If there's one place that's truly miserable for children, it's baggage claim. After a long day of travel, the last thing anyone, especially a kid, wants to do is wait around for luggage late at night. While Erik hunted down our luggage, I sat in a chair with Kellan sleeping on my lap. I noticed several unhappy campers, especially the poor boy whose mother woke him up as he slept in a chair. Too bad vacations can't last forever.

Kellan, Erik, and I had a memorable time in Panama over the Thanksgiving holiday. We met interesting people, enjoyed amazing unspoiled beaches, and spent a full week free of any responsibilities other than enjoying each other's company. We stayed at an eco lodge called Al Natural on Isla Bastimentos. We loved the small setting and relaxed atmosphere (no internet for a whole week!). While there's no set definition of eco lodge or sustainable tourism, there are some factors that make all the difference, including environmentally friendly practices, employing local or indigenous people, and building structures that work with the natural landscape.

This is the second time we've stayed at an eco lodge in Central America. Not only do we want to do our part to support these types of businesses, but many of these places offer great rates for what you get. We also love getting to know the locals, which is much easier when we aren't staying at a traditional hotel.