Lifestyle & Travel

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Beach Vacation: What to Pack & Things to Do with Kids

February 4, 2021 Katie Hale Leave a Comment

The beach is a very popular summer destination no matter where you live. Family beach trips are by far some of my favorite times with my family. That’s why I am sharing these tips on What to Pack & Things to do at the Beach with Kids! Even though they are some of my favorite times, the hard part is thinking what you need to prepare for the trip, what activities can you do with your kids so you can all enjoy this beach vacation. That’s where my tips below will help!

Not only is it a great checklist, it has a few tips on what you might want to tuck into a bag that wouldn’t immediately come to mind when you think about beaches. Some of these will be the usual items you always think of, and others will be new reminders of what might come in handy that you hadn’t thought about. And, with regards to the kids, even though they enjoy playing in the water, sometimes they need other things to occupy their time between swimming sessions.

What to Pack for a Beach Vacation:

Waterproof Sunscreen

No matter what skin tone you have, or how great your tan already is, sunscreen is essential. For protection against not only sunburn but skin cancer later in life slathering on a generous amount of sunscreen from head to toe prior to a beach visit is essential. You’ll find that local swim shops will have higher prices so grab some before you leave home.

Aloe Vera Gel

You’re prepared with sunscreen but you always want to pack some aloe just in case. Inevitably there will be a spot or two that ends up with a bit of burn and aloe is a great way to sooth and help heal the burn. It is also great for moisturizing those little guys and gals whose skin might become chapped due to the wind on the water.

Water Shoes

Sandals and flip flops are common beach wear but we find that water shoes are a better choice for kids and adults when there is much walking to do going back and forth from beach to car. Water shoes protect your feet from rocks, sticks, etc. and are also less likely to slip around if your feet are wet from coming out of the water. Fewer accidents and better support is well worth wearing them.

Extra Towels

Your resort, hotel or condo may have towels for you to use but your own beach towel from home will be preferred. Not only are resort towels often not as large, you will want something you don’t have to worry about returning.

Gel Ice Packs

Although you my have a cooler and ice along for the day to keep your beverages and snacks chilled gel ice packs are a great item to keep in your cooler as well. They help with accidents, sooth sunburns and help keep things colder for longer periods of time.

Extra Bags for Wet Things

Pack some plastic shopping bags or a “wet bag” to be used for wet towels, t-shirts, shorts and swim suits for those car rides from the beach to where you are staying.

Jackets

Sure it will be hot when you are in the sun but evenings are almost always chilly on the beach. The wind and water will cool the air and you’ll find yourself in need of a light weight jacket or fire on the beach to stay warm.

Collapsible Chairs

The sand is fun to sit on but those collapsible chairs that you can haul in little matching bags are a great investment and easy way to stay comfortable while enjoying the sun.

Extra Swimwear

You have that one great suit you love to wear but when you are going to the beach you really need at minimum 2 swimsuits. One to wear while the other is drying.

Hand Sanitizer & Sanitizing Wipes

There aren’t always bathrooms with soap available so going prepared for anything with sanitizer is always a smart move.

Large Brimmed Hat

Nothing shades your face and neck quite like a large brimmed hat. Very important for shade and preventing burn.

Trash Bag

Whether it is the bits of paper left over from lunch or treasures found on the beach a few trash bags are always handy to have when going to the beach.

Loose Lightweight Clothing for Layering

Even though you’ll be in the water most of the time it is nice to have loose lightweight clothing to put on top of your suit when out of the water. It is also helpful to prevent your skin from too much sun exposure.

Sunglasses

Grab cheap sunglasses for everyone in the family. Make sure they have UV protection, but don’t spend a lot on these because they are easily lost or broken and you don’t want to feel bad if that happens.

Waterproof Pouch for Important Documents/Emergency Contacts

Grab a waterproof pouch to keep on hand with a list of emergency contact information, a photograph of everyone in your group and information on where you are staying. It’s important to have this on hand should there be an accident or separation between yourself and your kids.

This is just the beginning of what to pack for a beach vacation, but serves a great starting point and checklist to help you stay on top of things when planning and packing. You don’t want to over pack, but you do want to be fully prepared for everything that might come your way. Remember when traveling with children that more is always best.

Things to do at the Beach with Kids:

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We love hitting the beaches with the kids. These tips are ideal for you whether you are at a lake, the ocean, or even just the local pool. Have fun swimming and enjoying the beach with your children this summer in safety!

Kites

Most beaches are nice and wide open, especially if you pick the least favorite ones in your area. If the beach itself isn’t wide open there is most likely an open space near you where you can fly a kite. You can pick up cheap kites at local dollar stores, but we love the affordable but better quality kites on Amazon. This Octopus Beginner Kite is always a hit, and if you are looking for something a bit more fun grab the dragon kite!

Sports

This can be anything from kicking a ball with the little kids to a game of Football, Volleyball or even kick around a soccer ball with the older kids. Many beaches even have areas designated for volleyball or throwing around a Frisbee.

Clean Up the Beach

Bring a garbage bag with you. Walk the beach and pick up all the trash you find. Picking things up can make your own beach time easier and more fun, but can also help others who visit after you.

Gather Rocks

Take some time to gather some rocks to take home to color or paint. You can then hide them around town for other people to find. You can even check out tips from our friend Katie on Where to Find Beach Glass that will make it even more fun to clean up!

Play Games

If the beach isn’t too crowded you can play games like Simon Says, Red Rover, Pictionary (in the sand), Red Light/Green Light, tic-tac-toe (in the sand), and hopscotch (in the sand). Many of the ‘backyard’ games you played as a kid can be played at the beach.

Sandcastles

Of course, you can’t visit the beach and not make sandcastles. It doesn’t matter if you make a big elaborate castle or a huge mound of sand. Either way, your kids will have a great time and love that you are spending time with them. Take a walk around the beach and find things to decorate your castle with to make it even more fun. Pick up a bag of beach toys with molds and shovels to make this even more fun!

Beach Ball Toss

Bring a beach ball with you and a couple extra beach towels. It takes two kids to hold the towel (one on each of the shorter ends) and they can bounce it back and forth. The point is to not drop the ball on the ground. You can even have them try to go back and forth over a volleyball net.

Put Up a Tent

If you plan to be at the beach all day, you can put a beach tent up. This will provide a cool place for everyone to relax during the day and a spot for the little ones to nap out of the sun. Some beaches allow overnight camping so check the beaches around you to see if that is an option.

Read

Bring a few of your kid’s favorite books and spend some time reading to them while sitting on the beach. We have some great lists of kids book club books as well as some books for bookworm tweens to read that will fit into your day easily!

Water Fight

Bring some super soakers or water guns and have the kids have a water fight on the beach. You could even join them. Water balloons are a great option too, but just make sure you are willing and able to clean up any leftover balloon remnants on the beach afterward!

There are so many things to do at the beach in and out of the water. The beach is a perfect destination to spend a few hours or a whole day. Just because you are on the beach doesn’t mean you are only limited to the water. Use your imagination and have a great time!

More Summer Tips for Kids:

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Tips for Traveling on Holidays

February 4, 2021 Katie Hale 3 Comments

Do you have big plans to travel over a major holiday this year? Here are some great Tips for Traveling on Holidays that will help you whether you are heading out for the Christmas break, or simply on the road for the 4th of July, Mother’s Day or Labor Day. Any holiday on the road can lead to issues with traffic, lodging and time pressures. Here are things you can do to prepare for your next travel excursion over the holidays. The only problem is knowing where to go!

Tips for Traveling on Holidays

Leave Early

If you are a family that has trouble leaving on time, make plans to leave early. Every major holiday has a “rush” time, which means some travel times are busier than others. Leaving when everyone else leaves will not help you get to your destination any faster. Even if you’re not in a hurry, leaving before rush hour traffic hits can help you stay less stressed as you travel. Check the local travel news for not only your area, but the places between you and your destination. Make sure to add some buffer time into your travel schedule so you won’t feel pressed for time on the way.

Know Where You’ll Stop

Although it may be tempting to stop wherever you want on your way, knowing where you’ll stop can help making traveling on the holidays a lot easier. Of course, if you have kids in the car, knowing where you will stop can help everyone keep their sanity during the trip. Check out all of the towns and cities between you and your destination and plan for stops at rest areas, convenience stores, gas stations or restaurants not only to fuel your car and body – but to stretch your legs and get fresh air.

Pack Plenty of Snacks

While traveling on holidays, there’s nothing worse than losing traveling time due to everyone being hungry. Always pack lots of snacks when traveling (holidays or not). Packing easy snacks like pretzels, cheese sticks, crackers, and nuts will make your traveling life a lot easier. Add a small cooler to the backseat with bottled water, juice and other drinks to keep you hydrated and save money on pricey gas station drink purchases.

Pack What Makes Sense

You can follow all of the “rules” for packing, but when it comes to the holidays, pack for what makes sense for your family. Maybe you have two or three dinners to attend over the holiday vacation, don’t be afraid to pack three dress up outfits. You know your family and their individual needs, especially while traveling, so make sure you pack what you need. If you are traveling in your own vehicle and not flying, this is much easier to manage. Don’t worry about what others do – pack what is best for your family.

Understand Things Happen

No matter how many hours you spend planning for the perfect vacation, something will go wrong. This is not a negative mindset, it’s just part of life. When you have an understanding that things don’t always go your way, you can deal with them a little easier. One thing we recommend when traveling is to add at least one buffer day into your schedule before you have to be back at home or work. This makes it easier should something come up. Also have an extra emergency fund available for car repairs, etc. as needed. Investing the roughly $100 a year for AAA Roadside Assistance is another smart option for anyone heading out on a road trip.

These are some of our best tips for traveling on holidays, but there are dozens more things you can do to make it easier on yourself. Most tips when it comes to travel really do depend on how much time you spend preparing. Think ahead and make sure you have everything on hand you could need to make a trip easier on you and your family.

Check out our other favorite travel tips to help you enjoy your time away from home!

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Tips for Camping with Toddlers

February 4, 2021 Stephanie Shields Leave a Comment

Whether you are planning a camping trip for Spring or Summer, here are some Tips for Camping with Toddlers. While it sounds difficult, it really isn’t that bad. In fact, we love taking our toddler with us because the adventures he has reminds me a lot of going camping when I was a kid.

Tips for Camping with Toddlers

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Relax

Easier said than done I know. Keeping an eye on them is important obviously but there is no need to have scheduled activities. Most campgrounds have parks for you to visit and trails for you to hike on. Enjoy the time outdoors and let your little one explore.

Let them be Kids

Camping is all about exploring and being outside. Let them jump in the mud or dig in the sand. There is no better way for them to learn about their surroundings than to immerse themselves in it. Sure, they will get dirty but, what fun is camping without getting just a little bit dirty?

Grab some fun sand castle building tools if you plan to be near the beach, and some bug catchers or other containers to store critters in that they discover on their hikes.

Be Present

Take the time you have while camping to be present with your child. Put your devices away and play with them. Take them on a hike through the woods or, just let them run. We are on our devices way too much while home, this is the time to be present with your toddler and make those memories with them.

Come Prepared

I know this one sounds obvious but, I wanted to remind you that while being prepared to also keep it simple.

While daily meds are a given, I also bring both tylenol and ibuprofen with us as well. Plus, one outfit per day. I also bring 4 extra pairs of pants and socks just in case my toddler gets wet or muddy. I bring a small pencil box with bandaids and neosporin in it in case he falls and scrapes his hands or knees.

When it comes to being prepared that’s about all I bring. I don’t bring much else because the more I have to lug with me the harder it becomes.

Snack

If your toddler is anything like mine, they will pretty much just want to snack the whole time. Snacking isn’t a bad thing. Sometimes, kids even take in more food when they are allowed to snack more frequently instead of just eating meals.

Keep up with your normal meals (with regular mealtimes) and offer them to your toddler. It is likely they will only snack on their food because they are too busy wanting to explore. This means they will be asking for food again shortly.

Keeping healthy snacks like granola bars, rice cakes, and fruit chips ready to grab is helpful. We also have some fun not so healthy snacks as well since it is a vacation.

Naptime

Naptime can be a challenge. Keeping their routine and naptime the same (as much as possible) will help. It may take them longer to fall asleep because they don’t want to miss anything but, be patient with them.

Keep in mind that their naps may also be shorter. This is okay. The fresh air will help them to crash hard at night.

How to Keep Them Busy

There is plenty to do while camping to not need to bring any activities or toys with you. Most campgrounds have a playground to play at and some even have trails to hike. If the campground you go to doesn’t have either of those that is okay too. You can make a scavenger hunt to go on with easy things like “a bird”, “a tent”, and “a red leaf”. Those things are simple for a toddler to find but, will also get them excited to go for a walk around the campground with you.

I do usually pack my iPad and a couple of toys but, those are only pulled out on a rainy day when we would be stuck inside the tent or camper.

Camping with toddlers can be stressful at times because let’s be honest here, being home is just easier. However, getting them out and experiencing new things with them is so much fun. While it does sound stressful it really isn’t all that bad. We loved going camping with kids and now that there is a toddler in the mix it is like it’s all brand new again. Enjoy your time as a family exploring and learning new things.

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Little House On The Prairie Travel Destinations

February 4, 2021 Katie Hale 1 Comment

I grew up reading Little House On The Prairie and watching the TV show and movies, so these Little House On The Prairie Travel Destinations are definitely on my must see travel list. I have gone to visit her final home in Missouri once as a teenager, but would love to go back again. While my son who is 7 loves to read, he just hasn’t gotten into this series like I had hoped. Maybe over the next year or so I can get him started on them and we can make the rest of these a fun place to visit.

Little House On The Prairie Travel Destinations

The Laura Ingalls Wilder series of books, featuring Little House on the Prairie, is a priceless collection and constant source of inspiration and lessons for children and adults. From Wisconsin to South Dakota and Missouri, there is a destination for everyone and every type of vacation. I love how so many of these locations are great for teaching history of the state as well!

Little House on the Prairie Site

This destination is only open to visitors from March to October, so plan for a spring to summertime visit. The home museum is a historical site in Independence, Kansas, which is also filled with historic buildings that are fun to explore. Plan for the annual Prairie Days Festival where you can watch Little House on the Prairie reenactments and try out prairie activities. For more information about this landmark, a well as the area you can check out the Independence, Kansas Chamber of Commerce website.

Life in De Smet, South Dakota

While it was not the famous house on the prairie, De Smet was the location of five books in the series, including where Laura began her married life. When the Ingalls family arrived in De Smet, it was little more than a couple buildings in the middle of nowhere. Guided tours of the two original homes are available, and then spend some time in the Discover Laura Center. The one room schoolroom where Laura went to school is another great spot for children to learn and explore.

Mansfield, Missouri

Mansfield, Missouri is the town where Almanzo and Laura decided to build a home and life, and where Laura wrote her books. The historic site consists of both houses and museum, with more memorabilia than you will find anywhere else. Like Independence, Mansfield has a festival, Wilder Days, to celebrate the famous resident. When I visited this home, I was surprised to find it so small, but also all of the counter so low to the ground. Laura was a very short woman and the house was built for her own personal comfort. Tons of great books, cookbooks and souvenirs in the gift shop will be a great treat to browse.

Little House on the Prairie Manuscript

If you are on the east coast and want to see the manuscript for yourself, its on display at the Pomona Library in California. There is a room where the book is kept, called the Laura Ingalls Wilder Room and guests can read sections of the book on microfilm after viewing the book where it is preserved under glass. The handwritten manuscript was given to Pomona librarian, Clara Webber, by Laura for the children’s room on its dedication.

Off the Beaten Path

Most Laura fans don’t realize that Laura actually spent some time in and lived in Florida. So if you are near Westville, Florida, stop the Congregational Church in town to visit the cemetery where Laura’s family was buried after she and Almanzo left.

If you are a fan of this author and the books like I have been for so many years, these Little House On The Prairie Travel Destinations will be perfect to include in your next family vacation.

Check out some of our other travel destinations and tips!

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Christmas Traditions For The Christian Family

February 4, 2021 Katie Hale 1 Comment

Christmas time is almost here, and I am excited to share some Christmas traditions for the Christian family to celebrate together! If you’re a Christian family looking for new family traditions for the holidays, I wanted to share some of our favorite with you this year. Remember there’s no right or wrong when it comes to traditions for your family! Here are some of ours. These aren’t just for religious families, but since they are more affiliated with church and religion some who are secular may not want to add these to their traditions. Regardless of your belief, anyone can enjoy these great traditions with their family this year!

Christmas Traditions For The Christian Family

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Reading the Christmas Story

Every Christmas Eve, our family sits down while my husband reads our family the Christmas story. Not the story about Santa Clause, but the story about Jesus. The part where Mary gives birth to Jesus and the Wise Men go to visit Jesus as a baby. We try not to commercialize Christmas and want our kids to know the true meaning of Christmas. Another great option is to read Max Lucado’s book The Crippled Lamb. It’s a beautiful holiday story that helps your kids understand more about the love and compassion of the season.

Good Deeds

There are so many people who feel as though they are less fortunate around the holidays, which is why we like to reach out. We don’t necessarily plan anything, but just do random acts of kindness. It’s really neat to see how we can bless others in the name of Jesus. Whether it is buying a meal for the person in line behind you at a restaurant, or going to a local shelter and donating your time or needed supplies, giving back to those around you is a great way to show Christ during the holiday season. Remember it’s not about praise for yourself, but about helping others know that they are loved and cared for.

Putting Up the Nativity

In the world that focuses less and less on Jesus around Christmas time, it’s important to our family to put up the nativity set. We do this as a family and talk about each member of the Nativity Set. It’s really neat to have this out during the holiday season to remember the reason for the season. We love the Willow Tree Nativity set, but there are so many simple and creative choices out there. From nativities that are classic to the ones that feature our favorite characters, it’s fun to have at least one out during the holidays.

Christmas Music

We listen to REAL Christmas music. The music where the mention Jesus and talk about the Christmas story. We love hearing about the life of Jesus through music. Of course, we’re not opposed to the other music, we love it too! My husband has to get on me for listening to Christmas music far too early in the season (he’s just teasing of course)!

What are some Christmas traditions your family gets into around the holidays?

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