what to pack

  • BEACH, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SUMMER, WATER

    Packing Tips for a Day at the Beach with Kids

    Spending a day at the beach with family is an incredibly fun and enjoyable outdoor activity. However, packing for a beach trip with kids is no easy feat. If you tend to get overwhelmed with how much one family needs for a day at the beach, this post is for you! Today, we have Annie Hamilton, Daytona photographer and mom of four, here sharing her beach packing tips and what you really need to bring to have an enjoyable day at the beach! We’ve even included a printable beach checklist for families with kids to make sure you’ve packed everything you need! 

    Day at the Beach Packing Tips

    Professional beach-goer

    It’s no secret, our family loves the beach! With all the trips we have taken, I would venture to say we are almost “beach pros.” Is that a job? I can’t think of a better way to spend the day with the family; our beach trips have led to so many great memories. I’m a firm believer that the more time you spend outside, the happier you are. However, sometimes just thinking about packing the kids up and heading to the beach is enough to give anyone anxiety. Beach trips require some planning and gear, but it doesn’t have to be stressful! Here are a few of our best packing tips and tricks for having a relaxing and stress-free beach day with your family!

    Family beach trip - beach packing trips for large families

    Set the tone

    For me, the beach is like Disney – it’s the happiest place on earth! Remember, as the parent, you set the tone for your family on each adventure you undertake. If you’re stressed and cranky, the whole family will be. And there’s nothing worse than bad attitudes in the sweltering sun. So, good attitudes are paramount! If you’re relaxed and having fun, your kids will be, too. 

    Lighten your load

    We currently live only 14 minutes from the ocean, so our beach commute is much shorter than others. However, we didn’t always live so close to the beach. We used to have to drive much longer to get there. And with any family of 6, even packing for a short trip can be a ton of work. With so many people to think about and so much to pack, even short trips can feel like a big event. 

    Packing light will help with the stress-level and help you get out of the door quicker. This is especially true for a family of six, because no one ever wants to carry a million toys (dad usually turns into SuperDad; carrying it all). Our best advice is to only take the essentials (you might be surprised how little you really need) and load up the night before. This helps to make an easier trip out and avoids the initial bad attitudes and feelings of frustration and overwhelm. 

    what to pack for a beach trip with kids - beach packing tips

    Avoid peak hours

    I’m a lover of light, as well as the ocean…so I usually plan our trips around the best times for lighting. This means you’ll hardly ever find us at the beach in the harsh sun in the middle of the day. Sunset is definitely our favorite time of day at the beach. We like to go a few hours before sunset to watch the kids play on their boogie boards into the evening while the sun goes down. This also means we avoid the crowds during the day and the hottest hours. 

    Best time of day to go to the beach with kids

    Don’t forget the sunscreen

    The most important essential for a good day at the beach is sunscreen. No matter the weather, it’s always important to protect your skin from the intense rays and burn. It’s a common misconception that you can’t get sunburned when it’s overcast or cloudy. In fact, on those days you can get more sunburnt because up to 80% of the sun’s UV radiation reaches us. If you’re swimming in the ocean, I highly recommend you use a reef-safe sunscreen that protects both your kids and the environment. We’ve got a great list of the best reef-safe sunscreens for kids. 

    Next, let’s talk about sunscreen application. I don’t know about you, but I can’t stand touching sunscreen! It usually leaves my hands feeling oily and gross. The sand sticks and it takes forever to get off. So, for a great beach hack, I like to bring along a makeup sponge and use that to apply the sunscreen to my kids. Sunscreen should be reapplied every 2 hours before or after swimming.

    What to bring to the beach with kids - beach packing tips

    Other beach essentials

    Bring a beach towel for everyone and pack an extra. A bad setup could have your towels soaking up the surf!

    Pack plenty of water and snacks. If we are going to spend the whole day at the beach, I like to make sure the kids have enough water bottles to stay hydrated. I pack a small cooler with ice for water, fruits and sandwiches. I like to pack individual snacks or even Lunchables. Grapes are great because you can freeze them and put them on the ice. Avoid sugary drinks when in the heat because it dehydrates them. Waters (and possibly Gatorade) is the best choice. We freeze bottles of water and place them in the cooler to keep the rest of the food cold and drink them as they melt.

    Accidents happen, so pack a small First-Aid kit with bandages, Neosporin, and alcohol swabs. Baby wipes are also good to have handy, especially when sand or sunscreen gets in someone’s eyes or face. They make it much easier to help wipe it away. Here’s exactly what should be in your first aid kit for kids. 

    Oh! and don’t forget a big blanket for everyone to lay on. We never really fussed with the pop-up tents ourselves, but some people do like them for added sun protection if you’re on the beach during peak sun hours or have really small kids that need breaks from the sun.

    Beach packing tips - family beach time

    Sand toys for the win

    Our kids are little fishies and spend the majority of their time in the water. They don’t need a lot of toys to keep them entertained or occupied. But when the sun starts going down, they always settle in the sand and start building sandcastles. Watching the sun go down as my kids make sandcastles will forever be my favorite memories. For us, sand/beach toys are essential. Luckily, they’re usually very inexpensive and light enough not to weigh us down when packing them.

    Make sure to pack a shovel and pale with a few sand castle shapers. Shapers are fun if you have them, but the kids can do a lot with just a shovel and pale…trust me. If you want to get serious about sandcastles, check out our post on expert sandcastle building tips. 

    boogie boards for kids and other beach toys

    Boogie boards & beyond

    My kids enjoy boogie boarding. They can spend hours floating in the ocean or riding the waves on their boards. If your kids are 3 and up, adventurous, and love the water, then I highly recommend getting one. They will go out there and ride the waves for hours! You can pick them up at any store and beach towns usually carry them as well. Here’s a great post on everything you need to know to get started boogie boarding with kids. 

    Don’t forget a frisbee or a ball to toss around. A quick tip is to bring a mesh laundry bag to put the beach toys in. This helps to rinse them off, reducing the amount of sand that comes home.

    what to take to the beach for kids to play with

    What to wear to the beach?

    We always head to the beach already dressed in our swimsuits. We find it much easier to get dressed before leaving the house so we’re ready to go when we get there. For my boys, they wear bathing suit shorts with rash guards. My girls, if it’s mid-day or a long day at the beach, tend to wear long-sleeve rash guard-type swimsuit. Rashguards give skin extra protection from the sun, which also means less area you have to cover with sunscreen. Even with a rashguard, make sure to reapply the sunscreen every few hours. I have noticed over the years that while my kids are busy building in the sand, their backs, back of neck and the back of their legs tend to get the most sun.

    My kids would never keep a hat on but if your kids will it doesn’t hurt to bring one to protect from the sun. We used to spend money on swim shoes but after a while we learned they weren’t necessary unless you’re going to a beach with lots of rocks or sharp shells. 

    tips for packing for a day at the beach with kids

    Optional non-essential beach items

    Here are a few extra things I like to bring to the beach that help make the trip smoother.

    • Net – If your kids are into seashells, bring a net. You can find these cheap in the beach toy section at most stores or in the fishing section. My youngest is a novelist seashell collector. While everyone else is in the water, you can find her on the shore shifting through seashells. She has found some pretty amazing and beautiful shells….and even fish!
    • Vinyl bag – These are great to throw the wet bathing suits and towels into. They won’t get everything else in the car wet on the way home and keep the sand from getting everywhere.
    • Tunes – We love music, so we bring along a little Sony Bluetooth speaker.
    • Baby powder – Yes, baby powder works great to help you get all the sand off your skin. Once you’ve dried off, sprinkle it over your feet and legs. The sand just wipes right off and your skin is smooth. My kids absolutely love that trick!

    stress-free packing for a day at the beach

    Don’t forget a camera!

    If you’re like me and you like to capture the memories, I highly suggest a GoPro. They are exceptional at capturing photos mid-day in bright sunlight. They also have so many accessories that make them safe to shoot near sand and water. I personally love the dome because were pretty much always around water and it allows me to take photos over and under the water at the same time. Plus, the GoPro is so small and super easy to pack along with you!

    gopro beach photo

    Beach packing list for families with kids

    Beach day packing tips

    So, there you have it! Everything you need to pack for a successful and stress-free day at the beach with kids! Do you feel more prepared now? We certainly hope that after reading this you’ve picked a new tip or two! Now, get your packing list ready and head to the beach! Enjoy the sun and make those memories with your family!

    About the author

    Annie is a wife to a USMC veteran and mother of 4 adventurous kids (2 boys then 2 girls) based in Daytona, Florida. Her family’s love for traveling and adventure comes from moving around in the military and they believe home is where the heart is. Annie’s Ecuadorian and I’m fluent in Spanish. Her love for photography comes from growing up in the movie industry, on the set of shows like Miami Vice and Bad Boys 2. Now she enjoys capturing her children making memories, exploring, and adventuring as a family. As a South Florida native, she’s a beach connoisseur and you can usually find her family at the beach. Annie and her husband are big fans of creating joy and magic with their kids. The oldest son loves to breakdance, the middle son is getting into surfing, the middle daughter takes horseback riding lessons, and the youngest is in ballet. The oldest three also play baseball. Needless to say, there’s never a dull moment in this family!

    You can find more from Annie in the following locations:
    Instagram: @copperstops
    Facebook: Emerald Grace Photography
    Website: http://www.emeraldgracephotography.com

  • HIKE, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

    How to Be Prepared when Desert Hiking with Kids

    Hiking with kids is one of our all-time favorite activities. It can be done nearly anywhere, doesn’t require fancy gear or weeks of planning and can be adapted for kids of all ages. No wonder it’s one of the first activities that most parents resort to when getting their kids outdoors. And while it may sound (and be) relatively easy, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared…especially when hiking in locations such as the desert. Today we have Chelsea Bowden from Las Vegas, NV here to share all her tips and advice on hiking with two little ones in the desert.

    Tips and Advice for Desert Hiking with Kids

    Desert hiking with kids

    We live right outside Las Vegas, NV and enjoy finding beauty in the desert. I have two kids (four and three years old) who love to be outside exploring. They need their daily dose of fresh air and outdoor fun. Even on days when I feel too tired or overwhelmed to do anything or go anywhere, my kids encourage me to get out of the house, which is something I never regret afterward.

    One of our favorite family activities is hiking. I use the term “hike” loosely, though. To us, hiking can be something as simple as a walk around our neighborhood or as complex as a planned adventure through the mountains. We love hiking along paths we discover while playing at the park and hiking middle-of-nowhere desert trails. There’s no one way to hike and so many great places to go, especially in the Nevada desert. Today I’m sharing some of tips, advice and recommendations on how to be prepared when hiking with kids in the desert.

    Hiking in the desert with kidswhat to pack when hiking in the desert with kids

    What to pack

    For any desert hike, water is essential. On short hikes at a local park or around the neighborhood, I typically just carry one large water bottle for all of us to share. Otherwise, a good size water pack (we use CamelBak) with room for lots of ice water and lots of pockets.

    In addition to water, we always keep the following essentials in one pocket for hikes:

    • a utility knife
    • compass
    • small sunscreen
    • small first aid kit with baby wipes (for cleaning off scrapes or wiping hands before snack)
    • medicine (such as Neosporin)
    • Band-Aids

    These are things we’ve kept in our pack ever since we bought it years ago. No need to unpack! Just replace as needed. I also like to keep a towel and an extra pair of clothes handy in the car for each kid. It’s hard to stop my son from jumping in a muddy puddle when he occasionally finds them.

    For more info on what to pack when hiking with kids, check out our full list of hiking essentials for families. 

    desert hiking with kids las vegasbe prepared desert hiking with kids

    Don’t forget the snacks

    Kids constantly need to refuel, so make sure to bring snacks. If traveling on a longer hike, I use one pocket in our backpack dedicated to snacks. My kids love snacks, as do most kids. They would honestly eat snacks all day long and have no sit-down meals if it were up to them! I usually let them help pick one or two things that will go in the bag to get them more excited about our adventure.

    We use snacks as motivation on our hikes and it keeps them going when they start getting tired (which will happen). Whenever they say they are getting tired, they want us to pick them up, or we hear any kind of whininess, we motivate them to keep going by saying something like, “when we make it to that bench (big rock, sign, tree, or whatever landmark we can point out ahead) you get to pick out a snack and have a drink of water. We save “treats” (like small chocolates or gummies) for the very end.

    snacks for desert hikes with kidstips for hiking with kids in the desert nevadanevada kids hiking

    Here’s a list of the most common snacks we’ll bring with us:

    Pro tip: Don’t leave home with an empty belly – make sure your kids have some food in their bellies before beginning any adventure.

    desert hiking with kids nevadatips for desert hiking with kids

    Where to go

    Know your kids, but still start small. Kids have a surprising amount of energy, but they still get tired quickly. We’ve gone on enough walks around the neighborhood to know our children’s limitations. They can handle around a 2 ½ mile hike on their own without us needing to carry them a lot. If we go any longer distance, I need to be prepared to carry someone at least part of the way. For those distances, I try not to go with the kids by myself. I’ve been using the app AllTrails for some time now and always look at the difficulty level and length of the hike before deciding where to go.

    We’ve also found that a lot of parks we go to have trails within them, as well. These trails won’t necessarily be labeled a “hike,” but as I said earlier, we use the term hike loosely. A new path of any kind where we might discover new plants, flowers, animals, rocks, etc. is exciting for the kids. And it’s a bonus when I say we are going to the park and then we get to add on additional time there for a newly discovered hike.

    hiking with kids in the desert

    As the kids get older, it will be fun to explore more challenging hikes. But for now, we are in the “easy zone” and try to make hikes pleasant for everyone. Hikes with little kids should be fun for them and not stressful or scary. Because if the kids are having fun, they’re much more likely to want to go hiking and exploring again in the near future.

    hiking with kids las vegas nevada

    How to make it fun

    Walking to/from the park, climbing a mountain (or small hills), going through a tunnel, seeing a river, lake, waterfall (or any sort of water, for that matter) makes hiking a little more exciting! These elements make hiking trails more of an adventure and are a great way to keep kids motivated to keep going. My kids love exploring new places and are so excited to see what’s around the next corner. Along the way, we often find ourselves singing songs, looking for different colored rocks, pointing out what kinds of animals live along the trail, and finding “good picture spots.” My kids really like to run, so we often have races along the way to see who can make it to our next “benchmark” first.

    tips for hiking with kidswhat to pack when desert hiking with kids

    Handling the weather

    We’re very lucky in that 9-10 months of the year we experience pretty great weather. For most of the year, we don’t really have to worry about what time of day we are going to be outside. However, in the middle of the summer, it can become dangerously hot, with temperatures up to 118° F. If you want to do any outdoor activities during this time of year, its best to be up with the sunrise and get your activities in early.

    Also if you’re adventuring in the summer, be prepared with lots of extra water, sunscreen, and shade. Always let someone know where you are going and when you expect to be back. On the opposite end of the spectrum, it gets colder in the desert than people may think. You may need gloves, hats, and an extra jacket during cold weather, especially if traveling up to the mountains. Here in Nevada, Mt. Charleston is where we usually head each year to get our snow fix and go sledding.  It’s only about an hour away with lots of good sledding hills for kids of every age.

    desert mountain hiking with kids

    Hazards on trails (cactus/critters)

    Hiking in the desert comes with its own hazards in the form of cactuses and desert critters. My son once picked up a large piece of cactus that had broken off along a trail, which embedded spines into his hand. Thankfully, it was close to our house, so I was able to run home and grab a pair of tweezers to get all spines out. Needless to say, he’ll never touch a cactus again and tells everyone else not to touch them either. Lesson learned, I guess! Make sure to warn children of the dangers of cactuses before your little one makes the same mistake.

    As far as critters go, we usually don’t see too many on the trail. However, if you venture a bit off the beaten path, it’s not unusual to run into snakes, scorpions, or spiders. Most of them tend to avoid main paths and trails, so if you’re hiking with little kids, keep your eyes open and stay close to the trails.

    nevada hiking with kidstips for hiking with kids in the desert las vegas nevada

    What we’d do differently

    I think everyone probably has a story about an adventure that went wrong. While they can be very scary, they also teach us valuable lessons. Recently, we went on a hike without being too aware of the weather. As I mentioned before, our weather is usually good and doesn’t catch us off guard too often around here. We usually check the weather before leaving the house, but this time we didn’t. There were gusts of wind up to 40 miles an hour! They could almost blow my children over! Needless to say, we learned our lesson and called it a day. If you find yourself in a similar situation, know when to turn back and be ok with not finishing what you started. There’s always another time to come back and try that trail or hike again.

    desert hiking with toddlersdesert hikes for kids nevada

    Also, when hiking with little kids, you’ve got to time it right. You know your child’s schedule best. If they have the most energy in the morning when they wake up, try going for a hike early. If they get afternoon antsy, then try going after lunch. Need to burn energy after being cooped up all day, try an early evening hike. However, always make sure to give yourself enough time to be done before it’s dark out.

    desert hikes for kids

    Wrap it up

    Hiking with kids is always an adventure and gets a little bit easier every time you go out. We have so many great memories from our family hikes and have such a great time exploring together.  Hopefully, these tips and advice will help get you and your kids out the door and on the trail. Because when we plan ahead a little, it makes for a much happier hike!

    hiking in the desert with kidstips for hiking with kids

    About Chelsea

    I was born in Orange, CA, but raised in the small town of Boulder City, NV (about a 30 min drive from Las Vegas), the youngest of 4 with older brothers. Early on I took dance classes but eventually turned to sports to be like my brothers. I played everything from basketball, softball, volleyball, and track and field. My parents always encouraged us to be active. I met my husband at 20 and we married the next year! Immediately thereafter, the Navy stationed him near Seattle, WA. We spent the next four years in the Pacific Northwest. I grew to love the different climate and all the hiking trails we discovered there.

    In 2014, we had our daughter, Chloe. One year later, my husband was ending his career in the Navy and I was 6 months pregnant with our son Logan, when we packed up to head back to Las Vegas. We stayed with my parents while saving to buy our first home. After getting settled, I ended my 8-year career with Starbucks to become a full-time stay at home mom. We are now expecting our third child in September. Even though my energy is low these days (pregnancy wipes me out) we still love to explore the outdoors as often as we can, even if it can only be for 15 minutes some days.

    You can find Chelsea on Instagram at @Mrschelseab

  • FAMILY TRAVEL, PHOTOGRAPHY

    Lessons Learned while Traveling with Kids

    Traveling with kids is never easy and takes lots of preparation, planning, and patience. Today, I’m excited to bring you a wonderful post all about the lessons parents learn while traveling with kids. Andrew Song is a photographer and father of three from Toronto. He’s here sharing packing tips and travel advice, plus some relatable travel mistakes they’ve made along the way while traveling with 3 kids. If you’re planning a trip with kids anytime soon, you’re going to want to read this post about learning to roll with the punches, because traveling with kids is not for the faint-hearted!

    Traveling with Kids Tips Advice Lessons

    Traveling with kids

    Let’s be honest, when you’re a parent and traveling with kids, the thrill of a vacation rarely comes without the anxiety of preparation. You’re exhausted and sleep deprived. The kids just went to bed after an hour of telling you no. Only then do you realize you need to start packing! Cue the panic.

    If no one has told you this yet, no matter how much time and thought you put into preparing, you’ll never be prepared for every single scenario. Over the course of a year, my wife and I traveled with our three kids (twin daughters and their big brother) to France, Germany, Netherlands, Mexico, and most recently, California. Not once did we find ourselves being prepared for everything! The good news is…there was nothing we could not solve. And we learned from each mistake we made. Today, I want to share with you some of our learnings that will hopefully help you be better prepared for traveling with your kids and for taking photos of them along the way!

    tips for traveling with kids and car seats strollers

    Car seat and stroller decisions

    If you have small kids that require car seats and a stroller, undoubtedly, you’ll have research to do on what to pack, what to rent or what to buy. The options are fairly universal: you can bring your own, rent, or buy new ones locally when you reach your destination. Your decision will be based on price, convenience, availability and how much other stuff you need to pack. Sometimes the choices seem overwhelming or they all seem costly and inconvenient. That’s just part of traveling. Make sure to budget for these expenses ahead of time and plan in advance for different scenarios.

    Rent or buy

    When we traveled to California, after much discussion and unneeded debates, we decided not to bring our own car seats or strollers. For those of you who have backpacked a car seat on a trip, you can imagine the challenge it would have been to carry two of them through the airport, along with all our other luggage and the kids! Since we were renting a car for the trip, we chose to rent car seats from our car rental company. We were able to rent car seats for $100 each for 10-days. Yes, it’s a little pricey, but the convenience of having the car seats at the airport car rental ready for us far outweighed the cost of us lugging around the heavy car seats through multiple airports. (Did I mention we also had a layover?)

    lessons learned while traveling with kids

    As for the strollers, we decided to leave our beloved larger, more expensive and comfortable stroller at home and purchase new strollers at a local Target once we arrived in California. That way we didn’t have to lug a giant double-stroller around or risk damaging or devaluing it. While it probably sounds cheaper to rent a stroller, we needed a double stroller for 10-days. It ended up being the same price as buying two separate umbrella strollers from Target. We bought them when we got there and then got to keep them afterward for future travel!

    lessons learned from traveling with family and kids

    Learn from unexpected mistakes (we all make them)

    Picture this…it’s go time. Our cab arrives on time. We throw our luggage and carry-on bags into the cab, remind the kids to go potty, and we’re out the door. On the freeway there’s no traffic, so we get to the airport in record time and well ahead of schedule. The kids are fascinated by the airport so they are on their best behavior. We use the self-check-in kiosk and there’s an error. Typical (insert eye roll). Technology never works at the most inconvenient times. We try again…error. OK, maybe there’s something wrong with how we checked in online?

    And that’s when they told us, “You cannot have 5 people sitting in a row of three seats.” To which we replied, “Yes, we understand, however, our twins do not have their own seats, they will be sitting on our laps and want to sit together.” To which they replied, “It is against FAA regulations to have 5 persons sitting in a 3-seated row because there are only 4 air masks available in the event of an emergency. We’ll have to separate your family.” No!

    Pack multiple bags

    The problem was that we only packed ONE bag for our kids’ entertainment. OK, don’t worry, don’t panic, we thought. We’ll just split up the toys…no big deal. Turns out, it was a big deal. Our twins were not cooperating on the flight, constantly wanting the other parent or what the other twin was playing with. They started to scream, cry and kick the seats. As much as you read online to ignore the naysayers and head shakers in the rows around you, you can’t help but feel bad that your kids are the reason why people around you cannot relax. No parent wants to be in this situation. But when the going gets tough (and it will at some point), concentrate on taking care of your kids and ignore those around you.

    Next time, book seats across the aisle so you stay somewhat close together. Or pack multiple bags of entertainment and snacks. Lesson learned.

    tips for traveling with kids

    Pace yourself 

    Our California trip itinerary was packed full of sightseeing which included Hollywood Blvd, Griffith Observatory, Disney Concert Hall, San Diego Zoo, Santa Monica beach, Laguna Beach, Venice Beach, Melrose Ave, Urban Light sculpture, and most importantly, Disneyland!

    Disneyland was by far one of the best experiences in California, but the most challenging as well. We all know why it’s the best; the attractions, the rides, the Disney characters and the feeling of being in a fantasy world you never want to escape! But on the same token, it takes a toll on both the parents and the kids. We purchased a three-day pass because we wanted to experience everything it had to offer. In hindsight, that was our mistake. We underestimated the sheer exhaustion of walking for 10+ hours under the hot California sun, the lines and the crowded atmosphere.

    tips for traveling with kids disneyland californiatraveling with kids - expert tips and advice

    Go slow

    Not knowing any better, we went out hard and did way too much on the first day, instead of pacing ourselves. We learned our lesson quickly when we weren’t even sure we wanted to go back on Day 2. So, if you have three days, use them wisely and spread out the activities as much as you can. If you only have one day there, prioritize the attractions for your kids but still take it slow and enjoy the moment without feeling rushed or trying to cram so much in that the rest of your trip suffers.

    tips for planning a trip with kids

    Choose activities wisely

    Coming from Toronto Canada, we don’t have easy access to gorgeous beaches. While in California, we wanted to spend as much time by the ocean as possible. The waves, sand and fresh breeze are something we do not get to experience a lot of so we definitely wanted to take advantage of it. Our son must have been a fish in another life because he loves the water. He even has dreams to compete in the Olympics! Needless to say, he loved the beach and our time there.

    travel tips and advice for trips with kids

    Our girls, on the other hand, not so much. They were apprehensive at first and unfortunately for us, they fell into a wave as they tried to escape it from touching their feet, resulting in sand and salt water everywhere. Needless to say, that was game over for them. The only way they’d get close to the waves after that was in our arms. Takeaway lesson: exercise caution when trying new things and ease kids into new situations.

    traveling photographer - what gear to pack

    Packing tips for the photographer

    Let’s switch gears and talk photography, shall we? In my opinion, there are three main tips that are vital when traveling as a photographer. (You with the camera, yes you…you’re the photographer!)

    photography gear to pack when traveling with kids

    Tip #1 – minimize your gear

    And then minimize some more. When I first started to travel with photography gear, I wanted to bring everything. I had major FOMO (fear of missing out) of an opportunity because I didn’t have the “proper” lens. I packed a backpack full of lenses, tripod, gimbal, microphone, filters, etc. The list goes on. As I traveled, the burden of carrying so much gear started to weigh on me physically. I began to reduce my load each trip until I was down to one camera body and one standard zoom lens.

    And guess what happened? I never had FOMO. I realized it’s much more important to focus on the subject (my family) than stressing the importance of having the right gear. In fact, worrying about proper gear is a crutch and distracts me from my family. That’s the exact opposite of what a vacation is about. Pick your favorite lens and you’ll learn to use it in ways you never thought possible.

    photography tips for traveling with kids

    Tip #2 – location scout with Instagram

    When you choose the location(s) you will visit, use Instagram to scout out what’s there to see, do and explore. Instagram can show you beautiful photos based on a location search. This allows you to plan your family trip to incorporate the highlights. Instagram is an amazing resource for inspiration. I do this ALL the time even when I’m not traveling. Not because I want to recreate the same images, but it gives me a visual sense of the environment and gets me started thinking of compositions that appeal to me.

    photography tips for family travel

    Tip #3 – bring a backup drive!

    If you’re using a camera with only 1 memory card, it is vital you bring an external hard drive to back up your photos. This may seem excessive, but imagine something WERE to happen to your memory card, those memories you would have cherished for years to come can suddenly vanish in an instant. Not worth the risk. Back up your images on your external hard drive every night when you’re back at the hotel/house.

    lessons learned while traveling the globe with three kids

    Relax, enjoy, repeat

    When your day is done, take time to unwind and relax! As much as we parents may think it’s only exhausting for us, constantly being on the move is also exhausting for the kids. Now that we’re a little more experienced in traveling with our kids, we plan our days better. We always try to sight-see in the morning and then dedicate a large portion of the afternoon and early evening to one or two areas. And mainly, we just try to relax. Consider staying at places (hotel, vacation home or Airbnb) that have kid-friendly amenities. Pools, board games, puzzles, movies or other activities kids can enjoy in their down time.

    The one piece of advice I want you to remember from this article is to enjoy the moments you share with family. Find time to enjoy the little things, just as much as the grand and extravagant events you’ve planned. Look around and take it all in. Just noticing a garden on someone’s front lawn can be a moment to share and cherish. When I think back to when I was a child, the most memorable moments weren’t about the places we visited. I remember the random moments with my family. The karaoke contests between my siblings in the car going to the restaurant. The races downhill to see who can still stand after being dizzy from spinning. Let your vacation be defined by the moments you share with your family and loved ones, not the physical places you visit.

    About Andrew Song

    I am a Family & Lifestyle photographer from Toronto, Canada. Together with my wife, we are raising a trio of misfits who always seems to get us to smile. Watching them grow up is definitely our favorite past time. Living in a country where half the calendar year is spent in the cold, we try to travel and spend as much time outdoors as possible. The camera comes along everywhere we go. Life happens so quickly and pictures help preserve those moments.

    Personal Instagram @andrewsong_
    Family & Lifestyle Photography @storiesbysong
    Website http://www.storiesbysong.com