PeaceHealth wants you to have a safe and enjoyable travel season this year. Photo courtesy: PeaceHealth

The travel season is upon us, with spring break next week and summer just on the horizon. Even if your days of solo jaunts are behind you, all it takes to enjoy the ride with children is the right amount of research and planning.

Dr. Manny Eusebio, a pediatrician for PeaceHealth, feels passionate about the benefits of traveling with children. “I‘ve always thought that travel is such a great way to augment education, well-roundedness and global citizenship for kids,” he says. “I love this topic.”

Dr. Manny Eusebio is a pediatrician at PeaceHealth. Photo credit: Mark Turner

Traveling with children isn’t always easy; it takes planning, and there are a lot of variables depending on your mode of travel, the country you visit, and the age of your children.

But the payoff is rewarding. Children will remember family vacations for the rest of their lives no matter where you decide to go. A family road trip through Europe or, aA camping trip an hour away to Mount Baker can be a transformative experience.

Pediatricians can offer specific tips depending on your travel choices. “If there’s any question, come see your pediatrician or your family practice doctor,” says Dr. Eusebio. “Pediatricians love to talk about travel, and your child’s doctor is one of the best resources for trying to understand what they might face.”

Depending on the country or region you’re visiting there could be potential health risks. Preventative strategies or vaccines will protect your family against outbreaks occurring in these areas.

Traveling with children can be a joy, with the proper planning. Photo courtesy: PeaceHealth

“Right now, people who are going to Clark County should strongly consider completing their measles vaccine series,” Dr. Eusebio says.

If it’s flu season, families should get their flu shots. You’ll be exposed to thousands of people during travel, whether it’s on a cruise, in an airport, or in crowded spaces like Disney World.

On a flight, cabin pressure can change dramatically during ascent and decent. Children should swallow to allow their ears to pop to prevent ear pain. “Suck on a pacifier or grab a water bottle and stay hydrated,” says Dr. Eusebio.

“If you’re going international or to a different time zone, try to adapt [children’s] sleep schedules two to three days beforehand,” he says. “Preparation is very important.”

Begin a child’s bedtime routine an hour earlier or later each night until they acclimate to the new time zone. When it comes to sleep, it’s ideal to maintain routine as much as possible.

Create family memories with a road trip. Photo courtesy: PeaceHealth

Bring a favorite stuffed animal or anything that brings your child comfort. “A blanket or a portable toy, just one small thing that gives them a sense that this new isn’t entirely foreign to them,” says Dr. Eusebio.

If you’re using taxis or a rideshare like Uber, make sure to tell the company ahead of time that you have a child. Bring your car seat with you and strap it into the vehicle before you leave. Rental car agencies in the airport have car seats available to rent, and airlines will let you check them.

When booking a hotel, make sure the one you choose is quiet and child-friendly, not above a bar or dance club. The Expedia App, explains what to expect from various hotels and provides information on childcare options and play areas on site.

The Expedia app even holds on to your travel plans if you’re without wi-fi.

Renting adjoining rooms or a small suite allows for privacy. “Sometimes you just need to spend a little more so your kids also can have their space and decompress,” says Dr. Eusebio.

PeaceHealth wants you to have a safe and enjoyable travel season this year. Photo courtesy: PeaceHealth

Adjoining spaces also come in handy during nap times, allowing more freedom for the family and quality sleep for young children.

“If you’re in a foreign country, make sure your water sources are reliable,” Dr. Eusebio says. “If you’re going to Mexico or further south, you want to drink bottled water. If anything is in question, buy bottled water or make sure it’s boiled.”

He stresses that staying hydrated is the most important thing while traveling.

Trying local food is half the fun when you’re in a new environment, but if your child always asks for macaroni and cheese for lunch, bring a microwavable pack that you can prepare at your hotel. That way, you know that you’ll have at least one meal you can count on them eating.

“Packs of oatmeal are great for kids,” says Dr. Eusebio. If all else fails, kids love oatmeal; it’s hardy, small enough to throw in a bag, and will carry them through until the next meal.

Bring small travel snack; little graham crackers, goldfish and apples travel well. Food is also a great way of distracting children during long flights and drives.

If you’re traveling internationally, check the Centers for Disease Control website for current health risks and outbreaks in any country around the world. The American Academy of Pediatrics is an excellent resource for preventative medicine and Hoagland Pharmacy (on Yew Street) has access to travel vaccines. Nurse Ruth administers them and gives suggestions for travel. And PeaceHealth is always willing to answer any questions that might arise before or during your trip.

Mindport is located on Holly Street in downtown Bellingham. Photo courtesy: Mindport

Tucked away in plain sight on Holly Street is an unusual Bellingham treasure. Mindport is a museum so unique that even its director Kevin Jones is at a loss to explain what it is. “I used to try to periodically sit there and write an essay. What is Mindport? I’ve finally given up. I have less and less static ideas about it. It’s inexplicable,” he says.

The explicable thing is that it’s extraordinary.

Exhibits are made by hand with amazing care and workmanship. The woodworking alone is worth coming to see.

Art, science, and math come here to talk, minds meet, and everyone takes away something different from this place.

A porthole gives viewers a look into the workshop of exhibit creators. Photo credit: Jessica Hamilton

The interworking beauty and complex pieces on display make you feel like you’ve crawled into a dream. Exhibit artists appear to have a different grasp of reality, creating beautiful pieces that seamlessly blend all three concepts while often adding musical elements.

“It’s the art of making things, and the things you make are art,” says Jones. He appears to spend his spare time thinking and gives the impression that you could talk to him for hours about anything.

One display is known as a marble pump. Patrons turn a wheel and a series of blocks go up and down like stairs. Marbles raise and climb one by one until they roll downwards. “I had a man from Western come here who spent 45 minutes trying to figure out the engineering of it,” says Suzanne Goodell, publicity and outreach coordinator for Mindport. “It looks pretty simple, but when you start taking into account all the different angles and movements, it’s really complex.”

This machine turns music into colored rainbow lights that dance and spin with the beat. Photo credit: Jessica Hamilton

The museum is created to be enjoyed by all ages, and everyone will walk away with a different idea of what the exhibits are about. “Our intention is for visitors to be adults, kids, any age, from 5 to 90 or older,” says Jones.

“We get a lot of families that come in. Some parents say, ‘Next time, I’m leaving the kids at home,’” says Goodell. It’s also an interesting first date spot for WWU students. Exploring the Mindport exhibits offer a great way of getting to know each other in an unconventional way.

“The intent is to create a contemplative space for people to come explore,” she says. “They’re for the visitor to behold and take away what they will.” The exhibits aren’t directed and there are no instructions telling you what to look for.

A hand-made musical harp-type instrument can be turned in several directions with the crank of a wheel. Photo credit: Jessica Hamilton

Mindport has been in business since 1995. The idea began when Jones and two friends living on Lummi Island found they had common interests in science and art. They were all artists and loved to develop exhibits showcasing the intersection of the two.

Then they crossed paths with an anonymous donor who became a close friend. The donor funded their ideas and helped them start the museum. To this day, they’re still funded by a small group of anonymous donors who keep the museum running and keep door prices low enough for most people to afford.

Jones has a hard time explaining his techniques; for him, it’s just the way his mind works. “It’s not so much a conscious process. The two [art and science] are so blended in my mind that I just do what I do. It’s really hard to describe. People ask me where I get my ideas, but I don’t have good answers for any of these things,” says Jones.

This intricate system of pulleys and wooden dials pays homage to original artwork created by cement workers on Holly Street. Photo credit: Jessica Hamilton

“Art is about emotion and science is about the intellect,” he says. “My mother was an artist and my father was a scientist. I’ve been trying to integrate the two all my life. I think they’re both necessary for a complete view of the world.”

On a recent day, a school group came through the museum for a field trip. “One boy put his face right up against the moray [eel],” says Goodell. “He was sort of dazed and said, ‘How do you guys do this? This is so cool!’ For me, that’s a lovely statement for why this place works.”

“Part of it is critical thinking without really realizing that you’re thinking,” she continues. “It’s all experimentation, and getting your brain to wrap around it.”

It may be difficult to define, but there’s no doubt that Mindport is beloved by many. Photo courtesy: Mindport

“I remember what it feels like to be nine years old,” says Jones. and this might just explain Mindport, after all. Jones has the intelligence of an engineer, the playfulness and eye of an artist, and the skills of a woodworker. All of these characteristics combine with the whimsey of a nine-year-old. He has an incredibly interesting mind, and Mindport is a tiny porthole into it.

Don’t let this city treasure pass you by. Housed in an unassuming tan building with a white sign above, new exhibits pop up unexpectedly. Three dollars will get you in the door, and it’s well worth it for the conversations sparked after your visit.

Mindport 210 West Holly Street in Bellingham