Whether its a beachside retreat or poolside paradise, you don’t have to scramble for essentials your kids will need. I’ve got your back with the ultimate packing list that’ll have you feeling like the queen of quick escapes.

Here are my top ten must-have items that’ll make your last minute vacation smooth, stress-free and even enjoyable!

• Water Resistant Beach Blanket – This blanket keeps the sand where it belongs; outside the confines of your lounge zone. Roll it out, plop it down and unwind.
• Silicone Beach Toys – Forget the days of cheap plastic toys that break with a single dig, and contribute to the massive amount of waste our planet generates. Silicone toys are durable, easy to clean and perfect for building a castle fit for a little king (or queen).
• Sunscreen Applicator – This is the best friend you didn’t know you needed. No more battling with sticky sunscreen or letting your spray sunblock dissipate in the wind. This handy applicator ensures you and the kiddos stay sunburn-free with even coverage. Toss it in your bag and enjoy the sun, no fuss!

• Mesh Toy Bag – Keeping beach toys organized and sand-free has never been easier. A mesh bag allows you to rings off the sand quickly and keep all those kid must have items in one place. Less mess means more time for fun in the sun!
• Wet-Dry Bag – Last but certainly not least, a wet-dry bag is essential for managing wet swimsuits and clothes. Keep all those damp clothes and gear contained, making the trip back that much more organized.

• Tablet with Headphones – Real talk, as much as we try to limit screen time and screen exposure, a tablet loaded with videos and games, along with a good set of headphones is a vacation lifesaver. Pro tip – load your profile with that show you’ve been binge watching, or the book you’ve been waiting to read so you can catch up while the little ones nap!
• Fabric Backed Goggles – Comfort is key when it comes to swimming goggles. These fabric backed goggles are gentle to get on and provide a snug fit. No more tangled or pull hair to worry about!
• Diving Toys – If your child is anything like mine, they LOVE the water. Make pool time even more exciting with diving toys that turn a simple swim into an adventure.

Check out my Amazon storefront for even more of my favorite finds. And, more of my travel recommendations can be found here!

The post Last-Minute Summer Vacation: 10 Ultimate Items for Moms on the Go first appeared on Lindsey Boova.

Is it impossible to find what you need, when you need it?

Here are a few of my favorite item that should be in your car at all times. I keep everything in this little zip pouch so everything stays in one place, and I actually have what I need, during those times I actually need them!

Hand Lotion

Hand Sanitizer

Kids Wipes

Clear Portable Pouch

Car Cleaning Gel

Reusable Gel Roller

Mini Trash Container

Everything is rounded up here on my Amazon storefront.

The post 10 Mom Must Haves to Keep in The Car first appeared on Lindsey Boova.

Since we had only half a day at the parks on Sunday, we opted to visit Animal Kingdom. Hakuna Matata! 

We arrived to Animal Kingdom at 1:30pm and our first stop was the It’s Tough to Be a Bug! ride.

Next up, the Dinosaur ride. Would you believe, the ride did stop, and we actually had to be escorted off. A great start.

From there we made our way to Kali River Rapids which was a perfect choice because it allowed us to cool off from the intense heat of the afternoon sun.

Wes and I then walked around Maharajah Jungle Trek while Zach headed off to explore Avatar Flight of Passage. Riders must be 44″ or taller for this one, and Wesleigh is not quite there yet.

We met back up at the Na’vi River Journey which was a very tranquil ride, with illuminated flora and fauna from the Avatar series. Definitely a pretty experience.

By then we were starting to get hungry and ready to rest our feet, so we sat for dinner at Tiffins Restaurant. The food was fine, the service was very good. This was pretty consistent across all dining experiences during our trip; the service was friendly and eager, and the food was as you would expect it to be when catering to the masses. I will point out, the iced tea here was delicious. Zach and I each had about 3 refills!

Our last stop at Animal Kingdom was Kilimanjaro Safaris, an 18 minute guided tour through the Harambe Wildlife Reserve. We were able to see lions, giraffes, elephants as well as hippos and more.

Then, we decided to keep the Disney World party going and made our way to Epcot to squeeze in two more rides (Soarin and Ratatouille) and watch the fireworks. 

Key Takeaways

• Rent a stroller – store belongings and save your arms from carrying your child around all day.

• If you want to eat anything healthy, bring it with you. Many families had Target groceries delivered to the hotel.

• Genie Lightning Lane is 100% worth it. We used it strategically on the popular rides, which I’ve identified with * symbols.

• Shop for Disney gear in advance. This saved time, money and space in our luggage purchasing Disney branded clothing in advance of the trip. Somehow we were able to steer clear of the shops and she was proud to be wearing her character clothing each day. I’ve shared my tot-friendly finds here and ones for mom here.

For more of my day guides for traveling with kids, be sure to check out my Hamptons suggestions.

The post Disney With A Toddler – Day One Itinerary first appeared on Lindsey Boova.

Places to play, eat and shop with kids in the Hamptons.

We spend a nice chunk of our time in the Hamptons. The beaches are beautiful, the restaurant scene is great and there are a ton of kid-friendly parks and playgrounds to let your kids run around and burn off steam.

If you’re looking to spend a bit of time out East, here are some of my favorite things to do in the Hamptons with kids.

PLAY

Amber Waves Farm, Amagansett

The property boasts an outdoor classroom to host children and introduce them to farm roots.

Bridge Gardens, Bridgehampton

Five acres of environmentally sensitive, public gardens. Enjoy a self-guided tour of the property, walking distance to the heart of town. Walk to town for lunch or bring a blanket and pack a picnic lunch.

The Children’s Museum of the East End, Bridgehampton

Explore playful experiences including a seafaring ship, operate your own farm stand, run the diner, practice math on the 9-hole mini golf course, and so much more.

Seven Ponds Orchard, Water Mill

A pick your own farm with a farmer’s market, large playground, hayride and corn maze.

Long Beach, Sag Harbor

Nestled along Noyack Bay, this Hamptons beach is perfect to go to with kids who love to play in the water. Simply park your car and walk straight to your spot on the sand. Forget something in the car? No problem, it’s only a few steps away.

Mashashimuet Park, Sag Harbor

A fabulous park with walking trails, tennis courts, playing fields and multiple playgrounds, perfect for toddlers and older children.

Hamptons Mini Golf, Southampton

This 18-hole miniature golf course is open every day. Grab a burger, play with the golf simulator event the batting cages.

South Fork Natural History Museum & Nature Center, Bridgehampton

A place for children and adults of all ages to discover, explore, learn, and engage, in the Hamptons, the South Fork Natural History Museum & Nature Center is open seven days a week, with the exception of some holidays.

The Nature Trail & Hook Duck Pond, East Hampton

Enjoy feeding the ducks (not bread though, it will make them sick!) and short walking trails through the woods at this special reserve on David’s Lane.

–

For more gardens and parks, Hamptons Curbed put together a great list.

SHOP

Ethel + Row, Sag Harbor

Directly on Main Street, Ethel + Row offers a curated selection of children’s organic and natural apparel (gift and decor items too).

Stella & Ruby, Sag Harbor

A tiny boutique packed with personality; adorable clothes, accessories and giftable items.

Tanger Outlets, Riverhead

On your way home, grab a bite and a few essentials at the outlets in Riverhead.

The Pink Chicken, Amagansett

A shop filled with happy color and patterns in Amagansett Square.

EAT

Estia’s, Sag Harbor

Serving American/Mexican fare, Estia’s Little Kitchen is our go-to restaurant to bring kids in the Hamptons.

Bridgehampton Candy Kitchen, Bridgehampton

A local institution. This old-fashioned luncheonette has been around for as long as I can remember. Grab a booth, enjoy lunch and homemade ice cream with your children. *Cash only.

Big Olaf’s, Sag Harbor

An old-fashioned ice cream shop situated on the water in Sag Harbor that mom, dad and the kids will love. *Cash only.

The Wine Stand at Wolffer Estate, Sagaponack

Buy a bottle of wine, pull out a blanket, sit in the vineyards and enjoy live music on a warm summer night while the kids run around.

The post Top Places To Visit In The Hamptons With Kids first appeared on Lindsey Boova.

Zach and I have spent much of our relationship traveling the world together. As a child, I was fortunate enough to travel quite a bit; my mom and I tagged along with my father on many international business trips, and through work, I was able to spend time in France and Italy often. While I was spending time in Europe, Zach was off exploring nearly every continent.

Although Zach traveled considerably before we met, we certainly did not let that stop us from continuing to visit new destinations together.

Once we had our daughter, our travels slowed a bit and certainly more so now with the Covid pandemic, but it sure did feel good to pack up our bags and hit the road to Saratoga Springs for a jaunt this past weekend. 

From our many years traveling, we learned that not all luggage is created equal. I’m sharing here some of our most trusted pieces, including my Away carryon as pictured above, for extended weekends and expeditions across the globe.

The post Favorite Luggage to Travel With first appeared on Lindsey Boova.

We arrived in Saratoga Springs, known primarily for its famous racetrack, at the end of the day Friday, looking for a relaxing and stress-free weekend. We stayed at The Brentwood, a former motor lodge renovated by Brooklyn-based designers Studio Tack (the creative group behind the popular Scribner’s Catskill Lodge) who maintained the neighborhoods equestrian-inspired heritage and added subtle trendy design cues.

Although I grew up horseback riding competitively, I never made it to Saratoga, so spending time around the countless stables and seeing horse’s parade down the street was wonderful. Although we didn’t get to experience The Brentwood as we would have under normal circumstances, the staff made our stay delightful. We pulled into the parking lot, parked in front of our room and were able to walk right in as the team called us ahead of time asking our ETA to maintain contactless check-in. High-touch items (hairdryers, pens, notepads, etc) were removed from the room, mid-stay housekeeping was suspended, and all laundry and linens were cleaned following CDC guidelines. In total honesty, these changes did not bother me at all. I’m the type of guest that will make my bed in the morning anyways and bring my own hair dryer, so this did not affect our experience.

Once we settled in and freshened up after out drive, we moseyed into town for a late dinner at 15 Church. The restaurant had a huge patio set up with outdoor heaters – perfect for a chilly night during social distancing. Saturday morning we took advantage of having no set plans, slept in late and went to brunch at Hatties, made famous for their fried chicken. We ate far too much and walked around town in an attempt to burn off some of the biscuits consumed. A few shops in town to consider stopping by include Lex & Cleo which has a wonderfully curated selection of children’s toys, clothes and gift items as well as Saratoga Tea & Honey, where we stopped each day for tea and matcha and I purchased this beautiful vintage teacup and saucer to add to my collection.

Later in the afternoon we went to 550 Waterfront Restaurant, an adorable American bar on Saratoga Lake. We sat outside along the water to enjoy unobstructed views of the Lake, although the interior space could feel like you’re outside because the exterior walls are all open garage doors. The restaurant also offers seating at bonfires and Adirondack chairs on the sand closer to the water.

Keeping it Covid safe, we drove up to the Glen Drive in Theater and saw a pretty awful movie, The War with Grandpa, which considering how bad it was, starred an A-list cast (Robert DeNiro, Uma Thurman, Christopher Walken, Jane Seymour). Disappointing movie, but adorable drive in for a fun, safe activity. Following the movie we headed for another late dinner, this time at Hamlet and Ghost, a restaurant I’d highly recommend if you make the trip to Saratoga Springs.

To break up the drive home Sunday morning we had brunch in Albany at Iron Gate Cafe and made a pit stop in Woodstock so I could shop at the local Flea Market where I snagged an adorable footstool for Wesleigh’s room (more on that soon) and a pretty vintage tray.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Note: Affiliate links may be used in this post. I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you if you use my affiliate link. Full disclosure policy here.

The post Saratoga Springs: An Equestrian Escape first appeared on Lindsey Boova.

| Yves Delorme Etoile Bath Towel Collection / Home |

They say to replace your bath towels approximately every two years but for some reason, I feel we replace ours more frequently. Maybe I should cut back on two/day showers. Our latest towel purchase was these Yves Delorme Etoile Bath Towels; they’re extra soft and plush with a unique star pattern on the dobby.

| Thermos Stainless Steel Straw Bottle / For the Kiddos 

During a recent trip to Walmart, Wes and I picked up this Frozen themed stainless steel Thermos. Highlighting Elsa, Ana and Olaf, it would have been very difficult to not grab this impulse purchase. Turns out, it’s Wesleigh’s new favorite thermos. With a push button lid, pop-up straw and stainless steel interior/exterior, the thermos keeps Wes’ favorite beverage cool even on the warmest summer days.

| Bala Wearable Weights / Wellness |

I recently discovered these Bala Bangles which I feel I’ve been seeing everywhere lately. They are wearable weightsthat add a comfortable resistance to your workout. Available in a few colors and different weights the Bala Bangles are perfect for at home workouts and core training. Shop the 2lb version or the 1lb version.

| OUAI Leave in Conditioner / Beauty |

I grabbed this leave in conditioner from OUAI on a whim about a month ago and I’m so glad about this impulse purchase. I have not used any hot tools in my hair for the majority of quarantine and am thrilled that I grabbed this conditioner. I shower twice a day so this is perfect to spray on my hair each evening when I shower before bed. It acts as a detangler, keeps my hair smooth for the next morning and floral fragrance of bergamot, rose, violet and white musk is fantastic. The product is also not tested on animals and free of parabens, sulfates and phthalates.

| Colorfulkoala Amazon Leggings / Style |

I’ve finally gotten back into a consistent workout routine and have been loving these leggings from Amazon. They provide ultimate support and come in a variety of beautiful colors – what more could you need from a pair of leggings?

The post Friday Five | 08.28.2020 first appeared on Lindsey Boova.