If you're planning a road trip, visit this website before you're on your way

Planning a road trip? Traveling with kids? Need some games to play in the car and keep those kids busy?  Here's a part of your travel planning that you can't leave without! MomsMinivan.com has over 101 ideas for fun things for kids to do in the car, kids travel games, printable car games and activities, and road-trip tips. They are organized by age group, so have a look around - there's something for everyone! Road Trip bingo is certainly a favorite!! For more travel tips, visit LIFun4Kids.com

Traveling out of the country but don't have a passport?

Traveling out of the country but don't have a passport? It will cost you a pretty penny if you wait till the last minute!! Apply for a passport at your local post office at least two months before your travel date. If you don't have that much time left, you have no choice but to expedite your application for an additional $60 fee plus overnight delivery costs!!
If you're really in a pinch and need the passport within 2 weeks, make an appointment immediately at your regional passport agency here.
You'll have to apply in person, but don't expect to receive your passport that day. Most likely, you will have to pick it up the following business day.
If your children are applying for their passports, BOTH parents MUST be present!!
For more travel tips, visit LIFun4Kids.com

Volunteer for the Great American Cleanup and make a difference

Keep America Beautiful's Great American Cleanup, the nation's largest community improvement program, takes place annually from March 1 through May 31.  It involves an estimated 3 million volunteers and attendees. The hardworking volunteers donated more than 5.2 million hours in 2009 to clean, beautify and improve more than 32,000 communities during more than 30,000 events in all 50 states and beyond. Activities included beautifying parks and recreation areas, cleaning seashores and waterways, handling recycling collections, picking up litter, planting trees and flowers, and conducting educational programs and litter-free events.  For some astounding recycling facts, please take a look at LIFun4Kids.com's Green Facts.
There are approximately 1,000 Keep America Beautiful Great American Cleanup participating organizations in the U.S. and around the world.  Take a look here for the participating organization near you!!

Give a Day. Get a Disney Day. Volunteer a day of service and visit Disney for 1 day FREE!!

Disney wants to inspire one million people to volunteer a day of service to a participating organization in their communities.  Simply pre-register on Disney's website for a 1-day, 1-theme park ticket to the Disneyland® Resort or Walt Disney World® Resort.  After you have completed your day of service, you will be eligible for a FREE day at Disney.  Ticket must be redeemed by 12/15/10.  For program terms, conditions and FAQs, please visit Disney's website here.

Enter the NBC Today Show Wizarding World of Harry Potter Contest

Students in classrooms throughout the country can submit videos which answer the question, "Why is my class extraordinary?"

Winners will enjoy a 3 day, 2 night trip to the opening celebration festivities of "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" at Universal's Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida.  Full contest rules and details can be found here.
Contest ends 3/19/10.

Create a donut for a chance to win $12,000!!

Enter Dunkin' Donuts contest, "Create Dunkin's Next Donut" and you could win $12,000 and have it sold at participating Dunkin' Donuts.
Last year's winner won with "Toffee For Your Coffee" which was made with sour cream cake, glaze and a chopped Heath Bar. Create your donut today!!  Must be at least 13 years old to enter.  Contest ends 3/8/10.

Never hear those dreaded words: "Your luggage weight is over the limit!!"

Buy an inexpensive luggage scale and pack accordingly...There's nothing worse than paying an extra $50 per bag when you're checking in!!
We've used this Balanzza Digital Luggage Scale and it is worth every penny!!
For more great travel tips, visit LIFun4Kids.com.

Be aware of this silent killer when you travel

Carbon monoxide is a deadly, colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. Approximately 170 people in the United States die every year due to carbon monoxide poisoning caused by malfunctioning fuel-burning appliances.

But this can be avoided. Carbon monoxide detectors saves lives. You make sure you have one in your home, why not take one along when you travel? Just pack a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector in your luggage, but remember to remove the batteries first!!

P.S. Wrap it in bubble wrap to prevent damage during transit. Place it on the end table in your hotel room...lower to the floor is better!!

For more great travel tips, please take a look at LIFun4Kids.com's Helpful Tips.

You may be using one of these recalled products

Keeping your children safe is your number one priority. It's hard to believe that the products you purchase for your kids have been tested thousands of times for safety, and yet there's still a possibility of a potential danger. That's why you should know about these recent recalls announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:

* Blinds recall due to strangulation threat
* Drop-side Crib recall which cause entrapment and possibly strangulation
* Stroller recall by Maclaren due to fingertip amputations

For updated recalls, please take a look at LIFun4Kids.com's Recalls page.

Your child should still be using a booster seat at this age

Let's face it...all kids are different in many ways, especially when it comes to their size. Do you know when your child is ready to graduate from their booster seat? You should!!

All children must be restrained in an appropriate child restraint system while riding in a motor vehicle, until they reach their 8th birthday. (7th birthday prior to 11/24/09) More information can be found here: Child Safety Seats

For more great travel tips, please take a look at LIFun4Kids.com's Helpful Tips.

Try these money saving ideas the next time you travel by plane

Now that the thermometer is taking a nosedive and school will be closed for the upcoming holidays, here are some great airport travel tips that should make your vacation go smoothly.

* Buy an inexpensive luggage scale and pack accordingly...There's nothing worse than paying an extra $50 per bag when you're checking in!
* Attach identification tags on the handle of your luggage as well as somewhere on the inside (in case the tag on the handle is torn off by those luggage movers!) And DO NOT supply your address on the ID tag, just your name and cell phone number. You never know who may have access to your luggage and if they see your address, your house is a prime target while you're away!

Make your luggage stand out! The most popular color for luggage at the airport is black. Don't let anyone grab your belongings from the baggage carousel by mistake and claim them as their own. Tie a colored ribbon to the handle of your bag or better yet, buy a bright-colored luggage strap and reinforce your luggage. After all, those zippers can only put up with so much! (for more insurance, place a quick tie on the strap and attach it to the luggage too so you'll never lose the strap.)

For more great travel tips, please take a look at LIFun4Kids.com's Helpful Tips.

Traveling with kids this holiday season is easier than you think

The holidays will soon be upon us and the travel season is just around the corner! Whether you are taking a train, plane or automobile, getting there should be fun. No one said traveling with children is easy, but here are some ways to lessen your fears.

First start with the usual suspects: Nintendo DS, respective games, DVD player, DVD movies and AC car adapters. Then bring along some travel games such as magnetic travel Tangoes. Also, start a scavenger hunt and create a list of items for kids to watch out for during the trip. Bring along some Mad Libs and get those brain cells working. These are fun and educational alternatives to those ubiquitous Mario games.

All of this amusement will make the kids hungry, so keep a well-stocked cooler of drinks and snacks. Sooner or later, you’ll have to stop at a rest area. Any public restroom whether at the airport, on the airplane, or at any restaurant is just full of germs. Buy toilet cover seats at Babies 'R Us or Buy Buy Baby (they're much thicker than those that some bathrooms supply for free...if there's any left when you need one) and keep them in your carry-on or pocketbook.

Being prepared will certainly make time pass and hopefully keep your children from asking that dreaded question…"Are we there yet?"

For more great travel tips, please take a look at LIFun4Kids.com's Helpful Tips.