The Best Airplane Activities for Kids + Airplane Toys for Toddlers

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July 9, 2021 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Facebook, Instagram, Parenting, Pinterest, Social Media, Travel

Traveling with children can be frazzling. Turn a crazy trip into a relaxing trip by prepping ahead with the best airplane activities for kids and toddlers. A list of airplane toys for toddlers, kids activities, what documents are needed for travel and more. Happy travels!

Traveling with kids can be tough! Does anyone get more scared of the plane ride over the actual trip? When I fly with my five, I always plan weeks in advance what I will carry on the plane (the suitcase contents tend to be thought of more last minute!) That being said, I did my research and came up with some Airplane Activities for Kids. These are idea for kids ages 2 and up (though many of them can be modified to fit your younger child!)

What documents are needed when flying with a child?

For children under the age of 18, TSA does not require identification. Adult companions will need a valid form of identification.

If a child is flying as an unaccompanied minor, you must organize with the airline. You will need to pay for an unaccompanied minor service. The adult dropping off the child must have identification as well as the adult picking up the child. In most airports, even if you are not flying, an adult may go through security to pick up the child at the gate. This can occur after getting a pass from the airline at the check-in desk.

How do you travel with kids on a plane?

If your child finds interest in new environments, flying might be very successful for them. Despite the distractions, it’s important to fly equip with activities and toys to distract your toddlers and kids.

When traveling, have a thin blanket, socks, a cardigan or sweatshirt for comfort. It is important to also bring snacks. Layovers, open restaurants and an airline snack cart and be quite unpredictable. A happy child is usually a full child. Bring snacks your child doesn’t have often so it feels a bit like a treat.

Airplane Activities for Kids

In order to create happy travels for kids, you need happy distractions!

Every time the kids and I traveled, I picked up one of these Mosaic Sticker Craft Kids for Kids. They buy time. The buy multiple times because the kids will do one (which takes away), put it away and then move on to do another one later (again it takes awhile.) If you have little hands that can get distracted by this activity, I swear by these mosaic sticker art kits for kids.

Before you go, make your own DIY Altoid Tin Craft, a Tic Tac Toe Travel Game | Frugal Coupon Living

Have a LEGO lovers? Make make this DIY LEGO Travel Case | Frugal Coupon Living

Spirograph Travel Playset | Get it Here

Word Building Travel Kit | I Heart Crafty Things

Printable Travel Games – Battleship, Tic Tac Toe, Bingo, Crazy 8s ,Dot Game and more | Moms Mini Van (We also have printable Road Trip Car Games for when you get there!)

DIY Portable LEGO Kit with Printable Activity Cards | Fun at Home with Kids

Free Tetris Printable Board, Games Pieces and Rules. | Frugal Coupon Living

Free Busy Bag Ideas and Printables | Mother’s Niche

We also think you will love our Airplane Bingo (or tic-tac-toe) | Frugal Coupon Living

Road trip Pictionary Book (also great for airplanes!) | Lalymom

Travel Coloring Cases (out of mini first aid kits) | Family Fresh Meals

No paint is needed for these Reusable Color with Water Activity Pads | Get a 3 pack Here.

Create a Printable game Binder | Creative Mama on a Dime

Create an Eye Spy Bag | Six Sisters Stuff

Travel with Wikki Stix and Create Shapes and Characters | Purchase HERE and HERE

Make a Travel Snack Container (with free printable label) | Happiness is Homemade

Travel with Window Clings | How to Be Awesome at Everything

If you create the time or talent to create some of the ideas above, take a look at these other Airplane Activities for Kids you can buy for kids on Amazon. Many of them have 2 day shipping with Amazon Prime if you are a last minute shopper! Don’t forget you can get a FREE Month Trial of Prime if you don’t want a full years service.

Pin to Pinterest

Crayola Twistables
Wikki Stix
Headphones
Ipad or Kindle
Mini Play-Doh
UNO and other Kids Card Games
Travel Spirograph Playset and other Travel Games
Water Wow Books
Wet Ones Travel Wipes
Rolling Backpack (Bonus with stuffed animal strap!)

Other items to consider packing for your kids flight: window clings, socks, sweatshirt, light blanket, snacks for baby, snacks for toddlers, snacks for kids, an empty water bottle (fill after security), and a headphone splitter (if using one electronic device for multiple kids!)

Enjoy the flight!

Forget the airplane. Stay home! Enjoy these over twenty ways to enjoy a Spring Break Staycation. Pin to Pinterest.

Planes, trains and automobiles – if you are in the car too, look at these Winning Car Hacks for Mom. Pin to Pinterest.

Traveling during summer? Enjoy this Summer Bucket List for Kids. Pin to Pinterest.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Themed Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, New Year, Valentine’s Day, Easter & more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next party.

Hersheypark Opens Daily For Summer

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June 15, 2021 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Entertainment, Travel Leave a Comment

Well if you ask me what is on our family bucket list for 2021, it is a visit to Hersheypark. Since moving to Virginia from Florida, we have tried year after year to get to Hersheypark. Just when the kids were getting old enough to make a (fun) day of it, 2020 struck.

Hersheypark 2021

Ready for some good news? Hersheypark is now open daily for summer. All of your favorite things, a 121-acre theme park with more than 70 attractions, a full water park and a zoo, The Boardwalk water park and all-new The Chocolatier Restaurant, Bar + Patio.

The Chocolatier Restaurant

If you are a fan of Hershey, or perhaps new to the park like our family, be sure to check out the largest restaurant in Hershey, The Chocolatier. This is an all-new, full-service restaurant, bar, and patio open year-round in Hershey’s Chocolatetown. The space features nods to past and present elements from the Hersheypark ride collection, one-of-a-kind views of neighboring attractions, and two bars including a second story patio with a bar that provides panoramic views of Hersheypark… yes, please!

The Chocolatier menu showcases classic family fare with a fun spin and hints of chocolate served from an open kitchen. Try the Ferris Wheel Sampler, Cocoa-Dusted Beef Short Ribs, Chicken & Waffles, Heath Bar Crusted Salmon, milkshakes or Reese’s Peanut Butter Hummus (say what?)

Offering 290 seats inside and around 150 seats outside, The Chocolatier occupies the entire second floor and includes an adjacent outdoor patio and bar with never-before-seen views of Hersheypark. Enjoy lunch, dinner, drinks, snacks or whatever. Guest do not need a ticket to visit. It is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily this summer.

For menus, hours and more information, follow @TheChocolatierHersheypark on Facebook and @HersheyparkEats on Instagram.

Three Parks in One

Let’s get to the fun of it? What, Ashley the fun is not eating. Okay, well you might find me parked in The Chocolatier, but eventually I do have to burn off all those chocolate calories.

Hersheypark is now open until Labor Day followed by September weekend. Guests of all ages can enjoy three parks in one this summer with more than 70 rides and attractions, weather permitting; The Boardwalk At Hersheypark water park (open May 29-Sept. 6) with one million gallons of water; and ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park when accessing the zoo through the Hersheypark bridge during posted park hours.

If you area roller coaster lover, 2021 is a special year for you. The Comet coaster, the oldest at Hersheypark, turns 75 and Candymonium coaster, the newest, tallest, fastest and longest coaster, delights thrill-seekers for its first full year. I will be ridding both!

For 2021, enjoy entertainment offerings, including enhanced Hershey Character interactive experiences and photo “Sweet Greets” in new locations throughout the Park, as well as new Our Friends from the Sea experiences. Sea lions Colby and Ripley and seal Cocoa will be joined by two seal pups, Harper and Cobh, this summer in the Aquatheatre. Shows resume daily, with a new Flippered Friends and Family offering to come in June where guests can meet and feed the animals, take photos and experience the magic of marine mammals up close.

The Kicker!?!

For a limited time, Everyone Pays Kids’ Price at Hersheypark. Guests who purchase tickets online can save and enjoy the sweetest thrills of the season for $52.95. For more information, visit www.Hersheypark.com. This offer expires 6/30/21.

The Official Resorts of Hersheypark

Let’s talk about where to stay at Hersheypark. Choose three accommodations: The Hotel Hershey luxury accommodation, Hershey Lodge resort and Hersheypark Camping Resort campground. Each resorts offers different features making it the perfect location for each family. For rates and additional information, visit www.Hersheypark.com/official-resorts/packages.

See you at Hersheypark!

Road Trip Hacks and Tips

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June 1, 2021 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Facebook, Hacks, Instagram, Pinterest, Social Media, Summer, Travel

Road Trip Hacks and Tips

Traveling on the road for more than an hour can be exhausting. Especially when going anywhere with the kids! We put together some of the most cleaver mom hacks to help you on your next road trip with the kids. From notebooks and games that distract, to an accountability system on the sun visor, to ways to store snacks and miscellaneous items, we are by your side on your next road trip adventure! Happy travels!

First, keep the kids entertained with games. These 12 games to play in the car require very little supplies. These printable car games include conversation cards, license plate tag checklist and our road trip scavenger hunt! They help eliminate the dreaded question of “are we there yet?”

Want less. Instead try only our Road Trip Scavenger Hunt. This is our free gift to you!

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Distract the kids with our free printable Road Trip Bingo (or Tic-Tac-Toe) | Frugal Coupon Living

Altoid Tin Craft Tic Tac Toe Travel Game | Frugal Coupon Living

DIY LEGO Travel Case | Frugal Coupon Living

Print this free printable Tetris Game to busy yourself with time.

Use a shower caddy as a Fast Food container! | Lookie What I Did (buy shower caddy here)

Take a picture of where you parked your car so you can easily find it when you return.

Always reaching for the kids’ drinks when they drop them? Put those sippy cups on a leash! | Make It, Love It

Traveling with kids, this road trip idea is genius! Pull off each hour along the way. | Neat Nest Organizing

Turn a magnetic baking sheet into a travel tray for eating, playing, and more! | A Spotted Pony

You can also purchase this Snack & Play Travel Tray.

Use a flort remote control holder to store accessories/toys for kids and keep the seats protected. | Ikea Hackers (buy a Flort remote control holder here)

Don’t be stuck without first aid! Make this Car First Aid Kit to always have emergency needs when you’re on the go. | My Frugal Adventures

Play the Alphabet Race with this printable travel game | Handmade Charlotte

Keep car cup holders clean with silicon cupcake holders. | Kids Activity Blog (buy cupcake liners here)

Make Road Trip Clips. If everyone’s clip is up at the next stop (no poor behavior) they get a treat! | Random Thoughts of a Supermom

Turn a DVD case into a coloring case. | Stacy Vaughn

Get creative. Make a Kid’s Travel Binder – they won’t even know they are learning! | Living Well Mom (but we also like this one and this one)

Don’t forget the older kids with these Road Trip Games for Teens and Tweens | Landeelu

How about a shower basket to store your kid’s “essentials?” | Grey House Harbor (buy a shower basket here)

My child is constantly unbuckling the baby car seat. This has been a must for us both for road trips and every day travel – Seat Belt Buckle Guard.

A cereal container can easily transform into a car trash can. | BHG (buy cereal container here)

Maybe everyone will stop asking “Are we there yet” with these 20 Car Games for Kids | Stuck On You

Take a look at our Car winning Road Trip Hacks on Good Morning Washington.

On a road trip, you have to follow these Winning Car Hacks for Mom. Pin to Pinterest.

Also take a look at all these Airplane Activities for Kids. Pin to Pinterest.

Beach Camping Basics & Tips

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May 17, 2021 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Social Media, Summer, Travel Leave a Comment

Reinvent your typical camping vacation by taking your tent to the beach! These Beach Camping Basics and Tips will have you ready to embrace the sand and sun at your favorite local beach campsite. Camping at the beach has never been easier or more enjoyable!

Beach Camping Basics & Tips

Nothing feels more relaxing and fun to me than kicking back on a sun-drenched beach while my kids giggle and splash in the water. This could just be the Florida girl in me, but very few things beat beach camping in the summertime. Whether you’re embarking on this adventure for the first time on your own or with your family, preparation is key to making this a worthwhile endeavor for everyone, especially you. Keep these tips for camping on the beach handy for your next excursion to stay prepared and make some unforgettable summer memories.

Can you camp on the beach?

In short, it totally depends on the beach! Make sure you research the rules and regulations pertaining to camping on the beach at your desired shore. Doing your research ahead of time will give you peace of mind knowing that you well-prepared for an unforgettable beach vacation.

Know Your Destination Area

Whether you’re camping directly on a beach or at a nearby campsite, it’s important to know the area you’re going to. Will there be a source of water available? What about electricity and showers/bathrooms? If it’s a bare campsite, that means you’ll need to bring everything you need and be prepared to haul it back out again.

Regardless of the facilities and amenities provided, you’ll need to plan accordingly for how long you’re going to stay. There are plenty of camping hacks out there to help you improvise for what you need as well. Grab a map of your campground and see if you can get there by car or you’ll need to walk a ways. That will affect what you decide to bring with you!

Make a List

There’s no worse feeling than arriving at your camping spot, boogie board in hand and poised to dive in, and realizing that you forgot diapers or deodorant. While that might be a unique tactic for claiming more sleeping space, forgetting necessary items will most assuredly add unwanted stress to your getaway vacation.

It might be the natural organizer in me, but I feel more confident that I have all the essentials when I have a checklist in front of me. Try this free beach packing list to make sure you remember everything for your beach camping trip.

Plan Your Meals Ahead

While carving a fishing spear out of a tree branch in order to “live off the land” may seem quite rugged and exciting, that excitement will quickly wane after your three-year-old’s piercing screams for animal crackers. Unfortunately, you can’t hunt and gather those in the wild.

It’s important to have meals planned BEFORE you arrive at your campsite. Make sure the meals are low-prep and can easily be prepared over a campfire. There are some delicious foil packet meals out there that my family has tried and loved. Also, speaking from experience, aluminum foil is the quintessential camping meal prep item that every beach camper should have in their arsenal.

Snacks are a must. After all, the sun can quickly take you from full to famished. One recipe we always make for the beach is our beach snack mix! Double or even triple your recipe for hungry bellies.

Have the Right Equipment for Camping at the Beach

Having the right camping equipment can make or break your beach camping experience. You’ll want to invest in gear that’s appropriate for the place and time of year you’re making your trip. This doesn’t mean that you’ll have to take out a second mortgage on your home, though. Ask your friends if you can borrow their tents/gear first, and there is nothing wrong with gently used camping tents and equipment either.

Regardless of how you get your hands on a tent, you’ll want to ensure it has the following qualities:

Well-ventilated
Easy set-up and breakdown
Lightweight
UPF 50+ Protection (Recommended)

You’ll also want to make sure that you have good ground cover to prepare for any type of weather. If it’s hot, there’s a virtual certainty of sand fleas and ticks. No one wants to worry about sharing their sleeping quarters with sand fleas. No one.

Wear Appropriate Clothing

The type of beach you’re camping at (sandy or rocky) will determine what clothing you’ll want to throw in your suitcase, but for the most part, you’ll want items that are:

Lightweight and moisture-wicking
A nice hat that shades you from the sun
Mosquito netting
Water shoes (if beach is sandy)
Water-resistant sneakers (if beach is rocky)

Have Activities Planned

While it is fun to be spur of the minute, consider planning ahead some of the things you might want to do on your trip. Get organized by downloading these Beach Games or Camping Games. Both can be played when beach camping and include game directions and a supply list (so you have your camping packing list ready before going!)

All in all, the key to a fun, memorable beach camping experience is preparation, organization, and a healthy thirst for adventure. Follow these Beach Camping Basics and you’ll be a pro in no time. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s go to the beach!

Don’t forget our Camping Hacks and Tips. Pin to Pinterest.

Also take a look at our Overnight Camping Tips. Pin to Pinterest.

20 Creative Ways to Enjoy a Spring Break Staycation

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May 15, 2021 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Social Media, Spring, Travel 3 Comments

Vacation from home! Check out the 20 best staycation ideas to enjoy a Spring Break Staycation. We’ve included staycation ideas you can easily drive to and ways to have fun on vacation right from the comfort of your home. Have fun!

Spring Break Staycation Ideas

You don’t need to shell out money to create a fun spring break vacation for the kids! This year and last year showed us that it’s important to learn how to have fun from the comfort of our homes. While we didn’t have much of a choice, we now know that it’s totally possible to have a blast without jet setting anywhere.

Whether you’re looking for creative ideas for your child’s spring break, activities for the summer, or just a few fun ideas for a long weekend, you’ll love these easy and frugal staycation ideas. Enjoy a holistay within your hometown and browse these 20 kid-approved activities!

From stargazing, to camping out in your backyard, to museum scavenger hunts and more, these Spring Break Staycation ideas are the best ways to make a vacation from home special!

What is a staycation?

Not all of us have the budget or willingness to take the family on a vacation every spring. Staycations bring all the fun of a great vacation into your very own home or hometown. They typically involve extra special activities that you might do when you’re on a real vacation, like camping in your own backyard or setting up a kiddie pool in the backyard.

Whatever your reason for enjoying these staycation ideas, let us know how much you love them in the comments!

Family Staycation Kit Digital Download

Looking for some fun ideas for a staycation at home? Grab this free Staycation Printable Pack to make it FEEL like your family is on a real vacation! Play tourist in your own town with these stay at home vacation ideas including a bucket list, menu planner, printable postcards, room keys, room numbers & more.

Add in the Science

Staycation ideas can be educational, too! During the week, have a day at home. Add in as many five minute science experiments as you can. The kids will have tons of fun getting to play scientist for the day!

Backyard Movie Theater

Pop some popcorn, plop together some pillows, put up a tent, string some lights… whatever it takes to make the coolest at home movie theater in your yard. Follow this DIY Backyard Movie Screen (from Simply Sprout) or pick up an outdoor movie screen for your evening.

Play Tourist

Play tourist in your hometown. Start by visiting your city’s visitor center and get creative with what new activities can fill your day. What new things do you want to see? Where haven’t you explored before? To really make your staycation fancy, book a hotel room for the night! Search places like Groupon for discounts and savings.

Baking Championship

Host a kids baking championship! Invite your kids’ friends or neighborhood pals to up the ante. Fill a basket with interesting ingredients for them to use or let them search the web for a recipe they want to make. You judge, determine the winner, and get to eat the food all at the same time… sounds like you’re winning! Adorable ideas for a baking party or championship from ikatbag.

Backyard Fire Pit

Make your entire dinner with just your fire pit! Can you tell we love food-related staycation ideas? Find camping recipes and make everything without using your kitchen. Two recipes we recommend are Camping Hot Dogs and Campfire S’mores Cones.

Go Geocaching

This activity is so fun, it will fill your whole day! Geocaching is the act of hunting for and finding hidden objects using GPS coordinates. Download the app and find hidden “treasure” in your town’s area. Learn more about how to geocache as a family on Frugal Mom, Eh.

Arts & Crafts Day

Host a whole day dedicated to arts and crafts! Take a look at some of these ideas – upcycled cereal box crafts, paint chip crafts, and rainy day activities. You also could pick up a craft supply set for a bunch of resources to help you get creative.

Picnic and a Discussion

Deepen relationships and learn a new fun fact about your loved ones! Have an Instagram-worthy picnic in your favorite grassy park. Picnics are a great opportunity to escape those everyday distractions like the doorbell, phone ringing, dog barking, and all the other things that interrupt quality time. Bring dinner conversation cards to start discussion and help you get to know your child and/or spouse better.

Backyard Campout

No need to venture into the woods — camp out in your own backyard! At night, you and your family can study the sky. Download the Sky Map App and study planets, stars, and constellations. Frugal Mom Eh has some creative ideas for backyard camping, as well.

Travel Abroad

Host an international vacation from home — no flight required! Choose a country you have always wanted to travel to. Eat food, plan activities, listen to music, and watch a movie. Of course, all of the eats and activities will be based on that country’s culture! Pick up a DVD from the library or watch something on Amazon Prime that relates to the country of your choice. Rick Steves has some great movies. Live, Life and Learning has a free printable passport you can use for your adventure with the kids. Every night of the week can be a different country!

Sleep Outdoors

Fill a truck or trampoline with pillows and blankets and have an outdoor campout under the stars! You can also see this idea in our Visual Summer Bucket List for Kids. Source and Source

Memories

Tired of keepsakes piling up? Get Marie Kondo inspired and get organized. This can be organized by school year or can just be a place you toss in old mementos, concert tickets, photos, and more. You’ll spend the whole night reminiscing over special moments with your family. A Bowl Full of Lemons can help you get started.

Family Game Night

Have a family game night or even a family game day! You can play many of these fun Minute to Win It Game Ideas. Craft a trophy for the winner, come up with some tasty Family Game Snacks, and let everyone choose a game to play!

Take a Hike

Go explore the great outdoors! Do some research and find a great trail in your area. You can carry along this nature scavenger hunt. You can collect what you find and make natural art with your all your treasures. Also check out our Hiking Trail Bucket List in our outdoor camping hacks and tips.

Enjoy a Scavenger Hunt

Speaking of scavenger hunts, take a look at our dozens of Scavenger Hunt Ideas. We love this outdoor Flashlight Scavenger Hunt, perfect for staying up late and doing something memorable.

My Town Rocks

Rock hunting is the newest community adventure since Pokemon Go! Search your local town and area for rocks hidden by citizens just like you. Join local community boards to see places where rocks might be hidden and discover areas of your town you might not be familiar with. You and your family can paint rocks together to “hide” around your town and surrounding area to spread joy and brighten people’s day! More ideas on My Town Rocks.

Visit a Museum

Have you ever played a scavenger hunt in a museum? Kids can get bored with museums, especially ones they’ve visited before. Make your local museums exciting again and play a museum scavenger hunt game. Consider it a treasure hunt of portraits and paintings!

Get this free scavenger hunt printable and all of Frugal Coupon Living’s Free Printables. Enter your name and email address and we will send you a link and password for access to your free downloads.

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Over twenty ways to enjoy a Spring Break Stayation. Holistay and ideas within driving distance of your home and activities and fun within your home. #FrugalCouponLiving #Staycation #SpringBreak

Visit the Library

You can have SO much fun in your local library! Take a look at these 10 Quiet Library Games from Book Shark.

Virtual Museum Tour

Did you know many major museums offer virtual tours online? That means you can visit famous museums without ever leaving your home. Popular virtual tours include…

Be a Summer Travel Agent

Now that it’s spring break, summer break is just around the corner! Think ahead and hash out your summer activities and bucket list while everyone is home. Research itineraries, daily activities, and more just as if you were a travel agent. Check out our Visual Summer Bucket List for some ideas. Pick up this free travel planning kit from Pinch a Little, Save a Lot.

Painting Projects

Get the whole family in on that painting project you’ve been putting off! Paint your dining room table, redo your dresser, or spruce up a chair. Tackle a family project or redo an entire bedroom. We love these farmhouse weekend projects that can done in a few days. Not only will you get things done, you’ll have so much fun bonding and treasure the memories for years to come.

Get ready for summer! Take a look at these Visual Summer Bucket List Ideas for the Kids. Pin to Pinterest.

No more moans of “I’m bored mom” when you prepare for your summer with these Summer Boredom Busters and Activities for Kids! Pin to Pinterest.

Glamping Ideas for the Ultimate Camping Trip for the Girls!

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March 13, 2021 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Social Media, Travel 1 Comment

Glamping Ideas for the Ultimate Camping Trip for the Girls! Glamping: where stunning nature meets modern luxury.

Glamping Ideas for the Girls!

If I get a chance to get away with the girls, sleeping arrangements are often more like a 4/5 start hotel over an outdoor camping facility. I have always wanted to get one with nature, but I really enjoy the comfort of a nice bed and the enjoyment of a temperature controlled environment. Since camping was always polyester tents and sand in my toes, and bed, I never really considered it. With the evolution of glamping, camping has one again peaked my interest!

If you have always desired a camping trip but feared loosing your comforts of electricity and down comforters, take a look at these Glamping Ideas for your next trip with the girls! Glamping is doing things outside of your comfort zone, while not straying too far!

Glamping Ideas

Glamping: where stunning nature meets modern luxury.

Also, take a look Fancy Camps and see how glamping might work for you! Follow them on these social media accounts Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Bring the palettes, throws, flowers and pillows and set the atmosphere. One of our favorite places for glamping is Fancy Camps | Photography by http://jenna-alexander.com/

Let there be light. Make these Glam Solar Lights using candle sticks – how adorable! | Clamping Genius Mizz Risa and her 1958 Shasta Airflyte

Make your own outdoor bunting – this can be festive for your campsite or an on-site craft idea! | Ruffled Blog

Don’t forget the treats – we love these glamping cookies, how cute are those RVs! You can also pick up RV cookie cutters online. | KJ Cookies on Etsy

Dress the part! If you are camping with the girls, at least look the part! | Frugal Coupon Living

Another adorable light idea. Add water to Elmer’s glue, then brush inside of mason jars. Put glitter inside of the jar, and roll/spin the jar around until the glitter coats the sides. Let dry and add a tea light for this cool effect! | Cakery Papery

Don’t forget the invites! We love these glamping invitations (so what if it isn’t for a 7 year old birthday, the mamas need these cute invites too!) | Sunshine Parties on Etsy

Why touch the lighter. Toss some Christmas lights over wood for this Glamping Hack! | Source Unknown

Eat all you want! Calories don’t count when you are glamping. Being outside is a stressful situation (wink) and you will need the extra calories. We love these S’mores Campfire Cones. | Frugal Coupon Living.

We have fallen in love with this glamping chair (I bet you could use it from some soccer games later too!) | Gypsyville (find more here)

Know any happy campers? Everyone needs this souvenir glamping tumbler! | Georgia Grace Boutique on Etsy

Have a comfy place to sleep! Down blankets and fluffy pillow are a must! | Fancy Camps

Don’t make a starting a fire difficult, bring these homemade Fire Starters with you! | Rustic Wedding Chic

Make An Outdoor Lounge Using an Inflatable Kiddie Pool | Kids Ideas 2 Live 4

Trail Mix. (Need I say more?) | Evermine (a lot of cute ideas here!)

Alright ladies, this in’t only for kids – take this doughnut game with your crew – it looks like a fun and funny time! | Madly Stylish Events

Keep drinks cold and looking festive with frozen water balloons. | A Subtle Revelry

Use a garden flag frame to keep paper towels handy and easily accessible for little ones. | HGTV

Create some make-ahead cocktails and mocktails and store in mason jars. | Thirsty for Tea

If you are looking for glamping trails or the best places to hike in the U.S. with the girls, download our hiking trail bucket list and hiking journal.

Learn more about glamping at Fancy Camps: Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Photography by http://jenna-alexander.com/

This is a pretty popular post on Frugal Coupon Living – Camping Hacks and Tips. Pin to Pinterest.

Don’t forget the food – there are some creative ideas with these Foil Packet Meals. Pin to Pinterest.

Also enjoy these Camping Recipes Your Family Will Love. Pin to Pinterest.

If this is a party weekend, maybe for an upcoming wedding, take a look at these Bachlorette Party Ideas. Pin to Pinterest.

Fun Ideas for a Staycation at Home

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January 9, 2021 by administrator Filed Under: Crafts, DIY, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Printable, Social Media, Travel Leave a Comment

Looking for some fun ideas for a staycation at home? Grab this free printable pack to make it FEEL like your family is on a real vacation! Play tourist in your own town with these stay at home vacation ideas including a bucket list, menu planner, printable postcards, room keys, room numbers & more.

Fun Ideas for a Staycation at Home

If your kids are getting antsy about being at home so much, we have a great boredom busters printable pack for you. These activities are guaranteed to help cure the boredom your family faces from being at home. They also create a vacation within the home.

Putting together a staycation for your family is a great way to have fun without actually packing up and leaving. It can be the perfect alternative for families that are used to traveling often. You can extend over a weekend or lengthen your stay and lay tourist in your town for an entire week.

Enjoy bringing the fun of seeing the sights into your own region by printing out this staycation pack!

This Staycation Printable Pack includes lots of ideas for a staycation so you don’t have to come up with all the planning on your own.

Inside this pack, you will get:

staycation cover page
2 postcards
hotel room keys
hotel room numbers
2 do not disturb door hangers
staycation itinerary
staycation menu
family bucket list of ideas

Basically everything you need to transform your own home into a fun little “stay-away”! Assign your kids and your self responsibilities like receptionist, chef, room cleaners, travel agency and so much more. You can rotate job assignments at the stay at home trip continues.

Use the hotel numbers and keys to convert your kids bedrooms into guest rooms. They can share a room if possible. The do not disturb door hangers can go up at night so everyone gets the rest they need.

Create an exciting menu mixed with your usual meals and some new ones that your family could try if they were really on vacation. The entire staycation can have a theme that the new dishes would fit into.

Pepperoni Pizza Twists
Have a Taco Tuesday
Grilled Cheese Night (bring the tater tots too!)

Or play food critic and visit some of your local restaurants and diners to review.

The real fun comes with the itinerary and family bucket list. There are SO many great ideas for a staycation at home on these two pages. Use the bucket list page to come up with the activities you will place on your family’s itinerary.

Stay at Home Family Bucket List Ideas

Movie-a-thon or Movie Night
Backyard Camping
Visit a National Park or Landmark
Board Games Tournament
Spa Day
Have a Scavenger Hunt
Take a trip around the world online

The bucket list includes blank spaces so you can add in your unique experiences for your family to enjoy too.

Visit a Hiking Trail
Head to the Beach
Take local Day Trips
Visit Art Galleries
Rate local Restaurants

… and so much more!

Make sure to send a postcard to family or friend, wishing them that they were there! This set includes two styles of postcard and of course you can print out photos from your own local tourist spots on the internet.

Download Your Staycation Pack

Want to bring this stay at home tourist printable back to your home? Pick up the Staycation Printable Pack in the Frugal Coupon Living store.

Staycation Printable Pack & Instant Download

Included with purchase:

stay at home vacation cover page
2 staycation postcards
hotel room keys
hotel room numbers
2 do not disturb door hangers
staycation itinerary
staycation menu
family bucket list of ideas

Print all items to multiply for as many as you need.

Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your final Staycation Ideas and Staycation Printable Pack. Leave a comment and/or add a photo here on Pinterest! We would love to see and hear how you played tourist in your own city.

Wait! We have so much more. If you need more staycation ideas, check out our Spring Break Staycation post! Can be done any time of the year including summer vacation, winter break and more. Pin to Pinterest.

Disney Cruise Tips, Hacks, and Tricks

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December 20, 2019 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Crafts, DIY, Facebook, Hacks, Instagram, Pinterest, Social Media, Travel

Disney Cruise Tips, Hacks, and Tricks

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Going on a Disney cruise is one of the most exciting things you will do for your family! From the oldest to the youngest, there will be something special and memorable to enjoy. Everyone loves Disney! A Disney Cruise is no exception and for good reason… It is the cruise that dreams are made of. Imagine sleeping below a twinkling sky, enjoy eating in a room in which the wall paintings change as you eat, now envision yourself in an adult only spa as the supervised kids enjoy the time of their life in one of the many incredible kid zones! Check out our Tips, Hacks and Tricks to make your cruise go smoothly.

Ready to go, take a look at these 25 Disney Cruise Tips that will help you navigate the waters and get the most out of your vacation!

1. Remember that on Disney Cruise Lines (DCL), your food and sodas/teas/coffees are included. Dine in their lavishly themed Main Dining restaurants, enjoy a poolside buffet, or take a break in your sleeping quarters with 24-hour room service. There are a couple spots, including their 5-star Palo or Remy Restaurant (reservations required) that will cost, but these eating locations are optional. Enjoy all you can eat food, 24-hours a day!

2. Disney loves to celebrate. When a major theme or event is near, you can be sure they included it in a Deck Party. Look for Halloween on the High Seas, Star Wars Day at Sea, Very Merrytime Cruise, or Pirate Night. These events are usually attached to deck parties and fireworks. Seeing your own private stage entertainment and fireworks show out over the ocean is impressive to say the least. Take a look at that reflection in the water! There also are character meet and greets. When you board, visit the Activities Desk for these special times and locations. Some require RSVPs and tickets.

3. Put a premium on the nightlife as far as Disney shows. You are after all on a Disney cruise so why would you not attend the Disney entertainment? These extravagantly live shows are every night of your cruise. Afterwards, send the kids to the kids club and go out to an adult-only night club or lounge. If after a long and busy day you find yourself too tired to enjoy the Broadway-style entertainment, watch the shows on your stateroom television.

4. Get up early for a powerful sunrise. It’s not every day you get to see the sunrise in the middle of the ocean. One of the most incredible aspects of a Disney cruise line experience is getting to see amazingly painted picture. It is worth a little less sleep, you can nap on the deck later! If you enjoy getting up early, run the 5k on Castaway Cay. You can burn off all those extra calories!

5. If you’re trying to save money, consider a interior state room. With all the activities and fun that are found all over the ship, your time inside is going to be very limited anyway. Booking a year or two ahead will also save you money. Mark your calendar!

6. Sign the kids up for Kids Club or Disney’s Oceaneer Club when you check-in at the terminal. It will be well worth the efforts when you get on board. You are not required to use their facility, but if you decide to at any point in the trip, at least they are already signed up.

7. Carry on your own alcohol to save a great deal of money if you like to have a bit of wine. Enjoy these glasses in your room as there is a $25 corking fee in the dinning room. As of September 30, 2015, Disney Cruise Line Guests 21 years and older may bring a maximum of 2 bottles of unopened wine or champagne (no larger than 750 ml) or 6 beers (no larger than 12 ounces) on board at the beginning of the voyage. I also suggest bringing some bottled water bottles. These items must be carried on, they cannot be packed. More on their Liquor Policy.

8. Prepare ahead of time for a reasonable tip count. On average you will be tipping between $200-$300 across your trip. I suggest saving for tips a few months before you board so you don’t feel the unexpected pain at the end of your tip. Tipping is a suggestion for exceptional service but not expected. It takes place the last night of the cruise. Disney Cruise Line offers a chart of suggested tips and to whom.

9. As if the magic of the cruise wasn’t enough, be sure to not let this tip slide. Log into your Disney Cruise Account set up a character call for the little ones. It’s free and fun to do. We like doing it the day of departure but if you have a special occasion, save it for that day too! Choose from a couple different characters and schedule the time and date that work best.

10. Make sure you pack at least one warm outfit regardless of the time of year. Being out upon the ocean can get chilly no matter the season. A cardigan, blazer or jacket should be enough for the evenings or in a chilly restaurant or lounge. In the case where you are not cold, but have a cold make sure you pack medicine. This includes medicine if you are prone to motion sickness!

11. Be sure to bring along a good-sized tote to keep with you at all times. A good beach bag does the trick nicely and can house your sunscreen, cell phone, books and paper as well as camera. You never know when there will be a photo op! A larger tote is also nice as your luggage is placed out in the hallway the final evening. Having a tote or larger bag you will carry off the boat will allow you to store pjs, toothbrush, make-up and extra clothing. The opposite is true too. When you board, you will not have your suitcase until it arrives in your stateroom. Board with a bag and make sure you have your swim suit. It’s no fun watching everyone else play in the water while you wait for luggage.

12. Bring along a watch as there seems to be a shortage of clocks on board when you need them. After all, when your on vacation – time doesn’t matter! A waterproof watch is ideal with all the water fun.

13. Sign up for the Detective Agency and you will get to solve a mystery or two while on board. This is loads of fun and great for the entire family. This is for Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. This is good for all ages – Teens, Preschoolers, Tweens, Kids, and Families. Also check with Guest Services for a Hidden Mickey Challenge while on the ship.

14. Be sure to inquire about the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App in advance of your trip. It would be great to download before you board and depart. This is extremely helpful for navigation and for communicating with others. Check daily weather, character appearances and activities. The Onboard Chat Feature allows you to stay in touch with family and friends, even if everyone happens to be on different parts of the ship.

15. Take advantage of room service! It is exquisite and included and 24-7. It might make getting those extra 5 minutes of rest worth it. Keep in mind, the buffet and restaurants will have different food options. It is vacation, one fun way to keep the magic alive is to order cookies and milk while the kids are getting ready for bed – how memorable is that!? You also can order Mickey Ice Cream Bars!

16. Put aside a little bit of money for the gift shop on board. There are some things that you simply cannot find anywhere else and on board a cruise ship certainly qualifies. I always like to go to DisneyStore.com a few weeks before our trip. This allows me to buy the kids surprise souvenirs before our trip and lower costs! One suggestion is buying your lanyard and pins (for pin trading) on Ebay.

17. Consider booking via a travel professional. There are so many ins and outs of booking these types of cruises that a professional can certainly be worth the fee. In some cases, the travel agent makes commission via Disney and it is no cost to you.

18. Inquire with your agent about the secret cabins. These are Uber rare opportunities to get outer cabins at an inner cabin price. This website gives more detail.

19. Consider booking in September for a fantastic off-season deal. You can also snag them in October, early December and January. These are times when people travel less and suddenly there is a dip in the booking fee and price.

20. Use the spa and fitness center bathrooms if your bathroom needs overflow. Most families really struggle with the single bathroom set up and these bathrooms are available. It’s no fun carrying a shower caddy in the hall, also creating a shower schedule can help! Check to see what your state room offers. You likely can leave some toiletries (shampoo/conditioner) as well as the blow dryer at home!

21. Decorate your door! This exciting past time is one of the coolest parts of the trip. Just remember that everything is magnetized and no adhesives are allowed. Note: some of the fancier cabins have wooden doors that are not magnetized.

22. Plan your trip ahead of time. Booking in advance is the best way to get what you want at the price you want. The good cabins always sell out quickly so you need to be ahead of the curve. Book up to years in advance for low prices!

23. Consider taking the trip insurance. There is nothing quite like the peace of mind of knowing that you are covered just in case. This becomes particularly important as the price of the vacation increases.

24. Take advantage of the free souvenirs! If you want a really cool one, drop off a T-shirt (pillow case, frame or other memento) and some sharpie pens with guest services the first day. When you pick it up at the end of the cruise it will be covered in Disney character autographs. (It looks like DCL has taken away this free service.)Take my ad advice of Tip 16 about shopping at DisneyStore.com a few weeks before the trip.

25. Embrace the experience! Disney is only Disney if you allow yourself to truly dive into the fun and act like a kid. Let yourself go back in time and remember the magic!