The Talking Suitcase

Experience the World With Kids

Best Beaches for Spring Break {Without Kids}

by 2 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

Best Beaches for Spring Break
{Click to Pin It}

When it comes to finding the perfect place to travel this spring, you first need to look at the best beaches for spring break. There are several popular options, but which one is right for your trip?  You will want to consider the quality of the actual beaches as well as the other attractions in the area.

If you have kiddos in tow – skip these beaches during spring break and plan a trip elsewhere. These are great places to visit with kids at other times of the year.  I have personally been to all 3 beaches (Cancun and Puerto Rico with kids) and found them to be great for kids when it’s a bit less crowded with party goers.

Here are a few getaways with the best beaches and local attractions for adults.

Best Beaches for Spring Break:

Cancun

The beaches of Cancun, Mexico are among the best in the world. Every year, people flock to this city from all over the world just to enjoy the beautiful ocean-front views. When you aren’t soaking up the sun, there are lots of other great things to do here. You can swim with dolphins, go snorkeling, and even visit ancient ruins. There’s also a bustling nightlife scene, so you will have plenty of chances to grab a margarita or pina colada during your trip.

[Read more…]

Kids Printable Travel Games

by 6 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

Kids Printable Travel Games Collage

Keeping kids entertained during a long trip can be difficult.  Kids get bored fast and there is only so much space available in the car for activities.  They can only watch so many movies or play so many iPad games.

Hopefully, the following kids printable travel games will help keep your child from asking the inevitable “Are we there yet?” question every 5 minutes.

3 Kids Printable Travel Games:

Travel Bingo – This travel bingo printable includes 4 variations so multiple family members can play.  As you’re driving along, each child can mark a square when they see one of the objects listed.  The first person to get an entire line marked wins!

Download and print Travel Bingo 1 printable, Travel Bingo 2 printable, Travel Bingo 3 printable, and Travel Bingo 4 printable

travelbingo1

State License Plate Game – Kids (and adults) will love playing the state license plate game.  Mark through the state name when you see a car with a matching license plate.  Can you find them all?

Download and print the State License Plate Game printable

statelicenseplategame

Travel Word Search – Try to find each of the travel words in this fun word search.  You can search for words such as bus, sports car, and billboard.

Download and print the travel word search printable

travelwordsearchABC Game:
We love to play this game around town but it can easily be played on the highway during longer trips.  Simply find things on the road that start with each letter of the alphabet.  You can find letters on license plates, street signs, building signs, etc.  Start with the letter A and continue all the way to Z.  Speaking from experience, the letters Q, Y, and Z are HARD!

*Idea* Laminate after you print these kids printable travel games (preferably on card stock) and then use dry erase markers to reuse them!  If you just want to use them once, print on regular printer paper and use a pen, marker, or crayons to play the games.

Let us know what you think of these Kids Printable Travel Games!

You might also like 8 Simple Tips to Plan Road Trip & Pack Smart!

In the Clouds: Visiting Zermatt, Switzerland & the Matterhorn with Kids

by 22 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

Visiting Zermatt, Switzerland & the Matterhorn

Gornergrat is part of the Pennine Alps, near the prestigious city of Zermatt in Switzerland.  It can be reached from Zermatt by the Gornergrat rack railway which is the highest cogwheel railway in Europe. The ride itself from Zermatt to Gornergrat is an experience that should not be missed when visiting the city.

As we ascended the mountain from Zermatt, I found myself yawning constantly – not from lack of sleep but from altitude.  As you creep into the clouds, the trees become more sparse and the lush landscape of the mountain gives way to something almost barren.  It’s fascinating to witness the changes of nature as you climb the mountain in the comfort of the train.  Just five stops along the line and we had reached our destination, Gornergrat, the final stop of the railway.

A quick picture of the train as we're running to jump on before it leaves the station in Gornergrat.

A quick picture of the train as we’re running to jump on before it leaves the station in Gornergrat.

Listen closely to the creaks of the train as it catches the tracks,  clink – clanking all the way to the top during the 30 minute ride.

Marvel at the heights you will attain (or view) on your journey:

  • Zermatt 1630 m (5348 ft)
  • Gornergrat 3089 m (10135 ft)
  • Matterhorn 4478 m (14692 ft) – view
Kids posing with Wolli at Gornergrat

Kids posing with Wolli at Gornergrat

[Read more…]

Mont St Michel Travel Tips – 10+ Things to Know Before Visiting Mont Saint Michel

by 17 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

Mont Saint Michel is a bucket list destination located in the Normandy region of Northern France. The picturesque island rises majestically from the sea during high tide and is accessible to the mainland during low tide. The uniqueness of the island is one of the reasons the site has been occupied since 708. If you’re joining the more than 3 million people per year to visit, read our Mont St Michel travel tips before booking your vacation.

[Read more…]

8 Simple Tips to Plan a Road Trip, Stay On Budget & Create Lasting Memories

by 12 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

Plan Road Trip

We’ve been taking more and more road trips both in the United States and in Europe.   They are great for week long trips and quick weekend getaways.   Road trips can also be a relatively inexpensive way to travel compared to purchasing plane or train tickets for a family.    But in order to squeeze every penny out of your travel budget, it’s best to plan ahead.   That way you can pack smart to save money, time and sanity.  Clean out the junk, pack snacks and don’t forget the map!

Road tripping is not only a fun way for families to travel, but it also allows us to see places that we might have otherwise only seen from the air.  Take advantage of interesting stops along the way,  play games with the kids and enjoy the extra time together as a family.  To help you plan for your next adventure on the road, we’ve put together 8 simple tips to get you started.

Plan Road Trip with 8 Simple Tips:

1.  Clean out the junk:  Before heading out on a road trip; clear out the trash, extra toys and junk from the trunk and backseat.  Not only will it make fitting in your travel gear easier, you’ll save money by not weighing down your vehicle with with unnecessary stuff!

2.  Give the car a check-up:  Make sure your tires have correct pressure, filters have been changed, and fluids are topped off.  A well maintained vehicle can help stretch a few more miles out of that tank of gas.  While you’re at it, grab a bucket of soap and water to start your trip off squeaky clean.

3.  Pack drinks and snacks:  Purchase bottled water, juice boxes, or sodas at the grocery store.   Keep a cooler handy for a few drinks during the trip and the rest can stay in the back to swap out later.

Bring snacks that are easy to munch on such as pretzels or carrot sticks to keep the driver and passengers happy.  Also, consider packing a few special treats for the kids if they start getting moody. My kids rarely get fruit snacks, so getting that special snack sure puts a smile on their faces!

[Read more…]

Travel Tips & Tricks

More Travel Tips Posts

Getting Away Without Kids

More Adult Getaways

Travel Foodie

More Travel Food

Google+