New Jersey Archives - Mom's Guide To Travel

Mar 24 2018

Last-Minute Spring Break Ideas for Families

Some families are already on Spring Break and for others, Spring Break starts in just a few days. If you’re a bit late with vacation plans here are some last-minute Spring break ideas for you and your family to keep your kids happy.

Last-minute Spring Break ideas need to be strategic

Generally speaking, if you haven’t planned your Spring Break vacation yet, more than likely you’ll be hitting the road, keeping still at home or staying with friends or relatives.

For families living in and around the Baltimore area, there’s plenty to choose from all within reasonable driving distance. Getting flights at this point would be costly but not impossible. You may get lucky and score reasonable tickets to Mexico, and if that’s the case, you’ll find a Spring Break idea at the bottom of this post.

A Baltimore inner-city staycation

There’s so much to do in Baltimore you can create an entire itinerary right within a three-mile radius.

The Aquarium never gets old and a visit on one of the historic ships always reveals a new piece of history. For those families with a creative side and a bit of a green thumb, check out a fun Terranium design workshop on the 31st at the Maryland Science Center.

Put on your walking shoes and learn about African American history on one of the Frederick Douglass walking tours down at Fell’s Point. Or if your family is more DIY, go on a scavenger hunt at the Inner Harbor. You’ll have a blast exploring the city on this 3-hour tour that feels a lot like the family version of the Amazing Race.

Family fun just outside the Nation’s Capital

Spring Break Gaylord National Harbor Atrium view — My son overlooking the action in the atrium before heading down to join the fun.

Gaylord National Harbor – Drive an hour away to D.C.’s National Harbor with the family and enjoy all the fun in and around the Gaylord. It’s one of my favorite properties for a staycation. There’s something for everyone there: spa for mom, a sports bar for dad, pool for the kids, restaurants, and shops right within the property so you don’t have to worry about going outdoors if you don’t want to. you can just hang out in the atrium.

If you do venture out of the Gaylord (which you probably should), there are tons of things to do. Grab some summer gear at the Tanger Outlet, take a ride on the Capital Wheel, hop on the ferry to Alexandria or just walk around the National Harbor area for all sorts of treats and shopping.

Getting wild with the Easter Bunny in New Jersey

Easter at the Wildwoods New Jersy — Photo courtesy of Suasion Communications.

The Wildwoods, New Jersy is a little less than a 3-hour drive away from the city. Easter weekend there are several events to celebrate the holiday including Easter Egg Hunts on both North Wildwood beach and Lincoln Ave beach, starting at Noon on Saturday the 31st.

Easter Bunny at the Wildwoods NJ — Photo courtesy of Suasion Communications

There’s also an Easter Egg Hunt on the pier on Easter Sunday starting at Noon, which kicks off the Spring Season in the area. Boardwalk eateries, shops, games, and arcades will be open as well as rides on the piers, food, and entertainment.

Camping for Easter in Williamsburg

spring break ideas families KOA camping — Photo Courtesy of KOA.

We’re not a camping family. I’d say glamping is more our style. Families interested in either traditional camping or modern glamping can enjoy their Spring break pitching a tent or renting a cabin at Kampgrounds of American (KOA) in Williamsburg, VA.

For Easter weekend campers will enjoy a visit from the Easter Bunny, an Easter Egg Hunt, a climbing wall, and other activities around the campground.

And when you need a break from the camp, take a quick hop over to Colonial Williamsburg where there’s enough history to keep you and your kids engaged for a week!

If you want to continue exploring the surrounding area, head over to Busch Gardens for a bit of interactive amusement park fun with their new virtuality ride. Then enjoy a 35-minute drive with the family to Hampton. There you can spend a few hours visiting the Air & Space Museum. It’s an activity that everyone in the family will love.

Luxury fun under the Mexican sun

Spring Break at Four Seasons Punta Mita — Four Seasons Punta Mita – photo courtesy of Four Seasons.

If you want to get out of the country for a quick getaway and a change of scenery, there’s always something fun to do in Mexico. Understand that flying out of the country last-minute is not an inexpensive venture but if saving money on family travel isn’t your concern, then grab your credit card and hit the skies!

At the Four Seasons Punta Mita, Mexico you’re teenage kids may never want to leave.

The Four Seasons is known for its’ stellar service. Many of its resorts work hard to provide a memorable experience for its young guests as well. The kids club at the Four Seasons Punta Mita is raising the bar on kids’ club. Trust me, this is not your mama’s kids’ club.

The new teen center at Punta Mita caters to teens age 13-19. Appropriately called The Container, it offers a vibrant and high-tech space complete with interactive programming, a “no-adults allowed” lounge area, and teen-friendly culinary options.

Spring Break Four Seasons Punta Mita — Four Seasons Punta Mita Garden area – Photo courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel.

Graffitied gates decorate the entrance while colorful shipping containers flank the garden area. Inside these repurposed containers, kids can partake in several activities, including video games, lounging, watching movies, and simply enjoying a 5-star teen vacation experience.

Nov 15 2012

Gas Rationing in New York and Potential Affects on Holiday Travel

Traveling home to New York for Thanksgiving may be more than I bargained for if gas rationing continues. Though the system was an inconvenience for residents, it eased some of the pressure on gas stations and lightened up lines in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. For non-residents, there may be a bigger issue involved. Will the city be returned to normal in time for Thanksgiving? If not, how might gas rationing in New York affect holiday travel there?

Gas Rationing Could Worsen NYC Traffic — As if travel in the city weren’t bad enough?

The way the gas rationing system works in New York is that if a license plate ends in an even number, a motorist can fill up on an even day and those with odd plates can fill up on odd days. Plates ending in a letter also fill up on odd days. Unfortunately, there’s been a bit of price gouging with pumps in parts of Queens ranging from $4.19 to $4.59 for regular gas when the average price has been around $3.49. Motorists had to pay for gas with cash, forcing them to go inside to a register, thus making the buying process (and lines) longer. In addition, residents were limited to $40 worth of gas at some stations. Compounding the issue, many of those stations were running out of fuel by day’s end.

I think people are hoping that the issue is resolved completely by the holidays. However, if the city suffers more weather issues, the gas rationing system may stay in place in New York and the term “home for the holidays” may take on a new meaning. Drivers traveling to and from New York and New Jersey should prepare themselves for a long journey and maybe even longer lines.

Photo courtesy of freefoto.com.

May 30 2012

Mom Traveler Spotlight: Shannon Entin

Shannon Entin is the Northeast editor of Road Trips for Families. She blogs at 100routesacrossamerica.com. Shannon has two kids, a 13 year old son and 7 year old daughter. You can find her on Twitter @shannonentin and @100routes.

Shannon lives in Bloomsbury, NJ – northwest Jersey, very close to PA.

ABOUT NEW JERSEY

Many people have a narrow view of NJ. They think crowded NYC suburbs or they think the Shore. There’s SO much more! One of the things I love most about where I live is its proximity to a number of diverse areas. I’m within an hour and a half drive of New York City, Philadelphia, the ocean, and the mountains! Some of our favorite family places are: Ringing Rocks Park, The Crayola Factory, Delaware Water Gap, Grounds for Sculpture, Sesame Place Theme Park, Bowman’s Hill Tower, Delaware River Tubing.

WHERE TO STAY

I live in a rural area. There are lots of great B&Bs around here, but they aren’t typically family friendly. If your family is looking for something other than a traditional hotel experience, I’d highly recommend the Great Wolf Lodge in the nearby Pocono Mountains, or Lambertville House. Crystal Springs Resort is further north, but another amazing place to stay.

TRAVEL STARTS

My parents would often take “Sunday drives” when I was younger. We would get in the car and just drive around. I grew up in the Adirondack Mountains of New York state where there’s so much to see. While I didn’t recognize it when I was younger, these Sunday drives had a big impact on my love of road trips. I’ve loved traveling since I was young, but I think I only recently realized how important it is to me to travel with my kids and cultivate adventurous spirits!

WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW/KEEP IN MIND WHEN TRAVELING WITH KIDS

I think the most important thing for parents to remember is to build in extra time! Be prepared for the unexpected. You may plan three hours at a zoo and find your that your kids just can’t tear themselves away from the peacocks! My daughter recently spent over an hour following a peacock around a zoo. She named it and talked to it. And I was able to accommodate her interest because I hadn’t over-scheduled our trip. And I got some great photos! 🙂

BIGGEST CHALLENGE TRAVELING WITH KIDS

Fighting siblings! Arrrgghhh! I often wish I had a sound-proof barrier I could put up between my kids in the back seat.

ALL THE PLACES SHANNON’S LIVED AND TRAVELED

I’ve lived in upstate NY and northwestern NJ. Outside the USA, I’ve traveled to London, Niagara Falls, Toronto, Montreal, cruised to Bahamas and Western Caribbean (Haiti, Grand Cayman, Jamaica), and spent a day in Tijuana, Mexico. Within the USA, I’ve been all over the Eastern US, from Maine to Florida. I’ve been to Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, San Francisco, San Diego, skiing in the mountains of Utah and Colorado, and driven across country from NJ to Utah and from Chicago to NJ. Wow – writing all this out makes me feel so lucky!

FAVORITE DESTINATION SO FAR

That’s a tough question. I have several favorites for different reasons. I really love cruising. It’s such a fun, relaxed way to travel. The downside is you don’t get to really “see” the destinations you stop at because you’re typically taking the “Americanized” excursions. But it’s a great way to get a glimpse of several different locations. I absolutely love the Rocky Mountains in every season of the year. And Disney World is also very high on my list of favorites!

MOST SPECTACULAR RESORT/HOTEL

Royal Caribbean cruise line is the best “resort” I’ve stayed in. The Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas is pretty spectacular, too.

WHERE TO NEXT

We’ll be driving from NJ to Charlotte, NC in June. Haven’t quite figured out the itinerary yet, but we’ll spend a few days in Charlotte and then make several stops on the way back north. We’re also hoping to get to Niagara Falls this year. We’re going back to Disney World (I’ll be running the Disney Princess Half Marathon) in February 2013. But I’m most excited about our plan to live in Colorado or Utah for 6 months in 2014!

Thanks to Shannon for being a part of this week’s Mom Traveler Spotlight.

Aug 04 2009

Road Trip With Kids To New Jersey

In this video we give you tips for taking a family road trip to New Jersey.

Road trips are a great entry point for you if you’re just starting out traveling with your kids. This is a video from our early days of traveling with our kids when I called Mom’s Guide To Travel by a different name.

When our kids are younger, and we’ve never done it before, sometimes it can be scary traveling with them for long distances. Take baby steps first and practice traveling locally or going on road trips before you fly.

Tip 1: Once you decide to take a family road trip with your kids, make sure that you hit the road early for your destination. Roads like the New Jersey turnpike for instance, can be riddled with traffic and easily turn a 3-hour drive to a 6-hour drive.

Tip 2: Travel with some sort of GPS system or an atlas when you hit the road.

Check out the video to hear more tips that I share while the kids chill in the back of the car while mom and dad drive.