What Is the Information I Need to Leave When Going on Vacation Without My Children?

Ensure the safety of your children while vacationing by planning ahead and leaving specific information with those who you entrust to care for your kids. Double-check phone numbers, address information and any other facts you leave with a care provider. Give them back up phone numbers of another close family or friend, just in case they can't reach you.

Food Planner

·         Write down a daily food plan and make sure the fridge contains plenty of the foods listed. List any food allergies or restrictions, just in case the babysitter decides to take the kids out to eat one day. Write down foods to avoid such as pork or shellfish, if you and your family live a Kosher lifestyle. In addition, let the care provider know what beverages you do and don't prefer for your children.

Medication Instructions

·         Leave instructions for your children's medications such as which medication each child takes, if any. Make it clear if only one of your kids takes medication, write down specific dosage instructions and the recommended medication schedule. Stock up on over-the-counter medications and write down a list of approved OTC medicines, just in case your care provider needs to buy additional medicine that you forgot to buy.

Contact Information

·         The person watching your kids needs contact information such as your cell phone number and address of the location or different locations where you and your spouse plan on staying. In addition, give them the hotel number and contact information for other people who might travel with you. Give your babysitter phone numbers for the pediatrician, school and direct number for their school. Write down your flight information and give the care provider a copy of your travel itinerary.

Schedule

·         Give the care provider a copy of your list of daily activities. This list can include information for the places you plan to visit, such as the museum. Let the babysitter know that you may not have access to your cell phone on certain days. Write notes on the schedule and list the best times to call during each day.

Good Vacation Places East of the Mississippi in North America

 

Choosing a good vacation spot east of the Mississippi depends on your preference. Vacationers frequent New York City, Niagara Falls, Cape Cod, Cape May and Virginia Beach. The east coast contains classics like Disney World and hidden gems like the Pocono Mountains. Other good places to visit east of the Mississippi include Nashville, Acadia, Assateague Island, Washington D.C., Salem, Allegany State Park, Finger Lakes, Adirondack Park, Delaware Recreation Area and Columbus. Once you discover your definition of a good place to visit, plan your vacation east of the Mississippi.

 

Season

·         Good places to visit on the east coast depend on the season, as weather can create activities or make them unbearable. For example, bitter, engine-stopping, cold swamps Maine, the northernmost state on the east coast, in January with average high temperatures below freezing. On the southern end of the coast, Miami, Florida, has mild days with January average high temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees F. This is one of the best months to visit the Everglades National Park.

Atmosphere

·         Choosing beforehand the type of vacation can help make an average vacation a great one. Relaxing vacations occur mostly in the country. The absence of tall buildings, nightclubs and five-star restaurants might turn you off, and you might prefer to visit New York City, Miami or Washington, D.C. On the other hand, you might enjoy the fresh air and physical activities associated with places like the Pocono mountains, the Adirondacks or the beaches.

Activities

·         Consider what activities make up your dream vacation. The northern half of the east coast has activities like whale watching, dining on fresh-caught seafood, visiting mariners' museums, skiing, snowboarding, tubing, ice fishing, fresh and seawater fishing, wildlife watching and historical attractions. Some activities, like fishing, wildlife watching and historical attractions, overlap with the south, but the activities vary. Maine visitors see moose, while Florida visitors can see alligators. Southern activities include theme parks, aquariums, art museums, snorkeling, scuba driving, historical parks, wineries and islands.

Cost

·         Determine how much to spend. Cities tend to cost more than rural areas, but have attractions closer together. The cost to get to your vacation can range from the cost of a tank of gas to several hundred dollars for plane tickets.

Vacation Spots in Utah

With five national parks and easy access to several more in neighboring states, Utah is a destination for travelers who wish to get acquainted with some of the most spectacular natural wonders of the American West. Though it is known primarily as a winter getaway for skiers and snowboarders, Utah also offers a plethora of opportunities for warm weather recreation.

Salt Lake City

·         Utah's capital, Salt Lake City, is famous for its proximity to four world-class ski resorts--Alta, Brighton, Solitude and Snowbird--and for having hosted the 2002 International Winter Olympic Games. Ten national parks are within a day's drive of the city, also known as the epicenter of the Mormon community and often referred to as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or LDS.

In the city's Temple Square, you'll find 20 attractions related to the Mormon faith, including the Salt Lake Temple and the Family History Library. These make Temple Square one of the most popular tourist attractions in Utah. All major attractions in downtown Salt Lake City are accessible via its light-rail system.

St. George

·         St. George in southwest Utah is also of great importance to the Mormons, as it was founded by prophet and colonizer Brigham Young. Tourists visit St. George for its scenery and its historical significance. There are several ghost towns within driving distance of the city.

Along the Virgin River on its outskirts, you can see dinosaur footprints in the rocks. St. George is also the gateway to Utah's oldest and most popular National Park, Zion, which draws close to three million visitors every year, according to the Utah Travel Council.

Bear Lake

·         One of the northernmost vacation spots in Utah is Bear Lake, which is known as the "Caribbean of the Rockies" due to its inviting turquoise water and white beaches. The Bear Lake Valley extends into neighboring Idaho.

On the Utah side, you can enjoy downhill skiing at Beaver Mountain Ski Resort in the winter, as well as snowmobiling. Fishing is a year-round activity at Bear Lake.

Heber Valley

·         Fifty miles southeast of Salt Lake City lies Heber Valley, which encompasses the rural communities of Heber City and Midway. The valley is known as "Little Switzerland" due to its snow-capped mountains and fertile agricultural land.

Touted as a relaxing getaway spot, the Heber Valley offers a number of recreational activities, such as snowmobiling and fly fishing. Deer Creek State Park, the Strawberry Reservoir and Daniel's Canyon are all in close proximity to Heber.

Ogden

·         In the Ogden/Weber area located 50 miles north of Salt Lake City, you will find the only whitewater park in Utah, as well as more than 230 miles of mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding trails along with 38 recreational parks.

Powder Mountain in Eden, which is approximately 30 minutes away from Ogden, boasts the most adequate terrain for skiing in Utah, according to the Ogden Convention and Visitor's Bureau.