With the 4th of July behind us and summer in full swing, it’s time to get cooking on rounding up the kids and having some fun together. If, like us, you’ve been carefully studying options since spring and have organized that once in a lifetime trip to Rome, good for you! Summertime in Rome is practically out of a dream and who knows? Perhaps you’ll get to play a little la dolce vita yourself at the Trevi Fountain with your husband while the kids are back at the hotel asleep.
But what if you’re coming up a little shorthanded right now as far as plans because you’ve been too busy to switch to organizer mode? The long-awaited family get together can be as easy as two words – road trip. Easy to pull together and about as bonding as ice creams at the beach, road trips give the kids a chance to play explorer and there’s no better place this year to channel that spirit than the state of Florida. Last April marked the date that Ponce de León (the first recorded European) sailed into the New World (are you ready?), 500 years ago in 1513! The Sunshine State is marking this occasion with a year-long celebration called Viva Florida 500. Why not start your expedition by heading straight for St. Augustine, the oldest city in the United States?
Lucky for you, DK Guides has just released two new guidebooks for both Rome and Florida in their Family Guide series detailing each one thoroughly. DK Family Guides differ from the average guidebook because they present information in a colorful and family friendly way, that’s fascinating for both adults and kids alike. Here’s a glimpse at both.
Family Guide Florida
Florida has more to offer than just theme parks. You can take your kids to marvel at spaceships at the Kennedy Space Center, dive for sunken treasure along the Treasure Coast, or even take a scenic drive to Key West to see the southernmost point in the U.S. The amazing weather lets you take advantage of the pristine beaches all over the state, giving you an option to grab the boogie boards and dive into the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico or the Atlantic Ocean.
When you peruse the pages of DK’s handy guide, you’ll quickly see what each location has to offer with cutaway illustrations, details, and color photos. Provided with a brief description of each attraction, you can make a quick decision about your itinerary for each day so that you end up spending more time on activities and less on driving.
I mean let’s face it. Nothing would be more embarrassing than visiting the Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine on a Monday morning only to learn that there was a cannon firing over the weekend and you missed it. Your kids would never forgive you for that one. A shaded service box called “The Lowdown” in each of these guides provides you with practical information like map references, visiting hours, activities, tours, food and drinks, restroom locations and even budget guidelines for each sight. So when Jackson is crying for the bathroom at the Environmental Education Center, you’ll know exactly which way to turn.
Family Guide Rome
It was once said that all roads lead to Rome and it’s no surprise that two of the world’s blockbuster tourist attractions (especially for the family) can be found here – the Colosseum and the Vatican. But, when in Rome, why not do as the Romans do and visit the Baths of Caracalla where you can teach the kids about an ancient ritual that to this day is still revered by other ancient cultures. Then grab an espresso and head over to the Catacombs, where you can learn more about the history of Christianity while touring the creepy underground burial chambers of the early Christian martyrs. Be sure to check out the Pantheon, too, one of the best-preserved Roman buildings and said to be designed by the goddess Cybele.
But spending all of your days at museums might get a little tedious for the kids so DK Family Guides includes a sidebar that lists nearby parks, playgrounds, and amusements so that they can blow off some steam. You can even take them for a quick game of tag in a local park so they get some exercise.
A great way to engage your children during the trip is by sharing facts, making up quizzes and testing their detective or math skills. Throughout, DK Family Guides will often include a “Kid’s Corner” where it features games to play whether it’s finding something in a painting or counting the arches in the Colosseum. Offer them a little prize or souvenir if they answer a trivia question correctly. Not only will this give them an incentive to pay attention, but it’s also a sure fire way to keep them from bickering with each other.
A trip to either Rome or Florida is bound to be an adventure with both the family and DK Family Guides in tow. They provide the best tools to ensure that your trip is engaging for both them and yourself. Now all you have to do is have some fun and quit worrying about all the money you’ve just spent on them.