April 2018 - Family Friendly USA

Zoos are a wonderful place to get close to nature. Let your children be enthralled by animals of all sizes at the best zoos in the USA!

I fondly remember visiting the zoo each summer as a child. It felt like I had traveled to a faraway place where exotic animals lived and suddenly I was a part of their world. As a Tampa Bay resident, I can still smell the Gorilla exhibit at Busch Gardens, and the Lowry Park Zoo was one of my favorite places.

As an adult, the magic is still there and it’s even more exciting to see my family’s excitement when visiting the zoo. Just last year, I was taken back to the excitement of childhood when we all had the opportunity to feed a giraffe.

If you are ready to take a walk on the wild side then grab your family and head to one of the 10 best zoos in the USA.

The Best Zoos in the Western USA:

San Diego Zoo

The San Diego Zoo is home to more than 3,700 animals living on 100 acres. It is one of the few zoos to breed Giant Panda Bears. It has won numerous awards and was recently voted #1 Zoo in the world.

*Family Friendly Tip: Want to visit the zoo from home? Check out the Animal Cams –
Polar Bear – Panda Bear – Penguins

Woodland Park Zoo

The Woodland Park Zoo in Washington is the perfect place to teach your child not only about animals but animal conservation. During your visit, you’ll learn how the zoo is helping preserve endangered species for the future and how you can get involved as well.

The Best Zoos in the Midwestern USA:

St. Louis Zoo

One of the best things about the St. Louis Zoo is that it’s free. The zoo is broken down into 6 zones that make it easy to navigate and plan your visit.

Cincinnati Zoo

The Cincinnati Zoo is the second oldest zoo in the US. Plan to visit in December during the Festival of Lights to see the animals shine with over 3 million Christmas lights.

Detroit Zoo

The Detroit Zoo is home to more than 2,000 animals on 125 acres of beautiful and interactive exhibits. One of the zoos most exciting exhibits is the Polk Penguin Conservation Center where visitors can see more than 75 penguins in a beautiful habitat.

Henry Doorly Zoo

The Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha Nebraska is home to North America’s largest Indoor Rainforest. While exploring Lied Jungle you’ll feel as if you are visiting the animals in their own home.

Columbus Zoo

Children of all ages will love the Columbus Zoo for its rides, including a Dinosaur ride that brings more than 20 animatronic dinosaurs to life! The Columbus Zoo also hosts concerts throughout the year so check out their schedule before you go!

The Best Zoos in the Eastern USA:

Bronx Zoo

If you love the city then the Bronx Zoo is for you! It’s the largest city zoo in the US. Children will love meeting the animals at the petting zoo and everyone will enjoy meeting our closest animal relatives in the Congo Gorilla Forest.

Riverbanks Zoo

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia, SC is on this list because it is a true joy to visit. The zoo is designed to get your family close to the animals. You’ll enjoy feeding giraffes and birds, and you’ll love walking through the kangaroo enclosure. Riverbanks is also semi-unique in that you get admission to the gardens on site as well.

Philadelphia Zoo

Philadelphia Zoo earns a place on this list because it is the oldest zoo in the US. During your visit, you’ll have multiple opportunities to not only see the animals but learn about them from a Zookeeper.

Animal Kingdom

The magic of Disney combined with the majesty of the animal kingdom combine to bring a truly wonderful experience. The Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida is home to rides, shows, restaurants, and many unique animals.

From the East Coast to the West the US is full of zoos of all sizes just waiting to delight families with an incredible opportunity to visit wildlife in their own environment without traveling far from home. Which of one of the 11 best zoos in the USA for families will you visit next?

Road trip hacks help make road trips one of the best parts of summer. Learn how to beat boredom and rock your next family adventure!

One of the best parts of summer is loading the family up into the car, blaring good music, chowing down on your favorite snacks, and taking your family on a road trip.

Road trips are a great way to spend quality time with your family and make your vacation about more than just your destination. However, when children are involved road trips can be an adventure all on their own!

Whether your destination is 1 hour away or 10, these hacks will keep your family happy and stress-free during your next road trip.

Road Trip Hacks for Food:

Hack #1

Pick up a few cheap plastic shower caddies from the Dollar Store before you leave. They are perfect for holding packed or drive-thru kid’s meals so that little hands can handle their meals on the go. Fill up everyone’s shower caddie and then pass them out. When everyone is done eating dump the trash and stash them for your next meal.

Hack #2

Pack portioned snacks before you go for easy handouts while driving down the road. Trail mix, crackers, goldfish, and other small snacks work perfectly if you’re using snack sized zipper bags.

Hack #3

Before your trip grab some yarn and let your kids create their own snack necklaces with cheerios, pretzels, and any other snacks that will go on a necklace that you want your kids to have. Make as many snack necklaces as you will need for the trip. They can have their snack necklaces whenever they want, just make sure that they know that when they are gone there are no more snacks until dinnertime.

Hack #4

If you don’t pre-pack portions for each child, take a pack of paper cups. They are perfect snack containers for small hands, and they keep kids from getting sticky fingers. We take 3 oz. for smaller snacks and 9 oz. for chips.

Road Trip Hacks for Health and Safety:

Hack #5

Always take a pack of baby wipes, even if you’re traveling with older kids. They are good for everything from quick cleanups to wiping hands if there isn’t any soap in a bathroom.

Hack #6

Create medicine kits and place them in gallon size Ziploc bags. Create one for each ailment that you might encounter such as car sickness, allergies, cold and flu, and cuts and bruises. Label each bag with a sharpie and keep them handy for when you need them. Make sure you remember necessary items like wipes, alcohol pads, and sick bags!

Hack #7

If you are parking and leaving your car in an unfamiliar city then you may find that it’s hard to remember where you parked it. You can actually use the Google Maps App to keep track of where you parked. Before leaving your car open map setting and click ‘Save My Location.’ Whenever you are ready to leave open the app and click on your saved location and let the map lead you right back to your car.

Road Trip Hacks for Boredom:

Hack #8

Pack a bin of toys and books for each child for the road. Make it a surprise bin with new items, or let them pick some favorites to enjoy on the road. Let them have control over their own bin, and let the child learn some responsibility along the way.

Hack #9

Use construction paper and string to make a simple banner with the names of the cities you will drive through during your trip. As you pass through each city pull that city off the banner so that your kids can keep track of how much further they have to go.

Hack #10

Fill a few brown paper bags with small toys and snacks. Write a time on the outside of each bag, for example, 2:12 pm. If you kids behave from until 2:12 pm then they get to open a goodie bag. This will give your kids an incentive for good behavior and also give them something new to entertain themselves every hour or so while you travel.

Hack #11

Audio books can change your life…and your journey. Download a couple age-appropriate books for your crew before hitting the road. We’ve spent hours with nothing but the sound of the narrator guiding us down the road. Even better? Once you’ve listened to a story together, you’ve got something to talk about at your destination.

Hack #12

Set goals for device time. Instead of handing out the electronics as soon as the trip starts, set time limits or benchmarks for getting a device. In our family, we are about an hour from a state line either way we go. They know we have to cross a state line to get devices, and don’t beg for them. This means we have time to talk, sing, and read, and the batteries don’t die as quickly!

Hack #13

Pack colorful pipe cleaners as a quick, easy, and creative toy for kids. Mine will play with them for hours!

*Family Friendly Tip: Check the ends for sharp points if you have tiny travelers.

Road Trip Hacks for Organization:

Hack #14

Suction cup shower organizers stick to car windows just as good as they do shower walls. Give your kids a place to store their sippy cups, crayons, and toys while you travel.

Hack #15

Save 5-10 plastic grocery bags and stuff them under the passenger seat. You’ll always have a handy trash bag or ick bag if you need one.

Family Friendly Road Trip Hints:

– Always make sure everyone has access to a small water bottle.
– When you’re traveling with kids, you’re going to have to stop. Plan to stop at least every 90 minutes.
– Kids love games! Try timing stops to “beat your time” and get back on the road quickly.

No matter how challenging it may be, a summer road trip is sure to be a memorable experience and the highlight of your kid’s summer. Grab your kids and your suitcases and hit the road.

Archives for April 2018