Vacation Nannies In Jamaica…

As a first-time mom, I was very uncomfortable with the thought of leaving my daughter in a baby club, or in the care of someone other than a family member whether we were at home or away. But once my son came along, I understood the appeal – BIG TIME. Now as a travel agent specializing in family vacations, I’m finding my clients are like two different versions of me – the first-time parents and family travelers, who don’t need a resort with a lot of bells and whistles (yet), and those who have two and maybe even three little ones, and they NEED. A. BABY. CLUB.

Most resorts offer some form of private babysitting, or can refer you to a local agency who can help out. But this can really add up, plus the convenience of having a baby club on site  - a place to drop off the little ones, even to get them into some air-conditioning for a little bit – can mean a real vacation for you and your partner too.

Obviously this list is a work in progress, but I’ve compiled all the resorts with baby clubs in the Caribbean and Mexico and listed them by country…

Varadero Beach, Cuba

Resorts with Baby Clubs in Cuba
While Cuba still sometimes struggles with the perception of less-then-appetizing food or somewhat haphazard amenities, Cuba is awesome for families. It is safe and clean, and while the number of resorts that can accommodate large families is somewhat astounding (ie – very very few) it actually has quite a lot of resorts with baby clubs. CLICK HERE

Resorts with Baby Clubs in the Dominican Republic
Punta Cana seems to be the place to be, as all the resorts with baby clubs in the Dominican Republic seem to be located here. While the mega-resorts can seem huge and a little overwhelming, knowing there’s a well-regarded baby club that will happily take your baby or toddler for a little while might give you a chance to explore some of it. CLICK HERE

Resorts with Baby Clubs in Jamaica
Jamaica kids of takes the cake when it comes to availability of baby clubs – with the creme de la creme of two Beaches Resorts plus the wonderfullness that is Franklyn D. Resort and their famed vacation nannies. Jamaica may be pricier than some other Caribbean destinations, but if you factor in the things like potable tap water, good medical care, and great food, and maybe padding the budget a little bit is worth it. CLICK HERE

Club Med Ixtapa Pacific

Resorts with Baby Clubs in Mexico
Mexico and its warm and wonderful family-friendly culture has many destinations with their own appeal, plus so many different accommodation options that are suitable for families. They have some amazing resorts, and some of those resorts offer included baby care (or in the instance of Club Med Ixtapa Pacific, available at an extra cost). Given Mexico’s size, there are actually not that many resorts with baby clubs, and with the exception of Club Med the minimum age to participate starts at one year. CLICK HERE

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And new for 2013, the Kinder® Surprise Eggs have brand new toy collections – our favourites are the Softy Tummies animals, and also the Dino Age series. The kids get to unwrap their egg, eat the chocolate treat, and play (for a few minutes at least!) with a new toy, and maybe (just maybe!) you get to sit and watch a teensy bit of an in-flight movie. And if the kids lose the toy, it’s not the end of the world.

I thought it was an urban myth, but it is actually true that Kinder® Surprise Eggs are not legal in the United States! If you’re headed to the US , probably best to enjoy the eggs on the plane, as I was surprised to learn that Customs and Border Protection seized 25,000 eggs last year!

Disclosure: I’m part of the Kinder® Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

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Varadero Beach, Cuba

Enjoy Your Wave Baby…  7 Beach Tips For Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers…

Truthfully, my first instinct when it came to my daughter was to keep her in a bubble, safe from dirt, germs, bugs, and anything else that I couldn’t control. But here’s the thing: we love the outdoors, the beach being a particular favourite, so I had to come to terms with the fact that my baby would get dirty, put things in her mouth, and taste a handful or two of sand.

I’ve loosened up enough to let my children loose on the beach, but of course I’m still concerned about their safety.  With a whack of beach vacations under our belts with tots in tow, I’m happy to share my tips about keeping babies, toddlers and little kids safe and happy beside the surf.

Coolibar Travel Umbrella

Get Made In the Shade: Your days of lazing in the blazing sun are over.  Be sure to set up shop under a beach umbrella or palapa, and adjust your arrangements as the sun moves. Shade is especially crucial for the littlest babies, as those under 6-months-old are too young for sunscreen.  Coolibar makes a shade travel umbrella, and with a bit of rigging you can finagle a shady spot ideal for immobile babies.
Canadian and American shoppers click here

Green Beaver Sunscreen

We All Scream For Sunscreen: It’s no longer an option, sunscreen is a necessity for every member of your family over 6mos.  The higher the SPF factor, the better, but choose children’s formulations for the younger set, and avoid putting it on baby’ hands (you know where those hands always go).  SPF swimwear is also a great way to keep kids’ skin safe from the sun. Green Beaver‘s organic sunscreen formulations are effective, and the available pump spray makes them easy to apply. Coolibar’s SPF swimwear for infants and toddlers is adorable, as well as safe.
                    For Green Beaver, Canadian shoppers click here and US shoppers click here
                   For Coolibar swimwear, Canadian and US shoppers click here

Lunchie

Drink At The Big Drink: Have lots of fresh water and other fluids on hand – playing at the beach is thirsty fun and it’s important to keep everyone hydrated.  Extra water comes in handy for the inevitable mouthful or eyeful of sand. If nursing, offer extra feedings and make sure to drink enough yourself! If you’ve got bottles of milk to keep cool, you’ll need an isulated bag. It may as well be cute, so that’s why we love the Lunchie!
                     Canadian shoppers click here
                     American shoppers click here

Luvali Sun Hats

Avoid Hat Tricks: Protect little scalps and tender eyes by making sure sunhats stay on.  Look for ones with good, strong Velcro but sometimes you need to go the route of the string. Make sure you have extras on hand – hats do have a mysterious way of disappearing when you’re not looking. Luvali Convertibles are so cute, though, that you’ll notice if it’s not on Junior’s head!
                    Canadian Shoppers click here
                   American shoppers click here

Zoocchini Towels

Shake And Break:  No matter the fun you’re all having, it’s important to shake off the sand and take a break.  The suns’ rays are strongest between the hours of 10am and 4pm, ideal times for a snack in the shade, and then lunch and a nap indoors.  You’ll head back to the beach refreshed and ready to play. Zoocchinni Hooded Towels are the absolute cutest way to dry off after a dip.
                     Canadian shoppers click here
                    American shoppers click here

Bogg Bags

Keep It Simple, Silly: The more intricate and elaborate the beach toys you bring, the more you’ll have to carry and keep track of. A few buckets, shovels and a beachball are really all that’s needed, and when your beach babies are old enough, have them pitch in to help carry the load. In the meantime, Bogg Bags are an awesome alternative to a pack mule – sturdy, big, and you can hose ‘em off!
                    Canadian and American shoppers click here

Salus Marine Infant Life Jackets

Arm & Eye Co-ordination:  With kids, things can happen in the blink of an eye, and you don’t want that blink to happen at the beach. A watchful eye is essential at all times, not just at the water’s edge, but to avoid ingesting seashells, stepping on something sharp and/or prickly, and the like.  Tots with a tendency to bolt should be relegated to full-time life jackets. PFDs, water wings and other floaties are not a substitute for supervision, and even strong swimmers should be within arm’s reach while in the water. Salus Marine‘s line of life jackets and PFDs are excellent options to keep your little one safe by the sea.
                     Canadian shoppers click here & Americans click here

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Bub In The Badlands Near Royal Tyrrell

We drove down a little dip and all of a sudden the landscape completely changed. I’ve done my share of traveling, but this was like nothing I’d ever seen before. THAT was what the Badlands looked like. NOW I know!

Scary T-Rex At Royal Tyrrell Museum

Our first stop once we arrived was straight to the famed Drumheller museum – the Royal Tyrrell Museum. This is why Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie brought their kids to Drumheller, Alberta – the dinosaur museum is Canada’s only museum dedicated exclusively to the science of palaeontology and houses one of the world’s largest displays of dinosaurs. It’s awesome.

Not sure this in the Grade 1 curriculum…

The Royal Tyrrell is also dedicated to making learning about dinosaurs fun. So there’s lots of interactive displays and even a cute game room that essentially makes the pollination process into a game with giant flowers and shooting balls. It was a blast! At least until Bub got blasted in the face with one of the balls. Lesson learned – even though Bub thinks he can (and often does) play like a big boy, his reflexes are still somewhat toddler.

The recreated dinosaurs are fascinating and incredibly life-like. So much so, that Bub found a lot of the museum a little scary. He’s not a big fan of dark combined with noisy, and while the lights are dimmed at the start of the exhibits, the added sound effects kinda freaked him out. My daughter loved it, though. At six-and-a-half she is a voracious reader and devoured all the information posted in front of all the exhibits. Suddenly I felt a lot less guilty for her missing a week of school.

Less scary with no skin, apparently…

Bub came around when we got towards the end of the exhibits – with the dinosaur skeletons rebuilt in action poses. The room was much brighter, and we only had difficulty keeping his little hands away from the sand and the bones! Unfortunately we were there on a weekday before high season, so the various outings and digs were not yet running. The hands-on exploration and dig programs they run on weekends, and then daily during high season, sound amazing. A good reason to come back, I think!

The Royal Tyrrell Museum was great value – at only $11.00 admission for adults, kids aged 7-17 are $6.00, and children six and under are free. The museum is fully accessible, so stroller access was a breeze. A nice touch was in the washroom they had a sign instructing nursing mothers to inquire about their comfortable nursing facilities. There are some benches here and there and plenty of seating in the dining area, but nowhere really comfy if you need to sit for any great duration. Change tables are in the washroom, and there’s a decent selection of healthy options in the cafeteria.

NOW I Know What The Badlands Look Like…

We still had some time to spend with our visiting family before they had to head back to Edmonton, so we decided to check out the Hoodoos. Just about a ten minute drive from the museum, you’ll come across these funny rock formations that look straight out of a Road Runner cartoon.

Apparently a long time ago you used to be able to climb on the Hoodoos. These days they’ve built stairs and platforms to safely view the rock formations without damaging them. The  hoodoos were created through the deposit of materials during the Cretaceous Period – between 70 and 75 million years ago. They are composed of sand and clay and the solid, caps protect the softer base beneath, creating their unique mushroom-y shape.

Bub And His “Rock River”…

The areas around the Hoodoos are great for exploring. Younger toddlers can make their way around the formations relatively easily so long as you are nearby or offering a hand. Older toddlers (like my daredevil) of course are off and exploring – looking for rocks to throw down the “rock river”. I thought they went a bit steep for my liking but my husband was with them and since he was familiar with the territory I let him take the lead. I fully admit my helicopter parent leanings and in this case I’m glad I kept my mouth shut and let them explore. When asked about her favorite part of the trip, my daughter says “climbing the Hoodoos”.

Bub’s Favourite Part Of Our Trip…

That night we stayed in the Ramada Drumheller – it’s a very basic hotel but the rooms were spacious and clean, free WiFi, a fantastic INCLUDED breakfast that ended up being our lunch as well (pack zippered baggies, people!) and, of course, The Waterslide!! The pool area was very clean (careful, floor can be a little slippery) and they had a couple of life jackets kicking around which pleased Bub to no end. The water slides were probably his trip highlight, and that’s ok with us.

I am so grateful to Travel Alberta for helping my family take this trip of a lifetime.

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Off To Beaver Brothers Bay!

A Baby and Toddler-Friendly Theme Park That’s A Short Drive From Toronto…

As someone who once claimed to hate theme parks, I sure have been spending a lot of time in theme lately. And I guess I’ve realized, maybe through necessity, that I actually don’t hate them. I just kind of feared them. We’ve spent a lot of time at Walt Disney World over the past few years, and we just got back from Darien Lake, NY – home of Darien Lake Theme Park and somewhere I have wanted to visit since I was a kid! Growing up in Toronto, we are privy to all of Buffalo, New York’s affiliate stations. And when I was small, they had the best Saturday morning cartoons. So all my life I’ve been excited by Cellino & Barnes Attorneys At Law, Carvel’s Cookie Puss and Fudgie The Whale, Tops Friendly Market, and Darien Lake Fun Countreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! And finally, I visited Darien Lake!

We stayed at Darien Lake’s hotel, The Lodge On The Lake. It was Canada’s long weekend, and while the 2.5 hour wait (ugh) at the border indicated that things would be super busy, it was not the case once we arrived at the hotel. Considering it was at 97% capacity, it did not feel crowded at all. (Noted for future cross-border visits to LEAVE EARLY.) If traveling to Darien Lake, it’s best (and easiest) to use the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie – you’ll pay a 90¢ toll (remember to have US funds handy) both ways and to re-enter Canada it is $3.00. For future reference when we fly out of Buffalo, I’ll take the Peace Bridge again too – seems like a longer way to go as it’s the last exit on the QEW, but man – is it ever easier once you’re over the border. Adults need passports, Canadian babies, toddlers, and children 15 and under just need proof of citizenship - such as an original or a photocopy of a birth certificate, or an original citizenship card.

Standard Queen Room at Lodge On The Lake

Our Standard Queen Room at the Lodge On The Lake was huge – easily enough room to sleep six (two Queen beds + a sofa bed). It had a good sized mini fridge, and the vending area not only had the standard pop, snack, and ice machine, but also a microwave – super handy for heating food and bottles. The General Store and Woody’s snack bar in the lobby are open until 11pm, so grabbing a quick late-night milk or forgotten sunscreen for the next day is not an issue. The food selection at Woody’s is decent (hello, Tim Hortons coffee!) and you could certainly make do with it for all your meals if you wanted to, but there are also decent food options both in the theme park and down the road at the gas station. As with most theme parks, finding healthy options took a bit of work, but we were mostly successful. I would not recommend Maria’s Spaghetti near Splash Town, but the Beaver Brothers cafe near the Boomerang Roller Coaster had lots to choose from and the kids’ meals were at a better price point than most of the concessions around the park. The park and dining options are licensed, but if you want to partake in a WINE SLUSHIE (!) you had to buy it outside and bring it in. Or so I heard

Bub & “His” Red Monster Truck

The hotel, theme park, and Splash Town (the water park) are spotless. The staff are also super friendly. The theme park is small when you compare it to some others that are close to Toronto, but for us it was a good size that was easy to navigate with little ones. They have a number of really great kiddie rides in the Beaver Brothers Bay – Chucky’s Mud Buckets was a big hit and my kids spun so fast it made me ill to watch. They loved it, though, and I was a big fan of not having to go on with them. As with one of our all-time favourites, Centreville, a lot of the small rides are for little ones only. Kids seem to love that, and I certainly do too. More favourites in Beaver Brothers Bay? The train and the monster trucks. I think Bub drove the red monster truck at least 10 times. That was another thing that really surprised me about Darien Lake. In spite of it being a holiday weekend for Canadians, and that 50-60% of visitors are Canadian, there were no lines at all. Wait times for rides were incredibly short.

All Aboard!

The newest area at Darien Lake’s theme park is Rowdy’s Ridge, a great spot with rides and attractions for kids that area a bit bigger. These rides worked out great for our daredevil-in-theory daughter, as well as for Bub who always wants to be a big boy. The kiddie roller coaster is the perfect combination of tame and exciting, and the Moose On The Loose is so very cute. So very, in fact, that the line up for that was pretty slow. A suggestion for Darien Lake would be to make Moose On The Loose a ride where adults can only go if they are escorting a small child like some of the other kiddie rides.

The wave pool at Splash Town was also a hit. We brought Bub’s life jacket from home, but there were plenty kicking around that you could borrow as well. My kids were not quite ready for most of the water slides, but my daughter and I very much enjoyed the lazy river. The other water play areas were pretty busy on this day, and Bub was in a kind of awkward in-between spot – too big for the little pirate boat and slides, but not quite big enough for the rest of the fun at Hook’s Lagoon. While I noted that the surroundings were very clean and not slippery, we still took caution and managed to fall anyway. Bub slipped, and when I picked him up to comfort him, I slipped in the exact same spot. I came down hard on my knee with my and Bub’s full weight, and went off to the medical center with some nasty road rash. Once I was patched up with a water-resistant bandage, I hobbled back out and just took it easy for the rest of the afternoon.

Pool at Lodge On The Lake

The value at Darien Lake is pretty astounding. The cost for the Standard Queen Room that we had ranges from $240 – $310 per night for a family of four, and that includes park admission for two days. Check in is at 3pm and check out is at 11am, but you are able to enjoy the rides and Splash Town for both full days. That’s practically the cost for one day anywhere else. The room upgrades have the cute bunk beds built ins that are so popular now with the younger set. The various camping options available are even more affordable than the hotel. The pool at the hotel was also a hit with our family, as it opens at 9am but the parks don’t until 10:30 – you can have a lazy morning and breakfast and then just meander over over for some rides. They also have lovely new cabins now that hold a larger number of guests. The Laser Blast show at 10:10pm each night is good fun but if your kids simply can’t stay up, missing it is not a huge loss.

The Lodge On The Lake has a limited number of cribs available on a first-come, first-served basis. All washrooms have change tables, and the park is fully accessible – so getting around with a stroller is a breeze. They don’t have bedrails, and I could have put Bub in the pull-out -couch as that offers a bit of a barrier between bed and floor. What I did do was roll up extra pillows and stuff them under the fitted sheet – barrier made and no fuss. I felt like a mother of invention!

Happy Canada Day!

As with visiting all theme parks, it’s good to know your children’s heights in advance, so you know which rides they can and can’t go on. I noticed as we were leaving that Darien Lake offers a measuring station – where they issue separate wristbands with your child’s height verified so there’s no waiting to be measured at rides or even pulled off rides to confirm measurements. There’s not a lot of shade at Darien Lake, so try to ensure that you have plenty of sunhats and sunscreen to last for the day, and there’s water fountains throughout to refill your bottles. I’ve come to accept the high price of bottled water at theme parks as an incentive to always remember our refillable ones.

My only complaint about Darien Lake is that though it is supposed to be a smoke-free environment with clearly marked smoking areas, the  No Smoking policy is not really enforced. Really I think they would have a difficult time doing so as we seemed to be in the minority as non-smokers. Luckily the policy is more in place at the hotel and the hotel pool area.

I was very impressed with Darien Lake – and would definitely recommend it to families with babies, toddlers, and  younger kids.

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Saying Hello To Our New Friends

Whether you’re in town for the Calgary Stampede, or are simply looking for more things to do in Calgary – The Calgary Zoo is such an easy outing for visitors and Calgarians alike. We have a membership to the Toronto Zoo, and visit often, but I must say that the Calgary Zoo impressed me with the intimate feel of the animal exhibits, and the themed walks really gave a sense of adventure to our visit. I have no doubt we’d get a membership to the Calgary Zoo if we ever moved to Calgary.

It’s located right next to Fort Calgary (pop in to the Deane House for a fab family-friendly brunch beforehand) and just minutes from downtown. There’s a C-Train stop adjacent, but the parking is fairly reasonable as well. The fact that the Calgary Zoo is so easy to get to already makes it a great attraction in my books.

Gorillas At The Calgary Zoo

The Calgary Zoo is set up similarly to the Toronto Zoo, in the sense that the animal exhibits are arranged according to Geographical Zones – but just on a much smaller scale. Even with the number of walks you can participate in, you could easily squeeze in the Calgary Zoo into a half-day – although there’s more than enough to fill an entire day at a leisurely pace. Even though we were off to Drumheller the following day, we made the time to do the Prehistoric Walk, and I’m glad we did. Not only was all the information a nice pre-cursor to the dinosaur overload we had at the Royal Tyrrell Museum, but it’s just a very nice (albeit hot if it’s sunny out) walk.

Black Bear At The Calgary Zoo

Same goes for the Canadian Wilds trail. This walk is shadier, so it’s cool even when the sun is strong, and we were treated to some WWE Black Bear action as the two black bears wrestled around right in front of the glass. It’s nice just to let your kids and toddlers run free along the path, and it’s contained enough so you don’t necessarily feel the need to hover (says “umbrella parent” me).

Say Hello To My Leetle Friend!

But the definite highlight of our visit to the Calgary Zoo was the new Penguin Plunge exhibit. It’s busy, and there’s often a line-up, but I can confirm that it’s worth the (hopefully minimal if you get there early) wait. You are so close to the penguins that you can practically reach out and hug them. Please don’t, of course, but how often can you say that you were splashed by a penguin as it swam by? Groups are brought through in 15 minute intervals, and I can say that I was tempted to go through the exhibit again. Bub wasn’t thrilled with the fishy smell, but outside you can see the Humboldts as they are sometimes found in tropical temperatures and can deal with the heat. The indoor temperature is set at a consistent 7° Celcius for the Gentoo, Rockhopper, and King penguins.

Butterflies At The Calgary Zoo

The food selection is excellent and pretty reasonable at the Kitamba Café – and there are a few concession stands throughout the Zoo grounds. As the Calgary Zoo is wheelchair accessible, it’s very easy to get around with a stroller.  All washrooms have diaper changing facilities and a nursing room is available in Kitamba Café. Emergency first aid and services for lost children are available 24 hours a day at the Security Office, which is south of the Conservatory and just off 12th Street SE.

The Calgary Zoo is open from 9am to 5pm every day, but it’s closes on December 25th and for their annual Zoogala. General admission is $21, with Seniors being $19, children 3-15 are $13, and babies 2 and under are free. You have 7 days to put your admission receipt towards a membership, which pays for itself in three visits.

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I break down travel with baby into four categories: Eating, Sleeping, Playing, and Getting Around. And I’ve created four baby travel gear guides to reflect these aspects of traveling with small children. Now some of this stuff is expensive, so I’m delighted to tell you that you’ll have a chance to win some fantastic baby travel gear – stay tuned!

2012 Baby Travel Gear Guide – Eating
Some of these I’ve used personally and loved. Some of these I wish were invented when my kiddos were smaller. Some of these were out of my budget but I wished I could afford. All of these will help feed your baby while you’re on the go – be you just down the road or on the other side of the world… Read More

2012 Baby Travel Gear Guide – Sleeping
Some of these I’ve used personally and loved. Some of these I wish were invented when my kiddos were smaller. Some of these were out of my budget but I wished I could afford. All of these will either help give your baby a safe place to sleep while you’re on the go – or even possibly help baby to fall asleep! Read More

2012 Baby Travel Gear Guide – Playing
Babies are not renown for their attention spans, so it’s a good idea to bring along some toys, games, and activities that will last, and if they’re multi-purpose, even better. While I don’t think you need to go out and buy all new toys and things for your trip, baby will be excited by one or two new playthings, and they *should* hold interest for a little longer than usual.  Read More

2012 Baby Travel Gear Guide – Getting Around
Gear for getting around when you’re traveling with baby is more than just a travel stroller or an infant carrier, although they are both essentials for your daily life and traveling life. But just as getting around is just as much about getting there as it is getting around once you’re there… Read More

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Heritage Park, Calgary

On day one of our amazing road trip across Alberta, we headed straight for Heritage Park. It’s located on 127 acres of parkland on the banks of the Glenmore Reservoir, along the Calgary’s southwestern edge. With a mix of old (classic steam train and horse & buggy rides) and new/old (amusement rides and Gasoline Alley car museum), Heritage Park is an easy outing with a baby or toddler. With a reasonable membership fee that pays for itself in three visits (get the upgrade for the rides) I could totally see ourselves visiting a lot if we became Calgarians.

The Trike Track!

First stop for us was the Gasoline Alley Museum, filled to the brim with shiny, restored cars of the olden days. Bub loved them. But he also wanted to climb on them. And he did not really like being told he couldn’t. Luckily, there is one that is climb-able, so that seemed to take the edge off. Over to the side there’s space for colouring, and an adorable tricycle track that’s for wee ones and wee ones only. Bub loved it. And we loved watching him love it. A three-year-old gassing up his shiny red trike? C’mon!

The Steam Train!

We heard the whistles so we had to check it out – Heritage Park Historical Village has a full-size working steam engine that tools around the park. It was a real highlight. Strollers are to be left in stroller parking, and you can pay extra to ride each attraction individually, or pay a flat fee when you enter to go on all the rides. It’s worth it to do that, and with a toddler in tow I’m certain you’ll more than make it up on steam train rides alone. It’s a quick little tour around the village, and of course you can hop on and head for another go ’round.

The S.S. Moyie!

Another highlight for us was a spin around the reservoir on the S.S. Moyie – a (smaller) replica of the famous paddle steamer sternwheeler boat that worked on Kootenay Lake in B.C., and still the world’s oldest intact passenger sternwheeler. A spin out on the water in the fresh air, with the blue sky and water contrasting with the green of the trees was a lovely way to relax for twenty minutes before heading pack to the park for some rides. (Note – during the summer months the water level in the reservoir might dip to levels that are too low for the S.S. Moyie to safely operate. Double check the website if your heart’s set on a boat ride!)

The small amusement area has a few kid-friendly rides. I went on the ferris wheel with Bub for what was probably the longest ferris wheel ride of my life, but my husband was the trooper who went on the Caterpillar ride. Note: watch it before you actually go on it, and I’ll leave it at that!

Gasoline Alley, Heritage Park

Save for some popcorn and ice cream, we did not eat at Heritage Park, but there are plenty of options for everything from a light snack to a full meal – and everything in between (beer!). Navigating the area with a stroller was a breeze, since even the non-paved areas were quite smooth and well-traveled. And even though the park represents a village over 100 years old, the washroom facilities are all modern and clean, with complete baby-changing facilities.

Heritage Park Historical Village is open daily, from May 19- Sept 3.  Then it’s weekends only until October 8. The Village opens at 9:30am, with the exhibits in the village opening at 10 am. The park closes at 5 pm. Admission for adults is $19.99 (without rides) and children aged 3-17 are $14.89, seniors are $15.89 (prices not including GST), and babies two and younger are free. Ride bracelets are an additional $10.00, and are well worth it – as are memberships if you’re local Calgarians with toddlers in tow. I could see us spending a lot of time at Heritage Park if we lived in Calgary!

Heritage Park is  15 minutes from downtown Calgary by car, and accessible by bike path, LRT and bus. (502 from the Heritage LRT station)

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Andy's Room, Oceaneer Club

It took a long time for me to warm up to the idea of kids clubs. After all, the whole point of a family vacation is to spend time together, right? Perhaps I was scarred from seeing two miserable kids half-heartedly make sandcastles with a bored Mexican teenager while on my honeymoon, but I was certain I’d never dump MY kids off while on vacation. But once my daughter started nursery school (and would pretend not to see me when I’d come to pick her up) I knew that kids’ clubs would be a part of our lives. That’s usually the first place she asks to go to when we go anywhere – insert Marge Simpson grumble here…

Kids clubs and children’s activities at resorts and on cruises differ wildly in quality and sometimes cost extra. The Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab on the Disney Fantasy is probably the  most awesome I’ve seen for kids 3-12, and is included in your cruise fare. My daughter concurs.

Making New Friends In Pixie Hollow...

Located on Deck 5, the Oceaneer Club and Lab are side by side, and supervise children from ages 3-12. This is a pretty big span but the supervisors group the kids according to their ages and abilities, and in a nutshell the Lab offers more structured programs. According to the (lovely) Cast Members that operate the Oceaneer’s facilities, typically younger kids prefer the Club, and older kids like the Lab. My 6yo. daughter agreed. All kids, including the three year olds, need to be potty-trained, however they will make exceptions for younger siblings if they want to stay with big brother or big sister, you just need to promise to stop by and check them every hour to make sure they don’t need changing. Luckily Bub was happy to go to the It’s A Small World Nursery, so our daughter got to immerse herself in the Oceaneer fun without Bub cramping her style

Oceaneer Club Dining Room

On the first day, you register your children at the club and they will be wristbanded. The wristband will stay on for the duration of your cruise, and it is sand and waterproof. For your convenience, you can pre-register your kids online -check under “My Cruise Plans” in your online cruise profile for the option for registering.. Children with special needs can be accommodated at the Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab, just notify the staff and they will make special arrangements as best they can. Children can move back and forth between the Club and the Lab, and the staff will direct appropriate activities for all. There are special “open house” times where parents and other family members can come in and participate with the kids and check out what they’re doing, otherwise the Club and Lab are secure environments – no adults will be permitted inside for extended periods of time. Consult The Daily Navigator (the daily newsletter left in your stateroom each day) for the Oceaneer Club and Lab hours of operation and schedules. If you (or they) prefer, kids can have lunch and dinner there too.

Monster Academy...

On the Oceaner Club side, you’ll find Andy’s Room, Monster’s Academy, Pixie Hollow, and Disney’s Explorer Pod. There is a reading area, computer banks,  a small stage for games, multiple televisions, play structures, colouring, dress-up costumes, and a giant (and I do mean giant) TV screen.

Over on the Oceaneer Lab side, there’s a media room with bean bag chairs and so kids can watch movies, play video games or read, a working animation studio where kids can create original art or learn to sketch their favorite Disney characters, a tech space with numerous computers and large, high-definition LCD screens, a sound studio to create music, and a craft area (my daughter’s favourite!) with the biggest supply of crafty-type materials I’ve ever seen.

Nemo's Lab...

Scuttle’s Cove, on Castaway Cay, is the island’s extension of the Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab. The staff transfer over to the island for those days at port, and you can enroll your kids there if you’d prefer some grown up time on the beach.

I was highly impressed by the kids club offerings on the Disney Fantasy Cruise. The rooms were spotless, the staff amazing, and the activities and amenities impressive – and it’s all included in the fare.

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Baby Travel Gear and Accessories For Fun And Play While Traveling…

One thing I’ve realized in the 5+ years I’ve been a traveling parent and the 5+ years Have Baby Will Travel has been online, is that babies and toddlers find pretty much everything interesting,and the whole idea of baby travel toys is really more for you than for them. However, babies are not renown for their attention spans, so it’s a good idea to bring along some toys, games, and activities that will last, and if they’re multi-purpose, even better. While I don’t think you need to go out and buy all new toys and things for your trip, baby will be excited by one or two new playthings, and they *should* hold interest for a little longer than usual. While they can be expensive, tablet computers are truly a game changer when it comes to keeping your little one busy on a plane. Whether or not you embrace technology for tots, consider allowing their use during travel and your life will be considerably easier!

Some of these I’ve used personally and loved. Some of these I wish were invented when my kiddos were smaller (hello, iPad!). All of these are pretty much guaranteed to keep your little one busy while en route but hopefully keeping mess and noise to a minimum.

Toddler Headphones

Toddler Headphones

These days a lot of the fun stuff for baby makes noise, and that’s not necessarily fun for your fellow passengers. These adorable headphones have come with us on every trip, and you can adjust the volume via the cord, as well as at the audio source. These baby and toddler headphones are cute enough for baby to wear, but also functional enough for you to use for the inflight entertainment should your little one nod off mid-flight. I can’t say enough about these toddler headphones, I think they’re great, and they’re not expensive either.

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Hug & Hide Stroller Toy

Hug & Hide Stroller Toy

These cute stuffies are not just huggable, but they also offer lots of fun bits and bobs to keep baby busy. The attached velcro strap is great for keeping it attached to the stroller, it would also work really well attached to your seat belt on the plane, thus avoiding contorting yourself into various new yoga postures in order to retrieve it from the aircraft floor. It comes in an adorable bear, dog, monkey, owl, and lamb, with all sorts of textured and embroidered details.

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Treetop Friends Stroller Toy

Treetop Friends Stroller Toys

Also from Skip*Hop, the Treetop Friends Stroller Toys attach to the stroller bar or car seat handle (while in transit, not in car as apparently that’s dangerous) to keep baby busy and interested while you’re on the go. The attached links also allow the toy to be hitched onto diaper bag straps so you have easy access if need be. I had a few things similar way back when, but they were nowhere near as cute as this little owl, birdie and apple.

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Flash Cards

Flash Cards

Once, during a restaurant meal that promised to become unpleasant in mere moments, I frantically rummaged through my diaper bag to find something, anything, to keep Bub busy and entertained. I’m not sure where or how that small pack of flash cards came to be in my bag, but now they’re my go-to emergency kid busy-er. For some reason, not knowing what picture is going to pop up next thrills my toddler to no end, and the fact that a pack of cards takes up so little room for such a big payoff means I will likely always have them on standby – even when my kids become *technically* too big for them.

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Travel Crayon Wallet

Crayons + Paper

Before we kick it new school, I can’t say enough about kicking it old school. Crayons and paper or a few new colouring books can keep by kids busy and engaged for hours. And even when my son was as young as 14mos., he doodled almost half of our flight to Jamaica, and slept for the other half (yes, I do count my lucky stars). I’ve always lugged along my crayons in a clear plastic baggie – keeps them together but you can still see them – but I’m kind of in love with this travel crayon and paper holder from Etsy – it holds up to 14 colours.

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Lay-n-Go Activity Mat

Lay-n-Go Activity Mat

When toddlers get bigger, sometimes their toys get smaller. I dreaded the day my daughter expressed an interest in Polly Pockets, but I know a decent selection of dinky cars will keep my son quite busy and happy for hours. Trouble is, these things and all their tiny pieces are not exactly conducive to travel – until now. This ingenious little mat (it comes in a big one for use at home) acts as a play mat, and then when the kids are done, it swoops up the toys into a little drawstring bag. I feel a little more confident bringing along smaller toys now, since this helps keep them all together while they’re playing, and then stores them together during transport.

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Travel Etch A Sketch

Travel Etch A Sketch

Ok so we’re getting a little bit new school (ha!) here with the Travel Etch A Sketch. I bought one of these for one of our trips purely for nostalgia,  and figured I’d be the only one playing with it. Not so – both my kids really enjoyed doodling with it, and found that Bub really seemed to enjoy honing his fine motor skills while turning the little wheels and creating temporary masterpieces, one straight line at a time.

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Travel Aquadoodle

Travel Aquadoodle

Now I suppose this could be considered Etch A Sketch 2.0 as the Travel Aquadoodle is like a handy dandy combo of the classic crayons and paper plus the Etch A Sketch, but with a twist – you draw with a pen filled with water. Other than the chance of becoming a little damp, this gadget is really a no mess and no paper way of keeping little hands and minds busy with creative pursuits in a device just a bit bigger than an iPad, but obviously a fraction of the cost.

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Portable DVD Player

Portable DVD Player

If you have not yet upgraded to the world of the tablet (and beware, once you do it’s impossible to go back), portable DVD players allow you to utilize that massive collection of DVDs that you have spent so much money on and likely lost the digital download code for (ahem). Portable DVD players have come a long way in terms of size, weight, and cost, and it certainly might make more sense to drop $100 or so on a player to use your library of DVDs, rather than hundreds on a new tablet AND then additional spends on apps and new movies and shows. I like this one that has the swivel screen – make sure you have a headphone splitter so two kiddos can plug in their awesome new headphones!

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iDoll

The iDoll

iDolls are a most modern take on a noise machine or other lovey – with built-in speakers and an MP3 port safely tucked away inside, parents can download their favorite music or sounds, and the cute dolly (Lulu in pink or Pax in blue) plays whatever music, message, or white noise mom or dad has downloaded.

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THE iPad

The iPad

There are plenty of tablet computers on the market, but really, there’s only one – the iPad. While I liked the Playbook for its smaller, more toddler-friendly size, the dearth of kiddy apps truly made it impossible to compete. On the last three trips we’ve taken we’ve been iPad owners, and with the addition of a few new apps and shows, our children were quiet, busy, and engaged for the entire duration of our flights. There are a plethora of apps available for younger babies and toddlers as well. My recommendation is to begin your journey with some low-tech toys and books, and bring out the tech as a last resort. If your children should possibly tire of the tablet, it’s fairly impossible to interest them with anything else afterwards!

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Check out all the 2012 Baby Travel Gear Guides for Eating, Sleeping, Playing and Getting Around when you’re traveling with a baby or toddler!

If you purchase anything after clicking on a link, Have Baby Will Travel may receive a small commission…

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