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 A fussy baby makes everyone anxious on a plane. Passengers are angered and sometimes even sent into a rage by the sounds of a crying child.
The actual parents are uneasy because they know the noise is annoying, and then there are the flight attendants who are serving drinks to a plane load of edgy people. What's the solution? A kids-only section on the airplane, according to a recent survey conducted by Skyscanner, a fare-comparison website. Nearly 60 percent of more than 2,000 travelers polled say they want airlines to create such a section, according to Skyscanner. Nearly 20 percent went as far to say they'd prefer child-free flights. USA Today reports: Skyscanner posted the poll on its site Aug. 11-23, after a confidential settlement last month between Qantas and a 67-year-old American passenger who sued the Australian airline after a 3-year-old screamed on her flight last year. The woman complained of excruciating pain in her ears and was taken to a hospital before the Darwin-bound flight departed from Alice Springs. Most poll respondents in favor of creating a families-only section said they don't have young children and "want to sit as far away as possible" from them. Skyscanner spokeswoman Mary Porter says results of the unscientific poll are not surprising. A previous poll found that young children are the "most annoying" factor on flights. "I can still remember that feeling of dread when you found yourself seated next to a baby on a long flight," Porter says. "However, since regularly flying with my 1-year-old, I am much more aware of what a stressful and often embarrassing situation it can be for parents." The Air Transport Association of America declined to comment. But at least two airlines, Southwest and JetBlue, say they have not looked into assigning parts of the plane to families. What do you think? Should airplanes have a kids-only section?
 On the Go with Amy got a mention in a recent article on ABC Online about surviving summer traffic jams: It's nearly impossible to fathom the massive traffic jam in China, now in its 11th day with cars moving about a half-a-mile each 24 hours.
Yes, you read that right, cars and trucks on a 60-mile span of highway in Inner Mongolia are moving slower than most people can crawl. And yet there are no reports of road rage, no massive protests against road crews. The drivers' only complaint: villagers who are providing food and water to them seem to be price gouging. "The thing that shocks me the most, is the way the drivers are handling it, their basic tolerance for it," said Tom Jacobs, director of the Center for Advanced Transportation Technology at the University of Maryland. "Folks here, God forbid they spend more than an hour in a traffic backup." That's probably true. American drivers love to avoid gridlock, especially when heading out for a family vacation. So before you hit the road these final weeks of summer, we decided to ask the experts for tips to avoid traffic and what to do when stuck in that driving nightmare.
Avoiding Traffic Jams The easiest way to stay happy while in a traffic jam is to avoid one in the first place. That's not always easy, but technology is quickly expanding to assist motorists. Before Jacobs leaves his office, he checks a desktop traffic widget on his personalized Google page that gives him real-time traffic updates for all the highways on his drive home. If there is a problem, he can pick an alternate route before even leaving his desk.
Stay Up to Date on the Latest Travel Trends from ABC News on Twitter Once in his car, Jacobs relies on the old – radio traffic reports – and the new – programs on his smartphone that provide real-time traffic updates. Supplement all of that with those highway message signs run by the state's department of transportation and he's up to speed with any delays, hopefully before hitting them. "If it looks like it's horrible, I don't care, I will bail out," Jacobs said. "Invariably there's a local road, a rural road. Even if it means that I have to travel way out of my way to get around a particular event, I will do it." Chris McGinnis, a travel expert and the head of Travel Skills, said that that being stuck in a traffic jam is not as bad today as it was in the past when we were not so wirelessly connected.
"With a smartphone, you at least know what lies ahead, where the next exit is and how far away it is and what the problem or hold up ahead is," McGinnis said. "In the past, no one knew -- except truckers with CB radios -- and it was the uncertainty of the situation that made it so awful." Amy Graff, who blogs about her family road trips at On the Go With Amy, says a surefire way to avoid traffic is to avoid rush hour. "With kids it's really important to steer clear of the road during rush hour. Kids just don't have the bandwidth to sit for long stretches of time," Graff said. "This is especially important around holiday weekends--such as Labor Day and Thanksgiving. My family sat in some terrible traffic the day before Thanksgiving two years ago trying to get into Portland, Ore. What should have taken 30 minutes took two hours." Her recommendations: Leave around 5 a.m. or after 8 p.m. The hours might be rough, but you'll have a better drive and get to spend more time at your destination. Another key tip from Graff: stop every two hours. Think about this before you get stuck in that traffic nightmare. It's always best to stretch your legs when you can. "We kept a hula hoop in the back of the trunk on one road trip. We'd stop and the kids would Hula Hoop," she said. "A jump rope works well too."
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 Traveling to San Francisco and want to go sea kayaking on the Bay? Headed for Park City, Utah, and hoping to go on a guided mountain bike tour? Check out Zozi.com, a new site offering deals on local activities. hink sailing school, kayaking tours, fire-eating lessons, cooking classes, dance lessons, wine tasting, trekking, and racecar driving at 70 percent off. Zozi is currently in over a dozen city, from Portland, Ore., and Los Angeles, to New York and Chicago.
The site is currently giving away $500,000 in free activities so be sure to visit soon.
 It's a question any new parent bringing an infant on an airplane faces: Do you purchase a seat for your baby or let her sit on your lap? Current government regulation says children under age 2 are the only people who can fly without being buckled up. Babies can fly for free by sitting on an adult's lap.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has long recommended buying a seat and securing a child in a car seat or a CARES harness, and now the N.T.S.B. has released a statement saying this recommendation should be changed to a requirement. The N.T.S.B. "concludes that children under the age of 2 years should be afforded the same level of protection as all other persons aboard air carrier airplanes." If a plane encounters turbulence or crashes, unrestrained children are obviously at higher risk for injury and death than those who are restrained. Yet how often does a plane crash or encounter dangerous turbulence? Not often. And data specifically looking at how many unrestrained children have been injured inflight over the years is unavailable--though anecdotal evidence and available records show that it's very rare. As a result, most parents--up to 85 percent--opt to carry their babies on their laps, mainly because that's what they would end up doing anyway. Cuddling and nursing an infant tends to minimize crying. Plus, the savings on a ticket are huge. My two children traveled many times as lap children when they were under 2. There was a wedding in Mexico. A funeral in the Northwest. A trip to France. We saved hundreds in airline tickets. In fact, many families specifically plan trips before their kids turn 2 to take advantage of the free ride. But it's hard for a parent to feel entirely comfortable with this choice: While parents are safely buckled up, their babies are not. A lot of the time, parents traveling with lap children still bring car seats onto the plane in hopes of getting placed next to an empty seat. When our children were under 2, my husband and I often asked the ticket agent to seat us next to an open seat--and our request was typically honored. We'd lug the car seat onto the plane and my husband would then ask for the seat belt extension so he could get the car seat properly installed--but then my daughter would never even sit in the safety seat. I'd hold my daughter in my lap because she was happiest nursing. The FAA has long argued against requiring parents to buy plane seats for infants. They say parents unable to afford tickets for their young children will opt to drive rather than fly, resulting in more highway fatalities. What do you think? Should children under 2 be restrained on plane flights? What have you done when flying with an infant?
Planning to get away for Thanksgiving or Christmas? Now's the time to start shopping for airline tickets, the experts are saying. This from SmarterTravel.com: If last year is any indication, airlines will start pitching holiday sales right after Labor Day, and holiday flights will be at their cheapest the first two weeks of October. However, you can start comparing airfares now to see what current prices are, then see if they drop in September or October. I compared several routes that SmarterTravel's airfare experts tracked last year for the holidays and found that prices are currently higher than they were in late summer 2009, although it's early enough that the airlines have little incentive to slash prices for holiday travel yet. Right now, it's still a seller's market—but it could become a buyer's market in the coming weeks. Remember, though, with capacity cuts, fewer seats at lower prices will be available. Once you see a good price for your budget, you'll want to snap it up.
 Question: Hi Amy, My husband and I along with another couple are going to Santa Barbara this weekend. We are traveling by train for the 1st time and this is our 1st trip to Santa Barbara. Because we'll only be their from Sunday morning til Monday evening, we want to get the most out of our stay. We are staying at the Best Western Beachside Inn and we definitely want to go wine tasting, which we've never done before either. We don't want to waste a lot of time looking for things to do. Can you help me? We were thinking about doing a wine tasting tour when we check into the hotel on Sunday around noon. Then seeing some sites or going on an adventure. Then Monday we can enjoy the beach across from the hotel before we leave that evening. Can you help us? Thanks! Answer: You're going to have a wonderful weekend! The Amtrak train rolls right into downtown Santa Barbara and you can walk from the station to your hotel. Santa Barbara and the nearby San Ynez Valley are known for their wineries: visit sbcountywines.com. Since you'll be without a car, you'll probably want to go on an organized tour. Santa Barbara Backroads offers a four-hour open air Hummer tour of the San Ynez Valley with three winery stops. The tour leaves at 1:30 p.m. at the Wharf, that's within walking distance of your hotel. For more info. The tour drops you back off at the Wharf at 5:30 p.m. Time for dinner! Right downtown, within walking distance of your hotel, you'll find Brophy Bros., known for its ocean views, clam chowder, and grilled fish. The next morning, the beach right outside your hotel is your best bet. Enjoy! Ask Amy a travel question: Email onthegowithamy@gmail.com.
This friendly email just came in from a reader: Amy-
I enjoy reading your blog, and it was super useful last week when our family drove from Sacramento to Oregon. We stopped at many of the places you mentioned in the blog from your recent I-5 trip. We also found one on our own and wanted to pass it along to you-- a place for a meal a bit South of Redding called the Olive Pit. There were a bunch of billboards, and it seemed hokey. But, actually, it was a really nice place. You order at the counter (and so get quick service) but the restaurant is super clean and almost elegant, and with good prices, too. They also sell all kinds of olive products-- good for amusing the kids during the short wait for the food.... Oh, one other "find." You mentioned stopping at Peggy's for ice cream in Oregon. Yes- you can do this at the outside window-- and the ice cream is good. But, we had lunch inside and were served by Peggy's daughter. This woman is a real character--- a very, very funny person-- worth stopping just to meet her.
Thanks again!
Bert
 Summer isn't over yet. There's still time for some outdoor fun, especially if it's free. More than 100 national parks that typically charge an entrance fee will let travelers in for free August 14 and 15. Florida's Everglades, California's Yosemite, and Wyoming's Yellowstone are among those waiving entrance fees. For details
 Today Smokey Bear is celebrating his 66th birthday. My kids and I bumped into the famous bear last weekend while camping at Grover Hot Springs State Park in California's Sierra mountains. The USDA Forest Service put on a presentation about forest fire prevention and even let the kids play with the fire hose. My son had a fun time spraying his dad! Here are some fire prevention tips from Smokey: | • | If smoking is permitted outdoors, safe practice requires a 3-foot clearing around the smoker. | | • | Don't park your vehicle on dry grass. | | • | If off-road vehicle use is allowed, internal combustion equipment requires a spark arrester. | | • | Know your county's outdoor burning regulations. Unlawful trash burning is a punishable offense. | | • | At the first sign of a wildfire, leave area immediately by established trails or roads. Contact a Ranger as soon as possible. If escape route is blocked, go to the nearest lake or stream. | | • | Leave campsite as natural as possible, traveling on trails and other durable surfaces. | | • | Inspect your site upon leaving. | | • | Never take burning sticks out of a fire. | | • | Never take any type of fireworks on public lands. | | • | Keep stoves, lanterns and heaters away from combustibles. | | • | Store flammable liquid containers in a safe place. | | • | Never use stoves, lanterns and heaters inside a tent |
 On the Go with Amy got a mention in a recent Associated Press story. Here's an excerpt: In Bali, they're seeking guidance from a spiritual healer. In Rome, they're lapping up gelato. And in India, they're visiting temples. Fans of Elizabeth Gilbert's best-selling memoir "Eat, Pray, Love," have been following in her footsteps ever since it was first published in 2006. The book describes a year Gilbert spent living in Italy, India and Indonesia on the rebound from a divorce and failed romance. But the travel industry is betting that the Aug. 13 release of a film version starring Julia Roberts will inspire even more globe-trotting. Hotels, tour companies and even guidebook publishers are offering everything from do-it-yourself itineraries to luxury trips. The movie even has "official" travel partners: Lonely Planet, which created a website at www.lonelyplanet.com/eatpraylove with recommendations for sightseeing and lodging, and STA Travel, which is advertising a contest for a 21-day trip to the three countries. Naturally, it is a trip for one. For high-end travelers, there are invitations like this one: "Eat. Pray. Fall in love with Micato Safaris' Inspirational India Tour." Price tag: $19,795. But plenty of fans have replicated parts of Gilbert's journey on their own. Australian tourist Zoe Moran was reading the book as she stopped by the San Crispino ice cream shop near the Trevi Fountain in Rome, where Gilbert ate gelato three times in one day. "I just got to the part in Rome, so I'm trying to follow the footsteps of Gilbert," she said. Gilbert writes of savoring good food and soaking up sights like the Villa Borghese and Piazza del Popolo. Canadian tourist Sarah Luong, another "Eat, Pray, Love" fan at San Crispino, said she was "trying to do the same, take my time and enjoy Rome at its best." Some "Eat, Pray, Love" devotees have found their way to Ubud, the artsy town in Bali where Gilbert seeks guidance from Ketut Liyer, a spiritual healer, and makes friends with a cafe owner named Wayan. Gilbert notes in the book that tourism to Indonesia plummeted after a series of terrorist bombings. Liyer even says to her, "If you have Western friends come to visit Bali, bring them to me for palm-reading. I am very empty in my bank since the bomb!" Liyer's wish came true. Since the book was published, Liyer said in an interview in his home, "I have more foreign tourists visiting me." He estimated the number of visitors to be in the "hundreds." As seekers dropped by — including a group from Japan who said they heard about him from the book — Liyer offered cheerful palm and face readings, predicting luck, wealth and long life. And just as Gilbert described, he asked his guests to help him practice speaking English. Ngurah Wijaya, head of the Bali Tourism Board, said it's impossible to quantify how many tourists Indonesia is getting because of "Eat, Pray, Love." But he said it has had a "great impact" in making "people understand that Bali is safe." Amy Graff, who lives in San Francisco and writes about family travel on her blog, "On the Go With Amy," took a trip to Indonesia in 2009 with her husband, kids and another family. Both she and the other mom loved the book. "I really was compelled to go and try and find Wayan," Graff said. The two families got "the vitamin lunch" described by Gilbert in the book, and which Graff said was "absolutely delicious."
 Ouch! Another airline has just hit us with another pesky fee. Today, low-cost carrier Spirit airlines started charging for carry-ons, yes carry-ons. The fee, according to The Press of Atlantic City, is $45 per bag at the gate, or $30 if paid in advance. The airline has lowered fares by an average of about $40 to offset the fees, spokeswoman Misty Pinson said. “It’s ridiculous for a carry-on,” Pat Spadafora, 65, told the Press. Her $300 fare between Atlantic City and Florida was no cheaper than the previous time she made the trip, Spirit’s claims notwithstanding, she said. What does this mean for families? The parents are going to have tired backs. Your kids will probably no long be carrying their own backpacks stuffed with toys onto the plane. Everything will have to go into mom or dad's carry on.
 Wanting to expose your children to cultures across the globe? Check out LittlePassports.com. This company is focused on inspiring global citizenship in children and exposing them to other countries and cultures in a fun, engaging way. Here's how it works: You sign up for a subscription ($10.95-$13.95 a month)--and then a package filled with fun stuff geared to teaching your kids about a certain country arrives in the mail every month. The country package includes a fun letter from Little Passports characters, Sam and Sofia, and souvenirs, such as music CDs, traditional country toys, arts and crafts projects, puzzles, pencils and erasers, photos, stickers, and postcards. You'll also get access to the online Boarding Zone full of games and activities.
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A fussy baby makes everyone anxious on a plane.
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