I'm a huge fan of the National Parks!  They are one of our country's most beautiful assets and I really feel that every family should take the opportunity to visit at least one of the parks with the kids. 

There are more than 400 national parks and sites located across the country so I'm sure there's one close to you.  And April 20^th - 28^th, 2013 is National Parks Week which is a wonderful time to schedule a visit!

Today we are one of 50+ blogs hosting a fantastic 'Booking Across the USA' blog project! 

Together, we will each feature a kids' book and activity for all of the 50 States -- you can travel across the country right from your own couch :-)  This amazing idea was the creation of Growing Book by Book, a wonderful blog with great ideas for sharing books with kids. 

Read and learn along with us as we criss-cross the country!

This is the final post in our 5-part series of The ABC's of Family Field Trips. 

If you missed the first posts in our series, you can review the tips, resources and ideas that were shared for family outings:

{Part 1}  Getting Ready, Using Books & Exploring

{Part 2}  Fun, Inspiriation & Hands-on Ideas

{Part 3}  Learning, New Places & Outdoor Fun

{Part 4}  Pretend Play, Reading, Science & Tours

Since we're covering topics from A to Z, our final post will highlight tips for U - Z.

Today we're covering more tips & tricks for planning enjoyable Family Outings on our 5-part series:

The ABC's of Family Field Trips

 

Here's a summary of the first 3 days:

{Part 1} Getting Ready, Exploring & Fun Field Trips

{Part 2} Having Fun, Inspiration & Hands-on Ideas

{Part 3} Learning, New Places & Outdoor Fun

Today's focus will be on Pretend Play, Reading, Science & Tours.

Welcome to Part 3 of our Family Field Trip series!

So far, we've shared a number of ideas & tips along with more than 35 fun places to visit for a family outing!

Here are the first two posts in the series:

{Part 1} Getting Ready, Exploring & Fun Field Trips

{Part 2} Having Fun, Inspiration & Hands-on Ideas

And we've still got lots more to cover!  This post will highlight the letters K - 0 as we discuss learning, new places & outdoor fun.

 

Welcome back! 

Today is Day 2 in our week-long series:  The ABC's of Family Field Trips.

During the first day, we shared tips for getting ready, ways to use books, exploring on your visit and 24 ideas of places to take the kids. 

Today we'll focus on topics and outings for F - J.

 

 

I'm so excited to introduce a new series this week --

The ABC's of Family Field Trips!

 

This will be a 5 day series covering all kinds of tips and ideas for those fun family outings you want to plan this year. 

I really want to help you get prepared for some great family trips this year by offering resources to help get you ready, along with new ideas for some cool places to visit!

 

I'm so excited to be part of the "Christmas Around the World" series this holiday!  We have 34 bloggers who are shaing some great information about the holidays in various countries.

Our host blog, Beth at Living Life Intentionally, has done an AMAZING job of creating a FREE printable e-book for the kids so they can 'travel' to each country during the month. 

Please take a minute to print out the book or passport which has coloring sheets, fun facts and lots more!

 

 

Connect with us on Facebook for more fun ideas!!

 

When's the last time your kid looked under a rock? 

Fall is the perfect time to head outdoors and enjoy the foliage, the weather and time with each other! 

Grab the kids and head out on a new fall adventure....

Have you ever thought about visiting a national park? 

We've visited quite a few local and state parks - all beautiful -- but nothing compares to our visit at Rocky Mountain National Park this summer!

I was so enthralled with the beauty of the park, the abundance of wildlife and the amazing back-to-nature connection that our family experienced, I feel compelled to share our visit in the hopes that you too will consider a trip to one of our national parks!

Is a visit to Walt Disney World in your future?  Lucky you!  Before you head off to enjoy 'the happiest place on Earth', there are a few must-see Disney movies (along with some non-Disney movies) that will help to enhance your visit.

 

Summer is coming to an end and soon we'll be dealing with schedules, homework and early bedtimes.  Are you trying to squeeze in a few more fun activities before the kids go back to school?  Here are a few ideas for some quick get-out-and-do-something places:

We're heading out on vacation soon and I'm pulling together the fun things that we'll need for the trip.  If you're taking a road trip too, here's a few fun ideas:

 

 Connect with us on Facebook or Twitter for all our latest finds!!

 

We're heading out for summer vacation soon and I asked my daughter what she wants to bring in her suitcase - her 'very important items' include a swimsuit, blankie & 32 books!  So, as a parent, here's where I jump up and down saying 'Yea! She loves to read!" but the practical side of me says there's no way we can pack that many books.  Not to mention, she's a voracious reader (finishes a book off faster than an ice cream cone!) so she'll tear through those in the first few days of our trip and then need more.

In your car a lot during the summer?  I know I am!  So, our family started playing the License Plate game in our own hometown!  It's fun, there's some learning involved and we have a great time 'competing' to see who can find the most plates!

Heading to the beach this summer?  Or maybe you're planning a camp-out?  We've got some great reads for you to take along - explore a picture book, bring a chapter book to read aloud or grab a guide book for ideas on games and activities!

Do you have a child who just loves trains? 

Or maybe you're one of those parents who doesn't mind getting caught at a railroad stop while the kids try to count how many train cars go through? 

Trains are a form of travel that we should introduce to our kids - real train travel! 

A few years ago, my family took a trip by train for just a few hours.  The kids loved the idea that we could all do things together (like visit the dining car for a snack!), had lots of room to stretch out and saw some unique places on the trip.

Do your kids love those brightly colored bricks?  They will LOVE a visit to Legoland Discovery Center in Kansas City!  And it's not just about building - there are rides, a 4D movie, master builder class and lots of room to create, build and explore!

Do you have plans to visit a national park or national monument this year?  If so, don't overlook the Junior Ranger programs offered at more than 200 of these locations!  Kids can learn about nature, history, science -- and earn some very cool patches!

My family will tell you that I love to plan for visiting new places (they'll actually say I spend more time planning than I do visiting ;).  What can I say, I like to be prepared.  So, I thought I would put together a guide for those of you getting ready to visit SEA LIFE Aquarium in Kansas City.

Take a look at some of these FAQs (frequently asked questions) and tips before your visit!