Are we there yet?

Are you packing and getting ready for a 4th of July long weekend roadtrip with the family? Whether you’re flying to France, traveling to relatives or heading for the beach, check out our newly assembled Trekaroo’s Activities and Games Guide for Traveling with Kids.

These are all based on recommendations from Trekaroo’s community of travel-savvy parents over the last year. We’ve got games that can be played anytime, anywhere and no gameboards required. Some will make your kids think, some will make them laugh and some will turn them into detectives.

Here’s a sneak peak at Activities #24 through 35.

Guessing Games

24. 20 Questions (Ages 2+)
25. Treasure in a Bottle (Ages 2-4)
26. Name that Tune (Ages 3+)
27. Mother Goose’s Mixed Up Words (Ages 3-6)
28. How Far Away is That? (Ages 4+)
29. True or False (Ages 4-7)

Simple Activities with Just a Piece of Paper

30.  Print out coloring or activity pages from websites like Education.com or Crayola.com
31.  Print out a map of the US and check off each state that you find a license plate for
32.  Free Roadtrip Bingo print-outs from MomsMinivan
33.  Write a letter to grandma or a friend. Write a journal entry.
34.  Travel Scavenger print-outs from Moms Minivan
35.  Take a crayon, stick a coin underneath a sheet of paper and make a coin rubbing

The Trekaroo’s Activities and Games Guide for Traveling with Kids also has our favorite toys for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, school-age kids, tweens and teens that you can purchase ahead of time and throw in your Mary Poppins “entertainment” carpet bag. You’ll find books, puzzles, activity kits and more to choose from to keep the kids entertained and happy for your “family vacation”

Be sure to check-out Activity #68 in Trekaroo’s Activities and Games Guide for Traveling with Kids. It’s a great idea that I’d never heard of from happyonvacation.

Related articles:

• Best Travel Trays for Kids
• Toys on the Fly
• Preparing Kids to Travel

Visit Trekaroo’s Travel Store for more of our favorite travel gear, toys, and books for babies to teens!

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Esther Lee is co-founder and CEO of Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.

Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA

With Thanksgiving marking the start of the holidays, did you think that we folks at Trekaroo would be kicking back and working on our holiday travels? As the Obamas get ready to light up the Christmas tree in DC on Thursday, we’re lighting up DC on the Trekaroo map today!

Capitol Fun for Families. Credit: Flickr/ac1982

Why DC? Well, I always remember the first time that I came here with my parents and younger sister. I didn’t get to meet the President, but being inside the White House and Capitol Hill was like having my history class come to life. I remember being totally bummed because we kept getting lost in our search for the Supreme Court. Although, DC proper is only about 8 miles wide, the region stretches into the outer edges of Maryland and Virginia. With over 100 activities for kids of all ages to enjoy, Trekaroo brings you the District of Columbia – unplugged for kids.

So, what have we got?

• Over 100 Activities for kids in the Washington DC Metro Area
• Over 150 hotels in and around Washington DC that are waiting to be rated by families like you.

Here’s a summary of what the Trekaroo community’s is saying:

• Best Activiites for Kids in Washington DC – voted by parents

• Top Kid-friendly Hotels in Washington DC - voted by parents

Great lists created by the Trekaroo community:

• The Best Kid-friendly Hiking Trails in DC – HikingAlong
• Indoor Places for Toddlers Around Washington DC – SuburbanDaddy
• 8 Things (Under $5) to Do in Washington DC with Toddlers – Two Kids and A Map
• Fun Washington, D.C. Activities that get Kids Fired Up -  Sujatha
• Day Trips with Kids From Washington DC – teachmama
• Must See Attractions in DC with Preteens and Teens – musingsfromme
  
• What to do with Tweens in Washington D.C. – MsTwixt

All of these lists have been contributed by DC area mom bloggers for our Trekaroo KidsMobile stop in DC today.  KidsMobile is making a virtual tour of the US with local bloggers jumping on and off.

A special shout-out goes to Max’s Mom, jenc17, carolr, momof4girls, katy, and girlymama for their love of Washington DC and helping us build up DC’s content from the ground-up for this launch. Without them or my com padres at Trekaroo, we’d only be covering the Bay Area. Thank you, thank you, thank you times a million.

See you at a monument,

Esther Lee (thelees3) – CEO

P.S. To kick-off the new year, we’ve got a full line-up of new states to launch including Colorado, Utah, and North Carolina. If you’d like to help us get any of these states or your local area ready for lift-off, please email us at editor@trekaroo.com.

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Esther Lee is a contributing author on Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | FL | HI | MA | NY | PA | TX | VA and now IL and WA and DC

Near Museum Row

All three of these hotels are located in the Museum Row area on the Ben Franklin Parkway and a stone’s throw from all the major family attractions like The Franklin Institute, the Museum of Natural Science and the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Rodin. Depending on your budget and travel style, these are the best 3 hotels near Museum Row for visiting families.

For Luxury & Kid Perks: The Four Seasons Philadelphia

From the moment you walk-in, your kid’s will be greeted with gifts and special treatment at the Four Seasons in Philadelphia. They’ve got diapers, age-appropriate toys, cookies and milk with turndown and more to help you and your family feel more at home. The service is 5-star, the hotel is impeccable, and the food is scrumptious. Wait there’s more – they’ve got an indoor heated pool, a collection of kid-friendly videos and a concierge that knows what to recommend to families. Average rate: $315/night for a moderate room on Fri/Sat, $515/night for suites. However, don’t miss their Family Values Package where you can book one room and get an adjoining room for 50% off plus a $100 credit to spend.

Read the full reviews from families on the Four Seasons Philadelphia | Check for Deals and Availability

For Suite Living & Breakfast: Embassy Suites – Philadelphia

The Embassy Suites in downtown Philadelphia provides suite living in this cylindrical hotel of all two room suites. Each of the rooms are spacious, clean and newly upgraded!  After snoozing in these comfortable new digs, your family can chow down on a complimentary buffet breakfast at T.G.I. Friday’s in-house before heading off to the events of the day. Omelets made to order are a great way to start off any vacation day. The in-room kitchenette is great for storing and preparing left-overs for a quick meal. Rooms start at $129/night.

Read the full reviews from families on Embassy Suites – Philadelphia | Check for Availability

For Suite Living & a Roofdeck Pool: Windsor Suites

The Windsor Suites owned by Marriott is getting rave reviews from Trekaroo families after their million dollar renovations. Similar to the Embassy Suites, the rooms are spacious and the extra living room space is perfect for families. If you like to cook, whip up an entire meal for the family in their kitchen complete with a full-sized fridge, stove, and dishwasher for easy clean-up. The roofdeck pool is also great for dealing with the summer heat. No free breakfast though. Average rate: $104/night for a one-bedroom suite.

Read the full reviews on Windsor Suites | Check Availability

For more kid-friendly hotels near the Franklin Institute at Museum Row.

Near Independence Hall

Want to be close to the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the National Constitution Center and more? These are the best hotels to stay at if you’re planning on spending a lot of time exploring the birth of our nation.

For Luxury: The Omni Independence Park (editor’s pick)

Just one block away from the Liberty Bell, the Omni Independence Park Hotel has been welcoming families in this area for years. The Omni Sensational Kids program will be sure to treat your kids like V.I.P.  Young VIP perks include suitcases filled with games and books, a backpack upon check-in and menu choices prepared especially for young travelers. Rates start at $244/night. To check availability at the Omni.

For Historic Boutique Living: The Morris House Hotel (editor’s pick)

The Morris House Hotel is a historic landmark that’s close to everywhere you’ll want to go. Better for families with older kids, this hotel is like staying at an upscale fancy bed and breakfast.  Families love the free continental breakfast and afternoon tea with homemade cookies.

Rooms start at $169/night. To check availability at the Morris House Hotel.

For the Budget Conscious: Holiday Inn Philadelphia – Historic District (editor’s pick)

The rooms at the Holiday Inn Philadelphia in the Historic District are standard issue . Simple, but clean rooms with no frills. There is an outdoor heated pool on the rooftop which is great for the kids to jump into after a long day of sightseeing. Rooms start at $100/night. To check availability at the Holiday Inn Philadelphia – Historic District.

For more kid-friendly hotels near Independence Hall.

Which Activities came up at the top?

Best Activities for Kids in Philadelphia – voted by parents

Other Resources for Philadelphia:

• 135 Activities for Kids Around Philadelphia
• Kid-friendly Hotels in Philadelphia

• Off the Beaten Path Kid Activities in Philadelphia – motherofalltrips
• Teen-friendly Activities in Philadelphia – ForLoveOrFunny
• Things to Do in Philly with Young Kids -  Girlymama
• Historic Philadelphia by foot with Kids – Minnemom
• Phildelphia: 5 Kids-friendly Activities – CiaoBambino
• Best Attractions for Kids Who Love Trains in Pennsylvania – BryantFamily

Esther Lee is a contributing author on Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | FL | HI | MA | NY | PA | TX | VA and now IL and WA

Philadelphia most famous for being the centerpiece of American History.  While Philadelphia offers many opportunities to bring history alive for kids in a fun way, there’s so much more for them to explore.  Philly is filled to the brim with activities that will engage your children whether they’re 2 or 22. Here are our parent’s top picks:

Best Museum for Kids under 5 – Please Touch Museum (#1 place to take kids in Philadelphia)

Roadside Attractions at the Please Touch Museum

If you’ve got kids under the age of 5, be sure to add the Please Touch Museum to your list. Take the location of the first World’s Fair in the US… fill it with hands-on activity centers for kids and voila…  you’ve got one of the best children’s museum in this country. Favorites include shopping at the grocery store or collecting and dumping at the construction site in City Capers, building rockets and launching them in Flight Fantasy, and changing the tires at Roadside Attractions.

The Giant Heart

Best Museum for Kids over 5 – Franklin Institute

The Franklin Institute is the place to take kids in Philadelphia. The science center has more than enough to keep your kids busy for the whole day. From learning about the physics of air and flying to walking through the human heart, we were bummed when my 2 year old had to knock off to take a nap. For Love or Funny summed it up perfectly, “There are so many hands on activities, it’s hard to know where to start.”

Best Museum for Tweens and Teens – Mutter Museum

Your tweens and teens will be wide-eyed as they check out all the strange medical oddities spread throughout the Mutter Museum. “For kids who like a bit of gore, this museum is really fascinating. They’ll find jars filled with strange tumors, odd shaped skulls, and strange horns growing out of a person’s head.” (TravelPangs)

Grossest Museum in Philadelphia – Insectarium

If you’ve got kids who like to be grossed out, take them to the Insectarium. They won’t forget about all the creepy critters they see at Cockroach Kitchen and ,” the “glow-in-the-dark” scorpion, the live termite tunnel, or the tarantulas. It’s located in the Northeast section of the city, so a bit off-the-beaten path, but worth a visit if your kids like that kind of stuff.

Credit: Philly Duck Tours

Best Tour in Town – Ride the Ducks

The Ride the Ducks will make a trip through Philadelphia’s historical section a quacking good time with a nice 20 minute cruise around the Delaware River at the end. A fun way to enjoy Philadelphia without having to do a lot of walking.

Best Free Playspace – Smith Memorial Playground

Nestled in Fairmont Park, the Smith Memorial Playground is great for kids looking for some free outdoor fun. Here you’ll find a  “40-foot-long giant slide, huge playground, and a giant 24,000 square foot playhouse! The basement has been turned into a small town – complete with stop light and parking meters, where kids can ride trikes. The playhouse is for ages 5 and under. Fun fun fun and free!!” (from girlymama)

Dutch Eating Place

Top Eatery for Families – Reading Terminal Market

With over 80 stands to choose from, this place is filled with food for any eater. It’s a great place for your kids to try some authentic Pennsylvania Dutch food from scrapple to whoopie pies. It can get crowded on the weekends, so be sure to hang on to your kids. Our favorite is savoring a plate of blueberry pancakes with a side of scrapple at the Dutch Eating Place for breakfast. YUM.

Must-see Historical Site to visit – Liberty Bell Center

Kids from preschoolers to high schoolers learn about the Liberty Bell. As Linda Kramer (aka minnemom) puts it, “This place has no interactive exhibits, but the fact that you’re seeing the actual Liberty Bell is impressive. Even if you’re 3.  So take the kids, snap some photos by the Liberty Bell with Independence Hall in the background, and someday explain the rest of the history lesson to them.  They’ll think it’s cool that they got to go there once upon a time.”

Which Hotels came up at the top?

Best Kid-friendly Hotels In Philadelphia – voted by parents

Other Resources for Philadelphia:

• 135 Activities for Kids Around Philadelphia
• Kid-friendly Hotels in Philadelphia

• Off the Beaten Path Kid Activities in Philadelphia – motherofalltrips
• Teen-friendly Activities in Philadelphia – ForLoveOrFunny
• Things to Do in Philly with Young Kids -  Girlymama
• Historic Philadelphia by foot with Kids – Minnemom
• Phildelphia: 5 Kids-friendly Activities – CiaoBambino
• Best Attractions for Kids Who Love Trains in Pennsylvania – BryantFamily

Esther Lee is a contributing author on Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | FL | HI | MA | NY | PA | TX | VA and now IL and WA

Whether you’re just visiting or mom of a tween or teen, these are the 10 places that are guaranteed to be fun for teens and tweens.

1. Blazing Saddles (Pier 41)

On a bicycle built for 3!

Pier 41
San Francisco, California

“Great way to see San Francisco”

See San Francisco from a bike. One of the best ways to enjoy the city. Located in Fisherman’s Wharf, you can easily bike to Crissy Field and enjoy a view of the Golden Gate Bridge. If your family is more adventurous and in shape, the best route is to take the bike path that goes over the Golden Gate Bridge into Sausalito and take the ferry back to Fisherman’s Wharf. There will be some quintessential San Francisco hills, so this route is definitely not for the faint of heart.

Blazing Saddles has a lot of options for the various ages of your kids. There are trailers, baby seats, tag-a-longs to help younger kids enjoy the ride without getting too exhausted. Lots of babies and toddlers manage to catch a quick snooze in the trailers.

Great for tweens and teens who love the outdoors. There is a lot of city traffic since Fisherman’s Wharf and the Golden Gate Bridge are two of the most crowded sections of San Francisco, so not recommended for smaller kids who are just learning to bike.

Great places to stop with the kids while on the bike tour are the Exploratorium/Palace of Fine Arts and the two vista points for the Golden Gate Bridge (one from the city side) and the other one from the Sausalito side (great pictures of SF).

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2. AT&T Park

24 Willie Mays Plz
San Francisco, California

Comment:

“Gotta see a Giants game “

I’m not particularly a baseball fanatic, but watching a game at AT&T park is one of my favorite things to do. AT&T Park is right on the bay and if you catch a night game, you can watch the sunset over the water. Absolutely stunning.We took my son here when he was 1.5 years old and he loved all the lights and big screen shots of “ball!” Out in left field,you’ll see the huge Coca-Cola bottle and glove. There are actually 4 slides inslde the Coke bottle that slide into “home plate” You can also climb up the baseball glove.Fun for teenagers, who love the excitement. It’s especially fun especially if there’s a homerun hit out into the water. During the days of Barry Bonds, folks would wait in the water riding kayaks or boats to catch a homerun shot.

Food! Don’t miss out on the garlic fries from Gordon Biersch. Simply deadly, but you’ll be fighting over the last one. My son had his first chocolate chip cookie here at 18 months and fell in love.

San Francisco gets cold, so be sure to bring lots of warm clothing and blankets. I’ve been to games wearing a ski jacket, wool hat, mittens and my fingers were still ice, ice… baby cold.

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3. Cable Car Ride

Downtown San Francisco
San Francisco, California

Comment:

“The Real San Francisco Treat”

Your kids probably don’t know what the Rice a Roni song, but they’ve still gotta take a rollercoaster ride on the SF cable cars up and down those crazy hills. If you’ve got little kids who are afraid of loud noises, this might be too much. Just take the bus and watch the cable cars from the street.For older kids, get on board and enjoy the ride. For your thrill-seeking teens/tweens, have them stand on the trolley off the back and get the true experience of riding the trolley old school style.Be sure to take it down to the end of Powell and see where they turn the cars around. If you take it to the end of the California line, you can get off at Mason Street near the Fairmount Hotel and head 3 blocks north to visit the Cable Car Museum if you’re kids are into a bit of history.

read more »

For more must see attractions with a tween/teen in San Francisco click here

thelees3 is a contributing member here at trekaroo