KinderHop :: Travel Gear For Your Pint-Sized Jetsetter

[trip style = any]

KinderHop is written by Trip Styler’s Seattle-based kid ‘n family writer, Keryn.

Yes parents, it’s true, your child will be able to carry their own bags one day. By the time my toddler was three he had his own backpack for toys and other must-haves he deemed necessary for our adventures. My rule is if you can’t carry it, you can’t bring it. This isn’t to say I don’t end up carrying that pint-size backpack more than he does, but he is learning early we all need to help out when it comes to travel. If I can make it easier by giving him a great bag he is excited to carry or roll around, it will make his travels that much more exciting, and my arms just a little lighter.

What makes a great kid pack? Stellar design, parent-approved functionality, and above all, durability and value for the cash. Here what's catching my eye right now:

1/ Skip Hop For the tiny toddler in your life these adorable animal-inspired backpacks are the perfect spot to stash a ton of toys and entertainment for your flight. Small hand luggage is also available and comes with a water holder on the side. Small backpacks or wheelie bag for kids makes things easier for mom or dad if little arms get tired or somebody falls asleep on the plane and you have to carry everything {and everyone!} out. Backpacks start at $20 usd, wheelie bags at $30 usd

2/ RoxyGirl Backpack Durable and just the right size for your punkrock preschooler and all her gear. Fit a few toys, a tablet and headphones in for them to carry all on their own. Parents of boys, have no fear. Once in a blue moon you can find a bag that is unisex and can work for your little rockstar mister---I did! Starts at $22 usd; prices vary depending on size.

3/ TrendyKid TravelKool Luggage A hardshell case that peaked my interest for kids who want their belongings ultra secure. Starts at $69.99 usd

4/ The Cuties and Pals Developed by a husband and wife team who took their little luggage idea to a big show: England's Dragon's Den TV show (similar to Shark Tank in the US). These cutie-patutie, animal-themed, polycarbonate products got rejected from the show, and then went on to be a RAGING success. Dragons have off days too... Suitcases start at $76 usd and can be found in North America on amazon, etc...

5/ Pottery Barn Kids Fairfax Navy Stripe Luggage Preppy and pulled together, this I'm-going-to-the-Hamptons-or-boating-type luggage can be personalized or left nameless. While it's not cheap, it IS water-resistant and has rubbery recessed wheels {a feature we love in suitcases}! Starts at $91 usd

More KinderHop Staying Sane While Traveling With Young Kids Exploring New Foods Abroad International Views On Family Travel Time Zones, Jet Lag & Kids Transitioning From Couple To Family Travel Back to School Seattle Shop ‘n Stay How To Keep Kids Occupied On A Plane Family Road Tripping Tips How To Pack Less With Kids In Tow

[photos of products sourced online]

Healthy On The Road :: Jari Love's Beach Body Tips

[trip style = any] {Editor's Note: Leah, our Healthy On The Road warrior, is on vacay right now, so I'm excited to give the floor over to Jari Love, a world-renowned personal fitness trainer.}

Recently I was in the Canadian Rockies on a fitness trip---literally, each day was packed tighter than Sly Stallone's biceps with activities like barre fitness, TRX and cross-country skiing---and one of my prime moments was meeting and working out with Jari Love. Jari has a six-pack that verges on eight-pack territory. Her arms are perfectly chiselled like a Roman statue. Most importantly, she's really lovely with finesse, smarts, passion and a physique that screams "workout wonderwoman." Oprah Magazine listed her Get RIPPED! workout as one of her favorite things; um, amazing.

Just after she whipped me into shape, I asked her to share a few hard truth tips for getting closer to achieving a shipshape bod. Knowing summer is coming, I wanted to share the Jari Love around:

When people ask me about diet, I always recommend the same principles that I follow: 1/ Stick to three meals and two snacks per day. The meals are around 300 calories and the snacks are between 200-250.

2/ When preparing my meals and snacks, I opt for fruits and starches that are low-glycemic, and lean proteins.

3/ When it comes to protein, I recommend things like lean meats, egg whites, fish and whey protein powder.

4/ For fruit, one cup of raspberries is a great option because that gives you eight grams of fibre right there.

5/ I try to get my fibre intake up to 35 grams per day because it helps me feel full and satiated. Another great way to get some extra fibre is adding psyllium husk and ground flaxseed to your cereal or protein shake.

6/ Finally, I always load up my plate with fresh veggies and try to limit my carb intake after 5pm.

On Bathing Suit Motivators... 1/ Put your bathing suit in an area where you will see it all the time. I recommend writing down your goals and also getting a workout buddy who will help you stay motivated.

2/ Take a photo of yourself now and set dates to take photos of your progress. Being emotionally attached to your goals is key.

3/ Think about how you felt at a time that you were at your goal weight and post a picture of yourself at that time beside a current shot of yourself. Seeing this every day will really help you stay the course.

4/ Choosing a diet and exercise regime that you enjoy is critical. If you like it, you’ll follow it!

More Healthy On The Road Toned In Transit Every Day Is A New Day Eat In Technicolor The 15 Minute 54321 Workout {you can do anywhere!} Keeping Fit In Hotel Hallways The 20-min Exercise Itinerary Healthy DIY Plane Snacks Hotel Room Exercises {You can do in your underwear}

[photo via @jarilove]

Packing Tip :: First Aid Kit

[trip style = any]

I think my mom, Janet {who my sister and I call Juanita to add some spice to her name}, would approve this message. She's ALWAYS prepared. In this spirit...

Do you bring a first aid kit on every vacation? If not, YOU SHOULD, whether your trip style = weekending, beaching it or adventuring.

What prompted this case of clinical concern was a sunset ocean swim, cut short by my foot jabbing a piece of lava rock lurking below water. The cut wasn't a huge deal, but it happened at the beginning of my trip to Hawaii, so I had to make sure the mini-wound wouldn't get infected with sand or the like.

On past trips, I've toted a trusty medical kit, but I haven't been as diligent of late. Aside from a few key supplies like alcohol wipes and band-aids strewn throughout my bag---in nooks and crannies I always forget---they say you don't think about something until you need it. Truth!

Starting now, whether I'm headed to Vegas or Venice, I will bring a first aid kit---even on close-to-home overnighters.

Since I've been home for a few weeks, priority numero uno is to create a medi-kit for travel. Here's what I'm putting inside: 0/ Hand sanitizer 1/ Band-aids of all shapes and sizes 2/ Polysporin 3/ Wipes 4/ Flashlight {always keep one beside your hotel bed in case of emergency} 5/ Pills: gravol, antacids, and cold and flu medication (I learned this lesson the hard way in Kenya when I got sick and had to buy $25 imitation Tylenol cold and flu that didn't really work!)

Don't just take it from me, a non-medic; the Canadian Red Cross suggests you ALSO put the below items in your first aid kit: - Roller bandages and triangular bandages, which can be used to make an arm sling or hold dressings in place - Adhesive tape - Fibre supplements for constipation, laxatives and diarrhea medication - Eye patches - Sterile gauze pads in small and large squares to place over wounds - After-sun lotion - Antifungal skin cream - Disposable nonlatex gloves - Scissors, tweezers and safety pins (check destination's security regulations to determine if this is allowed) - Thermometer - Emergency blanket - Single-use instant ice packs that stay cold for 20 minutes after you squeeze them - Pen and small notebook

[photos sources online and assembled by @tripstyler]

The Savvy Traveler :: Jackie

[trip style = urban + sightseeing]

I'm obsessed with croissants. I chalk this up to a longing in my heart {and stomach} for Paris. Paris is always a good idea, non? When I can't jet over to the City of Lights for a cafe au lait and croissant, I visit Beaucoup Bakery & Cafe, a recently-opened Vancouver bakery that turns pastries into poetry. Beaucoup and owner Jackie Ellis have a tight connection with France. After running her own design firm for several years, she closed up shop and set off for Paris to study pastry making at École Gastronomique Bellouet Conseil, and taste her way through Europe---for research purposes, of course! Cue blockbuster movie-in-the-making...

Just a few months after the Beacoup's opening, Jackie visited Paris encore {check out her snaps on Instagram} to take more courses and fill her foodie list to the fulleth by grazing markets, cafes and patisseries, as well as donning her finest duds at the fanciest Michelin-starred restaurants in town. With this, we're pleased as pie to welcome our latest Savvy Traveler, Jackie!

1/ Pick your top trip styles
[trip style = urban + sightseeing] I love discovering the history and local lifestyle of a new city through its cuisine and markets.

2/ The destination that stole your heart and why
Paris. I spent months there studying pastries and during that time, the city helped me to discover who I was and taught me to be passionate about life.

3/ Your favorite food abroad
This is an impossible question to ask a foodie! Right now, I have to say it is the Millefeuille Praliné at Pierre Hermé in Paris. I dream of it! It is a classic French pastry with layered caramelized pastry and cream. I love that it’s simple, and when beautifully done, the perfect contrast of textures and flavors.

4/ I can't travel without...
- A beautiful Maxmara or Dries Van Noten dress
- Music on my iPhone {I'm an old-school music girl. Right now I'm digging The Stones, Stevie Wonder, Etta James, The Beatles, Neil Young, Queen, Steve Earle, early Elton and Nick Drake.}
- Lots of restaurant reservations
- A dining guide like the Michelin Guide, Zagat or Gambero Rosso
- Twitter and Instagram to capture cuisine

Trip Styler Tip: If there are restaurant reservations you MUST have, make them before you leave so you aren't disappointed.

5/ Last trip
An inspiration trip to Paris. I toured pastry shops and restaurants for the latest food trends, taking a course on breads with an *M.O.F. boulangiere as well as a petit gateaux class to research new products for Beaucoup. I am always looking to taste the most outstanding food as a way to compare and challenge myself to create at the same level. I find traveling centers and focuses my creativity and passion. For me, inspiration comes from exploring the nuances of daily life in a city.

*The art of baking bread is so respected in France, the government awards a designation to the very best practitioners called Meilleur Ouvrier de France, given at the end of a grueling, three-day examination some bakers train for years to score a good grade.

6/ Destination on your radar
Turkey

More Savvy Travelers
Lori, A License To Move
Marc, Extraordinary Adventurer
Marissa, 30 By 30

{If you know anyone who should be featured in our Savvy Traveler series, drop us a line!}

[photo of Jackie from @BeaucoupBakery by @collectiveyou wearing @blush_bridal]

Grand Hotel - An Affair To Remember

[trip style = staycation]

Pop Quiz: where in the world can you travel, and stay in multiple iconic hotels at the same time? Answer: The Vancouver Art Gallery, at its just-launched Grand Hotel: Redesigning Modern Life, April 13 - September 15, 2013.

Do yourself a favor; run, fly, sail, drive---or use any transport at your disposal, moped maybe?---to reach Vancouver, Canada this spring-slash-summer.

As the Vancouver Art Gallery's newest exhibition still had a figurative Do Not Disturb sign on the door, I peeked in last Thursday at the show's pre-open. To say I liked the exhibition is an epic understatement, in fact, it left me in a hotel high---higher than Dubai's Burj Khalifa {pop quiz #2...which contains the Armani Hotel}!

Nearly seven years in the making, the exhibit charts the evolution of the hotel from its origins as a utilitarian structure to a cultural phenomenon, tracking hotel trends through four lenses: travel, social, design and culture.

Chronicling game-changers from the 1887-built Raffles hotel to the 2010-built Marina Bay Sands {where people book a room for the sole purpose of perching in the surfboard-shaped SkyPark’s 150-meter infinity pool}, the multimedia show acts as a lab into hotel life.

Anyone obsessed with vintage or modern travel memorabilia will be like a kid in a candy store. {Dare we say it’s better than Pinterest travel porn?} Artifacts are everywhere, think: vintage travel trunks, an original Pan Am Airways poster {above}, or Richard Hutten’s Tokyo popup hotel room {below}, to name a few.

Speaking of artifacts, one of Trip Styler's FAVE hotel groups, Ace Hotels, is not only showcased in every major area of the expo, but they also have an Ace-exclusive popup shop featuring some in-room faves like the grey jersey Wings + Horns boxing-style bathrobe, or the near-iconic Pearl+ soap bars, plus some Vancouver-only products. Here's a six-second video I shot at the popup: {Can't view this video?}

Visiting Grand Hotel is a travel taster of international proportions. Warning: every step will extend your bucket list.

The Details

• The exhibition runs from April 13 - September 15, 2013
• An adult ticket is $21, but admission is by donation every Tuesday after 5pm
• If it’s sunny, take a break from hotel-spotting and sit on the Gallery’s cafe patio, a gorgeous urban space complete with marble tables and euro flair
• Find insider tips via the exhibition's blog, active since 2011

[photos by @tripstyler]