Family Guide Florida

Family Guide Florida – Where to play, what to see, where to stay
Eyewitness Travel
From DK Canada

About the book

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Florida will lead you straight to the best attractions the Sunshine State has to offer.

Explore the state's history, architecture, wildlife, beaches, and scenic walks. This in-depth guidebook covers all the major cities and sights, from Miami Beach and the Florida Keys to the Everglades, the Gulf Coast, and more. It provides the insider travel tips you need, whether you are making the most of the nightlife or discovering historic towns.

Discover DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Florida.

+ Detailed itineraries and "don't-miss" destination highlights at a glance.
+ Illustrated cutaway 3-D drawings of important sights.
+ Floor plans and guided visitor information for major museums.
+ Guided walking tours, local drink and dining specialties to try, things to do, and places to eat, drink, and shop by area.
+ Area maps marked with sights and restaurants.
+ Insights into history and culture to help you understand the stories behind the sights.
+ Suggested day trips and itineraries to explore beyond the cities and towns.
+ Hotel and restaurant listings highlight DK Choice special recommendations.

With hundreds of full-color photographs, hand-drawn illustrations, and custom maps that illuminate every page, DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Florida truly shows you this state as no one else can.

My Thoughts

This year we have decided to bring our four kids to Florida.  It might be the last “official” family trip we are making – the kids are growing and one is finishing high school next year – and we have decided to bring the kids there for an extended period of time.  My husband and I will also be celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary this coming June and for us it will be a trip to go back where we had our honeymoon.  Needless to say we are excited about the trip and look forward for our kids to discover Florida and Walt Disney World.

Planning is also a big part of my gifs and for a good plan you need good books.  That’s why I was very interested in reviewing the Family Guide Florida, a book in the Eyewitness Travel series from DK.   This guide will help me to plan a stress-free vacation so I can enjoy the time with my family when we are there.  Oh in case you are wondering we will be driving with our RV in order to save money on the stay portion of the trip.   We have decided to stay at some state parks which are very reasonable price wise even though they are not close to WDW. 

The inside of the book has a map of Florida with color coded sections on it.   Each color correspond to a section of Florida which can be quickly found in the book.  For example, Orlando and the Park is in light orange color while Miami area is in pink.   When you look at the side of the book, you can easily find the Orlando and the Parks section by the color light orange. 

As I mentioned above the book is divided into sections – Miami, The Gold and Treasure Coasts, Orlando and the Parks, The Space Coast, The Northeast, The Panhandle, The Gulf Coast, The Lowed Gulf Coast/Everglades/Keys.  Each section will have an introduction as well as the best things for families to see and do.   A regional map will also indicate where the cities are located.  Each section features a number of destination that will be fun to do with the family.  Each sightseeing page also possess a Kid’s Corner section which highlight special information for them.  The Kid’s Corner sections have been designed to involve children with games, cartoons and fun facts.  You can also find places to stay at the end of each section of the book.   However, I would have very liked to see some campsites that are reasonable in prices as well as maybe highlighting the state parks option.   Finally at the end of the book a whole section can be found with maps from all the areas of Florida.

This book will definitively found it’s place in our luggage when we pack our RV.   I am not leaving our home without it.   It contains a ton of information about the places we are planning to visit – whether beaches or parks. 

Family Guide Florida is available at your favorite bookstore, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for allowing me to promote these books. I was not monetarily compensated for this post . Please note that the post was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Classic Brands U-Shape Gel Memory Foam Travel Neck Pillow

I recently received a travel neck pillow from Classic Brands to review.   I always wanted to have one of these so I can rest a bit when we are travelling to go to our RV.   My husband was hoping that we would get it before he leaves for his business trip.   Turns out we did receive it before his trip.  

I am no stranger to memory foam type of pillows because I have one to sleep on during the night.  I really like my memory foam pillow at night so I know what to expect for the travel neck pillow.   My husband, however, decided to try it out while sitting on the sofa and just couldn’t get used to it.  Right now it is a bit bulky I find but with time I know that the memory foam will settle itself perfectly around your neck.  It will take time and many uses though.  

I like the softness of it.   It also possess a gel section which provide some coolness around your head.   It was interesting to feel the coolness slowly coming to your skin.   

As much as I like the idea of having a travel neck pillow I have a few things that are bugging me.   First of all, I was hoping that there would be a nicer cover around it.   Turns out that the cover is removable but it is white (easy to get dirty) and the material is not as thick as I would have expected.    The description of the product said that there would be a velour cover but this kind do not have velour surrounding the pillow.   Bummer number two is the fact that there is no elastic strap for easy transportation.  Again this was mentioned in the description of the product…   An elastic strap would make it easy to hold it or to slide on your suitcase when travelling by plane.

Again, it is a great product to have when travelling.  Keep in mind that it will take some time to shape the pillow to your own body but once it is done I am sure you will appreciate a soft pillow to put your head on.

The Classic Brands U-Shape Gel Memory Foam Travel Neck Pillow is available for purchase on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

 

Disclaimer: This product has been provided courtesy of Amazon.ca Vine Voices for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by Amazon.ca or the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

The Canadian Canoe Museum

We recently decided to take advantage of the free admission on Thursday nights at the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough, Ontario.   We are parked near by with our RV and were wondering what we could do that evening  after we drove for a week-end of camping.

This unique museum can be taking at you own pace and offers an out-of-the-ordinary view of Canada’s history as seen from a canoe. 

This upcoming year as part of our homeschool we will be studying explorers and I thought that visiting this museum would be a great addition to our upcoming learning experience in September.

At the entrance of the museum we could take a some pictures with a setting especially made for the museum.    (Note: I played with a photo app to make it a bit more antique.)

The museum had an interesting search and find sheet for the kids to do while visiting.   My kids had a kick in trying to find everything on the list in order to get a free pin that they could pick and choose at the end.    Some items were easy to find while others not so much – like the red wings on a canoe…  My sweet daughter went to the main desk to ask where it was and we were just next to it.   Here’s a hint if you go visit: they are not bird wings drawn on a canoe…

The kids had a blast at the puppet theater where they were able to play with Canada’s wildlife creatures.  We also sat in a wigwam and enjoyed a fire at the same time.   My daughter dressed up as a voyageur using a Hudson Bay Company capotes.  And we learned quite of bit of the history of canoe, how a canoe is birth and so much more.

In a special section, the kids discovered how the canoes at the museum were taken care of as well as talked with an artisan who was making something special for the museum.

At the end the kids were able to use a training machine to learn to do competitive kayaking.

There is also a section in the museum where the kids can do miniature canoes.  We didn’t do the crafts on site but I grabbed a few of them to make at home.  However, they were fully equipped with scissors and glue for the kids to make them at the museum.  If you can’t visit this museum – no worries because the three hands-on crafts are available to download on their website as well.   Click here to download the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Dugout Canoe, the Sanikiluarmiut Kayak and the Ojibway Bark Canoe.  I strongly suggest that you print it on cardboard so that the craft is more sturdy.

In all, we had a great time walking through the museum and learning more about how canoes are part of our heritage and history.  The Canadian Canoe Museum is worth discovering whether you are homeschooler or not.

The Canadian Canoe Museum is located at 910 Monaghan Road, Peterborough, Ontario.   The museum is open daily except for December 25 and 25, January 1 and 2.  Note that the museum closes at 2:00 pm on December 24th.    Hours of operation are Monday to Wednesday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm,  Thursday from 10:00am to 8:00pm, Friday and Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00pm and Sunday from noon to 5:00pm.    Admissions are 10.50$ for adults, 8.25$ for seniors (65+), 8.25$ for students ages 5-17, kids under 5 are free.   If you have a family (up to 2 adults and 4 children ages 5-17) the price will be 25.00$ 

Exploring Life Under the Sea at the National Aquarium

As I was planning our trip in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, I discovered that a marvelous aquarium was located in the Inner Harbor area of Baltimore.   Our family loves all kind of animals but visiting an aquarium would definitively be something different.  So on the day of my son’s 13th birthday we drove to Baltimore in order to visit the National Aquarium.    The National Aquarium opened in August 1981.  It holds more than 8,300,000 liters of water and has over 17,000 specimens from 750 species.  

In reality the aquarium consists of three buildings with different exhibits that you could visit.   The time spent at the National Aquarium will all depends of your own pace – we took about 3 hours to visit the aquarium and learned quite a bit while there.

Pier 3 Pavilion will guide you through five levels of life under the sea.

Level 1: Blacktip Reef – This habitat replicated the Indo-Pacific reef landscape with floor-to-ceiling pop-out window.   It contains living corals as well as 65-70 species of animals.   There you might encounter Calypso, a 500-pound green sea turtle that was rescued off the shore of Long Island in 2000.  Her left front flipper had become infected and required amputation in order to save her life.  Calypso made a huge impression on the kids when they were able to see her swimming from an upper level.

Level 2: Maryland:  Mountains to the Sea – This level will feature animals from Maryland.  Four exhibits create the illusion of traveling down a Maryland stream from its source in the Allegheny Mountains, to a tidal marsh, to a coastal beach, and finally ending in the Atlantic shelf.    While exploring this level we thought it was well created as you had really the feeling of entering in the specific habitat presented.

Level 3: Surviving Through Adaptation – This level will allow  you to discover the species that possess adaptation reflexes in order to survive in their environments.   We encountered the electric eel, the chambered nautilus (my favourite!) and the giant Pacific octopus.

Level 4: Sea cliffs, Kelp Forest, Pacific Coral Reef, Amazon River Forest – This level will introduce you to several aquatic habitats – the sea cliffs  houses several species of seabirds, the Pacific coral reef exhibit, the kelp forest exhibit, the Amazon River exhibit.   We encountered the Atlantic puffin which came swimming close to us while exploring this level.  This personal encounter was definitively a treat for everyone in the family.

Level 5: Upland Tropical Rain Forest, Hidden Life – Finally, the last level of the Pier 3 Pavilion simulated the Amazon rainforest and includes two platforms for bird-watching and a cave of displays of reptiles, amphibians and terrestrial arthropods.   While in the Amazon rainforest, we met some Golden lion tamarins, the Scarlet ibis and spied the Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth up in a tree.  We even saw cocoa pods growing at the top of a tree.

The Atlantic Coral Reef which exhibits a replicated Atlantic coral reed with over 500 exotic species as well as the Shark Alley which will make you walk downward in order to observe various sizes and species of sharks complete this pavilion.

Pier 4 Pavilion which is the smaller building is the home of the marine mammal exhibit which hosts Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and  a beautiful exhibit of assorted jellyfish called “Jellies Invasion: Oceans Out of Balance”.

Finally, the glass pavilion will bring you in the Upland Tropical Rain Forest exhibit from Australia.   Here you will discover the laughing kookaburra, the rainbow lorikeet, the snake-necked turtle, the pig-nose-turtle and many more animals living in Australia.  We even observe a kind of fish that will spit out water in order to get a bug to eat.  This demonstration was really out of the ordinary for us who don’t visit aquariums often.

In conclusion, the National Aquarium is a fabulous place to visit with your family if you want to learn more about life under the sea.   Not only will you get close and personal with some of the species exhibited here but you will have a great time exploring the seas.  We are grateful for the time spent at the National Aquarium and will remember our visit for many years to come.

Disclaimer: Thanks to the National Aquarium in Baltimore for giving us free tickets for our family so we can explore life under the sea in exchange of a blog post . I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Complete Idiot’s Guide to Walt Disney World

Complete Idiot’s Guide to Walt Disney World – 2013 edition
By Doug Ingersoll
Published at DK Canada

I will admit that I have never went to Walt Disney World with kids.   I went as a kid when I was 8 or 9 years old and I went during our honeymoon but so far we have not brought our kids to WDW.   Part of me is looking forward to it while part of me is a little bit anxious about what to expect.  Don’t take me wrong, we have brought the kids to places like the zoo and museums but haven’t explore the theme parks option yet.    And knowing that WDW has changed quite a bit since our last trip there in 1998 – well I know that not only my own kids will be in awe with the magic we will find there.

So as I dream and slowly consider this a possibility for 2014, my husband thought it would be a great idea to plan in advance.  We know what we want to see and where we would stay.   But having books and such helps us to determine what options we could incorporate in our trip.   Today I would like to present you a book written by a lifelong Disney fan who has visited the WDW over 100 times during the last 40 years.   You could say that he is somewhat of an expert on the subject don’t you think?

As soon as you open the book, you are introduced to the symbols found throughout it as you explore the various options of your trip at WDW.   From the pages of this book you can discover the most magical place on earth if you have never been there or simply plan your family trip when it’s the first time you bring the kids.   From what I have gleaned so far I find that the book is very useful in guiding you to be wise in the expenses linked to such a trip.  It provides expert advice and information for people of all ages, gives you tools to plan your trip, provides amazing tips on getting the most of your experience at WDW and  even includes updates on the Magic Kingdom Fantasyland expansion.

Let’s take a sneak peak at the table of contents of the book.

Plan Your Walt Disney World Trip.

1) How to Plan Your Trip: When you should go, making big decision (reservations), daily planning
2) Establishing Your Budget: transportation, accommodations, tickets, dining, incidentals, cost-saving strategies
3) Getting there: Getting to Orlando, getting from the airport to WDW, rental cars,getting around WDW
4) Buying tickets: Magic Your Way Tickets and add-ons, other attraction tickets, special ticket packages
5) Vacation strategies: general trip-planning strategies, strategies for families, vacation strategies for adults

Choose Your Castle: Picking Your Resort Hotel.

6) Walt Disney Resorts: Introduction to Disney Hotels, Benefits of staying on property, understanding Disney Resorts, hotel comparison, other accommodations options in Orlando, The Disney Vacation Club
7) Deluxe Resorts:  What is a Deluxe Resorts, The Walt Disney World Deluxe Resorts
8) Moderate Resorts: What is a Moderate Resorts, The Walt Disney World Moderate Resorts
9) Value Resorts: What is a Value Resort, The Walt Disney World Value Resorts
10) Deluxe Villa Resorts and The Disney Vacation Club: What is a Deluxe Villa Resort?, What is the Disney Vacation Club?, Deluxe Villa Resorts
11) Hotel Plaza Boulevard and Orlando Resorts: Hotel Plaza Boulevard, Other resorts on and near WDW property, Shades of Greeen

Feast Like Royalty: Dining at WDW

12) Dining at WDW: Making advance reservations, Disney Dining Plan, Comparing character meals, Kids and healthful dining, comparing dinner meals, author’s favorite
13) Dining in the Resorts: dining at Deluxe Resorts and Deluxe Villas Resorts, Dining at Moderate Resorts, Dining at Value Resorts
14) Dining in the Parks: table-service dining in the Magic Kingdom, counter-service dining and snacks at the Magic Kingdom, table-service dining in Epcot, counter-service dining and snacks  in Epcot, table-service dining in Hollywood Studios, counter-service dining and snacks  in Hollywood Studios, table-service dining in Animal Kingdom, counter-service dining and snacks  in Animal Kingdom, dining at the water parks.
15) Other Dining Options at WDW: dining at Downtown Disney, dining at the BoardWalk

Bring on the Entertainment: The Theme Parks

16) The Disney Theme Park Primer: general park information, general park services, park tours
17) The Magic Kingdom: general park information, Main Street, USA, Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasy Land, Tomorrowland
18) Epcot: park introduction, Future World Pavilions and attractions, World Showcase Pavilions
19) Hollywood Studios: park introduction, Hollywood Boulevard, Echo Lake, Streets of America, Pixar Place, Animation Courtyard, Sunset Boulevard
20) Animal Kingdom: park introduction, The Oasis, Discovery Island, Camp Minnie-Mickey, Africa, Rafiki’s Planet Watch, Asia, Dinoland, U.S.A.

The Rest of the Kingdom and Beyond

21) Disney Water Parks: general park information, Typhoon Lagoon Attractions, Blizzard Beach Attractions,  Kids Areas
22) Downtown Disney and the Boardwalk: General Downtown Disney Information,  Dining at Downtown Disney, Entertainment at Downtown Disney, Shopping at Downtown Disney
23) Other Activities at WDW: Sporting Activities, Outdoor Activities at WDW, Special Events and Adult Fun at WDW, Disney Cruise Line,
24) Other Orlando-Area Attractions: Theme Parks, International Drive

Appendixes: Itineraries, cards, WDW resort accommodations

The book contains numerous tidbits of information that is simply precious for a planner like me.  I can get a quick glance at the prices expected at a restaurant, I can plan our visit at the parks with the attractions we could do as a family and I can explore in advance what we will see and do.    The book doesn’t contain much photos or images.  You will see the park maps as well as some black and white photos from the some of the places you will visit.  However, don’t expect to see colorful images in this book.  After all it is a planning guide more than anything else.

One table that I appreciate having is the character meals and dinner shows that are open to the public.    I would love to bring my little girl to a Disney Princesses at the CInderella’s Royal Table or the Akershus Royal Banquet Hall.   It would be a blast to see her reaction.   I haven’t realized that it was two of the most expensive one.   Okay… there are some that are more pricey like the Mickey’s Backyard BBQ, the Spirit of Aloha Show or the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Review.   But my Jasmine simply loves princesses and would love to meet them.   I wonder how her brothers would react to one of these two character meals…  *grin*

I will admit that for our family trip we won’t even consider the Resort hotels and dining as we want to keep our cost as low as possible.  We do have a budget and have been saving for quite some time already.  We have found a RV Park which charges only 500$ per month and are planning to go down with our RV.   Having our RV will allow us to plan meals and come to rest.   Part of me would love to stay on site at the Disney campground but honestly the price is simply out of our budget.  Considering that we can booked a campground for a month, we plan to explore more than just WDW.  

If you had to get a planning guide for your upcoming trip to WDW, I would strongly suggest that you check out the Complete Idiot’s Guide to Walt Disney World – 2013 Edition as it contains numerous tips and tricks as well as wise budgeting ideas.  

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Walt Disney World 2013 edition is available at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca and amazon.com.

  

Kindle

  

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for sending me the above mentioned title for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Florida

Florida – a destination for numerous snow birds (i.e. Canadians) during the winter time. For us the name represent a dream – bringing our kids for an extended field trip experience in Orlando. But Florida is much more than just Orlando and Theme Parks. It’s a state to discover and to experience. I wish we could stay for six months when we are there because there is so much I would like to do. But we have to be realistic and one month is more in our budget.

But what can you visit while in Florida. Well to get a better idea of the things to do, the places to stay, and the restaurants to visit, I decided to check out the DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Florida. This book will highlight all the fun places to visit and much more. The book is divided in four sections – each of them dedicated to a specific aspect of Florida.

• Introducing Florida: Discovering Florida, Putting Florida on the Map, A Portrait of Florida, Florida through the year, The History of Florida.
• Miami Area by Area: Downtown and Little Havana, Coral Gables and Coconut Grove, Farther Afield, Shopping in Miami, Miami Street Finder.
• Florida Area by Area: Florida at a Glance, The Gold and Treasure Coasts, Orlando and the Space Coast, The Northeast, The Panhandle, The Gulf Coast, The Everglades and the Keys.
• Travelers’ Needs: Where to stay, Where to eat, Shopping in Florida, Entertainment in Florida, Sports and Outdoor Activities, Weddings in Florida.
• Survival Guide: Practical information and Travel Information.

I particularly like the fact that there is a section about the history of the state. This will be interesting to read to my family while we are driving to our destination when we go there. It would be a perfect opportunity to grasp the history of the state where we will be for an extended period of time. The history is packed with interesting information from the discovery of Florida to the more recent years.

Miami being a popular destination for snow birds, you will find a whole section about this region. Then you can explore the other regions depending on where you want to go. Each section of the book which is dedicated to a specific region is packed with information and stunning colored photos. One area I would love to go visit would be The Everglades so that we can observe the nature in a natural habitat. In this book, I also discovered the Florida’s Coral Reef and saw amazing pictures from the animals living in the sea.

This book is a great planning book to have if you are scheduling a trip to Florida for your family. It contains plenty of information on the different regions of Florida and would be a great tool to bring if you plan to move from one area to another as you explore this popular state.

There is so much to do and see in Florida that I think this book would be perfect for new visitors as well as experienced visitors. The DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Florida is a great investment to explore the places you would like to go before actually being there. As a planner, I like to have a book like this before going on a trip. This book is definitively a gem to have as reference before and during a trip in Florida - wherever you are going within the state.

The DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Florida is available at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca and amazon.com.

  

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for sending me the above mentioned title for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

DK Eyewitness Travel Walt Disney World Resort and Orlando

I love books and I love planning. So it’s no wonder that I am preparing myself in advance for a trip to Florida with our family. Having a great relationship with some publishers, I have approached one of them to see if I could review some titles related to Florida and Walt Disney World.

So the first title that I would present you is the DK Eyewitness Travel Guide for Walt Disney World and Orlando. This book is thin in size and could easily be carried wherever you go while visit the area or the theme parks around Orlando.

In the first section of the book, you will be introduced to Walt Disney World and Orlando as a whole. Specific days are pre-planned for you in order to enjoy some of the must-see attractions in the area. It will also present you the geographical aspect Florida, give you a small history of the state and how to enjoy Central Florida through the year.

The next section is the one that highly interest me when planning comes. In this section, I can go through Walt Disney World and identify which attractions we would like to do as a family. I can also discover more information about other theme parks (Sea World, Aquatica, Discovery Cove, Universal Orlando, Wet ‘n Wild, and more) that can be found in Orlando as well as other activities to do in Orlando or Central Florida. As I flipped through the pages to discover other fun places to visit, I stumbled on one called WonderWorks which design is unique – an upside down façade. Just this picture itself has picked my curiosity to the point that I would like to go check it out. But reading the description of the place I think it will be a wonderful place to visit as well especially when you can experience hurricane-force winds, an earthquake and have the opportunity to land a space shuttle. Talk about learning on the road…

The following two sections will present all the information a traveler need to know when it comes to stay, food, shopping, entertainment, weddings, sports as well as where to find travel information as well as practical information for your trip.

The book is visually appealing with numerous photographs, maps, and illustrations that will bring make the place even more real for your eyes. I love seeing tables like the Rides & Shows checklist where I can easily determine which rides would be okay for my kids and so on. The information contained in this book will help you to make wise decisions when it comes to which section of a park to visit with kids and which ones are better for couples. Also, having a list of popular restaurants and shopping suggestions is always nice when you want to have fun with your family eating out (yes even RVers will choose to eat out every once in a while) and bring some souvenirs home.

If you are planning to trip in the Orlando area, this book is definitively one that would be interesting to have because it will inform you on everything that can be seen, eaten or bought in that city.

The book is available at your favourite bookstore, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

  

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for sending me the above mentioned title for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

A New Twist to Board Games

Board games is a fabulous way to occupy down times and rainy days. But we find that when you are traveling you need to think about what you pack in order to have place for all that you need. And with six people in the family it’s sometimes a tricky thing to do. Back in the day when I was younger and go camping with my parents, a board game or two would be brought as well as books to read. Fast Forward thirty-five years or so and you suddenly have a tablets that can contains numerous games and eBooks for your travels. Now please keep in mind that in this blog post I will not be talking about electronic games like Angry Birds, Cut the Rope or Fruit Ninja. No I am seriously talking about board games like the ones I used to grow up with – Monopoly, Scrabbles, Yahtzee, Trivial Pursuit, Risk, Battleship, Boggle as well as more recent ones like Pandemic and Wits & Wagers. For the purpose of this blog post, I am concentrating on board game apps that can be found on iTunes for the iPod/iPhone/iPad which is the devices we have at home.

Games we are more familiar with!

Monopoly

As per its real life board game, the Monopoly has more than one version on the tablets. You can play the regular Monopoly, the Monopoly Millionaire or the Monopoly Here & Now edition. You can also opted to go with Monopoly Hotels Moguls, Monopoly Slots or Monopoly Bingo is you prefer free versions.

Game of Life

 Game of Life is a great game to introduce children to the cost of living through the years. Though a bit silly this game is great for family time I find.

 

Boggle

One of the word games I played while growing up is also available for the iPhone/iPod/iPad. I remember shaking the plastic container of Boggle when I was younger. Now no need to pack up the box because it’s right there at the tips of our fingers…

 

Scrabble

Scrabble is very popular for lover of words. Unfortunately, at this point in time nobody wants to play with me. But it doesn’t matter anymore because I can play against the computer on an iPad version. Though my oldest son is somewhat interested now to play against me…

 

Trivial Pursuit

Not everyone like trivia questions. I know my husband dislike these but with this version for the iPad he doesn’t mind it. Trivial Pursuit is a game where you can test your knowledge and compete to win. Various in-app purchases can also be made to make the game more challenging: Encyclopedia Pack, TV Pack, Movies Pack, General Knowledge Pack, The Master Edition Pack, and Sports Pack.

 

Clue

Clue is another popular game from when I grew up. Though we didn’t have it when I was younger, I did get it when I was a bit older. Two versions of the game is available for the iPad - the original which has a cartoon look and Clue Secrets and Spies which allow you to stop the evil forces of C.L.U.E. (Criminal League for Ultimate Espionage) from sowing destruction across the globe. Clue Secrets & Spies is a different version of the well-known game. It offers a different twist to an older game that could bring some fun memories while you play with your family.

Battleship

Battleship is a popular game for fighting against an opponent. I still have the game I played with my parents while growing up and we even had an electronic game at some point. This new version of the popular game is perfect for two children to play against each other while traveling.

 

Risk

Risk… What can I say about this game? My husband introduced me to this game after I met him. It was (and still is) one of his favourite games while growing up with his brother. Nowadays, he plays non-stop with our four kids with this very strategic and conquest of the world. All my kids love it – even my five year old daughter who recently beat all the boys in the family!

Pictureka!

A newer game on the market that will help you become more aware of the little things around you. The object of the game is to find something as fast as you can before someone yell Pictureka! My kids enjoy playing this at home but we also have a version on the iPad which allows you to find things as fast as you can in order to go to the next level.

 

Yahtzee

Who have not played Yahtzee? This game was part of my childhood as well and I really enjoyed trying to get the best score while matching the dice to complete a specific challenge. The iPad version is similar and yet different at the same time. It’s very addictive and you have to compete against other characters in order to advance in the game.

 

UNO -Skip-Bo-Phase 10

Card games don’t take much space when you travel but why bothering with finding them at home when you can have them on your portable device. Or why not let the kids use the app instead of the real card while you are driving to your destination? That way you can be certain that you won’t lose cards during the trip! We are more familiar with UNO but I know that other families prefers Skip-Bo or Phase 10. I just wish that there was a version for Mile Bornes or Ratuki as well…

 

Wits & Wagers

We discovered Wits & Wagers about two years ago when I got a copy to review. At first my husband wasn’t thrilled to have a trivia game but this one comes with a twist. To play this game you don’t need to have all the answers to win. All you have to do is guess the answer of a trivia question, bet who answered the best and then win some chips. In the end, the person with the most chips win. I recently discovered that they have a version on the iPad which is fabulous when you want to have a quick fun game with the family.

 

Pandemic

Pandemic is a cooperative game that we recently reviewed. The challenge is simple – work together in order to keep four deadly diseases at bay and prevent a pandemic throughout the world. The game was highly recommended by a friend of ours who is passionate about gaming. And after trying it we think it is a fabulous game. Recently, the game was released for iPad and I think it is great that they have thought about this. It’s an amazing game to have and it will allows you to work together as a family in order to save humanity!

 

Games I have never played yet but heard great things about them!

Carcassonne

I’ve never played Carcassonne but I have seen how many kids and adults love playing it. Essentially, you have to build a medieval landscape, tile by tile, while claiming landmarks. The game apparently allows for many play styles and strategies. It is another social game for the whole family (and friends as well!).

Catan

Catan is another strategy game that I have heard off. Two expansions are available for purchase as well: Seafarers as well as Cities and Knights.

 

Ticket to Ride

I’ve heard of Ticket to Ride after Christmas last year when someone I know posted picture of her family playing it. My attention was picked and I checked it out. Essentially, you have to build a rail track between two cities. Various versions of the board games exist. For the iPad edition, you can purchase the original edition and from there purchase in-apps to ride the USA, Europe, Switzerland, or Asia. For the iPod edition, you can also purchase the Ticket to Ride Europe separately which also offers the Switzerland pack as an in-app purchase.

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In conclusion, these games are perfect to have on your portable device as you can play them anywhere you are. They are also great to have as they will help your kids (and yourself!) to develop some skills while playing them – strategy, rapidity, and so on – as well as encourage you to think about the consequences before making a move. On a regular basis, my kids play Risk with their dad and we are amazed on how strategically they think before placing their men in order to conquer the world. Such games on a portable device are also great to entertain the kids while driving long distances when you are traveling.

Our only problem is how excited the kids can become while playing and try to control their enthusiasm while we drive. As a homeschooling family, we also see some hidden advantages in these games. Yes they will allow our kids to develop strategy, critical thinking and rapidity as I mentioned before but without knowing they can be exposed to geography, quick observations, investigations, trivia questions of various sorts, life skills, and vocabulary.

How are you entertaining your family on long drives or during rainy days? Do you play board games while traveling or at camping? If so, please share your favourite board games (or app games) that you like to play. I would love to discover new games for our future trips! Note: If you are interested in purchasing the games for your Apple device, simply click on the icons of the games throughout this post.