Traveling Mamas

Lenore Skenazy is an op-ed columnist at the New York Sun. When she wrote about allowing her nine-year-old son ride the New York City subway system alone, she made headlines in Newsweek, and answered critics on The Today Show and NPR’s All Things Considered. Naturally the blogosphere went nuts, too, with comments ranging from “she’s the world’s worst mother” to “kudos to you”!

Lenore explained her decision to allow her seemingly bright and independent grade-schooler take public transportation alone at her new blog Free Range Kids — “where we we believe in safe kids. We believe in helmets, car seats and safety belts. We do NOT believe that every time school age children go outside, they need a security detail. Most of us grew up Free Range and lived to tell the tale. Our kids deserve no less.”

Lenore is so right! I’m sure many of you rode your bikes, traveled down the street to play kickball, or explored the nearby forest with your friends from dawn to dusk in the summertime, and your parents didn’t know exactly where you were. You survived!

I admit, with my own kids, I’m a bit of a worry-wart — I wonder “what if?” a heck of a lot more than my husband. On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being envelope them in bubble wrap and keep them in the house for the rest of their lives, and 10 being put a five-year-old on a cross-country Greyhound bus), I’m about a 5. My husband is closer to an 8.

When we travel, we try to instill some independence in them — and we’re teaching them how to read maps and directional signs in public places. My 8-year-old is put in charge of getting us to our airline gate at the now-familiar Denver international Airport. She’s old enough to figure out that B48 is not down the wing for B1-B15.

At the Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, Texas, the kids absolutely loved having their room keys embedded in their wristbands. They could trot down to our hotel room each night while my husband and I finished drinks at dinner. We felt perfectly safe in the family-friendly hotel letting them make their way on their own. (Okay, so I didn’t linger that long over drinks…)

On vacation, we tend to try new sports and activities that we just can’t do at home. My daughter rode her first zipline at age 6, sailing 275 above a river in Hawaii. On that same trip, this daredevil child jumped off the side of a cliff, 25 feet in the air on a rope swing, to land in a pool of water at the base of a waterfall. Did my heart catch in my throat as I watched her do these things? Of course! But what a sense of accomplishment she felt afterwards!

Lately, my husband and I have been talking about allowing our children to fly alone on a direct flight from Denver to Boston next year to visit their grandmother. They will be 7 and 9. Since my children have been traveling since they were only a few months old, I’m all for it. They know the whole flying routine and the airplane rules (no kicking the seat in front of them!). They’d be perfectly content watching DVDs or playing their hand-held video games for a couple hours, until Grammie meets them at the gate.

More importantly, flying by themselves will help instill some important traits, such as self-reliance, independence and self-confidence–all key for thriving as teenagers, college students and adults!

Keeping the kids entertained on the road is a lot easier than it used to be, what with portable DVD players and iPods. Plug ‘em in and keep ‘em quiet is sure a popular way to go. But it’s not the ONLY way to go, right? Some parents rightfully don’t want their children to watch that same stultifying Spongebob episode for the thousandth time. For those parents, here is a list of some recommended small toys to help keep your kids occupied on the family vacation road trip.

Recommended Children’s Toys to Help Survive the Road Trip

Hasbro makes The Littlest Pet Shop, which my younger daughter loves. All the little pieces keep her busy, using her imagination (which is great) and repeatedly dropping said little pieces (not so great). The Littlest Pet Shop is easy to pack and carry, though, as it’s self-contained and folds onto itself. And if a mini hairbrush gets lost somehow, there are plenty of other pieces to implement in the ongoing stories that will be created in imaginative play.

Hasbro also makes a pile of Star Wars toys - I guess the whole Star Wars phenomenon is part of the collective North American consciousness by now, since many little kids ask for Darth Vader action figures before they even know there’s a bunch of movies about the guy. Transformers action figures are also popular with the little dudes these days. Anything that helps spur on children’s imaginations is a good thing, in my book.

Tamagotchis are the little beeping doodads you see dangling from many school-age kids’ backpacks. Fortunately, they do come with mute buttons, or every parent would have tossed them in the incinerator by now. Tamagotchis have been around for a while; every few years a new crop of kids discover them and are enchanted. The idea is to raise a little pixelated critter from egg to infirmity, with games to play and points to earn along the way. These things are around 20 bucks, and worth it. Children can “befriend” each others Tamagotchis as well.

My kids get carsick when they read books on road trips. Nausea does NOT a fun car trip make! But, assuming that some children can read in moving vehicles, slim paperbacks are the way to go. They are flat, obviously, and take up less space. Toddlers may enjoy looking through Richard Scarry’s Cars and Trucks and Things that Go, and slightly older children can work on their reading skills with any of the huge “Little Critter” library and later, the “Magic Tree House” series. My older kid has been reading the Spiderwick Chronicles lately, but really, pack a book in the genre your child likes, and chances are it’ll get read.

Time away with our families is increasingly rare. Make the most of a family road trip by helping your kids stay happy and entertained in the back seat. Happy children help the car ride go much more smoothly, after all.

Mr. CajunMama recently expressed a desire for a daddy weekend, since I like to take my own soul-oh trips and girlfriend getaways. I enlightened him that the proper word in today’s terminology is mancation. He laughed so hard and said he hoped it isn’t anything like metrosexual. So, in our household a mancation is still referred to as a daddy weekend.

Here are some of our top picks for a Southern mancation where daddies can travel with the guys for a long weekend:

10. Beale Street in Memphis, TN – The Amtrak station manager in Hammond, LA, mentioned to me that many guys get together and take the train up to Memphis on a Friday night and come back on the early Sunday train. The barbecue and blues clubs entice groups of guys to travel for a fun weekend.

9. Mississippi Gulf Coast – The beach and casinos are back in business after Hurricane Katrina. Guys can travel and lose money for a good cause.

8. Outer Banks, SC – Hang-gliding at Kitty Hawk and a kayak trip add some adventure to any mancation.

7. Grand Isle, LA – Locals call this the Cajun Bahamas. Many a mancation has been spent deep sea fishing from this destination.

6. Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail – Golf mancations are a hit. Guys travel from course to course and play the links.

5. Kentucky Bourbon Trail – DesertMama had a great time, but this stretch of two-lane highway is also a great place for guys to lay back and enjoy the bourbon.

4. New Orleans, LA – Bourbon Street. Need I say more?

3. Daytona Beach – Daytona Beach isn’t just for families, couples, or girlfriend getaways. This destination is the home to NASCAR, which makes it a must for our list.

2. Florida Keys – Ernest Hemingway and Jimmy Buffet knew a good place when they came across the Florida Keys. Pick a key, any key.

1. SEC Road Trip – This was the number one pick from an LSU freak (Mr. CajunMama).

Winning Tuesday just does NOT have the same ring to it as Winning Wednesday. But, I wanted to announce the winner of this week’s fabulous giveaway a bit early in the hopes that Carrie Cabral will receive the wonderful “Mum Gift Set” from LUSH fresh handmade cosmetics by Mother’s Day.

Out of a whopping 300 entrants, Carrrie’s name was chosen in the random drawing. (And if you email me your mailing address to MountainMama at TravelingMamas dot com right away, I’ll hit the post office this afternoon.) Here’s how Carrie plans to spend her Mother’s Day (it sounds like a lovely tradition!):

Every year my husband and our daughters go to Soulard in St. Louis. We visit the Farmers Market and have lunch. Then we go down the street to the St. Louis Botanical Garden and spend a few hours there. On the way back to the car we stop off at Gringo Jones, an eclectic store in the neighborhood. Then, we hit the St. Louis Zoo. We’ve been doing it for years. If it rains, we go to the St. Louis Art and History Museums.

We received so many amazing responses to our request to tell us a) how you would spend your ideal Mother’s Day or b) how you plan to celebrate Mother’s Day with your mother or wife.

I loved this one from Katrina, who deserves a round of congrats:

I plan to spend this Mothers’ Day with my beautiful 2 1/2 year old daughter and our brand new, bouncing baby boy (less than 24 hrs old)!

Dana described my kind of Mother’s Day:

I had such a perfect Mother’s Day last year, it would be pretty difficult to beat a spa day with a six year old followed by hiking in the mountains with the entire family! I suppose if I could add anything to it, it would be a bit more time in the morning to enjoy some coffee and conversation.

This one from Susan Varney made me smile:

i’ve been promised breakfast in bed a relaxing dinner at a local establishment and fun when the lights go out.

So did this one from Meredith Peters:

I am spending this Mother’s Day recovering from a tummy tuck scheduled for 3 days prior-how appropriate!-and watching The Sopranos, the 1st five years on DVD which I’ve never seen! And eating chocolate! It’s all about ME this year!

And this one made me laugh out loud:

I’ll be spending Mother’s Day doing what I LOVE TO DO! Stalking my WWE Wrestlers. Live House Show and meeting and getting pics with HOT men!! My family loves me

Jen G. described one of my all-time favorite ways to spend ANY day:

Truly? My ideal mother’s day would be spent at a luxury spa all day and have the works done (facial, massage, manicure, pedicure, etc, etc, etc) WITHOUT my cell phone and my kids are safe and sound with hubby.

We heard from moms who hope to spend at least part of the day scrapbooking, shopping, sleeping late or “sitting back and relaxing.” Other readers told us they have struggled with infertility and miscarriage, and suffered through their own mothers passing away. My heart goes out to all of you — I know holidays can be tough for so many of us who have gone through difficult times. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts about what this day means to you.

Here’s wishing all of TravelingMamas’ readers a wonderful, wonderful weekend — whether you’re a mom, daughter, sister, brother, father, husband or friend.

Sometimes, travel writers take press trips. Also called familiarity trips, these involve a few professional travel journalists being ushered around a particular vacation destination by PR folks in the local community’s travel and tourism business. I, MudslideMama, have been in the midst of a southern California beach town press trip, and just learned a valuable lesson regarding keeping one’s guard up. I carelessly left my PDA in a hotel lobby, and someone walked off with it. Travel tip: Don’t leave your personal digital assistant laying around in hotels. Yes, I know, this is a lesson that should have been learned many years ago, but hey – I’ve been burned, so lesson learned!

Top 10 Vacation Loss and Theft Prevention Tips

1. Keep an eye on your stuff. It sounds simple, but the sights and stresses of travel can distract even the most inveterate travelers. For example, I had taken some things out of my purse when I was looking for my sunblock, which it turns out I had left in my room. Apparently, I left my Blackberry on the table in the lobby. When I got back downstairs, it was gone. Someone STOLE my new Blackberry – and all my contact info, photos, and favorite ringtones that were on it.

2. If someone does steal your PDA, or if it’s just plain lost, cancel your service with your service provider. While you may be able to get the police to trace any outgoing calls on it, you’ll be held responsible for any charges anyway. Even if you have unlimited calls, the thief could be downloading songs and videos and whatnot, incurring huge fees.

3. Leave your most valuable jewelry and prized possessions at home. If you must take objects of considerable worth or sentimental value, pack them in your carry-on bag instead of the luggage to be stowed. Luggage gets lost or rifled through more often than you’d think.

4. Put a TSA-approved lock on your checked luggage. These ensure that the TSA won’t have to cut open your lock if someone decides your suitcase needs a closer look. In fact, carry-on is safest, and you don’t have to wait at the baggage carousel after arriving at your vacation destination. When feasible, try to stick with carry-on bags.

5. Prescription medications should be clearly labeled, and in their original containers. The security guy at the airport is still going to need to inspect it, of course, but this makes his or her job easier, which makes your time spent on the security line also easier.

6. Most hotels these days have a safe in the closet. This is where to store your passport, credit cards, cash, and any jewelry you decided to bring on your vacation. It’s the most secure place in the room.

7. Don’t travel to part of any country that is considered dangerous. While “considered dangerous” is open for interpretation, the US State Department issues travel alerts for particularly unsafe parts of the world. It’s a big world with plenty of terrific vacation spots; why ruin a romantic getaway or family vacation in a dangerous travel destination if you don’t have to?

8. Try to scatter your passport, credit cards, cash and I.D. throughout different pockets while out and about, rather than putting them all in your wallet or purse. Use inside pockets if you have them.

9. Be aware of who’s around you. Pickpockets and thieves often have plans, such as working in teams to nudge or distract you. Most people are essentially good, I think, but it only takes a couple of people – sometimes little kids – to lift your wallet, steal your purse, or otherwise ruin a vacation experience.

10. Your personal property or home insurance may cover theft or loss. Check your policy before you go, but it goes without saying that, even if your covered, still keep an eye on your stuff. And me? I wasn’t covered for the loss of my Blackberry. This was my stupid mistake – remember, don’t leave personal items unattended outside your room, even in 4- and 5-star hotels.

Vacations, be they family trips, weekend getaways, or that luxury UK experience you’ve been saving up for, are meant to be enjoyed. Don’t lose your stuff! Please, employ these Top 10 safe travel tips, but don’t get so tense about potential crime that you can’t a great time. You can be smart and still relax for a fun, safe vacation.

Kayt Sukel’s son, Chet, has traveled to nearly 20 countries — and he’s only three years old! Kayt, a freelance writer, lives in Bedesbach, Germany, where her husband has been stationed with the U.S. Army since 2003.

While her main beat is information technology, Kayt also covers parenting and travel (natch!) for such publications as American Baby, the Christian Science Monitor, Parenting and the Washington Post.

Here’s what Kayt had to say about recent trips — mostly throughout Europe, but also to Africa and back to the States to visit family — and the importance of never forgetting beloved stuffed Grover:

1. What’s is your favorite destination you’ve traveled to with Chet?

I think my favorite would have to be Malta. It’s got everything. History, gorgeous landscapes and these fabulous little pastries called pastizzi that are filled with ricotta cheese. And those pastries are exactly what you need after running after a toddler all day.

2. What’s his favorite destination?

Chet really enjoyed a recent trip to Luxembourg. He had a blast running around the old fortress ramparts. But honestly, he seems to really enjoy just walking around and seeing new things.

3. Most memorable moment traveling together?

We call Chet our little ambassador because he really does open up people’s hearts and minds to us wherever we go. Our most memorable moment still has to be him being swarmed by school children in the Ayasofya in Istanbul. We didn’t even see them approach, but it was a class from a rural part of Turkey in the city to visit the museum there. They saw that we brought a baby and just came over and started kissing him. And though we worried it was too much, Chet just loved it. It was just so sweet to see him and these kids just connecting in this strange and beautiful way.

4. What’s one piece of travel gear you absolutely can’t live without when you travel with your preschooler?

We have very little in the way of gear these days. Chet won’t sit in a stroller or a backpack anymore. So really, as long as we have his Grover and a few toy cars to play with (and of course, a sturdy backpack to keep us in diapers and juice), we’re all pretty happy.

But when he was younger, the Baby Bjorn and then the Kelty stroller/backpack combo saved us. Until Chet turned about 10 months old, we carried him all around in the Bjorn. After that, the convertible stroller/backpack was a must have — especially for Europe. You never know where you’ll find nothing but stone steps or be asked to take your child “off” in a museum. They worry that you”ll turn and knock something or trip an alarm. Who knew?

5. Any tips for flying with a preschooler?

Don’t underestimate the allure of the mundane! We’ve kept Chet happy on flights with a few extra plastic cups from the beverage cart, coloring on the barf bag and counting the number of baseball hats in the rows. And if all else fails, nothing is more fun than wandering the aisles (again and again) once the captain turns off the “fasten seatbelt” sign.

6. What’s next on your family travel agenda?

My husband just deployed to Iraq a few weeks ago so Chet and I will be traveling on our own. We just got back from a whirlwind trip to the states complete with long road trips and we plan to go to Bruges next month and then Israel once the prices go down at the end of the summer. When my husband was here, we did about one trip a month. We’re hoping to keep that up even in his absence.

I love the Kentucky Derby, with the big, fancy hats, Mint Juleps, and the thrill of the most exciting two minutes in sports. My son, daughter and I just cheered from home for our picks in the 134th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. The excitement was evident as Big Brown #20, the favorite, won the 134th Kentucky Derby. 

Sadly though, the filly who came in second place, Eight Belles #5, broke both ankles and had to be euthanized immediately. I admit I began to cry as I watched the teary-eyed doctor, who was on the scene when it happened, make the announcement on NBC. I just hope Eight Belles died doing what she loved best. We should all be so lucky.

A few days ago in the post Avoid Vacation Weight Gain I talked about healthy vacation foods, but it’s not just the good-eats we need to worry about when we’re away from home. Staying active is also very important. You can whine it’s vacation, and getting up to run on the treadmill is the last thing you want to do, but I can tell you now that you can stay fit and active on vacation and never see the hotel gym.

1. Join the Kids. Remember when you were sitting pool side while the kids and hubby were off riding waves? This vacation it’s time to get off your duff and join them. Didn’t you know a boogie-boarding mama is a hot mama?

2. Walking Tours. Leave the car behind and check out some local sites. Carlsbad, land of Legoland, has a painted fire hydrant walking tour, while New Orleans has numerous ghost tours.

3. Forget the Car. This is a great way to really experience a city. Many destinations have attractions that are within walking distance from hotels and most cities have terrific public transportation if you happen to find you’re too tired to make the trek back to the hotel – plus you don’t have to worry about paying for parking and you’re being good to the environment.

4. Inline Skate. One of my favorite vacation memories was rollerblading along the Galveston, Texas beach. This could be another “hot mama” moment. But try and practice before you give it your all, it may not be pretty if it’s you first time, especially if you wander into traffic.

5. Rent Bikes. This is fun for the whole family. And it doesn’t even seem like exercise. Pretty much every vacation destination has bike rental shops and many hotels and resorts offer free bikes to guests.

6. Rise and Shine. Some of you might think vacations mean sleeping in, but one of my favorite things to do is sneak out while the rest of the family is still snoozing and walk or run along the beach or hike the mountain trails. Sometimes a little alone time on vacation is a good thing.

Oh man, are the Traveling Mamas big fans of wine writer Natalie Maclean. She’s a funny and informative writer, a four-time winner of the James Beard Journalism Awards, and she also was named the World’s Best Drink Writer at the World Food Media Awards (that’s just about the best name for an award). Natalie Maclean writes hilariously and self-effacingly in her book, Red, White, and Drunk All Over. This is a kind-of travel, kind-of drinking memoir, and I love it. Even better, she kindly answered some of our questions, and - my favorite - has put serious consideration into wine matching with the lowbrow foods typically found in rushed weekday family dinners. What, am I the only one? Don’t tell me the rest of you prepare steak and endive salad every Wednesday night (or as we call it, mac-n-cheese night).

Natalie MacLean’s Top 10 Fun Food and Wine Pairings

1. Popcorn with Chilean Chardonnay
2. Nachos with California Zinfandel
3. Potato Chips with French Champagne
4. Pizza with Italian Chianti
5. Fish and chips with German Riesling
6. Hamburgers with Australian Shiraz
7. Smoked salmon with Canadian or Oregon Pinot Noir
8. Quiche with New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
9. Canned brown beans with tawny Port
10. TV dinner steak with French or Washington Cabernet Sauvignon

The last chapter of Red, White, and Drunk All Over, called Wine Meets its Toughest Matches, includes more than just the Top 10 fun food and wine pairings. Does a nice Merlot or Pinot Noir go with red Jello? You’ll have to read the book to find out. (Also see the pairing feature online.) In the meantime, it’s time to crack open a can of pork and beans for dinner. At least now I know to pair it with Port!

This is why I do not plan outdoor parties for my daughter’s early May birthday. Here’s the view from my front porch this morning:

Spring weather in the Colorado Rockies is absolutely unpredictable — and nearly unforecastable. (Is that a word?) The Weather Channel is calling for 2 to 4 inches of snow today; FoxNews says some parts of Colorado might get 8 to 16!

My poor daffodils — after being munched on by the local deer population, the overnight snow has just done them in:

Moral to the story? If you’re planning a spring vacation practically anywhere in the U.S. Mountain West, pack clothing for all sorts of conditions! If you’re driving, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to stock your car with appropriate emergency gear, such as a spare tire and jack, warm blankets, snacks and water, gloves, pocket knife, cell-phone charger, and a flashlight.

So I came across this MSN.com slide show depicting the “World’s Worst Tourist Traps.” Maybe I had tacky on the brain, but I was thinking I’d see shots of cheesey roadside stands selling kitschy souvenirs — not the beloved Leaning Tower of Pisa!

Basically, MSN contends that some of the locales listed below are overpriced, not worth the trip or not worth the crowds. Indeed, I’m all about going off the beaten path and I seek out “authentic” experiences” when I travel, but I do take issue at the inclusion of some of these world-renowned and historic sites:

1. Leaning Tower of Pisa: Yes, everyone takes those goofy pictures pretending to “hold up” the tippy bell tower, but come on! It’s legendary!

2. Times Square: Yes, there are crowds, yes there are corporate advertisements. But it’s also an awesome place to feel the pulse of the fast-paced city. And famous Broadway theaters are steps away.

3. South of the Border/Pedroland: This Mexican-themed attraction/amusement park — in South Carolina of all places — is a tacky tourist trap. I’m not arguing this one.

4. Madame Tussaud’s: I’ve never been to one of these museums, now found in London, Las Vegas, Hong Kong and Amsterdam. But I think I’d spend the dollars to get that requisite shot of me next to Brad Pitt.

5. Wall Drug: What else is there to do along Highway 90 in South Dakota? if I’m road-tripping through, of course I’m gonna stop and gawk at the silly souvenirs.

6. Blue Grotto, Capri, Italy: I’ve never been. Anyone? Bueller? MSN questions why anyone would pay the exorbitant fee to take a seasick-inducing rowboat ride to a section of the Mediterranean that is just as beautifully blue as many other areas around Capri.

7. Seattle’s Experience Music Project & Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame: If my son (now 6) grows up to be a guitar-playing, Star Trek-loving teenager, and we head on a family trip to the Pacific Northwest, heck, yeah, we’ll go to this museum. A Jimi Hendrix exhibit runs through April 2010.

8. Fisherman’s Wharf: It’s San Francisco’s most popular destination. Can it really be that bad? I remember getting a kick out of the sea lions on a visit there about 10 years ago…

9. Gateway Arch in St. Louis: If you’re not afraid of heights, why not spend the $10 to go to the top of the nation’s tallest monument at 630 feet?

10. Faneuil Hall & Quincy Market in Boston: I love downtown Boston and this historic site. I have great childhood memories of taking special shopping trips down here from my NH home. Just last year my mom, my children, and I had a relaxing al fresco lunch on the cobblestone pedestrian area, and had a ball people-watching! Street performers entertained the kids.

11. Bourbon Street: Oooooh. I bet CajunMama and DesertMama, both of whom visited New Orleans recently, might have something to say about this one!

How about you?

The Traveling Mamas really enjoy vacations in Mexico; I know that for me, the Yucatan Peninsula is just heaven. I loved seeing the Mayan ruins like Tulum and Chichen Itza near Cancun. Cancun has many child-friendly all-inclusive resorts with resort day camps for kids - in case the little ones aren’t up for a day trip to see those pyramids. MountainMama loved her travels in the Riviera Maya, too. But Mexico’s a big, diverse country, and not all of it is so trip-worthy.

The US State Department has just put out an extended travel alert for Mexico. Specifically, border areas in the country are considered too dangerous to visit, what with scary increases in gang violence and drug trafficking. These Mexican border states include Chihuahua City, Juarez, and Tijuana. According to the State Department, dozens of US citizens were actually kidnapped or murdered in Tijuana last year. Yikes.

And wait, there’s more: The New York Times reports (April 29, 2008 ) that besides the enormous threat of kidnappings that are practically a business model in Mexico City, FAKE kidnapping rates are skyrocketing too. These so-called “virtual kidnappings” sound horrifying; one US citizen living in Mexico received a call from a young women purporting to be her daughter, and other parents get calls with the sounds of little children crying out for them (these are not their kids, in fact, but just imagine the panic). There’s no sign that US tourists are being targeted in and of themselves, but with very few arrests so far, the problem will only continue.

Fancy luxury resort hotels in and around popular tourist destinations have heightened security, of course, and there’s almost no chance of gang members barging into the Ritz-Carton in Cancun. On the flip side, staying in an all-inclusive and not venturing outside of the hotel property doesn’t give travelers any real sense of the culture and history of the host country – you could be anywhere balmy if you don’t leave the resort grounds.

This is a tough issue. The travel and tourism industry definitely helps boost local and state economies of otherwise poor countries, and the experience of a family vacation somewhere outside of our own neighborhood (and mental safety zone) is mind-expanding. However, as with practically any family, us mamas’ and papas’ priorities are the health and safety of our children. Without travel package deals, the cost of many inclusive resorts is out of reach for a lot of us, too. Is the answer to simply take our family vacations in the safest parts of the world? Or is the answer to travel to faraway lands, but refuse to venture out of the safety of hotel grounds? What do you think?

Have you bought your mom a gift for Mother’s Day yet? (It’s Sunday, May 11, by the way.) If you haven’t, Traveling Mamas just might have you covered!

We’re giving away this super-cool, ultra-fabulous box of goodies from LUSH fresh handmade cosmetics. It’s the “Mum Gift Set” valued at $47.95 and filled with the following:

• Comforter Bubble Bar Slice: Drop it in the bath for some fruity bubbles with a scent of cassis and cyprus oils.
• Dream Cream: Amazingly silky body lotion that I’ve used all winter long to soothe my dry skin. I have peace of mind using it on my kids, too, since its made from all-natural ingredients — like all of the LUSH products.
• Sakura Bath Bomb: Another bath product that fizzes and dissolves to release jasmine and orange-blossom scents.
• Lily Savon Soap: Pretty flowery fragrance that has been making me smile in the shower all week.
• Celestial Moisturizer: A very light cream for the face; my trial-size container has found a home in my travel toiletry bag. I’m thinking I need to buy a larger tub and make this my permanent facial moisturizer.
• Each Peach (and Two’s a Pair) Massage Bar: My husband and I sampled this the other night. We really dig the LUSH massage bars: they’re easy to rub on each other for some insta-massage oil with less mess. However, this one was just too citrusy for us. We smelled like Lemon Pledge. That said, my skin felt silky smooth the next day.

How to win this fabulous prize? Just leave a comment telling us a) how you would spend your ideal Mother’s Day or b) how you plan to celebrate Mother’s Day with your mother or wife.

Leave your comments until 11:59 p.m. (EST), Monday, May 5. And I’ll draw a name randomly, and post the winner’s name on Tuesday morning, May 6. Giveaway open only to residents of the United States. Sorry, relatives of Traveling Mamas: you can’t enter either.

And if you haven’t entered our Tots on the Go giveaway, get on over there and leave a comment.

Good luck!

Have you ever gained weight while on vacation? Okay, I can hear you laughing. I think most people find themselves staring at the scale with an open jaw after a trip. “How could this happen? I didn’t eat that much. Well, I did have a few pinches of the kids’ cotton candy, then there was that Ben & Jerry’s ice cream cone and the all-you-can-eat buffet with those yummy little fried egg rolls. Did I really taste every dessert?” I won’t even mention those strawberry margaritas you had while lounging poolside while your husband and kids were off frolicking in the ocean.

This summer let’s avoid those chubby consequences of vacation eating and return home as hot mamas by watching how and what we eat. Who knows, you might even lose weight. Here are a few tips to keep us all on track:

1. Eat local. Part of traveling is enjoying the foods unique to the region, just don’t over-do it and order smart. Enjoy that bowl of clam chowder as your meal instead of eating it as a starter and order your shrimp grilled not fried. Try splitting your meal with your kids. Restaurant portions are so over-sized these days.

2. Don’t eat at the airport. I have spent enough time in airports to know there are very few healthy food options between gates. If you’re lucky, you might find a low-fat yogurt or piece of fresh fruit, but don’t count on it. Bring you own. By the way, those yummy Pecanbon Rolls by Cinnabon are a sin. They have 1100 calories and 56g of fat!

3. Know your “good” choices. Before I hit the road or air, when I know fast food is inevitable, I check out the fast food menus online and seek out the healthiest choices. Right now Taco Bell now has the new Fresco menu. None of the items are over 8 grams of fat or 350 calories.

4. Drink water. Not only does drinking water avoid extra calories (unlike soda or lemonade), it hydrates you. Playing in the sun and running between roller coasters means you need agua more than usual. Plus, water is great for the skin.

5. The healthy food really is there, you just have to know where to look and don’t think only you will benefit. On our last trip to Disneyland I was thrilled to find containers of fresh fruit, sticks of pineapple and trail mix at a tropical fruit stand by the Jungle Cruise in Adventure Land. My kids tossed their Mickey Mouse shaped ice cream for my grapes and strawberries. Next time, I’ll forget the ice cream and buy them their own fruit.

In addition to skydiving and jetboat riding during my research trip to Daytona Beach, Florida, last week, I also got to ride along in a race car at 160 mph around the Daytona International Speedway. How cool is that?!

I’m not a race fan at all. (Unlike my travel-writing buddy Karon, pictured with me at right, who knows all sorts of encylopedic facts about racing and the sport’s major players!) Plus, I drive like a grandma (sorry Mom!). But I did get thrill from strapping in to a NASCAR-style stock car for three laps around the track, which features turns that bank at 31 degrees. (Though, honestly, after my absolutely incredible tandem-sky-diving experience, it was a little bit anti-climactic.)

I felt totally safe throughout the entire three-minute ride. Just a bit claustrophobic when I got buckled in, with this huge helmet on my head, plus a supportive head/neck brace attached to me and the back of my seat. I could barely move my head side to side (which I guess was a good thing). My heart only sped up a couple beats when the woman who helped get me situated told me to “pull the red straps in case of an emergency.”

I think if I were a true race fan, and I enjoyed driving fast, I’d pay the $399 to the Richard Petty Driving Experience to actually learn how to drive one of the cars a few times around the track. It’s a program that lasts 3 hours and includes training and eight laps around the track. For the ultimate racing experience, you can dish out $2,999 for personal instruction and a 40-lap driving program.

Or, if you’re more like me, you can always visit the simulated track at the Daytona 500 Experience’s Acceleration Alley. For $5, strap into a mock race car and compete against others on a video screen in front of you. If you wreck, you’ll feel it!

I grew up in a typical southern home, where most meals were the stick-to-your ribs comfort food, but every once in a while my mother would break out a cook book and try to make some exotic dish.

I liken my mother to Martha Stewart without the scandal. Yes, she’s crafty and into made from scratch meals, but there are some things my mama just couldn’t teach me: travel cuisine terms.

No, I didn’t grow up in a plantation home. Before marriage, my fine dining experiences were limited to Prom and a first date here and there. I wasn’t ever given etiquette lessons, although my English heritage tries to show itself. My freelance writing has allowed me to experience things that are out of the norm for where I live. As CajunMama, I will pass along little nuggets of info I’ve learned along the way, so that you other Mamas out there can impress your friends with your knowledge. You’ll never feel like Julia Roberts from that dining scene in Pretty Woman, ever again.

See the title up there….Amuse-bouche? Maybe you’ve heard the term, maybe not. Let’s pick it apart. Bouche means mouth. I knew that already from Frere Jaques and high-school French. Amuse? Helloooooo. So you can put those together and figure out something is going to entertain your mouth.

An amuse-bouche is a sample of what a chef can prepare. It isn’t an appetizer, which is something you’d order off the menu. It comes in one or two bites and everyone at the table gets the same thing. It is a little taste to get your tongue ready for the delights the chef has to offer, and the chef is usually creative and goes all out for these. The best part: they’re free!

Last week, while I was on my way to Lexington, Kentucky, my sweet husband did a pretty daring thing. He took my two preschoolers on a seven-hour road trip to Palm Desert, California to see his folks. The trip was a success. How did a dad survive such a challenge? In case you’re wondering, we do not have “perfect” kids. In fact, we are often “that” family - you know what I’m talking about.

With that said, here are the six secrets that helped DesertDaddy survive this long road trip with a two and three-year-old in the backseat:

1. DVD player. We scored some $7.99 DVDs at Wal-Mart and let’s just say the kids were as happy as the Berenstain Bears they were watching.

2. Zoobie Pets. Stay tuned for a rave review on these three-in-one critters. Zoobies are a travel-friendly plush animal, pillow, and blanket. The new Zoo Collection just came out this year. The kids don’t even want to take the short ride to the gym without them. Actually, my daughter is cuddled with hers on the couch as I type this.

3. Snacks. This one goes with out saying. But how can dad dish out snacks while he’s driving? I simply packed them each their own lunch box with their favorite snacks in Ziploc bags for easy access.

4. Water. Just say no to sugar on road trips, especially if you have a son like mine who will bounce on a trampoline for three hours after one M&M. Enough said.

5. VTech Tote N Go Laptop Plus is a terrific educational, interactive toy with an LCD screen that teaches the alphabet and numbers. Both of my children have their own “laptop” and it keeps the kids entertained for quite a while.

6. Finally, DesertDaddy was simply a good daddy. He stopped when the kids were hungry, required a potty break, or just needed to get out of the car. And that, my friends, is how my wonderful husband survived a seven-hour road trip with two preschoolers in tow.

Having the travel bug, yet living in a tourist destination, can be a weird phenomenon. For example, a few weeks ago my family and I took a road trip north of Los Angeles, and stayed at the San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito (well, its mailing address is Santa Barbara, but it’s really just south of that town, in Montecito - nothing to be ashamed of). I love hiking in the region, and on one of several hikes there, I noticed my spouse was cracking up. What? What’d I do this time?

He explained that I was amusing him because all the flowers and plants (and lizards) I was carefully photographing - as if they were rare specimens, rarely seen - were exactly the same types of flowers and plants that live back home in our neighborhood. It was only the act of being on vacation that made them seem special. And you know? He was right.

I just came back from a morning hike with two other moms, good friends of mine, and this hike is practically in our own backyard. It’s a solid trail called the Temescal Canyon loop trail, in Los Angeles, and it is a pretty scenic route through part of the Santa Monica Mountain Range. I drive right by the entranceway almost daily, seeing tourists and travelers with their maps and cameras, but my friends and I have hardly ever availed of it personally…I guess that this is because it’s just part of the background scenery of our lives. It’s an easy, child-friendly hike with only moderate climbs and a well-defined path with trail markers. I recommend it for any able-bodied person ages 6 and up.

The trail head is in Temescal Canyon: Take the Pacific Coast Highway to Temescal Canyon Road, or Sunset Blvd. to where Sunset intersects with Temescal. Parking is free on Temescal Canyon Road, or five dollars in the state park. The Temescal Canyon ranger station of Topanga State Park provides trail maps. While the Temescal Canyon loop hike is not a special challenge, there are some other trails for experienced hikers who want a workout. After a slow climb, the views start to get pretty fantastic; mountain range on one side, Pacific Ocean on the other. Not to mention all the flowers, plants, and lizards that seemed so fascinating up in Montecito! We cut out early on this loop hike because a smaller, scrubby and underused trail (Rivas Canon) leads almost directly to our homes, but hikers who continue on the main path will loop around and end up back in Temescal Canyon. An well-defined alternate on your map will be to continue on to the Will Rogers State Park; this is a 2.8 mile hike, start to finish.

When people think of Los Angeles geography, they usually get images of smog, miles of ugly strip miles, and untrammeled urban sprawl. Well, those things are here. But wide open spaces, state parks and mountain ranges are right here too; it’s nice to be reminded of that once in a while. A well-rounded family vacation in LA, California would be enhanced by a morning of easy hiking in this part of the Topanga State Park.

At the top of my list for any gift-giving occasion — birthday, Christmas, Mother’s Day — is a gift certificate for a massage. I love being rubbed. I’d much rather have an hour of bliss on a massage table than a new pair of earrings or a kitchen gadget.

I’ve also appreciated gift certificates to local restaurants and a nearby hotel for my wedding anniversary. My husband and I enjoy getting away for date night (or overnight!) without the kids. Again, I’m all about the “experience gift” rather than material things.

That’s why this website caught my eye. At Excitations, you can purchase all sorts of different adventures and activities for the loved ones in your life. A wide range of experiences includes hot air ballooning, personal fitness training, tandem skydiving, wine tasting, trapeze lessons, NASCAR ride-a-longs and, yes, spa treatments.

Granted, these “experiences” are currently only available in and around certain metropolitan areas of the United States, such as New York City, Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Denver. But if your summer travel plans call for vacations in any of the applicable cities, or you live nearby, what a super-cool Mother’s Day gift to either a) ask for or b) give your wife, mom, sister or best friend. I’m betting any mom you know would love opening her mailbox to one of these nifty turquoise, blue and white boxes with a super-special gift certificate inside!