Kid-friendly motion sickness remedies

Some kids can fly through the air upside down on amusement park rides without a twinge of discomfort, while others become clammy, dizzy, and nauseated. Turns out that my daughter is one of those kids who easily turns green---in the car, on the airplane, and especially on boats and theme park rides that go round and round. Since she's only 5-years-old, I'm unable to tame her tummy with medications, but I have found a few alternative remedies that help. Here are the three that work best:

Crackers, bagel, dry cereal. Carbohydrates soothe upset tummies by neutralizing gastric acids. They also sustain blood sugar levels and give your kid a kick of energy. Also, your stomach digests carbs faster than fatty foods--and when you're feeling ill the faster the better. You don't want a full stomach when you're feeling queasy.

Sea-Band and PSA Band. These wristbands stimulate the P6 acupuncture point on the inside of the wrist, believed in Eastern medicine to squelch nausea. You can get them in kid-sizes. My daughter thinks they're bracelets.

Ginger. The ancient Greeks and Romans used gingerroot for medicinal purposes, and Chinese sailors have long used ginger root to control seasickness. Closer to home, many moms in modern cultures turn to ginger ale to control their children’s upset stomachs and nausea. The American Pharmaceutical Association even acknowledges, to some extent, “the medicinal value of ginger.” I always carry crystalized ginger in my purse. I also like the candies made by The Ginger People and Reeds.

Travel accessories for under $100

I'm loving this roundup of stylish inexpensive travel accessories posted on the DesignSponge blog. Who knew a traveler could be so glamorous--on a tight budget?

[image above, clockwise from top left: epice scarf $53 (for chic airplane traveling), airplane print eyemask $24, tyvek luggage tag $14, USB chain for travel charging $24, barrel case from hayden harnett $45, small editor suitcase $95, orla kiely travel journal $15, travel accessory assortment kit in green $17.99, luxe city guides (these are especially great for europe and asia) $9.99 each, junior travel candle set from malin and goetz $58 (i love these guys, and their minimalist packaging), 'fresh pair' pear-scented soap sheets (for hand-washing your delicates while you travel) $8]

Be sure to visit DesignSpongeOnline.com, where you'll find even more budget-friendly travel items.

Hot tip: Go to Disneyland now!

Word is out: The lines are getting shorter and the crowds thinner at Disney parks. Now is the time to plan that family trip. According to an article in yesterday's New York Times: "Attendance at Disney’s theme parks in the United States began to slip in the last part of 2008, dropping about 5 percent compared with a year earlier."

If you're still looking for a spring break destination, Disneyland or Disneyworld might be places to consider. Much to my kids' delight, Disneyland is now in the running for our family's upcoming break in April.

New Deal historic sites

The election of an ambitious new president in hard times is evoking comparisons with President Franklin Roosevelt, and the 75th anniversary of FDR's New Deal is sparking renewed interest in how Americans survived the Great Depression, according to an Associated Press story. Now historic preservationists and tourism officials are hoping for increased tourism in places associated with the New Deal.

Here's a look at two of those sites:

Arthurdale, W.Va.—Built in the 1930s as a planned community for the rural poor, looks pretty much the way it did in the time of Roosevelt. It was the first of 100 New Deal resettlement homesteads for the poor and unemployed around the country. Of the town's 165 original houses, 160 remain, and one of them has been fully preserved. It is still furnished with a loom in the living room, a massive coal-fired furnace in the hallway and a coal-fired stove in the kitchen. In the kitchen cabinets are Depression-era glassware and containers for "Arthur Dale Meat Products," the ground beef and sausage the homesteaders packaged and sold. For more info, click here.

Warm Springs, Ga.--This is the home to FDR's retreat, the Little White House. He built the Little White House in 1932 while governor of New York, prior to being inaugurated as president in 1933. He first came to Warm Springs in 1924 hoping to find a cure for the infantile paralysis (polio) that had struck him in 1921. Swimming in the warm, buoyant spring waters brought him no miracle cure, but it did bring improvement. During FDR’s presidency and the Great Depression, he developed many New Deal Programs (such as the Rural Electrification Administration) based upon his experiences in this small town.

For more information on visiting New Deal historic sites, visit the National New Deal Preservation Association Web site.

3 Places to Expose Kids to History

A recent Associated Press article on travel trends says that history trips are particularly popular. Wonder why? Maybe the new administration has renewed Americans' interest in our country's heritage. Or possibly the hard economic times are leading us to look back--where we can learn from mistakes.

No matter, historic trips are great because they deepen our understanding of our nation--but are they appropriate for kids? Definitely, yes. Who says a learning vacation can't be fun? The top history cities offer much more than boring monuments and stuffy museums. Plus, kids are especially good at imagining themselves in another time. You just need to be sure to pick a spot that's suited to your kids' ages and interests.

1) Philadelphia (Ages 2 to 5)
It's easy for parents to lug little ones around this city's compact historic core known as Old Town. The Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the home of Betsy Ross, and dozens of other historic attractions are all clustered together. Also nearby: Franklin Square with a Philadelphia-themed miniature golf course and a state-of-the-art playground. Kids tired of walking? Take one of the Duck Tours, an amphibious sightseeing tour in an unusual vehicle (a Duck) that travels along the streets of the Historic District, South Street area, and Old City, before plunging into the Delaware River. For more ideas and details on traveling with kids in Philly, click here.

2) San Antonio (Ages 6 to 10)
This Texas city's history is deeply rooted in the Old West and what 6-year-old doesn't love a great cowboy story? Start your exploration of town with the Alamo, the must-see Shrine of Texas Liberty. Kids will be intrigued by its legendary story filled with illustrious personalities such as Tennessee congressman David Crockett, entrepreneur-adventurer James Bowie, and Mexican president Antonio López de Santa Anna. They'll also be interested in the four missions along the city's Mission Trail because most children learn about Spanish colonial life in elementary school. The best way to follow the trail is on a bike. Another way to get around town is by boat--and you'll definitely want to hop in one to experience the famous river--lined with shops, art galleries, and restaurants--that passes right through town. For more on San Antonio, click here.

3) Washington D.C. (10 and up)
The historic planes and spaceships at the National Air and Space Museum? The original Declaration of Independence in the National Archives? The chance to climb to the top of the Washington Monument? Classes on code-cracking at the Spy Museum? Our nation's capital is filled with kid-friendly historic attractions. Your best bet is to let your children take the lead and come up with an itinerary that matches their interests or what they're studying in school. The city is better suited to older kids because it's big--the blocks go on and on and so do the buildings--and little ones tucker out quickly. For more on DC, click here.

How is the economy changing the way you travel?

A recent Associated Press article answers the question: How is the economy changing the way we travel? The good news is that in spite of the down economy Americans are hitting the road. But the story indicated that we're doing things a little differently. How so? Here's a look at three of the trends highlighted in the article:

Some smaller cities are stealing the glory.

Both Fort Myers, Fla. and Charleston, S.C. experienced double digit growth in January 2009 over January 2008, based on American Express Travel bookings.

Cities such as Tucson, Palm Springs, Calif. and Portland, Ore. are also becoming popular destinations, with Travelocity data showing increases of 12%, 13% and 38% over last year.

Even Philadelphia's star is rising, said Travelocity senior editor Genevieve Shaw Brown.

Brown attributes Philadelphia's popularity spike to good marketing, a decrease in airfare of 16% compared to the overall 8% decrease for domestic flights and more interest in historic destinations in general.

Families are staying in the United States

Families are going back to the basics, says Brown. So rather than take a two-week vacation to Europe, they may go to a national park, she said.

David Mandt, spokesman for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, is cautiously optimistic about the summer season for the 400 theme parks in the U.S. He said even when gas was $4 a gallon in 2008, people continued to visit theme parks — they simply selected parks closer to home.

"Fundamentally our guests still have a need to get away and have fun with their friends and families," he said.

While for years, park operators have used special offers, promotions and discounts to encourage families to visit at a specific time, he said the deals may be easier to find this year, especially when it comes to packages that include accommodations.

Women are traveling together

Girlfriend getaways are still incredibly popular, according to Stephanie Oswald, host of All-Girl Getaways on the Fine Living Network.

But she said women are being more cost-conscious, such as traveling in the middle of the week, meeting at the airport and renting one car together, or renting a vacation home and going to a day spa instead of going to a destination spa.

April Merenda, president and co-founder of Gutsy Women Travel, said her business is up 25% over last year. But she said some women are canceling or postponing their trips because of economic concerns. She said many companies have canceled tours, so she's picking up some of those travelers.

Allison O'Sullivan, managing director of The Women's Travel Club, said the year started slowly and she cut back on trip offerings in January and February. But she said things are picking up. She's getting more calls and said she is "going full speed ahead the rest of the year."

The Women's Travel Club, which includes women from ranging from the 40s to 70s, has focused on international destinations, such as Italy, Iceland and Holland.

But O'Sullivan said she is planning to offer some domestic trips for women who want to stay closer to home, not worry about currency changes and use their miles.

"Yes, they are affected by the economy and are looking for deals, but they are not sitting at home," she said.

How is the economy affecting the way you travel?

Baby Mooning in Benicia, Calif.

My research for a recent post on traveling while pregnant led me to a great Baby Moon package offered by the Best Western Heritage Inn in Benicia, Calif. The package, designed specifically for expecting parents, includes:

• Romantic dinner for two ($50 voucher)
• In-room movie with ice cream
• Cookies and milk--plus a jar of pickles!--at bedtime

All for $199, plus room tax.
bestwesternbenicia.com

The modern, spacious hotel is centrally located in historic Benicia, which sits right on San Francisco Bay. You can walk to town filled with shops and cafes, lounge by the outdoor hotel pool, or simply hang out in the room watching movies--something you won't be able to do after the baby arrives.

Bargain shopping in NYC: Is it possible? Yes!

I'm starting to make plans for a solo trip to the Big Apple in May. I'm looking forward to eating in cafes, strolling through museums, and catching a show. But most of all, I can hardly wait to shop--something I almost never get to do these days without a little one tugging on my shirt. "I want to go home Mommy! This is SO boring!"

The only problem is: I don't have much money. Who does in this economy?

That's why I was excited to see the USA Today article "Confessions of a bargain shopper: Where to find a deal in New York City." Glamour executive fashion editor at large Suze Yalof Schwartz offers up a list of wallet-friendly shops. Here are three that I definitely plan to check out.

1) Mina
32-A Cooper Square
When A-listers and fashion editors need designer duds on a dime, they turn to Irene Albright of Albright Fashion Library to rent the looks. Now anyone can snag a steal at Albright's new store, Mina. "I always go here when I want to look amazing and wear something recognizable," Yalof Schwartz says. "I can rent the dress, shoe, bag and jewels from every designer in the world at a discounted price." Think Marc Jacobs, Chloe and Dolce & Gabbana at 70%-90% off. 212-253-5894, minanyc.com

2) ZARA
39 W. 34th St.
750 Lexington Ave.
101 Fifth Ave.
689 Fifth Ave.
580 Broadway
With stores around the world, this Spanish retailer offers well-tailored looks for less. Designs often pay homage to high-end designers such as Calvin Klein and range from suits to sundresses and hoodies to handbags. "The clothes here always look like designer, but everything is usually under $100," Yalof Schwartz says. "How can you beat that?" zara.com.

3) J. Crew Collection Store
1035 Madison Ave. at 79th Street
This J. Crew outpost opened last fall and is unlike any other. The chic shop is a melting pot of Crew classics—corduroys, chinos and cashmere — and luxe looks from luggage to python clutches. "This is J. Crew's only Collection Store, and there always seems to be a great sale inside," Yalof Schwartz says. 212-249-3869, jcrew.com

Where do you go bargain shopping in NYC?

Tips for pregnant travelers

"Are you sure it's safe?" "But what if I go into preterm labor—can the pilot make an emergency landing?" "My morning sickness is so bad—what if I have to actually use the barf bag?" "What if I can't sleep in the hotel room?"

These are some of the questions a girlfriend threw out at me the other day. She's pregnant and feeling nervous about an upcoming trip to Hawaii. When I was pregnant with my first, I remember experiencing similar anxiety about a trip to the Virgin Islands. I even went as far to research emergency landing procedures.

Now that I have traveled safely and successfully several times with a bun in my oven, my attitude is: Why be fat and uncomfortable at home when you can be fat and uncomfortable on a tropical island?

What's more, it's a wise idea to get away before junior arrives. A vacation--or a "baby moon" as it's often called--is relaxing and offers the opportunity to spend quality time with your partner. (I hate to break it to you, but there won't be a whole lot of that going on after the baby is born.)

And most importantly, it is safe, in most cases, to travel while pregnant. According to BabyCenter, "If you have a normal, healthy pregnancy, it can be perfectly safe to fly during most of it. You may find that your second trimester—weeks 14 to 27—is a perfect time to fly. Once you're past the first trimester, in all likelihood your morning sickness will be behind you, your energy levels will be higher, and your chances of miscarriage will be low. However, you shouldn't travel after 36 weeks."

But before you stuff your oh-so-flattering maternity swimsuit into your suitcase, here are a few tips to ensure that everything goes smoothly:

• See your doctor before you leave to make sure you're safe to travel.
• If you get the go-ahead, then be sure to locate a doctor at your destination so you have someone to call on if you face an emergency.
• Wear loose fitting clothes--i.e., sweat pants--on the plane. Also, remove your shoes--because your feet will swell--and put on a pair of slippers.
• Sit in an aisle on the plane. Easy restroom access is a must! Also, request a seat near the front so you don't get stuck standing in line to get off the plane.
• Pack your own pillow--to keep you comfortable in the car or on the plane. You'll also appreciate it when you're trying to fall asleep in an unfamiliar bed.
• Sprinkle lavender oil in your hair. It'll keep you calm on a plane flight and help you fall asleep in your hotel room.
• Open your hotel room window. You got hot easily when you're pregnant. You'll sleep better with the fresh air.
• Traveling to a sunny spot? Apply extra sunscreen and wear a hat. A big brimmed hat is great because it distracts from your belly and growing lower half!
• Ask bartenders to fix you their best "mocktail" since you can't indulge in libations like your friends or hubby--they typically won't charge and you will often get refills of creative combinations of fruit juices and sparkling waters. Cheers!
  

Best Western “On Sale” for 10 Hours Next Week

It's good to be a traveler. Next week more than 1,200 Best Western hotels in the U.S. and Canada will be “on sale,” beginning Monday, February 9 through Friday, February 13, for a total of 10 hours next week.

Destinations and travel deals will be posted each day of the week to Best Western’s Web site, www.bestwestern.com, along with a “countdown to savings” clock to alert travelers when the limited, two-hour window to book designated travel will begin. Travel can take place anytime this year – though prepayment is required to lock in posted rates.

Here’s the lineup of destinations:

·On Monday, visitors will be greeted with offers to popular ski destinations and resorts.

·On Tuesday, Best Western will feature deals to romantic hot-spots, such as Napa, Savannah and Nashville.

·Wednesday, travelers will have a choice of escaping winter weather for warmer destinations, including Honolulu, San Diego, Scottsdale and Orlando

·Thursday, Best Western will post deals to favorite U.S. cities, including New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

·Finally, on Friday, travelers will be offered a “grab bag” of destinations, which includes other top cities in North America.

How low will the rates be? Here are some examples of the cities and deals Best Western will offer:

·New York from $69 per night

·Napa from $89

·Scottsdale from $76

·Daytona Beach from $53

·Orlando from $53

·Monterey from $63

·San Diego from $90

·Honolulu from $99

·Seattle from $63

·New Orleans from $85

·Washington, D.C., from $89

·Savannah from $64

·Nashville from $60

These special Internet-only deals are based on hotel availability. To view, visit www.bestwestern.com/countdown beginning February 9.

Jet lag: How to beat it

My recent bout with jet lag led me to do some research. Here's a list of tips and tricks on how to ward off jet lag:

• According to Dr. Russel Reiter, a nutrition researcher and one of the world’s authorities on melatonin, cherries might help fight jet lag. "Tart cherries contain melatonin, which is then absorbed into the blood stream influencing your biological clock," he said. According to Dr. Reiter, when flying east (say from New York to London) travelers should eat a handful of dried cherries (which have even greater levels of melatonin than fresh cherries) 30 minutes before trying to sleep. Once at their destination, they should eat a handful of cherries 30 minutes before going to bed every night for the same number of nights as the time change. (For a five-hour time shift, eat cherries for five consecutive nights.) When heading west, do the same regime, only eat your cherries the night before departure. —The New York Times

• Catching sunlight once you arrive in another time zone can be more effective than drugs in helping to reset the body's clock, Dr. Moore-Ede said, adding, "The best thing you can do is get outdoors." —The New York Times

• Mark R. Rosekind, a sleep expert and a founder of Alertness Solutions, a consulting firm in Cupertino, Calif., underscores the need to get as much sleep as you can before and during travel. Get plenty of rest before the trip, he said, to avoid starting out with a “sleep debt” that compounds over the length of your stay. After arrival, take care to get enough sleep and ensure that your sleep will be uninterrupted — by staying in hotels, for example, that provide a quiet setting and heavy curtains to keep light out. And, he said, avoid drinking alcohol close to bedtime because it disrupts sleep patterns. —The New York Times

• If you are prone to jet lag, begin a defense in advance of your trip. As soon as you get on the plane, change your watch to your new time zone and try to adjust your eating and sleeping schedule to that time. Even better, shift your eating, sleeping and exercise patterns to your new time zone a few days before your departure. After landing, stick to your new schedule, especially avoiding daytime sleep. —Dr. Nayer Khazeni, Stanford University Medical Center, The San Francisco Chronicle

• Try to schedule flights so that they arrive mid/late afternoon, wherever in the world I’m flying to. This allows for a convenient amount of time to get to the hotel, and then a good night's sleep to follow. —USA Today

• The worst thing to do upon arriving somewhere, early in the day, is to give in and have ‘a short nap’. Not only does the short nap usually become a longer sleep (!), but you’re making it more difficult for your body to get a handle on what time zone it now is in – your strategy is to start living the new time zone as soon as possible. —USA Today

The jet lag curse

Our flight landed in San Francisco at 6 p.m.

"Is it morning time?" asked my daughter, who had slept on the plane for nine hours.

"It's morning in Bali but nighttime in San Francisco."

She was confused.

Night No. 1

By the time we got home it was 8 p.m. We opened mail, listened to voicemail messages, unpacked souvenirs, and even went to the grocery store. I kept the kids up until 10 p.m. because on the first night of trying to adjust to a new time zone, you're supposed to stay up as late as possible so you don't wake up at 3 a.m.

And then Paris yawned and I put the kids to bed. They were tired and quickly fell asleep--until 4 a.m.

Paris came into the bedroom and woke me.

"I'm hungry! Wake up! I'm hungry! Turn the light on! Get out of bed Mommy!"

I felt as if I was being woke from the dead. I had taken sleeping pills to help me adjust to the time so I practically had to pry open my eyelids to see the bright and smiley look on my daughter's face.

I dragged myself out of bed and into the kitchen. Paris was wired. She pulled all the cereal out and put a little of each kind into a bowl. Cereal was spilled out all over the place and I could hardly see straight. But after a few cups of black tea, I perked up.

We finished unpacking, wrote our thank-you notes for Christmas, drew tons of pictures. And then at 8 a.m., Dante and Anthony woke up. They had already adjusted to San Francisco time while Paris and I were still back in Bali.

Night No. 2

The next day, we sent the kids to school. Both my husband and I had to work so we had no choice. (In hindsight, I would have planned the trip so we returned on a Friday and took the weekend to adjust.) But Paris and Dante both survived school and we picked them up in the evening and put them to bed at 8 p.m. They quickly conked out because they were exhausted from school. I was also feeling tired and ready for bed--after all I had been up since 3 a.m.--but I had to work. And once I sat down on the computer, I began to wake up. In fact, I was feeling energized because it was the middle of the day in Bali.

When I finally stood up from my desk at 1 a.m., my legs were so wobbly that I nearly fell to the ground. I had been up for 21 hours and I had probably gotten six or eight hours total the two nights before. I was beyond exhaustion. I collapsed into bed and figured that I'd fall right asleep. Wrong. I had pushed myself too far. My mind was racing. I lay there staring up at the ceiling. 22 hours. Sleeping pills. Still not tired. 23 hours. 24 hours. Read magazine article. 25 hours. I finally fell asleep at 5 a.m.

6 a.m.—my daughter wakes up. Like her dad and brother, she was already back on track.

"Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!"

I was supposed to take my daughter to school that morning and then my son and his friend to swim class. I looked over at my husband, who had slept restfully for 10 hours, and said, "I'm going to die if I don't get sleep!"

A week later, I finally adjusted.

Homeward bound: Bali-Taipei-SF

The return flights to San Francisco went smoothly. Believe it or not, we traveled for 24 hours straight with no major mishaps. The highlight was a five-hour layover in Taipei where we noshed on udon noodles at a cafe and ran around with the kids at an indoor playground. After getting all their ya-yas out, they boarded the 12-hour flight home--and slept for nine solid hours. Can't complain!

Bali's vanishing rice paddies

Outside the mountain village of Ubud, our driver pulled over the van to show us a rice paddy. Terraced fields tripped down the hillsides like steps for a giant. The Gunung Kawi paddies were a spectacular sight to see.

Rice is the No. 1 crop in Indonesia, and you see lush, green fields throughout Bali--it's part of the island's appeal. But sadly, the rice paddies are disappearing. With tourism becoming a billion dollar industry, Balinese are abandoning farming. Rice paddies are being replaced by golf courses, hotels, villas, and industrial parks. On average, Bali is reducing its rice production by about four thousand tons per year. Today, these rice paddies are sights to see before they disappear.