How to Maintain Baby’s Sleep Schedule While Traveling

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travel can be a great way to spend time with loved ones while seeing the world. However, if a little one is in tow, scheduling effective sleep time can be a challenge. Take note of these tips to make traveling with a baby more manageable.

Choose One Place
Determine one area that the baby will sleep in for the full duration of the trip. Check the designated hotel to see if they offer a pack-n-play or prepare to bring one. If family members are perturbed that the baby will not be staying with them, make plans to stay with them another year.

Schedule The Baby’s Sleep Before the Trip
To increase the baby’s ability to adapt to the changing environment while traveling, be sure he or she has enough sleep before departure. Set the schedule in place at least one week before leaving to travel.

Deliberately Choose Travel Time
Small children typically have a predetermined nap time. Try to fly or hop in the car at the regular time the baby would be sleeping. If time zone changes come into play, increasingly adjust nap time by thirty minutes each night before departure. Being conscious of these items will lead to a lower stress experience.

Promote the Use of Baby’s Internal Clock
The circadian rhythm is a naturally recurring cycle based on twenty four hours and can occur even when light is not present. Allowing sunlight in the room first thing in the morning and then making the space as dark as possible at night helps set baby’s circadian rhythm. Melatonin will also be produced as an effect which then helps the child sleep better at night.

Insert Naps in the Itinerary
If plans lead to late nights, schedule daytime naps. Also, be sure not to place activities at the normal nap time. In unavoidable situations, try to place the baby down earlier before festivities that fall during naptime. Even then, if the scheduled nap does not work out, just make it up on the next day.

For more tips like these, visit the article by Fox News here.

Top Artsy Tourist Locations

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Many countries all over the world offer great hot spots for artists. The Americas, Asia, and Canada all offer a list of locations that are available to visit now. Read below to find out what makes each destination valuable.

New York offers several fantastic places for lovers of art. In Chinatown, visitors can find Beverly’s. It is a bar known for hosting gallery opening nights and in the Lower East Side. On Madison Avenue, rests a gallery. Directly below, is the Kappo Masa which was started by dealer Larry Gagosian and chef Masa Takayama. It is heavily known to attract some of the art scene’s sushi lovers. Now located on Orchard Street is the legendary art bar Max Fish. At it’s previous location in the Lower East Side, the Max Fish promoted local artists, actors, and musicians. A few well known names include Johnny Depp, Ethan Hawke, and Moby.

In Europe, some interesting artistic locations exist in England. London is the home to a townhouse with various areas dedicated to afternoon tea, drinks, and dining. Called Sketch, this place is a gallery restaurant that features art deco chairs in light pink, booths with hand drawn artwork, and the popular egg shaped bathroom stalls. These items were a redesign by artist, David Shrigley. Another destination in Europe includes the Peckham in London. It is a hip location for artists to eat, drink, and shop. A most recent exhibit is the car park which is now an art space available to view from June to September.
There are many more places throughout several countries. Research more areas where people can mingle, eat, and enjoy art and have an incomparable experience. For more locations, visit the Huffington Post Article here.

How to Avoid Ebola While Traveling in 3 Steps

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Ebola is a topic of concern for traveler with international trips coming up on their calendars. Leslie Michelson, CEO of Private Health Management asked Dr. Michael Callahan his thoughts on Ebola and traveling at this time. Dr. Callahan is an associate physician in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School. Recently, he built an Ebola unit in Monrovia and has previously assisted over 400 Ebola patients.

According to Dr. Callahan, the symptoms of Ebola patients are very severe. At the time when they are a threat to the health of others, they won’t be able to tolerate the physical stress of flying. “They’re making lots of trips to the bathroom, they’ve been throwing up and they’re dehydrated. They’re not the people on your aircraft.”

At this time, airports across the world are searching for ill individuals to add to quarantine. Unfortunately, the early symptoms of Ebola are also the first symptoms of many common infections. It may be more important to avoid other forms of sickness to not end up in those quarantines. That means avoiding infections such as food poisoning, malaria, and dengue.

Clean your hands

Common surfaces such as a light switch or hand rail can contain remnants of blood, saliva, fecal matter, and more. An issue arises when one touches areas saturated with those bacterias and then decides to touch their face. Be sure to wash your hands with soap and water. Afterwards, follow up with an antiviral hand solution. The best kind will have a minimum of 62.5% ethyl alcohol. Avoid additives like aloe, as they only conceal the virus and give it a longer lifespan.

Avoid Unfamiliar Cuisine

Regions lacking in resources are more prone to housing pathogens in their water and food. This can also lead to certain toxins and bacterias withstanding the heat of cooking. Traveler’s diarrhea (TD) becomes an issue when food like this is consumed. An individual can be throwing up within hours of eating. Stay away from undercooked meat, peel your own fruits and vegetables, and try not to eat street food.

Make Good Decisions

Be generally mindful of activities that could potentially cause you to have to go to the hospital. Try not to engage in things you wouldn’t normally do at home. New activities like windsurfing and riding motorcycles for the first time is risky. Instances such as a fever or lump in the groin is enough to find yourself in an airport quarantine. It is important for people to know that Ebola is also a sexually transmitted disease. With this new information, everyone can make better decisions that will keep themselves safe.

Lodging Tips for Travel

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When traveling, there are several things to consider. Location is a large factor but once you know where you are headed, check the quality of your lodging options. Follow these few steps for an even greater travel experience.

  • Sign up for the resort loyalty program: Many chain hotels reserve bonus amenities for individuals who are a part of their program. Even if you do not intend to return any time soon, the initial stay may be more gratifying with some added perks.
  • Research the reviews: Hotels often have ratings listed with a set number of stars. A more authentic view of the lodging experience may be to find reviews written by people who stayed at the location previously. Guidebooks and magazines are also valuable resources since star ratings are being phased out.
  • Negotiate for deals: Upon reaching the front desk, don’t be afraid to speak to the clerk about saving some money. Many times the rates may need to stay the same, but they could be willing to appease you in other ways. Room upgrades or breakfast could make the stay better just because you asked.
  • Don’t get trapped by a pre-paid stay: Resorts that require you to pay in full upfront may offer you a discount because of it. Sometimes what is not mentioned is that fact that your trip is now locked in. Restrictions may include not being able to reschedule or cancel the trip with a full refund. Be mindful of the hotel’s cancellation policy where you have the opportunity to adjust your stay up to 24 hours before check-in time.
  • Uncover the date of the latest renovation: Renovations have the opportunity to make a low cost place beautiful or lack of can push a high cost place to sub-par. Before you make a reservation, find out when the last round of maintenance and updates were completed. This often overlooked detail can really make or break one’s stay.

For more information, visit TIME’s website on the top 50 Essential Travel Tips: http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,1912492,00.html

Sao Paulo – An Often Neglected Tourist Spot

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Sao Paulo is often an unpopular tourist location in Brazil. Perhaps it’s not that the town is frowned upon, but quite possibly less explored. A few individuals gathered together and decided to give Sao Paulo a chance. Throughout their travels, they now realize why Rio De Janeiro is not the only place to see in Brazil.

Upon entrance to the city of Sao Paulo, the initial feeling was overwhelm. It’s simply a large city with an ongoing cityscape. Visitors are faced with 25 story buildings that look very similar and cover grounds in all directions. Surfaces are also decorated with a distinct style of graffiti called pixacao which is very prevalent.

This city has several distinct characteristics. As a place that is home to 20 million, there is proof that many have found comfort in the conditions. A cold winter in Sao Paulo can be about 75 degrees farenheit, which is a sign that seasons can be warm. This town also has a high end shopping area known as Jardins Paulista. It’s one of the safer places in the area and is home to some of the city’s top real estate. A key to business success in Sao Paulo is coffee. The country of Brazil is responsible for a third of world wide coffee production. This industry has been active for the last 150 years and is a main factor in Sao Paulo’s growth from a small city to an industrial center. For the best coffee, visit Santa Grao. In English, this means holy grail and known as a top coffee experience. It can be found in five locations across the city and is a good promotional tool for others looking to visit.

After twelve days in Sao Paulo or Sampa, these visitors began to understand why this city is a valuable tourist location. Although the outer appearance was not as beautiful as others in Brazil, the heart of the area was strong. After making some more friends and visiting a few more sites, it became more apparent why so many call Sampa home.

For more information, please visit the article by the Huffington Post here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/abby-morgan/why-sao-paulo-is-worth-the-stop_b_5673332.html?utm_hp_ref=travel&ir=Travel

 

 

 

Goblin Valley State Park – Cheryl Bratt’s Travel Blog

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Utah is filled with many wonderful places to visit. An interesting tourist attraction is the area of Castle Country. This region, also known as Price Country, is home to several destinations. Goblin Valley State Park can be found amongst that intriguing list. Goblin Valley State Park contains a naturally formed collection of odd rock formations. Accompanied by deteriorated cliffs, the rocks uniquely resemble the faces of goblins. This is a result of erosion, or the process of rocks wearing down due to exposure to excessive wind and water. Sandstone is a material that varies in hardness. As erosion descends upon it, Sandstone tends to wear down at different intensities causing the geological phenomenons or goblins to appear. The first discovery of this area was made by cowboys looking for cattle prior to the 1920s. In 1949, Arthur Chaffin began photographing the area which he then called Mushroom Valley. By 1964, Goblin Valley was taken on by Utah and official named a national park. Present day, there are several activities that a tourist can enjoy there. Camping with RVs or tents is welcome. Additionally, hiking and nature watching is common. Often, weddings and special events are held there as well as snow sports in the winter seasons. A special event that will be ending soon is the guided three mile hike to Goblin’s Lair through the state park’s astounding cavern. The ceilings here even reach up to 70 feet high. Guests will be in the company of an experienced ranger and it is recommended that each person bring plenty of water.  This desert environment can be very harsh and even strenuous to the plants and animals that live here. For those who are driving, location details can be found. Please check out more information on www.stateparks.utah.gov or click the Goblin State Park direct link here.

Treating Sunburn – Cheryl Bratt’s Travel Blog

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An image for Cheryl Bratt's blog.

How to Treat Stubborn Summer Sunburn Many people spend all winter eagerly waiting for the warm, sunny days of summer. However, with every sunny day, there is a bad case of sunburn waiting to happen. The best way to prevent sunburn is to always make sure that you are wearing sunblock when you are outdoors enjoying the summer weather. In extreme cases, you may even want to consider wearing a thin layer of clothing to prevent the painful, peeling, skin damaging effects of sunburn. Still, it is more than likely that you are going to get sunburn at some point and, when it happens, there are many things you can do to soothe your sunburned skin. If you feel the tingling of a burn when you are outside or see your skin reddening, get out of the sun and start treatment. What you perceive as a touch of pink in the moment could turn into a larger burn later, so it’s best to take action as soon as possible. Consider taking a dose of ibuprofen as soon as you see any signs of sunburn, as this can help reduce the imminent swelling and redness that is going to occur. You can continue taking ibuprofen for the next 48 hours if you feel it is necessary. Next, take a cool shower or bath. When you have finished, apply moisturizing cream or lotion to your skin. Applying a moisturizer frequently will help reduce peeling and flaking. Look for products that contain vitamin C and vitamin E as these can help limit skin damage. In extreme cases, a hydrocortisone cream can be used for one or two days to help relieve discomfort. In addition to skin treatments, make sure that you are staying hydrated. Sunburn draws fluid to the skin’s surface, taking it away from the rest of the body. Make a conscious effort to drink more water than you normally would and be aware of any signs of dehydration, including dry mouth, thirst, headache, dizziness, or sleepiness. Above all, be very health conscious when treating sunburn. If you are experiencing extreme symptoms, fevers, or chills, seek medical help immediately. For more tips on how to treat sunburn please visit http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/sunburn/five-ways-to-treat-a-sunburn.

Hiking – Cheryl Bratt’s Travel Blog

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Take a Hike!

Experts recommend that people engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity for, at least, 150 minutes a week.  That’s only two and a half hours out of the 168 hours that make up a seven-day week.  While this may seem like a small effort, exercising for just a short period of time every week can increase your overall health exponentially. If you’re looking for a way to get active but hitting the gym or playing a sport isn’t your style, consider hiking.  This activity will allow you to see the beauty of nature that can’t be found in cities and, most importantly, it will get you up, out and active. Taking regular hiking trips is a great way to stay in shape because hiking exercises all the major muscles in your body.  Hiking can also improve your strength, cardio and endurance abilities and help tone your muscles.  Hiking can also reduce depression and help you sleep better at night.  In addition, being physically fit can lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, triglycerides and type 2 diabetes. If you have children in your family, make sure they are staying active as well.  It’s never too early to start introducing your kids to healthy habits like exercising. Children receive many of the same benefits from hiking as adults do.  In addition to reducing the risk of becoming overweight as a teenager or adult, consequently lowering the chance of developing risk factors that can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, hiking can help children relieve stress and sleep more peacefully, causing them to be more alert and enthusiastic at school. In addition to cardiovascular exercise activities, experts say that it is important to engage in strength training at least twice a week as.  This can include lifting weights or doing push-ups.  Make sure you are tracking the time you spend exercising so you are sure that you are meeting or exceeding your weekly fitness goals. Remember, you don’t have to be in perfect shape to try hiking or some other form of exercise.  Becoming more physically active can be tremendously beneficial for your present and future health.  Don’t feel like you have to conquer the world on your first day out.  Make sure you aren’t overexerting yourself and listen to your body as you begin your new fitness routine.

For more information on the benefits of hiking please visit http://www.goodhiker.com/2011/05/25/health-benefits-hiking/.

Stay posted on Cheryl Bratt’s blog for more information.