Oahu, Hawaii is beautiful, fun and has lots to see and do. Little kids will have a blast playing in the sand and jumping in the warm water. But when they need a break from sand, surf and sun there are many different options of places to bring them for some educational fun.

Polynesian Cultural Center: is kind of like the Disneyland of Hawaii. Kids and adults of all ages will have fun exploring the different islands and villages and mingle with actual natives. There are activities and shows at every village and kids can pick up a passport book from the front desk and get stamps from each village which at the end they can show for a prize at the gift shop. There are also luaus and shows at night that are some of the best the island has to offer.

Byodo-In Temple: is a must for little kids. Found in the lush Valley of The Temples and s short 30-40 minute drive from Waikiki. It’s a five dollar donation for adults to enter. Kids will love the ridiculously large koi fish and black swans. You can purchase food for $1 and marvel at these fish as they feed. Also little ones will love ringing the big gong.

Honolulu Zoo: Great location right next to Waikiki beach. A perfect pairing if one of the adults wants to take a surf lesson and the other is looking for a way to entertain children for a couple hours. It is on the smaller side, so don’t expect it to rival San Diego Zoo, but it still has a wide variety of animals, a Keiki Zoo (children’s zoo) and a pretty impressive playground in the middle.

Waikiki Aquarium: Located on the Waikiki shoreline, the aquarium has over 500 different species of aquatic animals and plants. They focus on the Hawaii and tropical Pacific aquatic life. This is a great place to take kids who may be too young or uncomfortable with snorkeling.

Dole Plantation: I’m not going to lie, I do feel this is a complete tourist trap but when I think about it through the eyes of my three year old, she did enjoy it. There are train rides around the plantation, a maze, and a garden (all that require separate tickets). We didn’t do any of those but we had fun looking at how pineapples grow and eating ice-cream. It was a great stop to stretch our legs on the way to the North Shore.

But doesn’t this just seem like an awful idea to you? I mean this thing is going crazy all over pinterest and I don’t think people are thinking this through.

photo courtesy of tip junkie

You really think this is a good idea to give a kid of any age a tackle box full of small high sugar pieces on a road trip? Have fun cleaning that mess up! I can see Reid cringing even thinking of the idea.

Here’s the deal, I really like to travel- like a lot (duh right?) but something happens to me when I get pregnant. I actually get aversions to the very thought of traveling. I know it sounds crazy but its completely true. The idea of getting on a plane, packing a suitcase, or even booking a hotel makes me nauseous. Why? Because I have done it so many times when I was in my first trimester that my body remembers how awful it is.

This is just the first trimester, then the second trimester comes and I magically get my energy back and I’m ready to travel and do fun things again (and clean my house, and get ready for the day…). So don’t be discouraged if it’s early on and you are planning a trip for later and it sounds like the worst thing in the world. Some of my most favorite trips we have taken have occured when I was big as a house and pregnant.

Here are some pregnancy traveling tips that are trimester specific to hopefully make your journey more comfortable and enjoyable:

First trimester pregnancy traveling tips:

Don’t do it. Just kidding, often times it is unavoidable or if you are like me you plan a once in a lifetime Europe trip a year in advance not knowing you would get pregnant a month and a half before the trip. And some people (although I have yet to meet any) don’t get sick their first trimester. But to be kind on yourself and those who have to deal with you or sit near you, if you know you have rough “morning” sickness then just plan on staying home during this time.

If you do decide to travel (which I did a lot my first pregnancy), you will first want to check your insurance policy to see how being out of area affects your coverage. Hopefully being in first trimester then you won’t need this except in an emergency situation but it’s always best to be prepared.

To ease morning sickness sip cold drinks on the airplane such as ginger ale and sprite or bring lemon drops or jolly ranchers. I have heard that seasickness bands are also quite effective. Bring snacks that have carbs and protein included in them. Try to get an aisle seat towards the front of the plane so you have a quick path to the bathroom if needed. Be courteous to those around you, even though you are pregnant it’s still nice to be considerate of those who have to deal with you for the next few hours.

Sec0nd trimester traveling tips:

Hooray! This is usually the best and most enjoyable time to travel during your pregnancy. You hopefully are feeling better, getting your energy back and although you have a growing belly you are still comfortable and can breathe! This is the best time to plan babymoons and family trips.

Talk to your doctor before your trip and get a copy of your chart. This is just for Murphy’s law that if you have it you won’t need it, but always plan for the worst. Remember to pack your prenatal vitamins, snacks, and a water bottle. Stay hydrated and make sure you plan to make sure you get plenty of rest.

Third trimester traveling tips:

Traveling in your third trimester will be uncomfortable but it’s totally doable! My first pregnancy I was 35 weeks pregnant and we traveled to San Antonio in August and I attended Sea World. This time I will be 36 weeks and flying to Southern California for a wedding and Disneyland.

Its very important to check with your doctor before booking any trips in your third trimester. Your doctor may have specific restrictions on when they want you to stop traveling and depending on your situation you may be too high-risk to travel. During my second pregnancy I had placenta previa and was forbidden to travel at all. You will definitely want a copy of your chart and depending on the airline you are traveling with you may need a letter from your doctor stating it is ok for you to fly and you are not within their cutoff date. Also just like first trimester check with your insurance policy to see how being out of area will affect your coverage and research nearby hospitals and providers.

It’s very important to stay hydrated your third trimester and even more-so when traveling. If you are flying avoid caffeine as it will dehydrate you more and also wear maternity support hose to help with circulation in your legs. Opt for an aisle seat so you can easily get to the restroom and stretch your legs. If you are driving plan on frequent stops for bathroom breaks and to walk around.

If you are traveling alone keep your suitcase light and don’t be afraid to ask for help! Most often someone chivalrous will help you heft your roller board into the overhead compartments without you even asking. Definitely choose comfortable clothing with layers so you can adjust to temperature as necessary.

Good luck and have safe travels!

Little girls waiting to board a red-eye flight to NYC

This year we have only a few trips planned as we prepare for the birth of our third child and many more life altering events happening. So, as I have enjoyed this little respite from packing, planning, cramped diaper changes in airport lavs, and jet lag, I have also been reflecting on the travel we did last year as a family.

We were a little over ambitious on our 12 in 2012 challenges and we almost made it through as we completed 10 of 12. I fell victim to morning sickness and fatigue and the very thought of traveling the last two months of our challenges made me sick to my stomach. But the memories we made are priceless. These are memories we will talk about even when our children are grown and gone. Remember when Sadie licked the pole on the subway in NYC? Or how Annie ate her weight in sand in Oahu?

The best part of it all is that my now 3.5 year old still remembers and talks about most if not all these trips. Who knew she would even remember them? I love how traveling grew us closer together as a family and created some lasting memories. But the best part are the things that I learned about my children along the way including:

They both love adventure and love new environments. Who wants to sit at home all day? My girls have itchy feet just like the rest of us and perk up when an airplane trip is mentioned.

They both are extremely adaptable. A different hotel room every night just means a new bed for them to jump on, hallways to explore, pools to swim in and bathrooms to destroy.

It doesn’t matter where in the world we are, or where we go the same things that amaze them at home, amaze them in a new and spectacular place. I.e. birds at disneyland,  the moon at Times Square, ice cream in Hawaii, and cartoons in Canada.

Watching these girls light up at new experiences and sharing it with them has made travel even more rewarding for me. Even the hiccups and headaches and breakdowns from both sides are seemingly unimportant when you see the excitement and spark in those little innocent eyes.

Polynesian Cultural Center

Oahu, Hawaii is beautiful, fun and has lots to see and do. Little kids will have a blast playing in the sand and jumping in the warm water. But when they need a break from sand, surf and sun there are many different options of places to bring them for some educational fun.

Reid helping our almost 3 year old learn how to throw spears at the Polynesian Cultural Center

Polynesian Cultural Center: is kind of like the Disneyland of Hawaii. Kids and adults of all ages will have fun exploring the different islands and villages and mingle with actual natives. There are activities and shows at every village and kids can pick up a passport book from the front desk and get stamps from each village which at the end they can show for a prize at the gift shop. There are also luaus and shows at night that are some of the best the island has to offer.

The three of us at Byodo-In Temple

Byodo-In Temple: is a must for little kids. Found in the lush Valley of The Temples and s short 30-40 minute drive from Waikiki. It’s a five dollar donation for adults to enter. Kids will love the ridiculously large koi fish and black swans. You can purchase food for $1 and marvel at these fish as they feed. Also little ones will love ringing the big gong.

Excited for our visit to the Honolulu Zoo

Honolulu Zoo: Great location right next to Waikiki beach. A perfect pairing if one of the adults wants to take a surf lesson and the other is looking for a way to entertain children for a couple hours. It is on the smaller side, so don’t expect it to rival San Diego Zoo, but it still has a wide variety of animals, a Keiki Zoo (children’s zoo) and a pretty impressive playground in the middle.

Waikiki Aquarium: Located on the Waikiki shoreline, the aquarium has over 500 different species of aquatic animals and plants. They focus on the Hawaii and tropical Pacific aquatic life. This is a great place to take kids who may be too young or uncomfortable with snorkeling.

Dole Whip at the Dole Plantation

Dole Plantation: I’m not going to lie, I do feel this is a complete tourist trap but when I think about it through the eyes of my three year old, she did enjoy it. There are train rides around the plantation, a maze, and a garden (all that require separate tickets). We didn’t do any of those but we had fun looking at how pineapples grow and eating ice-cream. It was a great stop to stretch our legs on the way to the North Shore.