CBB Exclusive: Mark Consuelos’ Father’s Day Road Trip!
 Jeffrey Mayer/Wireimage |
Talk about family togetherness: For Father’s Day, Mark Consuelos, wife Kelly Ripa and their children — Michael, 12, Lola, 8 and Joaquin, 6 — are piling into a minivan for a two-week road trip across Arizona and Colorado.
It’s just one of the ways the family likes to stay connected, something the former All My Children star is promoting with Lever 2000’s new Make Every Touch Count campaign, celebrating family togetherness (and benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of America).
We caught up with the father of three about his “great American minivan vacation,” how his daughter hangs with the boys and the wildest road-trip food they’ve encountered.
Click below to read our interview with Mark!
What are some of the ways in which you and Kelly make sure you’re close with your kids?
We have dinner every single night, Monday through Friday, with our children. We sit down around 6 or 6:30 and it’s a family dinner — it’s time to check in, just to be around each other. The phones are off. And we take a lot of vacations together — this year we’re gonna be in a minivan going out to Arizona and Colorado. Two weeks, the five of us, the great American minivan vacation! (laughs)
Whose idea was that?
We did it last year and we absolutely loved it. There’s a lot of great things to see here in the United States. Those times spent together with maps and old cups from the diner you went to, those are really important as a family. We found that our kids enjoy those simple adventures we take as a family. I’m driving, my wife’s the copilot and we give one kid a choice of what they want to go do. We eat a lot of bad food and sleep in some interesting hotels. We’re going to Phoenix, Sedona — do some hiking there, the Grand Canyon and end up in Colorado.
Did you have any funny moments on last year’s trip?
We ate rattlesnake in this place outside of Phoenix, we panned for gold.
Did all the kids try it?
Of course they did — if they wanted ice cream at the end of the night, they ate it. (laughs) We went to the Triple M Ranch and you go to this big cafeteria and it’s chuck-wagon style. The kids loved it.
Since you’re recognizable, how is it traveling on the typical family vacation?
Whenever you’re in a minivan, they don’t expect to see us in one. People are cool — they know that we’re with our kids and everybody really respects that.
So, that’s where you’ll be for Father’s Day. Any special plans?
We’ll be on the road. Just a nice day — maybe I’ll ask them no bickering or arguing.
How does the age difference between your kids work?
When we had Michael, we didn’t have Lola until four years later — we were concerned about that age difference. Michael and Joaquin are really close and Lola is in the middle of everything.
How does Lola do with two brothers?
She’s fighting for her attention. She provokes them. (laughs) I guess I would too if I was in the middle of two girls. She’s girly but tough — forgive the term, but she’s kind of like a broad.
What’s the best parenting advice your mother or father gave you?
Don’t make the same mistakes we made! Be more patient — I always thought they were very patient.
– Serena Kappes
- Posted on Jun 19, 09 at 6:00PM
- Permalink
- 17 Comments
June 19th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
oh kelly…you lucky girl! he is yummie!
June 19th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
I love ‘Live with Regis and Kelly’ and Kelly always tells the funniest stories about Mark and the kids.
She showed pictures from their last year’s road trip (they also went to the Grand Canyon)and I’ll bet we’ll get to see this one also:-)
June 19th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
I love Kelly and Mark! They are my favorite celebrity parents by far! Kelly is the best! And Mark is so cute!
Although, I am sad that there’ll be no Kelly on Regis and Kelly for 2 weeks while she’s away! It’s just not the same!
June 19th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
I love Kelly & Mark. I was wondering where she was going on vacation as she wasn’t on Regis & Kelly this week. Road trips are always fun!!! Can’t wait until Kelly get’s back so I can hear all about it!
June 20th, 2009 at 5:23 am
ah i love this! to be honest,Kelly used to irritate me a little but now i find her soo inspiring! i love hearing all about their NYC lifestyle!! Dont jump on me here but sometimes i do feel that they talk waaaayy too much about their kids on tv! its like no detail is spared!
June 20th, 2009 at 11:36 am
I think one day there kids will get to the point where they will say, Please don’t talk about us on tv. But for now they’re little and Kelly and Mark are just proud parents. I bet if many of you had a talk show you’d spend a lot of time talking about your wonderful kids too. I guess it’s no different then being a mom and going out to dinner and you find that the whole group just can’t get off the motherhood convo….they just feel compelled to share with the world stories about their kids. And it’s no different to me then when Kathy Lee did it too.
June 20th, 2009 at 11:58 am
actually kelly has said before that her kids said dont talk about me on tv.
June 20th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Mark and Kelly are great role models. They seem to have their priorities in order, making time for their relationship as a couple, as well family time, even with busy careers. Obviously, their shared sense of humor is key. Love them!!
June 20th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
What a great down to earth family, enjoying the most simplest things in life. Those are the best memories
June 20th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
I love them too. Was so happy when they got together on AMC and in real life. Its great to see their family thriving. The trip sounds fun. With my family — that long — not so much.
June 21st, 2009 at 2:23 am
I’ve loved him and Kelly since their AMC days.
And Mark’s interview was great, and he’s such a ham, even in interviews. That part about Lola made me laugh, but hey, she has a method to her madness when it comes to getting her time to shine outside her brothers. 
June 21st, 2009 at 6:06 pm
I love Kelly and Mark also. They are great role models, not only to their children but to every one else. They have been married a very long time I think, its around 11 years. They both are celebrities and make a lot of money yet they are different from all the other couple celebrities they put their family first. They are very down to earth people. You can tell that they really love each other and their children. They are a real inspiration. It seems like to me that in todays hollywood that you get married have children and then divorce. The poor kids. Keep up the great work Mark and Kelly.
June 21st, 2009 at 6:40 pm
I can’t believe the kids were forced to eat snake. Ugh. Not right..
June 21st, 2009 at 6:42 pm
I do love them as a couple and have ever since they were both on “All My Children.”
June 22nd, 2009 at 12:36 am
I have always loved this family– they are wonderful people.
June 27th, 2009 at 7:11 am
I think Mark Consuelos is so gorgeous, and I love Kelly Ripa, I think she is really funny, and they are just a great couple. They are my favorite celebrity couple next to Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie. 6 year age difference usually creates a strong bond. My brother and I are 6 years apart, and we always have been very close. They have been married for 13 years, since May ‘96!! They have a beautiful family
I think its adorable, Michael is ALL Mark, Joaquin is ALL Kelly, and Lola is a nice mix of both Mark/Kelly. Hope the trip went well (is going well).
June 29th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
They’re back! And today they co-hosted ‘Live with Regis and Kelly’ and showed pictures:-)