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Travel with Kids

Tips for Taking a Trip With the Family to the Hoover Dam

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The Hoover Dam is a spectacle of engineering and a breathtaking sight to behold. Nestled between the borders of Nevada and Arizona, this monumental structure is a popular destination for family vacations. Naturally, as a parent, you would like to take your kids to see this landmark. But before you go, review these tips for taking a trip with the family to the Hoover Dam to ensure everyone has a fun, comfortable, and safe experience.

Dress Appropriately for the Weather

The Hoover Dam is a must-see destination, but the weather around it isn’t always so agreeable. It can range from scorching hot temperatures in the summer to chillier in the winter. Therefore, it’s essential to check the local weather forecast before embarking on your trip and dress the entire family accordingly.

In the heat, breathable, light-colored clothing and wide-brimmed hats are ideal. For cooler months, layering is key, so be sure to pack some jackets and sweaters for everyone.

Take Water With You

The Nevada and Arizona deserts have dry conditions, and dehydration can be a significant concern, especially for young children. Remember to keep the family well-hydrated on your trip to the Hoover Dam by bringing plenty of water for everyone. Opt for insulated water bottles to keep your drinks refreshingly cool during the hot summer months, and encourage your kids to drink regularly throughout the day.

Wear Comfortable Shoes

Visiting the Hoover Dam often involves a fair amount of walking. Having comfortable, supportive footwear for the whole family is crucial for avoiding sore and tired feet. Choose sneakers or hiking shoes with good traction, and avoid sandals or flip-flops, as they don’t provide enough support.

Make Sure to Use Sunscreen

Direct exposure to the sun is a hazard, particularly in desert landscapes. You won’t find much cover at the dam, so protect yourself and your family from harmful UV rays by applying a high-SPF sunscreen. Sunglasses will also help protect your eyes from sun glare, and it might be a good idea to bring sun protection for your children’s delicate skin, such as rash guards or sun hats.

Leave Your Pets at Home

While exploring the Hoover Dam with your furry companions may seem like a fun idea, the landmark doesn’t allow pets, except for service animals. You’ll have to leave Fido at home for this one.

Following these tips can make your family’s trip a more enjoyable and enriching experience. When you plan your visit with these precautions in mind, you will guarantee a better trip for your kids, who someday may want to take their own children to see the Hoover Dam.

What You Need To Consider Before Overlanding With Family

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Spending time with the family as you venture out into the world creates great memories to share later. But before you hit the road and stray from the beaten path, there are some parts of your journey to consider. Read on to learn what to consider before overlanding with your family and make a great family trip into the wilderness.

The Weather

One of the most crucial parts of any overlanding trip is the forecast. Consider the weather you and your family will experience on the trip and determine what you need to prepare for it. Thunderstorms may cause slick mud, which presents risks of sliding on steep grades or getting stuck.

Heat waves may tucker out the kids and increase the chance of heat stroke if you have inadequate hydration or cooling methods. Look ahead at the forecast to avoid storms or dangerous weather. Mother Nature is unpredictable, but having a better idea of what the meteorologist foresees will increase your chances of having a decent trip with your loved ones.

Packing

Depending on the size of your family, packing may be a tricky objective. Storing numerous bags, food, and people in one vehicle may be a challenge, and it’s an important part to consider before overlanding with family. You’ll have an easier time packing if you have a larger, more reliable vehicle like a camper, van, or SUV.

For example, a number of overlanding upgrades for your VW SUV can help with cargo considerations, such as a rear-mounted cargo carrier. Add a makeshift storage shelf that increases carrying capacity and organization with an extra storage level.

Roof racks will also help you carry more items on top of the vehicle and save elbow room for the family inside. Consider every way to utilize space in the vehicle for an easier time packing and transporting cargo.

Your Route

Although overlanding is about exploring, you still need to have a route for the journey. There are a finite number of paths available when you go off-roading. These paths are marked on other maps by overlanders who’ve charted them.

Choose the best routes for your family overlanding trip that provide a clear way into uncharted areas and back home. Do your best to stay near the path as you test new paths and chart new courses for other overlanders.

It’s always a great feeling to get outdoors with your family, and exploring the world is an excellent journey the kids will love. Consider these parts of your overlanding journey and keep everyone safe and ready for adventure.

Flying With Children: The Ultimate Guide to Less Stressful Flights With Kids

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Going on vacation with your kids is an unforgettable experience that will always have a special place in your heart. The flight to your vacation may not, however. It’s hard enough to watch over kids when you’re in familiar territory. A stressful flight where you’re on edge and agitated is the worst possible environment to have to take care of your kids and stop them from causing problems. Luckily, there are lots of things that can help you keep your kids close and enjoy a stress-free flight with your partner. Here are some of the most practical examples.

Have an extra seat ready

Children should always have their own seat on a flight. Airlines allow parents to take their kids without one if they’re under two years old, but that shouldn’t stop you from considering one. Having an extra seat is very much worth the money. Even if your baby is well-behaved, you can expect it to be a very uncomfortable flight if they don’t have their own seat.

Carrying your baby can significantly impact your comfort. As we all know, aeroplane seats aren’t the most comfortable or spacious seating options. They’re usually crammed too tight for anyone to actually enjoy their flight. Add a baby to the equation and you have a recipe for a very, very long flight. Even a couple of hours are going to seem like a nightmare with a child in your lap the whole time.

If you find yourself on a flight without booking an extra seat, you could always ask if the plane has a spare one that has gone unused. It’s a very unlikely scenario, but you’re going to be grateful if they actually do find one. Be sure that if you bring a child without booking the seat, you’re probably not going to make this mistake twice.

Carefully time your flight

You should think twice before deciding when to book tickets for your flight. A specific time might seem like a brilliant idea until you actually step on the plane. A 6 AM departure seems very attractive when you’re going on vacation. You’re going to maximize the time spent somewhere else and you don’t have to worry about missing a single crucial hour. However, the plan could backfire before you even reach your destination.

Imagine the stress of getting everyone to the airport before the plane leaves. It’s hard enough getting your baby to cooperate in the middle of the day. When you wake it up early and take it to a new and stressful environment, there will inevitably be some level of annoyance.

Another thing to consider is whether or not it’s the peak time for the airport. If you’re travelling exactly when everyone else is, you’re going to go through some very big and loud crowds. Not to mention, the chances of finding a spare seat or several connected seats for your family are going to be slim. Going on off-days is a much better option, as it reduces the chances of any disturbances for you and your child. Pick an evening route for your flight. Your child will be getting ready to take a nap and getting a nice and comfortable seat is going to help get it snoozing in no time.

Remember that it’s all about location

They say that the journey is more important than the destination. Nowhere is this more apparent than a flight with your family. How you spend the flight can have a big influence on your entire trip. If your seats aren’t in an optimal location, you could end up with more problems than you can count.

Aisle seats are always preferable when you’re travelling with a child. No matter their age, you will want to be able to get up out of your seat as soon as possible when disaster strikes. Babies will often have accidents and make messes and you’ll have to take care of them in the bathroom. If your child suddenly starts vomiting, it would help if you weren’t caught in the middle seat of an aeroplane row. It could be uncomfortable for both you and the passengers around you. Reacting fast and going to the bathroom is crucial. If you have an aisle seat, this is made much easier.

However, even if you’re placed next to the aisle, it’s not going to help much if you’re too far away from the bathroom. It’s just going to make the trip less packed with people, but a mess can still occur. Because of this, you’re going to have to aim to be closer to the bathroom. Look at the seating plan for the plane and ask the airport for tickets to a closer seat.

The ideal spot to be would be the bulkhead. It’s close to everything you might need, and it has a little more legroom for everyone. Ask the flight attendants if you could have the spot if it happens to be free. Alternatively, just book the seats in advance, although it might cost you a few dollars more.

Find fun ways to make transit go faster

When you’re outside of the plane, you should take this opportunity to have some fun with your kids. Encourage them to run around the area you’re in. If there are any stairs or escalators, the kids probably won’t get enough of them. If you’re lucky, they’ll just have fun speeding through the transit area at full speed.

This helps tire them out before you board the plane. If they burn out all their energy before hopping on the plane, you’ll have a much easier time dealing with the kids. If you’re particularly lucky, the airport will have a play area for kids. Here, they can jump and play around to their heart’s content. Plus, it makes your job a lot easier when watching over them. They’re unlikely to leave the play area, as it has all the fun things that they need.

Take turns watching the kids

If you and your better half are both on the flight, you should do your best to split the work fifty-fifty. It’s hard enough taking care of the kids at home, but it’s an even harder task when you’re under-slept and thousands of meters in the air. Because of this, you have to minimize the negative impact of having to take care of the kids. If it’s going to be a long flight, it’s best if you work in shifts.

This isn’t too difficult to pull off. As long as you can find comfortable ways to rest while your partner takes care of the child, you’re going to have a much nicer flight. While they’re watching over your little bundle of joy, you could be half-way to dreamland with a comfortable neck massager around your neck. Take your earplugs, put on an audiobook, and you’ll drift into sleep quickly and without issues. After you’ve slept a couple of hours, you’ll be alert and ready to take over the parenting responsibilities on the plane.

While it’s your turn, make sure you respect the shift time. This also goes for overexerting yourself. It won’t help if you decide to spend extra hours with your child just to spare your partner the trouble. Your rest is as beneficial for the child as it is for you. You need to be relaxed and awake while taking care of them, and that requires a bit of rest to maintain.

If you manage to coordinate yourselves properly, you’ll find that the flight will become much more tolerable and enjoyable. Plus, you’ll also be a lot more refreshed and ready to tackle getting off of the plane and getting to your vacation arrangements.

Avoid the temptation of alcohol

Flights are an ideal opportunity for some light and casual drinking. If your kids are fast asleep and you believe you’re in the clear, it can be tempting to have a glass of wine or two. A bit of alcohol can calm your nerves and relax you before the journey gets too stressful. Plus, who doesn’t want to relax while high up in the sky with a drink in their hand? Parents is the correct answer.

You need to keep your stamina throughout the flight. If it’s soon going to be your turn for watching the child, you should be sober and completely attentive. Meanwhile, make sure you’re not caught up in any in-flight cinema. Watching a good movie is fine, but you have other things to worry about. You shouldn’t let distractions get the best of you.

Conclusion

A long flight with your spouse and kids doesn’t have to be a terrifying and stressful experience. You can just as easily make it a lighthearted trip with minimal issues. The trick is to find a balance between relaxing and taking care of your kids. If you’re still stumped about how to do this, you could take a look at some of these tips and take them to heart. It’s going to make your trip a lot easier.