I can’t wait to go on my next vacation, but for now it’s good to be back  home with mommy and daddy and all my friends in pre-school. Also, my birthday is coming up soon, I’ll be 3 years old on July 23, I can’t wait to see what kind of cake my auntie will surprise me with. Have fun and enjoy the pics!

Joshua

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An amusement park for parents and children? Take me to it! Whether your child watches Sesame Street religiously or is a casual viewer, Sesame Place is destination for families looking for adventure this summer.

Located about 30 miles north of Philadelphia, the park features more than 30 attractions, including a dozen water rides, three live shows (including a live production of Elmo’s World), daily parades and visits from the entire Sesame crew. Unlike other parks we have reviewed, Sesame Place is designed for the seven and under crowd, meaning even toddlers are welcome on most rides. To see what makes Sesame Place special, read more.Inspired by the show’s characters, there are kiddie versions of the traditional pirate ship ride, an airplane ride, a brand new carousel, a simulated hot air balloon and the requisite tea cups.

But, he real action is over at the water rides, where you can take a leisurely inner-tube ride down Big Bird’s 1,000 foot Rambling River or swiftly glide though a system of water slides on a large raft with up to six of your nearest and dearest friends on the Sky Splash. The highlight of the trip for most visitors is the interaction with the Sesame characters. Throughout the day, the monsters wander around posing for pictures, giving out hugs and putting smiles small faces. The park is clean, smoke-free and of a manageable size. Bathrooms, with multiple changing tables, can be found throughout the park, and rarely have lines. The only downside of the park is their ticket policy, which requires all visitors over the age of 2 (adults and children) to pay the full ticket price of $48 per person.

Planning family vacations can be difficult enough, but when you’re planning family vacations with toddlers, who need routine and familiarity, finding hotel rooms with amenities you need and knowing what to pack (and what not to pack) can be big challenges. These tips for planning family vacations with toddlers should help you choose hotel rooms where you will feel as at-home as possible and pack the equipment your toddler needs for a family vacation that’s fun, not frustrating.

Choose Family-Friendly Hotel Rooms

Chill with a refrigerator. While you certainly can survive without them, a refrigerator, microwave and extra sink in your hotel room can make family vacations with toddlers easier. Refrigerators keep milk (or juice or string cheese) chilled. Microwaves warm up toddler veggies or leftover slices of the pizza you ate in your room the night before because your toddler’s bedtime precluded dinner in a restaurant. And an extra sink outside the bathroom gives you a place without a toilet view to wash sippy cups. (Tip: Pack a travel-sized bottle of dishwashing detergent.)

Book a suite. When planning family vacations with toddlers, look for hotels with “Suites” in the name. While an actual suite with doors that separate two or more rooms is ideal, “mini-suites,” which is what I call hotel rooms that offer a little more space than standard rooms as well as some kind of divider, work too. The idea is to have a space where your toddler can sleep undisturbed so the whole family doesn’t have to make 8 p.m. their bedtime. When planning family vacations with toddlers in tow, you can often find mini-suites at rates not much higher than what you’d pay for regular rooms. (Tip: Pack a few electrical outlet covers and a cabinet lock or two for use in your room.)

By Amy Francisco