Ski and Snowboard feature by Eileen on NBC’s “Today Travel”
Taking the Kids feature on Learn to Ski and Snowboard month — on NBC’s “Today Travel”
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Two blue bird family days in Snowmass and Aspen
I’ve always thought Snowmass was terrific for families with younger kids—its Treehouse kids’ learning facility is a standout in the industry complete with indoor climbing wall. There’s a climbing room, teen activities like movie night, and six interactive themed rooms for infants 8 weeks and older.
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Alcatraz Island really excites kids visiting San Francisco
When we mentioned San Francisco to our kids Ethan (10) and Hannah (8) they both immediately were excited because it has so much to offer, and mostly, for the chance to go and visit Alcatraz Island.
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Exploring and learning with the kids in San Francisco
Our past trips to San Diego and New York have been made more enjoyable, and more cost-effective by using the great benefits that CityPass offers. Our hope was that our holiday trip to San Francisco would be enhanced by using the CityPass book.
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Welcome to the club ladies – wish there were more of these in ski country
There are also plenty of women’s clinics around the country designed for women to hone their skills, whether they are skiers or snowboarders. I wish every resort had a Ladies’ Club like the one offered at Park City Mountain Resort. All it takes is 2 hours and $60.
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Beach Vacations | Cruises & All-Inclusive | Destinations | Families & Groups | Lodging | Travel Diaries
You can find affordable family vacation spots in the Caribbean
Sue and Robin Ricketts started Anguilla’s flourishing villa business—ideal for multigenerational families and now manage some 80 villas on the island from the most luxurious ($1,000,000 a week) to totally affordable (a few thousand). Now they also run the boutique 27-room Anacona where rooms can be as low as $150 a night and all kinds of special programs—tennis, sailing, wellness, biking, yoga, art……
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On Anguilla everybody sails, especially the kids
The Anguilla Youth Sailing Club that teaches local as well as visiting kids to sail (look for programs through the Viceroy Hotel and others) “Kids really rally round the boat racing…we start to teach them at age four,” says Paul Koeniger, who oversees the youth sailing club.
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Backyard Vacations | Destinations | Families & Groups | Parks & Outdoors | Volunteer & Service | Weekly Column
Exploring African-American history in Washington, D.C., and beyond
This January, of course, also marks the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation and I can’t think of a better time than this winter — February is Black History Month — to explore civil rights in Washington and beyond.
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A day well spent at the stunning new Viceroy Anguilla
We spent the afternoon at the stunning Viceroy Resort down the road from where we are staying that employs 600 people for their 166 rooms. Did I mention the five-bedroom villas that rent for as much as $17,500 a night?
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Time for a little relaxation and indulgence at the CuisinArt Anguilla
At the CuisinArt Resort in Anguila. I indulged in a facial (anti-aging of course) and a soak in the “healing waters” pool that offers a combination, I’m told, of mineral sea salt and fresh water that is supposed to help my aching knee.
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Five days in Anguilla on a best girlfriends getaway
We’re here on a girlfriends’ getaway ensconced in a huge three-bedroom villa with its own pool, kitchen, and beach. I’m sitting aside the pool and hear the crashing waves as I write this. Did I mention the mile-long beach?
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Historical events converge this week; families can participate
There is no better time than the week we celebrate Martin Luther King Day and the 150th Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation to embrace teachable moments with kids about slavery—no more so than at the Lincoln Memorial and Martin Luther King Memorial in Washington DC.
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Taking a family vacation to a private island
No, you’re not dreaming. Welcome to Fowl Cay Resort in the famous Bahamian Exumas that boast more than 300 tiny islands. This is the most unique Caribbean all-inclusive resort that I’ve ever seen.
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Conference Attendees Identify Family Travel Trends for 2013
By Eileen Ogintz and Kyle McCarthy Family Travel is no longer a travel niche; findings from the two Family Travel Conferences held in 2012 prove…
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Repeat after me: “There is no such thing as a perfect vacation”
I wish the travel industry would stop trying to convince us that if we only stay at this hotel, chose that cruise line or use a particular credit card, the kids won’t bicker, rooms will be ready when we arrive without any delays, of course, and all will be wonderful every moment.
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Eileen explains what it means to be a Snowmama on FoxNews.com
Eileen explains what it means to be a Snowmama on FoxNews.com
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Explore the World Heritage of Ethiopia with the Children
Africa and in particular Ethiopia may not cross many minds as being a number one choice for a family holiday. What you should know is that with 8 world heritage sites, some stunning scenery, and many opportunities to inspire and educate the children, Ethiopia may well be a fantastic destination for a family holiday.
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To snowy climes during learn a snow sport month
You can have as much fun off the slopes as on at a snow resort, especially in January, which is designated as Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month with special programs at resorts around the country.
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Discovering the History of Scenic Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, VA and the surrounding Piedmont region offers remarkable history, breathtaking scenery, a dining scene that blends upscale with down home and boutique inns that make for a uniquely charming getaway for your family.
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At the historic Omni Mount Washington Hotel for the holidays
There is plenty to do at this historic resort—from NH largest ski area, plenty of groomed cross country and snow shoe trails, dog sledding, sleigh rides and indoor and outdoor pool and gargantuan spa where my daughter and I indulged in blissful massages yesterday.
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Backyard Vacations | Destinations | Families & Groups | Lodging | Parks & Outdoors | Snow Vacations | Travel Diaries
Families on a hike through the snowy woods of New Hampshire
We’re hiking in the snow—micro crampons on our feet on the Crawford Trail in New Hampshire, with a guide from the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Highlands Center. In case you are wondering, the needles on the spruce are spikey–thus “spikey spruce” and the needles on the balsam are soft (“friendly fir”!).
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ShermansTravel Blog interviews Eileen about Bahamas
Sherman’s Travel Blog interviews Eileen about her recent visit to Fowl Cay in the Bahamas.
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Backyard Vacations | Destinations | Families & Groups | Food and Dining | Lodging | Parks & Outdoors | Snow Vacations | Travel Diaries
A special place for adventurous families from the AMC in New Hampshire
Welcome to the Appalachian Mountain Club Highland Center, a short drive from Mount Washington, New England’s tallest peak. Some of the families we meet the weekend before Christmas have made a visit here an annual tradition, like the Canes, who have come nearly every year since their nine year-old was a baby.
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Looking back on our stellar family travels of 2012
As I thought back about this past year’s trips, I realized that each one enabled us to challenge ourselves in different ways, whether in the outdoors, navigating in an unfamiliar culture, or learning a new skill. That’s not counting the challenge of getting along with each other along the way — not always easy, especially these days as families who don’t spend a lot of time together gather for vacation.
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All-inclusive means all the amenities for a family vacation at Fowl Cay
Did I mention this resort is owned by Sandals? Yet it couldn’t be more different than Sandals expect that your stay is all inclusive. That means your villa is stocked with every food and drink you want. We fix our own breakfast and hot freshly baked muffins and fruit are delivered every morning.
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For chocolate lovers, Chicago in October is the place
Did you ever think it was possible to eat too much chocolate? If you are a chocolate lover, The Chicago Fine Chocolate Festival might just be the challenge for you.
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An all-inclusive resort where they even provide a boat to explore the nearby islands
This tiny resort and these outer islands are the antithesis of giant resorts like Atlantis in Nassau. It is also expensive—over $1500 a night for a villa that sleeps four. But you could easily be spending that much at many tony Caribbean resorts for two rooms and not have the comfort or exclusivity as here, not to mention your own boat for the length of your stay.
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Beach Vacations | Cruises & All-Inclusive | Destinations | Families & Groups | Lodging | Parks & Outdoors | Travel Diaries
In the Bahamas, a place where families can relax and watch pigs swim!
I love this place! Where else can you feed swimming pigs and snorkel amid schools of brightly colored fish. We can putter around our kitchen but don’t have to shop for groceries or clean up.. There are plenty of books and movies in the library as well as a pool table. Did I mention the outdoor shower with views of the water? Nice!
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In Hong Kong at Christmas — it’s all about the shopping
Think Black Friday at the busiest mall — times 1,000 — combined with Times Square on New Year’s Eve. That only begins to describe Hong Kong on Christmas Eve when thousands take to the streets — no cars are permitted in the hotel district — to shop and shop some more until 2 a.m. (the subways run all night).
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Reflecting on Newtown and Winnetka 25 years ago when my kids were young
All of us who covered that story were deeply impacted by it, just as those have been covering Sandy Hook. My kids were the same age as the children who were shot and went to a suburban school two towns away. That tragedy made us as young parents mindful not only of our mortality but that of our children. It made us resolve to make the most of the happy times together while we could.
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Memories abound of family vacations past on our Christmas tree
Until the kids finally insisted I stop buying ornaments wherever we went, I’d buy one for each of them wherever we went. The sillier the better. And even now years later, they make me smile and bring back memories—the real memories of traveling with kids.
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Disney’s Art of Animation Resort tells the story of the classic movies
Welcome to Disney’s new Art of Animation Resort with four different wings that celebrate favorite characters—Finding Nemo, Cars and Lion King. And there’s plenty of room to spread out with 1120 family suites (there are 864 rooms too).
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Testing out the new Test Track at Disney World’s Epcot
We’re at Walt Disney World’s Epcot where at the new Test Track Presented by Chevrolet we create our own design, then board a “simCar” to race through performance tests—how does it handle extreme weather conditions? How efficient is it? How responsive? How Powerful?
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Backyard Vacations | Destinations | Disney | Families & Groups | Food and Dining | Lodging | Weekly Column
To Walt Disney World’s new Fantasyland
You’ll find New Fantasyland just past the existing Fantasyland, beyond Cinderella’s castle. Did I mention that there are now three castles here for all those princess lovers? All of this as Orlando heads into the holiday season, one of the busiest of the year with special attractions at every park.
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Celebrations abound in Orlando for the holiday season
Welcome to the Candlelight Procession at Walt Disney World’s Epcot that is a popular tradition here drawing locals and visitors alike that is performed three times an evening during the holiday season.
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Family Travel Conference reviewed on Technorati
Our second Family Travel Conference in Dallas in November 2012 received great review by writer Kaleel Sakakeeny on Technorati.
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Eileen quoted by ABCNews.com on moms influencing the travel industry
Eileen is quoted by ABCNews.com on how moms are transforming the travel industry.
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Disney’s expansion of Fantasyland is fantastic
My kids have been to Disneyland and Walt Disney World innumerable times but I don’t think I have any photos of them on Dumbo either. Maybe it was too hot waiting in the sun? Actually I think it was because the first time, 3-year-old Matt was afraid of the Dumbo ride. And Peter Pan too.
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Backyard Vacations | Destinations | Disney | Families & Groups | Food and Dining | Parks & Outdoors | Travel Diaries
Taking the kids to the new FantasyLand at Disney World
No worries if you can’t make it to the New Fantasyland for a while either. There’s more to come. Next year, Princess Fairytale Hall will open complete with chambers where you can meet Aurora, Cinderella, Tiana and Rapunzel.
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Backyard Vacations | Destinations | Families & Groups | Food and Dining | Taking the Kids Blogs | Volunteer & Service
Food, Glorious Food — at the museums!
Did you know that most of the plants and animals we raise for food today barely resemble their wild ancestors? Did you know that more than a billion people work in agriculture today? Did you know that 40 million children are overweight? Did you know that 30 per cent of all food produced is never eaten? Did you know the average American family of four wastes 1,656 pounds of food a year?
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How to introduce your kids to skiing
If you’re taking the little ones on the snowy slopes for the first time it is important you introduce them to the wonder of skiing in a way that will have them pleading to return the year after. And, of course, make sure you protect your investment in the trip in case your plans go awry.
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Fort Worth TX: there’s a reason they call this place “Cowtown”
Need a saddle blanket? Not to keep warm, to eat. In cowboy parlance, a saddle blanket is a pancake; belly wash is coffee and Pecos strawberries are beans. Welcome to Fort Worth, Texas, which prides itself on being known as the City of Cowboys.
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This season, take the kids and the grandkids to see the holiday lights
It’s worth the effort, I promise, to take the kids and grandkids. For a few hours you can forget the baking, the shopping and the wrapping and just enjoy the holidays and each other.
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Learning to cope with weather disruptions when the family travels
Let’s play the what-if game. What if Mother Nature derails your holiday travel plans — as it did for so many people I know earlier this month during Hurricane Sandy and during the Christmas blizzard that crippled the East Coast two years ago?
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Travel dreams can come true on CyberMonday
It’s not just about getting a great price on a tablet, TV or the kids’ must-have toy or video game. These days, Black Friday or Cyber Monday can also be about snaring a bargain on a vacation.
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CyberMonday travel deals interview on Foxnews.com
Eileen interviewed on Foxnews.com about CyberMonday travel deals — good ones and bad ones.
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The Power of Family Travelers
I couldn’t help but smile as I looked out at the room filled with family travel writers and bloggers, some with their kids beside them, busily learning how to become better travel communicators.
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A life-changing trip to the slopes with a disabled daughter
Our first day on the mountain my daughter’s instructor got her set up with a bi-ski and we all headed out onto the lift. It was a short run and I’m not sure if I breathed the whole way down, anxiously wondering how she was doing. We got to the bottom of the run and I was greeted by a wide smile. Game o!.
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Making memories by embracing imperfection this Thanksgiving
Inevitably, we’ll reminisce about less-than-perfect Thanksgiving gatherings, like the time we arrived back home at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago to discover our car battery was dead, or the time in Connecticut our dog devoured the homemade pate a cousin brought to Thanksgiving dinner before anyone had a bite.
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Backyard Vacations | Destinations | Families & Groups | Food and Dining | Lodging | Taking the Kids Blogs
Follow the Yellow Brick Road to Lincoln Park in Chicago
The view of Lake Michigan from my windows changed my perspective of the great lake and forced me to concede in the everlasting debate I had held with my native Chicagoan friends – that the shores of Lake Michigan are worthy of the title “beach.”
