If you are like many of us, you spend more time than you would like nagging your kids to go outside more and text their friends less. I am not sure exactly when I became my parents but it definitely happened. Sometimes a cool new toy can be just the thing to get them excited about the great outdoors, whether on a camping trip or just fun in your backyard. Here are some of our best ideas.

I am forever on the lookout for gifts that are practical and needed but also fun. That's a hard combo to find. We travel a great deal and the kids always look forward to their next trip so I often focus my gifts on something they can use on their next adventure. These are a few things that have been winners for us.

In this day and age, it’s almost inevitable that you will buy an electronic device for your child. It’s also been our experience that a portable media device can make long hours of travel much easier for the entire family. But what is the best option?

As I enjoy another wonderful summer paddling on local lakes and floating tranquil rivers, I have to say I continue to love my inflatable stand up paddle board. If I had to pick my absolute favorite gear purchase, it would be this SUP- the FunWater Tiki Paddle Board.

I love gear. Let me just state that first. I am a gear collector who can browse an outdoor store looking at gadgets I will probably never need but just look cool.  If I am looking for something I need, I will research for hours until I find exactly what I want. I love a well- designed object that does what I need it to do without extraneous and usually useless gimmicks.

The super portable Bubblebum inflatable car booster seat is one of our favorite travel hacks. It is easily packable when deflated, easy to inflate and secure in the car, and it is safe. We even use our Bubblebum booster seat at home too. An all around great piece of travel gear for your next family trip.

These are our favorite tips and travel hacks to make your next family vacation go a little faster and hopefully a little smoother. From best ways to get through a long plane flight with toddlers to tips also learned on road trips with teens, these are things we do with our own family that we have learned over the years.

Staying in a hotel can be great, especially for short stays. But for longer trips, I look for an apartment or house to rent. Finding the right property takes quite a bit of time, but it’s worth the effort. Here are 10 tips when searching VRBO.com for that perfect vacation rental.

Why I think paying for airport lounge access is worth it when flying with kids (or even by yourself). Besides the included food, drinks, and speedy WiFi, you get a precious commodity all too rare when flying- space. And you get special help if things go wrong with your flight plans, a huge bonus. Find out which airline credit card is our favorite for lounge access for the whole family (not all of them allow you to bring your kids with you!)

The super portable Bubblebum inflatable car booster seat is one of our favorite travel hacks. It is easily packable when deflated, easy to inflate and secure in the car, and it is safe. We even use our Bubblebum booster seat at home too. An all around great piece of travel gear for your next family trip.

Our favorite (and well tested) apps and games for kids that we use on flights, road trips, trains, and all other kinds of travel as well as at home. Educational and fun, toddler and elementary school aged-kids, we have all our recommendations for the best apps and games for your kids including geography, math, reading, and cool logic games. Some are pretty well known and some are unusual finds that our kids have loved.

These are our favorite tips and travel hacks to make your next family vacation go a little faster and hopefully a little smoother. From best ways to get through a long plane flight with toddlers to tips also learned on road trips with teens, these are things we do with our own family that we have learned over the years.

Want to take a family vacation to Europe but can’t find affordable flights? Try flying into London, spending the night, and then taking the Eurostar out in the morning. You can sometimes score cheap flights, and even better, you can sometimes skip an overnight on a plane. From St. Pancras Station in London, take the Eurostar direclyt to France, Belgium, or the Netherlands. It’s a great alternative to flying direct to Europe and pretty easy to do.

If you live in a locale that doesn’t experience true winter weather, meaning bitterly cold temps, wind, and big powder like you see at ski resorts in the western United States, this packing list is for you. Having planned our annual ski trip to Big Sky Resort, Montana for eight years now, we’ve managed to create a packing list that ensures everyone will be warm and comfortable while enjoying the snowy winter wonderland.

If you are new to the world of Airbnb, let me just say it will open your mind to what can happen with travel accommodations. No more tiny hotel rooms, tip- toeing around as soon as the kids go to bed. Cook full breakfasts in your own kitchen and do laundry mid-trip. So grab a glass of wine, a comfy spot on the couch, and follow these steps below to find your amazing Airbnb.

In a quest to get a comfortable night's sleep while tent camping, my choice of sleep pads has evolved over the years. I am happy to report that I have finally found “THE ONE” and it has recharged my camping life yet again. 5 years later, I am still happy with it.

Camping with kids has been easier in some ways than I thought it would be but it has also had its moments of calamity, mostly hilarious in retrospect and nothing that makes me regret one minute of time spent in a tent.

Packing lists are some of my most useful travel hacks and have been honed after years of forgetting things big and small. After you pack up everybody, drive to the mountains, pass the last gas station. get all set- up at the campsite, and then realize you have no propane for your camp stove, you will see the appeal as well. My camp packing list includes everything we might need- sleeping, cooking, food, other so we don’t have anymore of those mishaps and just an awesome time instead!