kim

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Kim Dinan is an author, blogger and travel fanatic. She’s also a new mom just learning the joys of travelling with a child.

Four Things to Know about Walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain

Travel

The Camino de Santiago is one of the most important Christian pilgrimages of medieval times. Legend has it that the bones of St. James, Jesus’s first disciple, are buried at the site of what is now the city of Santiago de Compostela. Today, pilgrims of all faiths come from around the world to walk The Way for religious, spiritual, health, or personal reasons. If you’re contemplating taking on this challenging pilgrimage here are a few things to keep in mind before you go. 1. Earning a compostela  Every pilgrim will carry a passport, or credencial—a document that identifies them as a pilgrim. If you plan to start your walk in the popular launching-off city of St-Jean-Pied-de-Port you will be given a passport when you register as a pilgrim at the pilgrim’s office. Otherwise, you can obtain a passport at almost any church or albergue (pilgrim’s hostel) in Spain. Each…

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6 Tips for a Great U.S. Road Trip

Travel

1. Get off of the Interstate Almost all of the United States looks the same from the highway. Invest in a great atlas and, whenever possible, route yourself off of the Interstate and onto U.S. Highways or Scenic Byways (marked by blue lines on the map). County roads almost never fail to disappoint. When you take these lesser-travelled roads you get a taste of the area of the country you are travelling in, including some of the local culture and cuisine. 2. Give yourself time to stop at roadside attractions The U.S. is famous for its’ quirky roadside attractions, like the World’s Largest Brick (Alabama), the World’s Largest Jack-in-the-Box (Connecticut), and the World’s Biggest Beagle (Idaho). Although visiting the World’s Largest Ball of Twine (Kansas) might seem a little silly in the moment, we promise that the memory will stick with you long after you’ve returned home and unpacked…

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6 Great Reasons to Travel with Kids

Travel

There’s no doubt that travelling with children is a little more complicated than travelling without them. Childfree travellers might pack their bags and hit the road on a moment’s notice, but those of us hauling wee ones need a bit more time to organize. But while trip preparation with children can be slightly more daunting, travelling with children is well worth the fuss. Not convinced? Check out these six great reasons why you should travel with your kids. Expose your kids to different worlds A child’s world can be very small—she may be familiar with home, school, her grandparents’ house, or local shops and restaurants—but when a child travels she learns of the very big world outside of her hometown bubble. Exposing a child to other cities and countries expands her horizons and shows her different ways of living, making foreign concepts a little less so. Show your child how…

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5 Ways to Get the Most Out of Hotel Stays with Young Kids

Travel

For many children, staying in a hotel is the highlight of any vacation. Even little things like riding in the elevator, swimming in the pool, or partaking in the continental breakfast can be thrilling to a kid. For parents, however, hotel stays come with an extra set of considerations. Luckily, there are some simple hotel hacks to make a parent’s job much easier. You’ve just got to know what to look for… 1. Request a corner room If you’re travelling with a small child who tends to cry at night, let the hotel staff know when you book your room. Oftentimes, they’ll be able to place your family in a room that shares only one wall, reducing disruption for the surrounding guests and easing your own anxiety when the baby wails at 3 a.m. When you check in, remind the front desk about your request. If the hotel isn’t…

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How to Survive (and Enjoy) Long Plane Trips with Kids

Travel

The thought of lengthy plane trips with kids is unpleasant to most. For many parents, the simple prospect of being trapped in an impossibly small seat while a squirmy baby or hyperactive toddler screams from ear pain is enough to cause us to break out in a sweat. And although we can’t completely prevent onboard meltdowns, there are some tricks help make flying with kids less, ahem, turbulent… Remember: Flying is fun For most of us, flying has become a necessary evil endured solely to carry us from point A to point B. But to a child, flying holds a world of wonders. Make flying fun for your child by allowing them to pack their own carry-on bag and roll it through the airport. Book a window seat and let them watch as the plane ascends through the clouds, then point out the tiny trees and houses below. …

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