As families head into summer, a mild panic starts to set in as we finalize travel planning and seasonal activities with our kids. Of course, all the upcoming fun is a great excuse to shop!

Here’s our summer travel retail therapy “like” and “want” list. I love that these ideas from moms living on both coasts in the US and across the Atlantic are varied, yet all help make travel easier and more enjoyable. What’s on your list?

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the past couple of years (and for the sake of argument, let’s assume you haven’t), you know that iPhones and iPads are the best thing to happen to traveling parents since portable DVD players.

If you have one, lucky you!

Now all you need are a handful of high quality apps with good replay value to keep your kids busy and happy while traveling. Don’t have time to slog through the entire iTunes App Store looking for them? Here are a few of my favorites.

Kidzsack sent us one of their backsacks to review. Yes, it’s a “backsack” not a backpack. It has a double drawstring closure instead of a zipper, but fits on your back like a backpack. The Kidzsack comes with a set of washable markers with the idea that you can wash and recolor it.

I handed the Kidzsack over to the best reviewers for the job – my 5 and 7-year-old kids. We had the sea life design which appealed to both of them and they were able to do some of the coloring together without fighting.

Traveling with children doesn’t have to be stressful. In fact, on a recent cruise trip, my family and I experienced the most organized, well-planned excursion we’ve ever taken. How? We only packed the necessities and brought along a few pieces of travel gear that helped keep the kids occupied, happy and comfortable.

Two years ago, I was completely clueless when it came to travel gear for kids. After the birth …

Holiday shopping mania is in full swing. There are holiday gift lists circulating all over the web right now. The upside? No shortage of information and suggestions. The downside? Sifting through all the articles is yet another chore we don’t have time for!

If travel gifts are on your mind, we have fantastic travel gift ideas for kids on CB. Plus, if you don’t see something you like on our list, we’re getting loads of comments from Ciao Bambino readers with additional suggestions.

The countdown is on and there’s shopping to be done. The good news is many companies have finally figured out traveling families can mean big business, so more and more products that make parents (and kids) lives a little easier on the road are showing up every day.

We’ve broken down the gift list by age group. Nancy Solomon covers gifts for babies, toddlers, and school age kids and Dana …

I know packing lists are long for summer getaways, however, be sure not to miss Tales2Go. An application for the iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad, Tales2Go plays an unlimited number of children’s stories and songs. It’s like the favorite app Pandora Radio with kid-focused content.

I was testing out this application and quickly fell in love.

Whether it lasts four hours or 14, a plane flight can feel like an eternity if you’re not prepared. Your child’s carry-on is a big key to your success (see my recent post on travel packing tips on clothes and checked baggage).

Less is more

Make sure your child’s bag is light when it’s empty. You’re going to put enough in as it is, don’t add un-necessary weight. Look for a carry-on that rolls, but can also double as a backpack.

Whether you’re off to Grandma’s or a week in Tuscany, packing provides many challenges. Add in a kid or two and your blood pressure is sure to go up. Don’t pack enough and you might spend a day with goose bumps.

Pack everything and you won’t be able to lift your bags. Amie posted a great piece on how fast luggage fees for a family can add up. Luckily, some basic tips can lighten the load and the stress on your wallet.

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.