The first five people to find the individual 15 geocache containers and return the Visit Milwaukee Neighborhood Expert passport to VISIT Milwaukee* will receive a prize package featuring goodies from businesses in the area, as well as an official “Discover Milwaukee’s Neighborhoods” t-shirt. Participants may also choose to complete the entire GeoTour to receive a custom, limited-edition “Discover Milwaukee’s Neighborhoods” GeoCoin.

From the shores of Lake Michigan to eclectic Brady Street, the urban revitalization of the Historic Third Ward, the heart of downtown, or the progress of Riverwest, each geocache offers a description and  ”fun facts” about Milwaukee’s history. Complimenting the wide-variety of established geocaches in Milwaukee county, the GeoTour gives visitors and residents one more reason to love their city.

* Return or mail to 648 N. Plankinton Ave., Suite 425, Milwaukee, WI 53203-2926

Day One

The Amish Village: Twelve beautiful acres of authentic Amish property. I absolutely adore anything that combines learning and fun (that’s how life should be!), and at The Amish Village you can learn all about the culture and history of the Pennsylvania Dutch. You can tour a farmhouse, a blacksmith shop, a one-room schoolhouse, and the smokehouse market, where you can try some incredible Amish edibles.

Strasburg Railroad: Enjoy a 45-minute ride on America’s oldest short-line railroad, then explore the station, ride the mini-train version, visit the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania and even the National Toy Train Museum if you have time. It’s a train-lovers dream come true.

Choo Choo Barn: This indoor 17,000-square-foot train layout is so much fun to see. It’s got 22 operating trains, animations, and even a fire scene! This is a quick, inexpensive stop that probably won’t take more than an hour, depending on how crowded it is. My model-train-building son loves this place.

Bird-In-Hand Family Inn: While there are lots of options for dinner and accommodations, the Bird-In-Hand Family Inn is a mini resort your family will love. With two indoor and one outdoor pool, a hot tub, tennis courts, a playground, mini golf, a game room and paths to explore the 10-acre property, it’s much more than a place to sleep. Eat at the Family Restaurant and Smorgasboard for a true, traditional Lancaster food experience.

Day Two

Dutch Wonderland: This amusement park is targeted to younger children, but there are rides, attractions, and a water park that the whole family can enjoy.

OR

Intercourse Pretzel Factory: Make your own pretzels!
Turkey Hill Experience: Learn about Turkey Hill Farm’s history and its ice-cream and iced-tea making processes.
Aaron & Jessica’s Buggy Rides: A real Amish buggy ride with stops in a non-commercial Amish farm. Try their homemade cookies, pretzels and lemonade.

If you have a little more time in the Lancaster area, I highly recommend Hershey Park. It’s chocolate, it’s an awesome amusement park… what more do I need to say? I would allow two days there to take full advantage of all Hershey has to offer.

There’s lots more to do in Lancaster. Visit their web site for more ideas.

Diligently tracking and categorizing spending within the Mvelopes tool has allowed us to run some of the advanced reporting features, namely comparing planned, funded, and spent expenses over the past quarter (see screenshot below). Seeing our available income and projecting forward against a debt reduction plan, two things have happened. First, we’re using a balance transfer to consolidate credit card debt to the lowest available interest rate. Second, we’re focused on formulating a business plan for our secondary incomes (travel writing is, indeed, a job).

Next up is setting a reasonable goal for dream vacation savings without compromising forward progress on debt payments and everyday spending. A bit like racing the tortoise and the hare, we’ll see if slow and steady wins the race or if the rabbit can come up with some creative ideas for short-term financial success.

With a charming, walkable, downtown featuring free parking, inexpensive dining, and lots of places to shop, learn, and play, Kenosha is an ideal location for an affordable family vacation. The Kenosha Area Visitors Bureau, located at 812 56th Street is a fantastic resource for planning a trip to the region.

What to do:

Kenosha Harbor Market

A regional source for farm-fresh produce, baked goods, meats, eggs, cheese, and locally-made arts and crafts, the Kenosha Harbor Market runs all year long (indoors at the Rhode Center for the arts October to mid-May and outdoors near the Kenosha Public Museum in the warmer months). The largest of several farmer’s markets in Kenosha, make sure to visit the Harbor Market if you are in the downtown area on a Saturday.

Kenosha Public Museum

Affiliated with the Smithsonian Museum, the Kenosha Public Museum a fine art and natural history museum showcasing Wisconsin’s cultural and geological transformation. Spread out over two floors, admission to the museum is free. Highlights for families are an interactive trading post and a field station/activity area with hands-on activities for kids of all ages. If visiting the Kenosha Public Museum, leave time to explore the nearby sculpture walk at Harbor Park and the Civil War Museum (another of Kenosha’s Smithsonian affiliates, but perhaps better suited for older kids).

Dinosaur Discovery Museum

A museum unlike many others, the Dinosaur Discovery Museum is unique in it’s focus on making the connection between birds and meat-eating dinosaurs. Featuring the evolution of the theropod in the main exhibit on the main floor, make sure to watch the two video documentaries—How Do We Know Dinosaurs Existed and Dinosaur Behavior—for a better appreciation of the museum’s role in modern day paleontology  Kids will want to venture to the lower level for hands-on activities (but arrive more than 30 minutes before closing time if you want to take part in a dinosaur dig).

Pleasant Prairie RecPlex

Home to the largest municipal recreation facility in North America, families visiting the Kenosha area will want to leave time to visit the Pleasant Prairie RecPlex. Youth, adult, family, and senior day passes are available at resident and non-resident rates, and admission includes access to the aqua arena and 17,000 square foot indoor waterpark. A nice option, particularly in the winter months, remember to toss a few beach towels and athletic shoes in your suitcase.

Pringle Nature Center

Out towards the Bristol countryside, the Pringle Nature Center is a fantastic resources for Kenosha residents and visitors. Located in the nearly 200 acre Bristol Woods County Park, the nature center building is open from 9AM-4PM Tuesday through Sunday. Offering books, exhibits, and living and preserved animals, families can stay in the confines of the nature center or wander out onto the nature trails with snowshoes and a nature backpack (both available for rent for a small fee). The Briston Woods County Park is the site of picnic shelters, picnic tables, grills and playgrounds perfect for a road trip leg stretch/lunch break.

Ride the Electric Streetcar

A primary mode of transportation in Kenosha from 1903 to 1932, electric rail and nostalgic electric street cars still make a 1.7 mile loop through downtown. With stops along the 54th and 56th streets and a loop out onto the harbor walk, riding the streetcar is a “must do” on your trip. Fares range from $2.50 for an all day pass to free for kids ages four and under, five different streetcars comprise the historic fleet that represent the legacy of the streetcar in North America. Check the Kenosha Transit Center website for schedules and fares.

Jelly Belly Tour

A popular attraction in the Kenosha Area is the free tour of the Jelly Belly Visitor Center in nearby Pleasant Prairie. Tours run from 9AM-4PM and take visitors on a 35 minute warehouse tour on the Jelly Belly Express, a brightly colored passenger “train.” Tours focus on the history of the gourmet jelly bean in America and end in the Jelly Belly Candy Store where each person receives an edible souvenir. You can also purchase bags of Belly Flops, the cleverly-named beans that didn’t pass bean-shape inspection on the assembly line.

 Where to eat:

Trolley Dogs

Serving up Vienna Beef products since 2003, Trolley Dogs on 6th Ave in downtown Kenosha is an affordable dining venue for the hot dog lover in your family. With toppings like banana peppers and celery salt, it’s no surprise Trolley Dogs appeals to the Chicago crowd. If you visit with younger kids, make sure and order the Octo-dog on Gold Fish crackers for $2.25 and sit under the electric trolley that circles the dining room on a ceiling high track.

Breakwater Bar and Grill

With a backdrop of downtown Kenosha and the harbor, the Breakwater Bar & Grill is located at the Kenosha Yacht Club. Open to members and the general public, the Breakwater Bar & Grill offers some of the best outside seating around. With upscale pub food and fancier evening entrees, the nautical-themed dining room and wood-paneled bar puts you in the spirit of dining on the water. Placing the children’s menu in the inside cover of a board book, kids can do more than color while their meal is prepared.

Tacos el Rey

A popular local dining spot, Tacos el Rey is located a short drive north of downtown Kenosha. If you visit Tacos el Rey with kids Tuesday through Thursday between the hours of 3PM and 8PM, they will eat free with a paid adult meal. Offering tacos a la carte and combination platters, patrons can order a variety of tacos and authentic Mexican food.

Where to stay:

Best Western Executive Inn

With a population of 100,000 residents, one would expect a variety of lodging options in Kenosha. Located near Interstate 94, our family stayed at the Best Western Executive Inn. Centrally located between attractions in Pleasant Prairie, Bristol, and along the waterfront, the Best Western Executive Inn has a nice indoor pool (and, as we all know, this is what kids really care about). Parents will appreciate the complimentary breakfast and plethora of nearby restaurants.

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An ideal mid-way spot for travelers on their way north or south, here are some family-friendly reasons to pull off the highway and experience Bowling Green on your next road trip:

Museums:

National Corvette Museum

Spread out over 115,000 square feet, the National Corvette Museum is a tribute the influence of Corvette in Bowling Green and the greater automobile industry. Highlighting the evolution of the brand, the museum is a “must see” for the automobile enthusiast in your family. With 70 Corvettes on display, a wide variety of artifacts and exhibits will keep you engaged for quite some time. Families with young children will want to find the driving simulators an the more interactive KidZone. Families looking for a unique dining venue may also want to plan to enjoy a meal in the Corvette Cafe.

Kentucky Museum

Located on the Western Kentucky University campus, the Kentucky Museum is a three-story tribute to Kentucky’s history, art, and culture. Key exhibits include the Civil War, Duncan Hines, and the Snell-Franklin Decorative Arts. If visiting with elementary-age children, be sure and pick up a Family Guide for each kid. Placed in a clear backpack for hands-free carrying, the guide is designed to help kids navigate the museum as they complete worksheet pages for each floor. Perhaps our favorite exhibit at the museum is the newly opened Instruments of American Excellence, showcasing innovation and excellence in the tools and talents used by some of America’s finest citizens.

Historic Railpark & Train Museum

A museum for kids of all ages, the Historic Railpark & Train Museum is a tribute to the golden era of the Louisville & Nashville (L&N) Railroad. In a modern re-model of the original L&N depot, your experience will include a peek at one of the areas largest model railroad displays (complete with buttons for kids to push). Tour the two-stories of exhibits that highlight life on the rails, working for the railroad, and the influence of rail travel in America. Kids can de-code a telegraph message or learn the meaning of hobo symbols. Truly the highlight of the experience is a guided train tour on the various cars of a L&N train that once traveled through Kentucky carrying mail, passengers, and historical dignitaries. If you geocache, make sure and complete the Earth Cache and find the traditional container hidden on the red caboose.

Dining:

Chaney’s Dairy Barn

A treat for any family is a road trip ice cream break at Chaney’s Dairy Barn located south of downtown Bowling Green. With homemade ice cream and a country-themed dining room complete with gift shop stocked with regional foods and handmade items,    the highlight of the visit is in the form of a farm-themed playground behind the building. Perfect for kids with energy to burn, the playground has giant slides, swings, sand lots, and other ways to collect Kentucky mud on their shoes and clothing.

Mariah’s 1818

Conveniently located in downtown Bowling Green a short walk from Fountain Square Park and shopping on the square, Mariah’s 1818 has been a favorite local dining spot for over a quarter decade. Featuring a reasonably priced kids meals ($2.99, add $0.59 for a drink) and a $6.99 lunch menu worth bragging about, Mariah’s does not skimp on food quality or ambiance. Located inside Bowling Green’s oldest brick home, the now-restaurant features a brightly colored mural of downtown.

Montanna Grille

A fantastic way to re-fuel after a long day of travel, the Montanna Grille is known for its ambiance, service, and sophisticated menu. Close to many of the lodging options on the edge of downtown, Montanna Grille plays on a Western theme with names like the Watering Hole, Big Sky Sandwiches, and a mid-day menu called the Lunch Pail. Known for the rotisserie chicken and pork chops, we can recommend anything glazed with Kentucky bourbon. Unique kids’ menu items include a smaller portion of the rotisserie chicken or the option to split a sirloin steak meal, like ours did.

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With robins arriving and trees budding, many of us are airing out sleeping bags and pulling camping gear out of storage lockers. For many road trippers camping is an integral part of the road trip lifestyle. Not only is camping affordable, it connects you to the geography of a place in a way you would never experience from the confines of a hotel room.

ENO Double Hammock and Atlas Hammock Suspension System, Unpacked

Celebrating three children who have finally reaching a collective developmental phase free diapers and naps and constant supervision, our family is eager to join the ranks of the outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy the bounties of our nation’s state parks and national forests. We start off the 2013 camping season with a fun gear review compliments of Eagles Nest Outfitters in Asheville, North Carolina. The authority in parachute hammocks and outdoor accessories,  ENO “offers the highest quality relaxation products for adventure travelers and outdoors lovers everywhere.”

Attached Compression Stuff Sack

Eager to test the utility and durability of the DoubleNest Hammock and the AtlasHammock Suspension System, cool weather resulted in conducting our trial run in the comforts of our warm(ish) basement. To begin, the hammock measures 9 feet 4 inches long and 6 feet 2 inches wide and is big enough for two people with a combined weight under 400 pounds. The total product weight rings in at 21 ounces, and this includes the attached stuff sack and clips for stuffing and un-stuffing the breathable nylon material and carabiners. Available in a single version, deluxe double version, and with an insect shield, ENO offers a variety of options and prices in the hammock category. Suggested retail for a DoubleNest Hammock is $69.95.

Hanging the Atlas Hammock Suspension System

Required for hanging the DoubleNest Hammock is the Atlas Suspension System, two 9 foot long, 1 inch wide suspension straps made of poly-filament webbing. With 30 combined adjustment points (Let’s call them loops, shall we?), the Atlas Suspension System helps hang the hammock from rocks, trees, piers, tree houses, and even basement rafters. Somewhat confusing the first few times, make sure you read the instructions before you hand and thread the straps through the loops and have to re-climb the ladder. Suggested retail for an Atlas Hammock Suspension System is $29.95.

Entering the Hammock from the Side

In a similar recommendation, read the instruction card on the safest way to sit in the hammock. Contrary to a kid’s level of uncontainable excitement, this involves sitting perpendicular to one edge and grabbing the nylon material to steady yourself before turning and leaning back. Boring (sorry!), but who really wants to leave the s’mores to find an emergency room? If you have two people entering and exiting the hammock, repeat step one and reverse the steps to exit the moving vehicle.

Basement Camper

With a two year warranty on both the hammock and suspension system, we could easily own five of these hammocks and never sleep on the ground again. You may also want to consult the FAQ page for commonly asked product questions and recommendations for topics like how to wash the hammocks and information on repairing small holes or burns.

Each month ENO offers a photo contest for product enthusiasts. Submit a photo of your creative hammock-hanging spot according to the instructions on the Photo Contest page and, if selected, you will receive a credit towards purchases on the Eagles Nest Outfitters website.

Here are four ideas for warming up (or cooling down) underground in Cave Country, Kentucky:

Mammoth Cave National Park

The first cave on our spelunking adventure, families visiting South Central Kentucky should move Mammoth Cave National Park to the top of their vacation itinerary. In an effort to control the spread of White Noise Syndrome, a disease contributing to the decline in bat population, any clothing, footwear, or hand held items worn or carried into a previous cave tour cannot be brought into Mammoth Cave. But, hey, if you’re going to start big, Mammoth Cave is the way to go.

With a variety of tours for a variety of ages and abilities, it’s best to consult the cave tours schedule page for prices, departure times, and a description of the tour distance/time/difficulty. With kids in grades 1, 2, and 3 the two hour, two mile Historic Tour was perfect for our family but not for the poor family of a baby and crying toddler. Offering above ground trails, camping, river access, and horseback riding, Mammoth Caves has come a long way in the last two decades. A family could easily spend several days here. If you get hungry, make sure and visit the Mammoth Cave Hotel for both sit-down and cafe style dining (this was some of the best food of our trip).

Diamond Caverns

Our personal favorite cave tour, we can confirm why Diamond Caverns has earned the bragging right of Kentucky’s most beautiful cave. A back-and-forth trip along 1/2 miles of stalagmites, stalactites  flowstone, cave popcorn, and otherwise colorful calcite. Within the Mammoth Caves National Park grounds, Diamond Caverns is privately owned, but well worth the stop.

With a tour that starts indoors just down from the gift shop, if you visit on a rainy day (or deluge, like our experience), you’ll see why Diamond Caverns is considered a wet cave. Humid conditions and dripping water aside, this tour is ideal for families with younger children or tight schedules. In warmer weather, the facility offers a sleuce mining station for kids and a seasonal butterfly garden.

Lost River Cave and Valley

Without a doubt, the most unexpected, pleasant, surprise of our entire trip was Lost River Cave and Valley, despite the rainy weather that prevented us from embarking on the underground boat cave tour. The only tour of its kind in Kentucky, participants board a pontoon boat that floats them through the cave’s expansive caverns. Run as a non-profit organization, proceeds from cave admissions and gift shop purchases are spent on improving trails, habitats, and nature activities on the 68-acre park. The site of a 1930′s nightclub, Lost River Cave was as popular for the nightlife as the natural air conditioning found at the pavilion shaped cave entrance.

Families visiting the park will want to take advantage of activities ranging from the Junior Tour Guide Activity Book, scavenger hunt, geocaching, sleucing and the Nature Trading Post (in seasonal operation the second and fourth Saturdays from April to October). On schedule to open in May is an all-natural play area for children. focused on the relationship between nature, art, and the environment. With breathtaking views and an abundance of flora and fauna, it’s easy to see why the karst valley is a popular wedding spot. Make sure you see the Lost River Spring bubbling up from the Blue Hole at the northwest wall of the valley; hopefully a tour guide will be there to tell you a bit about the valley’s history and mystery.

Hidden River Cave and American Cave Museum

Located in downtown Horse Cave, Kentucky is the American Cave Museum and site of the Hidden River Cave (another river/karst valley combination). Established and operated by the American Cave Conservation Association (ACCA), the American Cave Museum offers two stories of exhibits designed to educate visitors about the cave ecosystem as well as inspire them to preserve it.

While our family took the Historic Tour, adventurous people and families with kids over 10 years might love the Wild Cave Tours that involve hard hats, helmet lights, boots, gloves, and terrain that turns clothing and gear a permanent shade of Kentucky mud (sort of reddish brown). With plans to expand a tour into Sunset Dome (a five acre expanse currently only viewable by an adventure tour  suitable for the athletic type), the operation will offer repelling down into the mouth of Horse Cave starting this May. When installed this season or next, Hidden River Cave and American Cave Museum will be the site of the the only underground cave zip-line course in America.

Before you leave town, take a gander at the Horse Cave Stories Cellphone Walking Tours, broken into an above ground and below ground trails. Simply call the telephone number listed on any of the signs placed around town or scan the QR code with your smart phone for a direct link to the Horse Cave Stories website with photos and audio recordings offering a narrative explanation of the site.

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A hybrid between self-help and a series of case studies on how to strategically bridge the gap between a day job and a dream job, Quitter is a book every wanderlust should read if they are attempting a career in travel writing.

To a great extent, Quitter has helped me stay focused on working part-time as a technical writer and falling back in like with a job that offers benefits of a steady paycheck, retirement contributions, and the occasional paid holiday. Turning the lens in on our personal finances and budgeting for a dream vacation with the Saving for Vacation series, I’ve never been more inspired to re-read Chapter 7: Learn to be Successful at Success.

In a nutshell, Chapter 7 says to refine the skills at work that you will need to eventually make the transition in your dream job. In theory, these skills will be used in a way that replace your income in a strategic way. Pointing out the difference between hustling and totally burning out, Chapter 7 also reminds us that “being successful” means something different for me than it does for you.

Inspired to punch the clock, put on some flair, and keep my dream in sight, I pinned a travel map up in my cubicle and scheduled another call with Mvelopes and Money for Life Coaching. If you haven’t ever had intimate discussions about your personal finances with an objective/unbiased third-party, you should give it a try. If anything, it feels a bit like standing on your very own fiscal cliff. Maybe one with a scenic view and national park worth planning a road trip around.

On the Slopes

Ski Delivery Service: Using a ski rental delivery service makes getting your gear a piece of cake. You tell them what you need (skis, boards, boots, helmets, etc.) and they show up at your door with everything you need. Something not right or want to try a different kind of skis or boots? Just call them – they’ll even meet you right on the mountain!  We used Black Tie Ski Rentals and highly recommend them.

Ski School: My 8 year old daughter spent a morning in ski school and had a terrific experience. Her “coach” (I like that they call the instructors “coaches”) sat down with her when she arrived and asked her all kinds of questions, making her feel really comfortable. While ski school runs from 9:30 – 3:30, they are flexible and we picked up Cassandra at 12:30 so she could have lunch with us. In just three hours she was noticeably improved and more confident – happily riding the lift “alone” with a friend when she had previously been  scared of the lifts.

Kids’ Trails: Breckenridge has some unique kids’ trails filled with fun things to see as you ski by. These trails go through the trees, which is an added perk for kids with older siblings who rave about “tree skiing.” My daughter wanted to ski the Dragon’s Trail (pictured here) over and over. You enter through “Ski-a-Lot Castle,” complete with a giant (friendly) dragon. The Haunted Forest was another big hit – the kids loved the bats, webs, skeletons and skiing under the giant spider!

Alpine Roller Coaster: You control your speed as you cruise through the forest on the alpine coaster. Located at Peak 8 – right off the gondola from town – it’s a super fun way to take a break from skiing, or something exciting to do if you’re not a skier.

Around Town

Dog Sledding: Good Times Adventures offers snowmobiling and dog sledding tours. This was one of the highlights of our trip. The six-mile tour gives ample time for everyone in your party (young and old) to mush and ride in the sled while the dogs pull you along.

Breckenridge Arts District: We spent an inspired morning designing personalized canvas bags at the Fuqua Livery Stable in the Breckenridge Arts District (BAD). Our instructor gave us all the pastels, tools and accessories we needed to bring out our creativity. BAD offers art workshops for children, teens and adults. In our group, we had three generations sharing the fun together. Find more information at breckarts.com.

Favorite Place to Eat: We  had a blast at Downstairs at Eric’s. It’s a sports bar atmosphere, but also kid-friendly. The restaurant has a big arcade area where my husband and I impressed the kids with our Ms. Pac-Man skills. We enjoyed the potato skins, served sizzling on a hot plate.

Road trip tip: When you are heading out I-70 from Denver, keep an eye out for the buffalo. There’s an overlook just outside of Denver where you can stop and take photos.

Seasonal

New York is a beautiful city to travel to in any season, but there are certain activities you can look forward to only during the warmer months. These are a few options you can expect to find each spring:

• Central Park Zoo – The Central Park Zoo is an absolute favorite among native New Yorkers and visitors alike. Starting in April, children can come and view animals from around the world in the midst of one of New York City’s most iconic landmarks.
• Macy’s Flower Show – Macy’s annual Flower Show takes place from March 24^th through April 7^th at their flagship location in Herald Square. You and your kids will love looking at the amazing floral creations and bouquets on display in the windows.
• Victorian Gardens – Also in Central Park is Victorian Gardens. Opening Memorial Day weekend, this is an amusement park with old-fashioned style rides that will take you right back to your childhood.

Best for Warm Days

While you can’t predict the weather, enjoy it while it’s nice. Take advantage of warm, sunny days when you have them with these activities:

• Water Playgrounds – If the weather’s nice and warm, try out one of New York City’s many parks with water features. Your kids can play and climb with the added bonus of interactive water misters and streams to keep them cool. Ancient Playground on the Upper East Side and Heckscher Playground in Central Park are two to try.
• Staten Island Ferry – Your kids will love riding the ferry between Manhattan and Staten Island, and it won’t cost you a thing. The ferry ride is scenic with great views of Manhattan’s skyscrapers and bridges, and it is a great way to spend your time outdoors.

Rain Alternatives

If you’re planning your weekend in advance, there’s no way to be sure you won’t get rained out. Just in case the weather’s less than ideal, these are some fun rainy day alternatives that will keep your kids happy and dry:

• Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum – Madame Tussaud’s is not only a great alternative when there’s inclement weather, but it is a must-do for kids of all ages. Visitors love the life-like wax statues of the most popular politicians, musicians, and pop stars. Make sure you bring a camera – you’ll need one to pose with all your favorite celebs.

• Liberty Science Center – This science museum right across the Hudson has exhibits for children of all ages and will let your kids be hands-on with their learning. It even has an IMAX theater with a variety of films. Your kids will have fun at this rainy day option without even realizing that it’s educational.

While you may not have time for all of them, these are some great, enjoyable spring activities for families visiting New York City. Make sure to think through all the details of your trip well in advance. If you’re driving, consider joining a motor club to ensure the safest travel possible. Enjoy these activities, and don’t be afraid to research a few of your own!

Lindsay T. writes about travel on behalf of Allstate Motor Club, which provides roadside assistance and other travel services. Visit Allstate Motor Club for more on travel deals, driving resources and membership information.

For more ideas on family friendly venues in the big apple, check out MommyPoppins.com.

Image courtesy of Susie B. at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

Begrudgingly creating an envelope called “car payment,” we are now even more focused on using the Mvelopes tool to make strategic purchasing decisions. In other words, changing our spending behavior. Exhibiting reckless abandon in the “dining out” envelope in the month of February, we’re currently paying penance with coupon clipping and packing sack lunches during the work week. A new favorite is organic ramen noodles from the local food co-op. Who knew?!?

One benefit of having the Mvelopes mobile app is one-touch access to funds available within respective envelope categories. We’ll talk about the “sweep enable” function—transferring unspent money between envelopes—in a future post.

On the subject of budgeting and saving money, we’re finally at the point of setting a savings goal for our 2014 vacation. Coming to the eye-opening realization that we cannot realistically save an extra $1,600/month* over the next year and concurrently aggressively pay down debt, save for our retirement, contribute to three college savings plans, and maintain our lifestyle, we’ve decided to downgrade our Galapagos Islands Dream Vacation within the boundaries of fiscal responsibility.

Sigh.

Working to build rewards points for frequent flier miles with the long term goal of offsetting airfare, luggage, and hotel expenses, I’ll share some of our current “travel hacking” tips over a series of upcoming posts and guest interviews. Ending with a quote from Wes, our financial coach with Money 4 Life, “I can’t help but point out that a powerful budgeting principle is here at work: making an informed choice.” Amen!

* The amount necessary for a $20,000 family vacation in February 2014. Does anyone have a Plan B idea for our family? We’re thinking perhaps Costa Rica or Puerto Rico instead?

Perhaps an unconventional topic for a travel story, this week’s guest post may just surprise you. A subject universal to all true road trippers, the “pit stop” is something we parents try to strategically plan with our kids’ bathroom habits in mind. Whether you have a napper, a potty trainer, or a “last minute” kind of kid, this advice may have you shifting your pit stop paradigm.

We interviewed Jennifer Klestinski, owner of CoreActive Therapy, LLC, a Madison, Wisconsin based center for women, runners and triathletes offering expert care solutions via specialty physical therapy and fitness programs that allow clients to choose and pursue preventative and integrative health/wellness, competitive or recreational sport, life/family balance, and humanitarian goals. Jennifer is a Physical Therapist and Strength and Conditioning Specialist and an expert in pelvic floor muscle dysfunction. She’s also a mom of two of her own kiddos and loves taking road trips to Minneapolis and Chicago.

Why is it important to avoid asking your kids to go to the bathroom “just in case” before piling into the car and heading off on a road trip?

Once children are potty trained, it is important to teach good bladder habits.  One way to do this is by teaching kids to listen to their body cues with regard to the urge to void (“go #1″) rather than going “Just In Case” before they get into the car.  “JICing” involves teaching the bladder to empty when it is less than optimally full.  In some children and adults, JICing can lead to urgency/frequency issues.  Physical Therapists specially trained in the area of pelvic floor health recommend that you ask your child if they feel like they have to go.  If not, then off on your car trip you go.

Biologically, why is it best to let our bladders fill completely before hitting the rest stop?

The bladder is an amazing example of anatomy structure and function; it’s an organ that has special cells that are designed to fill to medium and large volumes before the brain and nerves give the signal to “go.” By teaching our kids good bladder habits, such as avoidance of “JICing,” we are encouraging normal development, as well as a lifelong habit of the brain being in control of the bladder and not the other way around.

You say it’s important to stay hydrated on the go? How can avoiding fluids on long trips backfire on families?

It is important to clarify that we are not talking about fluid restriction the last hour or so before bed time in a newly dry-through-the-night child in this scenario. That said, another key habit to teach our kids is to hydrate throughout each day (preferably with water!) to the level that allows their pee to be pale yellow or “the color of lemonade.” When poorly hydrated, our bladder can become irritated by the high concentrations of waste products contained in the dark/smelly urine. The bladder may then contract on its own, again putting the bladder in control instead of the brain. Proper hydration is especially important during hot/humid or very cold/dry weather or when traveling to arid locations like the Southwestern US (anyone who has been to Colorado or Arizona can relate).

How can moms, especially, help our long-term pelvic health by encouraging our kids to climb up into their own car seats?

In my practice, two common issues I see new and experienced moms for are pelvic organ prolapse and back/pelvic girdle pain. In addition to individualized assessment and education/instruction, I teach my clients to allow their kids to be as independent as possible in getting into/out of their carseats. Even if it takes a bit longer—with supervision—kids as young as two can climb well. Fostering independence climbing in/out of the car can affect in a positive way the pressure on pelvic organs and loading of the spine and pelvis by reducing repetitive motions and total lifting volume most moms do each day.

A special thanks to our friends at www.tipsonroadtripping.com for going “on assignment” and submitting the rest stop sign!

Almost exactly a year ago, I shared with you our family’s first trip to Smuggler’s Notch Resort in Vermont. We enjoyed ourselves so much last year, that we returned again this year. And to double-up the fun, we invited another family to join us.

Both families look like this: a Dad who is an expert skier, two kids who are on their way to becoming expert skiers, and a Mom who is not entirely comfortable on skis even on the “bunny-est” of “bunny hills.”

I think there are a lot of us out there – folks who never skied as kids, aren’t particularly athletic, and might find the notion of spending a family holiday at a ski resort a touch daunting. But here’s why I love this ski resort, even though I don’t classify myself as a skier:

Beginner Lessons for Adults 

Do you imagine that only kids take beginner ski lessons? Not so! There are a ton of lessons available for adults at Smuggler’s Notch. I took a Level 3 ski lesson, while my girlfriend took a Level 1 snowboard lesson. A group lesson runs for 2 hours and lets you increase your confidence and skill level, while also giving you a chance to meet people from all over North America. All for the cost of $75.

Snow-Shoeing

Not sure you even want to get on a hill? Then you can opt for the more flat terrain of a snow-shoe trail. Simply wear your own winter boots and rent snow shoes ($19) from the Nordic Center on the resort. My girlfriend and I appreciated an option with so little chance of falling on our butts! We took a trail called “Moose” and talked and laughed, and talked and laughed some more while we snow-shoed for almost 3 hours. There is no cost to use the trails if you already have an alpine lift ticket, otherwise the trail fee is $14 for an adult.

Indoorsy?

Okay, so maybe you are just plain not “outdoorsy.” Hey, me too! I’d like to curl up and read a book any day. But there are many more options than hanging out in the chalet by the fire (as awesome as that is). Like most resorts, Smuggler’s offers massages, yoga and other fitness classes. However, if you’re looking for something a little different, you can join a painting ($54), knitting ($35), jewellery-making ($130), or other arts class.

Photos from top to bottom: My girlfriend and I after she completed a beginner Snowboarding class; This is me on the “Moose” snow shoe trail at Smuggs; and this last photo, credited to Smuggler’s Notch, shows one of their many arts and crafts classes offered during the week.

Want to learn more about Smuggler’s Notch? The resort’s website is www.smuggs.com and has all the info you need to learn or make a booking, or you can also feel free to leave me a question in the comments section below. 

Today’s guest post comes from

Some say you’ve only really been somewhere if you stay for awhile and live like a local. That may be true for international destinations when you’re trying to absorb a new culture, but your stateside trip might be best served-up as a veritable vacation sampler. With a few key landmarks chosen in advance and a well-executed itinerary, most U.S. cities can be conquered in just a few days, save the mega-opolis of New York City (which requires a lifetime). So why not split your vacation in half and take on two destinations, instead of just one?

Find two low airfares to places you might not have considered.

With family in tow, airfare and fees can pile up. With some smart fare-tracking and a little persistence, you could land two sale airfares for what you would have paid for one to great destinations that you hadn’t planned on. A recent example is my family’s trip to Burlington, Vermont (from NYC). The fare we found was so low, it afforded us airfare for a short trip to South Florida later in the summer.

A good way to dig up good airfares and choose your destinations is to use a tool like SkyScanner (skyscanner.com). It’s a fairly typical flight-booking tool, but if you type “everywhere” in the destination box, it returns the lowest fares to…well, everywhere.

Use Hotel Points.

Generally speaking, hotel points are typically more valuable than airline miles. In some cases, points earned by non-airline or hotel-affiliated travel credit cards can be used to book a room, instead of a flight. This can mean sweet relief to your overall travel bill and keep money in the budget for a second trip.

Starwood Hotels (which includes Sheraton, Westin, and W hotels) and a few other major chains offer a “Cash and points” option. When available, it can be a good way to keep costs low and keep some points in your account for your second vacation. I was able to book this very nice room at the Sheraton Delfina in Santa Monica, CA recently for just 4,800 points and $90; whereas, the lowest available rate was $231 per night.

The all-at-once double vacation.

We love road trips, just like you. But it’s not hard to make an argument for the time savings that flying offers. So why not break your vacation into two by flying and driving. For example, a great airfare to Phoenix can mean an easy car rental to visit nearby cities like Tucson and even Vegas! Some of my family’s best trips are to visit family in Minneapolis for a few days then hopping in a car to visit Duluth and northern Minnesota. Splitting the time (about 3-4 days in each place) gives us time to reunite and later bond as an immediate family within the same trip.

Low airfares and hotel point redemptions can, of course, be used for your all-at-once vacation too. Use the same tools and tips you’d use for our other options for the best possible vacation value.

We think its well-worth-it to align family schedules to take on multiple shorter adventures or multi-destination single trips. It opens the minds to new places and creates more memories for your whole family to talk about at the dinner table.

Funding our various envelops according to when our paychecks are deposited into the bank gives an idea of when money is available to pay the bills. For example, the cell phone bill is due on the 20th of every month, so that envelope is automatically funded with with income from the first payday. A monthly budget fueled by electronic caffeine, the Spending Plan is essentially a budget allowing for money to be “sweep enabled” into a plan for paying down debt as aggressively as possible.

Getting into the habit of using the Mvelopes smart phone app to consult available balances and file transactions (say in the crowded waiting room at the doctor’s office—ahem), you can also refresh the balances in your accounts and consult your funding plan before purchasing Culver’s cheese curds on your way home from work. Mmm! Cheese curds!

Dabbling in the reporting function of the tool (more on this in a future post), this information can be extracted for bookkeeping purposes in PDF or Xcel formats.

But wait! There’s more!

On the subject of bookkeeping and financial reporting, Mvelopes has partnered with taxbrain to offer Mvelopes customers a free federal tax return filed on Taxbrain with coupon code “Free13″ during checkout. Click here for more details. Three cheers for tax returns!