Kid Friendly Cities - Children's Museum & Family Vacations

Kingsmill Resort & Spa is located in Williamsburg, Va., between Richmond and Norfolk. The Resort and Conference Center is located along the historic James River. It is conveniently situated minutes away from some of the most popular family vacation spots, Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens, Water Country USA, Jamestown and Yorktown.

The Resort itself offers many kid friendly activities including Kids Kamp. Get ready for a fun filled day involving sports activities, swimming in the outdoor/indoor pool and fun playing water games. The children also have great time playing at the beach and collecting seashells, creating arts and crafts and receiving tokens for the game room. All while meeting new friends. A healthy lunch and snack provided. Children should bring with them to Kamp a bathing suit, comfortable shoes, a change of clothes, jacket (when weather appropriate), a backpack or gym bag for child’s belongings with label of child’s name, and comfortable clothing that the children can play in. For ages 5-12. Kingsmill also hosts Kids Night. An evening of fun while the adults are out! Activities may include, game room fun including ping-pong, arcade games, crafts, outside activities, create your own pizza for dinner and much more! Also recommended ages 5-12.

Best Disney World Rides for Kids

March 15, 2018

Disney World is a heaven on earth for kids. There are a lot of rides that are offered in the park, and you might be wondering which one might be the best for children. The Disney world is made for both adults and children, and thus it is not safe to let your children go on every single ride over there. The following are some of the top picks for children’s ride:

Dumbo: The flying elephant.

Dumbo, the flying elephant, is one of the best rides for kids in the Disney world, and you must never miss it out. It might seem like it is similar to any other rides in the amusement parks or the village carnival but this machine was said to be designed by Leonardo da Vinci, and kids just love going on this ride. You will be able to find this ride in New Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom. As the ride is so popular, they introduced a similar ride in the New Fantasy land area.

Peter Pan’s Flight:

Peter Pan’s Flight is one of the original Disney rides, and it is a ride which would take you to soaring heights to Never Land in galleons which are suspended from a track above the vehicles. The ride can be a little overwhelming for children below the age of 5, but it is the perfect balance of adventure and excitement.

The Seas with Nemo and Friends:

Finding Nemo was a brilliant movie, and Disney has made a stunning breakthrough by bringing the characters of Finding Nemo in a fish tank. The illusion is perfect that it will make you think that there is a real fish in the fish tank that looks exactly like Nemo.

Turtle talk with a crush:

Turtle talk with a crush is similar to the fish talk of Finding Nemo. It is in fact in the same pavilion, and you will be completely baffled to see the characters to appear as if they were real. There is a surfer who interacts and even chats with the viewers. Turtle Talk with Crush is perfect for children, and it was quite underrated but in the year 2016, the characters of Finding Dory were added, and it gained some attractions.

Voyage of the Little Mermaid:

Voyage of the Little Mermaid is a theatrical version of the animated film. You get to hear many of the popular movie songs, and if your kids are into theatre, then it is a great place to take them. The theatre sound effects are brilliant, and your kids will simply love it.

Soarin’ Epcot:

The ride is perfect for any child who is above the age of 5. It gives you a brilliant experience of flying along with the IMAX projection, and you also get to move on a sturdy swing. Adults can also try out this ride with their children.

Best Cities for Families to Visit

March 15, 2018May 8, 2019

It is always fun to go on a trip with your family. However, you need to make sure that the city you choose has something for every member of your family otherwise it would not be a pleasant trip. If you are taking your kids with you, you need to make sure that you go to a place which would make them excited at the same time that place should also make you have some fun. The following are some of the top picks:

San Diego:

San Diego has brilliant weather, and there are lots of attractions for families. You have the Balboa Park which is one of the best places to start off your trip. The unique attractions like Panda Flowers field of Carlsbad California includes in garden,parks, zoo and the museums. Your kids can learn a lot of things from these museums and have fun at the same time. You must not miss out to see the animatronic dinosaurs at the San Diego Natural History Museum and get hands-on experience with many science exhibits. At the end of the day, you can chill by the beach with your family.

Portland:

Portland is a perfect place if you want to visit a city which is without the hustle and bustle. The transportation in the city is so cheap, the best luggage for international travel is very excellent and thus you can easily rent a car and go anywhere you want. Some of the popular tourist spots are the Oregon Museum. You have submarine tours, light shows, planetarium, mummy exhibits etc. You can take a bike ride and explore the farmer’s market and even take up a cooking class with your kids.

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C is one of the most family-friendly tourist cities, and you have plenty of things to do with your children in the city. The city is filled with museums which have many special attractions for both you and your child. You also have the National Zoo which has more than 2000 animals.

Orlando:

Orlando has some of the best theme parks in the country. If you want to go to a theme park for the weekend, Orlando is the city you need to go. You get an evening safari ride at the city, and it is also has a brilliant rollercoaster which will give you a jolly and thrill ride. If you happen to visit on a hot day, you can head to water parks like the SeaWorld’s Aquatica and if you happen to have little children around you can take them to Disney’s Blizzard Beach. You can also visit the Orlando Science center if your kids are interested in science as they can learn a lot form the science center.

Chicago:

If you are interested in showing your kids dolphins, whales and other sea animals you can take them to the Shedd Aquarium’s aquatic show in Chicago and you can even make the purchases of the tickets online. The city also has other museums and planetariums which are so much fun to visit.

Paradise Island, Bahamas

March 15, 2018March 15, 2018

What makes the Atlantis Resort so unique is its size and diversity. The resort is essentially a water/theme park, high-end resort, tropical oasis and world-class aquarium all rolled into one, so there are plenty of things to do and something for everyone! The Atlantis resort sits on the beautiful Caribbean beach and offers many activities such a banana boat rides and jet skiing.
There are numerous pools and water parks right in front of you Aquaventure is Atlantis’ new 63-acre waterscape. The Power Tower sits in the middle of a mile-long river ride called The Current. Riders are pushed along in their tubes – double or single – by a series of rapids, waves, and surges. No need to exit your tube to access the slide rides at the top of the Tower – conveyor belts transport riders to the top. Once there, riders can choose from three tube slides: The Drop, The Falls or The Surge. Braver souls can abandon their tubes for a vertical drop through The Abyss.

The Mayan Pool sits at the base of the Mayan Temple which houses the Leap of Faith (another vertical drop slide), the Jungle Slide, the Serpent Slide (which empties into a clear tube surrounded by sharks) and the Challenger Slides (side-by-side slides that time each rider’s descent to the bottom). There are also a series of smaller slides, hot tubs, and waterfalls around the base of Mayan Pool.

Now the thrill of fish feeding is available for little ones over 3 years old or up to 48 inches tall. Five children will be selected daily to take part in the Aqua Tots programs. This 20-minute feeding experience at the Estuary Lagoon is offered at 2:30 pm, Tuesday through Saturday. Participants need to have water shoes and must also be able to enter the Lagoon independent of their parent or guardian who must be in attendance at the feeding. All children ages 3-5 must be toilet trained and Diaper/Pull-Up free.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

March 15, 2018June 30, 2019

One of the top domestic tourist destinations in the continental United States. With nearly 14 million visitors a year, it is no surprise that Myrtle Beach, with over 60 miles of warm, sandy beaches, is such a popular vacation choice for millions of Americans. If limitless vacation options are what you are looking for, then Myrtle Beach has them and Myrtle Beach.com has the information about them, giving you fingertip access to information on Myrtle Beach hotels, golf courses, restaurants, shopping and everything there is to know about the “Grand Strand”.

There are so many fun family attractions in Myrtle Beach making in a premier family vacation spot. With numerous water parks, amusement parks, mini-golf courses and other outdoor activities, your days will be filled with an endless supply of fun. Some of the most popular attractions (besides the beaches) are Wild Water and Wheels water park and Myrtle Waves water park. These are two perfect spots if you want to spend a day zipping down waterslides. Broadway at the Beach is Myrtle Beach’s biggest nightlife attraction. Home to dozens of restaurants, shops, and more, there is something for everyone here.

Like millions of air passengers, I’ve been there. I know how powerless you feel and how unfair it is. Chances are, thousands of passengers worldwide are stuck with a disturbed flight just like you that very same day.

Your flight is already a bad experience – but it could get better:

The EU Regulation 261/2004 is here to defend air passenger rights. Even though airlines don’t advertise it, you can claim up to 600€ for your cancelled or delayed flights.

Only 2% of air passengers that are eligible successfully claim their compensation every year. It means that 98% do not even claim it. Don’t be one of them. Know your rights, and how to claim what is owed to you by the airline.

If you want to know how to Make A Claim For A Delayed Flight or cancelled, read on!

10 Worst Cities to Raise Children

March 15, 2018March 15, 2018

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Virginia Beach, Virginia is the first of many to be on this list because of the high cost of living factors. This comes to us according to forbes.com. Virginia Beach provides a lush atmosphere at an extremely high cost. While the high cost is worth the safety of our families, the average person would struggle to make ends meet if living in Virginia Beach.

Providence, Rhode Island

According to forbes.com, Providence, Rhode Island makes the list of 10 worst kid-friendly cities because of its high cost of living. Raising a family with a normal cost of living is tough enough, throw on top of that an extremely high cost of living, you just have a recipe for disaster.

Las Vegas, Nevada

According to forbes.com Las Vegas, Nevada makes to the list because of its crime rates and nightlife. While there are parts of Las Vegas that are not affected by these conditions the overall percentage of the city deal with extremely high crime rates and produce an atmosphere that is not suitable for children.

San Diego, California

San Diego families spend significantly more on housing than those in most other cities, at $1,592 and $1,355, respectively. For this reason, San Diego makes the 10 Worst Kid-Friendly Cities simply because it is extremely expensive to raise a family in San Diego without living outside your means.

Cleveland, Ohio

According to forbes.com Cleveland residents pay less on housing and the basics than those in most other cities, the median income in the struggling city is low enough that annual living costs amount to 85% of what a typical family earns. Leaving very little for outside expenses such as doctor bills and other entities.

Orlando, Florida

According to forbes.com Orlando, Florida makes the list because of the danger factor. When you think of Orlando most people think ok Mickey Mouse and a variety of theme parks. What few people know is Orlando is one of the most dangerous cities to live in. Thus giving it a spot on the 10 worst kid-friendly cities.

San Antonio, Texas

Not surprisingly, San Antonio has a lot of the same problems that other cities in Texas have. A low graduation rate and high crime. One area where it does do better is in the number of playgrounds. This alone, however, is not redeeming enough to take it off the list of the worst cities to raise children. This information was found on forbes.com.

Los Angeles, California

According to forbes.com Los Angeles makes the list because it has the second highest cost of living, on the list of 10 worst cities to have a family in addition to only one playground per 10,000 residents, and a meager graduation rate, it’s no surprise that the City of Los Angels is on the top 10 worst cities for children.

New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans makes the list of worst family-friendly cities because of high crime rates and a dangerous atmosphere. Due to hurricane Katrina parts of New Orleans are still being fixed and put back together. Many areas have been left untouched and abandoned. In recent years the crime rate in New Orleans has also increased.

New York, New York

According to forbes.com, It may come as a surprise to some, but New York City is actually one of the safest place to live. However, its exorbitant cost of living and meager graduation rate (less than 40 percent) still make it a bad place to raise children.

Kid Friendly Cities: Report Card 2004

March 15, 2018March 15, 2018

This is the ninth edition of Population Connection’s report on children and cities. Its mission is to present the best available data on the social, economic, educational and physical environment in our cities–exactly where our children live, grow, learn and play.

Letter from Congressman Jim McDermott (D-Washington)

Congressman Jim McDermott (D-Washington) is currently serving his 8th term in the U.S. House of Representatives. McDermott was the first member of his family to attend college and went on to finish medical school. As a physician, Rep. McDermott is especially interested in health care issues and is leading the fight in the House of Representatives to guarantee all Americans comprehensive health coverage.

From the President

Teen Pregnancy. You may have read recently that teen pregnancy rates in the United States have been going down and are now at all-time lows. That is absolutely true. However, it is more important to recognize that teen pregnancy and birth rates in the U.S. are still, by a wide margin, the highest in the industrialized world.

Population and Kids

Since we began putting out the Kid-Friendly Cities Report Card almost 18 years ago, there’s been one question that pops up at each release: Why is a population stabilization organization interested in looking at cities as kid-friendly.

Sex Ed and Kids

With no federal policy or funding supporting comprehensive sexuality education, state laws primarily govern what local districts teach. If a state mandates sexuality education or prescribes what is taught if sexuality education classes occur, these laws set the parameters for classroom teaching. For example, California does not mandate sexuality education but requires school districts that implement sexuality education to follow certain guidelines

Community and Kids

A city is a noise, a smell. The murmur of the crowds at six and the quiet of the streets twelve hours later. Steinbeck called his beloved Monterey “a stink, a grating noise.” “But seen through other eyes” he describes a transcendent place of warmth and quiet beauty.

Health and Kids

Healthy mothers and healthy children go hand-in-hand, which is why some of the indicators that contribute to the Kid-Friendly Cities’ health grade are intrinsically related to motherhood. When women receive quality reproductive health care and are given the opportunity to space or limit their pregnancies, their children benefit too.

The Shaw EcoVillage Project

“The thing about this neighborhood,” says Jimmy, a staff mechanic draping his long arms over the bike he is working on, “is that I grew up three blocks from here and I never came down to this corner.” Yet, on this sunny Saturday afternoon, Jimmy is working with dozens of local children who hang out regularly at the Shaw EcoVillage Project, an award-winning program for kids in an often-troubled area of Washington, DC.

Statistical Analysis

What can we tell by looking at particular indicators in the survey? Do any of the indicators have a large significance in relation to a city’s overall grade? We ran several statistical analyses to determine whether there was any relation between individual indicators and a city’s final grade in each category and overall rank. All of our indicators were weighted evenly in determining the final grade, but we wanted to know which indicators would show the largest correlation to the overall grade.