travel gear Archives | Cool Mom Picks

Step away from the Hydroflask! We found the best water bottles and they’re not $50 a pop either.

When my daughter needed a new water bottle for school two years ago — or 20 years ago in pandemic time — she had mentioned something about a Hydroflask. So I looked and…holy sticker shock. 50 bucks for a 32-oz bottle with a straw lid! I’m all...

The absolute best wagon for families, from infant to big kid. And I’ve tried a lot of them.

by Kate Etue | Baby

I currently have…oh, probably 5 wagons in my garage. It’s overkill, for sure. I have the awkward and bulky molded plastic wagons that don’t fit easily in your car (sorry, sentimental Radio Flyer). I have the fold-down fabric wagons from the athletic...

Ireland with kids: Great tips and secret spots from our 4-day adventure on the Wild Atlantic Way

by Kristen Chase | Family Travel

This past summer, we spent four days of our British family vacation in Ireland. Because our trip was centered around a trip to London, we still wanted to experience all the green beauty and nature of Ireland that we could in a few days. So instead of heading to...

15 things to pack for your next trip to Disney World that make the difference between enjoyment and survival.

by Kate Etue | Family Travel, Tips + Tricks

My family recently returned from our fourth trip to Disney World (thanks to a very generous grandmother), and I’ve finally figured out those BTDT pro-tips for a successful Disney vacation. For me, it starts with packing the right items. And, knowing what to...

The new bag collection from JuJuBe x Harry Potter is magical

by Kate Etue | Baby, Fashion, Kid Fashion, School Gear

If you’d rather be heading back to Hogwarts than your actual school this fall, then you’ll want to see these magical new bags, totes diaper bags, and accessories from JuJuBe + Harry Potter. We’re excited to be one of the first to give you a look at...

Can holding a potato help prevent car sickness?

by Liz Gumbinner | Tips + Tricks

Earlier this year, I read somewhere that holding a russet potato can help prevent car sickness. I had no idea how or why, but I thought it was worth a shot. Because if you have kids who get car sick, you know that you will try anything. Like…anything. On a long...

I found the best drugstore waterproof eyeliner. Affordable, and it works!

by Liz Gumbinner | Beauty + Cosmetics

I was on the mad lookout for the best drugstore waterproof eyeliner or eye pencil last week. As in…I was frantic. Knowing I was heading to a beach-y press trip last week, and knowing full well that I’d end up with eyeliner down my face in the 99-degree...

10 tips for a Disney World vacation with kids with special needs. It can be magical!

by Kate Etue | Family Travel

Disney World is supposed to be the happiest place on earth, but as I was preparing for our family’s recent trip, I admit I was dreading parts of it. It would be the first trip for our youngest daughter, who has cognitive special needs, and I had no idea how we...

Paris with kids: Tips, tricks, and helpful advice for a memorable Paris family vacation

by Kristen Chase | Family Travel

Over the Thanksgiving break, we enjoyed a vacation in Paris with kids, and wow, I’m still thinking about our amazing time. I have to admit that I was worried taking my family of six to Europe for the first time, but thanks to lots of research and planning, we...

How many times do we tell our kids, STOOOOOOP!

by Kristen Chase | Family Travel, Tips + Tricks

I have to admit, I never thought about my car’s tires a whole lot. I guess your tires are the kind of thing you don’t think about a lot — until they stop working properly. In which case…yikes. So I’m truly happy to support our fantastic...

Hi! We’re Kristen + Liz!

Kristen Chase + Liz Gumbinner of Cool Mom Picks

We started Cool Mom Picks in 2006 to help make life cooler, more meaningful, and more fun for parents of all kinds.

Trivia: It was called Cool Mom Sh*t for the first two days. (Yeah, we rethought that.)

We had no idea our site would grow to become a major lifestyle network, that we'd end up sharing our finds with the TODAY Show and Martha Stewart, that we'd be able to make a real difference for so many small businesses and women-run companies, or that we'd end up with an incredible community of the coolest readers on the planet. (If we do say so ourselves).

We still love what we do every single day. And we're so glad you're here.