan of soup, especially on the chilly days we’re famous for here in the Pacific Northwest. It’s no surprise that I regularly get a cup of soup from the grocery store when I travel.

Pair soup with a sandwich, wrap or even a roll (usually found next to the soup or in the bakery section) to round out the meal. You can also get a grilled cheese from the sandwich bar to go along with your kids’ tomato soup for the classic, kid-friendly combo.

Grab and go sushi

A friend of mine has a daughter who literally turns up her nose at pizza but will eat like three sushi rolls. You just never know!

Even if your kids don’t like raw fish, the all-veggie sushi and freshwater eel rolls are delicious meals.

And the freshly made sushi available at most grocery stores is a great option for adults of kids who just want chicken fingers and fries. After all, one of the beautiful things about turning a grocery store into a kid friendly restaurant is that everyone can choose something different! So if you want sushi, one kid wants a corn dog, your partner wants soup and another kid wants yogurt, you’re totally good to go.

Level 10 travel tip: Make sure to get chopsticks and soy sauce at the sushi counter. Most grocery stores don’t have these utensils and condiments where they have the other plastic silverware.

(Want to get your kids to branch out? Click over to a post I wrote on my motherhood blog about getting even picky eaters to try sushi!)

Save the best for last

Chances are, when you hit up the grocery store for meals when you travel, the whole family will happily find something they want to eat. My kids are always thrilled!

Then again, if anyone in the family is underwhelmed, you can always tantalize them with a promise of dessert.

Grocery store bakeries make cupcakes, cookies, cakes, and even other goodies like mousse and gelato. Many places will also sell these treats a la cart, so you and your kids can each choose what you like.

My local grocery store makes amazing flourless peanut butter cookies, and the girls swoon over their cupcakes. Just make sure to save room for dessert when you eat at the grocery store—uh, I mean the kid friendly restaurant!

Your kids will never go hangry again

With this vacation-saving family travel hack in your back pocket, you’re pretty much guaranteed to find a kid friendly restaurant anywhere you go. So instead of wasting precious vacation hours searching for a kid friendly restaurant with a play place, simply find a decent grocery store nearby. It’ll feed your whole family on a budget—and everyone will leave happy.

Have you ever stopped at a grocery store for lunch or dinner? What do your kids think of it? How else do you find a kid friendly restaurant when you travel?

And don’t forget to pin this post for later!

The post Find a kid friendly restaurant—no matter where you vacation appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

I’ve been there: We usually stay at short-term rentals like AirBnB on family vacations. And I’ve also started a family trip in a huff because we didn’t pack the family essentials the kids and I needed to have a comfortable stay at an AirBnB.

Because I’ve been there, done that, I’m able to share these AirBnB packing tips for families. By knowing what to pack on a family vacation, you’ll be confident you brought everything you need—and didn’t forget anything.

Even better, you’ll be able to enjoy your vacation knowing you have everything to relax, explore, play and make lasting memories as a family.

AirBnB packing tips for families on vacation

When you go on vacation, you don’t want to worry about dawn light waking up your kids at 5:30am or your curious crawler sticking her finger in an uncovered electrical outlet. You just want to soak up the family time—because that’s what vacations are all about.

To take some of the stress out of packing for a family vacation, I put together this list of AirBnB packing tips for families. So just take what you need, leave the rest, and enjoy your trip!

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I earn a few cents when you click and buy—at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work!

AirBnB packing tips for the kitchen

• Sippy cups. Our kids still drink out of sippy cups most of the time, but I’ve yet to stay at an AirBnB that has them stocked. BYOSC! (Bring Your Own Sippy Cup!)
• Kids’ silverware. When my younger daughter was born, the first thing the nurse said was, “Wow, she sure has big hands!” Nevertheless, she uses kid utensils (I love this set of kids’ silverware), so we bring ours from home.

Level 10 travel tip: For some reason, my kids won’t use regular silverware—but will use the disposable ones you get with takeout. So if you forget your kids’ silverware, grab a few extra plastic spoons and forks from a restaurant or fast food joint.

• Favorite foods. 100% of the time, we bring food staples I absolutely know the kids will eat. In our family, that means we bring bananas, peanut butter, cereal and macaroni and cheese. That way I know the kids won’t starve. #parentingwin
  (If you need more tips for picky eaters, read my post on getting kids to eat on vacation!)
• Essential condiments. Does your kid put ketchup on everything? Bring a bottle. The AirBnB will have a kitchen, but it might not have cooking basics, including ketchup.
• Travel high chair. If your kids still need help reaching the table, consider buying and packing a travel high chair that’s easy to transport and install.

AirBnB packing tips for the bathroom

The bathroom is one spot where we’re super picky: Our family doesn’t use many conventional bath products because I’m wary of the chemicals. We all have super-sensitive skin, too, which makes these bath essentials to pack for an AirBnB so crucial for my family.

• Baby shampoo. The shampoo and soap AirBnB hosts provide may be harsher than your kids are used to, so bring their usual toiletries to avoid irritated skin.
• Bath toys. We bring a couple of bath toys to make bath time more like home—and to avoid any bathing strikes.
• Baby tub. If your baby is still using a baby tub, consider bringing yours. When my kids were tiny, we used and loved this insanely compact travel baby tub—it folds flat, and you can use it to bathe your munchkin in the sink!

Level 10 travel tip: Even if your kids don’t use a baby tub, they could slip on the AirBnB tub (which might be more slick than they’re used to, especially since it was cleaned right before you arrived). Hack a no-slip bath mat by putting a towel on the bottom of the tub. It’ll be comfortable and slip-free.

AirBnB packing tips for the bedroom

Ah, peaceful sleep! Right? Or not? Well, your kids are approximately a zillion times more likely to sleep well on vacation if you’ve packed what they need for a good night’s sleep. (Or to totally goof off on a new bed—I’m looking at you, Maxine!!!)

Add these to your AirBnB packing list for a family vacation:

• White noise machine. The gentle whooshing sound a noise machine makes will mask unfamiliar sounds that could wake your kids. (We have used this white noise machine for more than 5 years and I love it!)
• Lovey and blankie. Bringing your child’s security blanket or favorite stuffed animal will make her feel at home and safe.
• Sheets and pillowcase. If your kids have allergies or skin sensitivities, bring bedding from home and make the bed or pack n play when you arrive. That way you don’t risk them having a reaction to the detergent the home owner uses.
• Tin foil. Covering the windows in your kids’ bedroom blacks out all sunlight—and helps them sleep in on vacation.
• Baby monitor. Especially if your kids are babies or toddlers, bring a video baby monitor so you can make sure they’re ok, even if you’re on a different floor. (If you don’t use a video monitor at home, you can buy this great budget sound-only baby monitor—that’s what we did, and now we bring this monitor with us when we travel.)
• Pack n play. If your little one still sleeps in a crib, bring a pack n play—or at least ask to ensure the AirBnB has one. (Many do.)

If you want even more ways to get some shut eye, read my post with mom-tested and pediatric sleep expert-approved ways to get your kids to sleep on vacation.

More AirBnB packing tips

There are other bits and bobs you’ll want to add to an AirBnB packing list for family vacations. Here are the ones we don’t leave home without.

• Laundry detergent. My kids have eczema and skin sensitivities, so we bring a laundry pod or sample of hypoallergenic laundry detergent (like the samples we get from our pediatrician’s office) for the kids’ laundry at the AirBnB.
• Cabinet locks. Bringing easy-to-install cabinet locks (like these ones, which you can put on and take off in seconds) can give you peace of mind—and protect curious crawlers—from getting into kitchen or bathroom cabinets that may contain cleaning equipment or garbage cans.
• Plug outlet covers. For the same reason, small and easily packable outlet covers are an easy fix to quickly childproof an AirBnB.
• Painter’s tape. You can use this to tape up the tin foil on bedroom windows (see above), tape drapery cords out of reach and even cover automatic flush sensors when you’re out exploring on your family vacation.
• Toys. We always pack a small bag of toys that can be used in multiple ways so the kids won’t get bored with them as quickly. Some of our go-to toys to pack on vacation: blocks, watercolor paints, bristle blocks, stickers, toy cars, dolls, and play dough.
• A changing pad. If your kids are still in diapers, bring a changing pad (or at least a towel you don’t care about so you don’t accidentally stain the home’s linens).

If you came to this post wondering what to bring to an AirBnB with kids, I’m certain you now have a better idea of what to pack! With these AirBnB packing tips for families, you’ll be able to vacation without stressing about what to bring. Never forget the essentials for kids again—and don’t forget to pin this post so you’ll be able to find it before your next family vacation!

The post The ultimate guide on what to pack: AirBnB packing tips for families appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

My in-laws stayed with us this summer but recently left to begin their mega adventure, aka traveling the country full-time in their RV after selling their home and all their belongings. (#lifegoals) To send them off properly, we did a family camping trip in Central Oregon, where we let the kids stay up way past their bedtime to watch the Perseid Meteor Shower under a big sky. During the day, though, we wanted kid-friendly activities in Central Oregon, which is how I discovered the Lava River Cave—a mile-long underground lava tube.

It was incredible.

Hiking the lava tubes in Oregon with kids was one of the most unique family activities I’ve done in my beautiful home state. And even though I grew up in Oregon, I’d never heard of this underground cave, which is just a 20-minute drive from Bend, OR.

If you’re looking for an undiscovered gem your friends and family have never tried, knock their socks off with the Lava River Cave near La Pine in Central Oregon. Read on for all the details you need to explore the otherworldly lava tubes in Oregon—and discover a whole new side of Bend, OR!

Exploring the inside of the earth at Central Oregon’s Lava River Cave

If you’re anything like my family, you like adventure—but the kind of safe, family-friendly adventure where you won’t actually risk losing a limb. Exploring Oregon’s Lava River Cave with kids absolutely fits that bill: It combines lava, underground caves, high-powered flashlights and having zero idea of what’s coming around the next bend for the perfect mix of excitement, anticipation and fun.

These lava tubes in Oregon was formed about 100,000 years ago, when 2,000-degree lava bubbled up from one of Central Oregon’s many volcanic features. After the lava cooled and dried, some of it collapsed—leaving the mile-long tunnel intact. In fact, Lava River Cave is Oregon’s longest lava tube. How lucky are we that we get to explore it?!

The Lava River Cave is part of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, full of geologic and cultural highlights shaped by Central Oregon’s volcanic past. It includes lava flows, calderas, lakes, waterfalls and of course lava tubes!

When you hike Lava River Cave near Bend, Oregon, you’ll first descend a set of stairs with a railing into the mouth of the cave. About 40 feet in, you’ll absolutely rely on your flashlight because it gets completely dark—fast!

The first part of the trail is on a metal grate path the forest service built over the collapsed rock on the cave floor. Soon, though, you’ll be walking on the cave itself.

The first stretch of the Lava River Cave hike goes slow, as you’ll pick your way carefully over raised rock and fallen stones. You’ll also go downhill, though there are railings built into the path on the most difficult stretches. For context, my 5-year-old managed this section just fine; my 3-year-old did fine while holding our hand. My mother-in-law has two replaced knees and managed fine, though she had to go slowly.

Soon, you’ll pass the section with rocks on the ground, where some of the ceiling fell off the cave when ice in the cracks loosened the stone. (Don’t worry, the cave is stable now!) The path evens out and becomes mostly flat and smooth. I couldn’t believe we were walking on the same surface that formed 100,000 years ago in these lava tubes!

You may feel an occasional drip of water from above. In fact, when you look down, you’ll notice little divots in the stone, where the water droplets have carved out indentations after hundreds of years. Now that’s patience.

Level 10 travel tip: As you hike these lava tubes near Bend, Oregon, don’t forget to pause often and look around. Shine your flashlight up and to the sides. You’ll notice many different kinds of stone, which are formed depending on how quickly or slowly the lava cools.

Farther along in the cave, you’ll see stalactites. Some of the stalactites are hollow, formed by escaping gases; others were made when the lava remelted and dripped down from the ceiling. These “lavacicles” are thrilling to see, especially for kids! (And for me. #sciencenerdforever)

There is also a section of the mile-long lava tube where the ceiling is very low. Tall adults will have to crouch as they hike along, but you won’t have to crawl.

As you hike deeper into the Lava River Cave, you’ll start to notice sand on the floor of the tunnel. The sand has been left there gradually over the centuries as droplets of water carry bits of volcanic ash and dirt from the ground above.

The cave continues for a mile, though admittedly, my family didn’t make it that far. Groups going at a steady pace will need 1.5 hours to hike the length of Lava River Cave; my girls lasted about 45 minutes.

Although we didn’t get to see the entirety of the tunnel, hiking the lava tubes in Oregon was absolutely something I recommend for your family! I didn’t mind turning back early because it just leaves an excellent reason to return to this family-friendly activity in Central Oregon sooner rather than later.

Hiking the lava tubes in Oregon—everything you need to know

Visiting Lava River Cave with kids (or people of any age) requires just a little bit of planning. Here’s what you need to know:

Bundle up

Lava River Cave is cold: The underground lava tube is a constant 42 degrees year-round, so dress warmly—even if it’s hot summer above-ground. You’ll also need to wear close-toed shoes—no flip flops!—to keep your footing in the cave.

Bring flashlights—and backups

The lava tubes near Bend, Oregon are dark, as in pitch-black. Regardless if you bring your own flashlights, I recommend you also rent at least two from the visitor center at the Lava River Cave. They’re super-bright, and for safety you want at least two (in case one malfunctions).

Level 10 travel tip: Rent a flashlight from the Lava River Cave visitor center for $5. It’s bright enough for you to shine on the lava tube’s walls and ceiling (some of which reach 75 feet high!); your average flashlight isn’t’ powerful enough to reach that far.

Arrive early

You can visit the Lava River Cave with kids from May to October, but it’s busiest during summer vacation. Especially in the busiest months of July and August, arrive before 10 to get a parking spot—and get in.

On a recent August weekend when we visited, we got one of a few final spots—at 9:50am, less than an hour after the cave opened. All the parking spots were full by 10am.

The park ranger explained to me the Lava River Cave has no overflow parking because the limited lot is a way of controlling how many people are in the cave at one time. This prevents overcrowding (so you’re not bumping into a million people underground when you really want a unique, quiet family-friendly activity in Central Oregon) and it would help with rescue efforts in case of an emergency.

Watch your step

This seems like a no-brainer, but when you’re underground in the Lava River Cave, watch your footing and hold hands with your children. Some of the floor of these Oregon lava tubes is smooth and flat, but other parts are rock-strewn and downhill.

The cave has metal stairs with railings in some parts, but in other sections you have to step your way around rocks that fell from the ceiling hundreds of years ago. I recommend that you wear/backpack carry all children under three years old. I wouldn’t have been comfortable with visiting Lava River Cave with kids any younger than 3, unless they weren’t walking on their own, because the terrain is hard to navigate in some parts.

Protect the bats

Lava River Cave is home to a small population of bats, though you won’t see them when you visit—they tuck themselves into cracks in the cave’s ceiling to sleep during the day. Even still, they’re susceptible to White Nose Syndrome, a devastating fungal disease that decimates bat populations.

To protect them, you need to make sure none of your clothing or gear has been worn or used in any other cave. Spores can get on your clothes and gear, then contaminate the next cave you visit—and the spores aren’t completely removed, even after cleaning and washing. And you definitely want to prevent the spread of White Nose Syndrome.

Why should you care? Well, bats are an important species for pest control, among many other reasons. Did you know just one bat can eat 1,000 mosquitoes an hour? Thank you, bats!

So far, the vulnerable bat population in the lava tubes near Bend, Oregon is healthy and free of White Nose Syndrome. Let’s keep it that way.

Visiting Lava River Cave near Bend: The details

• Lava River Cave is open May through the end of September.
• Hours depend on the month you visit; the park opens at 9am during peak months and 10am in the spring and fall.
• A daily visitor pass is $5 per car. They also honor these park passes.
• You can rent high-powered flashlights from the visitor center for $5 apiece. The last rental is at 4pm daily.
• Lava River Cave is about 20 minutes outside of Bend, Oregon on Highway 97.
• There are two sets of vault toilets near the visitor center but no restrooms inside the cave. Make sure you and your kids use the facilities before going into the lava tubes!
• Don’t bring your dog—pets are not allowed in the cave, and it’s unsafe to leave them in the car.

A family-friendly activity in Central Oregon you’ll never forget

Before we visited the Lava River Cave near La Pine, Oregon, my girls were beyond excited: “Is it real lava?” “Did it come from a volcano?” “Will we be underground?” They were full of questions.

Once we stepped underground, they were just as enthusiastic. They had never done anything like this—and it’s something they won’t soon forget.

(In fact, my older daughter drew a picture of us exploring this underground cave in Oregon for her “memory book,” a collection of drawings she made about our family camping trip.)

We will 100% for sure be revisiting the lava tubes in Oregon, and I’m so thrilled to share this adventure with you. This family-friendly activity near Bend, OR is unlike any other, and I’m pretty certain you and your kids will love it.

In fact, I’d appreciate your sharing this post by pinning, posting or tweeting because your friends will want to add the Lava River Caves to their adventure bucket list, too. Thank you!

Have you ever visited lava tubes in Oregon, or any other underground cave? What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done with your kids?

PS – If you’re in Central Oregon with kids, check out nearby Paulina Creek Falls, which has a terrific family-friendly hike, as well as the High Desert Museum just outside Bend.

The post Lava tubes in Oregon: Hiking otherworldly Lava River Cave near Bend, OR appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

But you don’t need that. After all, you’ve worked hard to plan, schedule and make this family trip happen. All you want is fun quality time with your kids and your partner—so you need the kids’ sleep routine to hold steady.

I’m 100% with you precisely because I’ve done family vacations with sleep… and without. (It’s no surprise that we all prefer the well rested vacations.)

Here’s where you should really pay attention: In this blog post, I’m going to share 13 tips to protect your kids’ sleep schedule on vacation. Yes, I have earned—and tested—these nuggets of wisdom, but I’ve also brought in the brilliant Brittney Stefanic, a super-successful sleep consultant (who, by the way, lives what she preaches with her 2-year-old son).

Brittney is a traveler at heart, and she loves to explore the country with her husband and son. In fact, they recently finished a 4-week bi-coastal trip, including adventures in Colorado and North Carolina! She knows firsthand that when you don’t sleep, life is way too hard—especially on vacation—so she works with families with young kids to help everyone get the rest they need.

So don’t leave your littles’ sleep on vacation to chance. Safeguard your kids’ sleep schedule on vacation—and have a beautiful, relaxing and rested trip!

13 tips to save your kids’ sleep schedule on vacation—approved by a sleep consultant!

1. Split the difference on time zones

How to deal with changing time zones and kids’ sleep is one of the most common questions I get about family travel, and for good reason: It’s so confusing! Heck, even adults have trouble adjusting to a new time zone.

Brittney has a rule of thumb that works for her sleep consultancy clients and her own family: If you stay four days or more in your destination, split the difference between your home time zone and the time zone in your vacation spot.

For example, if you’re going from the West Coast to the East Coast and your daughter’s bedtime is usually 7pm, put her to bed at 8:30 eastern time—halfway between the two time zones.

2. Darkness #ftw

Tape tin foil to the inside of windows—this budget trick is like blackout curtains but super cheap, portable and easy to buy no matter where you travel. You can also blackout your windows with black garbage bags and painter’s tape.

In fact, this tip helped my kids sleep in an extra two hours on vacation—and I now swear by it. This is the #1 sleep hack I share with my friends when they travel!

3. Naps—at whatever cost

Schedule long drives during nap time so your kids will fall asleep in the car. The naps aren’t as awesome as they would be at home, in their bed and surrounded by loveys, but they’re better than skipping a nap entirely.

Level 10 travel tip: Use screen time strategically. We splurged for an in-car DVD player when we bought our minivan, but I don’t let my kids watch a movie during nap time because there’s no way sleep would win over My Little Ponies.

4. Lovey lifeline

Bring everything your child uses to sleep at home: lovey, white noise machine, sleep sack, blankie, extra binkies, etc. The last thing you want on vacation is a sleep strike because you forgot your child’s favorite Elmo doll.

5. Same-old, same-old

Keep the sleep environment as consistent as possible. If your kids are used to own their own crib, for example, don’t make them bed-share. If they don’t sleep in the same room as you, reserve a suite with separate bedrooms or get an AirBnB with as much space as you need.

6. Come on, feel the noise

Use a white noise app (I use and like White Noise; free). Even if a white noise machine isn’t a make-or-break deal at home, when you’re trying to protect your kids’ sleep schedules on vacation, they’re a life-saver. Your kids might be sleeping more lightly because they’re in an unfamiliar situation. Or you might find yourself in a situation like we did when we visited Seattle, when we stayed on a 5:30am garbage day route. Either way, white noise is your kids’ sleep schedule’s friend.

7. Bring sheets

One time I stayed at a hotel with Kiwi when she was about 8 months old. She stayed in a hotel pack n play, and when she woke up, she had hives all over her body. That was the last time I’ve ever used hotel sheets for my kids’ bedding.

Both of my kids have super-sensitive skin, so now I pack sheets from home. I know they’re used to the gentle detergent we use every day, not the heavy-duty cleaner they use at hotels, so I don’t have to worry about skin reactions overnight.

8. Less is more

Don’t overcommit yourself and your vacation schedule. When we traveled to San Diego as a family, I was tempted to DO ALL THE THINGS because hey, when’s the next time we’d be in San Diego? After a few days of overscheduled vacation, 2-year-old Peeper crashed, and we ended up spending 3 hours in a hotel room while she napped—during perfect beach weather. Womp-womp.

Now when I plan a family vacation, I plan on doing only two activities per day—one in the morning, and one in the afternoon. We’re less rushed, and we do a much better job of protecting the kids’ sleep schedule on vacation.

Brittney approves of my 2 activities rule. “That limit leaves time for a nap,” Brittney says. “It also cuts back on overstimulation: We’re so excited about all the new things to try and do, but the newness and cognitive challenge is more intensified for children, which can really throw off their sleep.”

9. Eat dinner in

I’m pretty sure you’ve experienced this just like me: You do a bunch of family-friendly activities when you’re on vacation and finally head to dinner. But by the time you order, get food, eat, pay the bill and collect the kids from their meltdown on the french fry-strewn floor, it’s late.

So at least once during your family vacation, skip that routine and eat in. Get takeout or cook something familiar (boxed mac n cheese, anyone?) at your AirBnB. “Eating in is especially helpful when you have a couple of late nights in a row,” Brittney says. “Keep the evening like your typical routine at home. The more relaxed time will also act as a reset if you’ve fallen into some bad kids’ sleep routines on vacation.”

10. Protect your (sleep) boundaries

I’d bet these words have come out of your mouth: “Just let the kids have fun on vacation; we’ll get back into a sleep routine when we get home.” But letting them stay up as late as they want and sleep in as long as they want will be hard to correct once you get home.

Instead, Brittney recommends, hold fast to your sleep boundaries. This can be harder if you vacation with other families that are more lax about their kids’ sleep schedule on vacation. If the cousins get to stay up late to eat popcorn and watch movies every night, your kids will want to, too. But guess whose kids will be overtired, cranky and a pain to be around the next day? Answer: Not your well rested angels!

Here’s where I, personally, make an exception: If there’s a once-in-a-lifetime special occasion, I’ll bend the rules for my kids’ sleep schedule on vacation. For example, we’re going camping during the Perseid Meteor shower this month, and I’m going to let my kids stay up. Normally I’m doing my darnedest to get them to bed by dark, but I’m totally willing to compromise so that they can see comet debris burning in the upper atmosphere at 37 miles per second.

11. Everybody puts Baby in the corner

Raise your hand if you’ve set up your baby’s pack n play in a closet while on vacation: I have! #noshame This make-do technique gets the thumbs-up from pediatric sleep expert Brittney. “If it means the best sleep for everyone and it’s safe, then there’s no need to second guess yourself,” she says.

If you still feel weird about it, listen up: Brittney—the expert sleep specialist—recently put her son to bed in a pack n play in a closet at her mother’s house while they vacationed. If this trick is good enough for a pediatric sleep consultant, it’s good enough for me.

12. Shrug off the #fomo guilt

Resist friends and family’s pressure to stay at gatherings that would disrupt children’s sleep schedule. (One way to do this: Describe their crankiness—and the disruption that would cause the next day—if they don’t get their much-needed sleep.)

If your loved ones continue to press you to let the kids stay up, suggest that they get to handle all the childcare the next day while you sleep in/get a massage/visit an antiques store/enjoy time free of a meltdown-y child.

13. Alternate busy days

Sometimes packing a day full of activities is unavoidable—like if you’re part of a wedding party. On vacation days like that, your kids might skip a nap or stay up late.

Follow up hectic days like that with a low-key day, Brittney recommends. “It can help get everything back on track,” she says. “You’re more likely to follow your at-home routine and get back on your kids’ sleep schedule on vacation.” So plan for a mellow day at the beach or the pool, or simply playing board games in your AirBnB.

Get more sleep on vacation

When you have all these tips and tricks to protect your kids’ sleep schedule on vacation, you’re basically guaranteed to get the R&R you want—and so deserve.

What sleep hacks have you tried? What’s your #1 way to make sure you and your kids sleep on vacation?

Brittney Stefanic has much more sleep wisdom to share! You can visit her website to learn more about ways she supports clients, follow her Pinterest which is full of sleep tips, like her Facebook page for virtual sleep Q&A sessions and stalk her on Instagram to see adorable pictures of her son!

PS – If you’re staying at a hotel, you definitely want to read my other post on getting kids to sleep more on vacation: How to get more sleep when sharing a hotel room with kids!

The post Foolproof your kids’ sleep schedule on vacation: 13 expert tips appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

At my younger daughter’s recent doctor’s visit, the nurse went through the standard questions. Among them, of course, were the questions any parent of a picky child dreads: How many servings of vegetables does your child eat per day? How about fruit? Meat? Other protein? Um, does macaroni and cheese count?

No? Dang.

You see, my younger daughter in particular is a picky eater. She basically lives on bananas, peanut butter and varying combinations of carbs with cheese. Parents of picky eaters totally feel me when I say that travel with picky eaters is stressful enough to make you reconsider that weekend trip you’ve been looking forward to.

Here’s the thing, though. There are totally useful, totally doable ways to make your picky kids eat on vacation. Using a combination of these tactics has taken a huge bite out of the stress out of mealtimes when we go on family trips. They didn’t cure my daughter of her picky eating habits—I’m still hoping time will help with that—but they do ensure she doesn’t starve while we’re out of town.

#parentingwin!

So the next time you’re planning family travel, don’t forget these crucial tips to make picky kids eat on vacation. And pin this post for later so you’ll remember—and so you won’t stress during your next trip!

How to make your picky kids eat on vacation

1. Screen the restaurants

Before we eat at a new restaurant with the kids, I look at their menu online to make sure there’s at least something my kids will eat without complaint. Even if there isn’t a kid menu, I’ll scan other items to see if they can make a kid-friendly version—e.g. a mushroom-cheese panini can totally become grilled cheese.

2. Google maps the heck out of your itinerary

When we go on a family trip, first I search “restaurant with kids play area” and the best kid-friendly restaurants of our destination. Then I add the best ones to a custom google map of our family vacation.

That way, wherever we are—and in whichever neighborhood—there will be a family-friendly restaurant I’ve pre-screened nearby.

Getting the girls to try gluten-free cinnamon rolls at Kyra’s Bake Shop wasn’t a hard sell.

3. Order something familiar…

Young picky eaters are not going to suddenly decide that they’re totally down with seaweed salad if all they eat at home is plain spaghetti. So let them order something that will actually deliver the calories they need to continue living. French fries for the win!

4. …and put unfamiliar food on their plate, too

That doesn’t mean you have to eat buttered pasta, though! (Though if you want to, by all means, go for it! Vacation!!!)

So go ahead and order whatever you want to eat—then put a teeny tiny portion of your meal on your child’s plate. They may freak out and insist you get it off their plate—or they may try it. Hey, I’m an optimist.

She tried the arepas at Portland Mercado, at least!

5. Encourage adventure bites

In our family, we never require my kids to eat everything on their plate. Instead, we ask them to take an “adventure bite,” a phrase we learned when my nephew was visiting. (The fact that their cousin takes adventure bites totally helps my picky eaters branch out.)

Sometimes, though, adventure bites are too much. So to help my picky kids eat on vacation, I ask them to touch the food with their tongue instead. (I know, the lengths we parents go to. *eyeroll*) Sometimes it’s a no-go. But other times, like when my 3-year-old touched a slice of peach with her tongue, it’s a slam-dunk. “I love it!” she yelled!

6. Ketchup on everything

Kids like ketchup—it’s pretty much a universal rule. If your kid agrees, then ask for the server to bring you ketchup—even if you’re at a Japanese restaurant. (They probably don’t have it but hey, they might!) Then let your picky eaters put ketchup on whatever they want. If it helps them try teriyaki chicken, what’s the harm?

7. Order family-style

Some restaurants serve family style—Chinese restaurants with their lazy susans come to mind—and some research suggests that letting everyone serve themselves from food at the center of the table encourages kids to try more foods and develop the skills they need to become healthy eaters. Some experts suggest this is because family-style eating transfers control over mealtimes—which can be stressful for picky eaters and all of us—to the kids. They get to choose what, and how much, goes on their plate.

What’s more, family-style dining models to your kids what healthy eating looks like. They get to practice estimating serving sizes and putting a balanced mix of food on their plate.

So the next time you’re eating at a restaurant on vacation, agree as a table what you’ll order—and ask your server to place it all in the middle of the table. Then your family can choose what they’d like to sample from the center.

8. Enjoy—I mean, really enjoy—your food

Do you remember that scene in the movie What About Bob? where Bob is eating corn on the cob and enjoying the heck out of it? The kids at the table think it’s hilarious—and your kids will, too, as you “mmmmmmmmmm!” over your salad or stir fry. The over-the-top enjoyment adds a bit of silliness to the meal, and your kids might just try some—and “mmmmmmm!” over it too!

9. “Steal” bites

A while back, my family went out to dinner with some dear friends whose toddler is a gold medal-winning, A+, poster child eater. Seriously, he loves all food, which is kind of the opposite of my girls, whom we used to call “breathatarians” because they were seemingly convinced they could live on air alone.

Well, at one point in the meal, my friend picked up his son’s fork and pretended to try to “steal” a bite. His son immediately gobbled it up—and it was a hilarious game. My girls caught on, and now we sometimes try to “sneak” their food—which really, really helps my picky kids eat on vacation.

10. Introduce a new toy

On a recent trip to Seattle, I was on my own with my kids for a while, including several meals. Well, Mama planned ahead, and I brought a new toy for each kid. I’m not talking fancy, batteries-required toys; I brought a memory game and a tiny toy car. No matter: My kids were delighted. The distraction helped them wait while the restaurant made our food, and it made the meal fun. What’s more, it gave the kids something to do when I needed more time to finish my meal.

And—you guessed it—the unexpected surprise of getting a little toy at dinner made these picky eaters eat more.

11. Pre-order your food

In one of the greatest mysteries of life, hangry kids are actually less likely to eat. (Have you noticed that, too? What gives?!) So one way to make your picky kids eat on vacation is to put food in front of them before they’re absolutely starving.

One way we do this is look at a menu before arriving and deciding what everyone is going to eat. That way, when the server comes around, we don’t have to wait for them to take drink orders and come back 15 minutes later—we can order and eat in record time.

If you’re really under a time crunch and approaching hangry kid meltdowns, you can order before you even get to the restaurant. Just tell them you’ll be there in 10 or 15 minutes (depending on how far away you are, of course), and then they’ll seat you just before your food is ready. Genius.

12. Eat a little of a lot

If you travel with a picky eater, opt for some meals that serve small portions. That way, you can order a bunch of food, and chances are, your kids will like at least something.

Tapas and conveyor belt sushi are great opportunities for kids to see and taste a wide variety of foods. I take my kids to an inexpensive conveyor belt sushi place near our house during happy hour sometimes, and I let them pick anything off the belt. The catch is they have to try what they pick. Most things are a no go, but once Kiwi tried—and liked!—raw salmon! She even used chopsticks!

13. Don’t force them to sit the whole time

Kids are squirmy. That’s just reality. And it’s asking a lot of any young child—including a picky eater—to sit for an entire meal without getting up. So don’t sweat your kid getting down from the table before everyone has finished eating.

14. Pick a kid-friendly restaurant

Of course finding a kid-friendly restaurant that serves more than chicken nuggets is a plus. But beyond the menu, I’ve found that eating in kid-friendly restaurants eases a ton of the stress of eating at restaurants on vacation with kids. The staff tend to be less worried about french fries on the floor and other delightful side effects of family travel.

15. Enlist a pint-sized travel agent

Once you’ve found a handful of family-friendly restaurants, you’ll next ask your kids their opinions. Offer them two options you’ve already vetted and give them the power to choose where you’ll eat.

If your picky eaters feel like they’ve contributed and exercised some of their own control, they’re more likely to eat on vacation.

16. Decide on dessert ahead of time

It’s a giant pet peeve of mine when servers ask—in front of the kids—if we want dessert. Um, what kid is going to say no to that?! This suggestive selling makes parents the bad guys, and you probably agree that being the bad guy is no fun.

So instead of waiting until your server offers ice cream, decide and discuss as a family if you’ll  be having dessert or not. Making the decision even before you sit down lets you say, “Remember, we talked about how you had cotton candy at the fair, so we’re not going to get dessert after dinner.” In my experience, my kids are way less likely to throw a tantrum if they know a “no” is coming. (Or when a “heck yes!” is coming!)

17. Calories are calories

When I was pregnant with Kiwi and Peeper was about a year and a half, I flew solo from Detroit to Portland. While we waited for our flight to board, I needed to feed Peeper dinner. We sat down at a restaurant—and I had zero effs left to give that she ate nothing but french fries.

I sometimes channel that exhausted, who-cares attitude now when we eat at a restaurant with my kids. You see, I strive to serve my girls balanced meals when I’m at home, so I figure one meal that consists entirely of fried, salted potatoes won’t hurt. After all, even french fries can keep kids alive for a while!

18. Load up on breakfast

Generally, you have the most control over the first meal of the day. So to get picky kids to eat on vacation, load ’em up in the morning. Either check ahead of time that your hotel serves something they’ll eat, or—better yet—bring along their usual breakfast foods.

When we go on a family trip, we always bring a jar of peanut butter and bananas. Heck, I even bring a variety of sprinkles, ’cause once when my picky eaters were on a hunger strike I resorted to putting dyed sugar on their bananas and I’ve never gone back. #noshameparenting That way, I know I can get them to eat a full meal first-thing.

19. Food is a part of the adventure

When we go on a family vacation, we talk up the trip—the museums we’ll see, the hotel where we’ll stay, the hikes we’ll go on, the playgrounds we’ll visit. Why not do the same with food?

When you travel with a picky eater, especially, discuss the foods you’ll try and the restaurants you’ll visit. Getting excited about the food of your vacation—and talking about it in the same breath as the other awesome stuff you’ll do—helps your kids associate food with fun. It also prepares kids who don’t like surprises or who may have anxiety around new experiences.

20. Eat a smoothie

If your kids like smoothie, then by all means order a smoothie as an entire meal. I love taking my kids to Moberi in Portland because they both eat the green smoothie—even Kiwi, who will not touch a single vegetable.

21. Don’t eat dinner; eat happy hour

Forget brunch; happy hour is my favorite time at a restaurant, and that’s even more true now that I’m a mom. Happy hour is perfectly designed to help picky kids eat on vacation:

• Happy hour is early (so no hangry meltdowns)
• Happy hour is cheap (so you feel less bad that your kid ate only a single bite of the sliders she ordered)
• Happy hour isn’t busy (so there are fewer strangers to judge you when you give your kids a tablet so you can finish your cocktail in peace)

Happy hour menu items are also usually smaller than full plates so you can order a few extra dishes—and increase the chances your kids will try something they like.

Traveling with a picky eater—made easier

I wish I could wave a magic wand and make your kids open and excited to eating all the foods. Heck, I wish I could to that to my kids.

Until I get that magic wand, then, I’ll continue working these family travel dining hacks: I’ll strategically pick where and when to eat, give my kids some control over what they eat (and don’t), and find lots of ways to simply stress less about what goes on their plates.

I’m confident that you’ll be less anxious about traveling with a picky eater after reading these tips. And I’m fairly sure these ideas will help your picky kid eat on vacation.

Do you have tips for traveling with picky eaters? Tell me your magical (or not so magical) ways to make picky kids eat on vacation!

The post 21 tested ways to help picky kids eat on vacation—and not starve! appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

A park or playground.

Hear me out. True, you can play on a playground in your hometown, and a city park might not give you a one-of-a-kind experience you can get only in your destination. But you’ll never regret the time you and your kids spend at the playground on vacation—and in fact, adding it to your vacation itinerary can work wonders on your kids’ attitude (and your stress level!). Here’s why.

5 reasons to add a playground to your family trip itinerary

1. Playing at a park lets your kids burn off energy

If your littles are anything like mine, they finish road trips and plane rides with, ahem, an abundance of energy. Letting them loose on a playground allows them to stretch their legs, get the activity their growing bodies need and just be silly. Trust me: You’d rather have your kids burn off energy at the playground and not the local art museum.

2. Parks are familiar

Especially if your kids are very young or nervous about new places and situations, building something familiar into your family trip itinerary will be comforting. Your kids are less likely to melt down later if they’ve already done something they love—and that they’re used to from their routine at home.

3. Locals’ tips and advice

Here’s my favorite part about adding parks to every family trip itinerary I plan: Hitting up a park gives me the perfect opportunity to meet local parents. These are the people who will give you insider tips on where to eat, play, explore—and what to avoid.

4. Playgrounds make kids happy

Family vacations are all about, well, family time. Planning a trip itinerary only on what you want to do—museums, walking hip neighborhoods, shopping, exploring antique stores—is a sure bet to make your kids cranky. Build in a playground stop and they’ll be in a good mood the rest of the day (like when you stop in at an art gallery, or whatever else you have on your family trip itinerary).

5. Playgrounds let kids be kids

When families go on vacation, kids are often asked to be on their best behavior: They have to eat unfamiliar food at restaurants, stick close to a parent on busy sidewalks, be quiet in museums and otherwise restrain themselves at every turn. But at a playground—the destination they’ll be so glad you included in your trip itinerary—they’re free to be their usual, rambunctious selves.

Have you and your kids ever stopped at a playground on vacation? How did it work out? Do you have other tips to plan a family vacation?

The post Planning the perfect family vacation: The destination you need on every family trip itinerary appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

Just last weekend we headed down to Eugene for the day, and I don’t even mind the 2-hour drive from Portland because my girls always have so much fun!

But it’s not good enough to keep these amazing activities in Eugene to myself; I just had to share my favorites with you all! From splash pads to science museums, wetlands, bike paths to cherry orchards, when it comes to kids’ activities in Eugene, Oregon, you’ll be treated to magical outdoor fun.

Don’t take my word for it, though—try them out next time you travel to Eugene, or pin this post and save for later!

This post contains affiliate links. When you click and buy, I earn a small commission that helps me continue to bring you free travel content. This does not alter the price you pay. Thank you for supporting To & Fro Fam!

The best things to do in Eugene with kids this summer

Make this summer the best yet with these kid-friendly activities in Eugene. Oregon outdoor fun is never in short supply here—and these ideas are guaranteed to please the whole family!

Cool down in the river

When you visit Eugene with kids, do like the locals, and float the Willamette River. Depending on how young your kids are, you might prefer the super-calm, rapid-less Mill Race. You can rent a kayak or a stand-up paddleboard to explore this side channel of the Willamette. (There are rentals at Amazon Park, among other places.)

This is one of the best things to do in Eugene, Oregon so make sure you head to the river for some fun in the sun!

Level 10 travel tip: You’re in a city, but keep your eye out for wildlife here. You might spot a great blue heron, turtles, fish or even a fox!

Splash at the EWEB Fountain

On a hot day, the EWEB Fountain—just a few minutes away from shopping and dining hub 5th Street Market—is a bustling center of joyful activity for families in Eugene. Wear a swimsuit (or the wicking performance fabric dresses from Columbia that are basically my summer uniform) so you can play—and cool off—too!

Level 10 travel tip: What’s even better than splashing in a fountain? Riding through a fountain on your bike! Reach the EWEB Fountain via the bike path that runs along both sides of the Willamette River.

Pick your favorite flavor at Prince Puckler’s

This is always a highlight for my kids when we visit Eugene! Prince Puckler’s is a Eugene landmark (and one where even President Obama visited—and ordered mint chocolate chip!).

Regardless of whether you’re the leader of the USA or not, you can find your own favorite flavor at this ice cream parlor next to the edge of the University of Oregon campus and Hayward Field.

Level 10 travel tip: Take your ice cream to Washburne Park, one block south of Prince Puckler’s. You might see college kids walking slack lines or playing hacky sack while you eat your ice cream.

Hike Mt. Pisgah in Eugene, Oregon

Looking for fun family activities in Eugene? Why not hit the mountains! If you visit Eugene with kids in the summer, you’re better off hiking Mt. Pisgah in the morning. There are plenty of trails to choose from (look up options here), but many of them are exposed to the sun—not great for kids at midday.

Level 10 travel tip: If you do go later in the day, bring swimming suits. Mt. Pisgah has many calm stretches of river where you can splash!

Visit 5th Street Market

This historic, upscale market in downtown Eugene is fun for kids as well as grown-ups. My girls love the fountain on the ground floor, and there’s a toy store upstairs.

Level 10 travel tip: There used to be a rooster that lived at the market. It’s long gone, but there are plenty of references to 5th Street Market’s former mascot. Encourage your kids to look for roosters in the market’s decor and art—it’s like a scavenger hunt!

Hit up the Saturday Market

Every Saturday, just about the entire city of Eugene heads downtown. The Saturday Market is filled with handicrafts, food, musicians, a farmer’s market, and lots of opportunities for unbeatable people watching.

My kids get insanely excited about the balloon animals and the homemade artisan popsicles for sale at the west end of the farmer’s market.

Level 10 travel tip: Let your kids loose at the drum circle, which goes nonstop at the Saturday Market’s northeast corner. Little ones love moving to the rhythm of drums and the occasional digeridoo!

Pick fruit at Eugene’s orchards and farms

Depending on when you visit Eugene in the summer, you can choose from picking strawberries, blueberries, cherries, peaches, apples, and pears. Detering Orchard and Lone Pine Farms (where, actually, I worked for a summer!) are a few of our favorites.

Some farms have animals, pie tastings and other produce for sale, too. This is yet another one my (and my kids’) favorite Eugene attractions! 

Explore Alton Baker Park

This giant park near Autzen Stadium is a wide-open space for kids to run, play, and imagine all sorts of adventures. The best part is the island at the center of the duck pond, which you can reach by the big stepping stones. There is also a native pollinator garden and big concrete sculptures perfect for hide and seek.

Climb into a whale at Skinner’s Butte Park

I have fond memories of playing in this park when I was younger, especially the concrete whale. My kids love it just as much and exploring the playground is one of our best things to do in Eugene. 

Since I was little, though, it’s been totally updated. Skinner’s Butte Park now also has a three-story play structure with multiple slides, a mini-log cabin and a “spray and play” water feature, plus much more.  There’s no questioning why Skinner’s Butte Park is one of their favorite playgrounds when we visit Eugene in the summer.

Stop and smell the flowers at the Rose Garden

June is the best time for the blooms at this Eugene Rose Garden, but it’s pretty any time of year, especially in the Eugene summer. 

See birds up-close at the Raptor Center

In Eugene’s South Hills, a bird sanctuary helps injured avians recover and houses ones that can’t be returned to the wild. You and your kids will see eagles, crows, vultures, owls and other raptors at this wildlife center.

You’ll also learn a lot. For example, did you know that turkey vultures can spit caustic stomach acid when they’re threatened? Well, now you do!

Level 10 travel tip: Check out the Eugene Cascades Raptor Center’s web site for listings of presentations with the center’s birds, where kids can get an even closer look at these amazing avians.

Swim at the Amazon Pool

At the Amazon Pool, there is splashy fun water activities for kids in Eugene of all ages. When you visit with your family, the older ones can do cannonballs off the diving board while the littles play in the shallow pool.

The fountains that sprinkle water from above are great for everyone and after a day splashing in the pools, you’ll agree that this is one of the best places to visit in Eugene!

Disc golf at Dexter Park

About 25 minutes south of Eugene, you’ll find a high-quality disc golf park at Dexter State Park, which is an awesome way to spend the summer in Eugene with kids. Disc golf is a low-pressure game where you throw a small frisbee toward a basket. Young children can hike while the grown-ups play, and older kids may give you a run for your money. 

If you don’t feel up to driving out to Dexter, try the disc golf parks at Alton Baker Park near Autzen Stadium and Westmoreland Park in West Eugene.

Level 10 travel tip: Bring your BBQ supplies and make a day’s outing at Dexter. There are plenty of grills at this state park, as well as boat docks and a swimming area.

Win a gold medal at Hayward Field

Ok, your kids might not actually win any medals at this internationally renowned track (except in their imagination), but it’s fun to pretend! Some of the greatest runners of the last several generations have raced here, and it’s hard not to feel inspired to sprint just a little faster when you run on the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field.

Get pedal power

There’s a reason Eugene was certified as a Gold Level Bicycle Friendly Community: The entire city embraces 2-wheeled locomotion. Click here to get a map of Eugene’s hundreds of miles of bike paths or pick up a guide at the city’s many bike shops.

Some of my favorite stretches: both the North and South Bank of the Willamette, and the path that winds around the wetlands in West Eugene near West 11th Avenue.

Level 10 travel tip: Cycle along the West Eugene wetlands path in the morning or evening. It won’t be as sunny and hot, and you’ll hear the red winged blackbirds and other avians that call this area home. Keep an eye out for nutria, too, the large water-loving rodents!

Beat the heat at the Wave Pool in Eugene

Still not convinced that Eugene is the best place to visit with kids? Well, if you’re done with UV rays, head inside at this gigantic swimming pool complex. Splash! at Lively Park has different sections, including a wading pool with fountains, a wave pool that simulates the ocean and a big water slide. 

Cheer on the Em’s

Eugene’s minor league baseball team, the Emeralds, now play at PK Park next to Autzen stadium. Root for the home team while eating peanuts, heckling batters and eating ice cream out of tiny plastic baseball caps.

See the night sky in the middle of the day

Summer days are long, but you can catch a sight of the stars anytime at the Eugene Science Museum’s planetarium. This family-friendly museum also has interactive exhibits on meteorites, wind turbines and much more. 

Explore the University of Oregon campus

Summer in Eugene with kids is the perfect time to wander the University of Oregon campus. Since school is out, campus is much less crowded than it is during the school year. Who knows—the university visit may inspire your kids to get excited about college!

Level 10 travel tip: Let your kids climb the many-branched trees throughout the U of O campus—and don’t forget to snap a picture of their monkey moves!

Discover street art

Eugene has some lovely murals across town—make it an adventure to find as many as you can! Or just keep your eyes open for them and stop to take a picture in front of the ones you see.

The best kids’ activities in Eugene, Oregon: I’ve got you covered

I love spending time with my family in Eugene and it’s one of my favorite places to visit in Oregon. There are so many more things to do this summer in Eugene with kids—and with adults! Do you have any tips?

Pin this post for later so you’ll remember these ideas for Oregon summer fun!

And if you’re visiting Eugene, OR, don’t forget to book your hotel. The city hosts a lot of events in the summer (from track meets to the annual Bach Festival) so reserve your accommodations early!

The post 21 FUN things to do in Eugene with kids this summer appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

I have experienced this trade-off plenty of times on my own family trips, and science agrees: Spending money to save time makes people happier, according to research from Canada. 

The concept makes even more sense when you think about family vacations. After all, taking a trip is all about spending quality time together—and stress-free, relaxed time is worth a lot to you. So budgeting for some time-saving extras on vacation can be a much better use of your money than, say, a fancy dinner (which your kids might not eat anyway) or a few new DVDs for the road trip. Research shows it’ll make you all happier, too.

Paying a little extra money to save time—and save your vacation

Take, for example, a call I got from my husband one day: I was in Detroit for work, and he and the kids were joining me there for a quick family vacation. (Yes to mixing business and fun!) But he did not sound relaxed; in fact, he was calling me to say they might not make the flight.

In fact, he was driving down the freeway toward the airport and didn’t think he’d have time to park in economy, unbuckle the car seats, wrangle three suitcases, board the bus to the terminal, check in, go through security and make it to the gate.

A bit of quick googling on my phone led me to a solution: airport valet parking. Eric was completely skeptical, and I’m pretty sure he felt a hefty dose of guilt when considering paying more for parking when there were plenty of spots in the economy lot. But, I reasoned, paying for valet parking was way cheaper than rebooking three flights.

In the end, he did opt for airport valet parking—and loved it. The folks there not only parked the car for him, saving loads of time and hassle; they also helped get the suitcases and car seats inside the terminal. Eric and the kids not only made the flight; they had a few extra minutes to play in the PDX airport playground and grab a snack.

Sure beats running through the airport with two kids!

Ideas to invest extra in your family vacation

You totally don’t need anyone’s permission to spring for a slight upgrade like airport valet parking—but if spending a bit more to save your vacation is still giving you a hangup, hear this: You’re worth it. Your family vacation is worth it. And the memories you’ll make together are certainly worth it.

So take science’s finding that spending a little more to save time and upgrade your fun will make you happier (on vacation and every day!). Here are some ideas to do just that.

• Stay in a prime location. You’ll pay more for hotel or house rental, but you’ll spend less time driving to all the fun things you’ve planned for your vacation.
• Pay for better parking. See my example above if you don’t believe me that a little extra money can make a big difference in enjoying your vacation.
• Get grocery delivery. If you’re staying at a house for an extended time, you’ll want to stock the fridge—but going to the grocery store is a drag when there are fun vacation activities you’re dying to do with the kids. Instead, buy staples online and have them delivered to your rental house.
• Order ahead. You can call a restaurant (or room service) on your way so you don’t have to wait for the kitchen to make your food. This one actually doesn’t necessarily cost money, but it will save you from distracting hungry kids while you figure out your order!
• Fly direct. Sure, you may pay a bit extra for fewer layovers, but think of all the stress you’ll avoid on your family trip.

We’ll be spending the money to save time—and have a more relaxed vacation—from now on. How about you?

Has spending a little extra money ever helped save your vacation? What extras do you budget for on vacation?

The post Spend a little, save your vacation with this science-based travel hack appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

PDX is consistently voted the country’s best airport, and it’s not just because of the carpet. The Portland airport is great for adults (breweries! whiskey flights! wine bars! mimosas at the Country Cat!), but it’s also wonderful for kids. Between the kid-friendly restaurants, family entertainment and smart design, PDX is my favorite kid-friendly airport. If you’re flying through the Portland airport with kids, take advantage of the airport’s kid-friendly features.

Getting to your destination can make anyone cranky—and little kids have even less patience than us wise, calm, serene adults. (HA!) So a kid-friendly airport like PDX makes life a little easier on us parents. In fact, my kids now actually like hanging out at the airport!

Next time you’re flying through the Portland airport with kids, then, seek out these family-friendly perks.

Why flying through the Portland airport with kids WON’T make you swear off family travel

1. Log on to free wifi

If your kids are approaching a post-TSA meltdown (and I can’t say I blame them), save your data and log on to the PDX free wifi. The wifi in the Portland airport is famously fast—and good enough to stream Puffin Rock, Paw Patrol or whatever uber annoying show your kid is obsessed with this week. 

2. See part of a movie at the Hollywood Theater

A free movie theater is just one more reason why flying through the Portland airport with kids is the best. Not all films there are family-friendly, but check the current showing schedule for kid-friendly flicks. On a recent day, short films included overhead drone footage of Oregon, a stop-motion animation about a frog and a documentary about crows.

3. Wear your Timbers jersey

If you fly Alaska, wear your Portland Timbers jersey and you get to pre-board with all the fancy first class folks!

4. Buy kid-friendly (and healthy!) snacks

Skip the sugar crash and pick healthy, kid-friendly snacks for your pre-boarding wait—and the flight ahead. Fruit bars, squeezie pouches, popcorn, cheese and protein plates and more are great options. Stock up because flying through the Portland airport with kids who are hangry is never fun!

5. Look out the window

There’s something magical about seeing gigantic planes close up. Kids also love to watch aircraft taking off and landing.

Level 10 travel tip: An enormous window at the end of terminal C gives an unobstructed view of the runways. If you are flying out of terminal C or have extra time, walk down this way for primo views. Bonus: The window is right next to a playground!

6. Take a foot selfie

PDX tore up a bunch of its legendary carpet, which oddly enough developed a cult following, but you can still take a foot selfie along with thousands of other travelers! #pdxcarpet

7. Pick a kid-friendly restaurant at PDX

If you’re looking for something fast, Cafe Yumm is my go-to. It serves kid-friendly (and customizable) bowls with a base of beans and rice. If you have more time, Portland favorite Country Cat is a fairly recent addition to PDX, and their homemade biscuits with jam are a huge hit with little ones.

Level 10 travel tip: Country Cat also serves cocktails. The 5 o’clock rule guidelines totally don’t apply when you’re flying with kids. Mimosas away!

8. Stop by an airport play place

My kids find airport moving walkways more fun than just about anything else, but when I get tired of apologizing to passengers for my girls, I steer them to an airport play place at PDX.

PDX has several play places, including one on each side of the airport. TK SPECIFICS

Level 10 travel tip: Make sure your kids wash their hands right after using the airport play places. You don’t want to start a family vacation by catching a bug!

9. Listen (or dance!) to live music

Unless you’re flying super-early or super-late, musicians perform across the airport throughout the day. I’ve seen not only people playing the piano and saxophone but also the marimba and even the African kora. A little live music is a great inspiration for your kids to dance out their energy when flying through PDX.

10. Look up at the Clock Tower

The beautiful, weathervane-like art at the Clock Tower in terminal C is a great place for kiddos to explore for a few minutes. Invite them to find the different animals and scenes atop the towers.

This light-filled atrium is also the best place to eat a meal in the Portland airport, IMHO. Kid-friendly restaurants here include Cafe Yumm, MOD Pizza (which also serves a gluten-free crust) and Mo’s Chowder (get the kid-friendly fish and chips, yum!). There are plenty of tables in this atrium to sit and have a pre-flight meal.

11. Run sprints on an out-of-the-way moving walkway

If your kids are anything like mine, they love getting on and off the moving walkway. Unfortunately, other travelers are trying to use it for its actual purpose: getting to where they’re going faster. Great news for your kiddos: The long hallway that connects the two ends of the airport has several extra-long stretches of moving walkways, perfect for letting kids sprint to their heart’s content.

12. Take a break at a nursing room

There are roughly a dozen nursing rooms throughout the Portland airport, great for breastfeeding moms or moms who exclusively pump. They’re first-come, first-served, so if the one you go to is locked, ask a PDX staff for help. They should be able to help you find someplace private and close to breastfeed or pump, like the conference center.

If you’re pumping at the airport, take a look at my post on my other blog, Ten Thousand Hour Mama, for tons of tips on pumping at the airport.

13. Watch the dogs

Also in the connector highway between the two ends of PDX, an animal relief center offers an unexpected way to entertain kids. Your littles can watch through the room’s window as dogs dart around the room. The combination of finally getting to run off-leash and all the intense smells makes dogs particularly hilarious!

Flying through the Portland airport with kids definitely isn’t at the top of my favorite family activities, but it’s not on the worst-ever list, either. So when you’re flying in or out of Portland, take advantage of PDX’s family-friendly airport perks. You, your kids, and the rest of the travelers on your plane will be glad you did!

If you’re planning a family trip, you’ll definitely want to check out my $3 hack to make packing all your kids’ stuff totally simple. After all, I swear by this trick and it has helped so much by eliminating the hassle of packing suitcases.

Do you have any tips for flying with kids through the Portland airport or anywhere else? Please share in the comments!

The post 13 must-know tips for flying through the Portland airport with kids appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

Lost Lake, Oregon on Mt. Hood: Adventure + Fun

Just two hours from Portland, this breathtakingly beautiful spot has everything you need for the perfect family day trip: hiking, boating, camping, yurts, cabins and a general store fully stocked with ice cream. They’ve made it so easy to enjoy Lost Lake, Oregon that it’s practically a crime not to go.

I know that planning day trips with kids can be a little tricky—how far do you go? Will there be something to interest all the kids, no matter their ages? How much food do you pack? Will the hike be too long?—but since I’ve already made this trek, I’m here to share all the details.

Read on to learn all about visiting Lost Lake, Oregon with kids (or even without ’em!). You’ll want to head up Mt. Hood as soon as you can—or at least pin this post for later!

A perfect kids’ hike around Lost Lake

Hiking with my family is pretty much my all-time-favorite thing to do, but we sometimes struggle to find new destinations that won’t be too hard for my kids.

Hiking around Lost Lake with kids is a no-brainer: Not only is it gorgeous, offering postcard-perfect views of Mt. Hood, but it’s entirely flat.

Level 10 travel tip: Part of the loop around Lost Lake is made up of boardwalks. Just go clockwise from the general store to hit up this section. Know, though, this is the busiest section of the trail because it runs along the day use area.

The loop is 3.25 miles, which made it on the long side for my little hikers (ages 2 and 4). My 4-year-old managed the whole hike by herself but I ended up carrying Kiwi for about half of the hike.

Like with all hikes with young children, you’ll want to allow for plenty of stops. While hiking Lost Lake with kids, you might see newts swimming near the shore, patches of snow (we found several even on a hot May day!) and the unfortunately named but absolutely gorgeous blooms of the skunk cabbage. (Check out this picture guide of Lost Lake wildflowers for more to spot!)

About halfway around the lake, some of the trail is washed out. There are two or three stretches of approximately 15 feet where you’ll have to balance on rocks in the river to continue (or do as Hubs did and simply take off your shoes to walk through the water). There are impromptu trails that go up and around these sections but they’re steep and not suitable for young children.

Right in between these stretches, there is a rock beach—perfect for taking a power-up break with the kids. We stopped for snacks but my girls were too busy wading in the cold water and throwing rocks to eat.

Overall, hiking Lost Lake with kids was one of the most rewarding hikes we’ve done with children in Oregon.

Boating on Lost Lake with kids

Last summer while hiking around Trillium Lake, we decided we want a canoe. We haven’t made the leap (yet!) but we rented one at Lost Lake for a practice run. The entire family—including the kids and even our dog—were 100% on board.

Lost Lake offers incredible views of Mt. Hood’s snowy peak, and you get a perfect vantage point from the middle of the lake.

You can rent canoes, row boats, kayaks and stand-up paddle boards for between $20-25/hour at the general store. Note that during peak season (June-September), they enforce a 2-hour minimum. Life jackets are included in the rental price.

You can also bring your own canoe or other watercraft. The rental price is a bit pricey, but the experience of paddling around Lost Lake and taking in the view of Mt. Hood from the water is priceless.

We’ve been back to Lost Lake since that first day trip from Portland, of course. On our most recent visit—when we camped at Lost Lake—we brought our paddle board. Friends we camped with also brought a kids kayak (which we’re purchasing for our kids’ birthday!).

Our kids are now 9 and 7, old enough to paddle out onto the lake. We also love having one or both kids on a SUP and an adult paddling the crew around.

The views of Mt. Hood from the middle of Lost Lake are stunning. It’s no wonder that this is one of the most-photographed places in Oregon.

Lost Lake Campground

The Lost Lake Campground is a wonderful spot for camping on Mt. Hood. In fact, the campsites here are the nicest of anywhere we’ve camped in Oregon.

That’s a big claim.

Campsites at Lost Lake Campground are enormous. We camp with an 8-person tent to fit our family of 4 plus 2 dogs (one of whom is 100 pounds). Well, our enormous tent fit easily—and we could have fit another one of the same size on our campsite, with tons of room to spare.

Our campsite wasn’t the exception. We camped with 2 other families, for a total of 6 adults and 8 kids. All the campsites were huge! All the kids ran back and forth between the sites, rode their bikes on the loop, explored the woods behind the campsites and even put on a talent show.

Lost Lake Campground has 148 spots, most of which can be reserved. (Reserve your Lost Lake camping trip here.) Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance. For summer camping and weekend trips especially, reserve as far in advance as you can. These spots fill up fast. So if you want to camp at Lost Lake, Oregon in July, like we did, make your reservation in January.

There are no flush toilets or showers at the Lost Lake Campground. Well maintained vault toilets are stationed throughout the campgrounds. There are potable water spigots, too.

Lush woods of Doug fir and spruce surround the campgrounds. Our kids climbed logs, made forts and found plenty to do around the site.

Lost Lake Campground is not next to the lake, though. You can hike about a quarter-mile along the Old Growth Trail from Loop A to the South Day Use Area, which we did several times. The South Day Use Area is much less busy than the North Day Use Area because you don’t get the spectacular views of Mt. Hood from there. This area has easier access to the lake along with more picnic tables, though.

If you’re going to the lake for the day, you’ll probably want to drive to a day use area. That way you can pack your picnic, paddle boards or kayaks, dogs and whatever else you’ll bring. If you drive, go early to get a spot. Parking at Lost Lake day use areas is like a competitive sport.

Travel pro tip: Buy campfire wood on your drive in. You can buy it at the Lost Lake General Store for $9 a bundle, but it’s significantly cheaper at gas stations and grocery stores along the way.

Visiting Lost Lake with kids: Everything you need to know

• Lost Lake is just under a 2-hour drive from Portland. To make a whole day of your trip, stop in Mt. Hood on the way back for ice cream—or in Parkdale’s Solera Brewery for even more stunning views of the mountain.
• Entrance to the lake is $9 per car. Parks passes are not valid because the lake is run by a private company, Lost Lake Resort.
• There are vault toilets near the general store but no other toilet facilities on the lakeshore trail.
• The best view of Mt. Hood from the Lost Lake trail is about a half-mile counter-clockwise from the general store, or just a short distance from parking at the North Day Use Area. The viewpoint is well marked.
• Lost Lake is busy on warm days, and summer is peak visiting time. Arrive early (before 10am) for easiest access to parking.

If you liked this post, I know you’ll love my post on other family-friendly day trips from Portland, Oregon. Click on over because I know you’ll find more inspiration for travel with your kids!

Have you ever been to Lost Lake? Would you paddle a canoe with your kids?

The post Lost Lake, Oregon: Mt. Hood’s beautiful hike, camping + boating appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

It’s super-high tech. It’s super high-end.

It’s a bag of gallon Ziplock bags.

Mic drop.

Hear me out! We’ve been using this cheap, easy hack packing for a family vacation for the last two years, and I will never go back. It makes planning what to pack, keeping track of multiple kids’ clothes and remembering what is dirty and what’s clean a breeze.

Vacation is meant to be relaxing, not stressful, so the next time you’re packing for a family trip, try this travel trick. You’ll wish you started ages ago.

The best hack for packing kids’ clothes for vacation

Packing like a pro is straightforward. Here’s how:

1. Pack one outfit per bag. Include everything you need for a complete outfit—including underwear, socks, headbands, the whole shebang.
2. Include at least one outfit per day. My kids count how many days we’ll be gone and we pack that many bags—plus extras. ‘Cause I don’t know about your kids, but mine find ways to get waaaaaaaay messy (mac n cheese! sand! glitter!), no matter what, so we pack extras.
3. Involve the kids. Each of my girls, even the toddler, pack their own clothes in the Ziplock bag—and they love it! In fact, recently I was trying to be efficient and packed the bags myself and both girls lost their minds. I had to take everything out and let them redo it. Bonus: Picking out their own outfits makes them excited to get dressed once we reach our destination, so it’s not a fight to get them out of their PJs.
4. Label—if you want. Feel free to label each bag with the day of the week of your family vacation. This step is overkill for our family, and the girls like the flexibility of picking whatever outfit strikes their fancy, but it might work for you.

No-stress packing for family vacation

Here’s why I love this family travel hack:

It takes the guesswork out of packing. I know exactly what clothes to pack for my kids and how much of everything I need. And once I’m packed, I’m confident I have enough of everything. No running to the store to buy extra underwear!

It separates clean and dirty clothes. Clean clothes are in Ziplocks, dirty clothes are in their own bag, and never the two shall meet.

It makes coordinating outfits easy. When you have a mess of pants, tops and dresses jumbled in a suitcase, it’s mayhem trying to find a matching outfit. Organizing outfits in Ziplock bags means less stress on vacation.

Extra travel tips to be a pro packer

Want to make packing for a family vacation packing even easier? Try out these other organization hacks the next time your family plans a trip.

• Color coordinate your Ziplock bags. Ziplock makes colored bags around the holidays (green and red at Christmas, etc.). Buy a few extras when you see them at the store and assign a color to each kid. Then it’s easy to see whose clothes are whose—at a glance.
• Don’t go generic. We’ve used gallon plastic bags from the Dollar Store before, and they just don’t hold up. Now I buy brand name bags, and we reuse them for all our family trips.
• Bring a dirty clothes bag. As soon as clothes come off, they go straight into a dirty clothes bag. That way they’re all together (no cross-contamination!), and I just dump it straight into the washer when we get home.

The post The $3 hack to streamline packing for a family vacation appeared first on To & Fro Fam.