Travelling During the Terrible Twos

So, you’re the parent of a two-year-old. You’re just emerging from that wonderful but challenging transitional period between your old, childless life - full of reckless abandon and that “sleep” thing you vaguely recall – into parenthood. You’re figuring it out – you’ve got a killer routine, your kid is developing in the coolest ways every day, you’re starting to find some balance between work, parenting and the other parts of your life – things are good. 

At this point you likely know that the terrible twos are a very real thing. Random, seemingly causeless tantrums; overt grasps at independence;  violent outbursts (both physical and emotional); signs of new, complex and sometimes devastating emotions like shame, rejection and embarrassment; and a plethora of other challenges that come at this stage. 

But you’re handling that. 

Likely, becoming a parent has put something of a cork on your opportunities to travel (unless you took advantage of that sweet spot between infancy and toddlerhood – but more on that for another post).  But you are feeling like, at this stage, taking your kid on one of your forgotten adventures just might be becoming possible. 

Well it is… and it isn’t.  Travel with kids is obviously very different from travelling solo, with a partner or with friend and family, but travelling with a two-year-old is a whole other kettle of hard. But it’s not impossible, and, indeed, can be full of fun, joy and memories. 

Here is what I learned on my first “real trip” with my two-and-a-half year old (and his one year old baby brother to boot). We rented a cottage in Honey Harbour, Ontario with a few members of our family for a week of outdoor fun. 

Wes the Mess. In all his two-year-old glory.

1. Pack your patience 

Try as you may, that perfect little routine you’ve created at home is getting broken. Bed and nap times will be flexed, boundaries will be unclear and you will likely be more permissive of certain things than you are at home. This is necessary for all the fun and exploration travel provides, but it also means trouble. The broken routine will amplify all the terrible twos have to offer. Your two-year-old’s brain will start to explode with possibilities and they will make every effort to explore them. They will be tired-er, hungrier, more distracted, less likely to listen, more willful, etc. Being ready for this will help you roll with the punches, and that leads to #2…

2. Go with the flow

Trying to over plan and keep a schedule will make your trip exceedingly difficult. All the new sights, sounds, experiences and emotions will make your two-year-old desperate to explore. The “big plans” you made might not interest them in the least, while the most mundane tasks will fascinate them; meaning they will want to do them over and over again. On my recent trip, Wes (my two point five year old), became fascinated by boats. All he wanted to do was walk the numerous docks and talk about the countless variety of boats in the harbor. I had to force myself over the tedium of it and look at it through his eyes. In the end, the hours he and I spent chatting about bloody boats (fast boats, big boats, fish boats, “sleeping” boats, little boats, tin can boats  etc. etc.) are a hilarious memory, and time well spent. And that brings us to point #3…

3. Think/be like a kid

It is so easy when travelling with kids to focus on the big things like meals, schedules, itineraries and the like. After all, you feel responsible for ensuring everyone has a good time. In order to survive, however, it helps to think like a kid, and often that means seeing the forest for the trees. You can do this by looking and listening just a little closer. Kids see amazing little details that adults, through conditioning, can miss. Wes was able to spend an amazing amount of time looking under the docks for frogs and fascinating over the ecosystems under there. When I started doing the same, it was amazing what I found, and the experiences we came to share. 

4. Bring a friend

Kids can keep other kids entertained in ways no adults can, which can be a sanity saver for the adults. That said, I’ve found that, at this age, the closer in age the kids are the better. This can be an awkward age for relationships. Two-year-olds don’t know the “rules of the playground” yet, and their still-limited communications skills can cause conflicts, particularly with older kids who find it difficult to understand why young kids behave the way they do. If you can’t travel with others who have children of similar age, encourage your child to befriend other children wherever you are hanging out.  

5. Pre-plan small tasks/activities

Thinking up some simple tasks your child can do during certain parts of your trip can help keep them engaged. Note, chances are your kid won’t engage in all the tasks you plan, so try and think up a few. At the beach on our vacay, Wes collected rocks and filled buckets of water, pouring them in a randomly selected spot on the sand (he came up with that last one on his own, but it kept him in rapture for at least 20 minutes, which meant a bit of relaxing time for mom and dad). 

6. Use extra time to relax

You’ll be tempted during rare periods of inactivity (when the kids are in bed, hanging out with relatives, etc.) to catch up on things or prepare for the next thing to come. It’s important to section some of this time off for relaxation. Try and grab bits and pieces of vacation for yourself. It is deserved. Feel no shame.

7. Dial back your expectations

When I started planning things to do during our week at the cottage I got very excited. It was, to me, an opportunity to expose Wes to a bunch of new things that I thought idyllic for dads and their sons to do together. These things included fishing, canoeing, boating, tubing, hiking, campfires, s’mores and countless others. The reality, however, was that while some of these things held some appeal, Wes' short attention span and general two-year-old-ness meant he simply wasn’t ready for a lot of these activities. Fishing rods splashed in the water and tears were shed over the very concept of going on an inflatable donut being towed behind a boat. When I dialed back my expectations, I was able to enjoy the act of trying these things, even if they were not embraced.

He did love the boat!

Plan ahead but don’t over plan. Have realistic expectations. Keep it simple. Those are the rules I’ll live by on my next trip. Any other tips on travelling with a two-year-old? Leave them in the comments.  

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Real Man Travels: 5 Tips for Family Road Trips

A post by Justin K

It’s pretty clear that the crew at RMT enjoys a good road trip. Being the road trip master, I can’t help but offer up a few tips for a successful road trip. A little background here: since relocating to Thunder Bay, my better half and I (along with the kids and dogs that have been added to the family), have road tripped the 1400+ kilometers back to Alliston, Ontario every year, usually twice. The fastest we’ve managed is 14 hours; the slowest, 18 hours with the average time usually clocking in between 15 and 16 hours. So without further delay here are my top five tips for a successful road trip:

Preface: Always make sure you’ve checked and double checked your vehicle, like a real man. Oil, tranny/brake/power steering fluids, coolant levels and tire pressures are a good place to start. Also check your brakes/tires for signs of wear. The last thing anybody needs is to be stranded in the middle of nowhere with a screaming family and broken down vehicle. And, for the love of God, make sure your jack, wheel wrench and spare tire (no not your beer belly) are all ready to go. Also, if you’re road tripping during the winter months like me, a good set of winter tires is essential.

Food/Snacks

If there’s one thing I’ve learned raising my kids it’s that a hungry child is an angry child. Keeping any toddler in a car seat for 15 hours is bound to make them angry at some point during the trip; keeping their favourite snacks in the car will go a long way to alleviate some of their frustrations. I’ve also found that snacking while driving helps keep you awake. Feeling a little tired? Whip out the Sour Patch Kids and munch away.

Olivia enjoying her chocolate chip cookie

Music/Entertainment

Portable DVD players, LeapFrog tablets and old cellphones loaded with games will become your best friend on a long haul road trip. These help keep the kids entertained and if your kids are anything like mine, a good movie on the DVD player can help lull them to sleep. Also, bring headphones for the kids. I don’t know about you, but I’ve hit my Dora the Explorer threshold. If I have to listen to the “I speak Spanish and English too” song one more time, bad things will happen. Which brings me to music. With headphones firmly inserted into your kidlets ears, feel free to pop in/connect your favourite music. If you’re road tripping with other people, don’t be selfish, share the radio. I find that compilation albums work best if you’re still rocking the CD player, or shuffle on a phone/MP3 player if you can. I find that mixing it up helps to keep it fresh. Multiple genres too.

 Gavin napping after wearing himself out with his LeapPad

Stops/Breaks

Have a good idea of your vehicle's fuel range to gauge when you’ll need to fuel up. Use these opportunities to hit the bathrooms and grab a coffee. You’ll likely need to stop more often than your vehicle does, especially if you’re travelling with small children. Limit the amount of water/juice the kids drink to ensure you’re not stopping every 30 minutes. Often times it will be long stretches between bathrooms so, unless your little guy is cool with doing his biz outdoors, plan accordingly. Also, make sure that if you ever get drowsy on the road, pull over, switch drivers (if you can) or do some exercises on the side of the road, seriously. It helps wake you up and keeps you, your family and everybody else on the road safe. Energy drinks can be your friend when doing long trips.

Pack Light

Check out Ed’s packing post for some tips/tricks on packing light. Bring what you need, leave what you don’t. It really is that simple. That said, the more people you bring, the more stuff you’ll have. Travelling with two kids and two dogs (and golf clubs of course) typically results in a packed minivan. Not to mention all the stuff that your family sends you back with.

Layla, our eight week old Rottie, dans un laundry basket

Timing

Have a good idea of how long it will take you to get where you’re going as well as the stops along the way. If I know that my road trip is going to take 15-16 hours, I like to leave early in the morning so that I get to my destination at a reasonable hour. I hate getting to my destination at 10 p.m.. After being in the car all day, everybody’s tired and cranky, and to be very honest, I just like to get where I’m going so I can get out of the car, relax and crack a beer.

Do you have any tips/tricks for successful road trips? Scribe them in the comments section below! We always love to hear from our readers!

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A Canadian Road Trip-Up - Part 2

How to survive when a long-distance budget road trip goes awry.   

This story continues from Part 1, read it here.

A guest post by Mike Ciuffini.

A New Plan

The next morning we got confirmation that a vehicle in Edmonton was available to drive to Toronto. The next Greyhound bus was not leaving until that evening. It would go overnight through Banff, transfer in Calgary and get us into Edmonton mid morning. It was our only chance to get another car, so we took the offer. Hittheroad.ca offered to cover the costs of the bus tickets, thankfully.

We had another (almost) full day to kill in Kamloops. We went for a short hike and hit up a golf range. With more time to burn before the bus loaded, we rented a storage locker at the bus station and caught three quarters of the last NBA finals game at a restaurant bar.

The Greyhound bus was surprisingly full for a Sunday night trip so we were forced to sit next to each other. We watched the sun set from the bus near Golden, BC, where we were supposed to have stayed the night before in a spot booked through Airbnb. I explained our situation to the owner, Craig, who kindly cut us a deal on the cancellation fee.  Take a look at his listing if you’re ever out in Golden.

The bus drove straight through Banff National Park overnight. It was not the way we envisioned seeing the park but we had a plan. We decided that once we got the car in Edmonton we would backtrack.

We arrived in Edmonton and walked to the owner’s house from the bus station. Our new ride was a black 2004 Nissan Pathfinder, packed near-full with half of someone’s one-bedroom apartment. We couldn’t see out the rear window, but thankfully, the car had the round blind-spot mirrors on the side mirrors to help us change lanes safely. We signed a new contract offer with hittheroad.ca and the owner of the Pathfinder and headed back towards Banff.

Backtracking to Banff

We originally planned to take two full days in Banff. Despite having lost two full days due to the breakdown, we decided that seeing one of the country’s finest national parks was worth adding longer driving days at the back-half of the trip.

We booked a hotel in Canmore, AB, through Hotwire.com. We checked in, threw our stuff in the room and headed right back out towards Banff for an evening hike.

Driving into Banff was a spectacle. Mountain peaks stood above the low-laying clouds, which moved away slowly revealing more of the mountains as we drove past. We hiked in at the top of Mt. Norquay. The grey skies and layered fog made for a mystical view of the park.

We also bumped into a Bighorn sheep right at the trailhead and stalked him for a while.

Starving, we decided to eat dinner in the town of Banff. We treated ourselves to a little Tex-Mex and a Corona. We capped off the meal with a Beavertail dessert. The rain rolled in and called for a night in at the hotel watching Louis C.K. on YouTube and sharing some whiskey I bought in LA.

The skies cleared for us the next day and we walked along Lake Louise and hiked up the mountain to Mirror Lake. We went off-trail to climb some rocks to get to the waterfall that runs down into Mirror Lake. We also hiked a short trail along Johnston Canyon and got up close and personal with a couple of waterfalls.

The extra day in Banff re-energized us for the rest of the drive. We drove into Calgary that night where we stayed with a friend’s friend just outside the city. He took us to get burgers and milkshakes at the famous Peters’ Drive-in and up the hill to the best view of the city. Our night in Calgary was short-lived but it did see more of us than the rest of the cities we drove through.

Pushing through the Prairies

We headed east the next morning for a full day of driving amidst rain warnings through Medicine Hat and Regina. We saw fields soaking in collected rainwater and low rolling dark clouds filled the open prairie sky. The clouds opened up for us just before we got to Swift Current, SK. Our destination was my friend’s family farm in southern Manitoba.

We covered 1,300 km in one day and most of it through the rain. Luckily, the highway through the prairies gives you the chance to make up some lost time. We arrived at the farm in time to see the sun setting. The green prairie fields were kissed by the glow of the horizon.

The Final Leg after Winnipeg – Ontario

A beautiful morning in Southern Manitoba begged us to stay and relax a little before hitting the open road once more. We took a ride in a makeshift off-road truck into the fields surrounding the farmland.

After a generous lunch we headed out again up through Winnipeg to Kenora and on to Thunder Bay. A long afternoon of driving along a one-lane stretch of highway in Northern Ontario turned magical as the twilight hour approached. The sky was a thousand different colours as we steered through the weaving roads paved through the blasted rock of the Canadian Shield. We saw a handful of moose off the side of the road, including a mother with two baby calves running into the woods. We got into Thunder Bay as night fell. At that moment we made a rash decision - keep going.

We knew the one-lane highways that weaved around the hills along the northern Lake Superior shore were dangerous at night and riddled with wildlife but we desperately wanted to get into Toronto the next day at a decent hour. We drove slow and stayed behind as many transport trucks as we could. The trucks with bigger fenders and better high beams kept us guarded and alert.

One of the biggest disadvantages of driving a packed vehicle is that we couldn’t easily pull over and have a nap. The seats were less comfortable than the Greyhound bus and once fatigue hit us both the drive became unsafe. We stopped driving at 5:00 a.m. in Wawa, ON. Fortunately, an inn just inside the town had a vacancy and allowed us to rest our heads for a few hours. We had pulled off another 1,300 km that evening and over night.  We crashed hard.

We woke up with drool pooled on our motel pillows, still fully clothed on top of the sheets. We were ready for the final 900 km of driving. When I went to check out, the woman at the inn not only gave us a deal on the room but also a map to an industrial road that would have us bypass Sault St. Marie, ON altogether and come into Sudbury from the north on Hwy. 144. It shaved two hours off our trip.

We grabbed some Tim Horton’s coffee and headed back on the road. Eight hours later and a slight transmission scare, we made it to Toronto. I dropped off my friend at his home and said our goodbyes – hugging it out, man-style.

The Lessons

There are a number of things that made our trip successful after the unexpected tried to derail us. We had to be smart, patient and flexible in our planning while knowing what we wanted to get out of it.  A number of things contributed to our recovery:

1. Once the BMW broke down we knew we’d be spending more money on booking last-minute accommodations. But using sites like priceline.com and hotwire.com to locate hotels with the best deal in the area helped us save a few bucks.

2. Having amazing friends and family that were flexible and patient. We had to move the dates we were staying with people for three different nights. They were generous in their flexibility.

3. Coffee and eating well. Both things are very important to stay alert on the road. A big meal could have made us drowsy, especially when we were driving more than eight hours at a time.

4. Don’t make unnecessary stops. It is important to stretch every few hours but time it with gas stops or food breaks.

5. Don’t be afraid to talk to people. Tell people your story and ask for help. In Kamloops we got a courtesy car for next to nothing because we asked if they had one. Also, when I told the receptionist in Wawa our story, she gave me a corporate discount on the room and a map that cut two hours off our final leg.

So that’s the tale of how I fulfilled my desire to dip my hands in the Pacific Ocean and steer across Canada via the TCH. Had a road trip adventure of your own? Post it in the comments.

Mike is a “mainlander” residing out in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. When he’s not out discovering the island’s terrain and port towns in his Subaru, he’s producing TV and award-winning films: the kind that play in Cannes, France.

www.ciuffini.ca

@mikeciuffini

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A Canadian Road Trip-Up – Part 1

How to survive when a long-distance budget road trip goes awry.   

A guest post by Mike Ciuffini.

As Canadians we possess an identity that is coiled throughout our country’s expanse and unique natural wonder. The oceans that bookend our immense country are reachable via a road that stretches over 8,000 km through all ten provinces: the Trans Canada Highway (TCH). Sounds like a challenge for men who, like me, love the open road.

I had such a narrow view of the country living in Southern Ontario until my mid-twenties. So I packed and moved out east. I now live in the province where my grandfather originated: Newfoundland & Labrador, in the city of St. John’s. The Atlantic Ocean runs through my blood, and last summer I was able to dip my feet for the first time off a rocky beach in Western Newfoundland.

After touching the Atlantic, a lingering desire was reawakened: to experience the Pacific Ocean off a Canadian coastline. But western Canada had always eluded me.

A work-related trip to Los Angeles put me the closest I’d ever physically been to the province of British Columbia, so I grabbed the opportunity by the wheel. The plan was to jump on a plane to Vancouver, meet a friend, get in a car and drive over 4,000 km to meet family in Ontario. I had a week set aside to get to Ontario as I had another plane to catch back to St. John’s. 

Leaving Los Angeles

Driving across the country can be daunting, time-consuming and expensive. Being a man on a pretty tight schedule and budget I needed to find ways to cut down on costs but still enjoy my travels along the way. 

The Ride

First, I had to find a ride. Car rentals and gas being expensive, I connected with hittheroad.ca. Their service connects people needing a vehicle moved from one city to another and drivers looking to make the same trip. Drivers are given a mileage allowance above and beyond the direct route distance and are paid to deliver the car. I looked at this pay as a way of offsetting the cost of gas, so I signed up. 

Their website details the simple process of how to apply to become a driver. It also lists available cars and routes. 

Hittheroad.ca found me a car that was purchased from a dealership in Vancouver and was to be delivered to the new owner in London, ON; a snazzy 2003 BMW 745i, no less! Driving the distance from Vancouver to London, especially in seven days, requires a comfortable ride. A BMW, I thought, would certainly fit the bill.

A Buddy

The best way to cut down on cost and ease the stress of driving many hours each day is to split each in half. A friend that can drive, has money and is fun to have around is a great addition. Plus, how else would you get awesome photos of yourself climbing rocks off the beaten trail in Banff?

My friend flew into Vancouver a day before I arrived. I grabbed the BMW from the dealership and met him in the city. We took a quick walk around and saw some water planes land off Coal Harbour pier, where the 2010 Olympic Caldron monument is located.

We met his friend (who we were staying with) at a pub downtown for a pint and watched the Los Angeles Kings beat the New York Rangers in game six to win the Stanley Cup. That evening we scoured the trails of Stanley Park until it was pitch black and made our way to the base of Lions Gate Bridge. 

It was over the edge of a bank off a park path that I washed my hands in the Pacific Ocean. Unfortunately, both of our phones (or cameras) died before leaving for our walk so there is no photographic evidence of this important experience. We walked back to the city and slept on a couch in our friends’ condo that night. Our drive would start the next day – over 700 km to Golden, BC.

Places To Crash

Another way to cut down on costs is to pre-arrange accommodations with any family or friends you may have living across the country. I have hosted many people in St. John’s and most are willing to return the favour. This can be a huge cost-saver and, more than likely, they will be keen on showing you around city hotspots. We planned to show our gratitude by buying them a couple drinks.

We weren’t lucky enough to stay with family and friends every night of our trip, so we turned to airbnb.com. We booked an entire trailer-home to ourselves in Golden, BC for our first night on the road. In smaller Canadian towns, cheap hotels don’t necessarily give you the same sense of living like a local. We wanted to be able to stop for the night in Golden in a secluded area surrounded by all the beauty the Rocky Mountains had to offer. 

A Fact. Things Can Go Wrong

We began our road trip out of Vancouver in our smooth and swanky BMW. We filled up and drove through Chilliwack, BC on cruise. About 200 km into our drive I felt the transmission act up and the accelerator suddenly stop working. I pulled over on the side of the highway and restarted the car. 

This happened two more times. I threw on the emergency lights and pulled over onto the side of the TCH. The dashboard display flashed a red “X” and the message: “Transmission fail-safe engaged.” I looked to my friend and said, “That can’t be good.” This time, the engine wouldn’t turnover.

We were stuck in a broken-down BMW just 300 km into our 4,500 km road trip. We stayed in the car as washes of mountain rain showered us. I called hittheroad.ca and left a detailed message of our situation. Unfortunately, there is no emergency number or hotline to call when these situations happen.  

Left to our own devices, I decided to call the owner of the vehicle. The owner worked with me to find a mechanic that could look at and service the car. Being a Saturday afternoon, we knew that time was not on our side. We spoke with a mechanic in Kamloops, but they couldn’t make any promises. There just wasn’t a lot of time to properly diagnose the issue before closing. 

I was lucky to have a CAA membership. It took them an hour to get to us but at least the tow was covered. When the tow truck finally came, we had to read through the owner’s manual to find a way to manually release the car’s parking brake and get it into neutral – another hour-long process. Being outside for most of this, I was now soaked. 

We got the car to the Kamloops mechanic before closing but we would have to wait until Monday for them to run a proper diagnostic. However, they did rent us a zippy Honda Fit to get around the town.

When Reality Hits

Our tight schedule was now compromised, as were all the plans we had made, and we still hadn’t heard back from hittheroad.ca. With nothing listed on their website we had no idea what their policy was in these situations. Tired and hungry, we went to grab something to eat and a much-deserved pint of beer. 

After a couple hours, I finally got a call back from hittheroad.ca. Turns out, in the last five years, only two other cars have ever mechanically broken down on their drivers. Unfortunately, we had the third. 

After further discussions we had two unfavourable options: 1. wait for the BMW to be checked Monday morning and hope it could be made road-worthy that day, or, 2. abandon the car in Kamloops and have them try and find us another car to drive. Option 2 could keep us on schedule and erased any worries about driving the BMW further. That said, there were no guarantees that another car would turn up in time.

We were stuck in Kamloops for the night. Not a bad place to be, but not in our plans. We booked a hotel through priceline.com and made the most of it. We went into the local bars, listened to local bands and had some more drinks – probably a couple more than we really needed. My friend made his way back to the hotel. 

I hit my third wind and was now starving. I capped the night off by walking into the Denny’s next to our hotel. A novice overnight cook staff took their time and I had to wait over a half-hour for a simple order of eggs and toast. When it came time to pay, the waitress leaned in and said, “Sorry about the wait, hun. I’ll only charge you for the coffee.” The $2 meal was the best thing to happen to me all day.

Watch RealManTravels.com this week for Part 2 of Mike’s cross-country misadventure. 

Mike is a “mainlander” residing out in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. When he’s not out discovering the island’s terrain and port towns in his Subaru, he’s producing TV and award-winning films: the kind that play in Cannes, France.

www.ciuffini.ca

@mikeciuffini

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Eight Tips for a Killer NHL Playoff Trip

A post by Scott F

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AWESOME

Travel and sports are two things that make life awesome. Therefore, it's good math that combining them will equal even more awesome (love math). As a hockey fan, I consider the NHL playoffs a prime season for travel; this may be because my home team is largely ‘playoff-deficient,’ or because, on the off chance they do make the playoffs, I’d need to sell a useful appendage to afford a ticket. Beyond the game itself, sport-related travel allows you to experience the culture of sport in other hotbeds both in your own country and others. You quickly realize that fandom is not one thing, but specific to city, sport and culture.

Here are a few tips for planning a killer NHL playoff trip:

1. Don’t worry, you’ll find tickets.
Getting tickets is less of a concern than many people think with safe and effective services like StubHub. Planning ahead can be tough, with who will play who when only being sorted out a week or two in advance. Be flexible.

2. Follow the fans.
Make an effort to meet other fans while you’re in the city. They will lead you to the best pre and post game activities (likely with cheaper drinks and food). If all else fails, follow the crowd, at least you know they’re of the same mind as you.

3. Festivities.
Research what is happening in the city related to the playoff game you are seeing. Tailgate parties and other pre-game events are a great way to meet other fans.

4. City before team.
Playoff hockey is usually good hockey. If you are a fan of the game you will enjoy almost any tilt you take in. Figure out what cities you want to visit and sync one with a playoff game.

5. Contain.
Good sports trips can be done in a weekend (or long weekend), but you need to keep your ambitions contained. Don’t try and visit far-off attractions; just enjoy the city and the game. Plan a centrally located hotel to reduce travel time.

6. Make it a road trip.
Chances are you’re doing this trip with your buddies. Some of the best memories I have come from the journey, not just the destination. If you’ve got the time, hit the road.

7. Pre-plan... a little.
If you want to do things that will take time (brewery tours, museums, etc.) plan them ahead, but leave room for spontaneity.

8. Fancy hotel: optional.
If you’re going for a weekend chances are you’re not spending a lot of time on your room. Save your coin for the $10 arena beers.

Here’s a quick synopsis of three recent NHL playoff trips I’ve taken, based on three key components of a good sports trip: the fans, the arena and the city itself:

Detroit

The fans: Detroit is home to some of the most knowledgeable fans I’ve met. We were regaled on team history and politics by two middle aged women who knew more about hockey than we likely ever will.

The arena: Joe Louis Arena (The Joe) is situated right downtown within walking distance of most major hotels and attractions. There are sightline issues in the nosebleeds but they are normally stated when purchasing the ticket.

The city: As detailed in an earlier post, the embattled city of Detroit finds a bright light in their Red Wings. There is plenty to see and do in Detroit, check out the post for details.

Chicago

The fans: Chicago supports seven major league sports teams and has a sports culture equal to its number of teams. In baseball, you’re either a Cubs or White Sox fan, never both. Luckily the whole town comes together in support of the Blackhawks and the love for the storied franchise is palpable. We found this out in a hurry when we walked into the arena wearing Calgary Flames jerseys and were met with the joking back-and-forth ribbing that one would expect, along with some interactions that were far less joking, bordering on violent. Gotta respect passion.

The arena: The United Centre is located in a more industrial part of the city. Transit can be difficult so stick with cabs to-and-from the arena. A loud arena with a great energy and solid layout.

The city: Chicago is a beautiful, modern, high-end feeling city. While in town, don’t miss Navy Pier on the shores of Lake Michigan full of vendors and restaurants. You’ll also want to see Wrigley Field and check out a Cubs game while you’re there (or U.S. Cellular Field for a White Sox match, if you swing that way).

Boston

The fans: Boston is another sport-crazed city and home to some very no-nonsense hockey fans. Two guys from Rhode Island sitting next to us got so frustrated at the Bruins play during the game we attended that one of them got up and left, while the other gave an educated breakdown of all the ways his beloved and actually quite exceptional team clearly sucked. Great conversation.

The arena: TD Garden is an great venue for sports events. Easy to access by cab or transit and surrounded by attractions, bars (perfect for partying after the game) and restaurants.

The city: Take the time to explore Boston (on foot, if possible). The city’s many neighbourhoods are incredibly unique. A walk across Boylston Street will take you through high-end Copley Square, past the ivy-covered building of Berklee College of Music all the way to the boisterous neighbourhood that surrounds Fenway Park. Don’t miss the history in the city’s college districts including MIT and Harvard which also provide some solid nightlife. Check out Samuel Adams Brewery for a great tour and tasting while you’re there.

It’s playoff time. Grow that beard, sharpen your blades and book a trip.

Real men love sports, check out these posts about our other sports adventures:

Real Man Travels University: Minnesota Golden Gophers
50 Year-Old (NASCAR) Virgin
Monday Night Bachelor Party '04 - Green Bay
Minnesota Vikings Won My Heart 2010
Green Bay vs. Philadelphia November 2003
The Return to Detroit- On Stranger Tides
Our First WIN!

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Packing for a Vacation: Carry-On Suitcase Only

Everyone deserves a vacation; we all work hard and need some time to relax and unwind. But with a vacation comes a bit of planning and understanding your own personal needs to pack efficiently and properly.

Two questions that I receive frequently when or after vacationing are:

1. Why do you pack with only a carry on suitcase?
2. How do you get everything into just your carry on?

The answers are quite simple.

1. I travel with carry on only because of the freedom. I have all belongings with me at all times. I do not wait for baggage claim or worry that my suitcase may be left behind or get damaged. 
2. When I first started travelling I severely over-packed for the melodramatic "what ifs" scenarios that I would devise in my head. I quickly learned those scenarios do not present themselves as easily as I thought they would. So with time I got smarter and realized I needed less and less and began to pack accordingly. I also bring a laptop bag along with me to house my important documents and to keep my electronics safe.

So with those questions answered I would like to share how I pack for a vacation in just a carry on suitcase. The trip I will be demonstrating today is the typical 7 day all inclusive trip to a tropical destination.

Everything I would need for an all inclusive trip.

Pictured above:

• Carry on suitcase
• 3 Pairs of shorts
• 2 swim trunks
• 7 pairs of underwear
• 4 pairs of socks
• 7 T-shirts
• 1 pair of dress pants
• 3 button up shirts
• 1 pair of dress shoes (I wear these on flight days)
• 1 pair of sandals
• 1 toiletries bag (items inside will vary person to person)

Not pictured that I wear on travel day:

• 1 pair of jeans
• 1 rain coat
• 1 t-shirt
• 1 pair of under wear
• 1 pair of socks
• 1 sweater
• A baseball hat
• Sunglasses
• Headphones

Stuff socks and underwear into your shoes to save space. I personally wear mine on flight days so I will not be using this technique below. 

If you do not wear your dress shoes start with them (stuffed with socks and underwear) at the bottom.

I start with my toiletries bag at the bottom standing vertically.
**TIP** Make sure all items in the bag conform to airport requirements before leaving home! 

Next I add the 3 pairs of shorts and 2 swim trunks to the right of the toiletries bag on the bottom of the suitcase.

Next up are the 7 T shirts in the top left corner of the suitcase.

Follow that up with the 7 pairs of underwear in the top right corner.

Then I lay my 4 pairs of socks on top of the toiletries bag

Then I will lay the 3 dress shirts over everything evenly.

Then I lay my dress pants over the shirts (leg openings touch the waist band). There is still room for more items if you pack this way.
For example: An extra pair of pants or dress shirt, some tank tops or t shirts. Just be careful of the weight restrictions airports have.

I then tuck my sandals into the front pocket of the suitcase. There is also room for any accessories you may need, like a belt. 

Voila! Fully packed and ready to lay on a beach for a week!

So I hope this may have helped anyone who was looking to exchange their monster sized suitcase and slim down to just a carry on suitcase. 

If you have any helpful packing techniques please let me know by either commenting below or tweeting me @EdRealManTravel.

Also be sure to check out our Facebook page and click the like button for tips and tricks that you won't find on the blog.

Happy travels!

-Ed

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