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March 4, 2014

Trip Planning with Kids: Building Background Knowledge with Books

What’s your favorite way to plan and research for upcoming travel? Do you involve your kids?

With Bergen (2.5 years old) talking and understanding more and more, I’ve been anxious to get him involved in some of our traveling planning. While I love that two of us (Mom & Dad) can still ultimately do all the deciding, its fun to see what types of things that really peak his interest.

Built into two different books (both reviewed on the blog), one a family travel handbook, one a memoir, is a tip I couldn’t wait to try with Bergen. Both authors suggested visiting the public library with kids before a trip to explore the available books and resources on the locale. Travel guides, non-fiction books about the landscape, fictional stories set in the location, maps…you name it, they all have a place in getting kids excited about travel and loading them up with information.

Kids are explores by nature, and travel gives them permission to dive deep into their curiosity and open their eyes in surprise. -Tsh Oxenreider

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February 27, 2014

Good Eats in Bow-Edison, Washington

What kind of compromises to do you make while traveling?

To make travel with a child more simple and convenient, we’ll stay in a more central location even when we’d really rather stay off the beaten path a bit. At times we splurge on our destination, when just flying to the place is a huge expense, and then stick to a tight budget on food. Other times, when we know the accommodations are going to expensive, we’ll make sure that all of our activities and excursions are free or very low cost.

While we love to experience a locale’s culture through their food, we’d don’t often overdo it in this category of travel. We specifically seek out ways to save on our meals. However our trip to Skagit County Washington’s Bow-Edison was different. This agricultural community that we’d only been able to enjoy in quick passing was calling us to take part in their farm-to-table, slow food, eat local (insert newfangled foodie term here) movement. And by going the budget route of staying in a state park cabin, we had some room for a little indulging!

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February 25, 2014

Grow Exploring Book Review: An Outdoor Spin on ABCs and 123s

Bergen (2.5 years old) is in the early stage of being very interested in letters and numbers. On signs and placards at his level with letters big enough for his little fingers to point to, he’ll search out his favorites, and while he’s no where near being able to identify all 26 letters, his curiosity and desire to make connections is helping him make progress.

He also loves counting things. Whether it’s the slices of orange on his plate or the pine cones and rocks he finds in the park, he’s pointing at objects and numbering them in his own little way (accuracy is not a concern of his at this point).

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February 21, 2014

Kobe, Japan: Traveling the World in our Own Backyard with Seattle’s 21 Sister Cities

Did you know that Seattle currently has sister city relationships with 21 cities throughout the world? The establishment of sister cities fosters relationships between two locales thus creating greater understanding of their respective cultures. The exchange program began in 1956 thanks to President Dwight Eisenhower. His intention was essentially one of world peace and less conflict; or at least more peaceful relationships between the United States and other countries of the world.

I have an ongoing goal of honoring and highlighting each of the 21 sister cities of Seattle. The master list of cities appears in my “Travel the World in Your Own Backyard: Seattle’s 21 International Sister Cities” post and will be updated every couple of weeks.

Sister City: Kobe, Japan

Year Established: 1957

Representation in Seattle:

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February 20, 2014

Central Washington Getaway: Cozy Cabin Retreat in Cle Elum

Sometimes you need a vacation after your vacation, or a vacation after our “staycation“. After choosing to stay in Seattle for Christmas and New Year’s gratefully hosting family and loving the extra time to enjoy the city without rushing away on an airplane, we were ready.

Ready for a quick getaway. We chose Central Washington’s Cle Elum area (just an hour and a half drive) because of it’s proximity to home combined with a complete change of scenery and opportunity to unplug. Our wishes were to be close to some hiking trails and have a comfortable place return to and easily cook a few meals.

With this truly being a budget adventure, our usual desire to be close to town wasn’t an issue. We’d cook all of our meals rather than eating out) and make our own coffee, and all of our recreation and entertainment would be found in our immediate surroundings.

The vacation rental we found in the Teanaway Valley was just right for our needs.

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February 18, 2014

Keeping Kids in Nature: 8 Ways to Make Time for the Outdoors

Guilt. That’s the feeling that was creeping up inside and pestering me about spending time outdoors with Bergen (2.5 years old). Thinking that just wandering around experiencing nature is an avoidance or even a luxury. It’s an extra saved only for when we have time.

Shouldn’t I be worried about and occupying myself with more important things? You know, household stuff. Maintenance. Organization. Cleaning. Just getting things done.

Yes, those are valid concerns, but after listening to an inspiring talk by Richard Louv, and diving into his book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder, I’m convinced that my instinct is correct. While spending time outdoors is indeed a pastime, it’s not just a way to pass the time. It’s serious business, and our health depends on it.

According to Louv, TIME is one of the top reasons kids are kept from nature. Many of us struggle with finding enough hours in the day to accomplish all we want to accomplish, so I thought I’d share eight ways we create more outdoor time for ourselves and our son.

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