Tuesday Travel Tips: More Amazing Car Games

Tired of the kids zoned out to a movie or plugged into their iPods?  Pull the plug and get their juices flowing with these fun car games:

1. No No Words

Everyone decides on one word that can not be spoken, such as "Mom" or "I".  Then start a conversation while trying to trick one another into saying the "No, No" word.  When someone says the forbidden word, her gets a "P.P." (penalty point).  At the end of 10 miles (or an hour, a 1/2 day, etc.), count up the P.P.s; the one with the least wins.

2. News Reporter

Give your child a microphone to hold (it doesn't have to be a real one - he can turn a flashlight or a powder brush into a pretend microphone).  Ask him to report on what he sees out the window.  Encourage him to be precise yet imaginative, and to include not only stationary things he sees but experiences as well.  ("There's a turn off ahead for the "world's largest chair".  Tall Paul used to sit in this chair when he would......") You can each take turns at being the reporter and award an "Emmy" for the best broadcast.

3. Grandma's Toy Chest

This is a great game of memory - here's how to play: The first player says," In Grandma's toy chest, I found an airplane."  The next player says, " In Grandma's toy chest I found an airplane and a teddy bear." The third player adds an object and play continues until the sequence becomes too long for a player to remember.

4. Bright Night

This is a great game to play at night, especially when everyone is tired and you can't wait to reach your destination.  The object is to find things that are lit and keep score.  The one who calls out the most wins.  Look for street lamps, traffic lights, cars with only one light (headlights or brake lights), neon signs, store signs, the stars, the moon, etc.  You can spot and call out more than one of each.  For example, each time you see another lit motel sign, it counts as another score.

5. Next!

In this game, everyone must look straight ahead.  Each player must guess the color of the next car that will pass.  You get one point for each correct guess.  To add to the challenge, if you correctly guess a kind of car (bus, convertible, truck, mini van) you get an extra 3 points.

Have a fun car game?  Let us know in the comments below or send us an email at rebecca@rwethereyetmom.com. You may be featured in a upcoming Tuesday Travel Tips.

Here Comes the Sun: A little Abbey Road Fun

I have always been a huge fan of The Beatles.....ever since my neighbor when I was 5 used to make me listen to the Abbey Road record over .....and over. Her name was Kathy and I thought she was the coolest with the her very own record player in her room. At the time, I didn't care so much for the songs playing on it...an Octopus's Garden? Oh! Darling! (a little foretelling?)Bang, Bang, Maxwell's Silver Hammer came down, upon her head? Huh?

As I grew, The Beatles always stuck with me and Abbey Road became my favorite album. I loved how different each song was. My favorite song quickly became Here Comes the Sun. When my daughter was born, we had an instrumental version of the song that we played over and over for her. It is simply one of those songs you never tire of.

This year marked the 40th anniversary of the Abbey Road famous cover. You know, this one:

And I have always enjoyed a few of the parodies made of the cover. Like this one:

Or this.....Monks???

You know it's a big deal when it is mocked by The Simpsons!

Uh...legos?

But my favorite one of all......

Wrong way sister!

That's better...but not quite right...Can you try it again?

Ah...more crazy tourists willing to fight the London traffic to get the "perfect" shot with me!

Yes, we were dorks....and yes it was a blast!

Atleast I wasn't over there during the anniversary fighting this:

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Our family is off celebrate the Thanksgiving Holiday with family on this gorgeous ranch in Southeastern Oklahoma.  But I wanted to take a moment to thank you all so much. I have been blessed with your interest and travel stories over the past 6 months here on R We There Yet Mom?  Thank you for visiting our fun little travel blog and making it what it is today - a great spot to hear about fun travel adventures.  Hopefully, you have gained some insight and travel ideas!!

I am thankful for you!! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday. Take some time to recognize what you are thankful for this week!

P.S. With this being Thanksgiving week, we will not have our normally featured Friday Daydreamin'.  We will be back  and ready to post next Friday, December 2.  Get ready to tell us about your favorite place to travel to for Christmas holidays - even if it is just staying at home!!!

Tuesday Travel Tips: Thanksgiving Travel Prep

Can you believe that this is Thanksgiving week??  Wow - feels like we were just getting ready for a 12 hour car trip to the beach last summer!!  And speaking of car trips.....

With many of us heading out this week, traveling for Thanksgiving, there is much to do before hitting the road for a major car ride.  I am resurrecting this post from this past summer as these are all good reminders.  Take note of a few of these ideas before heading out for any drives with the family:

1. Make a checklist....so you don't leave home without it!  We create checklists for each family member and pet.  If your children are older, have them create the check list with you so they can make sure what they want to take gets packed, yet you get final approval.

2. How's it running?  Get the car in for it's regular maintenance and tell the mechanics that you are about to travel - my guess is they will be happy to make sure everything is running smoothly.  Also, take it in to get a good cleaning.  It's so nice to start the trip in a freshly cleaned car.

3. There's gotta be an app for that.  As moms, it's in our blood to have our trips mapped & planned out - including potty breaks.  But even the most travel-savvy mom needs a little extra help.  Thank goodness for amazing mobile phone apps like these that can get us through in a pinch:

~ Mapquest: This one comes with a free voice guided, turn-by-turn directions.  Who needs GPS anymore?

~ Priceline: Follow your favorite Hotel Negotiator from your phone.  Score a last minute hotel deal right when you need it - chop!


~ Yelp: Get reviews on restaurants, grocery stores, museums, etc. from the locals who live there- can't ask for better advice.

~Sit or Squat: Find the nearest potty and get reviews on how "clean it is".  Hey, you'll be thanking me when your 3 year old has to potty and your in the middle of downtown Chicago.

4. Dollar store mania.  I have more fun gathering up toys and fun goodies for the kids to get a various times throughout the drive.  I use them as prizes for the winners of games,  prevent the "I'm bored" cries,  heck, I might even use a few for bribing.....shush, you know you do it.

5. Be prepared mom...  Have lots of ideas for these kiddos to do on the drive - so you can avoid hearing the dreaded "are we there yet mom?"  Gather a few new games to play on the road, check out some books on tape from your local library (or download some audio books), rent a new movie or two (RedBox.com comes in handy here!), or grab a classic to read out load.

Here are a few great posts that we have featured tons of great car ride games: R We There Yet Mom's Travel Games

Most importantly, take a deep breath and don't get overwhelmed - everything is going to be ready and you will all get there in one piece.  Have a super trip!

P.S. With this being Thanksgiving week, we will not have our normally featured Friday Daydreamin'.  We will be back  and ready to post next Friday, December 2.  Get ready to tell us about your favorite place to travel to for Christmas holidays - even if it is just staying at home!!!

Washington Beaches: Nothing Like Them!

 Growing up, I lived in Washington for a few years as a sullen, bratty tween (and no mom, you may not comment).  We lived on the Pacific Coast in a little town called Ocean Shores.  I would fall asleep to the sounds of the ocean, we were that close.  On the weekends, my parents would drag me through the Olympic Rainforest searching for hidden waterfalls, hiking up Mt. Rainier to play in the snow in August, or take us on a ferry ride over to Seattle but never take me to a mall (gasp...the horror, I know!).  As much as I acted like I was "bored", I loved every minute of it.  

Last fall,  as we planned our trip to the PNW, I was determined to "recreate" some of this fun for my family.  Unfortunately, October being one of the rainiest months, we had fewer options.  Can you believe certain parts of Mt. Rainier was "closed for the season"?  Didn't they know I was coming??  I love the rainforest, so a trip to the Olympic Peninsula was planned.

No one in my family had every seen the Pacific Ocean, so we planned a wonderful day at the beach. 

 We took a ferry from a town north of Seattle across the Puget Sound.  Having never been on a ferry, my kids loved it!!

We disembarked and drove to the Northeast corner of the peninsula, to a small town called Port Townsend.  Port Townsend is an absolutely gorgeous harbor city with Victorian buildings that beckon a summer crowd to shop their streets.  

Unfortunately, with a car full of non-shopping kids, we drown through the city to find the beach.  After all, we came for the ocean!

We actually stumbled upon Fort Worden State Park - which houses the remains for Fort Worden, a United States Army installation for the protection of the Puget Sound. Thee was this large bunker that we explored - it was so cool!! 

 But mainly, we just explored the beaches.

Being October, we had the beach to ourselves.  It was awesome.

As we took the ferry back home, I snapped this shot, my favorite from the trip.  My beloved Mt. Rainier with Seattle nestled in front.  It was the only day we could see it, so I took it in as much as I could.

It was a really incredible day to explore a new part of our country, breathe some fresh air, and spend quality time with the family.  In our hustle-bustle lives, we don't get much time for it anymore.

P.S. With this being Thanksgiving week, we will not have our normally featured Friday Daydreamin'.  We will be back  and ready to post next Friday, December 2.  Get ready to tell us about your favorite place to travel to for Christmas holidays - even if it is just staying at home!!!

Friday Daydreamin': 11.18.11

Happy Friday!!  In less than a week, we will all be getting our thankful on!  WOO-HOO!!  Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays - family, food, fun, no obligations..... I love it!

Do you travel for Thanksgiving?  For us, it depends on the year - We don't have any definite "Thanksgiving Day" traditions, but we do spend it with family.

Last year, we traveled to a Ranch in Southeastern Oklahoma - It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL - not at all what I expected Oklahoma to look like.  We stayed in a wonderful cabin, by a lake and woke up to this view every morning:

We are heading there again this year and I can't wait to get back!!

Do you travel for Thanksgiving?  Tell us about your travels this week on "Friday Daydreaming".  Or tell us about your favorite vacation ever.  Or tell us about the great park down the street that makes you & your kids feel like you are on vacation.  Or tell us about that amazing slice of pie you had on last summer's road trip.  So many great topics to blog about - make sure you link up!!

2 Trains, One Bus, and a LONG walk....or how NOT to get to the Zoo!

My travel friends, do you ever have those trips that you think are perfectly planned and is going to "knock the socks" off the kids, only to have them crumble to pieces, leaving you shaking your head in misbelief?
No?  Only me??
Let me tell you about our Saturday.....

While in Dallas this past weekend, I wanted to do something different and fun with the kiddos.  Sis suggested we go to the zoo - simple enough.  The Fort Worth Zoo is phenomenal!

Let's make it a little more adventurous.....

Let's take the train to the zoo.  Sounds fun?? At the time......

To get from Carrollton (suburb north of Dallas), we hopped on the DART rail (the local commuter train) to catch the TRE (Trinity Railway Express - a fun train that connects Dallas with Fort Worth).  From there, I read online that the zoo is a "half mile walk from the stop".  

We can do this with 5 kids and 3 adults!  Let's go!

We left the house at 9:45 am and hopped on the DART at 10:15 to get off in Downtown Dallas to catch the TRE at 10:58 am.

My little Bubba was so excited to be on the train.

We get to the Victory stop with 3 minutes to spare to catch the TRE.

We wait.

And wait some more.

Finally, my very intelligent brother looks at the posted train schedule and points out that "someone " (ahem...me) read the weekday schedule.  The next TRE is at 12:24 pm. awesome.

What to do in Downtown Dallas with 5 kids on a Saturday at 11:00 am?

So we explored........

It was a ghost town.  It was windy & cold so we finally found a "Dick's Last Resort" to hang out in for a while.

Not the most appropriate place to take 5 kids, but we were desperate.  I mean, when was the last time you saw one of these babies?

Brody asked me "What kind of candy machine is that???"

Fed the kids a few snacks, hiked back to the Train station, and we were ready to head to the zoo!  Or so we thought.

At 12:20 (remember the TRE is coming at 12:24), I can't find my camera bag.

AGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!

Yep, Dick has it.

PANIC.

Mom calmly suggests that she will go back to the restaurant, pick it up and just take the DART back home.  She was so wonderful to do that.  I don't think I could have enjoyed the zoo, not knowing who had their hands all over my camera lens....

Cool.  The TRE showed up on time and we are on our way again.  ha.

Again, my little man adored the train and for the most part, was great the entire trip.

Until we get to the last stop in Fort WOrth, get off the train and see nothing but a parking lot.

"Excuse me Mr. TRE Conductor...but I read online that the zoo was half a mile away??"

I must have looked like a dumb blonde to him as he laughed his head off and took joy in telling me the zoo must be "over 10 miles away."

Oh dear.

So we had to wait 30 minutes to take the train back one stop to get off at the FW Bus Station.  To catch a "Number 7" bus at 2:15 p.m.  It was only 1:45.

Deep Breath.

Catch the Number 7, enjoy a 20 minute ride around FW to the zoo.  Hop off the bus to finally walk that "Half mile" that I read about.  finally.

And these amazing children did not complain.  hardly.

5 Hours later.....we finally make it to the zoo.  It's 3 pm.  I very happily go up to buy tickets only to have the snotty teenage girl take joy in telling me....

"We are only open for one more hour."

WHAT?!?!?!

2 Trains, a nasty & inappropriate bar, lost camera bag, a smelly bus ride, hike across the park and I am suppose to deny the zoo to these amazing kiddos?

no way.

Come on kids! Let's RUN!

Next time, we drive.

Have a funny travel story?  Let us know about it!! We'd love to share it!!

Tuesday Travel Tips: Even More Ideas to Save for Your Next Trip!

Last week, we featured some great ideas to save for your next Big Vacation.  This week, we bring you even more ideas to make that vacation Daydream a reality!

If a payment ends, keep making it -- to yourself! For instance, if you pay off a car or a credit card, keep making that payment, but instead write the check to yourself and deposit it into your vacation savings account.


Make a rule that "found" money goes in the vacation fund. For instance, if you get a rebate, tax refund, gift check or work bonus, deposit it in the vacation account.


Give yourself an allowance for cash expenditures (i.e. groceries, gas, meals out, entertainment, etc.) and make a game of seeing how much of your allowance you can NOT spend. Anything left over at the end of the week (or month) goes into the vacation fund.

Charge everything to a cash-back credit card and pay the card off each month. (Only do this if you can handle the temptation to overspend on plastic, and if you really will pay the balance off every single month. If you won't pay it off monthly, this is a bad idea.) Use the cash-back bonus toward your vacation.

Cut out one small daily expense and put the money you're saving into your vacation fund. The savings can really add up. If you save $1 a day on something you buy at work, and you work 5 days a week x 50 weeks, that's $250 a year! For example:

• If you hit the Starbucks every morning, buy a travel mug and some fancy flavored cream (Gingerbread Latte is out y'all!!) and make it at home instead.

• If you usually eat out for lunch, try bringing lunch from home at least 2 or 3 days a week. It really is easy to take a few extra minutes to make a sandwich!

• Bring a snack from home instead of hitting the vending machines.

Ask your family to help you save. Often children aren't very aware of how much small expenses can add up over time. If you point out that every nickel they can save the household will get them closer to a week at the beach, they may surprise you! 

Have a family meeting, gather their ideas and suggestions, and then agree to put aside what you've saved for your vacation fund. Be sure you have a plan for keeping the saved money separate, so that it doesn't get spent elsewhere. That might mean writing a check for the amount of money saved and depositing it into your vacation account, or putting that amount of cash into the change jar. Whatever it is, do it consistently.

Here are a few ideas your family might consider:

• Eat out less. Face it, cooking every night can be tiring and a drag, and that leads to eating out, which is much more expensive. So find a way to avoid this. Think up something you can make in the crockpot one night a week instead of getting takeout. Or turn cooking into a fun project once a week -- for instance, make a pizza with the kids instead of ordering one.

• Spend less on entertainment. Borrow videos from your public library instead of the video store: most public libraries offer this service for little or no cost. Instead of going to the movies, check the newspaper for free local family entertainment and events, or have a family game night.

• Have a "vacation fund" Yard sale.   Take children's clothes, baby stuff, and toys to a consignment shop. Sell unwanted books, CDs, movies and collectibles you no longer want on Craigslist. You'd be amazed at what your old stuff may bring. Don't assume no one wants it. One man's trash is another man's treasure....

• Shop around on your insurance at least once a year. It's remarkable how much you can save. Rates for an identical auto insurance policy can vary from one company to another by as much as 100%! 

• Evaluate your spending on cable television and telephone services. Maybe you don't really need extended cable or call waiting. Maybe you can eliminate a home phone, if you have a cell phone. And speaking of cell phones, see if there's a better plan for you, that fits your usage patterns at a lower cost.

• Get everyone to turn out the lights when no one is in the room, and turn off TVs and computer equipment when they're not in use. Fix dripping faucets and leaking toilets. These measures may only save you a buck or two a month on your utility bills, but it all adds up.

• Re-evaluate gift-giving. Do you have a long list of friends and relatives with whom you exchange "duty" gifts that no one really wants? Maybe the time has come to speak up. You might be surprised at how relieved everyone would be to stop the seemingly endless cycle of unwanted gift-giving. Maybe everyone would rather put the money toward a family reunion at Disney??? Perhaps you can just start exchanging greeting cards. Or you might prefer to institute a gift exchange (each person draws one name) or switch to "gifts of love" (give each other certificates for homemade meals, car washes, and other kind gestures that cost you nothing but your time and effort). Or set a low dollar limit on gifts and see how creative you can get.

And here are even more great money saving tips!

Alright my friends...tons of ideas to start saving!!  So promise me this - Dream up that "I've-always-wanted-to-go-there-trip", put some of these money saving ideas in to play and GO!!  No excuses!

Friday Daydreamin': 11.11.11 A Veteran's Day Special

Happy Veteran's Day

In honor of this very special day, please take a moment to reflect on the Veteran's who served in your life.  Tell us about them over on your blog, post a picture, and link up with us today.  These brave men & women sacrificed to allow us the freedom we enjoy today.  And they deserve to be recognized.

One of the most important Veterans in my life is my husband.  Matthew served 4 years in the Air Force, in Security Police.  He served in crazy places like Wyoming and Korea, protecting the bases he served on.  While I was enjoying my college freedom, he was growing up quickly with a great deal of responsibility.  

Each year, my children's school puts on a Veteran's Day Celebration and asks all the Veterans to come and be honored. 

 This was the first year my son had been a part of this, so when he saw his dad getting recognized, his heart swelled with pride.  When the program was over, rather than file back to his room with his teacher, he broke free from the crowd, ran to his dad and leapt into his arms.  It was so great to see my little guy really get what his dad had done for his country.

I would love to hear about those Veterans that have touched your lives too.  Will you please post and link up?

And if you have a vacation photo already prepared for this Friday, please feel free to link away as well!! I would NEVER turn down a chance to daydream about vacations.....

The National September 11 Memorial ~ New York, NY

On 8 small acres in Lower Manhattan, sits the site of the Nation September 11 Memorial. It is an amazing tribute to those 3000 who lost their lives in the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, a field near Shanksville, PA, and the 6 who perished in the World Trade Center bombing in 1993.

 The Memorial features twin reflecting pools that sit in the footprints of where the Twin Towers once stood.

 The names of each person who perished in the attacks are etched into the bronze panels that define the reflecting pools.

 It's a powerful reminder of how much life was lost in these attacks and it puts a name to these lives....especially those that rushed into save others.....

 The pools are nearly an acre in size and feature the largest manmade waterfalls in North America.

There is a plaza that sits adjacent to the pools.  400 trees are planned for this area, to create a contemplative area of reflection.

 There is a general hush.  As if the hustle and bustle of the city that surrounds it doesn't exist.

Everyone is reflective and somber.  How can you not be?

  The names are the heart of the Memorial.  They are stencil-cut, allowing you to look through them to see the water, or for paper rubbings, and to see the light at night shine through.   Honestly, it hurts your heart to read the names.  But I can't help but feel we need to have that feeling - to remember and never forget.

 Towering over Pool 2, is the building of One World Trade Center, planned to be the tallest building in the United States.  It's an awesome site to see the "rebirth" of this complex.

 Memorials like these bring it all home. Where as I may not personally know someone who perished that day, they are someone's father, sister, daughter.......

 And this is a place for those families to remember, to grieve.....

And a place for everyone else to never forget this horrific event.

I was lucky enough to visit the National September 11 Memorial the week after it opened.  If you will be visiting New York City, I highly recommend a trip.  Tickets are required at no fee, but you will need to reserve them in advance.  There is additional information on the website, including an interactive map and mobile app to find any names.  

New York City on Dwellable