Field Trip Friday: Top Five Travel Essentials

I am not a meticulous packer. In fact, I would say that I am more accurately described as a frantic, last minute packer. Whether I am going away for a weekend or two weeks, I pack approximately 30 minutes before I leave. When pressed, I will generally snark back that I'm either a) doing laundry b) using some of the stuff or c) have plenty of time. All of which is mostly true, but I reallly should have gotten my merde together earlier. My rationale is that with very few exceptions, I can buy everything I might forget at my destination. So if I forget a few things, it's hardly cause for anxiety.

As it happens, I am in the last days leading up to a trip that I have been looking forward to for MONTHS. Blogher 2010 in New York City! Obviously, you can find anything and everything you could ever possibly want in the Big Apple (do people still call it that?), but I would prefer to be reasonably prepared for whatever comes my way. The following are those things that I absolutely, positively won't leave the house without.

1. Skoosh Neck Pillow. My husband tells me I can fall asleep at the drop of a hat, but the fact is if I'm not comfortable, it can't happen. This thing is squishy and smooshy and super duper comfortable. You can use it around your neck or bunched up underneath your head. Versatile and comfy, can't miss.

2. Toiletries Carry-all. I keep mine stocked and at the ready at all times. I have an unhealthy love for travel size toiletries. I'm like a kid in a candy store when I walk down the travel size aisle at Target. I just want to take one of everything. With this, I can just throw it in my bag and I know that I have razors, toothbrush/paste, deodorant, etc.

3. Travel Drink. I can't walk out the door without a drink. When I'm being good, it's a big bottle of water. When I'm less good, it's a bottle of Dr. Pepper. Either way, it's like my mouth instantly dries out the minutes my butt hits the car seat, so I never make it far without a cold drink in the console.

4. Black Cardigan. Regardless of what time of year, I run cold, and inevitably hotel rooms, theaters, restaurants, etc all seem to be so chilly, so it's nice to have a versatile cardigan to throw on in a pinch.

5. Baggies. This is kind of a weird one, but I've too many times had to throw beloved lip glosses or body sprays away when going through security at the airport. So now I make it a habit to always have at least a couple of bags with me. Plus, I find they come in handy in other ways.

What about you? What are your travel must haves? Link up directly to your post or answer in the comments!

Jersey Pride

Today's BlogTrotting tour guide is Natalee, a Jersey Girl with the one of the best blog url's I have seen. Instead of Hot Mama, she's Tot Mama . . . or maybe she's both!!! So clever.

Instead of counting on the housewives of Bravo and shore-dwellers of MTV, let's learn about New Jersey from Natalee.

You ready? Let's go!

Raising Normal Kids: Natalee's Adventure in Mommyland

Please leave Natalee a comment to let her know you stopped by.

Remember to send your vacation posts our way so we can share them with the BlogTrotting community on Mondays.

Musings From British Columbia

I love when we visit our neighbors to the north. I enjoy reading about Canadian BlogTrotters because I feel our countries are so similar in many ways, so it is interesting to see the differences.

Our featured blogger today, Carrie, is in British Columbia. She's been BlogTrotting with us almost since the beginning, so I'm super excited we finally get to make a stop in her town! So please, head on over to see her!!

Musings From Mt. Rogo

Please leave Carrie a comment and let her know what corner of the world you call home!

And for this week's Field Trip Friday: what are the top five things you must take with you when traveling. Is it your own pillow or a special alarm clock or maybe your favorite fuzzy slippers. Come back on Friday and link up your posts!

Mainers!

We're off to visit Ruthi in Maine today! Maine is one of those states that I have always wanted to visit. Between all of the Stephen King novels and more than a couple of (ahem) romance novels set there, I've always been intrigued. Plus, and it is appropriate at this time of year as we here in Maryland are cooking in this weather, I have always said that I would probably be happiest somewhere like Maine. They have summers, but milder ones and long winters. 'Cause I love winter.

Anyhoo, Ruthi herself is a transplant, and she definitely brings a unique perspective to her new home. You don't want to miss her Letters To Hubby posts. I really should start doing something like that. They are touching and honest. A testament to the strength of their relationship.


A Carpenter's Wife's Tool Box

Please leave Ruthi a comment and let her know we appreciate the tour!

Vacation Monday: Legoland . . . and, oh wait, San Diego as well!

It's Vacation Monday! Please take a few moments to check out this post from Buckeye Mom of The Buckeye Five. She and her crew visited San Diego last summer with one an eye toward one particular destination.

Read all about it!

Legoland Rocks!

Have you been to Legoland? What are the dream destinations for the little ones in your life?

Have you taken and blogged about a vacation? Send us the link so we can send some BlogTrotters your way next Monday!

Field Trip Friday: "Can we go on a fun vacation next year?"

So this week's Field Trip Friday "assignment" was to find out if your favorite and least favorite childhood vacation memories matched up with those of your parents.

The kids and I are visiting my parents in Ohio this week so it was pretty easy for me to compare vacation memories with my mom and dad.

Our favorite family vacation spot ever was unanimous . . . Sea Island, Georgia. For three years, my family traveled with with three other families to spend a week at The Cloister, an all-inclusive family resort. Yes, it is pretty stinking hot and humid there in July, but we have the absolute best memories despite the sweat. We'd get up semi-early and have big, friendly, round robin tennis tournaments in the mornings with the family friends we traveled with. The rest of the day was pool and beach, pool and beach, pool and beach. All the meals were included, and I recall that at the pool snack bar, you got to choose an ice cream treat or candy bar with your lunch every day, which seemed like heaven to me at the time (still does, as a matter of fact). You dress up for dinner every night there, which sounds like a pain, but was really kind of nice. There was Bingo one night, a concert another. Our dads drank beer on the beach, and we played lots of cards. Fantastic memories. I know my parents dream that sometime we can all go back together for a week with the grandkids. Maybe for their fiftieth wedding anniversary (12 years from now), but hopefully before . . . better start saving now!

Our least favorite family vacation was a toss up. My mom's first answer matched up with mine: Washington D.C. and Colonial Williamsburg. I think it was just a case of trying to do too much, trying to cram too much history and government into one week. I was around 12 for the trip, which means my siblings were 10, 8, 6, and 1. I remember that my youngest brother's stroller broke and that my parents bought a new one, which ended up being defective. He was pushed all over the city in a cheap umbrella stroller with a wonky wheel. There was a breakdown outside the United States Mint where my mom may or may not have done some frustrated screaming. There was an authentic colonial lunch in Williamsburg that no one would eat. After lunch, my mom and I continued experiencing colonial history while my dad took everyone else back to the hotel to the awesome two-game arcade they had been pining for all morning. On the way home to Ohio, one of us apparently asked, "Can we go on a fun vacation next year?"

Just what every parents who has worked hard to plan a trip wants to hear. I wonder if I'll hear some version of that question myself one day . . .

My dad's least favorite vacation is one that I had forgotten all about. I think I blocked it out. I won't name the place, but basically on the advice of an associate of his, we drove eight hours to the middle of nowhere to stay in a condo in what ended up being a semi run-down retirement community. Did I mention it was in the middle of nowhere? No restaurants within thirty minutes. No kids anywhere except the five in our condo. There was water aerobics at the pool though. We left after three days and tried to salvage the vacation by stopping in the Smoky Mountains on the way home.

So, what were your favorite and least favorite childhood vacations? Share in the comments or link up your post below.

Keystone State

A couple of lifetimes ago, I dated a guy who lived in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. I'm not going to sugar coat this, folks: I had never heard of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. I didn't know how to pronounce it*, where it was, anything. But over the course of that relationship, I went to the area quite a bit visiting his friends and family. I'm pretty sure I could do the Baltimore-Wilkes-Barre drive with my eyes closed. Luckily for my husband and daughter, that guy didn't work out, but I still have fond memories of the area.

Well, our featured blogger today, Lisa, doesn't actually live in Wilkes-Barre, but she grew up there and now lives just down the road in Dorrance. I can tell you that it is a beautiful area, hilly and verdant in the summertime. And I have no doubt that Lisa is going to show us some of her absolutely fantastic photos to prove it. She is a truly gifted photographer and you'll be missing out if you don't head over to see her!

Lisa Ceasar Photography

Don't miss Lisa's Etsy shop, where you can purchase some of her photos!

Please leave Lisa a comment and let her know we appreciate the tour! Come back tomorrow for Field Trip Friday and share your beloved childhood vacation memories, from your parents point of view!

*It's Woolks-Berry.

Reach for Virginia Beach

Today's tour guide is a mother of three and a self-professed mom-to-many. Her house is the place to be, and it's near Virginia Beach. Life near the beach sounds grand to me, excepting her recent post about a Palmetto Bug (which is apparently a fancy, beachy-sounding name for a cockroach). I'll let you read about where Katherine found the critter.

Bugs aside, let's enjoy this funny lady's tour of Virginia Beach . . .

Shoot Me Now! Funny Pictures Funny Stories Funny Life!

Please leave Katherine a comment to let her know you stopped by!

Also, take a couple of moments to read about Gastroparesis while you are visiting.

The North Star State

We're off to Minnesota today. I don't want to spoil our featured blogger's tour, but in doing a little research about Minnesota, I was AMAZED at how many inventions have come out of that fine state. Its seems long winters are conducive to creativity!

We're stopping in to see Clarinda. She's working towards becoming a middle/high school teacher, and I have a HUGE amount of respect for her for it. Middle school is a rough age, it takes a special kind of person, with an enormous amount of patience, to engage in their education. So let's head on over to see her:

All Things Clarinda

Please leave Clarinda a comment! We want her to know the BlogTrotters have been through town! Come back tomorrow, we're heading back east. And be thinking about that beloved family vacation of your childhood, from your parents point of view, for Field Trip Friday.

Travel in the Espresso Lane

Vacation Monday is back again! Let's check in on the ladies from lovefeast table and read about a killer road trip with the hottest, tastiest travel companion ever. I promise the post is G-rated!

lovefeast table's "Road Trip + Breville (espresso machine, that is!)

Please leave a comment! And please, if you have a cool vacation post, let us know so we can send some BlogTrotters your way.

Consider joining us this week for Field Trip Friday. Here's this week's writing "assignment" -- You have your favorite and least favorite childhood vacation memories, right? Find out if your parents (or siblings) have similar memories . . . Was your ultimate round of jungle putt putt pure torture for your parents? Write it up and link up here on Friday.

Field Trip Friday: Childhood Vacations

We traveled a fair bit when I was growing up. And there are a number of trips that stand out in my memory; a trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming when I was 6 where I first learned how to ski; South Dakota and Mount Rushmore at 8; England with my grandparents at 16. But I'm going to focus on one we took while we lived in Heidelberg, Germany when I was 9-10. Because of the close proximity in Europe, making trips to other countries is as easy as it is for me to visit another state here. (And given how small Maryland is, that is pretty easy.) So when we lived in Heidelberg, we took a number of long weekend trips around Europe. One that stands out in my mind is a trip we took to Barcelona, Spain. It was an amazing and eye-opening trip.

Highlights of our visit in Barcelona:

We dined at a restaurant that put on a flamenco dancing show while you enjoyed dinner. While there was nothing risque about it, my parents would never have taken us had there been, it certainly felt naughty to my sister and I. The male and female dancers, twirling around in exotic dress, in a dark cabaret type restaurant. We were prudish American children, after all, unused to late dinners and still fairly new to European openness.

We went to a bullfight. Which I can sum up in one word: horrific. The toreador dances around, attempting to stab the bull through the heart with a long sword, but first piercing it with numerous spears to weaken it. Although supposedly there is the possibility of a bull that fights particularly well being granted clemency and living out its life munching clover and servicing the local cows, it is very, very rare. In the vast majority of cases, the bull is killed. Which is what happened to the two unlucky beasts we saw. We left after that, with more than half of the show left, mortified. I know this is a tradition deep ingrained in Spanish culture, but I just couldn't, don't, understand it.I suppose I can put a check next to that in my bucket list, but I'm not necessarily happy about it.

McDonalds in Spain is not like McDonalds in America. Yes, it's similar, but tastebuds there are different from ours here. We ordered fries and cheeseburgers and were heartily disappointed. Even Coke tastes different. I guess Germanic McDonald's are closer to American ones, because I don't recall that being an issue at the ones we visited there, but woowee were we not happy with our meals.

Probably the highlight of our trip, quite ironically given our response to the bull fighting, was the Barcelona Wax Museum. And in particular the horror section. Beheadings, amputated limbs, gruesome disfigurations. Gore, gore, gore. We loved it.

I was a child. And I saw the city through a child's eyes. I missed the unusual and interesting architecture and if we went to any other museums, they are lost in the archives of my memories. I have not returned to Spain since then, but I would very much like to. To revisit it with an adult's eyes and interests. Someday. I'll make it happen.

Tell us about your favorite childhood vacation in the comments or link up DIRECTLY to your post.

Ontari-ari-O!

We're off to visit Cynthia in Ontario today! Cynthia is a wife and mother of three. She's also a book lover, like Mep and myself, and is in the very best kind of book club. I love the title of her blog. I never really understood the dirty family car thing until I had a child of my own. Now, no matter how many times I clean it, I can't seem to get rid of the cheerios and stray french fries and cracker bits. Dirty minivans unite! So lets head on over to see her!

Crumbs in the Minivan

Please leave Cynthia a comment and let her know what corner of the world you call home.

And, I'm WAY behind on this, blame vacation hangover, but our Field Trip Friday topic for the week, drum roll please, is:

Your favorite childhood vacation.

Come back tomorrow and link up your posts!

Vacation Invitation

Today's tour guide had to reschedule. It's almost like bloggers everywhere are busy enjoying their families and lives during the summertime or something. The nerve. Totally kidding!

Bloggers and BlogTrotters are taking cool vacations and writing about them.

Here are a couple of vacation posts worth checking out . . .

The hilarious Dusty Earth Mother reflects upon her time in Florida and her road trip back home to New York. Once you read one of her posts, you'll be hooked!

Kerouac's "On The Road," The G-Rated Version

The positive and all-around awesome Heather in Lebanon and her hubby surprised their kids with a vacation to Florida. I loved reading the three different posts about the trip. Her blog always makes me feel so excited for all the fun times still to come as my kids get a little older.

Surprise! A series . . .

Surprise, Part Two

Surprise, Part Three

I didn't ask Heather or Dusty for permission (sorry gals) -- maybe you all could make it up to them by leaving a comment!

Ah Ah Kansas!

I have been waiting for this day. As I might have mentioned before, I'm a Kansas girl. While I moved to Baltimore when I was 21, the prairie will always be a part of my soul. But despite my roots, we hadn't visited Kansas on our blog tour yet. So when Diana signed up, I was overjoyed. Finally! Someone can show off my fine home state. I could wax poetic all day about it's beauty, but I'll leave it up to Diana. So, let's head over to see her! 

In The Heart of Kansas

Please leave Diana a comment and let her know we appreciate the tour.

BlogTrotting: Summer Vacation Style

Summertime is all about vacations. With the kids out of school and the thermometer inching higher, the urge to take off for parts unknown is strong. My own family just returned from a fabulous beach vacation.

Since most of us only have the funds/time/ability to make one, if at all, trip over the summer, we would love if you all would share your wonderful travel posts with us. Each Monday we'll feature all of your vacation posts. They don't necessarily have to be brand new, so long as they're relevant. Just email me (carawb@gmail.com) with the direct link to the post.

Can't wait to hear about your travels!

Field Trip Friday: Summer Reading!

A book, a chair, and a cold drink -- that's my idea of a vacation. Sure, it would be great if that chair offered views of a beach, a pool, or perhaps a mountain range, but the chance to read uninterrupted is a good enough vacation for me these days.

But, what to read . . .

A few random suggestions for travel and escape chosen from MEP's bookshelf:

Travel back to Chicago in 1893 and try to fathom how much wonder and awe the World's Fair inspired in its visitors. Read about a mass murderer who did his business there while you're at it. Erik Larsen's Devil and the White City.

Travel back to the summer days of a teenage girl in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares. Yes, the movies are pretty bad, but the books are delightful.

Travel from Texas to Montana with the most lovable group of cowboys ever. It's a long journey, but Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry is completely worth the trip. Trust me.

Travel to horse tracks around the country and into the minds and hearts of all the various characters who populate the racing world (including one of the horses) with Jane Smiley's Horse Heaven.

On my to-read list this summer are:

Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner

Cakewalk: A Memoir by Kate Moses

How Did You Get This Number by Sloane Crosley

The Passage by Justin Cronin

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (the only good reason to wish for August to get here already)

For more book ideas, check out my best books of 2009 or my 2010 reading list.

What are you reading (or hoping to read) this summer? Answer in the comments or link up your post below:

Thai One On

We're off for a visit half-way around the world, to a tiny island in the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Phangan. They have white sand beaches and unbelievably blue water. Not to mention a terribly interesting blogger, The Naked Writer. A Canadian expat, she followed her dreams and found herself in Thailand. Pretty amazing, right? So let's go see her! 

The Writing Womb

Please leave her a comment and let her know you appreciate the tour! And come back tomorrow to link up your summer vacation reading lists!

Ten Years Ago in Travel

Today's tour guide is a no show (or, rather, a no confirm) and our BlogTrotting tour operator and queen troubleshooter is enjoying some sun, sand, seafood, and Sophie Bean in Myrtle Beach this week.

When I heard Cara was heading to Myrtle Beach, I thought, "Hey, I was just there." Then, I realized by "just," I really mean five years ago. Five years ago when I was secretly pregnant (as in, only a handful of the people we were with in Myrtle Beach knew about it) with my firstborn and had no idea how much my life was about to change.

Anyway, I thought it would be fun for BlogTrotters to choose a random year (or years) ending in zero or five and list a place or places you traveled in that year . . .

Do you recognize that traveler you were in 2005, 2000, 1995, 1990, 1985, 1980, 1975 or further back?

I've picked one or two travel destinations for each year:

2005 -- Delran, NJ & Grand Bahama Island

2000 -- Bath, England & South Bend, IN

1995 -- Cancun, Mexico & Sandusky, OH

1990 -- Sea Island, GA

1985 -- no idea . . . help me out, mom!

1980 -- likely nowhere . . . maybe Dayton, OH for a family reunion?

1975 -- again, a little help, mom?

Okay then, play along with this silly travel quiz or go on with your day! Leave a comment if you want to share some of your past travel destinations!

NOT Musing about Cheese*

I did up a whole intro for our featured blogger today, quipping on Wisconsin and cheese and then I went back and dug up one of our past Wisconsonites (although if I had to pick, they would be called Wisconsonians) and realized that I've already worked that angle. So, no cheese, unless you count the fact that I am actually writing this from my beach vacation, relaxed and lotioned up after a shower where I discovered sand in places I don't want to discuss, whilst I sip a glass of my favorite zinfandel. Which combined make me prone to cheese, of the literary variety.

But I digress.

As previously stated, we are off to Wisconsin today! We're visiting Therese of Musings of a Mom. She's a teacher, of things internetty, and mom, of babies adorabley, and cooker, of things tastity. (See what I meant about cheese?) Before I embarrass myself further, why don't I just send you on over to see Therese. I am quite certain her musings will be far more entertaining and enlightening than these meager offerings of mine.

Musings of a Mom 

Please leave Therese a comment and let her know you appreciate the tour! And be thinking about your Field Trip Friday summer reading list!

*Who am I kidding, I'm always musing about cheese.

Summer in Calgary

So blogtrotters from the United States, have you had your fill of food, family, and fireworks? Hope bloggers everywhere enjoyed their weekends and paused to appreciate the freedom to blog!

Today we head to Canada for a tour of Calgary hosted by Jen, a very busy mom of three boys under age four! I always associate Calgary with wintertime (because of the Winter Olympics, I guess) and think it will be great to get a glimpse of summer there.

Let's go see Jen, her family, and her corner of the world!

3 Little Monkeys

Please leave a comment to thank Jen for her tour.

This week's Field Trip Friday topic: What books are on your summer reading lists to pack for the beach, the plane, or the road trip? Or, do you have any fantastic literary travel stories? Combine books and travel any way you wish in a post and link it up this Friday.

Field Trip Friday: Traveling with Kids

As our daughter approaches her third birthday, we prepare to take our first long road trip as a family. The furthest we have gone is a couple of hours and even that was more than a year ago. Needless to say, I am packing everything and the kitchen sink. But no matter how much I bring there, will always be those things that never occurred to me that we would need.

A few things I will be sure to remember:

1. Earplugs - When the wailing starts in the back seat, even loud music won't drown it out.

2. Benadryl - Sometimes they just need a little nudge in the direction of a nap.

3. Cupcakes - Normally, we're pretty stingy with the sweets, but I'm thinking a couple dozen cupcakes might keep her occupied for at least an hour or two.

4. Liquor - Not for the ride, OF COURSE, but for when we arrive. I have a feeling we'll need a little extra relaxation.

5. A Nanny - Nothing says smooth vacation like bringing along paid child care.

Obviously, these are all in jest, but seriously, what are your tips for traveling with kids? (Please link up directly to your post.)