After a long drive, a nice, quiet night in a hotel room sounds perfect. Unfortunately, after that long drive, the toddlers might not see it the same way. If parents don’t want to wake up in a room decorated in Early Baby Wipe with Hotel Shampoo accents, a bit of baby-proofing might be in order before settling down to sleep.

First, take anything that can be opened and sprayed or spilled, like the tiny hotel soaps and shampoos, and move it out of reach. You might leave the bar soaps as a distraction, since a couple of scattered soap bars are a cinch to pick up compared to finger-painting in conditioner. Likewise, move any toxic or messy substances you brought with you out of reach, as well. Check the dresser drawers, too, for things left in the room that could be torn up, or for helpful items like pens and notepads that could be used for redecorating.

Bring along a pack of baby electrical outlet plugs, so that any free electrical outlets can be locked down. Check for lamp power cords that reach out where small fingers can yank on them, and double-check the settings on air conditioners and heaters.

You might consider blocking off a play and sleep area with luggage, depending on the child’s climbing ability. Also, keeping the bathroom door shut at all times might not be a bad idea either. It’s much easier to contain the child before, than clean up after.

Make sure the child can’t open the front door, and if he can, keep it locked from the inside. Make sure that all windows are locked and can’t be opened far enough for toddlers to squeeze through.

A few minutes of forethought should be enough to make sure that every member of the family can spend a safe and comfortable night in the hotel room.

Being on an airplane with a bored child is not a fun experience. Young children cry or whine, older kids might try to run up and down the aisle or annoy the person in front of, or next to them.

Parents can ensure a more pleasant trip for themselves and those surrounding them by planning ahead and packing engaging activities for their children.

For older children, consider bringing a deck of playing cards. There are many card games children enjoy playing. 500 Rummy, War, Old Maid, and 21 are great to pass the time.

Pocket versions of popular board games will entertain the kids and won’t take up much room in the carry on bag. Most pocket or travel versions of board games are magnetic to minimize the risk of pieces getting lost or falling off the board during play.

Self -contained drawing games such as Etch-a Sketch ®, and Magna Doodle ® allow your child to draw, write, or play games such as hangman without burning through a lot of paper.

Coloring books and crayons are light and don’t take up a lot of room in the carry on bag. They’re great for children of all ages.

Be sure to bring along your child’s favorite books. Reading a well known and loved book is comforting and will help your child feel more secure on the plane.

Parents and children can take turns telling each other a story. One person starts by giving one or two lines of the story, the next person continues with the story until they have no more to add. Continue around until the story is finished. It might be fun to record the story on tape recorder or cell phone to listen to later or share with family and friends at your destination.

With a little planning, your child can stay busy and have fun. Who knows, you and your child may come to enjoy flying and playing games together.

Divided between two states, with Colorado having the majority holding, Dinosaur National Monument is a “must see” park for anyone interested in Dinosaurs, and especially any family with a budding paleontologist in their midst.

Before entering Dinosaur National Monument, remember that you are in a desert area and stock up accordingly! Although you may be able to purchase refreshments within the park, this isn’t a theme park and so there may be quite a drive between the visitor centers. Also ensure that everyone in your party has a hat and that you leave an itinerary of where you intend to be exploring in the park with someone who will raise an alert if you don’t return by nightfall. Also observe all safety recommendations that are posted by the park personnel. This is especially important if you intend to be hiking in the park.

Having observed the safety requirements, visit the visitor center and find out what activities are happening in the park that day, and pick up a map so that you know what there is to see and the best way to get there. If you are just passing through the area, you could leave your proposed itinerary with the center staff so that they know where you are heading.

One of the most interesting sections of the park for visitors is the Dinosaur Quarry. This is actually located in Utah, close to the town of Jenson. Here, in the Dinosaur Quarry building, you’ll see hundreds of dinosaur fossil bones exposed from the rock. The quarry itself was proclaimed to be the largest single collection of dinosaur bones found. Although it’s possible that visitors could be lucky enough to find a previously undiscovered fossil, it’s illegal to remove any such item from the park and if you are fortunate enough to be the first person to discover a fossil, you must have it in to the appropriate authorities in the park. Other points of interest in the park are the petroglyphs along Park Drive, and cabins that are reported to have belonged to homesteaders. For those looking for a more physical thrill amongst the ancient history, there are river trips of various lengths and skill levels on the Green and Yampa Rivers.

Dinosaur National Monument is a “in the field” museum which shows ancient history in the shape of the Dinosaur remains that have been uncovered there, the Indian art that was discovered and also the more modern history of settlers. It’s a unique experience to record for your vacation photo album.

1. Fill out all emergency information on your passports. Make sure family members wear their passport on their body at all times. Children should carry the phone number and address of at least one trusted adult back home.
2. Read, understand, and follow all travel warnings issued for the area you are visiting. Do not travel to unsafe areas.
3. Make two copies of everyone’s passport id page. Carry one copy with you in a separate place from your passport, and leave the second with a trusted friend or family member back home. Parents should carry additional copies of children’s passports.
4. Always carry current photos of your children with you.
5. Leave a copy of your travel plans with family or friends at home. Include hotel names and phone numbers. Have your children carry a copy of travel plans with them, as well.
6. Learn local laws and customs before you leave for your trip. Be sure your children understand them as well.
7. In airports, bus depots and train stations, never leave your luggage unattended. Instruct your children not to touch other people’s luggage, or pick anything up from the floor.
8. If you will be in a foreign country for more than two weeks, contact the embassy or consulate in that country. This will make it easier for officials to find you in case of emergency back home.
9. Do not wear expensive jewelry, or clothing that stands out. Don’t carry more money than you will need. Consider credit cards or travelers checks.
10. Make sure you exchange money at authorized places. If you have any questions or get in trouble, contact the closest embassy.

If you are traveling to Washington, D.C. with your family, there are several places of interest you will want to take your kids to see.  Some are somber reminders of wars fought and lives lost, while others pose an inside look into the history of our country as displayed in the Smithsonian, Museum of Natural History, and the Museum of African Art.

As you step inside the US Capitol building, which is home to the Congress, and you can take the guided tour and perhaps sit in on a session.   In addition, a visit to the US Supreme Court and the Library of Congress are definite sites to be added to your list.  Your kids will be mesmerized by the fact that the Library of Congress has over 26 million books, documents, photographs, and films than any other library in the world.

The Lincoln Memorial is awesome as you walk up the steps to view the enormous statue of this beloved President, as well as the 19-foot bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson, our nation’s third President.

A visit to Arlington National Cemetery is recommended so that you can pay your respects to President Kennedy and his wife Jackie, as well as his brother Robert.  Another significant site to visit is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, WWII Memorial, Korean Memorial, and the Washington Monument.  Afterwards, you can walk by the White House and take a family photo.

Your family can also take a river cruise on the Potomac.  This is a wonderful day trip to Mount Vernon, another historic site and home of our first President, George Washington.

For a more interactive approach to sightseeing, the family can participate in an 18th century guided tour by lantern light through Alexandria, Va., which is a short distance from the DC area.  This 90-minute tour is a recreation of history as told by actors dressed in costume.   The kids will love the tales told and the stories about ghosts and ghouls.  Finally, a trip to Washington, D.C. would not be complete without a stop at the National Zoo.  Here, your family will view more than 400 different species of animals.

Washington, D.C. provides families who visit a long peek into the past, the present, and the future of our country.   It inspires kids who are interested in politics, and allows them to view first hand the inner workings of our government.  While your kids may have read all about the many sites in Washington, D.C., it is incredibly different when seeing it for the first time.