On South Georgia Island – learning animal behavior
This morning in Gold Harbor on the southern end of South Georgia, an elephant seal pup, just a few months old, approached Sophie as if to say “Be my friend!”
-
-
Day Two on South Georgia: a Visit to the whaling station
Welcome to St. Andrews Bay in South Georgia with the backdrop of the Heaney and Cook Glaciers and home to the largest King Penguin colony in the world
-
Families & Groups | Best of Taking The Kids | Cruises & All-Inclusive | Destinations | Parks & Outdoors | Travel Diaries | Volunteer & Service
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
-
Whales and Christmas Carole on the High Southern Seas
On the Southern Ocean for the second day between the Falklands and South Georgia – rocking seas, HUMPBACKS! and Christmas carols.
-
On the Southern Ocean, Dissecting a Squid is What You Do
This morning, as the Southern Ocean rocks the boat with waves 10 or more feet high, the kids have gathered in a corner of the sixth floor restaurant to dissect a squid.
-
Who Knew? A Trip to the Fire Station in the Falkland Islands
The fire trucks pull up to our ship Le Boreal in the Falkland Islands, sirens blazing and lights flashing. But there was no emergency.
-
It’s time again for families to have some fun in the snow
Peanut M&Ms are good, too. The Aspen, Colorado, middle-schoolers I interviewed for my “Kid’s Guide to Denver and Colorado Ski Country” opine that it’s always smart to have “power candy,” in your pocket
-
Cruises & All-Inclusive | Destinations | Families & Groups | Food and Dining | Parks & Outdoors | Travel Diaries
On a Cruise to Antarctica – 34 Kids and a Whole Lot of Enthusiasm
On the first day of our A&K adventure cruise from Argentina to the Falklands, S. Georgia and Antarctica – 34 kids on board and a lot of enthusiasm for learning
-
Six LA museums guaranteed to wow families and kids
But this wasn’t a big holiday sale. People were waiting for the chance to get free tickets to The Broad, Los Angeles’ newest contemporary art museum.
-
Gift suggestions for your favorite travelers during the holidays
There’s always that one thing you wished you had brought for the trip, but didn’t. Why not give your favorite travelers something that will genuinely make them happier and more comfortable on their 2017 travels? The best news: They’ll think of you, and your thoughtful gift, every time they travel.
-
Backyard Vacations | Beach Vacations | Destinations | Families & Groups | Lodging | Parks & Outdoors | Weekly Column
How about a quick pre-holiday getaway?
Make it an overnight when you head to see that favorite holiday light display or museum exhibit. Go see Santa somewhere else besides the mall.
-
Ushering in the holidays with cool light displays
For a lot of us, heading to holiday light displays has become as big a Thanksgiving weekend tradition as football and pumpkin pie.
-
A Mother-Daughter Yoga Retreat To Kripalu in the Berkshires
Kripalu, a wellness retreat in the beautiful Berkshires, offers guests a flexible program with the opportunity to practice as much or as little yoga as desired.
-
Beach Vacations | Destinations | Families & Groups | Food and Dining | Lodging | Parks & Outdoors | Travel Diaries
Finding the Elixir of Life on Amelia Island FL
At the TMS Family Travel conference held on Amelia Island Nov. 10-12, I experienced how one man’s passion for the culinary arts can convey an aura of wellness over an entire resort
-
How they make it all happen in Clearwater FL
Lisa Chandler wants everyone to love Clearwater Beach “by far the most family oriented beach in the state of Florida,”
-
Plenty of options for lodging in Clearwater FL
Just before sunset at the Hyatt Regency Clearwater, kids are in the pool on the eighth floor while parents are nearby nursing a cocktail. The beach is spread out below us.
-
Taking the stress out of holiday family gatherings
Why domillions of us drive hundreds of miles or fly thousands over the busiest travel days of the year to eat too much and sleep on a futon or lumpy sofa bed? Family. That’s why we do it
-
Fun and education on the beach in Clearwater FL
We just have to decide what we want to do on the six-mile long Clearwater beach just before Sunset.
-
Backyard Vacations | Beach Vacations | Destinations | Families & Groups | Food and Dining | Parks & Outdoors | Travel Diaries
Catch your fish and bring it to Nauti Nancy’s in Clearwater FL
At the popular Clearwater restaurant Nauti Nancy’s, families bring their catch–which the restaurant prepares blackened, lemon picata or beer battered—along with sides for $10.
-
Families & Groups | Best of Taking The Kids | Cruises & All-Inclusive | Destinations | Food and Dining | Parks & Outdoors
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.
-
Let’s Get Every Teen on a Train
A prominent member of the European Union Parliament is proposing that every 18-year-old receive a free trans-Europe train pass so they can get to know Europe better. We should do the same
-
Inspired by “Frozen,” families flock to Norway
Not only have spunky Princess Anna and ethereal Queen Elsa stolen the hearts of little girls everywhere, but they’ve significantly contributed to the increasing number of tourists visiting Norway
-
Yes politics is ugly. But kids need to learn about elections – here’s how
There still is a lot to be learned about the electoral process, of course, and museums around the country have mounted interesting, interactive exhibits that can answer kids’ questions and serve as a positive teaching tool—but only in the coming weeks.
-
Visiting Two Happy Midwestern Cities Competing in the World Series
Whoever wins the World Series, visit Chicago or Cleveland this fall or holiday season and get a dose of happy along with great eats, world-class museums and holiday festivals.
-
With strong dollar, beach vacation in Puerto Vallarta is a good bet
With the US dollar strong against the Mexican Peso, a beach vacation in Puerto Vallarta is a good bet this time of year. The town oozes charm, starting with Old Vallarta, the city’s 1930s town center complete with cobblestoned square.
-
Backyard Vacations | Best of Taking The Kids | Destinations | Families & Groups | Food and Dining | Lodging | Parks & Outdoors | Weekly Column
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.
-
On a family vacation in Portugal
Since 2010, Martinhal Family Hotels & Resorts in Lisbon, Portugal have been providing family-friendly luxury accommodations, gourmet meals, facilities and activities to provide memorable holidays to family groups of all sizes and ages.
-
How to save more while staying in a hotel with the whole family
Here are some tips how you can make even the priciest hotels more affordable for you. Keep them in mind the next time you travel and save tons of money easily and quickly.
-
October is “Kids Free Month” in San Diego
No wonder families have been coming here for 100 years. San Diego, of course, is a great bet for families all year round — sunny weather, 70 miles of coastline (take your pick of 30-plus beaches), theme parks (SeaWorld and LEGOLAND) and plenty of history
-
On a fall cruise when family doesn’t necessarily mean kids
even without a lot of kids, the ship was still packed with families — mothers and daughters, aunts and cousins, brothers and sisters-in-law, grandparents and young grandchildren, even four lifelong friends celebrating their 70th birthdays
-
A spa treatment with a Balinese Guru
I am a fan of spas—especially on vacation—as a way for moms (and dads) to decompress and get some much needed “me time.”
-
Taking full advantage of Halloween season
You don’t need to wait till Halloween to put on costumes, not when theme parks, resorts and haunted attractions have already kicked off special Halloween events
-
A Multi-Generational Getaway to Charleston, SC
I am always on the lookout for destinations with multi-generational vacation potential. Charleston SC met our expectations
-
At the Gilded Age mansions in Newport RI
This is our last day aboard the Norwegian Gem—we return to New York City tomorrow and Newport, famous for its sailing and coastal location as well as these spectacular mansions, is a good way to end the trip
-
The Few kids on this cruise have a blast
During school vacation weeks, the Norwegian Gem can have up to 800 kids aboard. But this week sailing from New York to Canada and back there are only 15. But they are having a blast.
-
Bar Harbor ME, Acadia National Park and St. John
Our cruise on the Norwegian Gem takes us to Bar Harbor ME, the beautiful Acadia National Park as well as St. John in New Brunswick, CA
-
Do Kids Clubs have a future at resorts and on cruises?
Almost every major resort and cruise line catering to the family market offers extensive children’s programming, but many Millennial families are opting out. What’s the future
-
Cruises & All-Inclusive | Destinations | Families & Groups | Food and Dining | Travel Diaries | Volunteer & Service
Halifax, Nova Scotia – History and Heroism Combine
Everyone knows about the Titanic, but few have heard about the Halifax Explosion of 1917 that killed 2000 people. Here in Nova Scotia history, tragedy and a beautiful city combine for some incredible stories.
-
Families on the Norwegian Gem – NYC to Canada
On this week-long cruise from New York to Canada, families of all sizes are aboard the Norwegian Gem – grown kids, grandparents, cousins, girlfriends on getaways
-
Like sailing from home — from NYC to Canada
This is almost like sailing from our back yard — from New York up to Halifax in Nova Scotia, the Bay of Fundy in Canada, back to Bar Harbor, ME, and Newport RI on Norwegian’s Gem
-
Families & Groups | Backyard Vacations | Destinations | Parks & Outdoors | Volunteer & Service | Weekly Column
10 fall festivals for families
There are literally hundreds of Octoberfests around the country this fall — some kid-friendly — but there are also plenty of apple, pumpkin and harvest festivals from which to choose
-
Beach Vacations | Cruises & All-Inclusive | Destinations | Families & Groups | Lodging | Parks & Outdoors | Taking the Kids Blogs
Fall is Family Time on Mexico’s Pacific Coast
Fall is family time along Mexico’s Pacific Coast whether you want to take a bike ride around town, practice your Spanish, head to a local festival or relax at an all-inclusive resort
-
Antarctica is at the top of the list for adventure travel
An astounding 64 percent of Millennial families took an international vacation in the last year — and Antarctica is at the top of most wish lists
-
Travel Agents Find Comeback in Millennial Family Travel
As millennial families head to exotic locales, seeking more adventurous and immersive experiences, travel agents — now called travel advisers — are seeing a significant uptick in business.
-
Getting slimed at Nick Punta Cana Resort
This upscale, all-inclusive 208-suite resort, a partnership of Karisma Hotels & Resorts and Viacom International Media Networks, is the first all-inclusive to have been built as a themed resort from the ground up
-
Airlines under pressure to seat families together
Anyone who has flown with young kids in recent years knows it’s not uncommon to find that your preschooler has been assigned a seat half a plane away. All too often, parents are told it is up to them to ask someone to switch seats.
-
Beach Vacations | Cruises & All-Inclusive | Destinations | Families & Groups | Lodging | Parks & Outdoors | Travel Diaries
Spa or Slime or Both? Last Day at Nick Punta Cana
The beautiful Vassa Spa at the new Nickelodeon Hotel & Resort in Punta Cana has an 11-step “ritual hydrotherapy “program that comes with a spa treatment, complete with a “spa butler”
-
Beach Vacations | Cruises & All-Inclusive | Destinations | Families & Groups | Lodging | Parks & Outdoors | Travel Diaries
Are Kids’ Clubs passe? At Nick Punta Cana Families Relish Time Together
The just-opened Nickelodeon Hotel & Resort in Punta Cana has a well-appointed kids’ club with cooking lessons, arts and crafts, a wide selection of toys, games (video and board games) and a slide that lands you in a pool of brightly colored plastic balls. But most of the families I’ve met have been keeping their kids with them.
-
Beach Vacations | Cruises & All-Inclusive | Destinations | Families & Groups | Lodging | Travel Diaries
Families Flocking to New Nickelodeon Hotel and Resort in Dominican Republic
It was a no brainer for his family and three others —10 kids aged 3-9 and eight adults—to choose the brand new Nickelodeon Hotel & Resort in Punta Cana, a partnership of Karisma Hotels & Resorts and Viacom International Media Networks.
-
Grapevine TX – not just a place near the airport but family central
Grapevine, TX, 10 minutes from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and in between the two North Texas cities, hosts some 20 million visitors a year, more than half from out of state.
