Taking the Kids — on the college tour circuit
To all parents heading out on the Great College Tour this fall, I wish you luck. You are going to need it. Maybe a cocktail or two at the end of the day will help, and so will keeping your sense of humor
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Ham and Cheese Production in Parma – unique craftsmanship
This region of northern Italy, Emilia-Romagna, extends from the Apennine Mountains to the Po River and is especially famous for its food and food industry, including Parma ham and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
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Timeout in Umbria – lunch at a wonderful winery
Not just any lunch but a parade of dishes all locally sourced of course paired with Dionigiwines that have been made by the same family since the end of the 19th Century
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Happy Halloween – all month long!
No longer a one-day affair, Halloween has morphed into one of the year’s biggest holidays, with families taking off to experience haunted houses, spooky festivals and gruesome gourmet delights
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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
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In Umbria, Italy -Medieval machinations and countryside charm
We are in Perugia, the capital of Umbria, which incidentally is the only Italian region that borders neither the sea or another country. It is famous for its university, its historic center dating back to Medieval times, and chocolate
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Postscript to the Uniworld Cruise -Let’s hear it for the crew!
Whatever he 101 guests aboard the Uniworld River Countesswant, the 42 crew members from a dozen countries—everywhere from Bulgaria and Romania to Britain, Switzerland and the Czech Republic, accommodate with a smile
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Don’t touch the produce! At the Rialto Market in Venice, Italy
At Venice’s famous centuries-old Rialto Market, the purveyors ask you what you want, what you plan to cook — and then they choose for you
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Where the food comes from — on a Uniworld River Cruise
We are cruising the Venice Lagoons after a morning spent in the fishing area of Chioggia, which has a larger wholesale fish market than Venice.
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What’s in your bag of tricks for outdoor fun?
There’s no better time than autumn to get outdoors and get away, whether you have a day, a weekend or a week. ACES should be on everyone’s list when they visit Aspen with its terrific in-town nature preserve
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On a Uniworld river cruise – Not just for families with kids
Look around this Uniworld river ship and you realize family travel isn’t just about two parents traveling with young kids. There are sisters traveling together; brothers and their wives; a mom and son, dad and daughters, a group of cousins… the list goes on
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A shore excursion like no other – St. Marks Basilica in Venice on a rainy night
St. Mark’s Basilica is dark and silent as we file in, drenched from the rain. The church is closed to visitors. We are here as an “exclusive” only for passengers of Uniworld Cruises’ River Countess
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Exploring Leonardo Da Vinci’s Creations in Milan, Italy
Besides the Mona Lisa, The Last Supper and other masterpieces, Da Vinci designed a self-supporting bridge, flying bicycle, life sized mechanical lion, musical instruments and much more
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The Curious Theater Company’s The Cake Fosters Conversation in a Sweet Way
Talking about controversial issues doesn’t seem so hard when it’s paired with comedy and confection. That’s why The Cake, a play featured at Denver’s Curious Theater Company, is good for both the mind and the stomach
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A recycled foam doggie bed that gets Trooper approval!
Trooper here! I really like my new Restcycle bed — made out of recycled foam — from Ruffwear.
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To the top of the city
Let’s hope you aren’t afraid of heights. We’re talking a hands-free walk 1,168 feet up on a 5-foot ledge — EdgeWalk at Toronto’s famous CN Tower holds the Guinness World Record for the World’s Highest External Walk on a Building
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Cool gear for the well-traveled doggie
Trooper needs a durable but comfortable bed to sleep on in the mountains. The Outdoor Chill Pad ($45.00) from P.L.A.Y fits the bill
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How to Compete in a Chili Cookoff? Vacation Rental of Course!
This is one of the best equipped rentals I’ve ever experienced not only with plenty of dishes, pots, pans and utensils but basic spices and even tin foil and zip lock bags.
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Taking the Kids — and meeting Swiss kids
“Kids should try the local food here,” says Noa Von Allmen, 12, who lives in the Swiss mountain town of Lauterbrunnen, considered the gateway to the famous Jungfrau mountain region
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Adventure hiking in the Swiss Alps
This is the start of a two-week, self-guided hiking trip arranged by Alpenwild for my husband, me and our two daughters — a rare time together now that the girls are grown
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Aspen’s Hotel Jerome: Historic, comfy, very pet-friendly!
Horses trotted through the lobby when Aspen’s Hotel Jerome opened in 1889. Today there are just happy guests, many with their dogs who are treated like royalty
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Backyard Vacations | Destinations | Families & Groups | Parks & Outdoors | Travel Diaries | Volunteer & Service
Challenging kids to learn nature at Aspen Center for Environmental Studies
At the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES), environmental educators including Denali Barron and Bowman Leigh think a grab bag of nature challenges can help kids engage with the outdoors—and get off their devices.
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Choosing the right gear for your next adventure
I just spent a few days at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, North America’s largest trade show in the outdoor industry, and perused all that’s new in outdoor gear
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Hiking Switzerland – Summer 2018 – Video
During our 10-hiking trip through Switzerland in August 2018, we took tons of great photos and short video clips with a Nikon D3400
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Last day in Switzerland – A ‘Sweet Tour’ of Zurich
It is interesting to consider that the Swiss have become so known for a product whose ingredients—cocoa and sugar—came from abroad
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Not an airport hotel – but only five minutes from the airport! Swisshotel Zurich
we are ensconced in the luxe 347-room Swissotel Zurich, across the street from a train station that is one stop from the main Zurich Station in one direction – and one stop from the airport in the other
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In Zurich, a vegetarian restaurant like no other
The popular Haus Hiltl Zurich restaurant is run by the fourth generation of the Hiltl family and is open from morning until late evening
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Rainy in Zermatt? No worries – plenty to see, do and eat!
The clouds are low again. We can’t see much and I’m wondering why we came—And then we come upon a flock of the grazing black-nosed sheep near the top of the funicular. Wonderful!
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What’s new at museums for families
Whether you have an end-of-summer trip planned or just a few days before the school year gets into full swing, consider checking out a new museum exhibit or two
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In the Swiss Alps — a cafe to remember
Café 3692 is named for the height (in meters) of the Wetterhorn Mountain, which looms over the town of Grindelwald along with the Eiger and other peaks in the Jungfrau
