My kids and I love Klutz products. The irreverent activity books, nifty crafts and entertaining games come in compact kits or books that are ideal for travel.

Many Klutz items have accompanied us on road trips and plane rides. In particular, Kids Travel: A Backseat Survival Kit is chock full of games, puzzles, mysteries, quizzes, trivia and art projects for ages 6 and up. My daughter has mastered all of the moves illustrated in Cat’s Cradle, a board book that comes with a colorful string for making the figures. Both kids have made pictures with the portable book Hand Art, from Klutz’s Chicken Socks imprint for ages 4 and up. And the Klutz Book of Paper Airplanes makes an awesome birthday gift.

I always look forward to spring when Klutz releases its new products. Even though Short Stuffs: Create Your Own No-Sew Stuffed Animals is designed for kids as young as 4, my 8-year-old daughter got such a kick out of it. She spent at least a half hour stuffing little tiny pillows into the two “animal bodies” and attaching different felt arms, legs, ears and tails with Velcro to create colorful animals, like “Munchie Mouse,” “Chirpy Birdie” and “Playful Pup.” She enjoyed the activity so much, she brought the Short Stuffs kit to school for show and tell!

The instructions are all pictorials, no reading required. I can see how preschoolers would enjoy making animals for pretend play on an airplane or while strapped in the car.

My only caveat is that the pieces are small, and could easily get lost in the seat of an airplane or car backseat. You’ll just need to do a reconnaissance of all the parts and pieces after when it’s time to pack them away in the handy packaging. But there’s a lesson in responsibility and counting — 2 animal bodies, 13 felt pieces and 7 stuffing pillows in all!

My family and I are heading off to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, for two weeks this summer. For one week we’re all attending Spanish-language school and staying in a downtown condominium. The other week we’ll be at a beachfront resort (think foofy drinks by the pool). We can’t wait! So, if any readers have any tips on what we should do and where we should eat when we’re there, I’m all ears!

In the meantime, here are my recommendations for accommodations and activities for families heading to Mazatlan, Mexico, also on the Pacific coast.

Consider staying at the El Cid Marina Beach Hotel. This property is a laid-back, low-rise Mediterranean-style hotel that’s far from the hustle and bustle of Mazatlan’s “Golden Zone,” where most of the touristy accommodations are found.

The El Cid Marina’s compact layout makes it safer for kids to wander around the property on their own. A basic playground and mini-golf course are also inviting for preschool and early elementary aged children. Older kids will get a kick out of the friendly staffers that organize activities all day long–from pool Olympics and bingo to basketball and ping-pong tournaments.

Families of four can fit comfortably in a one-bedroom suite here. This room configuration features a separate bedroom (with door) for mom and dad, a living area with two couches where the kids can sleep, plus a dining table, bathroom with shower, and kitchenette with stovetop, microwave, full refrigerator and freezer and cooking utensils.

Larger families, or those who just love appreciate extra space, can get a two-bedroom suite, which is a one-bedroom suite connected to a junior suite. Vaulted ceilings on the top floor of each of the eleven buildings give the illusion of even more room for spreading out.

The swimming pools here are esepcially inviting for kids. The heated pool has a zero-grade entry, making it easy for toddlers to splash around safely. The non-heated pool (adjacent to the largest hot tub in Mazatlan) has two water slides and nifty man-made caves for jumping off of into the pool (it’s nine feet deep).

If your children tire of the two on-site pools at the El Cid Marina, you can take a free shuttle to the other El Cid properties a mile and a half down the road. The pools at the El Cid Moro and the El Cid Castilla are larger with more water slides, waterfalls and cliffs.

Family-Friendly Activities in Mazatlan

One benefit of staying at the El Cid Marina is that the property has its own tour company on site. This group can help you book catamaran trip to Deer Island or a city sightseeing tour with a focus on Old Town. (Sit through the 90-minute El Cid Vacation Club presentation, and get these tours for free.)

A catamaran ride to Deer Island features an all-you-can drink bar (with plenty of juice, water or soda for the kids) plus a Mexican lunch once you reach the island. Here you can also paddle a kayak, get pulled on an inflatable “banana boat” and snorkel with borrowed equipment (taking part in these activities does cost extra).

The city sightseeing tour makes a stop in Old Town Mazatlan for visitors to watch the clavadistas jump from high atop a perch into the ocean below. If you don’t want to take the town tour (which is upwards of four hours), stop by the cliff-diving site around lunchtime or in the late afternoon, which is when the tour buses generally assemble and cliff divers can troll for tips before or after they make their leaps.

MazAgua, Mazatlan’s water park, is open from March to December, and gives kids lots of chances to cool off with giant water slides, tube rides and a wave pool.

Acuario Mazatlan features dozens of marine-life tanks, live dolphin shows, a small zoo for mammals and a botanical garden.

Horseback riding, deep-sea fishing, whale watching and golf are other family-friendly activities readily available in Mazatlan.

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!

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.

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.

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?

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!

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!

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!

MountainMama went skydiving! Can you believe it?

When I was in Hawaii last year, I made the Jungle Trek zipline guy push me off the ledge because I just couldn’t take that first step into oblivion. I really wasn’t sure I’d have the guts to JUMP OUT OF A PLANE!

But I did, thanks to the incredible tandem-jumping staff at Skydive Deland. (Ray, you rock.) They’re calm, cool and collected. They were ultra-patient with my questions, even when I asked my 80th one in 5 minutes. “Ray, how long have you been skydiving? How many tandem jumps have you done? Have you ever broken any bones? Has anyone ever thrown up in air? Has anyone ever fainted?”

In the prop plane, as we were sandwiched in together in rows, me in front of Ray Pope, sitting on the floor between his legs, and Marat Leiras, the photographer and videographer (whose shots you see here), sitting between my legs (you’re all family once you strap on a parachute), I was asking, “Who packed your chute? How high are we now? How much longer is the flight?”

And the clincher: As we’re seconds from jumping, the door is open on the plane, the toes of my sneakers are hanging over the ledge, I ask, “I am strapped to you, right?”

Thanks Georgia Turner, Daytona Beach CVB and all the guys at Skydive Deland for making this truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. MAYBE, just maybe, I’ll jump again. When my kids are old enough to do it with me!

Stay tuned for a video. I’m going to try to load it onto YouTube tonight. I’ll link to it here!

ETA: Yeah, so loading my video is not as idiot-proof as I thought! Perhaps it needs to be compressed or something? I’ll have to ask my techno-savvy husband to deal with it this weekend. Lordy, it is pretty funny. So I do hope I can share it!

I’m in Daytona Beach, Florida, on a research trip, thanks to new friends at the Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors’ Bureau. And it’s cold. Like, really cold. Like, record lows cold. Did I mention it’s windy, too?

That means no surfing lessons for me on the 23 miles of famous beach. No parasailing over the Atlantic Ocean. No deep-sea fishing for the journalists who wanted to return home with tales of “the one that got away.”

Instead, our lovely hostesses arranged for us to go on a jet boat ride on the Intracoastal Waterway. Yes, we were cold. Yes, we were wet. (Thank you, quick-drying Water Girl capris from AltrecOutlet.com.) But we had a ball — laughing a lot while making 360-degree turns at 50 miles an hour on a 12-seater boat. And we spotted a dolphin in the channel (okay, so boat captain Bill may have frightened it a bit when he revved the engine in a no-wake zone, all in the name of attempting to get a good photo from the nearby dock). That’s fellow travel writer Karon Warren with me above, after our boat ride. (She’s probably going to kill me for posting it…)

Our group also toured the Marine Science Center (with kids’-eye-view exhibits and a sea-turtle hospital) and climbed the 203 spiral steps to the top of the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse (Florida’s tallest, with some fascinating history exhibits).

I’m praying to the weather goddesses tonight that the wind will die down so this MountainMama can go SKYDIVING tomorrow. Fingers crossed!

Nearly every year since 1997 I’ve vacationed on a houseboat on Lake Powell, the massive man-made lake that stretches for 186 miles across southern Utah and dips into Arizona.

In my single days, my then-boyfriend and I would rent a houseboat with a bunch of friends, and packing consisted of throwing some beer and Bloody Mary mix into our duffel bags. In recent years, my now-husband and I have packed diapers and sippie cups, traveling with three generations of his family (on one trip, ages ranged from 3 months to 63 years).

Now the kids are even older and can do more, so we bring along all sorts of blow-up rafts, water skis, windsurfing boards (that’s my daughter and her older cousins being towed behind a speedboat), fishing poles, giant water pistols, horseshoes and other fun toys.

Both kinds of trips – with carefree singles or a motley group of family and friends, kids and grownups – are a blast on Lake Powell. After all, the other-worldly playground is stunningly gorgeous. And you can’t help but unplug there – cell phone service is limited; we forbid laptops on our houseboats!

If you’re considering your first vacation in the giant desert-and-water playground that is Lake Powell, check out these tips from this avid houseboating enthusiast.

Reserve your boat early. Three marinas rent houseboats at Lake Powell: Bullfrog and Hall’s Crossing in Utah (south of Hanksville) and Wahweap, just across the border into Arizona. You’ll likely book your houseboat depending on what location is closer to your point of origin. You don’t need to book a year in advance, but if you want a certain sized houseboat and a specific dates, you just might want to be the early bird.

Upgrade your rental if you can afford it. Houseboats come in all sizes and prices. The very, very basic 44-foot Explorer sleeps up to 10 with minimal amenities, such as a kitchenette, outdoor grill, bunk beds and water slide. The top-notch 75-foot Excursion sleeps 12 and features a hot tub, fireplace and many more upscale appointments. With all sorts of options in between, if you are wavering between two choices, go with the more expensive rental—you’ll appreciate the small touches (which might include a GPS system, two refrigerators, bed linens) after a few days on the water.

Don’t worry about being a novice houseboat driver. The friendly marina staff will give you a thorough lesson in piloting your houseboat, as well as an important safety briefing.

Don’t overpack. Life is very laid back at Lake Powell. (Should we relax on the deck with margaritas or Coronas today? Is it a good day for hiking or water skiing?) Resist the urge to pack extra toiletries, clothes or anything less rugged than old hiking boots and flip flops. You’ll be hauling duffel bags (and coolers and water toys) from your parked car to the boat, so only pack the necessities.

Pack enough food and drink. I’d skimp on T-shirts before I’d skimp on what’s really important at Lake Powell: lots of bottled water (and beer!), salty snacks, sweet treats and shared meals (divvy up meals among each family or couple you’re traveling with, so you only have to prepare a few easy lunches or dinners; oven-ready lasagna, deli sandwiches and burgers are easy to fix on board). Groceries at the marina store are very expensive.

Explore. Find the time in between fishing, water skiing, tubing, swimming and hiking, to take your houseboat (or rented jet skis or powerboat) to investigate vast Lake Powell and its 2,000 miles of shoreline.

Here’s the official Lake Powell website for more information.

So, she’s not exactly a traveling “mama” (though she is mom to Emily, her Jack Russell Terrier), but Jen Miller is a cool traveling chick. She’s the author of the just-published, chock-full-of-info, 320-page guidebook The Jersey Shore: Atlantic City to Cape May.

While my plans don’t call for travel to the Jersey Shore anytime soon, I thought some East Coast readers may be heading to the popular vacation locale this summer. I asked Jen about some of her recommended top spots for families, couples and girlfriend getaways.

1. For those of us who don’t know much about the Jersey Shore, can you give us a primer?

The Jersey Shore was the vacation spot for New Yorkers and Philadelphians before middle-class families could afford air travel, air-conditioning and home pools. Since the Shore is a few degrees cooler, and you can swim in the ocean, it was the perfect place to escape the heat of the city — and it was only a train ride away.

Every shore town is different — Atlantic City is obviously not the romantic Victorian getaway that is Cape May. But that’s some of the appeal. Within driving distance, you can go from the blackjack table to a sleepy shore town to a whale watching trip. There’s so much to do!

2. Before researching your guidebook, how much time did you spend at the Shore?

I have spent every summer since I was born at the shore — literally. I was born in July and on the beach in August. My family had a trailer — yes, a trailer — in Avalon Campground, which is about 15 minutes away from the beach. It was much more affordable than paying for a shore house, and the campground gave us things to do (e.g. get out of my mom’s hair), like go to the pool, ride bikes in the woods or go to campground sponsored events like dances and bingo.

3. It’s common for twenty-something NYC residents to have “shares” at the Shore–with, say, a dozen people renting one house and taking turns using it on the weekends. Is there an area where this is particularly popular?

This is exactly what I did last summer. I knew I wouldn’t want to keep driving an hour back and forth from my house to the shore, so I joined in with about a dozen people in a shore house in Avalon. This is popular at a lot of spots along the shore — Belmar, Long Beach Island, Avalon, Sea Isle and the Wildwoods. It’s almost a rite of passage, and can be exhausting. I was trying to write my book and enjoy late nights on weekends. I was quite sleep deprived!

4. Say I want to bring my young children for a week-long stay — what’s the best area for families?

The Wildwoods has by far the most rides — more even than Disneyland. Plus it’s a short drive away from Cape May, which has a lot of nature stuff if your kids like that. You can visit a working alpaca farm at Bay Springs in Cape May; go to a kids-customized program at the Cape May Nature Center and go whale watching. Ocean City is another family-friendly town — it’s no alcohol allowed, period. You can’t even BYOB, but that’s why a lot of people like it. Its boardwalk was also rated as one of the best in the country by the Travel Channel and has two piers filled with rides. You can still try to grab the golden ring on the carousel at Wonderland Pier.

5. Best accommodations for a girlfriend getaway?

AC, baby! The Showboat has a House of Blues Suite that’s unbelievable. If you stay, you also have access to the members-only Foundation Room (I had dinner there last weekend and it was one of the best meals I’ve ever had at the shore). Atlantic City is also great for a girlfriend getaway because you won’t really have to drive anywhere, and it’s just a short cab ride to the pool at Harrah’s (which is a nightclub with a pool in the middle) or the knock-out clubs at the Borgata. Atlantic City is also full of top-notch spas, liked Blue Mercury at the Quarter at the Tropicana. Even if clubbing isn’t your thing, there’s always shows in Atlantic City. Fun times for the girls!

6. How about a top romantic restaurant?

The Ebbitt Room at the Virginia in Cape May. Cape May is very family friendly, but it’s also the most year-round shore town I found after Atlantic City. Why? Because it caters to couples. It’s chock full of cozy B&Bs and romantic restaurants, like the Ebbitt Room. Cape May’s also the third most popular destination wedding spot in the country — I can see why! Heck, my dad’s even getting married there in May!

7. Say I’m on a budget. Any Shore money-saving tips?

If you can finagle it, go in June or September. The weather is still good, but you won’t deal with the mad rush — or price increases — of July in August. If you can only go in those two months, ask about discounts wherever you’re staying. You might get freebies thrown in. And always stop by the town’s chamber of commerce or visitor’s center. Most towns create coupon books where you get everything from meal discounts to free rides on a Ferris wheel.

8. What if I had a ton of money to blow, and want to do the Shore right. How would I spend my dough on a luxury Shore vacation?

Two options — Atlantic City or Cape May. I said a little about how much you can spend in AC already, but I didn’t mention anything about the shopping. Oh, the shopping! Atlantic City is home to the Pier at Caesars, which is luxury shopping at its finest — Tiffany’s, Louis Vuitton, Burberry. You want it, they got it.

For the ultimately luxe experience in Cape May, book a room at Congress Hall. Congress Hall is a beautiful gorgeous old building that was recently refurbished to high style while keeping its vintage appeal. Sit by the pool and sip drinks and order food — heck, you can even sit on the beach and they’ll serve you (but not alcohol because that’s illegal in New Jersey). Then head off for dinner at the Ebbitt Room or the Washington Inn, followed up by drinks at Martini Beach overlooking the water. It’s not as go go go as Atlantic City, but that’s what some people want, especially down the shore.

We recently had a reader ask us about services that send baby supplies to your vacation destination before you arrive. Kari, a mom of two traveling to Maui this month, says, “I’ve heard of some, but can’t remember the names. I’m also not quite sure if it’s more cost-effective to use these?”

You may have heard about Babies Travel Lite. This online service delivers more than 1,000 name-brand baby products to hotels, resorts, vacation homes or apartment rentals around the world. (Heck, you could even order hard-to-find baby products and have them delivered to your own home!)

Items that you can buy are quite varied, from formula, baby food and sunscreen to pacifiers, baby thermometers and even car seats! I think the gear packages, called “Baby Bundles,” are a great idea—buy everything you need for a week’s worth of diaper changes, for example.

As far as prices of the various items go, I’m not up on the cost of baby supplies, honestly. (I’m rather removed from the diaper-wearing stage!) You might want to compare prices with those you find at your local grocery store.

The website does add a “convenience charge” to each order, which increases the closer to your departure date. However, a current promotion allows you to use the online coupon code TRAVEL at checkout. If it’s 15 days or more from your departure date, that fee is waived.

Orders are shipped via FedEx Ground or Express. FedEx rates are based on package weight, destination and shipping method. International orders may include various custom duties, taxes or other fees.

Here are some other options for you to consider for your upcoming trip:

• Buy the items at your local grocery store and ship them yourself. This could be less expensive for you in the end, but consider the convenience factor. It’s more hassle-free to sit at home and select your supplies, enter your vacation destination address, and hand over your VISA number, without schlepping a box to UPS yourself.

• Just bring all your baby supplies on the plane with you. Remember, though, with airlines starting to charge for extra bags, and increasing “heavy baggage” fees, you may not save any money in the end.

• Find out if your hotel or resort offers grocery-stocking service. Again, you’ll want to compare the total price of this concierge service to a service like Babies Travel Lite.

• Wait and buy the baby supplies once you arrive. In Hawaii, you may find yourself with sticker shock, however, since groceries are traditionally more expensive on the islands than in the continental U.S. Also, factor in whether you want to spend part of your first day on the glorious Hawaiian Islands hunting down the local Wal-Mart. You may want to take advantage of Babies Travel Lite, and spend your first day in paradise on the beach!

Kari, I hope you’ll let us know how you decide to get your baby gear to Hawaii. Best wishes for a great trip!

Got a question for the Traveling Mamas? Just email us at questions (at) travelingmamas (dot) com and we’ll do our best to answer it — whether you’re looking for travel tips or destination advice!

So, last week was our much-anticipated spring break. Indeed, we had a ball at my mom’s house in Palm Desert, California (85 degrees and sunny every day!) and in Carlsbad, where we spent two nights at the brand-new Sheraton. (And spent 7 hours at Legoland.)

Before we drove out of town to head back to Grammie’s house, we simply had to set foot on the beach and dip our toes in the Pacific Ocean, according to my husband. I would have been just fine doing a drive-by — it was windy, and cool, and I was ready to get back to the arid climate of the desert.

But we did stop and park the car. My parting words to my kids as they ran down to the beach were, “Don’t get wet!” HA!

Here they are wading in and jumping some waves:

They were giggling sooooooo much and having such fun:

After a few minutes, they started wading farther and farther in the water, with me on the shore, continuing to yell, “Don’t get wet!”

And finally, I call out to my husband, “Oh, just get their bathing suits from the car. It’s a lost cause!”

Here’s a picture of my hubby and me that my mom snapped. I love it! This is one for a 5×7 frame on the fireplace mantel. I think it captures how happy we typically are on vacation:

If you find yourself twiddling your thumbs while a flight is delayed, or just have a long layover at an unfamiliar airport, you may be drawn to the overpriced bar and grill (really, I don’t think this is too horrible a way to pass time–striking up conversations with other stranded travelers can be entertaining) or those mega-huge cinnamon rolls (only bad if you think 10,000 high-glycemic calories in one sitting are a problem).

But if you want to change up the ways you kill time in any airport, consider these tips:

Log onto the airport website(s) before your travels. Most airport websites have a directory of stores, restaurants and services. Get the scoop on which terminal or concourse you’ll likely land in, and familiarize yourself with what’s available.

If you’re traveling with kids, find the children’s attractions. Some airports have lame play areas (DIA’s goofy rabbit on on the Mezzanine level of Concourse B comes to mind), but Boston’s Logan International Airport has a branch of Beantown’s fabulous Children’s Museum. And little ones can pretend to be air traffic controllers and load luggage at the “Kids on the Fly” interactive play area designed by the Chicago Children’s Museum in O’Hare’s Terminal 2.

Consider a day pass to an airline’s lounge. If you don’t belong to a the Delta Crown Club or United’s Red Carpet Club, ask about day passes to the facilities, which might include showers, computers or complimentary snacks and drinks. Day passes range from about $30 to $60.

See what amenities you can use at an airport hotel. Again, it helps if you’ve done your research online ahead of time. But if you’re faced with a super-long layover, you just might be able to exercise at a hotel gym, shower, and make it to your flight in time.

Get rubbed. I always seek out the little chair-massage places in airports. Even just 10 minutes having the kinks worked out of my neck puts me in a much better mood before my next flight. I know exactly where the “A Massage” storefront is at DIA (that would be just across the way from the lame kids’ area in Concourse B). And I give huge props to the sleek Xpres Spa at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport

Enjoy some art. Most airports have some sort of public art display. Ask at the information center where you might find history, photography or fine-art exhibits.

Ever heard of Oberammergau? Know how to pronounce Oberammergau? (It’s “OH-burr-am-er-gow”)

It is a tiny village in Bavaria, Germany, whose residents who have been performing a day-long Passion Play every 10 years since 1634. After months of suffering from the plague, Oberammergauers made an oath to God that they would perform the “Play of the Suffering, Death and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ” as long as they were further spared from the plague. Indeed, after the vow was made, the plague took no other victims from the small town.

The elaborate staging of the Passion of Christ, from his entry into Jerusalem to the Resurrection, is up to seven hours long, with an intermission for a mid-day meal. It is held in a magnificent open-air theatre that seats more than 5,000.

The only reason I’ve heard of this play is through my work at the travel company Globus & Cosmos, where I was on staff in the mid 1990s. The Globus Family of Brands operates escorted tours to the event that draws hundreds of thousands of tourists from across the globe. Really, the only way an Average Joe is likely to see the world-famous play is to book a vacation with a tour company.

Tickets to Oberammergau performances, which will run May to October 2010, sell out quickly. So do rooms at the local hotels. But the escorted tour operators have already booked accommodations and tickets in bulk. Still, visitors who want to see the performance, in which 2,000 actors, singers, musicians and technicians take part, have to secure their spots on trips sooner than later.

Which brings me to my question of the day. How far out do you book your vacations? Typically, I have a hard enough time thinking about next week, let alone two years from now. Indeed, most of my family’s trips are planned just a few months in advance; we have a rough idea, “We’re going to visit Grammie in August,” but I usually don’t set the dates and book plane tickets until a few months out.

While I’ve thought plenty about how I want to celebrate my 40th birthday and 10th wedding anniversary in 2009 (ideally on a Windjammer cruise, if the company gets its financial act together), I haven’t booked a thing. With young children, I need to plan around school vacations, start and end dates, and extra-curricular activities and sports, and sometimes I just don’t know those dates til closer to the events.

How about you?

OffbeatTravel.com recently released its list of the top five “underknown” places to visit in 2008. I was pleased to see I’ve been to four of the five “most interesting and quirky towns in the country.” Here they are in alphabetical order:

Dahlonega, Georgia: I traveled to Dahlonega (that’s “Duh-LAWN-eh-gah,” not “DA-low-NAY-gah”), an hour’s north of Atlanta, last spring on a research trip. What a darling town! It was where America’s gold rush began and has a great museum dedicated to that period in time (1828). The historic square has some nice little boutiques, art galleries and restaurants (I really enjoyed the Crimson Moon Cafe). Kids like gold panning and the Kangaroo Conservation Center just outside of town. I was partial to the excellent wineries and the number of hiking trails in the area.

Fort Collins, Colorado: In 2007, Money magazine named this town north of Denver the “Best Place to Live” in America, so I’m not sure how little known it is. I will give Fort Collins props for its five local breweries, pretty Old Town and access to a crazy amount of outdoor activities, such as hiking, biking and kayaking.

Hanalei, Kauai, Hawaii: I disagree this little “hippie town” on the North Shore of Kauai is off the beaten path. I think it’s heavily trafficked by tourists to the Emerald Isle — you need to be patient to allow cars to cross the one-lane bridges that lead in and out of town. That said, it is a beautiful part of the island, with scenic Hanalei Bay, many art galleries and the ubiquitous shave ice stands.

Moline, Illinois: This is one part of the country I’ve never traveled to, but according to the OffbeatTravel.com folks, it’s “John Deere Central,” with opportunities for kids of all ages to climb up humongous pieces of farm equipment around town.

Taos, New Mexico: I was last in Taos about 12 years ago. Browsing the galleries, admiring the scenery, visiting the ancient Taos Pueblo and eating lots of yummy Southwestern food are all great memories of my visit to this high-altitude town. I hope to go back sometime soon!

Back in January, soon after CajunMama wrote a post about the ship-naming contest being held by Royal Caribbean International, in conjunction with USA TODAY, my brain started whirling with ideas. The mission: Come up with TWO complementary names for the majestic “Project Genesis” cruise ships that RCI is currently building and set to launch in 2009 and 2010.

According to the Official Rules, “the entry form will require entrants to submit one (1) unique name suggestion for each of the two ships (for a total of two names). Both suggested names should share the same theme (for example “Freedom of the Seas” and “Liberty of the Seas”).

Contest entrants were told to “best encapsulate the universe of experiences a Royal Caribbean cruise provides its guests, rather than ones that focus solely on the sheer size of the ships.”

Yesterday, John Wilson of Minnesota, was named one of the first of six finalists in the contest. The judges liked his entry, “Mosaic of the Seas.” Indeed, I dig it, too, and thought of it myself!

While names like “Eminence of the Seas” might feel more grand, “Mosaic of the Seas,” in John’s words, “captured the variety of experiences possible in and off (the) ship, not to mention the international (flavor of) the crew and fellow travelers.”

HOWEVER, John’s other entry was “Coronation of the Seas.” Do you sense a theme between Mosaic and Coronation? Um, I don’t.

In fact, John’s winning entry was reported simply as “Mosaic of the Seas” — no pair of names on the finalist announcement home page.

I hopped on the comments section of Gene Sloan’s Cruise Log, where the finalist announcement was made. “Hey, Gene,” I asked, “what’s up with only listing a single name. I thought the contest was being judged in part by how complementary (and clever) our PAIRS of names were.”

Gene wrote back:

A few of you have asked why the judges only picked one of Wilson’s names, not both (readers were allowed to submit two names). I’m told that in reviewing all the submissions, the judges found that a significant number of entries didn’t match up well with an overall theme, and so they decided to look at the names individually versus in pairs.

This, of course, is good news for you, readers. Instead of just one of you becoming the Grand Prize winner, Royal Caribbean will now have to award two Grand Prize winners.

First of all, readers weren’t “allowed” to submit two complementary names, we were REQUIRED to do so.

Second, out of 91,000 entries, you’re telling me that the esteemed judges couldn’t find a lousy 6 pairs that sounded good together?

Third, the Official Rules stated that the plan always called for two Grand Prize Winners: “From these six Finalists, the Submissions receiving the two (2) highest overall scores will be deemed potential grand prize winners…”

Cruise Log readers are going nuts in the comments section and on the forum, angry that RCI and USA TODAY seemingly changed the rules in the middle of judging the contest.

While many of us worked very hard to come up with PAIRS of names, it appears now that whoever submitted a great single name first, might just be named a finalist. That blows.

I think poster “brendajv” summarized many entrants’ feelings best:

I am quite disappointed that the rules were changed midstream. The contest rules stated that an entry consisted of two names which were to be related in some way. Yet the judges chose to ignore those rules and choose only one name. If they liked Mosaic so well, they should have chosen the BEST PAIR which included Mosaic. Instead, they changed the rules!

Whether or not they award two grand prizes is irrelevant. A lot of entrants spent a lot of time and effort coming up with two related names just as the rules required. Some names were discarded because they couldn’t find a related second name. The judges’ action is simply not fair to those who followed the rules.

I am very disappointed in Royal Caribbean for the way this contest has been run. Would I sail on the Mosaic? Frankly, the name of the ship plays no part in my selection of a cruise. Am I happy for Mr. Wilson? Sure. Have I lost respect for Royal Caribbean? Quite definitely.