Long gone are the days of pick-up-and-go travel, when my belongings fit perfectly into a overnight tote, when the books or magazines in that tote would actually get read. Now, of course, it's entertainment for my toddler that swallows up the space in my carryon—after all, baby's airborne happiness translates into a headache-free journey for me, right? Meet the 10 things that have successfully kept my daughter busy on cross-country flights. They're small and lightweight, so you can pack a lot of them without feeling (and looking) like a mule.

1. Travel-Size Doodle Pro: My daughter loves this thing. Kind of like an Etch-A-Sketch, only it has a stylus to draw with.

2. Animal Toobs: Tubes filled with sets of safari-animal and sea-life figurines.

3. Colorwonder: Mess-free markers by Crayola (color shows up only on Colorwonder paper, clear on everything else.)

4. Colorforms: Remember these from when you were little? Kids still love them. Reusable vinyl geometric shapes that you can stick and restick to any shiny surface—like windows and tray tables.

5. Felt or magnetic boards: There are a ton out there to choose from. We like the Eric Carle Very Hungry Caterpillar magnetic board.

6. Travel-size soft-cover books: Again, there are lots to choose from. We're fans of Lauren Child's Charlie and Lola series.

7. iPhone: I love my iPhone, but, truthfully, my daughter loves it more. I loaded it with a few applications for her, along with kid-friendly movies and podcasts rather than lugging a DVD player with me. Check out apps like Wheels on the Bus and Old MacDonald, and podcasts like Sesame Street.

(OK, here's where the list strays a little. We all know that if you give a toddler a gift, they're likely to spend twice as much time playing with the wrapping paper it came in. That said, some of the things that have engaged my daughter the most on the road are nontoy items from around the house.)

8. Post-it notes: My daughter has spent hours filling them up with drawings, handing them out, and sticking them all over the place.

9. Pipe cleaners: These can be twisted into endless shapes--try making little animals or something wearable. (I promise that turning them into sunglasses will leave you all looking ridiculous but laughing.)

10. Blue painter's tape: We actually haven't tried this one yet, but came across the idea on Delicious Baby.  It can be stuck on anything and removed quickly, and can even be used to outline games like hop scotch on the floor. (If your kid is really acting up and all else fails, you can fashion a straightjacket out of it.)

Visit See Jane Fly for more tips on traveling with kids and additional posts by Kena Frank.

Yolanda Edwards | Travel & Lifestyle Editor

1. Even if I am booking with a travel agent (which I have to do when I am on a work trip), I always look at the flight options online. I like to know what airlines have the nonstop options, what their flight times are, and what kind of aircraft they are using.  That way, if I do that research before I get on the phone with the agent, I already know what is out there, and I don't just take what they offer. No one is going to care as much as you do!

2. Book your flights for the morning to mid-day. Don't leave in the afternoon. If you look at airlines on-time performance numbers, most of the time, their afternoon to evening flights are late. It's better to get up early than to sit for hours on the tarmac.

3. Check out the equipment you are flying before you commit to the ticket. I always prefer to fly on a bigger plane (757) rather than on the smaller ones, because chances are better that it won't be packed. Sometimes I check the seating assignments and see how booked up the flight is, and compare it to a different time, and take the less busy flight.

4. Fly with carriers that your friends love. Don't fly with an airline just because you have mileage with them, unless you have enough status that you get to cut the lines and upgrade easily. I have plenty of friends who fly across country on an airline they don't love, because they want to accrue mileage -- and they are miserable on board, and end up never using the free ticket, because it's never available.

5. Check out if they serve any meals (Continental still serves a hot meal for free), and how much it costs.  So many airlines are charging upwards of $6 for a snack, and you might want to plan ahead and pack your own.

We love this great airplane image from Flickr user The Shane H.

Erin Renzas | Web Editorial Assistant

Okay, I'll admit it. I am a breakfast addict--I'd eat it every meal if I could. In the past year or so I've converted my 4-year-old cousin Olivia to a breakfast aficionado as well. Now whenever I visit my family out in San Diego, I get to take Olivia to a special one-on-one morning meal. We have more than a couple of favorites, but here are a few of our go-tos.

1. Grand Central Café
Our grandfather was a big train guy, so we like to head here in his honor. This little diner is located just across the street from San Diego's main train station and offers classic breakfast fare. There's nothing too fancy about it, but they have fluffy pancakes, decent coffee, pocket-friendly prices and no one seems to mind a kid or two.

2. Pannikin Tea & Coffee
If Olivia and I are looking for a lighter morning meal, we head to this Encinitas café (pictured). Set in an old, lemon-yellow house, Pannikin draws lots of bicyclists and puppies (a big plus for Olivia). I'll grab a slice of quiche and a frothy café au lait, while Olivia opts for a creamy hot chocolate and muffin. Then we'll take a spot on the big porch or sunny lawn.

3. The Cottage 
This downtown La Jolla joint is one of the fancier joints we frequent. It's a San Diego favorite, so weekend lines can definitely get a bit out of control, but if you get there early (they open at 7:30 am), you won't have a problem. Portions aren't so kid-sized, but we'll share a helping of their incredible Stuffed French Toast, oozing with sugared strawberries and mascarpone cheese and a side order of Applewood smoked bacon. Oh, and did I mention the oceanfront view?

4.  Big Kitchen Café
Olivia digs the sunny-yet-jungle-y feel of the back patio area, and I am a fan of their super-friendly staff. Admittedly, this place is a bit of a greasy spoon, but in the delicious way. The huevos rancheros are a San Diego staple and Olivia (who I have now determined to have quite the sweet tooth) loves the blueberry pancakes.

5. The Mission Coffee Cup
Another La Jolla spot, this cute, quaint spot has delicious, organic options. Like The Cottage (which is just down the street), weekends can bring crowds, but opt for a weekday or earlier meal time and you'll be fine. Blackberry-and-banana pancakes are a must and, if you can't live without San Diego's local avocados, the Avocado Scramble is delicious!

Erin Renzas | Web Editorial Assistant

As a Southern California native, my childhood memories of the holiday season rarely reflect the classic notion of "Christmas Time." Christmas mornings in my family consist of brunch on the patio followed by a walk on the beach, but the thing that always signals the coming of the holiday is an evening spent at a local holiday boat parade. So, grab the kids, fix a Thermos of hot chocolate and check out one of these top boat parades.

1. Newport Harbor Christmas Boat Parade
    December 17 - 21
    Boats launch at 6:30 pm from Bay Island and circle the harbor. Add to the Christmas fun by taking a drive on Balboa Island to see all the beautiful beach homes decked out in their holiday splendor. Get to the parade early to see the firework show from the Balboa Pier.

2. Dana Point Harbor Boat Parade of Lights
    December 14 - 15
    Get to the harbor early and pick up one of the incredible chocolates at the Chocolate Solider before settling in to watch the parade. Boats launch at 7:30 pm.

3. Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade
    December 13
    Fireworks start at 5:55 pm and the boats follow at 6 pm. You can watch from Burton Chace Park, where you'll hear the music and live commentary. I say avoid the crowds and settle into one of the restaurants or along the channel at the nearby Fisherman's Village and ask for a view of the parade. El Torito is one of the local chain restaurants (there is also one at Dana Point and Newport Harbor). It offers good Mexican food in a child-appropriate setting. Plus, it's cheap.

4. King Harbor Boat Parade, Redondo Beach
    December 13
    Boat-loving kids will love taking a walk around the expansive marina, and the seafaring vessels never disappoint. Boats launch at 5:30 pm.

5. Long Beach Parade of 1000 Lights
    December 13
    Long Beach's Shoreline Village offers plenty for the family to do before the boat launch at 7 pm. There's a carousel, shops, and restaurants. Plus, just up the road is Long Beach's famed aquarium. 

by Esther of Babyccino

1. Petit Bateau reversible striped outfits. They are super cute, extremely cozy, work great as pajamas but are perfect for daywear as well. My babies travel in nothing else! (For babies 0-2.)

2. Phil&Teds MeToo Chair. This little chair will hang on nearly every table, is super light (less than 1 kilo/2 lbs), is flat (2.5 cm /1 inch when folded), and can be used from 6 months to 3 years (or about 18 kg). Comes with a harness and is easy to clean. It looks really, really good too. A must have in my opinion! (No, I don't have shares in the company!)

3. 'Restaurant Bag'. A little fabric bag with a zipper that holds a handful of small toys (animals, cars, crayons, mini books, finger puppets etc). My children only get to play with this bag when we are travelling or when we're sitting in a restaurant (hence the name). Works wonders.

4. Samsonite Pop-Up Baby Beds. These travel beds are fantastic, as they will fit in any suitcase and are super light and easy to assemble. They are really cozy too! I also like that they have a built-in mosquito net.

5. Sigikid musical frog. I always bring my children's musical toys wherever we go. They have had them since they were born, and the familiar melody always makes them feel more at home in their new surroundings.

Elizabeth Connolly | Cookie Travel Intern

Here at Going Places, we can't get enough of Halloween. Since a night of neighborhood trick-or-treating just isn't enough to satisfy our desire for all things spooky, we found some great Halloween-themed events for this weekend.  So, pick one of these destinations, hop in the car, and gear up the family for a haunted weekend getaway.

1. Haunted Happenings (Salem, Massachusetts): In this most bewitching of towns, take part in a "Witch Trial Trail," by hearing the story and witness the sites of the 1692 witch trials or just enjoy the costume ball and the live music. Going on now through November 2.

2. Country Mercantile Maze & Harvest Fun (Pasco, Washington): Come and celebrate the holiday with a straw bale maze, petting zoo, pumpkin patch, and hay rides. October 31, 9 am to dusk.

3. Boo at the Zoo (Sacramento, California): Dress up the kids in their costumes and bring them to the Sacramento Zoo for trick-or-treating, live entertainment, and spooky crafts. October 31, from 4:30 pm to 8 pm.

4. Art After 5: Halloween Night at the Museum (Philadelphia): The Philadelphia Art Museum is hosting after hours Halloween-themed fun evening out. Bring your little ones (12 and under get in free) for a night of ghost stories, tarot card readings, spooky art tours and a costume contest. October 31 at 5 pm.

5. The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze at Van Cortlandt Manor (Lahaska, Pennsylvania)- Head to the historic Hudson Valley and visit the Van Cortlandt Manor to partake in the lighting of 4,000 hand-carved jack o'lanterns. Check out the dinosaurs, snakes, ghosts, fish, and flowers all made out of pumpkins, October 31, 6:30pm.

Colleen Egan | Associate Web Editor

Politically speaking, D.C. isn't a particularly sweet place. However, this city is serious about its baked goods. As a former Washingtonian, I've spent years conducting field research to find the District's best cookies, brownies, cupcakes, and other sweets. Picking just one is like asking a parent to pick a favorite child (they're all special in their own way!), but I've narrowed it down to my five go-to spots:

1. Baked & Wired: With treats like Soccer Mom Bars and Butter Big Ass cookies, this Georgetown bakery and coffee shop infuses its sweet treats with a little sass. Pick up a few Bee Sting Bars and a cup of joe on your way to a walk along the C&O Canal.

2. Furin's: This Washington institution has been baking cakes for more than 40 years (mmm...Black Forest), but the delicious -- and timely -- sugar cookies, like the new Obama and McCain editions, are equally addicting.

3. Hello Cupcake: A new addition to the District, this Dupont Circle cupcake destination has already won a cult following with creations like Vanilla Gorilla (banana cake and vanilla cream cheese frosting) and De Lime in De Coconut (lime cake with coconut cream cheese frosting), plus several vegan and gluten-free selections.

4. Firehook: There might be 11 outposts of this bakery and cafe in the D.C. area, but I'm partial to the Cleveland Park location (just a few blocks from the zoo!), where I can grab an iced coffee and peanut butter cookie and kick back with the Sunday Post in the huge, oasis-like backyard patio.

5. Georgetown Cupcake: The District has reached a state of cupcake mania. In fact, while strolling down M Street with a carrot cupcake in hand, a woman approached me and asked, rather wild-eyed, "Is that from Georgetown Cupcake?!" Billed as the District's "first and only cupcakery," this frosting mecca lives up to the hype.

We found this delicious photo of Baked & Wired cupcakes from Rachel from Cupcakes Take the Cake on Flickr.

Jenny Rosenstrach | Cookie Features Director

1. Great Falls State Park: This park is on both sides of Potomac in Virigina and Maryland and has really nice walking paths for all level hikers.

2. C&O Canal: Park and walk a little stretch or you can bike for miles right on the canal. Rental bikes are available.

3. Arlington Cemetery: Sounds macabre and not kid friendly, but it's beautiful. It's one of the prettiest parks you'll find in D.C. and it has tons of history. Older kids will be fascinated by the Tomb of the Unknowns.

4. Restaurant Eve: Chef Cathal Armstrong's kid-friendly restaurant in Alexandria is such a favorite that we wrote about it in Father of Invention last year.

5. Frederick Key: Catch one of this minor league team's games about an hour outside of the District in Frederick, Maryland.

Find more ideas and activities in our D.C. city guide.

Melissa Biggs Bradley | Founder of Indagare.com

1. Boston Duck Tours
Don't let the tourist trap vibe frighten you. Even locals jump at the chance to take visiting friends on one of the city's famed Duck Tours. The 80-minute ride on converted WWII-era amphibious landing vehicles includes a drive-by of the city's neighborhoods and landmarks plus a cruise in the Charles River. Although the animated guides border on corny, they are exceedingly well informed and never lose the interest of thier passengers, both young and old.

2. Memorial Drive
Through mid-November, Cambridge families get their Sunday exercise jogging, biking, and skating along the banks of the Charles when the city turns busy Memorial Drive into a pedestrian thoroughfare. Closed between Western Avenue and Mount Auburn Street (the section closest to the Harvard campus), the area offers a perfect place to enjoy the crisp fall air and burn off youthful energy. Rent children's and adults' bikes from Cambridge Bicycle then finish your athletic outing with a picnic of sandwiches and bakery goods from Harvard Square's best gourmet deli, Darwin's.

3. Walden Pond
While your kids may not be ready to read Thoreau, they'll love exploring his retreat near historic Concord. The 462-acre Walden Pond State Reservation includes a web of hiking trails that circle the lake (swimmable in warmer weather) and a replica of the philosopher's one-room cabin - a simply furnished structure that will positively shock your children with its lack of indoor plumbing and cable TV. While the area is particularly stunning during the peak of fall foliage, it's also a great place to strap on snowshoes or cross-country skis when snowy weather turns the park into a winter wonderland. Guided walks are available year-round.

4. Fenway Park
A highlight for baseball fans of all ages is a visit to the sport's most fabled stadium, Fenway Park. Although there's no bad time for a trip, the most exciting season occurs in the fall as the Red Sox fight their way towards the playoffs. If kids can't sit through an entire game, take a tour of the ballpark or grab a seat by the windows of the newly opened Bleacher Bar and enjoy its views of the outfield.

5. Frog Pond at Boston Common
When skating season kicks off on November 19, the Frog Pond in Boston Common becomes one of the city's top outlets for active kids. Great as an afternoon activity, the rink remains open in the evenings and feels especially magical around the holidays when it is ringed by lit trees. Defrost afterwards with hot chocolate at the Four Seasons' Bristol Lounge.

Courtney Adamo | Babyccino

(Adamo is a mom blogger living in London)

No matter what time of year you're traveling to London, the bad news is that you're almost certain to encounter some rain.  The good news is that there are plenty of indoor activities and kid-friendly restaurants to visit.  Also, the rain doesn't slow down the Londoners -- they'll just be clad with 'wellies' and 'brollies' (rain boots and umbrellas).  So get going!

1. London Transport Museum:  This little museum in the heart of Covent Garden gives a detailed history of London's public transportation.  On display is an original steam locomotive from the 1800s, horse-drawn trams, London's first motor bus, and an electric trolley bus from the 1930s. They have a variety of hands-on exhibits for kids and allow children to climb aboard the vehicles and even sit in the drivers' seats! 

2. Tea at The Orangery Restaurant in Kensington Gardens: Located in the center of the park, directly across from Kensington Palace. They have a kid's menu, plenty of highchairs, and will create a kids' version of afternoon tea to make your kids feel welcome and comfortable. If the rain has let up after you're finished, you can let your kids play at the adjacent Princess Diana Memorial Playground, known to Londoners as the 'pirate ship' and always a huge hit with kids.

3. The Natural History Museum:  This is one of my favorite museums in London, especially for kids. The giant life-sized model of a blue whale and other sea creatures is definitely a hit with kids, as well as the dinosaur exhibit and roaring animatronic T-rex! 

4.) Harrods Toy Department: At London's famous and fancy department store, be sure to check out the food hall on the ground floor -- food halls in department stores are unique to London, and this one is very impressive.  Then, take your kids to the fourth floor, where you'll find an expansive toy department.  There's also a kiddie restaurant called Planet Harrods, a pet kingdom, and a breastfeeding and baby care room on the same level. You can get your kids' hair cut here, and you can also visit Santa at Christmas time. This may sound like a cheesy tourist activity, but I promise that local mums do it all the time!

5. St. Paul's Cathedral: This is an activity for older kids. Check out the main floor of the cathedral, and check out the great monuments and statues.  Then climb up 259 steps to the whispering gallery, where a whisper to the wall on one side can be heard on the other. Then climb up 119 more steps to reach the Stone Gallery, encircling the outside of the dome and offering a great view over London. The most impressive view however is from the Golden Gallery, 152 steps more -- ouch!  But it's worth it.

When you've made it down, you can visit the crypt, where amongst others Admiral Horatio Nelson, the Duke of Wellington and the great architect of this church, Sir Christopher Wren, are buried. So you can teach your children a thing or two about British history! The restaurant is also located in the crypt. If it's still raining you can have lunch or tea here, but if the sun finally comes out (it does happen in England!), I suggest bringing your food outside for a picnic in the gardens.