As the founders and staff at BootsnAll have grown up over the years, so have our ideas about indie travel. Back in 1998, for instance, a young and single Sean Keener wasn’t thinking about how having kids someday might impact his travel plans. These days, he’s acutely aware of how many people think their traveling days are over once they reproduce – and he hasn’t let that stop him and his growing family from still hitting the road. In fact, they just got back from spending 4.5 months in New Zealand, and Sean’s son’s first trip was to New York at the ripe age of six weeks. We’ve recently featured a couple of stories (here and here) by kick-ass traveling families who are forcing people to re-think their assumptions about traveling with kids, and we’re expanding the theme a bit this week. You’ll read about why it’s important to raise kids with indie travel in mind. You’ll read excellent tips to make traveling with kids easier, which should leave you with pretty much no excuses not to get your family on the road. And in case you need more inspiration to not put off your trip any longer, you’ll also read about how to go from dreaming to traveling in just four weeks. Week 18 of the Indie Travel Challenge 2012 [...]
For family fun and theme park adventure, San Antonio is one of the best destinations in the US. Home to SeaWorld, a Six Flags theme park, the world’s number one waterpark, and the oldest running theme park, the city offers nearly nonstop excitement for kids. But there’s more than just theme parks and thrill rides; San Antonio has a surprisingly romantic side perfect for a couples weekend getaway as well.Visit the historic Alamo or one of the other beautiful mission churches in and around San Antonio, stroll through the tranquil Japanese Tea Garden, watch the sunset from the top of the Tower of the Americas, walk along the leafy promenades of the Riverwalk (or take a sunset cruise down the river) or settle in for a drink with the ghosts of Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders at the Menger Bar. With San Antonio’s new San Antonio Vacation Experience, or SAVE program, you can do all that and more, and score discounts while you do. The program offers great rates on hotels as well as discounts on admission to several area theme parks and attractions, like the zoo, SeaWorld, and the Botanical Gardens, as well as savings on transportation, shopping and sightseeing tours. Check out the SAVE blog for more information and enter to win your own family adventure in San [...]
That first trip as a family can be nerve-wracking. Figuring out what to pack so that you have what you need but aren’t laden down with stuff, worrying about how the kids will react to a new environment and a disruption in their routine, and trying to please everyone can almost take the fun out of the vacation. But with a bit of advance planning and a few simple measures, you can ensure a great trip for everyone. Traveling with an infant for the first time can be a scary proposition, but traveling with very young kids can actually be easier than traveling with toddlers as most of the time they’ll be sleeping, in a stroller, or carried by mom or dad. Having the right gear for traveling with kids can make all the difference. When choosing hotels, look for those that offer family services like daycare and kids clubs. If you don’t think you’re quite ready to handle the kids on your own in an unfamiliar place, enlist help and invite the grandparents. Multi-generational travel can strengthen the family bonds and allow mom and dad some time away from the kids. Just choose a trip that works for all age ranges; small-ship cruises are great because they offer a range of activities during the day but keep everyone together [...]
Happy 4th of July! If your family is anything like mine was, the 4th of July meant piling in the family’s wood-paneled station wagon and heading “up north” to a cabin in Michigan or driving a few hours to explore the more southern states. It was all about the road trip for us back then, just as it is for many families today. But if you’re anxious to take your family vacation beyond the road trip, stay tuned this week for great tips, advice and inspiration for planning an epic adventure with your kids. Tomorrow, we’ll give new parents the scoop on traveling with an infant, including what to buy and pack, tips for scoring the best seat on the plane, and how to get around with a baby in tow. On Wednesday, Adam Seper talks to families who have taken their kids on a round the world trip and explains the benefits of a nomadic life with children. If you’re dreams aren’t as grand as an RTW, stop by Thursday to get tips on how to make any family vacation easier and more fun, and on Friday, satisfy your sweet tooth with a look at great destinations for chocolate lovers of all ages. For more on family travel, read: 5 New Ideas for Places to Take the Kids Literary [...]
As the founders and staff at BootsnAll have grown up over the years, so have our ideas about indie travel. Back in 1998, for instance, a young and single Sean Keener wasn’t thinking about how having kids someday might impact his travel plans. These days, he’s acutely aware of how many people think their traveling days are over once they reproduce – and he hasn’t let that stop him and his growing family from still hitting the road. In fact, they just got back from spending 4.5 months in New Zealand, and Sean’s son’s first trip was to New York at the ripe age of six weeks. We’ve recently featured a couple of stories (here and here) by kick-ass traveling families who are forcing people to re-think their assumptions about traveling with kids, and we’re expanding the theme a bit this week. You’ll read about why it’s important to raise kids with indie travel in mind. You’ll read excellent tips to make traveling with kids easier, which should leave you with pretty much no excuses not to get your family on the road. And in case you need more inspiration to not put off your trip any longer, you’ll also read about how to go from dreaming to traveling in just four weeks. Week 18 of the Indie Travel Challenge 2012 [...] 
For family fun and theme park adventure, San Antonio is one of the best destinations in the US. Home to SeaWorld, a Six Flags theme park, the world’s number one waterpark, and the oldest running theme park, the city offers nearly nonstop excitement for kids. But there’s more than just theme parks and thrill rides; San Antonio has a surprisingly romantic side perfect for a couples weekend getaway as well.Visit the historic Alamo or one of the other beautiful mission churches in and around San Antonio, stroll through the tranquil Japanese Tea Garden, watch the sunset from the top of the Tower of the Americas, walk along the leafy promenades of the Riverwalk (or take a sunset cruise down the river) or settle in for a drink with the ghosts of Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders at the Menger Bar. With San Antonio’s new San Antonio Vacation Experience, or SAVE program, you can do all that and more, and score discounts while you do. The program offers great rates on hotels as well as discounts on admission to several area theme parks and attractions, like the zoo, SeaWorld, and the Botanical Gardens, as well as savings on transportation, shopping and sightseeing tours. Check out the SAVE blog for more information and enter to win your own family adventure in San [...] 
That first trip as a family can be nerve-wracking. Figuring out what to pack so that you have what you need but aren’t laden down with stuff, worrying about how the kids will react to a new environment and a disruption in their routine, and trying to please everyone can almost take the fun out of the vacation. But with a bit of advance planning and a few simple measures, you can ensure a great trip for everyone. Traveling with an infant for the first time can be a scary proposition, but traveling with very young kids can actually be easier than traveling with toddlers as most of the time they’ll be sleeping, in a stroller, or carried by mom or dad. Having the right gear for traveling with kids can make all the difference. When choosing hotels, look for those that offer family services like daycare and kids clubs. If you don’t think you’re quite ready to handle the kids on your own in an unfamiliar place, enlist help and invite the grandparents. Multi-generational travel can strengthen the family bonds and allow mom and dad some time away from the kids. Just choose a trip that works for all age ranges; small-ship cruises are great because they offer a range of activities during the day but keep everyone together [...] 
Happy 4th of July! If your family is anything like mine was, the 4th of July meant piling in the family’s wood-paneled station wagon and heading “up north” to a cabin in Michigan or driving a few hours to explore the more southern states. It was all about the road trip for us back then, just as it is for many families today. But if you’re anxious to take your family vacation beyond the road trip, stay tuned this week for great tips, advice and inspiration for planning an epic adventure with your kids. Tomorrow, we’ll give new parents the scoop on traveling with an infant, including what to buy and pack, tips for scoring the best seat on the plane, and how to get around with a baby in tow. On Wednesday, Adam Seper talks to families who have taken their kids on a round the world trip and explains the benefits of a nomadic life with children. If you’re dreams aren’t as grand as an RTW, stop by Thursday to get tips on how to make any family vacation easier and more fun, and on Friday, satisfy your sweet tooth with a look at great destinations for chocolate lovers of all ages. For more on family travel, read: 5 New Ideas for Places to Take the Kids Literary [...] 