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La Jolla Mom
5 REASONS TO TRAVEL WITH A SCOOTER FOR YOUR KIDS
These days, kids who are too big for strollers and aren’t keen or able to walk long distances have a fun solution that happens to work brilliantly on family vacations and during outings in your home town.
To give you a little background, I investigated buying my then 6-year-old daughter a scooter to travel with because I was worried about her tolerance for walking long distances during our trip to China. I abandoned the idea because I’d never heard of anyone bringing a scooter on holiday. Sure enough, while walking from one end of Tiananmen Square to the other (it’s massive), she got tired and had a mini meltdown. If she had a scooter, I’m sure we could have toured for longer.
Recently, Micro Kickboard sent over their Micro Maxi kick scooter (appropriate for kids ages 5-12) for her to try. With the push of a button, it easily disassembles flat into a size suitable for packing in a suitcase (really). Slip it into the back of the car for road trips to far flung places or even jaunts within your home town… in our case, to the beach.
With this new-found appreciation for high-quality, lightweight scooters and confidence that I can actually travel with it, I’m here to tell you that you can and should consider bringing a one for your kids on your next family vacation. This is why.
1. TRAVEL SCOOTERS CUT DOWN THE AMOUNT OF WALKING
For families embarking on urban holidays that may involve a lot of walking in between sights, the Maxi Micro scooter is an ideal solution for keeping the kids happy.
But you might be surprised by how many places around the world a scooter can come in handy. I wish I would have had one during our family vacation to Kaanapali, Maui. Walks to Whaler’s Village aren’t far for adults, but 10 minutes to dinner when hungry can feel like an eternity to young kids.
Also, boardwalks are ideal for scootering. I’m able to give the dog nice long walks along the beaches here in San Diego without my daughter complaining one bit. It’s win-win for all. This scooter delivers one of the smoothest and quietest ride available thanks to high quality polyurethane wheels and a flexible fiberglass reinforced deck, which together absorb bumps in the sidewalk.
Kids in our neighborhood also ride their Micro Maxi scooters to school.
2. INSTANT FUN ON THE FLY
Bored at a hotel? Have extra energy at Grandma’s? Bust out the scooter and let the kids whiz around. If disassembled for travel, it’s easy for kids to reassemble the Micro Maxi in a few seconds, put on a helmet and go.
3. KIDS DON’T NEED A TON OF SPACE TO ENJOY THEM
The Micro Maxi is very easy for my daughter to ride in curving manner, which makes it exponentially more fun than her prior scooter. She happily circles around small spaces with no problem, using her body weight and handlebars to lean into turns… much like a skateboard. In fact, there are two interchangeable handlebar styles. She has the traditional T-Bar style, but the Joystick handlebar provides even more curving and carving action.
When I’m walking the dog, she’ll often scooter away from us and then back again throughout our walk because we’re moving at a slower pace than she is. She loves it.
4. THEY MAKE SCOOTERS FOR YOU, TOO
What? Yes, parents can get in on the fun with scooters made especially for adults and teens like the Micro Classic scooter (pictured folded below). It’s so smooth and easy to ride that I’m not going to lie… my daughter rides it all of the time when I’m not looking. This style of scooter collapses with the push of a button and while it isn’t for your suitcase, slipping it into the car for a road trip or beach day is super easy.
Scootering together as family is a hoot, trust me. Also, Micro Kickboard has scooters in a variety of options for all ages, including kids under the age of 5.
5. TRAVEL SCOOTERS ARE SMALLER THAN YOU THINK
My daughter’s Micro Maxi easily disassembles small enough to fit into my handbag, including the helmet. Though it’s a touch bulky (which I really don’t mind), it’s lighter than some of the camera gear I carry. I wrap the bottom—or the entire thing depending on what I have around the house—in a plastic bag before slipping it in.
At just 5.5 lbs., the Micro Maxi is an easy add to checked luggage, too.
Tips for Using a Travel Scooter
Before taking a scooter out on the town, it’s important to know where they are permitted and where they aren’t. Also, helmets are a must. In fact, the state of California requires anyone under the age of 18 to wear a helmet when riding a non-motorized scooter like a Micro Maxi (as well as a when riding a skateboard, riding a bicycle, wearing in-line skates and wearing roller skates). Also, use judgement. In big urban centers with lots of crowds, kids on scooters might be a hazard to themselves and other people.
GIVEAWAY: WIN 1 OF 5 MICRO MAXI KICK SCOOTERS!
You heard that right. I’m giving away FIVE Micro Maxi scooters (valued at $129.99 each). All you need to do is share in a comment (use the giveaway widget below to record your entry) where you would take the scooter on a family vacation or around your home town. Then, take advantage of the easy bonus entires that can increase your chances of winning.
If you are lucky enough to win, you’ll be able to choose a preferred scooter color. Have a look to make sure the scooter is suitable for the child in your life and to see which color he or she may prefer.
This giveaway ends on April 29, 2015 at 9:00 p.m. PT. Full terms and conditions are in the widget but you must be age 18 or older and a resident of the United States. No purchase necessary and void where prohibited.
Good luck!
