<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0">
<channel>
<title>children</title>
<link>http://www.trifter.com/tags/children</link>
<description>New posts about children</description>
<item>
<title>4th of July on the Oregon Coast: Tillamook County</title>
<link>http://www.trifter.com/USA-&amp;-Canada/Oregon/4th-of-July-on-the-Oregon-Coast-Tillamook-County.155083</link>
<description>
<![CDATA[<h3>Manzanita</h3>
<p><img src="%%IMG1%%" alt="" /></p>
<ul>
<li> <strong>Pancake Breakfast- </strong>From 8:30 to 11 am there is a pancake breakfast at the Fire Hall.</li>
<li> <strong>Parade-</strong> There will be a parade and live music starting at 1 pm.</li>
<li> <strong>Independence Day Celebration-</strong> Directly after the parade, head to Nehalem Bay Winery for a BBQ and live music and dancing.  There is no cover charge, and the whole family is invited to attend.  Nehalem Bay Winery is on Highway 53 near Wheeler, one mile from the Highway 101 junction.  For more information, call (888)368-9463, or check them out <a href="http://www.nehalembaywinery.com" target="_blank">on the web.</a></li>
<li> <strong>Fireworks-</strong>Fireworks will take over the skies at dusk.  If you want a real treat, pack some food and head up early to the top of Neahkahnie Mountain north of Manzanita, and enjoy the fireworks displays from Seaside, Manzanita, and Rockaway Beach.  Be sure to get there long before the show!<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q%26hl=en%26geocode=%26q=manzanita+oregon%26ie=UTF8%26z=14" target="_blank"></a> </li>
</ul>
<h3>Rockaway Beach</h3>
<p><img src="%%IMG2%%" alt="" /></p>
<ul>
<li> <strong>Parade-</strong>A Parade will march through Rockaway Beach starting at 11 am.  It will start at the School Administration Building, and head down to Hwy 101 from Bank to Third. </li>
<li> <strong>4th of July Auction-</strong>Directly after the parade, there will be an auction hosted by the Rockaway Beach Chamber of Commerce at the Red Caboose at Wayside.</li>
<li> <strong>Kids Fun Day on the Beach-</strong>The Lion's Club sponsors this annual event featuring games and excitement for children of all ages.  The fun gets underway at 1pm.</li>
<li> <strong>Fireworks Display-</strong>When the sun goes down, the fireworks will fly over the beach.  It's truly a site to see.</li>
<li> For more information call (503)355-2291</li>
</ul>
<h3>Oceanside</h3>
<p><img src="%%IMG3%%" alt="" /></p>
<ul>
<li> <strong>Fireworks-</strong>The town of Oceanside, which is West of Tillamook, will be set at dusk.  The display can be seen from Netarts. </li>
</ul>
<h3>Pacific City</h3>
<p><img src="%%IMG4%%" alt="" /></p>
<ul>
<li> Pacific City's Independence Day celebration will coincide with the Clover Days celebration, and be on Saturday, the 5th of July rather than the traditional day, July 4th</li>
<li> <strong>All-you-can-eat breakfast-</strong>7-10 am, the Lin's will be hosting a pancake all-you-can-eat breakfast at the VFW Hall.  Prices are $6.00 for adults, and $3.00 for children under 12. </li>
<li> <strong>Kid's Corner-</strong>From 10 am-3 pm, kids can enjoy a free surrey ride, free ice cream, a bouncy house, a Ferrier demonstration, art, food, and vendors.</li>
<li> <strong>Parade-</strong>At 11 am, come see the 27th annual Clover's Day Parade.</li>
<li> <strong>Free Concert-</strong>Immediately following the parade, there will be a free convert featuring the popular "Calamity Jazz" from Eugene, Oregon.  Bridge street will be closed for the show.</li>
<li> <strong>Fireworks-</strong>The fireworks will be set off on the beach at dark.</li>
<li> <strong>Kiwanda Music Festival-</strong>At 2 pm, six bands from all over Oregon, with diverse styles of music will play at the southwest corner of the Cape Kiwanda parking lot.  There will also be arts and craft vendors.  For more information, call (541)996-7746.</li>
<li> For all Clover's Day information, please contact the Pacific City-Nestucca Valley Chamber of Commerce at (503)392-4340, or email them at manager@pcnvchamber.org.  For firework information, call (503)965-7102. </li>
</ul><a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trifter.com%2FUSA-%26amp%3B-Canada%2FOregon%2F4th-of-July-on-the-Oregon-Coast-Tillamook-County.155083"><img src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trifter.com%2FUSA-%26amp%3B-Canada%2FOregon%2F4th-of-July-on-the-Oregon-Coast-Tillamook-County.155083" border="0"/></a>]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 02 Jul 2008 03:05:09 PST</pubDate></item>
<item>
<title>What I Love About Batam</title>
<link>http://www.trifter.com/Asia-&amp;-Pacific/Indonesia/What-I-Love-About-Batam.152609</link>
<description>
<![CDATA[<h3>Short Journey</h3>
<p>We took the ferry from Singapore and arrived at Teluk Senimba ferry terminal only 45 minutes later. There was the staff from Holiday Inn waiting for their guests. The journey from the terminal to the resort took only 5 minutes. On the whole, the journey took about 1 hour. With an active toddler, long journeys is out of the question for us.</p>
<h3>Friendly Welcoming</h3>
<p>We were warmly received at the reception counter by the staff at Holiday Inn. During our stay, we were often greeted with smiles by the staff, be it the concierge, the restaurant staff or the pool boys.</p>
<h3>Relax</h3>
<p>We took a walk around the hotel and caught sight of the swimming pool. It was beautiful.  There is even a slide for kids. My daughter is not old enough to go on the slide which plunges into the pool, but we brought her to the shallowest end of the pool.  She absolutely loved it, splashing around, and making attempts at swimming, like the other kids in the pool. It was so relaxing at the pool.</p>
<h3>Shopping</h3>
<p>Although we chose a resort which is away from town, to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, but we decided to see what the town has to offer in terms of shopping experience. We took a cab to a mall called Nagoya Hill.  There was a giant hypermart, many stores with the latest fashion and lots of restaurants.</p>
<h3>Food</h3>
<p>The food was cheaper at the mall than at the hotel, of course.  There were lots of restaurants serving local and international cuisine. There was several fast food outlets as well. You can also lounge at the coffee parlors, similar to Starbucks. We did not have much time though, so we skipped the coffee. If you are a fan of seafood, there are also many restaurants serving local seafood dishes.</p>
<h3>Favorable Exchange Rate</h3>
<p>The Indonesian rupiah is a weak currency. At the hotel, prices were set in Singapore dollars, although you can choose to pay in the rupiah. But when you go to town, all payments are made in the rupiah, which will be to your advantage.  We did not bring any Indonesian rupiah and had to look for a Money Changer.  Luckily there was one at the mall.</p>
<h3>Places of Interest</h3>
<p>There are several places of interest we did not get to go due to time constraint. One of them is the Barelang Bridge, which is the symbol of Batam. We will definitely go and visit it when we come back to Batam.</p>
<h3>Kueh Lapis and Keropok</h3>
<p>If you get to go to Batam Center, you can order Kueh Lapis, which is a layered cake. You can come back in one hour to collect the freshly-made cake. It's delicious.  There are some ready-made ones sold at the hypermart, but nothing beats the aroma of freshly-baked Kueh Lapis. There are also many keropok (like crackers) to choose from - fish, prawn and many other flavors.</p>
<p>There are many other things I like about Batam which is not listed here. This island is out to attract tourists from other countries, especially those who visits Singapore, as it is just 45 minutes away. My trip is too short, I feel.  I will definitely come back here to visit Batam again, to explore all the other fabulous things that I missed out during this trip.</p><a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trifter.com%2FAsia-%26amp%3B-Pacific%2FIndonesia%2FWhat-I-Love-About-Batam.152609"><img src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trifter.com%2FAsia-%26amp%3B-Pacific%2FIndonesia%2FWhat-I-Love-About-Batam.152609" border="0"/></a>]]></description>
<pubDate>Sun, 29 Jun 2008 08:52:06 PST</pubDate></item>
<item>
<title>Cruising and the Single Father</title>
<link>http://www.trifter.com/Practical-Travel/Travel-with-Kids/Cruising-and-the-Single-Father.147240</link>
<description>
<![CDATA[<p>There is a growing segment of the parental population that gets scant attention in the media and popular press, with unique problems and considerations all their own. More and more single fathers have either joint or primary custody of their children. Besides the obvious concerns of every parent such as food, clothing, shelter, education, etc., there are more subtle issues. I have only the expertise of experience to draw upon for most of these issues, and a writer ought to stick to what they know, so I thought I'd talk about vacations.</p>
<h3>Cruising and the Single Father</h3>
<p>We all want to spend time with our children on vacation, but the idea of a vacation is to relax and have some fun, and this includes old Dad, too. Divorced fathers, who usually spend less time with their children per capita through the year, are especially sensitive to showing the kids a good time. Disney World, a trip to the beach or mountains, or state or national parks are all popular destinations, but all have significant drawbacks.</p>
<p>A day at the beach watching your children swim, especially if they are small, is about as relaxing as driving in rush hour traffic; the magic of Mickey &amp;amp; Company has worn perilously thin after the third or fourth time winding through a serpentine line for an hour and a half, waiting to see robotic animals dance to bad music for three minutes. But there is an option available where you can spend quality time with your children and still feel like you had a vacation yourself.</p>
<p>A cruise is one of the best vacation options available to the single father. Most family oriented cruises are rife with entertainment options for the children, from about four or five years of age up to the upper teens. Treasure hunts, tours of the ship, ice cream buffets, group activities by age, play rooms, teen clubs, all serve to occupy your little tax deductions, giving you a chance at some well-deserved personal time and fun of your own. It is, after all, your vacation, too.</p>
<p>The single father who is likely to be reading this will do well to remember his demographic, and his TV history. By my admittedly biased accounting (but based on the experiences of five cruises with my daughter from age seven to fourteen), for every single male on a cruise ship, there are at least two single women, most of whom were raised watching The Love Boat. For single fathers, the number of single mothers per capita is greater still, and you already have something in common to laugh, commiserate, and compare notes about. Like yourself, the single moms want to generate a few fond memories of their own.</p>
<p>If I had a son, there are only two pieces of advice I would give him concerning women. The first is to never be coerced into guessing age or weight (you are lying if you fall shy, and dead in the water if you guess high), and the second is to learn to dance. If you are willing to smile, say hello, and provide a warm body on the dance floor (optional, but very helpful), you almost cannot help but meet someone on a cruise. For whatever vain reason, many men will not get out on the dance floor for fear of the world's discovering that they are not John Travolta. Get over it. You don't have to be a good dancer, although it doesn't hurt; you just have to be willing to get out there. This is not American Bandstand; no one is keeping score.</p>
<p>Cruise lines are very aware that one of the main reasons single people take cruises is that they want a chance to meet other single people in a romantic setting. They promote the idea of new love on the high seas in their advertising, and do all that they reasonably can to perpetuate this image. Therefore, making this easier for you is good business. Sitters are available up into the wee hours, with well-trained supervision and so many activities, games, and movies that the biggest problem is getting junior to leave to go with you at bedtime.</p>
<p>For both you and the kids, this is the time to try new things, have some adventure, and expand your base of experience. For the older kids, a cruise is like a learner's permit for adulthood; they can be given a bit more rein than usual because of the subtle supervision of the ship's staff, and can make friends with people of very different backgrounds. You can kick up your heels a bit, secure in the knowledge that you are very unlikely to see any of these people again unless you want to. You can have the chance of a romantic fling with a nice lady, have something to lie about to your friends, and when the lady in question tells the story back home in Omaha, you are six feet-four and good looking.</p>
<p>Romance aside, there is virtually always something to do on the ship, or on the shore. Depending upon your destination, you can visit exotic beaches, go snorkeling, visit historical ruins, shop, tour the islands, or just kick back and enjoy the amazing service. I was reticent to get up in the middle of the night and use the bathroom on my first cruise, afraid that the bed would be made when I returned. They will cheerfully bring your children a turkey sandwich and soft drink at two in the afternoon or morning, and smile as they watch you track sand onto the ship from the beach. Remember that they work for tips. It is a poor man's chance to be rich for a week.</p>
<p>Prices vary with accommodations and season, but compare very favorably with equal time in Orlando or Myrtle Beach, and you are much more likely to still be speaking to your children after the week is over. You can do as much or little as you like, eat some great food, see a bit of the world, and maybe squeeze in a little adventure and/or romance for yourself. Take a chance; take a cruise. Did you really want to ride that bike with ET again?</p><a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trifter.com%2FPractical-Travel%2FTravel-with-Kids%2FCruising-and-the-Single-Father.147240"><img src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trifter.com%2FPractical-Travel%2FTravel-with-Kids%2FCruising-and-the-Single-Father.147240" border="0"/></a>]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 24 Jun 2008 07:52:24 PST</pubDate></item>
<item>
<title>Top Five Sites to Visit in Beijing</title>
<link>http://www.trifter.com/Asia-&amp;-Pacific/China/Top-Five-Sites-to-Visit-in-Beijing.132800</link>
<description>
<![CDATA[<h3>Tian'an Men Square</h3>
 
<p>This is the world's largest public square but is dotted with political offices instead of any pretty flowers or plants. This area serves as the final resting place for the communist chairman Mao Zedong. This square is famous for the 1989 pro-democracy demonstrations in China which ended in bloody civilian deaths at the arms of Chinese soldiers. In many regards, this is the center of Chinese political power and the birthplace of communist China. The long name for the square is Tian'an Men Guangchang or the Square of the Gate of Heavenly Peace. In this area, you can visit the numueros government offices, monuments and the Chinese National Museum.</p>
 
<h3>The Forbidden City</h3>
 
<p>The city of the emperors once reserved for only members of the imperial court now is open to visitors from near and far abroad - the largest and greatest of palaces complexes from the &amp;ldquo;old&amp;rdquo; China. Over 24 emperors issued their edicts from the halls of this grand monument for over 500 years and still serve as the symbolic center of the universe for the children of Han (China). The palace has since been converted to a &amp;ldquo;Palace Museum&amp;rdquo; and opened to the public since 1949. Another many things to see is the Imperial Garden and the hall of Supreme Harmony (the throne room). This collection of buildings takes all of its visitors back to ancient china and even see places where historic moments were made.</p>
 
<h3>The Great Wall of China</h3>
 
<p>Within 40 miles from Beijing, the Great Wall of China is the most famous and visible of China's cultural and ancient history. The wall was created by numerous rulers after the unification of China into one empire by Qin Shi Huangdi in 221 BC. Most hotels in the region offer tourists the visit to the Great Walls and to the Ming Tombs that house the dead emperors of China's forgotten era. You can visit the four sites that have been preserved from the damage that have occurred to the walls and check out the Great Wall Museum which shows the history of the area from the Neolithic time period. Overall, this trip is an adventurers and a archeologists wet dream.</p>
 
<h3>The Lama Temple</h3>
 
<p>One of Beijing's most attractice places of worship is the Buddhist Lama Temple. It is made up of five different sections or halls, where each section or hall is taller than the pervious. Thus walking through the temple represents walking from earth into the heavens. The temple was originally the home of Yongzheng who became the Qing Emperor in 1722. There are many sites to visit including the Hall of the Wheel of Dharma, which shows the statue of Tsongkhapa who is the founder of Yellow Hat Sect of Buddhism led by the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama of Tibet. The temple has gone through extreme persecution at the hands of the Chinese authorities but slowly it is coming back. Now over 70 monks serve in the temple which was built to house over 1500 monks.</p>
 
<h3>Hou Hai</h3>
 
<p>The area is the cental hub for the city life in Beijing and the shopping center. Hou Hai has traditionally been the home to nobles and the wealthy in aristocratic China and most of the houses here offer a glimpse back in time. Many of the lakside restaurants, bars and vafes offer attratice views and waterfront terraces for visitors. There are many activities to do including Boating, Skating, and a cheap Rickshaw tour of the entire city. During the day time, it is perfect to visit the area to shop, visit the historic landmarks and homes. But at night, it is a romantic sight to behold. Candles are lit and floated into the waters while you enjoy your romantic dinner at the waterfront glimmering in the night's beauty. Hou Hai really captures the essence of modern China trapped within its past.</p><a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trifter.com%2FAsia-%26amp%3B-Pacific%2FChina%2FTop-Five-Sites-to-Visit-in-Beijing.132800"><img src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trifter.com%2FAsia-%26amp%3B-Pacific%2FChina%2FTop-Five-Sites-to-Visit-in-Beijing.132800" border="0"/></a>]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 02 Jun 2008 06:40:31 PST</pubDate></item>
<item>
<title>Helping Children Deal with Jet Lag</title>
<link>http://www.trifter.com/Practical-Travel/Travel-with-Kids/Helping-Children-Deal-with-Jet-Lag.132030</link>
<description>
<![CDATA[<p>If you are planning to take your child on a distant trip, you will be dealing with the exhausting ordeal of helping your child adjust to a new time zone.  If you have more than one child, the situation can be even more complicated because different children may react differently to time changes, resulting in each child being on different schedules.  Here are some tips to help you work through jetlag with your child or children.</p>
 
<h3>Take the First Couple Days Off</h3>
 
<p>The first day or two you will not only be living in a different time zone, you will also be dealing with the exhaustion of missed sleep due to the long flight.  Few children sleep well on airplanes, so your child will start off more tired than usual.  It&amp;rsquo;s best to leave the schedule adjustments until the initial exhaustion is under control.  Treat the first day or two like you would if you had just brought a new baby home.  Sleep whenever you get the chance and give your child a chance to get over that initial fatigue.</p>
 
<h3>Don&amp;rsquo;t Let Your Child Get Overtired</h3>
 
<p>By the second or third day, you should start trying to adjust your child&amp;rsquo;s sleeping patterns back to a normal schedule.  Do this gently.  If your child is staying up most of the night and sleeping in, start by waking your child a few hours earlier.  If your child is waking up in the middle of the night, keep the house dark and promote quiet play until a more reasonable hour.  You can start the day earlier than normal, but try keep your child quiet as long as possible.</p>
 
<p>During the day, encourage activities that require some physical activity, but aren&amp;rsquo;t too exhausting.  Outdoor activities are best.  If going outside is impossible, try to keep your child in a brightly lit room during the day.  This helps change your child&amp;rsquo;s schedule by exposing your child to adrenaline and sunlight during the day, two things that tell your child&amp;rsquo;s body it is daytime.
If your child gets sleepy during the day, don&amp;rsquo;t try to keep them awake longer than they want to.  Doing this will cause your child to become overtired which will further complicate the change back to a normal schedule.  Instead of trying to keep your child awake, shorten daytime sleeping to nothing more than a long nap.</p>
 
<h3>Eat Regular Meals During the Day</h3>
 
<p>An essential step in helping your child adjust is making sure they eat enough during the day so they aren&amp;rsquo;t as likely to get hungry during the night.  A good rule of thumb is to wake your child at each meal time, feed your child, and then promote activity until your child is too tired to stay awake.  This should lengthen the amount of time your child stays awake during the day and help them spend more time at night sleeping.</p>
 
<h3>Keep Nighttime Quiet</h3>
 
<p>When normal bedtime arrives, get your child ready for bed using the normal routine and then darken the room and encourage them to stay quiet.  If your child is not sleepy provide a dim light and allow them to play with toys quietly.  Discourage physically active play that might promote adrenaline.  If your child is falling asleep earlier than usual, allow your child to take a nap and then wake them at least an hour before bedtime.  This will allow you to follow the usual bedtime routine, signaling to their body that it is time to sleep.</p>
 
<p>Jetlag can last for up to two weeks; however, your child will most likely adjust within the first week.  Be careful not to force anything, either daytime play or nighttime sleep. Your child&amp;rsquo;s body will naturally adjust to sunlight exposure and nighttime darkness.  If you find yourself fighting exhaustion, don&amp;rsquo;t be afraid to enlist outside help to care for your child while you take a nap.  With a little time, both of you will be back on schedule.</p><a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trifter.com%2FPractical-Travel%2FTravel-with-Kids%2FHelping-Children-Deal-with-Jet-Lag.132030"><img src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trifter.com%2FPractical-Travel%2FTravel-with-Kids%2FHelping-Children-Deal-with-Jet-Lag.132030" border="0"/></a>]]></description>
<pubDate>Sun, 01 Jun 2008 03:01:24 PST</pubDate></item>
<item>
<title>Car Activities to Keep Your Kids Busy</title>
<link>http://www.trifter.com/Practical-Travel/Travel-with-Kids/Car-Activities-to-Keep-Your-Kids-Busy.106919</link>
<description>
<![CDATA[<h3>Play &amp;ldquo;Movies&amp;rdquo;</h3>
 
<p>The starting person says the first initial of every letter in a movie title. For instance, if the movie is &amp;ldquo;The Incredibles,&amp;rdquo; you would say, &amp;ldquo;T,I.&amp;rdquo; The first person to guess gets to go next. In most cases you will have to ask for clues after a couple of wrong guesses. This game could go on for hours in my family and my four year old always says, &amp;ldquo;E&amp;rdquo; for &amp;ldquo;ET&amp;rdquo; which we all get quite a laugh out of.</p>
 
<h3>Play an Alphabet Game</h3>
 
<p>Pretend you are going on a trip and each person says what they will bring in alphabetical order till you reach Z. Say, &amp;ldquo;I'm going on a trip and I'm bringing an <strong>A</strong>nimal.&amp;rdquo; The next person would say, &amp;ldquo;I'm going on a trip and I'm bringing a <strong>B</strong>ook&amp;rdquo; etc.</p>
 
<p>For older kids make it harder and have what they're bringing go with the theme of a trip. For instance you would bring an <strong>A</strong>ntenna (to hear the radio), a <strong>B</strong>ook (to read since there's no TV) and a <strong>C</strong>anoe etc.</p>
 
<h3>Count the Cars</h3>
 
<p>Pick a color and every one can count how many cars of that color they see. Make it a competition. Assign each child a different color and the child who has seen the most cars of their color wins.</p>
 
<h3>Count the Animals</h3>
 
<p>If you live in a rural area, count the animals you see en route.</p>
 
<h3>Tell a Story One Sentence at a Time</h3>
 
<p>Taking turns, each person tells one sentence of a story. For instance, you could start with, &amp;ldquo;Once upon a time there was a dog on a roof.&amp;rdquo; Then the next person would tell what happens next. Your kids won't be able to wait till it's their turn to contribute and will be thinking of what to say next.</p>
 
<h3>Be Creative</h3>
 
<p>Make up a new game with your own rules. Better yet, let your kids take turns making up new car games.</p>
 
<p>Playing car games will not only get you all there in peace, it will provide some quality and fun rides.</p><a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trifter.com%2FPractical-Travel%2FTravel-with-Kids%2FCar-Activities-to-Keep-Your-Kids-Busy.106919"><img src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trifter.com%2FPractical-Travel%2FTravel-with-Kids%2FCar-Activities-to-Keep-Your-Kids-Busy.106919" border="0"/></a>]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 09 Apr 2008 06:30:38 PST</pubDate></item>
<item>
<title>How to Avoid Toddler Tantrums and Meltdowns at Disney World</title>
<link>http://www.trifter.com/Practical-Travel/Travel-with-Kids/How-to-Avoid-Toddler-Tantrums-and-Meltdowns-at-Disney-World.104727</link>
<description>
<![CDATA[<p>If my calculations are correct, more kids break down crying every hour inside the Magic Kingdom than anywhere else on the planet.  It's not that the sun is hot, the lines are long or, to quote Robin Williams, &amp;ldquo;Mickey Mouse to a three-year-old is a six-foot (bleep)ing rat.&amp;rdquo;  No, the real problem with Disney World is that your parents have just shelled out enough cash to afford a rather high-end television set, giving them an almost inhuman need to get their money's worth no matter what.  So they drag you from ride to ride, character to character, photo op to photo op, not caring that you're perpetually ten seconds away from a complete emotional meltdown.  As a result the phrase, &amp;ldquo;Stop screaming so Mommy can take a picture,&amp;rdquo; is uttered an average of nine million times per day.</p>
 
<p>Despite the fact that Disney World was always a favorite destination for my family growing up, it became obvious to me that &amp;ldquo;the happiest place on earth&amp;rdquo; was, in fact, no place for children.  I vowed never to bring my own kids until they were at least ten years old and well above the age of toddler-hood tantrums.  But when my wife and I found ourselves visiting family in Orlando this summer we decided to brave the prospective melodrama and take our three-year-old, Allison to the Mouse House for a day of&amp;hellip; fun?  The decision was made easier by the fact that we had Disney-employed relatives who got us in for free.  So even if Allison cried the entire time and we left after only an hour, at least we could still justify buying that 40-inch plasma screen with 1080i capabilities when we got home.</p>
 
<p>We hit a number of the Magic Kingdom's usual haunts-rides, parades, character greetings-but because we hadn't invested any money into the day, we felt no compulsion to hit all of them.  If a line was longer than thirty minutes, we skipped it.  If a ride looked at all scary, we avoided it.  When the afternoon got hot, we spent a cool and refreshing hour circling the Magic Kingdom on the lineless Disney World Railroad.  When Allison fell asleep during Pirates of the Caribbean, we didn't wake her.  When it became obvious she was having more fun running through the S.S. Miss Daisy water playground, we didn't pressure her to finish up.  And when she clung to our leg at the sight of Winnie the Pooh in the flesh, we didn't force her to pose for nightmare-inducing photos.  Freed from that burden of &amp;ldquo;getting our money's worth&amp;rdquo; the three of us had a truly magical day indeed.  The only tears that were shed happened when some kid on the Miss Daisy accidentally squirted water in Allison's eye.</p>
 
<p>I had an epiphany that day: the only way for toddlers and their parents to truly enjoy a visit to Disney World is to get in for free.  Of course when I suggested this to a bedraggled-looking father of triplets on the monorail that night, he spilled his ten-dollar soda in my lap.  It's no secret that a day at Disney World is not an inexpensive undertaking for the average non-Disney-employed family.  With ticket prices running as high as seventy dollars per person, it's not until you start committing to a seven-day pass that the daily rates start getting somewhat reasonable.  And as we stated earlier, when you have that much cash invested in something, the need to &amp;ldquo;get your money's worth&amp;rdquo; becomes all-consuming and can often lead to pushing your toddler far past his prudent threshold of whimsical fun.</p>
 
<p>As hard a pill as this is to swallow, the fact is nobody should bring their toddler through the gates of Disney World if they can't immediately ignore how much money they spent to get in.  Whatever the number, you must forget the dollar sign in front of it and force yourself to focus only on the wide-eyed wonder in your child's eyes.  Even more important though is to forget those dollar signs when wonder is replaced by some other less favorable emotion, namely:</p>
 
<h3>Fear</h3>
 
<p>Even if you waited in line for ninety minutes to ride the Flying Dumbos, force yourself not to tally up the dollars wasted when, at the last second, your toddler announces he's too scared to go on.  Same thing with character greetings.  It's always better, and probably cuter, to snap a picture of your scared-but-smiling youngster waving to Mickey from a safe distance than screaming bloody murder in the arms of a six-foot rat.</p>
 
<h3>Stress</h3>
 
<p>Between loud parades, spinning teacups, and yo-ho'ing pirates, over-stimulation is pretty much a given for a toddler at Disney World.  When you sense that yours is nearing the point of fracture, take a little time for some less in-your-face entertainment.  Don't get into the &amp;ldquo;we could be doing this at home for free&amp;rdquo; mentality if Junior wants to read books for a while in the gift shop.  Several of the parks have movie theaters with no lines showing classic Disney cartoons.  Sit in the air conditioning for an hour and relax as a family.  A little time to decompress will give everyone the extra energy and good humor keep going.</p>
 
<h3>Exhaustion</h3>
 
<p>No two ways about it, your toddler will need a nap at some point during the day.  If you're staying at one of the Disney resorts head back to the room during the hottest part of the day.  If leaving the park and returning simply isn't feasible, go on &amp;ldquo;It's a Small World After All&amp;rdquo; right around naptime.  Your little one will be asleep before the boat leaves Sweden.  Use the downtime for some shopping, or simply take a rest in the shade yourself.  If you're vacationing with other couples, trade off babysitting duties so you can all go on Space Mountain and a few other &amp;ldquo;grownup&amp;rdquo; rides.</p>
 
<p>I know this is easy advice to shell out from a guy who never paid a cent for his own day at Disney.  But that doesn't negate its truth.  The fact is, while Disney World (in my opinion) is best experienced by older children, it still can be, and often is, an enjoyable place for toddlers.  Then again, so is the motel pool, which is free.  The trick is kissing that hi-def plasma goodbye and approaching your day at Disney as though you actually had gotten in for free.  Only then can you allow yourself to have easygoing fun without dragging your toddler past the point of tears.  I know it's easier said than done, but believe me, if I can do it, you can do it&amp;hellip;  please don't throw your soda at me.</p><a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trifter.com%2FPractical-Travel%2FTravel-with-Kids%2FHow-to-Avoid-Toddler-Tantrums-and-Meltdowns-at-Disney-World.104727"><img src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trifter.com%2FPractical-Travel%2FTravel-with-Kids%2FHow-to-Avoid-Toddler-Tantrums-and-Meltdowns-at-Disney-World.104727" border="0"/></a>]]></description>
<pubDate>Sat, 05 Apr 2008 07:45:49 PST</pubDate></item>
<item>
<title>Tips for Family Trips</title>
<link>http://www.trifter.com/Practical-Travel/Tips/Tips-for-Family-Trips.103139</link>
<description>
<![CDATA[<p>Hawaii, California, Maine, Florida, and Alaska. The five corners of the United States. I've been there and many to many more over my fairly short 15 years of life. And I'm giving you the top 5 tips for planning a perfect family vacation.</p>
 <ol>
<li> 
<h3>Hotel</h3>
The most important tip for both children, and parents to enjoy a trip, is the Hotel. For the kids, pools mean more than anything. The bigger the pool, the better the stay. Parents as well should find a hotel that fits there needs (ex. Spa, Restaurant, etc.)</li>
<li> 
<h3>Activities</h3>
Believe it or not, kids do not enjoy going on a 5 hour bird watching tour. In order to let your kids enjoy the trip the most, include some fun adventures for them. (ex. Riding horse up a mountain, surfing lessons, waterskiing, and more)</li>
<li> 
<h3>Food</h3>
Exotic does not mean better. Your children will not enjoying eating sushi and lamb for every meal on vacation. Let them enjoy the basic burger and fries every once and a while.</li>
<li> 
<h3>Location</h3>
Pick something you know your children will like. If you notice they like bugs, plants, and other wildlife things, take them camping. If your child loves a game such as "Rollercoaster Tycoon" take them to Disney World. If your child loves surfing, take them to the beach. Fit your Childs wants, and the trip will be more important for the entire family.</li>
<li> 
<h3>Have Fun</h3>
 And probably most important, have fun. A parent yelling at a kid the entire trip for whatever he might have done can kill the entire trip. A vacation is a time to enjoy each other's company and strengthen as a family unit. So do the most you can do to have fun.</li>
</ol> 
<p>I hope these tips have helped you, and enjoy your next family vacation</p><a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trifter.com%2FPractical-Travel%2FTips%2FTips-for-Family-Trips.103139"><img src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trifter.com%2FPractical-Travel%2FTips%2FTips-for-Family-Trips.103139" border="0"/></a>]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:01:37 PST</pubDate></item>
<item>
<title>Avoid Hotels When Traveling with Kids</title>
<link>http://www.trifter.com/Practical-Travel/Travel-with-Kids/Avoid-Hotels-When-Traveling-with-Kids.85369</link>
<description>
<![CDATA[<p>Traveling with small children especially ones that cry a night or still nap can be tricky.  One of the longest nights of my life was spent in a hotel room with my kids.  The baby cried, like she always did, but I couldn't &amp;ldquo;let&amp;rdquo; her cry, she was disturbing everyone else.  The air conditioning was loud and the air was bone dry.  Not to mention that fact that my two year old went to sleep at 8, so what did the rest of us do while she was sleeping?  My husband took my 5 year old to the lobby to read and I sat and watched TV, very softly.</p>
 
<p>I avoid hotels like the plague when vacationing with kids.  They just don't make good sense.  Instead I plan in advance and do a little research to find a great condo or rental home in the area.  One great site that I'd recommend for your research is VRBO.com, Vacation Rental By Owner.  More on that later.</p>
 
<h3>There are huge advantages to renting a condo or a home</h3>
 
<ul>
<li> More space for toys, sleeping and fun.  While the little ones are napping, you or your older children can do &amp;ldquo;awake&amp;rdquo; things.  I try to look for places with yards or condos with balconies or decks so you can still be outside while still being close by. </li>
 
<li> A kitchen with a fridge and a microwave.  You can pack lunches for the day, have breakfast, and serve healthy snacks.  My husband and I love feeding our kids an early dinner of Mac n Cheese then heading out to a nice dinner where we eat and they get to color.  We save a ton of money and time bringing or buying groceries.  More time to vacation and less time sitting in restaurants (our kids least favorite place to be!)</li>
 
<li> Indoor amenities.  Rental places usually have DVDs, VCRs, games, magazines, books, suggestions of things to do, a big coffee pot (my husband and I are addicts), beach towels and swim toys.  We once stayed at a place with a pool table. </li>
 
<li> Outdoor amenities.  Anything goes with this one, just search for what you want.  Rentals can come with swimming pools, hot tubs, playground equipment, snorkel gear, private decks, and private beaches.  Last summer we stayed at a cabin in the Smokey Mountains that was on a river.  The owner's s provided fishing tackle.  It had a private deck on the water with a fire pit.  The secluded private hot tub was a big hit. </li>
 
<li> Off the beaten path.  You can stay in town or out of town.  In the Bahamas we opted for a place on the beach, but within walking distance of the boardwalk and docks. </li>
 
<li> You can park close to the door.  Coming &amp;ldquo;home&amp;rdquo; is always a breeze.  Park in you private spot and head right in.  You don't have to drag tired kids and a days worth of gear through a lobby and wait for elevators. </li>
 
<li> Money saved.  Eliminate the middleman by giving your money to a person.  Renting a private residence is much cheaper than a hotel.  In many cases you don't pay taxes or resort fees.  You get way more space, including bedrooms and privacy to relax.  My kids love exploring their home for the week! </li>
 
</ul>
<p>While there are certainly many websites out there that provide this service.  I have always been happy with the selection and owners at VRBO.com.  The site provides details about availability, amenities, photos, and nearby attractions.  You can search by state, town and general area.  The prices and number of bedrooms are clearly posted.  Best of all, it seems that wherever we want to go, anywhere in the world, there are a lot of choices!</p>
 
<p>What's also cool about the site is that most of the time you are emailing and communicating with the owners so they can give you personal service about their favorite place to be, on vacation in their rental unit!</p>
 
<p>Next time you want to travel consider a rental unit.  My family and I have some great vacation memories and saved a lot of money and frustration renting from someone else.</p><a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trifter.com%2FPractical-Travel%2FTravel-with-Kids%2FAvoid-Hotels-When-Traveling-with-Kids.85369"><img src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trifter.com%2FPractical-Travel%2FTravel-with-Kids%2FAvoid-Hotels-When-Traveling-with-Kids.85369" border="0"/></a>]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 19 Feb 2008 03:52:01 PST</pubDate></item>
<item>
<title>The Amazing Nightlife in Malta</title>
<link>http://www.trifter.com/Europe/Malta-The-Country-You-Want-to-Visit-2.76240</link>
<description>
<![CDATA[<p>Well to sum it up, I believe it's Amazing. Yet again, Malta has something for everyone.<br />It's somewhat hard to believe that a country so small like Malta, has areas of the country that the night life has been compared to the scene in Ibiza. That is a sign of Holiday Heaven for Many people. The difference between Malta and Ibiza is that Malta's price list for cocktails and beverages is extremely lower to that of Ibiza. And that can only be good if what you are looking for is a low budget holiday, or a party trip. One of the main scenes on the Island is Paceville. Imagine walking down a main road with music banging, lights shining, people having a good time, and you being part of that scene. Doesn't it just sound amazing!! Bars to suit everyone's needs.</p>
<p>Hard Rock Cafes, Beach bars, Banging Nightclubs, Irish Bars just every type of themed and intriguing pub and club you could think off!! Paceville neighbours Party Village Bay Street. This newly built Party Complex is a must for all party goers, live mixes, roaring nightclubs, busy restaurants, and a jam packed beach is the daily scene here. The Cinema Complex and Bowling alley making this area Heaven in many people's eyes. The newly built shopping arcade itself is a reason to visit this area.</p>
<p>And then you travel just 10 minutes down the road, finding amazing family orientated night scenes baring karaoke bars and games rooms to entertain the younger tourists whilst the older tourists can relax and have a refreshing drink. Maltese laws state that Children under the age of 16 are allowed to stay in bars, most clubs and restaurants till closing hours. This being an advantage as there is nothing restricting the family from having as much fun as possible whilst on the Islands. A big family resort area in Malta is Buggibba, Buggibba is ideal for all families for numerous reasons. To start off, Buggibba is situated near the sea-literally 20m away from most hotels in the area. The beaches are both sandy and rocky in the area, to tend to Everybody's needs. There are also many shops in the area, from local souvenir shops to clothes shops, jewellers and mini markets! All of these open till past 10pm daily.</p>
<p>The area is inundated with restaurants of all types, Indian, Italian, Mexican, Turkish, Maltese anything you desire. Many restaurants are made with children in mind, having games rooms, and child play areas. Then other restaurants are adult orientated. Games Arenas are scattered throughout Buggibba, featuring Pool Tables, Air Hockey Machines, and many Arcade games, All are supervised, and many have their own bars. The Pubs in Buggibba are Great places to meet new people or just have a quiet Drink. With or without Children. Music is always playing, many times being live acts. There is still the Nightclub scene in Buggibba, open till the early hours of the morning. Yet again appealing to all natures of audiences. Cinema Complexes and Bowling Alleys are situated 5mins away from the promenade. The Great advantage with this Town is that it is right next to Gozo, and numerous boat trips leave from Buggibba to Gozo, Comino, and St Pauls Island. These all being must do expeditions for the area. The area is ideal for walking, large pavements, for safety, pedestrian only areas. The People in Buggibba and throughout Malta in general always make you feel happy and welcome.-They do not understand the meaning of the word rude, or impolite.</p>
<p>For the More mature people there are towns like Sliema and St Julians. Quieter holiday resorts, still packed with everything you could need to have an amazing night out, just quieter, more relaxing, and the cherry on the cake being that this harbour town overlooks the capital city, and at both day and night, this stunning view itself, is one of a kind. St Julians is home to the Portomaso Resort, -The Hilton Malta. This is the home to numerous celebrities including Paul Scholes.</p>
<p>A new Complex that has been Built in Malta is the Malta Waterfront. This stunning complex is a restored Victorian fish Market, on the outskirts of the capital city home to many amazing new Restaurants and Bars including the Hard Rock Bar ,a quiet, elegant, yet moderately priced complex, walking the waterfront is yet again another beautiful view in itself. This area is where a hovercraft departs Daily for Trips to and from Sicily, taking you on excursions(if you wish) to Places like mount Etna, and the city of Taormina.-Which from my personal experience I can tell you are beautiful.</p>
<p>Maybe it isn't a drink that you want? Maybe you are looking for a game of bingo to play? Or some activities on the beach to finish of an amazing day? These are all typical activities taking place on nearly all beaches in Malta on a Daily basis. On every beach you will find numerous beach bars and open restaurants. These venues offer entertainment every night. And let's be Blunt, it's Cheap!!!! Not all children like playing Bingo though, and sometimes children just want to stand up, run around, play football; basically just entertain themselves in their own way .That's why beach bars are amazing. Long Golden stretches of sand, loads of space for children to entertain themselves, under your watchful eye, whilst enjoying the game of bingo, or the local performances put up for your entertainment. The beaches themselves have many events running, for example barbecues and beach sports. Sometimes local village groups organise barbecues on the beach that everyone can go to for a small fee in the range of &amp;pound;4 per person. Another experience lovely to be a part of on your holiday to Malta.</p>
<p>The amazing thing about all these resorts is that they are all different, this is a few of them only. There are tons, including Mellieha, St Pauls Bay, Bahar ic-Caq and Qawra. Some people want to relax on holiday, and get sleep at night, in Malta you can, without Vibrations through your Bed from the Nightclubs. The loud Party areas are divided away from the quieter resort areas, and the local villages; comfort always comes first in Malta. <br />For more information about Malta, please check out my other articles, regarding different aspects of Malta, from History, to beautiful beaches themselves.</p><a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trifter.com%2FEurope%2FMalta-The-Country-You-Want-to-Visit-2.76240"><img src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trifter.com%2FEurope%2FMalta-The-Country-You-Want-to-Visit-2.76240" border="0"/></a>]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 22 Jan 2008 03:30:58 PST</pubDate></item>
</channel>
</rss>
