Kid-Friendly Travel

One of our preschool moms, Edie, has generously given us some GREAT advice for watching the Holidazzle Parade in downtown Minneapolis. It's a little short notice for this year... it only last another week or s0, but the tips are good for next year, too.

The Holidazzle Parade is every Thursday-Sunday evening, from Thanksgiving to just before Christmas, at 6:30 p.m.

-I suggest going early, head for downtown around 4-4:30 p.m. Find a parking ramp with a green 'Do The Town' sign and park for just $4 for the entire night by entering after 4pm. If you spend $20 or more at a variety of stores or restaurants, they will validate your parking ticket for free parking. Check online for a list of participating locations.

-Go to Macys 8th floor Holiday display before, rather than after the parade to avoid some of the crowds. (remember it's free!) Catch dinner at a number of family friendly places near Nicollet or Hennepin before the parade or pack a 'picnic'. Lots of open spaces in the first floor of the IDS building on Nicollet.

-Head to save a spot along Nicollet by 6pm, earlier if you want a warm skyway spot. Take a blanket with you if watching outside, to either sit on or cover up with.

-Just before the parade starts, volunteers will walk the route with shopping carts to collect donations for local food shelves. There will also be vendors selling glow and light up souvenirs. I wasn't going to splurge for the $5 light-up wands, but 2 years later they still work and my kids are still playing with them. We reuse them each year!

-If you want to see the very beginning of the parade, go down to 12th Avenue & Nicollet. They'll have the parade floats sitting there before parade time. You can see the 'actors' get their lights turned on and load the floats. It's not for everyone, but I thought it was neat.

-I suggest Sunday or Thursday nights for the smallest crowds. Tickets can be purchased in advance for warm seats in heated tents along the parade route. These go fast and you need to plan well in advance. If you don't mind the Minnesota cold just go for free!
Hope these help. Have a great time!

Thanks again, Edie!!!

And here's a video from YouTube to show you what all the fuss is about!!


Copyright Stephany Wiestling 2006-2008. All rights reserved. www.kid-friendlytravel.blogspot.com

According to The Houston Chronicle, organizers for the Barack Obama inauguration ceremony don't recommend bringing the kids. In fact, they're banning strollers and large bags from the event.

Carole Florman, spokeswoman for the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, said: "An event where you will have 1 million people is inherently kid-unfriendly. They are shorter than everyone else; they can be stepped on. Parents should think long and hard about bringing a small kid to an event with 1 million people."

Y'know? I'd have to agree. Couple that with the fact that you'd be standing (in one place) outside, in January, for at least 4 hours; and it doesn't sound like something any small child would enjoy.

That doesn't mean you can't take the kids to Washington DC during this historic time. The DC area in general is very kid friendly. While you're there, kids can explore so many facets of our history in settings that are made just for them. Check out our articles on taking the kids to Washington DC.

Copyright Stephany Wiestling 2006-2008. All rights reserved. www.kid-friendlytravel.blogspot.com

If there's one thing that gets me through the brutal cold of a Minnesota January, it's a trip in February to look forward to. We booked our flights to Orlando today. Ahh, I feel warmer already!

Now, I normally recommend trying to fly during the child's naptime. But this time the price was too high. Plus, now that our son is 4, he doesn't nap. The flights during normal day hours were close to $1200. each! We checked early morning flights, (since the boy is an early riser anyway, and we're going to Disney -so who can sleep the night before that?) and they were $253! Um, yeah, I'll get on the plane at 7am to save nearly a thousand dollars.

So, check those off-times for flights. It could just make a trip affordable after all.



If you're headed somewhere warm, check out this link from Travelocity:
Book a 3+ Night Hotel Stay with your MasterCard in Participating Cities and Save $75!! > PROMOCODE: BONUS75
Hurry tho', this offer ends Dec. 31st.

Copyright Stephany Wiestling 2006-2008. All rights reserved. www.kid-friendlytravel.blogspot.com

The Mall of America in Minnesota is a huge shopping mecca for people all over the US... scratch that, the world. Part of the appeal, beyond having hundreds of stores under one roof, is that in Minnesota, we don't charge sales tax on clothing. So depending on the sales tax rates in your city, that could be a savings up up to 10% right off the bat. Many non-US residents are taking advantage of the weak dollar by coming here with empty suitcases and filling them up with goodies! (Better hurry, though, our dollar is coming back!)

If you do come to Minneapolis/St. Paul for your holiday shopping, turn it into a shopping vacation and bring the kids. There's plenty to do in our great city for the rest of the family while you shop till you drop! Click here for a list of our favorite local activities.

Of course, everyone is looking to save money this year, so here's a limited time offer from Travelocity to help you take advantage of a holiday shopping vacation... wherever you choose to go.







Copyright Stephany Wiestling 2006-2008. All rights reserved. www.kid-friendlytravel.blogspot.com

One of my favorite bloggers, Linda, writes on Milk and Cookies. She recently invited her readers to share our feelings about our strollers for a stroller review post.
Here's my quote under Graco:

"I LOVE my Graco Metrolite. I have the travel system one, in purple. I’ve had it since Cooper was born and he just turned 4. I love it because it’s lightweight, but sturdy. It has a snack tray for him and cup holders for me, large underbasket to carry LOTS of stuff, the seat reclines (which was handy when he napped, almost a traveling bed), it folds up pretty flat — flat enough to fit on the parking lot tram at Disney, the handlebar is adjustable, the seat is padded and comfortable for him. I’ve taken that thing all over this country and it takes a licking, makes a great luggage cart, and handles pretty well, even on cobblestone streets." — Steph

And my quote under Peg Perego:
"I’ve tried the Peg Perego, but I nearly lost a finger folding that one up." — Steph

If you're shopping for a stroller, this is a great article spotlighting several of the top brands by the moms who use them.

Shop for strollers on Amazon.com







Copyright Stephany Wiestling 2006-2008. All rights reserved. www.kid-friendlytravel.blogspot.com

Leave it to Disney to create a fun way to win an instant vacation. Leave it to Orbitz to give you $150 off your trip if you don't win.

Log onto www.Orbitz.com/Disney and create your dream trip storybook. Choose from a variety of Orbitz Insider experiences like a night in Cinderella's castle, or a cruise dinner hosted by Captain Hook, or a VIP guided tour of the parks, to name a few. When you are finished creating your unique pop-up storybook dream vacation, your are automatically entered to win that vacation, or one of 55 secondary prizes that include 15 complete Disney vacations and 40 pairs of roundtrip airfare vouchers.

If you're not an instant winner, you can still get a great discount on a Disney vacation through Orbitz!

(Fine Print: Minimum 5 day stay. Trips must be booked between 10/20/2008 thru 11/23/2008, for five or more nights for travel between now and 1/31/2009.)

If you win, let me know!! Good Luck!!!



Copyright Stephany Wiestling 2006-2008. All rights reserved. www.kid-friendlytravel.blogspot.com

Many families make a trip to Disneyland or Walt Disney World an annual vacation. Some go every few years. If you're a Disney fan like we are, here's a few Disney travel secrets on how to save money and beat the lines on your next Disney vacation.



Disneyland Tips for Little Ones

Walt Disney World with Little Ones

More Walt Disney World tips

Disney Cruise

Disney Tips from Readers

Disney Vacation Test Drive

Disney's Animal Kingdom Parade Video

Disneyland's Grand Californian Resort



Another resource I like: Mousesavers







Copyright Stephany Wiestling 2006-2008. All rights reserved. www.kid-friendlytravel.blogspot.com