10 Staycation Ideas for Spring Break

Spring Break is this month for many of us.  If you find yourself at home this break, here is a little "Staycation Inspiration" to make your break a fun one!

10 Staycation Ideas for Spring Break

1. St. Patrick's Day Photo Scavenger Hunt - Photo Scavenger hunts are on of my kids' fav things to do. Create a fun list of things to find, themed around St. Patrick's Day and head to your favorite park.  Or borrow my list here.

2. Breakfast for Dinner - We like to call it Brinner in our house. Make it special - chocolate chip pancakes with whipped cream smiles anyone?

3. Movie Marathon - Rent a couple of movies or maybe set a goal to watch all your favorites (a Harry Potter Marathon might be fun!).  Stay in your PJs all day and eat junk food. Come on mom, it's only one day!

4. Family Game Day Tournament - Make a list of all your favorite family games, create a tournament bracket and spend the day gaming, old fashioned style!

5. Geocaching - Again, another one of my kiddos' favorties - Geocaching is FREE, FUN, and educational (but don't tell your kids that!) Learn more about it here.

6. Indoor Masking Tape Race Track - Last Summer, we built an indoor racetrack for all my 3 year old's car out of masking tape.  It covered 3 rooms!  He played with that track for hours.....ok days.  It was the BEST idea.  See how we did it here.

7. Backyard Camping - Pitch a tent in your own backyard.  Get the feeling of camping, while never having to leave the comforts of home behind.

8. Tourist in your Own Town - What have you been wanting to go and see in your own town, but never made time to??  This is the week to try it!

9. Visit a Park you have never been to - Find a park you have never been too and plan a day there.  Does it have great hiking or biking trails? Take a picnic basket and explore - might discover a really cool place!

10. Visit a local farm/orchard or farmers market and make something with what you picked - We have tons of great farms around here to pick your own produce.  For example, we love our local Strawberry farm and love the sweet treats we make with our strawberries even more!

What ever you plan on doing, think outside of the box and shake things up a bit for your family this week!  Have fun!!

St. Patrick's Day Scavenger Hunt

With St. Patrick's Day around the corner, we decided to have a fun adventure.  So this Spring Break, we will be having a St. Patrick’s Day Photo Scavenger Hunt!  My kids love scavenger hunts, so I like to create fun ones for them to do - it is, after all, essentially FREE! All it takes is a little bit of prep work to create a fun experience for a group of kids.

St.  Patrick's Day Photo Scavenger Hunt:

• You can do this with a large group of friends, or just your family.  If you do invite others to your hunt, just ask them to wear tennis shoes and bring a digital camera (a small hand-held camera is ideal).    
• A little pre-work is involved in creating the actual list of "finds".  I went to the local park we were holding the scavenger hunt at a few days prior to get some ideas for the list.  It allowed me to select a few clues that would personalize the hunt better.  I was looking for unusual rocks, sculptures, or landscapes that they have to find.  (see the list we used below) 
• I like to also include activities they need to photograph as well, for example, all teammates creating a word out of their bodies.  
• To give it more of a St. Patrick’s Day theme, I added “find a four leaf clover”, “find a pot of gold” and “find all the colors of the Rainbow”.  Hide some gold chocolate coins for the kids to find for a fun surprise. 
• Assign points to all the clues
• Keep the hunt easy – allow the kids to naturally partner with who they would like to. Explain the rules, set the timer, and let them go!
• We generally give them a half hour - an hour, depending on the list
• Get creative with the prizes!  We found funny St. Patrick’s Day themed goodies to give the team who earned the most points. 

Everyone enjoys the fun of a hunt! Throw a party afterwards to show everyone's pictures  and serve some very St. Patrick-sy snacks - leprechaun green cupcakes, gold chocolate coins, green kool-aid (what else?).


There you go! A fun and easy St. Patrick's Day Party for kids!

St. Patrick's Day Photo Scavenger Hunt:
(change these as they fit the location you are doing your hunt at)

• Rock with a tree growing out of it
• Someone swinging as high as they can
• Mom taking a drink from water fountain
• Trees with white
• Find the colors of the rainbow (take a picture of each one!)
• Baseball backstop
• Bridge over a creek
• Pointed rock
• Tree stump
• Greenest patch of grass
• Lying down in the fold in the earth
• Someone going across the jungle gym
• Picture of someone wearing a green shirt
• Someone doing a cartwheel
• A picture of someone wearing sunglasses
• All team members standing on a flat rock
• Spell your initial with your body
• Looking for a leprechaun
• Tree with the triangle
• Picture of “gold”
• Someone going down the slide
• Picture by the park sign don't step on the flowers!

Summer Reading Programs ~ Nationwide

Last Friday we posted about all the amazing local reading programs available in the Central Texas Area.
While researching those, we discovered a treasure trove of programs available across the nation!  So dive in my friends and get your kiddos reading this summer!

Barnes & Noble's Imagination Destination Summer Reading Program enables kids to earn a free book by just reading 8 books over the summer. Go into any local Barnes & Noble to pick up a Reading Journal or download one here.  Return it completed before September 4th and your child can choose a free book from their selection on the Reading Journal list.

My kids love the Feed Your Brain Summer Reading Program at Half Price Books.  Kids 14 and under read for 15 minutes a day and record their time.  Once they hit 300 minutes, they can turn in their completed reading log to the store to earn a $5 Half Price Books Back-to-School Bucks reward each month.  Their website offers a great reading list and several fun ideas to read together as a family.

Join the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge allows kids to record their racing digitally by logging into their website and recording minutes read.  Each time they login, they are entered to win a book & autographed poster.  The website is also a fantastic resource for parents to get tips on keeping your kiddos reading all summer long.

Kids read 5 books and log into Book It to enter to win a Diary of a Wimpy Kids prize package.  That simple!

Join with Pottery Barn Kids to get your kids reading by tracking their reading with a downloadable Progress Tracking Poster.  Once completed, you will get a Completion Certificate and an entry to win a backpack full of books. Bring your completed poster into a local store to earn a free book.  Pottery Barn Kids Stores have reading events all summer long.  Click here to learn more.

The iVillage PBS Kids Summer Reading Community Challenge has a free 6-week program beginning June 18.  Sign up to receive daily emails with literacy building tips and activities from experts at PBS KIDS and Scholastic.  You will also get book suggestions, free downloads of PBS KIDS shows and a daily chance to win $1,000.

There you go! 6 easy ways to incentivize your kiddos to read this summer!

Summer Reading Programs in Central Texas

Summer is here!!  I am not a big stickler on much during the summer with one exception.... READING!!!

Luckily, my kids enjoy reading, so it is not too much of a battle in our home to get them to do it. On days that we are home, we set a time that we all curl up on the couch and read together.  I love it to, as I get more books read over the summer this way.

And we always take advantage of our local summer reading programs. Who doesn't like to get a prize for doing something they already enjoy?

There are a lot of great opportunities to get your kids in a program here in the Central Texas area.  Check out these fun Reading Programs:

Austin Public Library has an easy program - sign up online or at the library, read, and record your books in a reading log.  Turn in your completed log between July1 and August 26 to receive a free book!  They also have a ton for free events beginning June 10 for all ages.  Check out their program here.

Cedar Park Public Library's Program, begins on June 4th at their sponsored Scholastic Book Fair.  Each participant reads and records a reading log. For every 200 minutes of reading, your child will receive a colored cut-out to display in the library's window and special incentive awards & coupons. Find out more here.

Georgetown Public Library has a fun program as well.  On June 4th, the Impact Dance Company will perform a Wonderland performance to kick-of the summer reading program.  Children can sign up for the Texas Reading Club which encourages kids to practice and improve their reading skills.  Readers get small incentive prizes throughout June & July and there is a grand prize at the end of July for all kids who have completed their reading logs! Read more about it here.

Pflugerville Community Library wants you to be ready to "Get a Clue...at the Library".  Children keep track of time spent reading in a log in 20 minute increments.  Children are rewarded for hour milestones with a reading incentive.  There are additional planned events, such as story times, crafts, family programs, and performers.  Click here to learn more about it and download your reading log.

Round Rock Public Library's Summer Reading Program is called "Get A Clue...at your library." Your child can set goals and earn books and prizes for reading 5, 10, 15, or 20 hours between June 4 and August 6.  They are also providing special events - movies, read-a-loud programs, crafts, and free performances, such as a kick-off concert with Joe McDermott on June 4. Click here for more details.

Additionally, BookPeople in Austin is offering a fun programs as well. In their "Carpe Librum! Seize the Summer, and Seize the book!" program, BookPeople is asking kids to read 6 books over the summer.  At least 3 from a provided reading list (per grade level) and 3 of your own choosing.  Your child is provided a bookmark to keep track of their reading. Once completed, turn the bookmark in before August 30th to collect your reward and post your name on their wall of Summer Reading Stars! The Schools with the most Summer Reading Stars will win an additional prize.  Click here to access the complete lists of summer reading picks per age group.

And H.E.B.'s H.E.Buddy Summer Reading Club asks you to read 10 books, log them onto a provided reading log and mail it in by October 1 to get a cool prize packet mailed to you. So easy!  Download the form here.
Many of these programs have incentives for teens and adults - so get the whole family reading together!

Come Along on a Cache with us!

All this talk about Geocaching and I haven't actually shown you what we can do yet.  Well, now's your chance.

We are going to take you on a little hunt with a cache called "Let's Make Some Noise".  For those of you in Central Texas who want to do this cache, look away.  But fear not, there are literally thousands of caches  around here......

So, let's hop onto geocaching.com and look up caches around our area.

"Let's Make Some Noise" sounds perfect for me and the kids!  First, I will down load it into my Garmin.   If you are using a GPS-enabled mobile app, you can skip this step.  Next,  I'm going to grab my oldest who loves deciphering the codes, note the one under additional hints.

So we determined that it says, "square-ish camo container".  Got it.

Let's head out!  The coordinates take us to a nice trail in our neighborhood.  Who would have ever thought there would be a cache on a trail we walk on all the time??  So cool!!

We stop half-way down the trail, thanks to our Garmin letting us we are less than 5 feet from the location.  Now the hunt begins.  Though it really wasn't much of one for my girl.......

 She found it right away though this tiny hole in a tree.  Go around on the backside, and we find this:

 This one has a nice sticker on it, to notify Muggles what it is....a harmless game piece.  Not all have these, mind you.

The kids who finds it, gets to open it!

 Mom gets the boring part - signing the logbook.

 While the kids root through the trinkets to find what they want to trade.  Remember, don't take a trinket unless you have one to leave behind!

 Anyone figure out yet why it's called "Let's Make Some Noise?"

Lastly, we put it back exactly how we found it so other geocachers can enjoy the hunt as much as we did!

I really hope we have inspired you to try Geocaching with your family.  It is a fun, inexpensive game to play at any age!  Make sure you tell us how your geocaching adventure goes!  We'd love to feature it!

This is Part 3 of our 3-Part Series on Geocaching.  Make sure you read What's This Thing Called Geocaching?  and Geocaching: Tricks of the Trade.

Tuesday Travel Tips: GeoCaching Tricks of the Trade

Intrigued to try Geocaching?  I bet you are!! But before you start tromping off into the woods, here are a few pieces of advice you need to know:

1. Geocaching is a Secret.
What??  But your blabbing all over the internet about it?? When you are out geocaching, try not to make it so obvious as to what you are doing.  It's kinda what makes it fun - you are out on a secret mission.  Most people you encounter do not know what geocaching is and are called "Muggles" (Yes, after the Harry Potter series).  If encountering a Muggle while geocaching, simply make it look like you are out for a fun hike.

2. Be Prepared!
Like I mentioned yesterday, have your GPS device and something to capture & view the notes (we used an iPad this weekend).  But also, dress appropriately - you never know what sticker bushes, brambles, or even poison ivy you might be stepping around in.  I recommend tennis shoes and pants.  Also, be aware that you may be rooting around in some critter's home. Just use common sense while looking for a cache.

3. You may have to Dig!
That said, you may have to really look into & under things to find the hidden cache.  Most geocachers are not going to hide a cache in a dangerous place.  However, climates and environments change, so a cache that was hidden 2 years ago in a great spot may be in a snake's new home.  Just be aware of what you are doing.  The majority of caches I have found have been in perfectly fun, obvious, and safe environments, but I feel the need to throw that warning out there!

4. Look for the Obvious Spot!
When you reach your destination using the GPS coordinates, sometime the cache jumps right out at you.

Other times, not so much.  So take a step back and look for obvious places a cache can be hidden.  Most of the time, the online description will tell you if it is a micro (tiny) or regular (small plastic bucket) or other so you know what you are looking for.  Geocaching is not meant to be easy, so don't always expect to find it in the perfect spot you thought it should be...that would take away all the fun, right?

5. Really read the clues well....really well!
My favorite part of geocaching is deciphering the clues.  That to me is the hunt itself! Some clues are easy, however, you may not get it right away. Like the one below.  The clue was "If you pass the 3 Friends, you have gone too far".  Get it?

Other clues are meant to be more difficult and can really take you in the wrong direction.  For example, this past weekend, our GPS coordinates took us to this tree:

Our clue was "High Wire", so we assumed the cache was going to be by some electrical pole or high wired fence (see the one in the background - we hunted around there for 20 minutes!).  Eventually, we saw this and the clue made total sense:

It was in a notch in the tree facing downward.  You pull the "high wire" to get the cache attached to it.

Tricky huh?  And there lies the FUN!

6. Cache In, Trash Out
CICO is an ongoing environmental initiative supported by the worldwide geocaching community.  There are annual weekends to clean up the parks in your area.  But you can support CICO every time you hunt by simply bringing along a trash bag and picking up the occasional piece of trash you see on your hike.  Even this small act can make a huge difference.

7. Take along LOADS of Patience!
Remember, this is a treasure hunt, so caches are not always going to jump out at you.  And there are levels of difficulty designated to the cache.  When choosing a cache to hunt on geocaching.com, you can decide which ones to find based on the difficulty level (1 to 5 stars).  That said, even some of the One stars have taken some time to find.  Just remember that this is a fun game, don't get frustrated.  Take your time and enjoy the hunt!

I know we have some experienced geocachers out there!!  Tell us any tips that you have or about your experiences!  Leave it in the comments below or email us at rebecca@rwethereyetmom.com

This is part two of a three part series on Geocaching.  Visit Part One: What's This Thing Called Geocaching? and join us tomorrow as we take you on a fun hunt!

What is this thing called "Geocaching"?

Geocaching ("jee-o-cash-ing") is a fun, family sport that we have enjoyed for a few years now.  My parents introduced us to it a few years ago and we instantly became hooked! If you like breaking codes, deciphering clues, and looking for buried treasure, this sport is for you!

Think of it as a modern-day treasure hunt - You are provided with coordinates and clues and then it is up to you to go "hunting".

So how does it really work?

GPS coordinates lead you to a location where a treasure, otherwise known as "cache", is hidden.  Many caches come with fun clues that help you along the way.  Once found, you log your visit into the provided logbook.  Many caches have trinkets to trade - think unusual coins,  fast food toys, pencils, etc. My kids LOVE to trade their junk for junk!  This is their "treasure" they seek!

Just a few items are needed to successfully geocache.  A handheld GPS device (we used a Garmin), a book to take notes or write the clues down, a few trinkets to trade, and a great deal of patience are all you need for a successful day.

There are many different available makes & models of Geocaching GPS devices to use.  You can also use your Smart Phone, as there is a great app for Geocaching available from Groundspeak.

Once you have a device to get started, log into www.geocaching.com.  There you can create an account and discover caches available to find in your area.  We often look up caches when we are on vacation too.  They are everywhere.

When planning to go on a hunt, either download the cache into your GPS device, or enter in the GPS coordinates.  Make sure to write down the clues to help you find the caches.  The GPS will get you to the spot where the cache is hidden, but it is up to you to use the clues to find it.  Caches are often very cleverly placed, it could be hidden under a rock, inside a tree, or even in an unusual structure.  So keep your eyes open, you never know where it will be hidden!  But honestly, that's the fun.....the thill of the hunt!

When you find the cache, sign the logbook.  If you take something from the cache (trinkets time!), leave something of equal or greater value in it's place, so that there is something there for the next geocachers to find.  When you are done, remember to hide the cache exactly as you found it.

Once you have returned home, log back into Geocaching.com to log your find and share your experiences with the community.  This helps others find the caches and tells the one who hid the cache it's still out there.

This is a fun activity that the kids and I really enjoy doing - it is a great way to get outdoors and explore places you have never seen, even in your neighborhood!

With over a million geocaches hidden world-wide, there are geocaches for every type of adventurer to find!

Check out our helpful pointers and things to know before you go geocaching here. And then click here to go on a cache along with us!

2 Trains, One Bus, and a LONG walk....or how NOT to get to the Zoo!

My travel friends, do you ever have those trips that you think are perfectly planned and is going to "knock the socks" off the kids, only to have them crumble to pieces, leaving you shaking your head in misbelief?
No?  Only me??
Let me tell you about our Saturday.....

While in Dallas this past weekend, I wanted to do something different and fun with the kiddos.  Sis suggested we go to the zoo - simple enough.  The Fort Worth Zoo is phenomenal!

Let's make it a little more adventurous.....

Let's take the train to the zoo.  Sounds fun?? At the time......

To get from Carrollton (suburb north of Dallas), we hopped on the DART rail (the local commuter train) to catch the TRE (Trinity Railway Express - a fun train that connects Dallas with Fort Worth).  From there, I read online that the zoo is a "half mile walk from the stop".  

We can do this with 5 kids and 3 adults!  Let's go!

We left the house at 9:45 am and hopped on the DART at 10:15 to get off in Downtown Dallas to catch the TRE at 10:58 am.

My little Bubba was so excited to be on the train.

We get to the Victory stop with 3 minutes to spare to catch the TRE.

We wait.

And wait some more.

Finally, my very intelligent brother looks at the posted train schedule and points out that "someone " (ahem...me) read the weekday schedule.  The next TRE is at 12:24 pm. awesome.

What to do in Downtown Dallas with 5 kids on a Saturday at 11:00 am?

So we explored........

It was a ghost town.  It was windy & cold so we finally found a "Dick's Last Resort" to hang out in for a while.

Not the most appropriate place to take 5 kids, but we were desperate.  I mean, when was the last time you saw one of these babies?

Brody asked me "What kind of candy machine is that???"

Fed the kids a few snacks, hiked back to the Train station, and we were ready to head to the zoo!  Or so we thought.

At 12:20 (remember the TRE is coming at 12:24), I can't find my camera bag.

AGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!

Yep, Dick has it.

PANIC.

Mom calmly suggests that she will go back to the restaurant, pick it up and just take the DART back home.  She was so wonderful to do that.  I don't think I could have enjoyed the zoo, not knowing who had their hands all over my camera lens....

Cool.  The TRE showed up on time and we are on our way again.  ha.

Again, my little man adored the train and for the most part, was great the entire trip.

Until we get to the last stop in Fort WOrth, get off the train and see nothing but a parking lot.

"Excuse me Mr. TRE Conductor...but I read online that the zoo was half a mile away??"

I must have looked like a dumb blonde to him as he laughed his head off and took joy in telling me the zoo must be "over 10 miles away."

Oh dear.

So we had to wait 30 minutes to take the train back one stop to get off at the FW Bus Station.  To catch a "Number 7" bus at 2:15 p.m.  It was only 1:45.

Deep Breath.

Catch the Number 7, enjoy a 20 minute ride around FW to the zoo.  Hop off the bus to finally walk that "Half mile" that I read about.  finally.

And these amazing children did not complain.  hardly.

5 Hours later.....we finally make it to the zoo.  It's 3 pm.  I very happily go up to buy tickets only to have the snotty teenage girl take joy in telling me....

"We are only open for one more hour."

WHAT?!?!?!

2 Trains, a nasty & inappropriate bar, lost camera bag, a smelly bus ride, hike across the park and I am suppose to deny the zoo to these amazing kiddos?

no way.

Come on kids! Let's RUN!

Next time, we drive.

Have a funny travel story?  Let us know about it!! We'd love to share it!!

Farmer's Market Scavenger Hunt

Oh my, how we love to eat peaches in the summertime! Try as we might, the grocery store peaches are never fresh, sweet, and dribble-juice-down-your-chin juicy.   One of the best ways to find good peaches no matter where we are in the US is to find a local Farmer's Market.  So this summer, while visiting family in Central Illinois, we decided to check one out.

We like to go to the farmer's market for fresh fruit, veggies, and baked goods.  Getting to sample all of the locally-grown produce is our favorite.  For example, I would have passed by the sweetest blueberries I have ever had if my 2-year-old had not reached for the sample.  YUM!

The Farmer's Market can be such a great learning experience for the kids too.  We like to discuss where the items were grown and we talk to the farmers about their produce.  We take our time to try the samples.

I like to encourage my kids to pick one new fruit or vegetable that they have never had before and we will try it in a new recipe at home - it's a great way to discover new foods!


This visit, we gave the kids cash from some "chores" they had done at Grandma & PaPa's house and allowed them the chance to explore.  Those kids took it all in, looking at all the vibrant colors, to find exactly what they wanted to purchase.  One choose a bright yellow marigold to put on Grandma's front porch and the other chose the biggest cookie he could get his hands on.

Another fun idea I have found that we will try on our next visit to a Farmer's Market is a scavenger hunt like this one:

• Find one red fruit that you haven't had before.  What is it?
• Find one green veggie that you haven't had before.  What is is?
• Taste an organic strawberry and a conventionally-grown (non-organic) one.  Which one tastes better to you?
• Find a red food that is bigger than your fist.  What is it?
• Ask 3 people if a tomato is a fruit or a vegetable.  What do you think it is? (It's a fruit!)
• Find a purple food with an interesting shape.  What is it?
• Find 3 kinds of baked items.  What did you find?
• Find something that grows on a vine/underground/tree.
• Ask 4 farmers what they like to grow the most.  What is their favorite fruit or vegetable?
• Find peaches sold by 2 different vendors.  What is the difference in price?
• What is the most interesting thing that you found for sale today at the Farmer's Market?

This would be my answer to the last question:

Anyone up for some Frog Jam?

I'd love to hear your best practices or any interesting stories you might have visiting a Farmer's Market.  Leave us a comment!

**Thanks to What's Cooking with Kids for the Scavenger Hunt inspiration.

Staycation...All I Ever Wanted??

Um, no.

But in this time of $4 per gallon of gas and even pricer flights, some families will be opting for staying closer to home to find fun this summer.  So, here are five great ideas of things we can do to make it a fun "Stay-cation":

1. So, what do you really want to do?
Sit down with the kids and ask them what they would like to do this summer.  Have them come up with a list of 10 things they want to make sure and do.  Sometimes the responses might surprise you.   My kids have wanted to "read 100 books" to "have a sleep-over with a favorite Aunt" to "see a bunch of snakes".

It is also a fun way to "check off" your summer accomplishments with a colorful list and a great starting point for a summer scrapbook!



2. Did you know there is an ice-cream making factory 20 minutes from home?
Spend some time researching free or low-cost things to do in your area.  Most cites have "Mom Blogs" or "Frugal City Fun" sites that have tons of great ideas.  Find some fun ideas there and pitch them to your family.  This is a fantastic way to get to know your local area better.  Last summer, my family toured a former president's home, the Blue Bell Ice Creamery, climbed an incredible monolith, and watched 50 cent movies on Mondays.....all within 2 hours of home.

More great and relatively low cost ideas to do with family are Geo-caching or LetterBoxing.  Both get kids outdoors and on a Treasure Hunt!

3. Unplug.  No, seriously.
As I have learned, the best quality time I get with my kids is when they do not have an iPhone or Nintendo DSi in front of them.  Every few weeks or so, we have a Day with No Electronics where we play games, cook together, read together, go on a bike ride, swim - you name  it - just don't touch that tv!  I have had the BEST conversations with my kids on these days - ones that I will always remember.

Take it a step further and have each family member design a day - let them choose the menu and activities - and the rest of the family has to go along with it, as everyone will get their own day to design.

4. Let's Read 100 Books!
Set a lofty summertime goal and work toward it.  Choose something your family enjoys, like attending baseball games, geo-caching, hiking all the local trails, or reading.  Set a goal, like "hike at least 10 new trails this summer!" and make a plan to achieve it by the time school is back in session.  Maybe plan a fun "reward" as a family when you accomplish your goal.  For example, when our family finishes our goal of reading 100 Books this summer (yes, that's our goal!), we plan on going ice skating together.


5. What, this is learning???
After my 3rd child was born and I knew we would not be doing any summer traveling that summer, I brainstormed fun ideas to keep the kids looking forward to something all summer long.  So we attempted to receive a postcard from every state in the USA.  It took quite a bit of "social networking" (thank you email & Facebook), and we received a postcard from all 50 states (In all we received 168 postcards!!).  My kids have never been more excited to get mail, find the state on the map, and check it off - they never realized they were learning!

Have you had a fantastic Staycation?  Please tell us what you did in the comments below!  We may feature your ideas on next week's "Tuesday Travel Tips!"

Letterboxing 101

Looking for something fun to do in your local area?  Maybe trying to plan a few "not-so-bummer-summer" moments for the family?  Connie from The Young & The Relentless has been posting about taking her kids "letterboxing" for over a year, so I knew she would be the perfect person tell us all about it!

I first heard about letterboxing in 2010 and knew immediately that it was something I’d want to do.  I like hiking....but I’m a type A personality and I like to have a goal. Letterboxing combines walking or hiking and finding clues which take you to a treasure (log book and stamp).

It is so satisfying!

Our first letterboxing adventure didn’t go well because I hadn’t done all of my research (this is so unlike me) and we didn’t have a logbook, stamp or ink.  Once we moved back to Colorado (where the letterboxing is plentiful) we gathered all the necessary supplies and we were hooked!

I’m a natural record-keeper so I like to put as much information into our log book as possible.

Once you have your supplies, then check out the Atlas Quest website. Sign up for an account so that you can record your finds.  Type in your location and find a letterbox. You can do an advanced search and narrow your results to only show urban locations or boxes that are pet or bike friendly.

This is what a letterbox looks like.

Inside you will find a stamp and a log book.  You will stamp your log book with the stamp from the box and stamp and sign the letterbox logbook with your stamp.  Make sure to re-hide the box where you found it when you are done.

Another element to letterboxing....is that you want to be secretive while finding your box.  You don’t want to draw attention to yourself when there are other people around.  We call these non-letterboxers Muggles. Create a  distraction while other’s in your party search for the box.  When stamping your log book, find a quiet spot where no one will see what you’re doing.

This is a great family activity and fun for kids of all ages. It's a fun way to explore new places in your own town and wherever you travel on vacation!  If you have an iPhone, there is also a letterboxing app called BoxFinder for $1.99. You can log in with your Atlas Quest account and save letterboxes that you want to find.

Once you are really hooked and obsessed with letterboxing, you may want to carve your own stamp and plant a box!

A few tips:

Bring water....you never know how far you have to walk to find your box.
Bring a stick...letterboxes are often hidden under brush or leaves.
Wear gloves...if you’re a Princess and don’t like getting your hands dirty.
Be Very Sneaky!


Thanks Connie!

I was featured today at Suitcases & Sippycups - a fun fun fun website that showcases amazing trips with kids!  Come read about our awesome Chicago trip from last summer ~ we are a part of the Wanderer Wednesday!  Jessica has some amazing trips and her photography is "ohhh-worthy"- go and check her out!