We are participating in the Passports with Purpose fundraiser again and the cause is a good one—proceeds will help build a school in Cambodia by supporting American Assistance for Cambodia (AAfC), an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving opportunities for the rural poor.

Travel bloggers around the world are hosting giveaways in support of this fundraising effort.  For each $10 donation that you make to AAfC, you will will be entered in the giveaway(s) of your choice. The fundraiser closes on December 21 and all proceeds go directly to AAfC,501 (c)(3) charity.

Our Prize

I set out to put together a prize that would be exciting for the Ciao Bambino community and I found one! Los Suenos Marina and Resort in Costa Rica has generously donated a 5-night stay in a 2-bedroom condominium. Located in a gorgeous part of the country, what sets this property apart for families is the extensive onsite amenities including a kids club and a concierge desk; rooms are luxury condos with kitchens and plenty of space to live comfortably for a week or more.

Details

5 nights in a 2 bedroom condominium - Colina, Del Mar or Veranda

Valid for 1 year (starting November 15th 2009)

Condominium subject to availability (excludes Peak Season)

1 Adventure Tour for 4 people

Total value: $2746

To get more details about Los Suenos Resort, visit the Costa Rica Vacation rentals website.

How to Participate

Go to the Passports with Purpose Donation Page to see the complete list of prizes offered this year including our own Costa Rica giveaway. You can buy the $10 raffle tickets here and specify which prize(s) are of interest.

Key Dates

PwP drawing begins: November 30

PwP closes: December 21

Prize winners announced: January 5

Please join us in supporting this important effort. Who knows—you may win one of the fantastic prizes offered this year.

Good luck!

Happy Thanksgiving!  We traveled to Sun Valley, Idaho this year for early skiing.  I’m thrilled to report that travel logistics were easy and oddly enough, our plane wasn’t full.  Reports are that people made an effort to travel on off-peak days this year to get better pricing and avoid the crowds.

If you have travel plans this season, be sure and check out our holiday travel tips.

Philadelphia is a natural fit for families with excellent activities from the National Constitution Center to baseball.  Last Spring Break, my kids and I took a road trip to Philly—I wrote about our trip and activities in Philadelphia for kids on our blog.

This all-American city did not disappoint. It’s educational and entertaining for all ages. Dana Rebmann, one of Ciao Bambino’s travel writers, is from Philadelphia and wrote an article on her favorite Philadelphia attractions with kids.

Our friends over at Trekaroo recently had their KidsMobile stop in Philadelphia.  Here’s their round-up of things to see and do from bloggers around the country.

Top Activities for Kids in Philadelphia – voted by parents

Best Kid-friendly Hotels in Philadelphia – voted by parents

Some of our star Philadelphia families are some fun-loving mom bloggers and they’ve assembled their list of recommendations that no visiting or local families should miss.

Mara brings you her list of Off the Beaten Path Kid Activities in Philadelphia.  This mom got bit by the travel bug early in life and has not stopped traveling even after having two boys, now 4 and 7.  In fact, when their eldest was just one, they visited 6 states, 3 countries and 2 continents.  Read about their family’s adventures and admire her wonderful photos on  Mother of all Trips.

Lynn, a Philly mom of a tween and a teen, knows exactly where to head to keep them engaged and excited.  Here’s her family’s list of favorite Teen-friendly Activities in Philadelphia.  Lynn is the mom behind For Love Or Funny where she keeps a light-hearted view of life as a parent.  Amidst her humor are some gems of wisdom.

Heading to Philly with young kids?  Melissa is your go to mom with her list of Top 10 Things to Do in Philly with Young Kids.  Melissa is the voice behind Girlymama where she brings us the inside scoop about products that young moms would be interested in.  From shoes to food to places to visit, Girlymama will tell you what she thinks and give you opportunities to win some trendy fashion and gear.

Linda has a wonderful guide for visiting Historic Philadelphia by foot with Kids.  This is a mom extraordinaire who has traveled through big and small towns all the country with her 4 kids.  If you need advice about how to have a lifestyle of travel with a large family, she’s your go-to gal.  Follow her adventures on her fantastic blog:  Travels With Children

Other Philadelphia Resources:

*135 Activities for Kids Around Philadelphia

*Kid-friendly Hotels in Philadelphia

*Best Attractions for Kids Who Love Trains in Pennsylvania

Next stop, the city where the First Family resides - Washington DC

This is a guest post from Debbie Dubrow of DeliciousBaby.com. She has blogged extensively about the safety of car seats and the corresponding dilemma parents face when traveling around the convenience/risk of renting vs. the hassle/piece-of-mind of bringing your own.

We’ve done both over the years and in the end, the best solution for us during the toddler stage was to bring a sit-n-stroll car seat specifically geared for traveling (today, we bring our booster seat.) The best feature is that you can easily transport a sleeping child from the airplane or car without having to wake them up—caveat, our son is a very deep sleeper. Seamless transfers are critical on international flights where the hours spent on a plane and time zone changes are extreme. I wish we had something like this for our 6-year-old today!  The other note is that these strollers are lousy for cities since they don’t recline or have sun shades, i.e. they are good for airports, but you still need to bring a decent stroller to use at your destination.

To Debbie’s point, we’ve also had our share of rental disasters. Note, the seats we rented in Europe were nicer than those we renting here in the United States, so don’t assume that just because your rental is with Hertz in Kansas that all will be well.  Thanks for the post and information Debbie!

Two years ago, our local news station came out to my house to interview me for a story on rented car seats. Why? Thinking ourselves clever, we had arranged to rent car seats with our rental car rather than lugging them through the airport. Instead we found ourselves stranded at the rental agency sorting through a scrapheap of aged, damaged and dirty car seats to find two that could be used to transport our tired kids to our hotel.

I had stumbled into one of the big “open secrets” that car seat professionals all know, but few parents realize - it just isn’t safe to rent a car seat. Some of the seats were up to 10 years old, others were contaminated with fecal matter, and still others were missing critical parts. Sure, you might get lucky and find yourself at an agency with plenty of brand-new seats available, but why take that risk?

Still, there’s good reason to want to avoid or reduce the hassle of lugging along a car seat on every trip. Not only is a car seat heavy and awkward to carry, but checking it in means risking damage or loss. Here are some alternatives:

*Plan to use public transportation at your destination

*Borrow a car seat from a friend at your destination, or if you visit regularly (for example, a trip to Grandma’s house) consider buying a car seat to keep at your destination

*Carry your car seat on board using a car seat carrier. This option has the advantage of also giving your child a familiar seat and a safe five-point harness in flight.

*Buy a special travel car seat. There are many options, including vests that can fit in a backpack and a carseat that converts into a stroller.

Finally, if renting is your only realistic alternative, here are some safety tips for renting a car seat

Have you ever rented a car seat? What was your experience? Let me know in comments.

Debbie Dubrow is a mother of three (ages 4 1/2, 3 and 6mo) living in Seattle,WA. Her blog, DeliciousBaby.com is about traveling with babies, toddlers and kids, and is filled withpersonal travel stories, family-friendly city guides, and lots of tips and advice for traveling with kids. In October 2009 DeliciousBaby was ranked as the #1 most popular blog by Technorati.

Growing up on the East Coast, I was lucky enough to go on more than one field trip to the Statue of Liberty. But I hadn’t made taking my kids a priority. On trips back East to visit family, we’d done Philadelphia and all its landmarks, but we never ventured into New York. The Statue of Liberty didn’t seem like enough of a draw. There was too much you couldn’t do.

Then, it was closed to the public because of security concerns after the September 11^th attacks.  The base, pedestal and outdoor observation deck reopened in 2004, but the crown was strictly off limits.  When the announcement came that Lady Liberty’s crown was going to re-open on Fourth of July, it jumpstarted our summer vacation plans.

Including a climb to the crown requires a little more planning and organization. The only way to access the Statue of Liberty is by ferry. The scenic ride costs $12.00 for adults and $5.00 for children. Your ticket will let you visit Ellis Island and Liberty Island. For an additional $3.00 you can make a reservation to venture up to the crown.

Crown tickets are for a specific date and time. Children must be at least 4 feet tall, and be able to walk up and down the 354 steps by themselves. There is no elevator. The National Park Service limits groups to 10 at a time. With an average three trips per hour, only 240 people are allowed up each day, so booking ahead is a must. Crown tickets can be reserved up to 1 year in advance.

My family was on one of the first ferries of the day. We had about an hour before we started our climb, so we took a free ranger guided tour to get our bearings. You can tour Liberty Island on your own, there are information panels everywhere, but my experience has been a good guide can make a trip. This was no exception. The group of 20 or so folks spanned in ages from 8 to 80, and I think it’s safe to say we all felt educated and entertained when it was over.

Before your start your climb, you have to check in. Then you’ll need to stash all of your belongings into a locker. The NPS is very strict about what you can take with you on your climb.  Besides yourself, you’re allowed a camera, but no camera bag. You are allowed to take a cell phone, only if it is your only camera. No food or drinks. Be sure your kids have a snack before your get started. It’s worth mentioning you won’t have a locker key to carry. A simple scan of your thumbprint is all that’s needed to open and close the lockers. My kids thought they were the coolest things ever. I have to admit, so did I.

Our crown tickets gave us priority entry into the Security Screening Facility, a HUGE perk. We bypassed a line that was easily an hour long. Folks stared as we walked on by. My 11 year old said she felt like a rock star as she strutted toward security.

Once we cleared security, we had what was really our first wait of the day. The ranger on crown duty told us it would be about half an hour before we could start our climb. She recommended we visit the Museum at the base of the Statue. Another perk, it was included in our crown ticket. If it hadn’t been for the delay, we probably would have missed it and the amazing full scale replicas of the Statue’s face and foot. The Lady’s big toe might actually be bigger than my 8 year old!

Finally it was time to climb. How hard is it? The NPS website prepares you for a workout:

“The climb to the crown is a strenuous journey that encompasses 354 steps in a cramped enclosed area with high temperatures. The steps within the Statue are 19” wide, are shallow and taper at one end. Head clearance is 6 feet 2 inches.”

I’ll admit I was a little nervous, but my family made it up without a hitch. The excitement and adrenaline must have kicked in, because I don’t remember anyone complaining. NPS rangers are stationed at various points throughout the climb in case anyone does get into trouble. The stairs are narrow, but do-able. Even my 6′2″ husband made it up without bonking his head.

You’ll be a bit winded when you finish, but it’s the views at the top that really take your breath away.

For more Photo Friday posts, visit Delicious Baby.

Ciao Bambino recommended New York family hotels

New York with kids - holiday activities

New York with kids - tips from a local

New York with kids - top 5 kid-friendly excursions

New York museums kids - 7 great options

New York family vacation - best online resources

New York Family activities on Uptake.com

Photo Credit Tomas Fano on Flickr.

I interviewed Amanda, a mother of two and long-time resident of New York City, for a list of her favorite off the beaten path activities with kids in New York City.

When visiting a city like New York, deciding what to do can be overwhelming. With almost 500 square miles of city, the Big Apple is intimidating, and it can be easy to stick to the tried and true favorite kid-friendly activities, such as the Statue of Liberty, the Children’s Museum and Zoo, etc.

Granted, those places must experienced—but NYC offers a plethora of kid-friendly activities in addition to these usual suspects.

Wollman Park in Central Park

It goes without saying a trip to the Big Apple isn’t complete without a visit to Central Park, but how many visitors are aware that there is an amusement park hidden in the trees? During the summer months, Wollman Park is turned into Victoria Gardens, which features an array of kid-friendly rides and games, as well as several entertaining shows, including clowns, magicians, and more! In the wintertime, the Gardens are converted to an ice skating rink, so there’s fun to be had all year round.

Homer’s World Famous Malt Shop

If you’re looking for a restaurant that caters to the young, as well as the young at heart, then Homer’s is your destination of choice. Located in the Upper West Side, Homer’s has all the classic food you enjoyed as a kid, and your kids will love it too, like scrumptious donuts, vast ice cream sundae options, and good ol’ grilled cheese sandwiches. Don’t be afraid of the inevitable sugar rush—Homer’s has a full arcade of kid’s games and an air hockey table, sure to wear out your little ones.

Photo Credit Wally Gobetz on Flickr.

The Chelsea Piers

Looking to wear out those youngsters, perhaps after indulging in some treats at Homer’s? Look no further than the Chelsea Piers. A large sporting complex located on the Hudson, your family will love the wide variety of options presented here: batting cages, basketball courts, an ice skating rink, a bowling alley, a golfing range, indoor courts for soccer, and more. There’s also a Rollerblade shop that allows you to rent skates and embark on the sidewalks along the Hudson River.

West Side Kids

West Side Kids, another gem located in the Upper West Side, stocks their shelves with toys geared to stimulate your child’s intellect and imagination. This quirky toy store does not carry electronic toys, so be warned this is not your go-to place for the latest video game. West Side Kids has their products organized by age group, making it easy to find the perfect toy for all ages. The helpful staff is available for questions and is great at recommending toys.

New York City is what made me fall in love with the East Coast. I still remember my first visit to the city as a young girl from San Diego. Everything seemed so foreign and exciting!  The theatre, Little Italy, the skyscrapers, the NY accent, the sophisticated shops of 5th Avenue, and the unique smells. It was all seared in my memory forever.

As parents, my husband and I love to bring our children to the city. They are still awestruck every time we visit and discover something new to love. One trip it was the Empire State Building, another it was Ellis Island, then Dylan’s Candy Shop; the last trip it was the 30-foot Wii screen at Le Parker Meridian. New York does everything in a grand style.

New York with kids requires a new approach. If you attempt to drag your kids on an adult-focused itinerary, everyone will be miserable. I recently heard a couple complaining about how they bought their daughter a toy, but then she wanted to go back to the hotel to play with it. Kids are kids no matter where they are. Parents may be missing the days of art galleries, late night dinners, and music.  Most of these things are still doable when you balance them with kid-focused activities like playing in Central Park, visiting the M&M store, or riding the largest indoor Ferris wheel at Toys-R-Us.

Here’s a look into my little black book of favorite websites, articles, and guides:

Family Blogs

Mommy Poppins is an easy to read, informative blog that offers current event coverage as well as 100 things to do in NYC with kids.

Kid City, by Sam Chapnick, has an infinite amount of coverage on NYC for kids.  My favorite is the NYC Kidtineraries.

Journeywoman, a popular blogger, takes her kids to NYC.

Eileen Ogintz, the CNN family travel correspondent, has three articles that I reference: New York City-A Foodies Paradise, Four Days in NYC with a Pre-schooler, and A Kids Guide.

Travel for Kids has a great list of books to read before you go.

Traveling Mamas just posted a well organized list with unique ideas.

Ciao Bambino features posts on many NYC events.  Also, don’t miss NYC Top 5 Family Excusions.

City Guides

Cookie Magazine offers a city guide for families (although the magazine is no longer running, the website is up.)

WeJustGotBack.com’s NYC Insider Guide is excellent and thorough.

Trip Advisor’s printable city guide is a high level overview in a well organized format.

Trekaroo has a long list of activities for kids in New York.

Articles, Events and Lists

Travel & Leisure used to have a “Family Magazine” and this dated article is still one of my favorites -  Secret NYC.

Toddler-Friendly Attractions on About.com

NY Magazine Family Section

Go City Kids Event List

NY Magazines Family-Friendly Restaraunts

New York City high level overview and theatre updates.

NYTheatre.com for the scoop on current musicals, check this.

GOOP, a weekly newsletter by Gwyneth Paltrow, highlights great restaurants.

Great Guides

Context Travel is outstanding, a good value and will enhance any city experience. They offer group and custom tours led by subject experts (I book tours with them whenever they are available.) In NYC, they offer a family tour of the Met, chocolate tours, architecture tours, tours of Brooklyn, the Village, Jewish cuisine and culture, and the list goes on.

Art Smart, Do you love to visit the cultural sites, but are not sure how to involve your kids?  Try Art Smart, a group that puts together custom tours for your family.

Viator always offers a good starting point for a list of unique activities.

Shopping

Suzanne’s Files lists some shopping for the kids.

Century 21 is not to be missed if you like designer clothes at ridiculously low prices. They have amazing kid’s clothes that are usually boutique only lines for a fraction of the normal price (example: True Religion skirt for my daughter at $15). I always drag my family here.

Le Parker Meridian

After planning all the great places to visit, you will need to figure out where to stay. New York City hotels tend to have small rooms and big prices, which is why when you find a great family spot, you have to spread the word. In the city, it’s important to choose a hotel that offers your family a retreat from the chaos, is comfortable, and has a bit of entertainment for kids. We have a few family hotels in New York listed on Ciao Bambino, however, I want to highlight the Le Parker Meridian.

The restaurants, pool and games were a perfect fit for my kids.  They happened to have “The Best” Burger Joint in New York, which was ideal because I have one child who only eats hamburgers. This place, marked only by a small neon hamburger sign, is tucked behind velvet curtains, only revealed by the line that snakes into the lobby of the hotel. Once inside the dimly lit and packed diner, your choices are simple: hamburger or cheeseburger, Bass Ale, French fries and brownies. Skip the brownies, but the burgers are worth a trip, even if you’re not staying at the hotel.

After eating, we ventured up to the 40^th story for a swim in the pool that overlooks Central Park where you also have the option of ordering food. Perfect if you’re beat or don’t want to manage kids in a restaurant.

The next day we discovered Norma’s too. Known for brunch, it was perfect for my hungry crew. Bring both patience and an appetite! The food is creative, fresh and delicious.

We capped off our hotel stay with some screen time on a 30-foot Wii screen that you rent by the hour. All four of my kids were contained, active, and having fun! Le Parker Meridien would not be my first choice for a romantic getaway, but with kids, it hits the mark.

Ciao Bambino recommended New York family hotels

New York with kids - holiday activities

New York with kids - tips from a local

New York with kids - top 5 kid-friendly excursions

New York museums kids - 7 great options

New York family vacation - best online resources