TRAVEL WITH KIDS – TIPS AND IDEAS

Travel With Kids

Find tips and information about traveling with children. Help make a long road trip with kids less stressful for you and more fun for the them.

1. Have patience: Try to relax and make the travel a fun part of your trip. Take the long ride as an opportunity to spend quality time with your little ones. Give them lots of attention, play games, tell them stories and by the time you're ready to come home they'll be talking about the "best trip ever!"
2. Capture the memories - Buy each child an inexpensive disposable camera so they can take pictures. Your kids will really feel special when they can snap their own photos. They'll also love the resulting photos they can later use in a memory book of the trip.
3. Bag-O-Fun - Prepare individual bags filled goodies, but don't let your kids look inside until you're on the road. They'll enjoy having their own personal items and will gladly spend hours with their snacks, games and crafts. Here's a quick list of items you can include in the bag, but get creative and consider each child's personality and hobbies. Favorite snacks, Books, Pad of paper, Coloring supplies, Pipe cleaners, Stickers, Games, Deck of cards, Puzzles, Brochures about your destination
4. Don't forget to play - Take the time to plan fun and creative games that can be played while you are traveling. Your children will have a blast and the time will fly by.
5. Vacation scrapbook - Buy an inexpensive journal or notebook and encourage the kids to create a vacation scrapbook. Show them how to attach photos, tickets stubs, brochures, etc. from the places they visit. By the time the trip is over they'll have a great book of memories to go with the ones they'll always remember.
6. Never enough snacks - Snacks are a good way to get children through times when they need to sit still or just aren't behaving (boarding a plane, for example). Snacks also help break up the monotony of a long road trip. The trick here is to be sure you don't give them out too fast. Pack snacks that are convenient and interesting to your children. Gummi Bears or fruit snacks top the list of quick and handy snacks for small children. For road trips, pack pretzels, potato chips or fruit. For younger children bring along sippy cups and don't forget wipes, napkins and small trash bags.
7. Games and crafts - If you plan properly, you can add a number of games and crafts that will be interesting to your children. Bring a small serving tray or box with low sides. Your child can use this as his or her own personal workspace to make simple crafts such as pictures, puzzles or even Play-Doh. An excellent game for young children is MagnaDoodle. It's simple magnet drawings can be easily erased and small children have no problem scrawling pictures on it. You can even take turns drawing interesting little pictures with your child and each trying to guess what the other one is drawing.
8. Be the DJ - One of the most common things to pass the time on trips is listening to music. Be sure to bring selections your children will enjoy. You can also bring along CDs with children's stories or other educational material that your child may be interested in, just to mix it up a bit.
9. Potty time - It may sound obvious, but make sure you always have your children go to the bathroom before you leave--even if they tell you they don't have to. Also, when taking long road trips with younger children, have them wear pull-ups while riding in the car.
10. Dollar store bonanza - Make sure you visit the dollar store before your trip. You'll be able to find a bunch of cheap toys, supplies and many things that are fun as you travel with kids. You can even make a grab bag and reward your children for their good behavior. Let them draw for a prize every 50 miles or so on long road trips. This will add variety to the trip and give them something new to do in the meantime.

4 Places to Look for Pokémon in Fairfax

1. Parks

Fairfax County's parks are a great spot to look for those magical little creatures. We've heard Pokémon have been spotted at parks including Huntley Meadows, Burke Lake, Great Falls Park (see photo), Lake Newport, Ellanor C. Lawrence Park and many others. Gardens are another great place to search: Green Spring Gardens has a gym, a number of PokéStops and yes, stunning flora beyond the phone screens. River Farm, a former farm owned by George Washington with beautiful gardens, invites players to come #catchemall and then stay for a self-guided tour and a glass of lemonade. And for a different kind of park, swing by Roer's Zoofari to look for water Pokémon and a stock up at the PokéStop.

2. Shopping Centers

Shopping centers are major pedestrian zones, so it makes sense that Pokémon have congregated here. Many a sighting has occurred at Tysons Corner Center, Reston Town Center, and Mosaic District. Be on the lookout for lures, PokéStops, gyms and Pokémon. Others have been spotted at Fairfax Corner (see photo) and the various smaller shopping plazas around the county. Shopping areas may also be great places to connect with other players and make new friends!

3. Historic Sites

Yes, it's true! Even Pokémon like to soak up some history. George Washington's Mount Vernon had some unexpected visitors recently (see photo to right). Also, the National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center - home to the Space Shuttle Discovery and the fastest jet in the world, the Blackbird SR-71 - has free parking after 4pm, which may be a great time to explore this site. Players can also look at Ox Hill Battlefield Park, a major Civil War site in Fairfax. In nearby Washington, DC, you may find Pokémon at places like the Smithsonian National Zoo, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, and the National Mall.

4. Music Venues

Wolf Trap - the nation's only National Park for the Performing Arts - has seen a few new patrons after a Pokémon was spotted hanging out with its mascot, Wolfie (see photo). The George Mason University campus, located in Fairfax and home to the EagleBank Arena and the Center for the Arts, has been reported to have dozens of PokéStops, a gym and a variety of Pokémon.

Washington DC Pokémon Go Tips

Become the Very Best in Washington, DC

From where to capture Pokémon to finding your local gym, here’s what you need to know

Since launching this July, the mobile game Pokémon Go has become a viral sensation, and that couldn’t be more true anywhere than in the nation’s capital. As one of the most walkable cities in the U.S., Washington, DC is primed for the free-to-download, augmented reality game in which users stroll the streets in search of capturing adorable Pokémon or battling to control the various gyms scattered throughout the city.

The National Mall is crawling with the adorable digital critters (plus lots of trainers looking to add to their collections), and you’ll also find more Pokémon inside restaurants, museums and other attractions around the city. Get a leg up on the competition and follow these tips when playing Pokémon Go in Washington, DC.

1. Go to the National Mall to capture Pokémon

There’s no better place in the city to find your favorite type of Pokémon than on the National Mall. With 150 different characters to add to your Pokédex, you “gotta catch ‘em all.” Collect as many as you can so you can transfer them to Professor Willow, and level up in no time.

2. Gather all your Pokémon supplies at various Pokéstops throughout the city

In order to be the best, you need to collect Pokéballs, potions and eggs. You’ll discover various Pokéstops to do just that on almost every block throughout DC, including well-known attractions, like the International Spy Museum, to lesser-known spots.

3. Become a Washington, DC expert

As you visit Pokéstops and gyms throughout the city, you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about Washington, DC. Make sure you read the descriptions at each Pokéstop to find out about local history and culture in our nation’s capital. Some of the coolest Pokéstops where you can grow your DC knowledge are Neighborhood Heritage Trails. And, per usual, make sure to continue catching Pokémon along the way.

4. Get out, walk around and hatch your eggs

As any trainer knows, the more you walk, the quicker your eggs will hatch. Considering Washington, DC was recently named the second most walkable city in the nation, reducing that incubation time should come easy. Get walking and your eggs will hatch in no time. Here are 10 popular spots to walk and run in DC.

5. Level your Pokémon up and get ready to battle at gyms, found at many major attractions

At level 5, it’s time to pick your team: Team Valor (Red), Team Mystic (Blue) or Team Instinct (Yellow). Once you’ve decided on your faction, then head to the nearest gym to take control of DC. Some popular gyms to include the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, the Verizon Center and the White House. Happy battling.

Alright, now you’re ready to dominate DC in Pokémon Go. Remember to be safe. Look up from your phone when crossing streets and walking on sidewalks, respect local businesses and be on the lookout for other trainers.

Summer Vacation Travel Hacks

When you pack a suitcase, wrap your shoes in a shower cap.

This will prevent the soles from touching your clean clothes.

Call your credit or debit card company before traveling internationally so that you’re authorized for vacation purchases.

The last thing you want is to be reported for suspicious activity and not have access to your money.

Store your loose cables/chargers in an old sunglasses case to keep everything in one place.

Bring an empty water bottle to the airport and refill it after you pass security.

 

That way you can drink H2O without having to spend a fortune.

Enable private browsing when searching or booking flights online.

 

Travel sites often track visits and will increase your price based on search history. You can also clear your cache.

Put your bobby pins in a Tic Tac container to keep from losing them.

You can also do this with toothpicks if need be.

If you forget the wall plug-in for your phone charger, check the back of your hotel TV. There’s usually a USB port.

Stick a dryer sheet in your suitcase with your clothes to keep them smelling fresh.

 

When you’re driving in a new city and need to remember where you parked, drop a pin on Google Maps or take a picture of the parking space with your phone.

 

Just hold down on the location and a pin will appear.

Turn a pot holder into a case for your flat iron so you can pack it even while it’s still warm.

Scan your passport, ID, and itinerary and email it to yourself so you have a digital copy in the event of loss or theft.

Safe travels!

 

 

Money Saving Hacks for Visiting DC

Washington, DC can be an expensive city to visit. However, your trip to the nation’s capital doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. There are many ways to save money, and many free resources to utilize. Here are some of our favorite budget travel tricks:

• Invest in a SmarTrip Metro Card – Using a SmarTrip (the plastic metro card) rather than a paper card saves guests $1 per metro ride. The card costs $10 to purchase, though $5 of that is add to your SmarTrip balance and is thus used toward impending rides. Assuming you plan to use the metro more than 5 times, this is a huge money saver as paper cards charge guests an additional $1 for every ride. SmarTrip cards are less likely to be lost, and can make for a nice souvenir if not saved for a future trip to DC. 
• Explore the National Gallery of Art with a docent led tour – Though not a Smithsonian, the National Gallery of Art is a fantastic art museum that is completely free of charge. Because of the breadth of work that is featured, the National Gallery of Art can be a bit overwhelming for some. Fortunately however, the museum offers free, docent led tours of different types of art throughout the day. Reservations are not required; guests must simply arrive at the start of the tour!  
• Dine at the Department of Agriculture – Though the Smithsonian Institute is a fantastic free resource, the price of dining at any of the museums is out of budget for many visitors. The Department of Agriculture’s cafeteria is a nearby and much more affordable option for those looking to save a few bucks on lunch. The entrance to the cafeteria is on C St. SW, just off the corner of 12th Street. It is opened to the public Monday-Friday for lunch, and all that is required is that adults present a form of ID upon entering. 
  
• Take a “name your own price” walking tour of Arlington National Cemetery – No trip to DC is complete without a visit to Arlington National Cemetery. If the tram is out of your budget, consider taking a walking tour of the hallowed grounds. DC By Foot offers a number of “name your own price” walking tours around the city, and guests are only asked to tip what they thought the tour was worth. 
• Utilize Capital Bikeshare – With over 200 stands around the city, this is an affordable (and super convenient!) way to get around the city. Visitors can choose between 1 ($7) or 3 day ($15) membership. Just be careful to note that those memberships do not mean that you have access to one bike for that entire time. Guests are expected to drop their bike at a station within 30 minutes of removing it in order to avoid additional fees. However, every time a guest picks up a new bike, their time restarts. Because DC is so small and there are so many stations around the city, it is very easy to avoid the additional fees! 
• See a free film on the National Mall – If you are visiting DC during the summer months, consider going to Screen on the Green. Throughout the season, a number of films are shown on the National Mall for free. For a full list of the films and a calendar of when they will be featured, check out Screen on the Green’s website. 
  
• Take advantage of DC’s immense selection of free museums – DC is famed for its huge variety of free museums. All of the Smithsonian museums — including the National Zoo — are free of charge, and 10 of those are located directly on the National Mall. Though not museums, the National Archives and Library of Congress are also free to the public and well worth a visit. Other free museums include the National Gallery of Art, African American Civil War Museum, Anacostia Community Museum, DAR Museum, Ford’s Theater and Peterson Boarding House, and the Holocaust Museum.

ARE WE THERE YET? Travel Hacks on the Road

How do you solve for the "Are we there yet?" question on a road trip? Check out these road trip travel hacks from Teresa Strasser, the Best Western Family Travel Expert!

6 Easy Tips for Eco-Friendly Travel

We all have the power to make Earth-friendly decisions in our everyday lives, even when we are on the road! Small steps can make a big impact, so try following these simple steps the next time you travel:

WHILE PACKING
 
Bring Your Reusable Water Bottle: According to The Water Project, more than two million TONS of plastic water bottles are sitting in U.S. landfills. Not only can bottled water be wasteful, it can also be expensive! Save money and the planet when you travel by packing a petite reusable bottle from home, or investing in one like the Kleen Kanteen.
 
Use Refillable Toiletry Bottles: The original “Dopp kit” was developed in 1919 by famed leather goods designer Charles Doppelt. Though we still use similar cases to carry our toiletries today, we can cut down on waste by utilizing refillable toiletry bottles when you pack. For the true travel utilitarian, pick up a bottle of Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Castille Soap. This powerful yet gentle (and organic!) multitasker replaces shampoo, face wash, body wash, shaving cream and even TOOTHPASTE while you travel!

AT THE HOTEL 

Book an Eco-Rated Hotel: Best Western was the first mid-scale hotel chain to partner with ENERGY STAR® to help provide resources and tools to reduce energy consumption to their more than 4,000 hotels worldwide. You can make informed decisions when selecting your hotel by checking to see if the hotel has been green certified by an eco-rating program. Best Western certified green hotels are designated with a special icon on bestwestern.com.

Dictate Your Housekeeping Habits: According the Environmental Protection Agency, hotels make up more than 15 percent of the total water use in the commercial sector. You can help reduce that number by choosing to have the hotel housekeeping staff simply remake the bed instead of changing the sheets each night. You don’t change your sheets each night at home, why do you need them changed each night while traveling? Remember to hang up damp towels to dry instead of replacing them each day, too.

AROUND TOWN
 
Pick Public or Self Transportation: Whether you’re traveling for business or leisure, exploring your destination is always the highlight of a trip. If you’re in a big city, get around like the locals and use public transportation. You will cut down on both emissions and costs. And when in doubt; walk it out! Exploring a new destination on foot is a great way to discover hidden gems and neighborhoods while keeping your carbon footprint to a minimum.

Be a Nature Conservator: Remember your trip with photos and leave the environment as you found it. You can be a nature conservator by leaving plants and natural objects in place when you visit the mountains, parks and beaches. For the truly outdoorsy, try a field-guide app like Leafsnap to learn about the natural world in your new surroundings.

With a little planning and some thought, you can make smart environmental decisions part of all your travels.