Taking the Kids is your information resource for family, multi-generational and group travel. We have reports on thousands of family-friendly destinations including unique resorts, lodges, hotels, camps, theme parks, cruises and more. Creator Eileen Ogintz is a nationally syndicated travel columnist and the author of more than a dozen books.

Our Seasonal Travel Guides bring you the best ideas for vacations or getaways – Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring – plus Best Holiday Light Views and our Annual Cruise Guide

51 Great Ideas for Your Best Family Summer Vacation

Plan smart—and as soon as you can, whether you want to go to Europe or the nation’s most popular national parks

Spring Break Ideas to Meet Every Family’s Wish List

Wherever you want to go this spring, we’ve got you covered with our 23 ideas for 2023. You can get away on a budget — or splurge if you want

Taking the Kids Annual Family Cruise Guide

Most pandemic restrictions have been lifted. Cruises are filling up again. Health and safety still top of mind, especially for family cruises

Best Family Getaways to Light Your Winter

Are you ready to plan one of the best winter family getaways ever this year? You have plenty of affordable options after the holidays

Fun in the Snow: Our annual family ski guide

Winter is a great time to get outdoors with the kids. Choose a ski and snow family vacation at one of North America’s top mountain resorts

Holiday Lights: Our guide to the best and brightest

Many may forsake holiday vacations due to rising costs. But Americans are also more resilient about finding fun in closer to home locations

22 Fabulous Fall Getaways for 2022

In many places, fall is the best time to visit because of the great weather, smaller crowds and bargain rates

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Family Magic Rafting Trips With ROW Adventures

These five-day trips on Idaho’s Salmon River are exclusive to families – you can’t join if you don’t bring a child!

See Alaska by Sea with Carnival Corp Cruise Lines

According to Travel Alaska, 1.65 million tourists will visit this summer, more than half on 60 large and small cruise ships.

Carnival Brands Embrace Sustainable Practices

The world’s leading cruise company is pioneering sustainability at sea and producing fewer greenhouse emissions than in 2011, down 15%

How To Plan A Last Minute Spring Break

Travel insurance can help when you are delayed, someone gets sick, or an emergency causes you to cancel the trip or return early

CroisiEurope Launches Special European Family Cruise Program

This year, cruise together safely in Spain, Portugal, Italy, on the Rhine or the Adriatic Coast. Discover the beauty of Europe

Searching for Airline Tickets? Two New Sites Make It Easier

Searching for the best airline tickets? New sites Directflights.com and Flightroutes.com make your search easier and more fun!

#CruiseDealsForAll In Wave Season

Alaska has always been a bucket list trip and now is one grandparents want to share—the glaciers, the wildlife, the history and culture

Orlando Spreads Holiday Cheer with 50 Days of Events

Orlando is unwrapping a full lineup of holiday celebrations for visitors in all the theme parks and beyond the parks.

Festive Fall Fun at Walt Disney World Resort

Fall is a great time to visit Walt Disney World Resort because it’s less crowded, the weather is cooler and there’s plenty to experience

Walt Disney World Turns 50 And Better Than Ever

Imagine themed lands far, far away like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge or the immersive Pandora The World of Avatar.

Booking.com is all smiles this summer

Summer of ‘Yeah’ campaign is timed to the 50th anniversary of The Smiley Company, the brand behind the iconic smiley face

Vacation confidence is at an all-time high

Despite inflation, air travel woes and rising gas prices, six in 10 Americans planned to book a summer trip this year

It’s time to add a cruise to your travel bucket list

It’s time for you to think about a family cruise, After two years of limited travel, cruising is safe and the options are amazing.

Three Incredible Destinations in Belize

Belize should be on your family summer vacation idea list – beaches, jungles, history, culture, everyone speaks English and $ accepted by all

This is the year to cruise to Alaska

Calving glaciers, bears, eagles, and just-caught salmon and halibut. Welcome aboard your cruise to Alaska!

Eileen’s weekly family travel columns “Taking the Kids” have been syndicated national in newspapers and websites since 1991

Why you should include museums in your summer plans

Whether it’s a rainy day, or too much sun, or you want the kids to learn something on vacation, you won’t go wrong with a museum visit

Where are your summer adventures going to take you?

The economy is uncertain; air travel delays add stress, but AAA reports that 42.3 million Americans are expected to travel for Memorial Day

Camping, RVing, or Glamping this summer?

Camping now accounts for one-third of the leisure travel market with campers spending more than $52 billion last year.

Touring Alaska far from the crowds but close to wildlife

Our small UnCruise ship, known for Alaska wilderness experiences, enabled us to kayak and hike away from crowds, but get close to the bears

What Moms and Grandmoms Really want for Mothers Day

They will tell you they’d prefer a little time for themselves – sleeping late, time for a leisurely bath or at the gym.

Virgin Voyages: No kids but a lot of families

The cruise line just swept all five awards in the Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards, the first brand to do so

Take the Family To a National Park During Parks Week

National Park Week, April 22 through April 30, is a nine-day celebration of everything “parks.” Entrance fees will be waived on April 22

How families can travel more sustainably

Got your reusable water bottle? That’s one of the easiest things you can do to reduce your environmental footprint when you are traveling.

Washington DC is a perfect family destination anytime

By Eileen Ogintz Tribune Content Agency Welcome to America’s front yard. That’s what many call The National Mall in Washington, DC—three miles long...

Playgrounds or museums? It’s not a competition

New York Ccity is full of museums, zoos, as well as playgrounds. “Go to the parks, they are always relaxing,” suggested Sam, 13

Is it safe to take the kids to Mexico?

Cancun, San Jose del Cabo and Puerto Vallarta are extremely popular with spring breakers looking for fun in the sun

To a snow resort when you don’t or can’t ski

Maybe you just don’t like snow sports. It’s not necessary to sacrifice your vacation to please your family.

Flying with babies and toddlers safely

The safest place for your child under the age of two on a U.S. airplane is in an approved child seat, not in your lap.

Spring Break is Upon Us – Have You Made a Plan?

There are lots of options – new theme park rides, city visits, skiing of riding in spring sunshine or bask on the beach, frothy drink in hand

Romance any time you can make it happen

A romantic trip doesn’t have to be to a far-off and exotic destination. Maybe the place you first met or recreate your first trip together

Visiting San Diego all year round

February is the 34th annual San Diego Museum Month when more than 60 participating cultural institutions offer half-priced admission

New places to explore Black history this month

Across the country, there are new exhibits highlighting the contributions of African Americans to our nation’s history and culture.

Get ready to ride the cruise wave

There are perks, upgrades and enticing deals to encourage cruisers to book – from deeply discounted deposits, free flights…

How anticipation enhances vacation fun

Whether it’s a honeymoon or a trip to Orlando, the anticipation — and planning — can be nearly as much fun as the trip itself.

How to snare a bargain in New York City this winter

Until Feb. 12, you can take advantage of the NYC Winter Outing program with significant discounts on everything

Choosing sides on the ‘Star Wars’ Galactic Starcruiser Halcyon

Starcruiser Halcyon allows guests to control their own travel destiny. We decide whether we want to help the good guys or the bad

Plenty of winter ahead – light it up with a getaway

Go for a long weekend rather than a week. With lower gas prices, drive rather than fly. Much of the country can drive to a cruise port

Shouting out hotels that go all out for families

Bravo to hotels that really go out of their way to welcome families. I particularly appreciate resorts that intuitively meet family needs.

Taking the Kids to have some fun in the snow

Three little kids, two parents, and mounds and pounds of gear. Looking back, I don’t know how we managed all of those ski trips

Resorts build most awesome gingerbread creations

Duct tape, sturdy cardboard, modeling chocolate, plenty of small festive candy pieces and lots of imagination. That’s how the pros do it

Excel High School offers Online Middle School

Read about our most recent travel experiences.

Taking the toddler necessitates a new travel style

It was a different equation when they decided to take 16-month-old Dominic with them for a quick spring break in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

San Antonio: 11+1 Reasons to Take the Kids

Happy Cinco de Mayo from San Antonio Texas, a major city in south-central Texas with a rich colonial and Hispanic heritage.

The Fable of the Octopus and the Fisherman

Welcome to Scarlet Night aboard Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady. We were encouraged to wear red to honor the Red Night Sky

A Different Kind of Cruise on Virgin Voyages

The minimum age is 18 on this mid-sized ship (about 2,400 aboard this voyage from Miami.) And that suits the passengers just fine.

On Virgin Voyages a Tragic Event First Day at Sea

A young woman fell off her balcony to her death just hours after we had departed Miami for a six-night Caribbean cruise.

How To Curate A 72-Hour Teen-Approved Itinerary in London

Guess what? teens are interested in the experience that comes with exploring new cities, countries and shorelines.

Aboard the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser Halcyon

The “ship” is very well-appointed, celebrating its 275th anniversary! This is the vessel on which Princess Lea and Hans Solo honeymooned.

Zero-proof cocktails now vogue at Walt Disney World

Just don’t call them mocktails. Zero-proof cocktails are for adults to have an elevated drink experience without alcohol, a whole new market.

It’s Gingerbread Time at Walt Disney World Resort

At Walt Disney World’s Beach Club Resort, a Gingerbread carousel spins with candy colored horses named for Disney princesses

Meet Jack at the Surf Jack Hotel Waikiki

He’s the hotel dog at the boutique SurfJack and Swim Club Hotel in Waikiki. Jack has his own Instagram account @jackthehoteldog

Turtles and more on Hawaii’s North Shore

They were oblivious to the paparazzi, splashing and sunning on the rocks as adults and kids alike gathered around snapping photos.

Ollie the Collie Takes the Big Apple

I was so happy when we arrived at the Kimpton Muse Hotel in Midtown Manhattan, where they are VERY doggy friendly!

Truly welcoming to kids: Four Seasons Ko Olina on Oahu

The Four Seasons Oahu Ko Olina, about a half hour north of Honolulu and the crowds on Waikiki, lives up to its promises

Beauty and fun at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort

This place offers something for everyone from kids to those on honeymoons, celebrating anniversaries or a multi-generational vacation.

Checking out the food scene on Kauai

The story of the Taro plant, a mainstay of Hawaii cooking, is spiritual. It’s the eldest sibling of the Hawaiian Royal Family in legend

At the literal end-of-the-road on Kauai HI

I came upon this 52-unit resort more than a decade ago when my daughters were hiking one day, and I’ve always wanted to return.

3 Lessons RV Pros Taught a First Time RVer

My wife and I recently bought our first travel trailer. We had been waiting for months and we traveled from Colorado to Ohio to pick it up

Cooking with the locals on Curacao

If you want to get the true sense of Curacao, you’ve got to meet locals. Try a cooking class with Kris Kierindongo.

The Amazing Cathedral of Thorns in Curacao

Think a maze made out of thorns—92 million fashioned into blocks in which art has been inserted, creating an open-air gallery of sorts.

Herbal Remedies with a long history on Curacao

Got pine needles? Brew them into tea to help with Covid-19 respiratory symptoms. We learned this at an eclectic herb garden in the Caribbean.

Bon Bini from Curacao, a gem in the Southern Caribbean

Bon Bini means welcome in Papiamentu language of Curacao, a gem of an island with 150,000 people in the Southern Caribbean.

The Big Apple is back!

Shops and restaurants are packed again! So are museums, especially now when there is a big exhibit on sharks to be seen.

How to ease the Disney experience with small kids

How to make the Walt Disney experience easier with small kids – stay on property, get to the parks early, afternoon nap, return evening

Away from the crowds in Park City UT

PARK CITY, UT — Crunch…Crunch. Crunch… The only sound out here in the Uinta National Forest outside of Park City, Utah is our snowshoes on the snow.

Why a vacation rental is great for family trips

We are opting for a vacation rental because it offer a better value and a kitchen, especially important when traveling with young kids and extended family

Snow day in Denver? Head up to Vail

Ruby Gorden, 8, was having the best snow day ever. Denver schools closed for snow, so Ruby, her dad, and younger brother drove up to Vail to spend the day on the slopes

Wrong turn and comfort zone on Vail Mountain

By Eileen Ogintz Uh OH… We took a wrong turn on Vail Mountain, not hard to do on such a big ski area with some...

Vail’s perfect ski-in ski-out hotel

What’s the best part? We’re at the ski-in-ski-out Grand Hyatt Vail and guests—young and adult—have their faves about the hotel.

Cooking with a local master over an open hearth

Marco has been cooking at Chaa Creek for years and is working to become a master chef. He will be cooking at the Masters Golf Tournament in Georgia in April.

Chaa Creek: Wildly civilized romance in Belize

Romantic? You bet! This he Lodge at Chaa Creek on the Macal River about two hours east of Belize City. It bills itself as “Windly Civilized. The resort has an unlikely origin

Working with Writers Per Hour, you will always get the best results

The latest news and trends from the world of family travel.

Denver Art Museum: Engaging families with free and interactive programs

Each gallery at the museum has some sort of interactive program in English and Spanish for kids and families to help them better engage with what they are seeing

What Fiddler teaches us about the past and present

Fiddler is entertaining and a sobering reflection today’s events as Russia tries to brutally subjugate Ukraine and antisemitism is rising

Plenty of options for your best Spring Break

According to new research, 41 per cent of US consumers say they are planning a spring break, even prioritizing ahead of other trips.

The Sand Creek Massacre – Echoes of the past reverberate

There were many atrocities committed in our nation’s 19th Century quest for “Manifest Destiny.” The Sand Creek Massacre was one of the worst.

To Kill a Mockingbird on the road in Denver

To Kill a Mockingbird is an enduring story of justice and injustice, racism, closed minds, coming of age, grief, compassion, and change

Orlando’s Terminal C Is A Destination In Itself

Orlando International Airport’s Terminal C is a place that will make you want to stay, despite the big theme parks being only minutes away

Flying into Denver? Check out the Stanley Marketplace

Stanley Marketplace sits the site of the previous airport – Stapleton Field (closed 25 years ago) and the old Stanley Aviation Hanger

First Look As The Disney Wish Sets Sail

The Disney Wish set sail July 14, 2022, propelled by wishes from godmother Make-A- Wish Foundation and thousands of Disney cast members

Engaging Kids with Art in Denver

If you could jump into an artwork and walk around in it, what would you choose? It’s a good question to ask kids visiting an art museum

The Curious Theatre in Denver

Live performances are springing back to life after two years and in Denver it’s great to have this “gutsy” little theater down the street

How road trippers can cope with high gas prices

We are all dealing with the impact of high gas prices and will have to adjust. Here’s how families can still vacation this spring and summer.

Inventors highlight Outdoor Retailer Show

Four inventors were among those showcasing new products at Outdoor Retailer Snow Show at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver this week

Get Outdoors: It’s the Safest Place to Vacation

The Covid-19 experts say we’re safest outdoors and can even take off our masks in most settings. So, you’re thinking, where can you take the kids safely for a winter or spring break that won’t bust the budget?

What’s your go-to holiday tradition?

Vaxxed and boostered, we are excited to see how the Mile High City lights up the holidays

Memories from our first Pandemic cruise

There were a lot of perfect moments aboard the Wind Star despite all the changes the pandemic had wrought

Get in touch with academic essay writing service – CustomWritings – with a team of academic experts.

Cool stuff we like and recommend for your travels

Hot Chillys for all seasons

Moisture-wicking clothes helps regulate your body temperature and pulls sweat from your body which then evaporates, keeping you dry.   

MBT Physiological Footwear for the active days

I had a friend, an avid runner and head of wellness at our local YMCA try a pair.  She loved the cushioning and that her feet stayed cool

RuffWear Keeps Jake Cozy In All Weather

Our rescue doggie, Jake, loves the snow, and not when it’s bone chilling cold to his 11-pound frame. RuffWear to the rescue!

Finding the best holiday gifts for your favorite travelers

There is something wonderful—even magical—watching someone you love opening a gift they love and will use again and again

ReadyDry from Royal Robbins for active travelers

When you travel like we often do, laundry expenses can build up fast. Royal Robbins ReadyDry underwear can be washed and rinsed in the sink.

Schofferhofer’s juice and beer

Move over hard seltzer. This summer’s most satiating patio drink is Schöfferhofer’s half fruit juice/half beer Hefeweizen beers.

The Weber Traveler for your road trip cooking

Although I love my trusty charcoal grill it isn’t always possible to haul it to a picnic at the park or a tailgater at the game.

Great water sandals made from recyclables

Chaco sandals, long favorites for rafters, hikers and those kicking back somewhere sunny and warm are made from recyclable plastics

No-hassle road trip coffee

Here’s another way to travel sustainably — make a hot cup of specialty coffee as easily as a hot cup of tea. And help save the planet.

Small batch sauces for road trips

When we travel, we also like to cook or grill on the road. But provisioning can be difficult - we don't want to bring too much and have too much left over at the end of the trip. So next time, instead of a big bottle of BBQ sauce from the supermarket, it'll be a small...

The Athena jump starts your road trip

On your next road trip, you can recharge all your electronic devices — even jump-start your car in an emergency.

Fresh coffee guaranteed for your next trip

When you’re traveling and want a fresh cup of coffee in the morning, it’s a bummer when you can’t get a fresh cup.

Safe drinking water in a reusable bottle

An easy and cost-effective way families can travel more sustainably is by using a water purifier bottle instead of buying single use plastic bottles.

Inspired by sardines and great for outdoors

Inspiration often strikes when you’re looking for something else. Ask the inventors of Freshe Meals. In this case it was sardines.

Staying hydrated on the slopes

When you’re on the slopes, truly enjoying a Blue Bird ski day, the last thing you want is to stop for a drink of water. Camelbak has solutions for you.

Non-toxic baby bath products from Hand Over Heart

As a new mom of a 12-week-old baby boy, I try to create a non-toxic environment in my home by using safe and natural products. From nursery furniture to toiletries, I have frequently found “greenwashing” in baby products.

Sustainable, comfortable from Royal Robbins

I love it when travel clothes are  comfortable, versatile  and sustainable so I can brag about how I care about the planet.

Hoka delivers in a comfy sneaker

We wore out last sneakers during long walks during the Pandemic, when our gym was closed for nearly a year. For back-to-workouts, we needed new gear

MUST-HAVE HATS

I was surprised by all the choices from Coolibar and Colorado-based Wallaroo Hat Company, a woman-owned business.

Packing Light

Now that I’ve discovered Royal Robbins, a company that makes versatile, ethically produced travel wear, I may cure my bad packing habit

Eileen has published a veritable libary of Kids Guides to American Cities, national parks – the latest on camping!

Latest book - May 2021 - Kids Guide to Camping

The Best of Taking the Kids

We share our best family travel experiences over the recent years, international and domestic, at sea and in the mountains – every continent!

Fulfilling a long-held dream: the hike from Crested Butte to Aspen

As I struggled to my feet, I smiled remembering all the times her dad and I were trying to avoid a meltdown

Returning to Tokyo after 60 years revives old childhood memories

60 years ago my father, a U.S. Air Force officer, moved his growing family to Japan for four years. So when we had the opportunity to visit Tokyo this month, I naturally thought of my childhood and wondered if we could try to find some of my old haunts.

Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro with my daughter

Many people who lose 35 pounds would splurge on a new wardrobe. I opted for this adventure—one I could share with my daughter before she left for college. That was six years ago and I’ve traveled the world since. Still, our Kili Climb remains one of the most memorable trips we’ve ever taken.

Cleared for takeoff — over the Alaska Range

Kantishna Air Taxi mostly flies visitors around the mountain, said our pilot Andy Young. “A plane in Alaska is like a car anywhere else,” he explained. “It is how we get around. There just aren’t any roads in a lot of the state.”

TIME TO GO FISHING AGAIN – to a great resort in Canada

Last summer, after many years away from the sport, son Matt and I decided it was time to go fishing again. We recruited our cousin-in-law Mike Sitzman and his dad John, who live in Golden, CO to join us. After some basic internet research we decided upon a spot in Canada’s Ontario Province – Garden Island Lodge

The Galapagos Islands — not cheap, not luxurious, but oh the wildlife and the memories!

This wouldn’t be everyone’s first choice for an expensive vacation. There are no beach chairs or bars on these protected beaches, where tourists may only venture with a guide. But this is an adventure we’ll never forget, starting with those sea lions we spotted on San Cristobal Island, snoozing on rowboats as if they owned the place.

The Chick Flies the Coop

“This is going to be the first time truly putting my travel skills from growing up to the test but I know it is just the beginning,” my youngest daughter Mel wrote in the “thank you” note she left

Remembering the long goodbyes as we took our kids to college

Two parents, five overweight bags and a college-bound daughter about to burst into tears. Talk about a stressful beginning to the Long Goodbye.

Two weeks in France visiting Paris, champagne country and Normandy via river cruise

Arriving in Paris jet-lagged, a quick trip to see Monet’s water lillies at the Musee de L’Orangerie was just the tonic. Armed with a Paris Pass, we didn’t have to wait in a long line for tickets.

A visit to Lady Liberty and Ellis Island on a cold January day

Despite the blustery January weather, crowds of bundled-up tourists from around the world lined up to take the Statue Cruises ferry to Liberty Island, good-naturedly taking off belts and watches for the security screenings. The second stop would be historic Ellis Island

Memories of Monet’s Garden: where a little girl led the way

From the time we told Melanie we were going to France that summer, she insisted we must visit Monet’s Garden. It wasn’t that far-fetched an idea.

To Norway, the land of fjords, ‘Frozen’ and family fun

No, not the Splash Mountain in Walt Disney World or Disneyland, we’re actually in Norway touring the gorgeous fjords with Adventures by Disney where one waterfall is bigger and more awesome than the next

A real pasta machine: in the charming village of Grazie

Day Six – at charming small restaurant La Locanda de le Grazie in the village of Grazie just a few miles outside the amazingly preserved undiscovered Renaissance city of Mantova (Mantua in English).

Skiing in Austria

I’ve never seen such wide open slopes — no trees, no houses, just field after field of newly fallen snow. And I’ve never seen my 18-year-old daughter Mel, an avid and expert skier, as happy to ski with mom.

Kayaking at the Top of the World

We are in bright yellow inflatable kayaks steering with foot pedals (I feel kind of like I’m on bumper cars cruising around the fjord, the ship in the distance, crew watching us from zodiacs. As safety is always a concern here, we are given signalers to wear around our neck—should we tip over. But the kayaks are steady and the water so calm. It is only 32 degrees but with the sun shining, it feels much warmer.

The Amazing Cathedral of Thorns in Curacao

Think a maze made out of thorns—92 million fashioned into blocks in which art has been inserted, creating an open-air gallery of sorts.

Why Cuba? History and reconciliation and the recipe for Cuban life

Cuba: “a dose of World War II rationing, a pinch of Soviet era austerity, the family values of South America, the educational values of the US and the loquaciousness of the Irish.”

Second acts: a century in the making

Frank Bartholomew, a United Press war correspondent, handed Antonia a deed for a run down 500-acre ranch in Sonoma, CA and then returned to cover World War II

Apex day 2 – A woman following her dreams

Fragedaki is an engaging teacher as she instructs us on how to make spinach pie, tzatziki (a cucumber yogurt sauce), and stuffed tomatoes and peppers

Jamaican Food at Its Best: Star San

Award-winning and well-known Jamaican Chef Brian Lumley is showing us how to make coconut curry shrimp and just-caught fish—lionfish, parrot fish, snapper

The White Stallion Ranch experience

If you thought a dude ranch was just about horses, think again—even a historic one like the White Stallion Ranch in Tucson, owned by the True family for decades

A unique Colorado experience

Only the huge stone fireplace is left of the Nanny’s Cabin and Camp Vigil is the kid-friendly Ranch at Emerald Valley, part of the historic Broadmoor Resort

Here’s to new culinary adventures!

Likely because we are stuck at home, I’ve been thinking about once-in-a-lifetime outdoor meals we’ve enjoyed on vacation.

Weather can’t spoil a trip to remember down the Grand Canyon

Finally! Five hours after we were scheduled to leave, the helicopters started to fly again, taking two or three passengers at a time rather than four because of the conditions

A hike to remember: North Rim of the Grand Canyon

After a five-mile hike, we’re sitting on a rock taking in the panoramic view from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon

Bryce Canyon National Park: Hoodoo you think you’re feeling?

Hoodoos actually have eroded out of cliffs, forming thin walls of rock called fins.Isn’t nature amazing?! Here at Bryce Canyon we are at the top of what is famously called “The Grand Staircase”

Three generations, 75 years: The Averill family and Flathead Lake Ranch

Flathead Lake Lodge is much more than a lodge – it’s a ranch, farm and acre upon acre of wilderness and lakefront.

Bear jam in Grand Teton National Park – for a very good reason

Meet Grizzly #399, perhaps the most famous bear in North America not only because of her advanced age (24) but her fertility (she has had seven litters—20 cubs. This year’s quadruplets, Smith said, account for only two percent of Grizzly Bear litters.

Taking the Kids — on different kind of trip to Alaska

You can’t get much more remote — or farther away from cruise crowds than at Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge, which opened 10 years ago — the first and only lodge in the national park and accessible only by a four-hour boat trip from Seward

To a special Jamaican villa

The experience, of course, is entirely different, as I discovered. Think being on a mega cruise ship with morning-till-night activities vs. your own private yacht with a staff to cater to every whim

Seeing San Antonio like local families

At the state-of-the-art Naylor Family Dinosaur Gallery at the Witte Museum in San Antonio, where you can step inside a cast of an Alamosaurus footprint at The Dino Lab. What’s different from other dinosaur exhibits? This one is focused on ancient creatures that called Texas home, including ancient fish, turtle and, yes, a full-size Tyrannosaurus rex.

To a galaxy far, far away

Kevin Gerber isn’t even a “Star Wars” fan, but he had happily just spent $100 to build a droid with his 5-year-old son at Disney World’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge’s Droid Depot

San Antonio has a new kind of “Pearl”

Pearl is the new go-to area of San Antonio – a 22 acre mixed use space for housing, shopping, dining, a year-round farmer’s market, riverside amphitheater and the third campus of the Culinary Institute of America

Tips from kids finishing their first cruise

On this “day at sea,” the kids put off playing a game in Club Mariner to impart some wisdom for kids whose parents and grandparents may be planning a cruise

To Robben Island, a Relic of South Africa’s Apartheid Regime

Nelson Mandela would have turned 101 this year, at a time when South Africa has been rocked by political corruption and still fraught with the ills that Apartheid wrought

This could be one of the best seasons ever for river rafting in Colorado – we know!

We just spend five days and four nights on the Yampa River in Dinosaur National Monument with the premier river rafting outfitter OARS. Take a look at some of our photos

A historic Army post transformed — San Francisco’s Presidio

Welcome to San Francisco’s Presidio — nearly 1,500 acres transformed from a bustling army post to a national park, the largest national park in an urban area, drawing 7.5 million visitors a year

World-class snow sculptures draw crowds from all around to Breckenridge CO

Young Colorado art critics were among the thousands who came to Breckenridge to see the results of the work of 16 teams from around the world that came to this historic mountain town to create enormous snow sculptures

On a safari planned for more than seeing amazing wildlife

The Madikwe Game Reserve borders Botswana to the north and is home to the famous “Big Five.” Before breakfast one morning, we’d seen four of them — lions, elephants, Cape buffalo and white rhino

Eating your way through Italy

Food has become increasingly important to traveling families as kids have expanded their palates by first watching the Food Network and then trying new foods on vacation. I can’t think of a better way to experience a new culture than through food or a better place than Italy where it won’t take any coaxing to convince kids to “eat local.”

Little Taste of Italy – Part 2

Little Taste of Italy Part II starts at the Umbria Region farmhouse (viaumbria.com) in Canarra with tours of Perugia, Spello, Assissi and Gubbo, then moves to Bologna and Parma, where we observed the making of Parmaggiano Reggiano cheese.

A Little Taste of Italy – Part 1

A Little Taste of Italy – October 2018 – Pt 1 – Starts in Milano with tour of Verona and Valpolicella Wine Region, followed by 6-day Uniworld River Cruise aboard the River Countess. Excursions to Ferrara, Padua, Chiccogia and Turano, with lots of time to explore Venice.

A big lesson in tolerance and humanity — Assisi Italy

Today, six million people a year visit Assisi, a hillside medieval town of 25,000 in Umbria, making it the second most visited religious site in Italy after Rome

At the Crested Butte Chili and Beer Festival, It’s Not About Winning or Losing

For my husband and daughter, it proved a fun shared experience—choosing the recipe, shopping for ingredients, and then two evenings cooking in our VRBO rental

Trooper’s Big Adventure Becoming a Mountain Dog in Breckenridge, CO

A first Gondola ride up a mountain is exciting for anyone—dogs included. And when Trooper gets to the base of Peak 8 on Breckenridge mountain, she is officially a mountain dog!

Taking the Kids — to Berlin

There’s no better place to see reconciliation at work that than in Berlin where the Berlin Wall, as of last month, has been down longer than it was up

Spending New Year’s with the whales in Antarctica

Everyone is busy getting ready for the black-tie New Year’s Eve bash. Here in Antarctica, it’s a giant penguin party, of course. Whales are invited too

Our special place — Curtain Bluff Resort on Antigua

“This is our special place,” said Gwen Larder. I get it. We honeymooned here 35 years ago and have returned 5 times. Curtain Bluff is our special place too.

Biking in the rain along the Danube in Austria

It is pouring, raining so hard that we’re getting soaked despite good rain gear. Did I mention we are on bikes riding alongside the Danube River in Austria?

Taking the Kids — to family reunion central

As fun as Colorado is in the summer, there’s something more important going on here at the YMCA of the Rockies. “It’s eating and joking around with all of our cousins.”

To Antarctica, South Georgia and Falklands – a trip of a lifetime even for kids

We walked amid thousands of penguins (we saw five species) not bothered by our presence and fur seals who were. The huge elephant seals ignored us, as did the humpback whales we watched from zodiacs.

South Georgia Island: home of the Oakum Boys

they’re juvenile King Penguins, also known as “Oakum Boys,” who still have a fluffy coat of downy brown feathers and they’re pecking at their moms to feed them

Taking the kids to Germany’s famous Christmas markets

Germany has the most holiday markets in Europe, drawing tourists from around the world, though you’ll also find them a popular holiday tradition in neighboring Austria, Switzerland and Czechoslovakia.

At Vista Verde Ranch in Colorado – on a different kind of snow vacation

I wondered when I planned this trip if my gang of grown kids, who love nothing more than tearing down those steep slopes, would like a more laid-back holiday — at least for a few days on a week-long winter trip to Colorado. I needn’t have worried.

TO CUBA ON THE FIRST AMERICAN SHIP TO SAIL HERE IN NEARLY 60 YEARS

I’ve learned first hand that encouraging kids to be global citizens, to be comfortable outside their own comfort zones, helps them navigate unfamiliar and difficult turf in their lives as they grow up.

Confronting Germany’s dark history: how the mighty had fallen

As I kept thinking about all of those architectural monstrosities that we saw on our tour of Nuremberg, I reminded myself of that photo I saw in Berlin of the Nazis crouching in fear at war’s end. How the mighty have fallen, I thought.

The sights, sounds and scents of Tokyo, Japan

It is eight in the morning and we are a few blocks from the hotel at Tokyo’s famous Tsukiji Fish Market, Japan’ largest. More than 15,000 people work here; international tourists line up in the early hours of the morning for the chance to watch the famous fish auctions,

A haunting visit to an elementary school in Hiroshima

I’ve got chills as Amber Whaley, 12, and her friend Miko Uno, 11, lead us into their elementary school’s basement. This was all that was all that remained of the Honkawa Elementary School when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima 70 years ago this past August 6.

Shopping in Tokyo’s ‘Kitchentown’

There’s shop after shop of kitchen wares—ceramic sake cups, wooden bowls for miso soup, colorful bowls for rice, all varieties of chop sticks and of course hand-made Japanese knives that will be engraved on the spot with your name in Japanese. And everything is a bargain!

Cruise follies, foibles, TMI, TLI and unexpected discoveries

No cruise is complete without its follies and unexpected discoveries.

A new place or travel experience to think about every day

Visit Idaho’s new online accessibility hub

Hub has favorite experiences and recommendations from real adventurers with disabilities, along with connections to local resources

Grand Canyon North Rim open with limited services

A landslide from  winter storms destroyed more than 300 feet of the North Rim water pipeline, causing limited services for visitors

New AMNH Exhibition – Garden of Green

The exhibit is a celebration of of green gemstones, including emerald, jade, peridot, chrysoprase, malachite, and green chalcedony

Veterans launch 3700-mile cross-country bike ride

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) and Warrior Expeditions are supporting six wartime veterans on a...

Seattle’s Pike Place Market Celebrates 50th Anniversary

On June 3, Market-goers can immerse themselves in the rich history of Pike Place Market through interactive Market history activities

Discover Universal digital travel show debuts

Six-part series has entertaining look at what Universal Orlando Resort has to offer through the eyes of first-time visitors.

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