As much as you can, build some type of action into your family vacation. You don't necessarily have to be active while your child is. Let them play on the monkey bars, the water park, the trampoline, or even just running down the dock and back.
En route to your destination while driving, make restroom, gasoline, and meal breaks time to exercise and stretch.
Adults tend to focus more on the things to do, schedules to keep, and lists to check off. Kids, on the other hand, more enjoys doing the activity rather than mastering or completing it.
After an event, or at the end of the day, talk about the experiences as a sort of debriefing. Ask what was seen and done. Ask what was liked best. Even ask imaginative questions, such as "Would you like to live in a place like that?"
Nothing goes completely right all the time, so you have to use the conflicts as opportunities. You have to establish rules (such as kids can have input, but parents make the final decision), take a time out for a few minutes before a rational debate. You can always debrief this incident later, too!
Don't forget to bring your manners with you too. Even in new situations, such as a formal dinner event, classical concert, or theatrical performance, be sure to prepare your child for the new experience, and inform him how to act and behave. And, certainly, treat your hotel room as if it were your own home, not leaving messes all over the place.
Safety precautions could include a meeting location in case someone gets lost, holding hands to stay together, and the phone number of your hotel.
Take along a few family items, such as favourite music, photographs, pillow/blanket, or night light.
Since traveling together as a family unit is often more constraining than it usually is at home, make sure to give everyone a little space and privacy when it's necessary.
So, when you're ready to go on an exciting family vacation, make sure to book it as a family, and find all the information you will need at www.kingarthur.myttn.com !
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Family Travel Hints, Part A
Stay on a Schedule
Stay as close to your normal sleeping and waking hours as possible. It might only be going from 7:00am to 5:30am, but that will make everyone react differently. Take some time at the end of your day's activities to wind down, not go straight to bed. Nap times are also important, especially if they are a part of your child's normal routine.
Child-made Decisions
Give your child reasonable choices to make throughout your vacation. Perhaps the option of swimming or playing in the park. Also, your child will really enjoy picking out, or at least having some say in picking out, your actual vacation destination, such as a campground, beach, or city.
Personal Travel Bags
They can be used for souvenirs, memorabilia, snacks, toys, books, sunglasses, or other personal items. Whatever kind of bag it s, it should have a closure so nothing can fall out. Pack it early, for sure.
Limiting Daily Activities
Just a couple of unusual events per day should be sufficient.
Stay Within Your Budget
Set daily limits on what you will spend, but if you happen to go over one day, be sure to cut back that much on the next day's activities. Never promise to your children an event or destination, because you might not be able to fulfill that promise due to cost concerns. Here's a good thought: put aside some extra money for emergencies, but if you don't use it, have one last surprise fling on your last day or night!
Phone Home
Every few days, check with the house sitter and answering machine. Call your office and friends, when you feel the need, too.
Something For Everyone
You don't have to do all activities as a group, but each family member should have something special as an event of his own. Split up and do something each portion of the group would like, if you have to.
Don't Over-expect
Instead, downplay and understate the vacation. Don't say it's going to be awful, of course, but don't say it will be the best one ever, either. Even make fun of the dud event of the vacation, the one that just didn't turn out right, or well, at all.
Make sure to book your exciting travel at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!
Stay as close to your normal sleeping and waking hours as possible. It might only be going from 7:00am to 5:30am, but that will make everyone react differently. Take some time at the end of your day's activities to wind down, not go straight to bed. Nap times are also important, especially if they are a part of your child's normal routine.
Child-made Decisions
Give your child reasonable choices to make throughout your vacation. Perhaps the option of swimming or playing in the park. Also, your child will really enjoy picking out, or at least having some say in picking out, your actual vacation destination, such as a campground, beach, or city.
Personal Travel Bags
They can be used for souvenirs, memorabilia, snacks, toys, books, sunglasses, or other personal items. Whatever kind of bag it s, it should have a closure so nothing can fall out. Pack it early, for sure.
Limiting Daily Activities
Just a couple of unusual events per day should be sufficient.
Stay Within Your Budget
Set daily limits on what you will spend, but if you happen to go over one day, be sure to cut back that much on the next day's activities. Never promise to your children an event or destination, because you might not be able to fulfill that promise due to cost concerns. Here's a good thought: put aside some extra money for emergencies, but if you don't use it, have one last surprise fling on your last day or night!
Phone Home
Every few days, check with the house sitter and answering machine. Call your office and friends, when you feel the need, too.
Something For Everyone
You don't have to do all activities as a group, but each family member should have something special as an event of his own. Split up and do something each portion of the group would like, if you have to.
Don't Over-expect
Instead, downplay and understate the vacation. Don't say it's going to be awful, of course, but don't say it will be the best one ever, either. Even make fun of the dud event of the vacation, the one that just didn't turn out right, or well, at all.
Make sure to book your exciting travel at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Oasis of the Seas, an Evaluation
In the order of Royal Caribbean's Guest Satisfaction Survey, here are my grades for various parts and functions of the ship and it's related shipboard lifestyle.
Dining Rooms
Food, overall, 90
Selection, 83
Service, 83
Windjammer Marketplace, buffet
Food, overall, 84
Selection, 89
Service, 86
Other complimentary restaurants/eateries not listed in the survey, 88
Specialty Dining
Chops Grille, 88
Giovanni's Table, 85
Accommodations
Stateroom Attendant, 82
Stateroom Accommodations, 84
Stateroom Cleanliness, 94
Room Service, 74
Ship Overall Appearance, 85
Ship Overall Cleanliness, 80
Entertainment/Activities
Cruise Director and Staff, 76
Ice Show, 88
Live Music, 80
Disco, 74
Hairspray, 91
Come Fly With Me, 86
Splish Splash Aqua Show, 82
Oasis of Dreams Aqua Show, 86
Activities, overall, 82
Quality of Activities, 78
Variety of Activities, 79
Sports Deck, 85
General
Guest Services Staff, 83
Itinerary/Ports of Call, western Caribbean, 85
Labadee Staff Friendliness, 77
Photographer's Service, 80
Shops Onboard Service, 82
Shops Onboard Merchandise, 83
Art Actually, 81
Fitness Center Experience, 88
Interactive TV, 78
Pier Check In Experience, 88
Pier Check In Friendliness, 86
Now, for the most important figures:
Dining Experience, overall, 78
Helpfulness of Personnel, 80
Friendless of Personnel, 83
Value for Price Paid, 85 (If we all say that it was bad, would we get it for a few hundred dollars cheaper? ;))
Overall Vacation Experience, 80
Dining Rooms
Food, overall, 90
Selection, 83
Service, 83
Windjammer Marketplace, buffet
Food, overall, 84
Selection, 89
Service, 86
Other complimentary restaurants/eateries not listed in the survey, 88
Specialty Dining
Chops Grille, 88
Giovanni's Table, 85
Accommodations
Stateroom Attendant, 82
Stateroom Accommodations, 84
Stateroom Cleanliness, 94
Room Service, 74
Ship Overall Appearance, 85
Ship Overall Cleanliness, 80
Entertainment/Activities
Cruise Director and Staff, 76
Ice Show, 88
Live Music, 80
Disco, 74
Hairspray, 91
Come Fly With Me, 86
Splish Splash Aqua Show, 82
Oasis of Dreams Aqua Show, 86
Activities, overall, 82
Quality of Activities, 78
Variety of Activities, 79
Sports Deck, 85
General
Guest Services Staff, 83
Itinerary/Ports of Call, western Caribbean, 85
Labadee Staff Friendliness, 77
Photographer's Service, 80
Shops Onboard Service, 82
Shops Onboard Merchandise, 83
Art Actually, 81
Fitness Center Experience, 88
Interactive TV, 78
Pier Check In Experience, 88
Pier Check In Friendliness, 86
Now, for the most important figures:
Dining Experience, overall, 78
Helpfulness of Personnel, 80
Friendless of Personnel, 83
Value for Price Paid, 85 (If we all say that it was bad, would we get it for a few hundred dollars cheaper? ;))
Overall Vacation Experience, 80
Friday, June 10, 2011
Extreme State Facts
First State: Delaware, which became a state on December 7, 1787
Most Recent State: Hawaii, admitted in 1959
Most Populous State: California, 33,871,648 people (2000 US census)
Least Populous State: Wyoming, 493,782 people (2000 US census)
Biggest City in the USA: New York, New York, with over 7,000,000 people
Birthplaces of the Most Presidents: 8 Presidents born in Virginia (William Henry Harrison, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, George Washington, and Woodrow Wilson) and 7 Presidents born in Ohio (Ulysses Simpson Grant, Rutherford Birchard Hayes, James Abram Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William Howard Taft, and Warren Gamaliel Harding).
State with the Most Bordering States: Missouri with 8 bordering states (Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee) and Tennessee with 8 bordering states (Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Virginia)
Longest State Names (commonly used name): Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Carolina
Longest Official State Name: The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
Shortest State Names: Iowa, Ohio, Utah
Biggest State (Area): Alaska: 656,425 square miles
Smallest State (Area): Rhode Island, 1,545 square miles
State that is Farthest North: Alaska
State that is Farthest South: Hawaii
State that is Farthest East: Maine (although some of Alaska's Aleutian Islands cross the 180-degree longitude line, and are technically farther east than the other US states).
State that is Farthest West: Alaska
Geographic Center of the Contiguous USA: Smith County, Kansas
Geographic Center of the Entire USA (all 50 states): South Dakota
Highest Point: Mount McKinley, Alaska, 20,300 ft (6,194 m) above sea level
Lowest Point: Death Valley, California, 282 feet (86 m) below sea level [this is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere]
Longest River: Missouri River (it is a tributary of the Mississippi River and is 2,540 miles long)
River with the Biggest Volume of Water: Mississippi River (2,348 miles (3,778 km) long)
Biggest Lake: Lake Superior with an area of 31,820 square miles (82,414 sq km)
Biggest Island: The Island of Hawaii, with an area of 4,038 square miles (10,459 sq km)
Tallest Waterfall: Ribbon Falls in California, with a height of 1,612 feet (491 m)
Waterfall with the Greatest Volume of Water: Niagara Falls in New York
Coldest City: International Falls, Minnesota, with a mean temperature of 36.4 degrees F.
Snowiest City: Blue Canyon, California, with 240.8 inches of snow each year.
Hottest Temperature in the USA: California (134 degrees F at Greenland Ranch on July 10, 1913)
Coldest Temperature in the USA: Alaska (-80 Degrees F on January 23, 1971, at Prospect Creek)
Most Snow in 24 Hours: Colorado, 76 inches (192.5 cm) fell in one day at Silver Lake, Colorado
Most Rain Each Year: Hawaii, 460 inches (1168 cm) fall on Mt. Waialeale, Kauai, Hawaii, each year
Biggest Hailstone: Kansas, the largest hailstone in the US was 44.5 cm (17.5") in circumference. It fell in Coffeyville, Kansas.
Strongest Wind: Mt. Washington, New Hampshire, where gusts of 231 mph (372 kph) have been recorded.
Most Recent State: Hawaii, admitted in 1959
Most Populous State: California, 33,871,648 people (2000 US census)
Least Populous State: Wyoming, 493,782 people (2000 US census)
Biggest City in the USA: New York, New York, with over 7,000,000 people
Birthplaces of the Most Presidents: 8 Presidents born in Virginia (William Henry Harrison, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, George Washington, and Woodrow Wilson) and 7 Presidents born in Ohio (Ulysses Simpson Grant, Rutherford Birchard Hayes, James Abram Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William Howard Taft, and Warren Gamaliel Harding).
State with the Most Bordering States: Missouri with 8 bordering states (Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee) and Tennessee with 8 bordering states (Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Virginia)
Longest State Names (commonly used name): Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Carolina
Longest Official State Name: The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
Shortest State Names: Iowa, Ohio, Utah
Biggest State (Area): Alaska: 656,425 square miles
Smallest State (Area): Rhode Island, 1,545 square miles
State that is Farthest North: Alaska
State that is Farthest South: Hawaii
State that is Farthest East: Maine (although some of Alaska's Aleutian Islands cross the 180-degree longitude line, and are technically farther east than the other US states).
State that is Farthest West: Alaska
Geographic Center of the Contiguous USA: Smith County, Kansas
Geographic Center of the Entire USA (all 50 states): South Dakota
Highest Point: Mount McKinley, Alaska, 20,300 ft (6,194 m) above sea level
Lowest Point: Death Valley, California, 282 feet (86 m) below sea level [this is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere]
Longest River: Missouri River (it is a tributary of the Mississippi River and is 2,540 miles long)
River with the Biggest Volume of Water: Mississippi River (2,348 miles (3,778 km) long)
Biggest Lake: Lake Superior with an area of 31,820 square miles (82,414 sq km)
Biggest Island: The Island of Hawaii, with an area of 4,038 square miles (10,459 sq km)
Tallest Waterfall: Ribbon Falls in California, with a height of 1,612 feet (491 m)
Waterfall with the Greatest Volume of Water: Niagara Falls in New York
Coldest City: International Falls, Minnesota, with a mean temperature of 36.4 degrees F.
Snowiest City: Blue Canyon, California, with 240.8 inches of snow each year.
Hottest Temperature in the USA: California (134 degrees F at Greenland Ranch on July 10, 1913)
Coldest Temperature in the USA: Alaska (-80 Degrees F on January 23, 1971, at Prospect Creek)
Most Snow in 24 Hours: Colorado, 76 inches (192.5 cm) fell in one day at Silver Lake, Colorado
Most Rain Each Year: Hawaii, 460 inches (1168 cm) fall on Mt. Waialeale, Kauai, Hawaii, each year
Biggest Hailstone: Kansas, the largest hailstone in the US was 44.5 cm (17.5") in circumference. It fell in Coffeyville, Kansas.
Strongest Wind: Mt. Washington, New Hampshire, where gusts of 231 mph (372 kph) have been recorded.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)