Welcome to The Family Travel Logue, your one-stop guide to family travel. Whatever you need for your upcoming family trip, you will find it here. We have information about how to find cheap flights for families, where to stay with your kids once you get to where you are going, and ideas on what you can do with children on your vacation or holiday. This is the guide for both big and small families who love to travel!
Thanksgiving travel packing tips
Are you braving the busiest travel days in the US in the next few weeks?
That’s right, it’s the Thanksgiving holiday, so have some Tums (or your antacid of choice.)
If you insist on flying, remember that the airline experience these days is often similar to the worst bus trip you’ve ever taken. I’m sorry to be such a cynic, but it’s me against them when it comes to incredibly unpleasant US air travel.
Consider these survival tips:
*** Drive rather than fly if you can, and take some back roads while you’re at it. Arm yourself with detailed maps before you go. GPS is nice, but map backups always boot up!
*** Shift the crazy travel days….work right up till Thanksgiving or even till noon Thanksgiving Day, but then take the following Monday and/or Tuesday off.
*** Heck, grab some last-minute fares and leave the country! I’d be all over Thanksgiving somewhere in South America or Europe. Asia’s great but the flights take too long from where I live. If your family’s in Hawaii, however, go for it.
General flying tips:
—-> Do not check your luggage. You will pay extra fees to check on most airlines (one reason so many love Southwest Airlines, which still doesn’t charge to check.) For the privilege of paying a fee, they may lose your stuff. No, thanks, they aren’t getting their paws on mine. I pack lightly (see video tips below.)
Family Articles
A Route 66 Oklahoma landmark: Johnnie’s onion burger in El Reno
While blasting north through Oklahoma enroute a speaking engagement, I saw on my map that I was passing through tiny El Reno, OK (located on historic Route 66.)
The town has three different places listed in one of my favorite references, Jane and Michael Stern’s Roadfood.
I couldn’t find Jobe’s and Sid’s was closed, but by golly I found Johnnie’s Grill so I stopped for their famous onion burger.
I adore onions. My kids aren’t really into them. Since this was a business trip, they weren’t with me to turn their noses up, so hah. I got my onions.
Need a laugh? Low-cost airline spoof video had me rolling
Y’all know I can be pretty tight-fisted, right? I’ll happily spend money when it makes sense to do so, and for things and experiences that are special, but when it comes to transportation and hotels, I’m okay with your basic clean versions.
I simply want to get back and forth and have a decent night’s sleep and shower while I’m there. My best experiences are usually OFF the aircraft and OUTSIDE of the hotel.
So, while living in Europe, my family and I did fly the notoriously cheap Ryanair a few times, because how else could I get from the Netherlands to Pisa, Italy and back for a family of four for about US$150?
The wise traveler must know what he/she is getting into with cheapo airlines, however, which is why I think this video spoof of discount airlines is so funny. They pack in almost every problem you’ll run into - surprise extra fees, ground tours that may suck, fees for luggage (especially checked luggage) and of course satellite airports that are MILES from their namesake.
Those coffee moments as a parent
Things are a bit slow here in the BlogOPlex as I bounce from the Association for Women in Communications (AWC) conference right now in Seattle (hashtag #awc100 if you want to follow on Twitter) and the upcoming Oklahoma Governor’s Conference on Tourism (#OTIA) in Tulsa, where I’m giving a luncheon keynote and workshop on Monday, October 19.
I did have time to run down …
Family Headlines
- Photo of the Week: Fun but icky Colonial medicine at Yorktown
- Carnival of Cities for 7 October 2009
- What you see here is what you get: new FTC rules and this blog
- Family travel in New York: the 50 state series
- Family travel in North Carolina: the 50 state series
- Hunting for travel deals? Don’t forget these Web sites
- Photo of the Week: Snacks on Hawaii’s Big Island
- Kansas Underground Salt Museum: the tornadoes can’t get you here
- Family travel in North Dakota: the 50 state series
- Sleep? What sleep? My new business launches in about a week
- Family travel in Ohio: the 50 state series
- Photo of the Week: Lunchtime in Colonial Williamsburg
- We have a Savannah guidebook winner
- Family travel in Oklahoma: the 50 state series
- A magical visit to Hayao Miyazaki’s Ghibli Museum in Japan
- Savannah with kids - win my guidebook
- Family travel in Oregon: the 50 state series
- How to plan a tailpipe-kicking road trip
- Family travel in Pennsylvania: the 50 state series
- Driving backroads beats the tar out of the Interstate
- It’s been over 3 years: time for some Greatest Hits
- Thinking about blog rank and whether I’m phoning it in
- News and kudos for Family Travel Logue
Family News
Family & Travel Resources
Reader Comments
-
Sheila on Family travel in South Dakota: the 50 state series
Hi Eric, Thanks very much for the tip! -
The Michelson bike trail near Custer is perfect for families, and for more serious bikers alike! -
That looks delicious. I need to get a copy of that book! -
Hi Tim, Thanks very much for your input. Yes, I just had the same thought the other day when I tur -
Sheila, As soon as I saw the Tripit service my first reaction was "wow - what a fantastic researc