What is a leaf peeper?  A leaf peeper is a person who engages in the activity of viewing the changing colors of foliage.

Fall in Maine, also known as Leaf Peeping Season, is a great time of the year to visit Maine as a family.   Maine is known for the most brilliant and colorful foliage of all the New England states.

In a little less than two months my husband and I will take our two daughters, ages 2.75 years and 10 months on an annual leaf peeping hike.  We enjoy taking a day, putting on warm sweaters, packing a picnic lunch and choosing a local hiking trail to explore.   We enjoy parking in Lincolnville and hiking the Bald Rock Trail, a portion of Camden Hills State Park.  We find the Bald Rock Trail to be a kid friendly hiking trail. 

Camden Hills State Park is one of Maine's hottest attractions for Leaf Peepers.  On a clear day you can see for hundreds of miles, surrounded by water.  It is a view worth seeing and do not forget your camera.  A photo atop Mt. Battie makes a wonderful holiday card photo.  If you prefer to experience Maine's Foliage from the comforts of your automobile, you may do so using the Mt. Battie Auto Road.

 Kids love the fall season in Maine.  It is not too hot or too cold yet and they can be outside for hours rolling around in the leaves, collecting them, tracing them on paper, and anything else their imagination suggests.  There are several breath taking locations in which children can play safe while adults enjoy the views and historical features of Mid-Coast Maine. 

The Camden Amphitheatre next to the Camden Public Library is a great place for children to romp and play in the leaves while adults sit and enjoy the Camden Harbor.  Another great secret spot is the Vesper Hill Children's Chapel in Rockport Maine.  The Children's Chapel was erected in 1960 and draws hundreds of people each year.   On your way to the Children's Chapel from Camden, I highly suggest taking Chestnut Street and about a mile on Chestnut Street look for "Oreo cows", at Aldemere Farms.  Aldemere Farms is one of the world's premier breeders of Belted Galloway.

Just down the road a few miles you will find the Farnsworth Art Museum and the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse in Rockland.   The Farnsworth Art Museum offers an opportunity to view art related to Maine, including the works of the Wyeths.  Adults are $12.00 and children under 16 are free.  The Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse is one of Maine's more than 60 lighthouses.  As a family we enjoy walking 7/8 of a mile along the lighthouses granite block pier and touring the lighthouse.

Image courtesy of the Friends of the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse

How about enjoying apple and pumpkin picking, we do!  Kids love to pick their own apples and eat them on the spot or pick their own pumpkin for carving.  Maine pumpkin patch owners enjoy getting creative.  In the past their creativity has earned them national recognition for designing their corn maize to support the troops, shaping it like a yellow ribbon or Red Sox Nation by replicating a game ticket.

While visiting Maine as a Leaf Peeper, let Mid-Coast Family Rentals supply you with a jogging stroller or backpack for your hiking experiences and all other baby gear needs.

Phoenix and Scottsdale have more to offer than just great weather and golf. Bring the kids along for your vacation and try out some of our local family favorites.

Our own Phoenix Zoo is a great way to spend a day gazing at the animals and playing.  It’s centrally located between Scottsdale and Tempe and right next to the Desert Botanical Gardens too.  If you’re here in the spring, check out the butterfly exhibit at the gardens.  If you’re up for something more off the beaten path, try the Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium.  See the penguins (yes, in Arizona!), fish, sharks, and more in the brand new aquarium wing of the zoo.  It’s likely that they’ll be some baby animals for your little ones to see too.  It’s a bit of an outback experience so wear your tennies and be prepared to deal with a little dust on the gravel paths. 

If the weather is nice, which it is almost all year long, visit the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park for some cheap fun.  Admission to the park is free and we love riding the carousel and small-scale train for just $1 and $2 each.  Kids under 3 are FREE with a paying adult.  There’s ample picnic area and food available onsite.  Parking can be tight when the weather is nice and school is out so arrive early to get a good spot. 

If you’re up for the Wild West, check out Rawhide Western Town and get a glimpse of an 1880’s Arizona western town.    Pan for gold, ride a stagecoach, or hop on a burro for a ride around the town.  Parking and admission to the town and its shops are free and tickets are required for shows and rides.  

Another of our family’s personal favorites is the Children’s Museum of Phoenix.  There’s many themed rooms for the kids to play indoors and also an outdoor picnic area with activities in the cooler months.  Some of the rooms include the Ball Room, the Art Room, the Market (our favorite), the Noodle Forest, and the Under Three Room.  Admission is $8 each and infants under 1 are free but that’s not to say there’s nothing for them there. Most rooms have a separate infant play area safe from the rambunctious fun the older toddlers and grade-schoolers are having. 

Many moms and dads have been asking - how can I make airline travel easier with my toddlers?!  Here's some recommendations from Baby Travel Pros co-founder Raquel of Las Vegas Baby Equipment Rentals, mom of 3.

• Plan ahead- When travel arrangements are set, begin thinking about where the kids will sleep, how they will get from the airport to your destination (will they need a car seat?), will you be doing a lot of walking (will they need a stroller?).  Consider using a Child Aviation Restraint System (CARES) onboard instead of a car seat or using a Go Go Kidz Travelmate to turn your car seat into a stroller.  When answering these questions, you can explore baby gear rental options.  Many baby gear rental companies can deliver the items to hotels, airports, relative's homes, or ship small items such as CARES harnesses. When renting baby equipment you save yourself the trouble of packing and lugging the gear with you, which in turn helps you to avoid additional airline baggage fees or risking damage to your items (ripped pack-n-plays, cracked car seats) or even loss by the airline.  Some baby rental companies can also supply you with diapers, wipes, formula and other baby consumables that take up luggage room.  All members of Baby Travel Pros meet specific standards to ensure safety and cleanliness.

• The carry-on- Be sure to pack snacks, favorite toys, and books.  Be careful when selecting toys that have lots of small pieces because children are prone to dropping them and then they roll around on the airplane floor and you are constantly fetching them.  Portable DVD players and a new video can also be lifesavers.  For younger children, you can make a DVD from your home computer with pictures of family and friends- they love this!

• Navigating the airport- Put one parent or adult in charge of the carry-ons, the luggage, the tickets.  Check baggage curbside.  The other parent is in charge of the child(ren) until on the plane.  Be sure everyone is wearing comfortable clothes and easy shoes to take on and off at airport security.  Everyone should "potty" before loading onto the plane.  And avoid pre-boarding!  Keep the children off of the plane until the last possible minute and let them walk around- the less time they are confined to their seat space the easier it will be on you and them.

 With a dry, sunny climate and mild year-round temperatures the Pikes Peak, Colorado region is the perfect place if you love the outdoors. The area offers over 350 miles of scenic trails ranging from easy, paved paths along Monument Creek to challenging routes through the trees and sandstone spires in the nearby foothills. We have over 20,000 acres of parks and recreational activities to appeal to any taste, from manicured turf to open space teaming with wildlife, from peaceful prairie settings to raging waterfalls. Whether you want to commune with nature, work out after a long day, or just slow down and bask in the sun, the Pikes Peak region has it all.

A trip up Pikes Peak will take you through numerous climate zones so remember to bring a jacket. At the turn of the century, inspired by a trip to the summit of Pikes Peak, Katharine Lee Bates penned what has become our country's most famous poem and song, "America the Beautiful." On the way up remember to watch for wildlife. After your trip up Pike’s Peak, take some time to wander through the village of Manitou Springs with it's friendly restaurants and quaint stores.

If you're looking see what the west looked like way back then stop in at the Ghost Town Museum. You can step back in time to Colorado’s Gold Rush days and even pan for gold.

We have a strong military presence here in Pikes Peak. We are home to Fort Carson, Peterson Air Force Base, the U.S. Space Command, NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command), Shriever Air Force Base and the United States Air Force Academy. An afternoon at the Air Force Academy gives you insight into how our young men and women are trained. Check to see if the planetarium is open too. 

Denver, an hour north of Colorado Springs, hosts an amazing Children’s Museum, Eliches Gardens and theKennedy Center-Imagination Celebration that offers childrens activities through out the year.

Make sure your visit to Pike’s Peak is stress free. Call Granny’s Traveling Closet so your baby gear needs are met and everything is available when you arrive. We offer quality equipment and toys for the traveling infant and toddler.