Southwest Airlines Mommy Blogger - Flying with Baby

by: Elizabeth Sedway, Famplosion.com

Who knew...even Southwest Airlines has their own mommy blogger. Jessica Turner is the resident Mommy Blogger for the airlines. Her guest blog posts and video blogs focus on traveling with her baby, tips she discovers and family-friendly activities to experience around the country. When she isn't traveling, she enjoys spending time with her family, working, blogging and scrapbooking. She and her husband, Matthew, live in Nashville, Tenn., with their 10-month-old peanut, Elias, who is currently into everything!

Among Jessica's posts is, 'How Not to Go Nuts When Flying with a Peanut'. 'Peanut' is Jessica's Southwest-friendly term for kids. Get it? In this article, and the accompanying video below, Jessica outlines truly helpful hints for parents flying with babies. Every parent has struggled with this process; most of us learned how to do it 'the hard way'. Thanks to Jessica, moms today don't need to muddle their way through.

Famplosion offers thousands of current family activities for families. Many of the cities serviced by Southwest are included among the cities covered by Famplosion. Here are some examples: Austin, TX, Chicago, IL, Columbus, OH, Dallas, TX, Detroit, MI, Houston, TX, Indianapolis, IN, Jacksonville, FL, Los Angeles, CA, Nashville, TN, New York City, NY, Oakland, CA, Philadelphia, PA, Phoenix, AZ, Sacramento, CA, Salt Lake City, UT, San Antonio, TX, San Diego, CA, San Francisco, CA, San Jose, CA, Seattle, WA, Reno/Tahoe.

New Year's Eve in New York City

by: Elizabeth Sedway, Famplosion.com

Worldwide Time Square in New York City is synonymous with New Years Eve. Just to give you an idea of the epic nature of this event, event organizers confirm that one ton of confetti will be dropped on Times Square revelers. The Times Square New Year's Eve Ball descends from a flagpole at the top of One Times Square. It can best be seen along Broadway, from 43rd Street to 50th Street, and along Seventh Avenue, as far north as 59th Street.

To get the best view of the ball as it descends, arrive early. The earlier you arrive, the better your view and the closer you will be to the action. The sound system is set up in the Bowtie area (where Broadway and Seventh Avenue cross), and the video screens on One Times Square (where the Ball is lowered) are easily visible. There are additional screens set up at Broadway and 50th Street, Broadway and 52nd Street, Broadway and 54th Street and Broadway and 58th Street. The following Times Square restaurants have a view of the ball:

• DoubleTree Guest Suites
• Marriott Marquis
• TGI Fridays
• Bubba Gump Shrimp Company
• Sbarro Pizza
• Olive Garden
• 2 Times Square

The best way to get to Times Square is via public transportation. To get to Times Square, the # 1, 2, 3, 7, A, B, C, D, E, F, N, Q, R, W, V and S shuttle trains all service the Times Square area. The MTA has advised revelers not to use the 42nd Street Subway Station on New Year's Eve, due to crowded conditions - instead, exit at one of the surrounding stations and enter Times Square by foot. It is expected that the MTA will keep all subway stations open on New Year's Eve. Some entrances and exits may be closed as crowd conditions require. After 7 p.m. on December 31st, the N and R train station at 49th Street and Seventh Avenue may be closed until after midnight. Trains may also bypass some stations, depending on how the crowds build.

Families will want to take into consideration that no portable toilets will be set up in Times Square, leaving those 'in need' at the mercy of local merchants. On the upside, however, police will set aside a viewing area for the disabled, located on the northwest corner of 43rd Street. However, this area will fill up quickly, and it is advised that disabled visitors arrive early in the day. Alcholic beverages will not be allowed in the area. If you bring it anyway, the Police will confiscate it.

Thanksgiving in New York City

by: Elizabeth Sedway, Famplosion.com

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has become a hallmark of Thanksgiving, not only in New York City, but all over America. This year, the parade route will change and the big inside scoop is the location of the best place to view the parade. Famplosion.com has you covered. Acording to parade organizers, the best place to get a view of the parade as it proceeds down its new route is to place yourself along Central Park West, between 61st and 72nd Streets.


The entire parade travels down Central Park West from 77th Street to Columbus Circle along Central Park South to 7th Avenue, down 7th Avenue to 42nd Street, along 42nd Street to 6th Avenue, down 6th Avenue to 34th Street and along 34th Street to Macy's Herald Square (34th Street).

In order to get a good viewing spot, many people arrive before 6:30 a.m. the morning of the parade to stake out space along the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade route. Be sure to wear plenty of warm clothes and bring a thermos full of coffee or hot cocoa, as it can be quite cold. The duration of the parade depends on where you view it from -- near the beginning of the route, it will last about 1 1/2 hours, closer to Macy's, the parade will last closer to 3 hours.

If you'd like to get a chance to see the balloons as they get blown up, on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 you can observe the inflation of the 25 balloons from 3 - 10 p.m. near the American Museum of Natural History just off Central Park West between 77th St. and 81st St.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is just one of over 300 family activities available to your family over the Thanksgiving weekend.

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All Aboard - Kids Love Trains

by: Elizabeth Sedway, Famplosion.com

There's something magic about a train. Kids light up at the mere sight of them. Historic trains are celebrated throughout America, and available for families to enjoy together.

The New York Train Museum features the Long Island Railroad, reputed to be the oldest railroad in the United States. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the state of New York points out,

Initially built as a shortcut to Boston, it has adapted to the
ever-changing needs of its customers and survived competition, takeovers, hard times, and bankruptcy. Today it is the busiest commuter railroad in the country. Historic photographs, maps, illustrations, and objects tell the fascinating story of the railroad's influence on the development of Long Island.

A visit to this train museum is a delightfully affordable excursion for families.

Chicago, long regarded as America's crossroads, where trains crossing the country would intersect, bringing with them the tales of travelers from far and wide. The Chicago History Museum highlights these tales in its Great Chicago Stories exibit. Just an online visit gives families access to the wonderful story of 'Joseph's Railroad Dreams'. Click on the 'Listen to the full story' button and hear these stories read aloud, as the text streams by.

Further west, visit the Heber Valley Railroad, near Park City, Utah. Completed in 1899, this railroad first served new settlers to this area. Today, vintage coaches are pulled by two 1907 Baldwin steam locomotives, and three vintage diesel electric locomotives. Themed excursions are available throughout the year, sure to delight kids and adults alike.

In Sacramento, California families enjoy the California State Railroad Museum. Completed in 1869, the Sacramento Southern Railroad was borne out of the gold rush and the need to transport the rich grains, and fresh produce of the the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta area, across the continent. Today, train rides are offered at the museum weekends, through September. The Polar Express Train rides are a holiday season treat.