Vacationing In RV or Travel Trailer

Do  you vacation with your grand kids in an RV or camper.  I do not but if I did, I would take some of the ideas from the site called 44 Cheap And Easy Ways To Organize Your RV or Camper.

I have always enjoyed the challenge of utilizing small spaces to the max.  Especially when traveling in a car or van, with the kids.  I also enjoy doing what I call the MacGyver moves.  That is where you find a way to fix or 'make something work', utilizing items you have available.   And you know that the term comes from that great show from the 80's called, appropriately, MacGyver. 

Back to the site -

There are indeed, 44 ideas to utilize a small space.  Most of them are pretty clever.  But there are a few that have me wondering if the author has ever watch the items that are hung from a ceiling swing while driving down the road.  Or - as in number 12, when they suggest using glass jars that maybe a plastic version would be safer.  Especially if you have kids or other persons who may bump a head or other body part against these jars, which could lead to certain disaster. 

But, just so you know for sure that I really did enjoy this site, I must mention a couple that I especially like. 

We are beach goers.  I love the mountains also, but that just isn't what I do with the kids.  One of the worse things about coming in off the beach is the sand that you bring along.  Granted, lots of that sand seems to find its way into the lining of our swim suits. (yeah - you can squirm with the thoughts of how uncomfortable that is about now) But lots is just stuck on the flip flops.  This idea of sticking them in a net bag on the door is great for two reasons.  One, it keeps the sand close to the outside and will be easier to sweep out.  Second, we won't  loose them in the middle of towels, under seats, etc.  I really like this idea.

 

This takes no explanation as to why I like it.  Especially if you have teens who always have multiple pairs of sunglasses to match outfits.  This will keep them safe from being stepped or sat on.  

Who of you, who are also enjoyers of the beach, or any other location that is outside you own back yard, has not suffered with sand or dirt getting into the paper plates?  I had never seen one of these until I read this site.  So - not only can you get the paper plate dispenser, by clicking here,  but you can also buy the same type of dispenser for your disposable bowls, by clicking here.   I love these. Bet this will be the generic gift for my family members who do own RVs and campers.  

 

I really don't like to sound like a broken record here but I keep going back to the sand issues.  Weather we are in a hotel room, the car or if we were to decide to go the RV route, as some of my kids do, towels that are wet and sandy are always an issue.  I could see mounting these hooks on the exterior of the camper for a convenient place to dry and keep the sand out.  Also, by having hand towels up off the sink in the bathroom, there is a better chance that you could actually dry off your face on a towel that had not been walked all over.  Pretty neat. 

Last but not least, if you have little kids, this is amazing.  What child does not like to make a bit of personal art, on the table top?  This idea and a box of crayons will keep them busy for hours.  Maybe.   But, lets expand here.  I would take projects for my kids to do that would help break up the boring times.  One of the favorites was making decorated graham crackers.  All that takes is graham crackers, frosting (I sometimes get the container and the squirt cans) and some sprinkles.  It is fun for them and they can eat their creations.  Another, and simpler one, is to use Reitz crackers and canned cheese.  You may be surprised how many different faces can be made one that little cracker.  Again, edible. 

One more idea that could be fun, would be to unroll the paper a bit, write messages or draw decoration for a special occasion, roll it back under the table until you are ready to show it off.  What a fun surprise this could be.  And I am not just talking about the kids now.  

Check out the site and let you imagination go wild with some of your own.  

Most importantly - 

enjoy time with those grand kids!

Teen Music on Long Trips

Ya just can't be in the car for hours and hours on end, with kids who are teens or near enough to being teens, without having an abundance of music playing.  I am really lucky in that I pretty much like most music and I really don't mind it being loud.  I love when the kids say "Grandma, can you please turn down the music?”  

 So, what do you listen to when you have such an assortment of ages and music desires?  Everything.  There is no 'norm' here.  We take all of us out of our comfort zone at some point.  When we depart the cd we put on this crazy mix called "Sun Splashin': 16 Hot Summer Hits".  This is a crazy mix that has

Kokomo by The Beach Boy, Hot Hot Hot by Buster Poindexter, Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison, Coconut by Harry Nilsson,  Macarena by D.S.B and a bunch more.  You can tell by this list that this is NOT the music that tween and teens listen to.  Right?  And I would venture to say nobody listens to this cd other than when on this trip.  Like I said, we take off with this cd blasting while eating the totally unhealthy batch of donuts, at just about sunrise.  We sing, and we dance in our seats, and we laugh a lot at the fact that we really do look forward to this music, each and every year.   

                         

Again, as we approach the beach and get that first smell of rotten fish, which we love at first, the music comes on and the girls dance with excitement and anticipation of hitting the water.                        

A couple of the girls were cheerleaders which included a lot of dance; one girls is also a dancer; one is an remarkable singer   - - -   The point here is that the one thing we share on our trips is our love for music.  And we don't have to travel to Branson Missouri, or Seattle Washington to catch some live sounds.  Since my granddaughters were all under 21 when we were traveling, it is important to find venues that are geared towards family, yet not BORING!  Not too difficult when in Cali. 

Best of all - many of these music venues are FREE ! 

Works great as part of Grandma's Budget Vacations

Check out what Ventura California has to offer for the summer family traveler. 

 Ventura Music Week is dedicated to highlighting Ventura’s music, artists and music industry. With so much local talent set in such a picturesque setting, Ventura is the ideal place to come sit, listen and enjoy the sounds.

Ventura Music Week starts on June 7th and continues through June 16th. This week long musical event has been designed to create "a week of discovery, connecting music fans with the musicians who continue to drive our local music forward as well as the industry that supports it.

This SITE  will give you lots of in, especially about the Music Week.

 

Rock music’s traveling summer festival comes to Ventura featuring 100’s of various sub-genres of rock bands as well as extreme sports demonstrations and pop-culture entertainment. Tickets are $35 and are available online. Ventura County Fairgrounds 10 West Harbor Boulevard, Ventura CA 93001

Here's a SITE with more info. 

 

 Steel drums kick off the good times July 6. Enjoy while shopping, dinning or relaxing at Ventura Harbor Village. Saturdays during July and August, 1-4pm.

Summer Sunday Concert Series at Ventura Harbor Village. Soak up the sun while listening to an array of music including jazz, soul, pop, rock and reggae during the Summer Sound Concert Series on the Carousel Stage. Sundays from June 23 – September 1, 1-4pm.

Check out more info.

 Music Under the Stars - Saturdays, July 13 – September 7, 7:30-9:30pm

Dine, dance & delight to great performances at Ventura’s most historic party site, Olivas Adobe. Put on your dancing shoes and listen to top recording artists perform irresistible sets of music. Concerts sell out regularly so make reservations ahead of time. Olivas Adobe, 4200 Olivas Park Drive, Ventura CA

Want more info ?  Click HERE.

Never underestimate what your travel buddies may like.  Take them out of their elements and expose them to a great variety and they just may enjoy it.  At the very least, it will be a learning experience that will stay with them for ever. 

 

NOT Christmas In July

     Thinking about a California beach vacation? Working the opposite of the Christmas in July theory works for booking some vacations.  For years I have taken the time between Christmas and New Years to call for reservations at California beach front hotels.   This timing works for many reasons.  First, because you get front desk people who are in the 'happy holiday' spirit.  Second, some of these hotels are not open during the winter with the exception of the holiday dates.   Also, because you often get a person with the time to do a little chatting and will look around to see what the best deal they can find for you and help to make your exact date decision.  You would be surprised how often the front desk person gets a real charge out of helping you with your vacation plans and dates.  Of course, this can only happen when they have a little extra time.  Plan you calls around check in and check out times.

     Conversations is such an important factor in getting the most for your dollar.   Timing also.  Attitude gets you everywhere.

      A phone call I made one time to what has become our favorite hotel in Santa Cruz, California, is a perfect example.  I called off season and got Richard at the Carousel Hotel.  We talked for almost an hour about the fact that I vacation with my grand daughters; and we talked about his birthday being in July; and he informed me of some of the specials that the Boardwalk would probably be running.  This is all important since we are there for the beach and Boardwalk, booking a room that sits on the Boardwalk, and by the time we were done, we were booking a room at an excellent price with an upgrade, got info on special coupons that were being offered at different locations in the area for events, and were going to be there for Richard's birthday.  What did we have to do to get all this?  Promise to bring a birthday cupcake.

OK - three nights with a savings of $60 per night and it cost me a cupcake.   I can handle that.  I did check the cost of the room if I would have booked it in April - the rate would have been $179 per night for the room we had reserved with a balcony and a view of the boardwalk and ocean; and $159 for the cheapest room with no extras, if we could get a room at all.  Our cost for the room - $99 per night, includes continental breakfast, balcony, and we had a sweet little envelope waiting for us with coupons for the Boardwalk, a gift card for a souvenir shop, and a discount card for the local Burger King.  Sweet deal !  And we returned to vacation the follow couple of years too.

Timing is everything.  Having the gift of gab doesn't hurt.  And The Early Bird really does catch the good deals.

                             Sorry boys - it's a girls only trip!