Educational Media Reviews Online

For an adult tourist, there is no shortage of print and online resources for planning nearly any kind travel to almost any part of the globe. This profusion of information is not the case, however, for adults traveling with young children where building an enjoyable and memorable trip involves a different set of priorities. Far from home, identifying kid-friendly lodging, restaurants and events before leaving town can be the difference between a successful vacation and a complete disaster. The Travel with Kids series and website was developed to help families plan and realize a great visit to a foreign country. Americans Carrie and Jeremy Simmons have been doing this very thing with their two young sons, Seamus and Nathan, for the past eight years.

In this two-part installment of the popular series, the likeable Simmons family visit Baja and Cabo San Lucas. During their stay, the boys go scuba diving and horseback riding, swim with dolphins, take a hike through the desert with a naturalist, ride a zip line and dune-buggy, shop for souvenirs in a local market, and touch a gray whale in Scammon’s Lagoon. Nicely photographed by dad and narrated by mom, the 30-minute episodes include pop-up graphics with good descriptions of different tours, recreational and educational activities and commercial resources in the area. Supplementary text-based features consist of suggestions for bringing Baja home with crafts and foods as well as an extensive section on planning the trip including basic information on getting around, a sample itinerary, places to stay, things to do, packing tips, traveling with a baby and additional resources. Parents who can afford this type of vacation travel will enjoy a brief and informative introduction to the area as will the children who make the trip. Recommended for public libraries with travel collections.