Dude Ranch Vacation: 9 Reasons to Book One as a Family

Last weekend, my family and I had our very first Dude Ranch experience.  I am, after all, a born & bred Texan, (my kids are too) - they needed to experience a vacation on a Dude Ranch - and a Texan one at that.

We spent 3 full days at the Mayan Ranch in Bandera, Texas.  While we were there, I was overwhelmed with all the reasons why every family should take a dude ranch vacation at least once.  And I was kicking myself for not taking one sooner.  Here are all those reasons - and I hope they will convince you to book a Dude Ranch trip as soon as possible.

9 Reasons to Book a Dude Ranch Vacation

Dude Ranches Encourage Unplugging 

While on the Mayan Ranch, I was compelled to not be on my phone.  I wanted to breathe in the quietness and completely unplug from the world.  With the exception of taking a few photographs, we all stayed off our phones.  The kids left their electronics in the cottages (without mom asking) and we took advantage of the time we had, not distracted by gadgets in our hands.  We barely even turned on the TVs in our cottages, as we wanted to be out exploring the ranch.

Dude Ranches Specialize in Family Time

One of my favorite parts of our weekend, the 5 of us got to "play" together.  We rode horses, played shuffleboard, learned how to line dance (yes, even Dad!), shot BB guns, and took hayrides together.  One evening, the Ranch put together "Family Games"  with some of the most creative group games we have ever played. Our time together wasn't forced, at any time we could have relaxed back in the cottage, but we were having so much fun together, no one wanted to.  It was good, quality family time together - and that seems so precious now a days.

Dude Ranches are All Inclusive

When you stay at a dude Ranch, your cost includes meals,  drinks, activities, and overnight stays.  It is nice to pay one fee up front and not worry about hidden costs throughout the vacation. Most dude ranches have activities and amenities (pool, hot tub, game room) and snacks as well.

Horseback Riding is King at a Dude Ranch

Most people visit a dude ranch to experience life as a cowboy.  What better way then in the saddle on a nice mosey around the property.  Wranglers at dude ranches will match your horseback riding experience with the perfect horse and will offer daily (sometimes more) rides.  We found this type of horseback riding was the most relaxing and enjoyable we had ever experienced.

Unmatched Hospitality at a Dude Ranch

Most dude ranches are working ranches, owned by families who invite you to share their property with them.  Everyone is kind and patient and there to make sure you are having a wonderful time.  We encountered people who were passionate about the Mayan Ranch, as they had grown up there, and were so friendly and unpretentious.

Try Something New at a Dude Ranch

Dude Ranches offer you the opportunity to try something you new that you never have before.  On our trip, we took a few hayrides, learned how to shoot a BB gun, learned archery and ate almost every meal outside.  You can find working dude ranches, where you get put to work and can see what it takes to be a cowboy.  

Dude Ranches Serve Hearty Food

I didn't quite expect to be as blown away by the food as I was this past weekend.  And from what I hear, dude ranches offer hearty meals 3 times a day.  From amazing cowboy breakfast cooked over a fire under a grove of trees to an amazing t-bone steak meal under the stars, this family ate very well at the Mayan Ranch.  Everything tasted delicious and was made from scratch.  I can't vouch for other dude ranches, but if they have experienced chefs in the kitchen, you know the meals are going to be delicious.

Meet New Friends at a Dude Ranch

We loved meeting the other guests who were staying at the Mayan Ranch with us.  All meals and activities are done together, so you get to meet people from all over the globe.  We met a sweet family from Denmark who was on a 2 week fall holiday and a high-speed train engineer and his wife from England.  It was fascinating sharing meals with people from other parts of the world who were just as curious about your lifestyle as you were about theirs.

A Dude Ranch = Quiet

And my favorite thing about the Mayan Dude Ranch.  The quiet. No road noises, no obnoxious video game sounds, no phones ringing, nothing.  Except laughter - my children's sweet laughter as they play with their Dad.  And I could listen to that "noise" all day.

We truly had a special experience this past weekend at a Dude Ranch.  I was sad to leave and return to the real world, that says it all doesn't it?

I haven't been to any other Dude Ranch but the Mayan Ranch - I can't say enough good things about it!

Disclosure: The Mayan Ranch invited my family to stay for 2 nights.  I was not paid to write this article. All opinions (especially the mushy ones) are my own).

60 Camping Tips for Beginners

We are going camping for the FIRST TIME ever as a family next week, so I called in some favors from all my Traveling Friends and put together a Great Big List of Camping Tips.  Selfishly, I needed them all for myself, but I am very happy to share them with you!

60 Camping Tips

Camping Prep

If you're new to camping (tenting), try renting some of the equipment from REI, MEC or a camping outlet store, or borrowing from a friend. Getting fully kitted out as a family can add up quickly - build up your gear over time as needed. Claudia Laroye with The Travelling Mom

 Go to a dollar store and get those big plastic bins. Have 3...1 for cooking gear, one for kitchen needs--spices, sugar, onions, etc., and one for first aid. Make first aid box a different color. Eric Jay Toll with Examiner.com

A day or two before you load up the car, it’s a good idea to take your tent out of its bag and do a trial set-up. That way you can make sure all parts are there and are in good condition. Make sure you know how to assemble the tent so it won’t collapse in the middle of the night. And if cold conditions are forecast, make sure your tent provides enough protection from wind, rain or snow. Lindsay Shugerman with Catalogs.com

Skip the costly RV toilet paper and by 1 ply. It's essentially the same thing and won't clog your toilet which take my word for it, is no fun. Tonya Prater with The Traveling Praters

If you think you have enough water pack more.  Dana Zucker with TriWivesClub

Load car so that the things you need to set up first are put in last...then they come out first. Eric Jay Toll with Examiner.com

Pre-pack your gear bins. We have camping bins. One for all cooking related items, one for sleeping gear/headlamps/batteries/etc.  They are stored that way in the garage and packed that way when we leave. Simply toss them in the car and most the stuff is packed. Alyssa Erickson from The Kid Project

Before you head out in the RV the first time, do a practice run in your driveway or at a campground near you. This can save some frustration down the road. Tonya Prater with The Traveling Praters

Here is The Ultimate Family Camping Checklist Jessica Averett from Bring the Kids 

Remember the flip flops and quarters. We always remember our hiking boots but sometimes forget to pack our flip flops. Most of the camping sites we have been to will have 50 cent showers but you definitely want to make sure you have your own flip flops to wear into the public showers. Mary Heston

Make sure you check the local area for hotels that you have loyalty at to guarantee a room in case of bad weather. Dana Zucker with TriWivesClub

Take lots more clothes than you think you need, especially fleeces...it can feel quite chilly when the sun goes down even in the middle of summer. Nichola West with Globalmouse Travels

Camping Set-up

Get a 2-room tent!! One for changing and leaving the dirty clothes, muddy shoes, etc. and one room for sleeping! Sara Wellensiek with Mom Endeavors

Use foam floor tiles for a softer, more comfortable tent floor.

Assign everyone a job to do. This especially helps the set up/tear down and meal preparation and won't leave one person doing it all. Tonya Prater with The Traveling Praters

Bring a Playpen for toddlers.  Safety is a major issue for babies and camping. Not only do you have to worry about fires, flora, and fauna, but the parent's attention seems to be more easily distracted with the business of camp life.   A large playpen gives babies a safe place of their own to hang out. Jessica Bowers with Suitcases & Sippycups

Make sure to familiarize yourself with the area's firewood rules: Where we camped, the state forest service advises that only wood gathered within a 50 mile radius be burned; ours came from bit further away, and even so, we didn’t let it touch the ground, nor could we leave any unburned wood behind. This is to prevent the spread of predatory bugs and plants that can, as we have seen in story after story, devastate forests in a short time. Scotty Reiss with She Buys Cars

Consider packing a Screen house: it’s not only a way to enjoy a bug-free meal, but it’s also a great place to store your chairs and coolers at night. Sheri McDonald with Big Family Travels

Our #1 rule when hiking/camping/anything outdoors is to make sure everyone in our group is educated to "leave no trace." Leave Mother Nature the way you found her! Teronya Holmes with Christian Traveling Mom

Camping Comfort

Sleep in a sleeping bag with as few clothes on as possible. You'll be warmer. Really. Honestly. Try it. Good bags "breathe" and transpire your perspiration out of the bag. Clothes traps it in the bag and the moisture wets clothes and makes you cold. Eric Jay Toll with Examiner.com

Thin foam pads really do make a difference under your sleeping bag.  They don't make the ground turn into a serta sleep perfect mattress but they will keep you dry and warm. Mary Heston

Separate air mattresses or pads - get singles, not queens or kings so everyone keeps their tossings and turnings to themselves. Cots are another good option.  Allison Laypath from Tips for Family Trips

Put tomorrow's underwear and shirts (or all you'll wear) at bottom of bag. They'll keep feet warm and be warm in the cool morning air. Eric Jay Toll with Examiner.com

Put toilet paper in a coffee container to keep it dry.  Becky Davenport with The Missouri Mom

Always put a tarp or footprint under the tent. Always. Eric Jay Toll with Examiner.com

The mattress from a pack n play folds up small and makes a great sleeping mat for younger kids (applicable for tent camping!) Nicole Wiltrout with ArrowsSentForth.com

After two days camping the toddlers were filthy and the thought of bringing them into the not-so-pristine camping shower with one of us seemed horrific.  Thank goodness we bought a two in one camping bin/bathtub. We heated water on the stove while they were roasting marshmallows and they were thrilled with their jacuzzi.  Camping would be so much better if they made these in grown-up size. Terumi Johnson with An Emerald City Life

NEVER wear new boots on a camping trip.  ALWAYS break in your boots before you go.  Mary Heston

Consider ear plugs – Nighttime noises are louder in a tent. A couple of dogs barking at each other in the distance helped keep us awake for hours. Allison Laypath from Tips for Family Trips

Camping Cooking

Write out all the of the meals you are going to need for your camping trip and write a menu plan for it...however simple or elaborate you want it to be. Add in snacks that your family will be looking for and use this information to create your packing/grocery list. Don't forget to include the condiments you will need like bbq sauce, ketchup, etc.

Keep it simple. We cooked our dinner on campfire forks I bought for $4 each at Walmart. I packed hot dogs and brats, pineapple chunks, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, and bell pepper strips. We skewered it all and cooked it over the fire. It was delicious! Allison Laypath from Tips for Family Trips

Have the kids help you plan the menu so they'll be excited about the meals and maybe want to help too. Cooking over a stove or campfire is so much more fun than cooking at home. Debbie Kaplan with Frisco Kids

Mix up pancake better and put it in a gallon ziploc bag then cut the end - makes it easier and cleaner.  Becky Davenport with The Missouri Mom

Save dishwater to help drown campfire.  Drown, stir, and drown campfires some more. It's out if you can put your hand over the ashes and not feel anything even slightly warm. Be careful putting hand in ashes...make sure you stir them well and don't feel any surface warmth.  Eric Jay Toll with Examiner.com

One of our favorite camping meals is the breakfast burrito. I make the burritos ahead of time with eggs, spinach, cheese and all our other favorite ingredients. Then I wrap in tin foil and freeze. Throw them in the cooler with ice and cook on the campfire each morning. Jennifer Close with Two Kids & a Map

If the thought of preparing food while camping stresses you out, do most of the prep work, cutting, and even cooking at home. Just pull it out and warm it up over the fire. Also, with little kids, it's important to have some quick, healthy snacks ready to go since camping food often takes longer to cook and little bellies can't always wait happily. Jessica Bowers with Suitcases & Sippycups

Freeze gallon jugs of water and place them in your cooler.

I hollowed out oranges and filled them with gluten free brownie mix, then wrapped them in foil and threw them in the campfire. Seriously the best brownies EVER. I didn't invent it though, saw it on Pinterest! I totally can vouch for it. Evin Cooper with Food Good Laundry Bad

Before you go; marinate your own meat for fajitas in ziplocs, then pullingthem out of ice chest and putting them on grill is so easy. And have your onions and peppers and maybe mushrooms already cut for kabobs in a bag and then have kids load them on sticks before you grill. Leah Smith with Texas Kids Kitchen

Save yourself time & money by packing small containers of condiments made up from the bigger sizes you already have in your fridge. This saves you from having to buy small sizes of condiments...saving you money. The smaller sized containers from home also fit into a cooler better. I like these little Tupperware containers.

To clean your coated cast iron skillet, bring along a box of coarse ground kosher salt (and a scouring pad). Add enough salt to coat the bottom of the pan, then use a scrubbie to break up cooked on bits. The salt will soak up extra grease and flavors left behind too. Discard “dirty” salt in the garbage and apply a thin layer of oil (I use coconut oil that I bring camping with us.) to the pan and work it in using a paper towel. Your pan should look like new, and be ready to use for your next meal. Store the pan upside down on your picnic table (or camp kitchen table) to prevent bugs from sticking to the freshly oiled surface. Julie Henning with Wisconsin Parent

Cook cinnabuns (the canned kind) in a hollowed-out orange over a campfire.

I can not wait to try these S'morecones from Jessica Bowers with Suitcases & Sippycups

Camping Creativity

Use a Milk Jug and Head lamp to light your campground.  Becky Davenport with The Missouri Mom

Put a battery-powered votive candle into an empty peanut butter container to make portable lanterns.

Get small flashlights and attach to stretchy bracelets or lanyards for the kids. Leah Smith with Texas Kids Kitchen

Mountain Dew + baking soda + peroxide = lantern

Camping Fun

Leave electronics at home, and bring lots of outdoor things to do - frisbees, balls, buckets, shovels, bug catchers...and playing cards too. Debbie Kaplan with Frisco Kids

Ask for the Junior Ranger backpack if you’re at a state park. It contains a book about animal tracks and kid-sized binoculars and a compass. My 7-year-old son went off with the compass and binoculars for a whole afternoon. But the best thing in it: drawing paper and crayons. Because even though you imagine your kids enraptured by the wonders of nature, there are times they just need something to do. The drawing saved us when it was time to pack/unpack the food or make the fire to cook the food. Virginia Woodruff from Great Moments in Parenting

Bring cards and a board game for rainy days. Eric Jay Toll with Examiner.com

Make friends with your neighbors. You will most likely be those people, the ones with kids that are loud and up early. Slightly disruptive to the peaceful camping ambiance. I find it is better to be upfront, introduce yourself, and give them an open door to come “complain” if your kids are bothering them. Alyssa Erickson from The Kid Project

Here's a fun Outdoor Tic Tac Toe Game from Jamie Dorobeck from C.R.A.F.T.

Keep the kids busy with a scavenger hunt.

Always book an extra night. We had so much fun camping at Yosemite we went in the lotto the next day to stay another night. Fresh air, camp fires, silence... Everyone needs more of that. Erin Bender with Travel with Bender 

Camping Safety

Tell kids that if they ever get lost to STAY PUT! Don't go wandering off any further. Someone will come to them to find them. Teronya Holmes with Christian Traveling Mom

An actual physical barrier built around a campfire, such as a circle of large rocks or even a fence, serves as a reminder that the fire is present. Just don’t completely rely on the obstruction you create though. Proper supervision and teaching about fire safety is still very necessary! Kate Spiller with Wild Tales Of

If you are camping in an area with wood ticks (deer ticks), make sure to have tweezers and antibiotic ointment. Julie Henning with Wisconsin Parent

Familiarize yourself with what the poisonous plants look like.

At night, secure all food and food trash in sealed metal cans, in your car or in a bear bag high up in a tree. That way, wild animals won’t be tempted into your campsite. And never ever keep food in your tent … that midnight snack can easily become deadly bear bait. Lindsay Shugerman with Catalogs.com


Bring citrus oil to pour down ant holes and to mark out a fire line around our tent site. Virginia Woodruff from Great Moments in Parenting

We Are thrilled to be camping this upcoming week in a 2014 Jayco Redhawk, which was provided to us by Woody RV Rentals.  If you live in the Central Texas area and are wanting to dip your tow into the camping world, renting an RV through Woody RV Rentals is the way to go.

Don't miss our other Camping Articles:

50 Tips for Beginning Campers 

5 Myths about Camping

How Comfortable is Camping in a RV?
7 Day Camping Menu
10 Tips for First Time RV Campers

10 Tips for a Multi-Generational Trip to Disney Parks

Traveling with Grandparents is becoming very popular at Disney Parks.  More and more families are traveling together to meet Mickey Mouse.  And quite frankly, It’s fun to travel as a big family.  Young grandparents are active and wanting to see their grandkids visit Disney for the first time.  Many have taken their children and are excited to recreate the trips with grandkids. And whether it’s riding a classic, like Dumbo or experiencing something new & exciting – Seven Dwarfs Mine Train anyone? – the magic is the same no matter what your age.  However, when your youngest is 4 and your oldest is 68, the pace of travel and expectations are quite different.

Disney Parks are recognizing the popularity of multi-generational travel and are doing a great job to welcome big families traveling together.  Not only are they offering specials on multi-gen travel, they now use magic bands to connect the families.  You can easily make plans, dining reservations, and Fast-passes using the My Disney Experience app.

If you are looking into traveling with multiple generations for your next trip to a Disney Park, here are a few tips we found.

10 Tips for traveling with Grandparents at Disney Parks

1. Plan Your Day Ahead of Time: It’s best to go into your vacation with a plan rather than winging it when you have multiple ages traveling together.  Meet before the trip and determine what everyone wants to see, then loosely create an itinerary.  I have found great tips for Disney travel, including what parks are the least crowded here.

2. Plan Indoor Shows for the Afternoons: More than likely, the hottest temperatures will be in the afternoon and that is the time to plan the indoor activities/shows. Every park will have some indoor options.  Being able to sit and cool down is a great refresher.

3. Rest Back at the Resort in the Afternoons: Depending on the ages of the travelers, resting back at your resort in the afternoon may be a good option as well.  Disney has lots of great nighttime entertainment that is not to be missed.

4. Make Dining Reservations and/or Plans for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner: Make mealtime, rest time. And make sure you make reservations as soon as you can for large groups (may I suggest dining at non-peak times?).  Hungry travelers can make cranky travelers, so make sure you have mealtime plans ahead of the trip.

5. Take Advantage of Resort Activities: If you are staying at a resort on property, find out when they are doing special events.  Enjoying s’mores around a campfire or learning to hula with Papa can create some special memories.

6. Experience all the forms of Disney Transportation: Disney Parks have some FUN ways to get around – make sure you try them all.  Our favorites include a ride on the monorail from park to park, boat rides from Epcot to Hollywood Studios, and the Steam Train ride around Magic Kingdom.

7. Take Advantage of Ride Swaps: Disney offers ride swapping for children who are not tall enough for certain rides.  If all the adults (or tall people) in your party want to ride, utilize ride swapping so everyone can enjoy it and wait together.

8. Wear Matching Clothes: Make it a fun & memorable experience with matching shirts, hats, or just lanyards.  I have seen some adorable shirts at the parks lately!

9. Look for Charging Stations/Lounges: Disney Parks offer charging stations for wheelchairs as well as phones.  Many times, these are in cool, shaded areas.  These make great meeting points or places to recharge (literally).

10. Give Yourselves Plenty of Time: Don’t expect to leave your resort and get to a park within 10 minutes.  If you have dinner reservations, give yourself plenty of time to get there, especially with a large group.

The biggest piece of advice I can give you about a trip to Disney parks is to take it easy.  Don’t try to cram everything in & don’t stick to a rigid schedule.  Inadvertently, there will be a rain shower, a late bus, a missed fastpass, a cranky child.  Best way to handle this is to smile and remember you are in the Happiest Place on Earth! That smile will be contagious and last a long way!

Have an awesome trip!

Other Disney Parks Articles you may enjoy:

5 Things to Know about the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Melia Orlando Suite Hotel
5 Fun Shopping Experiences at Disneyland
Best Tips to Ride California Adventure's Radiator Springs Racers
Hyatt Regency Orange County ~ Anaheim, CA
A Visit from Tinkerbell at Disney World
Disney Character Dining Invitation
Best Disney Autograph Book
The Most Magical Christmastime Place: Disney World

Chevy's MyLink Infotainment System

Last summer, we took a 3 week road trip to California. And while my children were great at entertaining themselves and rarely asking "Are We There Yet?", I found out about a feature in the new 2015 Chevy vehicles that would revolutionize our whole trip. 

Recently, I was invited to learn about and test-drive a few different 2015 Chevrolet vehicles at the TravelingMom Retreat at Walt Disney World (we were there to see the new Seven Dwarfs Mine Train too!).  Being a mom, I hopped into the Suburban and Tahoe and got a glimpse of all the cool features they offer, but the one that struck my fancy the most? The MyLink Infotainment System offers hands-free information and entertainment for everyone in the car. 

What is MyLink?

Infotainment - like that term? Here's the "Info":  MyLink pairs with your phone to allow you to safely talk and drive and give you perfect navigation with turn-by-turn directions. And the "tainment"? MyLink connects you to several different music applications and even gives passengers access to the Internet. Most cars on the market offer some sort of "infotainment" system these days, but I spent some time with a Chevy MyLink expert and she showed me some really cool features you may not find anywhere else.

Time Shift Radio

When I used to work in sales and would be in my car 70% of the day, I would often find myself caught up in a radio talk show and not want to leave the car when I arrived at my destination.  MyLink offers Time Shift Radio, which acts like a DVR, recording the last 25 minutes of what you are listening to.  You can back up if you missed a joke and fast-forward through commercials.  And if you need to step out of the car for an errand, you can record the next 10 minutes and listen to it when you get back in the car.

Pair Your Phone

MyLink pairs with your phone to allow hands-free talk and driving. It will access your contacts in your address book to provide you with turn-by-turn directions.  And MyLink will answer your incoming text messages with pre-programmed answers such as , “I’m Driving. Talk to you later.” 

WiFi Signal

Chevy partners with On-Star to provide you with a WiFi signal that can hold up to seven devices in one vehicle. This is the one my children would be most excited for.  They can watch streaming movies as we are road tripping around the country! The signal is 4G LTE, provided by AT&T, is promised to be more reliable than a hotspot on your phone. And Chevy will be offering an AppShop on MyLink that allows customers a range of apps that include iHeartRadio, Priceline, The Weather Channel, NPR, Slacker Radio, TuneIn Radio, Cityseeker, Eventseeker, Glympse and Kaliki. The plans have not been announced yet as to pricing.

MyLink also has these cool features:

• Connect to your Pandora account through your phone
• Over 140 SiriusXM Satellite Radio channels
• Save your favorite artists, playlists, songs, and genres through Gracenote Technology
• USB connectivity to listen to music from your phone, iPod, or flash drive
• Voice Control
• On-Star turn-by-turn navigation
• And you can store up to 60 contacts, radio stations, destinations, or songs right to your home page.

So my biggest fear with MyLink is how complicated is it?  Is it easy to learn?  Is MyLink easy to navigate for a passenger?

I tend to really like gadgets and will take the time to learn them, and I found MyLink to be really easy to use.  As there are a lot of moving components to the system, it might take a few weeks to learn them all.  It’s pretty intuitive and once you get it down, it would be easy to show a passenger. And children will have no problems figuring it out.

Because it does offer so much at your fingertips, if you are going to invest in a car with this system, take the time to learn it. There is so much capability with MyLink that it would be a waste to not learn how to use it.

But don’t take my word for it, see for yourself all the cool features of MyLink:

Systems like MyLink in vehicles will make road-tripping so much easier for our family.  Obviously having a WiFi signal in the vehicle will be golden for my children.  But I know the navigation will be extremely helpful (as I used my phone all last summer).  I also will be able to enlist my passenger to get yelp reviews for upcoming restaurants, check out roadside attractions and make hotel reservations and not have to use my phone at all.

It's a great system for busy moms in general, not just roadtrippers!

This is a sponsored post by Chevrolet.  I was invited to try out their MyLink system and all opinions are my own.

50 Tips for Cruising with Family

Have you made the decision to take a cruise for the family vacation this year?  And now that time is getting close to set sail, you don't even know how to start to pack?  Never fear! I was in that same boat, so I asked all my friends for their best tips and put this great big list of 50 Tips for Cruising with Family together for you (and me!). Your welcome.

Planning/Booking Tips

1. It’s important to read reviews on Trip Advisor. We’ve never cruised without consulting the message boards at Cruise Critic.  These boards are a wealth of information for so many destinations from recommendations to personal stories and reviews. Mary Solio of The World is a Book

2. The Centers for Disease Control offer a Vessel Sanitation Program, where you can look up your ships' inspection scores.  They routinely inspect ships for cleanliness, repairs, food preparation and storage, water quality, hygiene, pest management and many other things. Check out your ship’s report card on the CDC website before you book your passage.

3. When booking your cruise, whether through a travel agent or directly through the cruise line, find out what is located above and below your cabin! An inexpensive cabin above the engine room will be noisier than a slightly more expensive cabin down the hall. A cabin located under the late night entertaining venues will have more late night noise than a cabin sandwiched between other cabins or below the dining room. Similarly, consider whether the convenience of being close to the elevator (less walking) is worth the trade-off of more noise late evening. That’s a call only you can make. Karen Dawkins of Family Travels on a Budget

4. Consider making your cruise a Family Vacation.  Here is a great article on why a multi-generational cruise is so great.  Claudia Laroye of Travel Mamas

5. Go online in advance and reserve everything you can. Recent statistics put use of this service only at 30%. This means that 70% of the other passengers are going to be scrambling on board to make the same plans as you if you leave it ’til then. Corinne McDermott of Have Baby Will Travel  

6. If you stayed overnight near port, which I highly recommend you do, as travel delays can happen anytime. Line up your transportation to the port upon checking into the hotel. Many hotels offer free transportation to the port or take reservations with a reliable transportation company that the hotel has a contract with. Most importantly, sign up when you check in at your hotel. Seats to the port are often limited the day that you need the transportation. Sara Broers of Travel with Sara

7. If your you or your kids drink more than one soda per person each day, you might want to invest in the prepaid soda cards/cups offered by many cruise lines. Otherwise, choosing the complimentary lemonade, tea, and coffee is the more affordable way to go. Colleen Lanin of TravelMamas

8. Book your cruise in January, February or early March through a travel agent. Cruise lines offer discounts the first part of the year. Travel agents with larger companies offer specials during this time that aren’t available to the general public. Put them both together and get the best value for your dollar! Karen Dawkins of Family Travels on a Budget

Packing Tips

9. Some people are pretty amazing when it comes to packing! Take a look at this customizable packing list you can download! Kimberly Tate of Stuffed Suitcase

10. I ALWAYS keep essential meds packed in my bag when I'm traveling, especially if I'm cruising. They can be VERY expensive on a ship! Some good ideas to bring with you are: Tylenol, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Aleve, Cold Medicine, Laxatives, Eye-Drops, Allergy Medicine, Bug Spray & Calamine Lotion, Motion Sickness Medicine. Tawanna Smith of Mom's Guide to Travel

11. To Tawanna Smith's point, Imodium and other OTC intestinal drugs are not sold on board. It's their way of making sure cases get reported to the doctor. And as soon as you ask for Imodium you would be quarantined. Been there, done that. Barb Likos of Mom Off Track

12. Your cabin will likely be ready before your luggage gets there. Pack a carry-on bag/luggage with bathing suits and sunscreen so the kids can enjoy the pool after lunch on the day you board. Mary Solio of The World is a Book

13. Pack a refillable drink container.  Tea, lemonade, and sometimes soda flow freely onboard a cruise ship at any hour of the day or night.  That’s the good news.  The bad news is that they are served in teeny, tiny cups to keep you from overindulging.  Ha!  Overindulgence is the hallmark of any good cruise, and you don’t want to be left out.  A refillable drink container will allow you to fill your cup to the brim, and carry with you throughout the ship or ashore for a port adventure. Jessica Bowers of Suitcases and Sippycups

14. Tons of people recommend packing an over the door shoe organizer for the door in your stateroom.  It's a great way to keep the little things organized - sunblock, lanyards, sunglasses, flip flops, etc.  With limited space, this is an inexpensive way to organize your room.

15. Pack a few extra hangers for your small closet. Cruise ships are notoriously stingy with them. Kara Williams of The Vacation Gals

16. Pack a power strip to create multiple plugs in your stateroom.  My favorite one for travel is made by Belkin, complete with USB ports, available at Amazon.

17. If you or someone you know is prone to seasickness, bring ginger chews, dramamine, or sea bands with you.  Also, green apples are known to help tummy troubles.

18. Pack a deck of cards for the down times. We don't leave home without a deck. My kids got them out on the cruise and made friends rather quickly and even learned a few new card games. Tonya Prater of The Traveling Praters

19. Don't forget to bring a jacket or sweater for the outside decks - both unexpected weather or evenings can get chilly.

20. Pack a Towel Clip. You can always spot a first time cruiser; they are the ones on the top deck chasing their towels and complaining about it being soooooo windy. When the ship moves, the wind blows and if you want to be sure your towel and other cloth stays nicely on your deck chair, you need a fastener. Jessica Bowers of Suitcases and Sippycups

21. Make a copy of your driver’s license and passport.  Keep it in your suitcase just in case you lose the originals and need identifying info for replacement. Jessie Voigts of Wandering Educators

22. One of my favorite items to pack on any trip is Ziploc bags - perfect to store clean clothes, dirty clothes, and wet swimsuits after a day on the beach.

23. Bring some low denomination bills. Make sure you don’t just take some $20 bills from the ATM on your next cruise.  The low denomination bills ($1, $5, $10) come in handy for tipping drivers and negotiating prices in ports. Kimberly Tate of Stuffed Suitcase 

24. Make a sign or pack a few things to decorate the outside of your door with.  Are you celebrating something?  Surprise that person with decorations for your room.  I love the tradition on the Disney Cruise line of FishFinders for the door to get secret treats!

Health/Safety Tips

25. Pack a set of Clorox anti-bacterial wipes and wipe down the surfaces and doorknobs in your stateroom when you arrive.  Never hurts to be safe.

26. USE the hand sanitizer placed strategically at the entrances to every restaurant (at least they were there on the Carnival cruise we went on last year). Tell your kids to wash their hands a lot and avoid touching handrails. Use a tissue to open restroom doors. Kara Williams of The Vacation Gals

27. To stay healthy (and avoid gaining weight since there is food available EVERYWHERE and ALL THE TIME), use the steps instead of the elevator between floors. We did that on our cruise; the kids never used the elevator - even when we went down to "Deck 0" to depart for shore excursions! Kara Williams of The Vacation Gals

Shore Excursions Tips

28. Most of our excursions were booked using local tour guides.  They were generally cheaper (typically saving 30% or more) and less crowded than the ones booked from the ship.  Private tours also allowed us to customize our day.  We could have multiple stops for photo ops, snack and bathroom breaks and learn a whole lot more about the locals way of life.  We were able adjust the time we spent at each location too. The major drawback from booking your own tour is that the ship WILL LEAVE without you if you’re not there by sail-off.  Mary Solio of The World is a Book

29. If you plan to leave the cruise ship and go on a shore excursion you will want to bring a backpack and “supplies” along for the day.  I always had our passports and travel documents hidden in our bag (inside of a Ziploc bag), my camera, bottles of water, snacks for the kids, sunscreen, a notebook and pen, and a few other small things to keep them busy if need be. If you plan to swim, swimsuits, towels, goggles etc are important to have.  I also took a change of clothes for each of the kids, in a sealed Ziploc bag – just in case. Amanda Mouttaki of MarocMama

General Tips

30. Get to the ship early. Sure, the ship probably leaves late afternoon but boarding on some ships can take place early. Arriving around noon will make sure that you can get on board, eat and rest or do a little investigating before you need to do ‘the drill’. Corinne McDermott of Have Baby Will Travel

31. Picky about your bedding? Some lines will provide egg crate mattress toppers, top sheets and alternative pillow types by special request. Feel free to ask, before or during your cruise.  CruiseCritic.com 

32. Take advantage of the Port Talks to hear all about the various stops you will be making on the cruise.  These talks are free and a great way to educate yourself and your family about the place you will be visiting.  Lisa and her family enjoy the port talks on the cruises they have been on.

33. Before you cruise, print a double-sided black outline map.  Eduplace is a great resource for blackline map masters.  On one side print a map that represents the area of your cruise so that you can plot your course as you travel.  Check your TV each night for an updated position and add it to your map.  On the other side, print a world map and bring along some crayons.  Every crew member aboard the ship wears a nametag that lists their country of origin.  Set your kids off on a challenge to meet as many crew members from different countries as possible and mark them on the map.   Crew members will be thrilled to help the kids find the spot on the map if they are unfamiliar with the country.  You’ll have the added benefit of encouraging your kids to make new friends, as well as the geographical information they will gain.  Not to mention, don’t under estimate the entertainment in watching your kids race across the dining room because they spotted someone from Laos. Jessica Bowers of Suitcase and Sippycups

34. Being quarantined is not always a bad thing, according to this post on the TravelMamas website - What to Do When You Get Sick on a Cruise. There are so many great tips in this post - make sure you read it before you go!  Colleen Lanin of TravelMamas

35. Get your room organized! Ship staterooms can be small. This is one of those times that it is actually a good idea to take a moment and unpack your suitcases once you get them into the room. Store clothes in drawers, closets and provided space. Then leaving a open hole at one end of your suitcase using the zippers. Leave only one out at a time and store the others under the bed. Use this as a laundry hamper for the family. No need to put dirty clothes ‘away’… stuff them all in the ‘hamper’ and worry about the ‘mess’ after your vacation. When the suitcase fills, store it under the bed and set up another empty one for filling. Leave one or two smaller suitcases for souvenirs and toiletries. Corinne McDermott of Have Baby Will Travel

36. Take advantage of spa specials. Cruises are all about relaxing, right? On embarkation day travelers are busy acclimating themselves with the ship and unpacking so spas tend to offer great deals for same day services. On our cruise, the spa offered a “travelers’ tension” special, $80 for full massage and mini facial. (They also offer deals on port days as well!) Karen Dawkins of Family Travels on a Budget

37. If you are cruising with tweens or teens, set some ground rules.  Before setting our kids loose on the boat, we created some extra special “Maritime Rules.” In our case, we wanted the kids to stay together in pairs for safety. We also forbade swimming while they were sans grownups.  Of course, we reiterated that they were not to be in anyone’s cabin and they were not to let anyone in their cabin. Failure to comply with Maritime law would result in immediate cessation of all free roaming privileges. Jessica Bowers of Suitcases and Sippycups

38. Inside cabins have no natural light. At all. Turn your TV to the bridge cam station, turn off the sound and -- voila! -- you've got an instant nightlight and a way to see if the sun is up. CruiseCritic.com 

39. If you need to iron clothes for formal dinners, do this when you first get on board, before the ironing room gets busy.

40. If you have a balcony always keep the door closed and locked. We found in our stateroom that the balcony had a small table and two chairs on it, the first thing my children did when we opened the balcony door was to try to climb on the table so that they could see over the rail, fortunately we were right with them! Jennifer Jain of Jennifer's Little World

41. Recognize you likely won't "do it all" on your cruise - with SO MANY activities happening at the same time at various places on the ship, I advise just setting your priorities (things you absolutely don't want to miss - like a certain show or the new water-play area or a certain dining venue) and then anything else you get to do is gravy. Kara Williams of The Vacation Gals

42. One of our good friends would shower in the Men's Locker Room before dinner each night.  He'd relax in the sauna, then get ready there, to allow more room in his stateroom for his wife and 2 girls to get ready.

43. Take advantage of the information provided on board each day in the form of the ‘newsletter’ and plan your day accordingly. Bring a highlighter. If you have multiple family members with different interests, bring various highlighter colors. Highlight on the schedule in advance the classes, games, clubs, or activities that you don’t want to miss. Each family member can have their own color and each persons’ need can be quickly identified at a glance the next day. You don’t want to miss a thing! Corinne McDermott of Have Baby Will Travel

Dining Tips

44. You are not limited to one of each appetizer, entree and dessert in the main dining room. You can order two entrees or three desserts if you choose. You can also order appetizer-sized portions of entrees as starters or order a few appetizers for your main meal. It's a great way to try new foods you're not sure you'll like (escargot, anyone?). CruiseCritic.com

45. Room service!!! Best advice given to me from regular family cruisers before our 1st cruise! Order room service breakfast (typically free on ships) to arrive around the time your kids/you typically awake. As you and spouse are getting dressed and ready for the day, you can sip of your hot coffee and the kids and nibble on something. It's also a great way to to stock up on a few snacks to have stowed in your bag for days where you disembark...boxes of cereal are great snacks beachside! Caroline Murphy from SmartyPantsMama

46. Specialty coffee at the designated coffee shops onboard comes with an extra fee, but the pastries, sandwiches and other food at these venues are often free. While some specialty items (like chocolate-covered strawberries) will have a charge, don't assume all the small bites do. CruiseCritic.com

47. Pack a few snacks/water/soft drinks from home. We didn't realize we were permitted to do this on our first cruise but we didn't make that mistake on our second cruise. (Check with the rules of your individual cruise) Tonya Prater of The Traveling Praters

48. On embarkation day, most people head straight to the buffet to have lunch and wait for their cabins to open. It's a mob scene. But many cruise ships have alternative venues open -- the main dining room or a mini-buffet in the solarium or atrium area. Ask a crewmember or check your daily newsletter to find an alternative for a calmer first meal. CruiseCritic.com 

49. Don't know which night to make specialty dinner reservations? The main dining room menus are planned for the week, and the purser's desk often has access to those menus. Ask to see them so you can decide which nights are less appealing and which you don't want to miss, and plan your cruise accordingly. CruiseCritic.com 

50. It's often cheaper to buy a bottle of wine than a few glasses -- but what do you do if you don't finish the bottle? Cruise ship waiters can mark the bottle with your room number and save it for another night, even for dinner in another onboard venue. CruiseCritic.com 

Best tip of all:
Have an amazing trip - don't worry about the people around you - let it go - relax - and don't look at your onboard credit account! 


Other great Cruise Articles you may enjoy:
An Open Letter to the Carnival Magic Employees

A Smart Trunk ~ Benefits of Being Prepared

This is a sponsored post by State Farm.  I have written it and it's my opinion. And it was a very good reminder of the fact that I do not have a smart trunk. 

2 weeks ago, I launched a contest to find the trunk with the most "Trunk Junk".  Well, actually, it was all about having a trunk that is filled with items you may need in an emergency - a Smart Trunk.  Who would have ever thought that 1 week into this campaign, I would benefit from my own post???  

This past summer, I embarked on a 3 week roadtrip with my kids.  And I had my emergency kit - complete with a blanket and gallon of fresh water.  And we never touched it. In fact, it got pushed around so much after we returned, that I ended up taking it out of the trunk and it sat in my garage for 6 months.  That is, until I wrote a post on what goes in a "Smart Trunk".

I threw it back in the car after feeling like a hypocrite - writing about something I didn't necessarily do. 

Who would have ever thought that we would experience not one, but TWO ice storms in one week in Central Texas - not I!!  I was so incredibly thankful to have my kit, as I pulled out the ice scraper twice to clear off my windshield.  Just, this may be a minor example of needing an emergency preparedness kit in my trunk, but this carpooling-mom was happy to have been convicted enough to have put the kit back in the car!

I can't help but think about what happened in Atlanta last week, with hundreds of cars stranded during their winter storm.  How many of those cars had a smart trunk?  

It's all fun to joke about the junk we have in our trunk - some of your pictures were unbelievable!  But this campaign was a great way to bring awareness to the fact that we need to be prepared.  You never know when you might need an ice scraper......or jumper cables.....or a blanket.

Please take the time to gather the following items and keep them stowed in your car.  

- jumper cables

- blankets/warm clothing

- spare tire & tools to change it with

- cell phone & cell phone charger

- flashlight (with charged batteries)

- non-perishable food (peanut butter crackers, nuts, granola bars)

- first aid kit

- windshield scraper

- water

For more ideas, please see State Farm's Winter Driving Survival Guide by clicking here.

Over the past 2 weeks, we have seen some pretty comical pictures of your trunk junk over on Instagram.  Check them out with the hashtag #TrunkJunkSF

Today, using a random number generator, I have selected 8 winners to receive:

3 winners will receive a $100 Gift Card from State Farm

5 winners will receive a State Farm Safe Trunk Makeover 

$100 Visa Card = @lovekat77

$100 Visa Card = @madddal

$100 Visa Card = @jennykate77

State Farm Safe Trunk Makeover = @jensmithmoore

State Farm Safe Trunk Makeover = @evinschmevin

State Farm Safe Trunk Makeover = @tadstreet

State Farm Safe Trunk Makeover = @mollygrace5

State Farm Safe Trunk Makeover = @travelermom

Congratulations to all the winners and thanks to everyone for participating. 
 I hope this encourages you to keep your trunk SAFE!

10 Ways to De-Stress Your Driving

I enjoy driving. I really do. I love seeing the beautiful countryside, especially driving somewhere new.  Driving down country roads, up and down hills, not knowing exactly where the road may be taking you is fun and exciting to me. Even a bit relaxing.

That said, I do not enjoy driving on the road with others.  Truth be told, I can't stand someone driving in front of me and will do my best to get around them.  And city traffic?  Ugh. Nothing raises my blood pressure more than to be sitting on the freeway, going nowhere because I'm stuck in traffic.   And the holidays only brings more traffic - with more people on the roads, rushing to a holiday party or out shopping.

So this season, I wanted to approach driving in traffic a bit differently.  I wanted to not feel so stressed to get behind the wheel.  And when State Farm approached me to work with them on a Holiday Aggressive Driving program, I thought it was the perfect match.

Last week, I wrote about great tips for Holiday Driving and this week, I wanted to focus on creative ways to de-stress yourself before getting behind the wheel.

10 Fun Ways to De-Stress Your Driving

1. Let Go of the Tension - Before you start your drive or at a stop, let go of all the tension you have in your body.  Grip the wheel and clench every muscle in your body tightly, then let it all go in one big breathe.  Do this as many times as you need to get it all out.  It may sound silly, but trust me, it totally works.
2. Big Breathes at the Stop - Take a moment to focus your breathing.  When you come to that stoplight, take a deep breath.  There is nothing more relaxing than a simple breath.  Make it a habit to do one every time you come to a stop light. 
3. Sing It Out - Sometimes the best way to let the stress of the day go is to crank the music up and sing aloud with your favorite song.  The endorphins you release by doing something enjoyable will instantly calm you down.
4. Snack Break - Pull over and grab your favorite coffee drink or ice cream cone.  It takes your mind off of the mundane commute and gets you a treat!
5. Sit Up Straight - Observe perfect posture while driving in the car. Pull your neck up and straighten your back. Not only will your body thank you in the long run, but it put you in a better driving position.
6. Let Someone In - By "paying it forward" while behind the wheel and letting someone go ahead of you, you can't help but smile and wave to them.  And isn't that what we all need to do?  Smile a little more?
7. Story Time - Remember how relaxing it is to have someone tell you a story?  Pop in an audiobook and get lost in the story - but not so lost that you forget to stay focused on the road.  The whole point of de-stressing is to not be distracted while driving. 
8. Drink Water - Take a sip of water each time you start feeling stressed. It's great for your body and it delays you from reacting to any stressful situation.
9. Blow Bubbles - Keep a pack of bubble gum in the car and blow some bubbles - it will make you feel like a kid again!
10. A Good Old Conversation - If you have others in the car with you, take this opportunity to turn the radio off and try to have a meaningful conversation with them.  

And if these tips don't help ease the stress during a drive, maybe it's time to pull over - pop in a restaurant, go shop at a favorite store and get back on the road once your head has cleared. 

Here are some more great tips to avoid aggressive driving from State Farm.

And to make your Holidays a less Stressful one, State Farm is giving away to a lucky reader, a Stress Relief Kit filled with these fun items:

• Gel Squeeze Ball
• The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World...Ever!
• Water Bottle
• Sportster Mug
• Foam Can Holder
• Orville Redenbacher 100-calorie Smart Pop!
• Insulated State Farm Tote

Giveaway begins on Monday, December 9, 2013 at 9:00 am and ends on Sunday, December 15, 2013 at 11:59 pm.  Winner will be randomly selected an contacted via email.  Winner will have 24 hours to respond to the email or we will select another winner.  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I am working with State Farm  this winter in a series of sponsored posts.  All opinions are strictly my own and not endorsed.