Wyoming: Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

There’s nothing quite like a remarkable feat of nature to bring out the “oohs” and “aahs” from the family, and Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, straddling the border of Wyoming and Montana, is fantastically remarkable.

Considering the other well-known parks in the area (yes, Yellowstone, I’m looking at you), Bighorn is often spoken of as a treasure waiting to be discovered. Covering more than 120,000 acres, the park features a 55 mile long canyon. It is a breathtaking marvel, more than 1,000 feet deep at Devil’s Overlook, where we stopped to stretch our legs and explore a bit of history in the strata.

Researchers have found Upper Jurassic Period fossils, fossil tracks, and bones in the park, which piqued the imagination of our dinosaur lovers. Among the discoveries was the remains of Pleistocene animals in debris piles at cave entrances.

There are living animals in the park, too, of course. Wildlife in Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area includes bighorn sheep, wild horses, coyotes, mule deer, snakes, small mammals, mountain lions, bears, and more than 200 bird species. According to the park’s website, the 39,000-acre Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range, about one-fifth of which lies within Bighorn Canyon National Park, provides habitat for sheep and for approximately 160 wild horses managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

In addition to wildlife, the park features a wide variety of recreational opportunities. There are picturesque hikes, and water activities abound. Camping is available within the park, along with fishing, boating, and more to explore. It’s also a great place to stretch your legs and take in some beauty on your way between the Black Hills and Yellowstone.

By the way, if you’re thinking the children seem to have shrunk a little, you’re right – the photos shared here are a throwback from our 2010 summer vacation.

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Montana: Have a Dinosaur Adventure in Makoshika State Park in Glendive

The largest state park in Montana, Makoshika sits on 11,538 acres located just east of Glendive, Montana, in the eastern part of the state on Interstate 94. Follow the signs through Glendive to get there – it is well marked, but does involve a couple of turns in residential areas.

Pronounced Mah-koh’-shi-kah, the park draws its name from a Lakota phrase meaning “land of bad spirits” or “badlands.” The rock formations of this beautiful landscape are well worth the stop.

Visit in summer for Shakespeare in the Park, a summer youth program, or Buzzard Day. Or follow our lead, and go when the park is quiet, to enjoy the real untouched feel of the Montana wilderness. Pack a picnic, or head back into town for reasonably priced eats.

This part of the country is well-known for dinosaur discoveries, and this spot is a great one to learn more about that. Ten species have been found here, and one highlight of the displays in the visitor center is that all of the fossils on display were actually found right there in the park. What a terrific way to spur the imagination! Check out the visitor center, and then head off to make your own discoveries. Imagine yourself as an archaeologist, finding the bones of Tyrannosaurus Rex and Triceratops.

As with all state and national parks, it is important to remind children of the adage: “Take only pictures and leave only footprints.” No souvenirs for the road, and the park does ask that you leave your metal detector at home.

There are several options for enjoying Makoshika, including a six-mile loop of scenic roads, dotted with great spots to pull off and take breathtaking photos. Hiking trails abound, so be sure to bring along sturdy shoes and a bottle of water. In addition, there is camping, and adisc golf course, which is how we chose to spend our afternoon.

Looking for wildlife? Makoshika will not disappoint. Depending on the season, you might find sage lizards, bull snakes, rattle snakes, coyotes, bobcats, muledeer, and turkey vultures.

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Texas: Kemah Boardwalk – A Relaxing Getaway

We had an evening free during a quick business trip to Houston, and decided to check out the Kemah Boardwalk. Twenty miles from downtown Houston, the boardwalk is loaded with charm – a refreshing getaway from the city that somehow manages to be busy and activity-filled and simultaneously immensely relaxing.

If you love a good roller coaster like I do, check out the Boardwalk Bullet, a good old fashioned wooden coaster on the gulf. It may have only opened in 2007, but it is reminiscent of the seaside classics dating back 100 years. The slice of Americana boasts 3,300 feet of track, crossing over its own tracks a record-breaking 42 times, and travels at more than 50 mph. There are plenty of other thrills to be had on the boardwalk, as well. Tickets are available individually or as a package.

Thrills are not the only thing offered at this little escape on the Gulf Coast. The sea air blowing through our hair was just the thing after a long day of meetings and work. We enjoyed an open-air dinner on the patio at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., then took a relaxing stroll along the boardwalk, tossing a handful of food to the catfish and exploring the shops.

The boardwalk also features an aquarium and a beautiful little inn. Check out their website to learn more.

We found ourselves at the boardwalk on Tribute Band Tuesday, which was a fun surprise. The evening featured “Walk This Way” and “Guns4Roses.”

It was a treat to unwind with a drink (check out the little booths around the square for the alcoholic and non-alcoholic sort alike – we partook in a yard long frozen concoction) and people watch to the tunes of these great bands.
Children splashed and danced on the splash pad, couples moved to the music, the smell of funnel cakes hanging in the air. There’s something special about summer nights on the water, and Kemah Boardwalk was a great place to spend this one.

The drive back to Houston was painless, too, which was an important feature. (They sure do have a lot of toll booths here, though! Have small cash ready to go to save time.)

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CARES helps children fly safely

Flying with a little one brings with it concerns over safety that parents struggle to find easy answers for. Bria is small for her age — about 30 pounds at age four — and we really feel most comfortable if she is buckled into a car seat, especially for take-off and landing.

But if you’ve ever tried lugging a car seat through the airport (especially on an international trip), you know it is far from convenient. Even with the wheeled cart to turn it into a semi-stroller, there’s nothing simple about traveling with a convertible seat in tow. I am certain I have said at least once that I would NEVER do it again!

Enter the CARES Airplane Safety Harness – an excellent answer for a frustrating dilemma. Made for kids 22-45 pounds and up to 40 inches tall, it helps kids fly safe in an FAA-approved way.

The CARES weigh less than one pound, and fits easily in any purse, diaper bag, or carry on – that’s a stark comparison to the Britax car seat we used to lug along! Now we check the car seat (free on most airlines), and don’t have to deal with it until we reach our destination.

Installation is simple, taking just a few short steps. It even comes with a card to share with the flight attendant or anyone else who might be wondering about the seat (we always get asked). Additional documentation is also available for download on the FAA website.

We have found that if there are any indentations in the seat to contain the tray table, the strap doesn’t work underneath it. Unfortunately this means the strap has to go over the top, effectively rendering the tray table of the person behind you useless. For this reason, if we will need seats in more than one row, we usually book two rows in front of each other, rather than next to each other, so we don’t have to inconvenience other travelers. Of course, that doesn’t always work, so be prepared to smile big, apologize lots, and remove it promptly outside of take-off and landing times.
Traveling with kids can be hairy — the CARES system relieves some stress, which means I’m all about it!

UPDATE: Not all airplanes are created equal! We have found that there are plane seats the CARES does not seem to be compatible with. When the seat front is concave, it makes the strap the shoulder pieces hang off sit out away from the seat, pushing her head forward. Unfortunately that made the harness very difficult to use on this particular plane.

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North Dakota: Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s North Unit

Sharp, unforgiving badlands. Rolling rivers. Oceans of prairie. Breathtaking wildlife. There’s something genuinely special about Theodore Roosevelt National Park in western North Dakota.

The park is separated into three units – the North Unit, just south of Watford City, is nearest our home, so we popped down to do the Junior Ranger program and have a picnic. (The other units are the South Unit, with an entrance near Medora, and the Elkhorn Ranch Unit – Roosevelt’s home base.)

A favorite area of the 26th president, the rugged landscapes of this park is largely untouched more than 125 years after he spent time here. If you go seeking bison, you will most certainly not be disappointed.

Bria loves to do Junior Ranger programs each time she visits a national park, and this one is a great example. This booklet is aimed at ages 6-12, but with a little reading help, it’s a great fit for preschoolers. Bria loves that the Theodore Roosevelt Junior Ranger includes a ranger program and hiking a trail. And of course there’s a badge!

Stop by the ranger station near the entrance to get all of the information before heading in to the park. The program is free, but they also have fun little Junior Ranger kits available for purchase.

The views in this park are spectacular. Be sure to plan enough time to just sit and drink it in when visiting.

Other favorite stops are the Prairie Dog Town (there are literally hundreds, and you may find that they are inches away at times) and the 14-mile scenic drive.
For longer stays, camping is also available. Check out the park’s website for details.

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Costa Rica: Logistics and the Unexpected – 7 Travel Lessons

1. Laundry was harder to come by than we expected. All of the places we stayed had the option of sending it out with a service that charged by the piece. As every family knows, laundry multiplies when left alone, so this is no small endeavor. We planned to do laundry twice, but ended up doing it once, at a cost of $76.

2. My cell phone was a bit insistent that I unplug this trip, even though I was expecting to be reachable by text. Verizon told me I would have service and quoted me rates, but apparently my phone had different plans. We switched data off before we took off in Houston, and it was basically a brick with the ability to (sort of) connect to Wi-Fi once I turned it on in San Jose. I was appreciative of the Verizon text app, which did work when I was able to connect to Wi-Fi. Next time I think we will pick up a SIM card if we need to be reachable.

3. Google Translate is amazing – I wouldn’t want to be in the phrase book business these days. Be sure to “pin” the languages you need and complete the download at home so it is accessible offline.

4. Have your photocopies of passports on hand while traveling – police may want to check them (especially when near borders with Nicaragua and Panama), and you will need them for hotel check-ins. You might want to have your arrival hotel make a copy of the visa page, as well, since it shows your legal entry to the country. You will only need the actual passport at the bank or to secure equipment/car rentals, so store them in the hotel safe when not in use.

5. Wi-Fi is easy to come by, but not always in the places you expect. If it matters that you are connected, be sure to check the internet status when booking a hotel. We found most restaurants had a password protected network – just ask!

6. The country has two currencies – Colones and U.S. dollars – and both are accepted widely. We found it convenient to carry some of each. Be sure to have small bills, though. I wouldn’t bother with anything larger than a $20. Check out current exchange rates here.

7. Toilet paper. In the trash can. Seriously? There’s a request that is tough to get used to.

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Montana: Family Fun at Billings Brew & BBQ

We checked out the Billings Brews & BBQ festival at the Metra today – what a great family event. Yes, I said family event. There were families hanging out on the grass enjoying delicious treats and live music, plus there was a great variety of local beers. Learn more about the annual event here.

Held annually, the festival brings together brewers from all over the region to share their brews. It is a great place to roll out something new, but there is also lots of old standbys and favorites to enjoy.

Attendees purchase a glass (come early – they ran out this year!) and ticket package, and then exchange one ticket for each drink sample. It isn’t just about beer, either. Brewers brought along meads and handcrafted sodas, too. We tried several different versions of a Scottish ale from brewers around the state, and really enjoyed comparing the complexities of each. Is that mint I sense? What a surprise!

It wouldn’t be a festival without a variety of great local food, so follow your nose over the check out some juicy, slow-cooked barbecue, or opt for other choices from Subway to hot dogs to funnel cakes.

Local music and some great vendors rounded out the fun next to the lake on the Metra grounds.

To put this fun event on your calendar for next year, check out the Metra Calendar of Events. And don’t forget to drink responsibly!

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Costa Rica: Our Little Swimmer’s Big Life Lesson

It is one of the most amazing things to witness as a parent. It is that moment when something just “clicks” for your child.

We have exposed Bria to water since she was a small baby. She did a Water Babies program at six months old, and has spent time in pools every chance she gets. About a year ago we got her a swim float (similar to a life jacket), which allowed her a level of independence. She could kick around the pool on her own, but didn’t go far.

Things were status quo on this trip, and Bria was having a great time in the water, with and without her float. Then, one day at Los Lagos, she was playing in the pool when three little girls came over to play. One tried to pick her up, which she usually doesn’t like, but she smiled and went off to splash around with them (despite the fact they didn’t speak a bit of English).

After a few minutes, their mother said it was time to go, and Bria came over to us, where we were lounging in the pool.

“Watch this!” she announced, and put her face under the water.

We exclaimed – wow! It was so new for her to be willing to do that. And totally on her own? We told her how proud we were of her new skill.

“My friend taught me,” she said.

From that moment, it was as if a switch had been flipped. She was a swimmer! Over the remaining days in Los Lagos, she became more and more confident. She was swimming underwater more and more, and her form was constantly improving. Soon she was kicking her legs behind her and moving across the pool.

“Look, I’m doing the back stroke!” she announced, on the day we left.

Our next stop was RIU Guanacaste, and by the time she hit their pool, she was full on swimmer.

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Costa Rica: Mom and Dad Need a Massage

Let’s face it – vacation can be exhausting. With all of the hiking came a few aches and pains, and every once in a while, Mom and Dad need a break.

We decided Los Lagos was just one of those times (especially after the bike riding adventure), so we picked up a spa brochure. While everything sounded lovely and relaxing, we were on the fence about whether or not to pay the prices. So we decided to keep an eye out as we went into town for dinner.

Several options were available in La Fortuna, but we settled on one west of the Catholic church, where a pair of sweet ladies shared their brochure. Their packages were enticing, so we made plans to have dinner, then put the kids in a taxi and head over for some grownup time.

We chose the Natural Balance package, which included a natural massage, exfoliation, and reflexology for $50. They showed us to a simple open air room, with sheets fluttering gently in the breeze and soft music. Within moments, we could have been anywhere. It was an excellent experience, incredibly relaxing, and the ladies were well-skilled – all for about 1/3 the price of the resort. Check your options!

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