I am married with two kids (20 & 17). We have travelled a fair bit as a family but are now adjusting to traveling with (and without) older kids, who don’t always have the same ideas about what constitutes “fun” as they once did. I am now on a new adventure as a travel consultant. Please reach out if you want to make your own travel memories!
Discover the ultimate 2-day itinerary for exploring Tokyo with kids! Our family-friendly guide features top attractions, fun activities, and essential tips to make your Tokyo adventure unforgettable. From vibrant theme parks to interactive museums and delicious dining options, find out how to make the most of your time in Japan’s capital with children.
Read MoreOne of the highlights of our trip was a boat trip out to Capers Island and Boneyard Beach. The beach got its name from the large pieces of driftwood lying on the shore that look like the bones of some long forgotten prehistoric animal. We took our tour with Barrier Island Eco-Tours but there are many different tour companies available.
The trip out to the island winds through tidal creeks where we saw dolphins, egrets, and osprey while we learned about the unique eco-system that exists in these waters.
Our guide was fantastic and was a huge part of what made the trip so great. A former school teacher, he took a real interest in the kids and explained everything clearly without dumbing it down. He even stopped along the way and hauled in some crab traps, showing us both the difference between male and female and between the species that co-exist here on the ocean floor.
Once you arrive on the island, you are free to wander around on your own. We walked along the shore playing in the waves and scaling the larger pieces of driftwood.
When it was time to return to the mainland, we did so reluctantly with a few treasures in hand. Jack was thrilled to get the chance to pilot the boat part of the way home while Ava took the time to relax and grab a little nap.
While there is nothing wrong with heading straight to one of the many beaches in the Charleston area, there is a lot to tempt you away from the sand and surf. Our first stop was Fort Sumter National Monument, located on a small island in the harbor. The site of the first shots fired in the Civil War, this is a great mix of history and gorgeous scenery.
Reached after a quick ferry ride, you can listen to a short ranger talk or immediately begin the self-guided tour, which takes about 45 minutes. There is a museum which tells the story of the construction of the fort, the events leading up to the confrontation between Confederate and Union troops on April 12, 1861, and the fort's continued role in the conflict through the end of the Civil War.
After you've absorbed all the history you can at the fort, head back to shore and be sure to tour the museum at the Visitor Education Center. It provides a broader look at the issues and disputes that caused the Civil War.
If you go, remember to bring a light sweater as it can get chilly on the ferry and out in the harbor. Also, be sure to register for the Junior Ranger program at the visitor center before heading out to the fort. The kids complete a questionnaire while exploring the fort and return it to the ranger at the visitor center. In return for their efforts, they are awarded a junior ranger badge. Many national parks and sites offer this program and it is a great way to keep kids engaged and excited.
A short walk from the Visitors Center is the South Carolina Aquarium. The aquarium is newly renovated and a great stop for anyone with kids. There are many exhibits on offer: Madagascar journey, with a close-up look at ring-tailed lemurs and other animals native to the island, a touch tank with wonderful educators on hand to answer questions, a 6,000-gallon stingray tank where you can purchase shrimp cups to feed the rays, and so much more.
Feeding the rays
The highlight of our visit was a trip to the aquarium's sea turtle hospital. This is an add-on to the general admission ticket but well worth the price. The hospital is home to many different types of sea turtles who are too sick or injured to survive in the wild. Here they are nursed back to health until they are healthy enough to be released back into the ocean. Seeing these creatures up close was fascinating and the kids talked about this for weeks after our visit.
Just over the Ravenel Bridge in Mt. Pleasant, Patriot's Point is home to the USS Yorktown, an aircraft carrier, the USS Laffey, a destroyer and the USS Clamagore, the only Guppy III submarine preserved in the United States. We spent the better part of a day here exploring all the ships as well as the aircraft still housed on the deck of the Yorktown. You can tour each of the boats at your own pace, with or without an audio tour (available for an additional fee) and there are plenty of volunteers to answer any questions you have. A cafeteria serving meals and snacks is on the Yorktown or you can bring a picnic and have lunch at one of the many tables provided overlooking the docked ships and the Ravenel Bridge.
Whenever I plan out our daily itineraries for a trip, I usually allow 2-3 hours for a museum visit. Much more than that and it degenerates into an unpleasant experience for all of us. So when we approached the Musee de l'Armee, I assumed we would be out in time to grab a quick lunch and move onto the next activity. Little did I know that not only would we eat lunch at the museum, but we would spend another 2 hours after lunch exploring their extensive collection. This was a love-at-first-sight place for Jack and we had to drag him away. He still talks about it and recommends it to anyone we know who is traveling to Paris.
The collection extends chronologically from medieval armor all the way to the 1960's nuclear arms race and includes Napoleon's stuffed horse, a large arms and armor collection, miniature dioramas of many famous battles, and a huge array of cannons. There is also a kid's audio tour available which Jack really enjoyed.
Afterwards, it is a short walk to a branch of a great chocolate shop, A La Mere de Famille, the oldest sweet shop in Paris. There is a delicious selection of chocolates, hard candies, marshmallows and ice cream available. It's the perfect place to grab a snack or to dangle as a reward to buy you a few more minutes in your museum of choice.
Dutchess County is one of my favorite getaways in the Hudson Valley. There is something here for everyone: historical homes, great farm stands, apple and pumpkin picking in the fall, and nice restaurants and shopping. On our last visit we started at the Vanderbilt Mansion Historic Site in Hyde Park. Built as a country home during the Gilded Age, this site is much smaller than other Vanderbilt homes open to the public, which makes it very manageable for touring with kids. The house can only be toured with a guide but it is a relatively quick tour, lasting only about 45 minutes.
The mansion's location on a bluff overlooking the Hudson River is it's best asset. You can come out and just explore the grounds without paying an admission fee and there is a paved trail which leads to FDR;s home next door.
If you visit, be sure to spend some time in the museum's bookstore. There are some great books for adults and children and a really nice collection of items that would be perfect as a gift or a memento to take home.
For lunch, Rhinebeck is always a good option. There is a variety of places to eat but our favorite is Bread Alone. On the weekends they offer both breakfast and lunch options but everything is delicious. We've tried lots of things on their menu and have never been disappointed.
Also in Rhinebeck are some shops that aren't to be missed. Every time I go in Hammertown Barn, I want to completely redecorate our entire house, all with things purchased here. Right next door is Oblong Books & Music, where we usually spend a good deal of time browsing. They have a fantastic selection of children's books and I usually pick up something for myself as well.
This is a great day if you are in the NYC area and don't mind driving a bit. The area is gorgeous in all seasons and most sites are open year round. A great time to plan a trip is in the fall to pick some apples and pumpkins and to take in an air show at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome.