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To the Snow in Telluride
ByEileen Ogintz January 10, 2010June 28, 2023

The town of Telluride is so safe that local parents let 10-year-olds run around on their own. Kids routinely hop the free gondola from the mountain village for the 12-minute ride into town where they can go to a movie (there’s one movie theater), get some pizza or a burger and some gummies at The Sweet Life. “Parents just have to be willing to give them the freedom and you will see them blossom,” promises Pam Bennett, whose three children are the fifth generation to be raised here.

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Greetings from Chile!
ByEileen Ogintz January 7, 2010June 28, 2023

For the past week and a half I’ve been in Chile, experiencing a new part of the world with my husband Andy, daughters Reggie and Melanie and Reggie’s boyfriend Dan Foldes. This has been a remarkably easy trip so far. We had a wonderful time touring quirky Valparaiso and cycling around some vineyards. We made it to a famous Penguin nesting habitat, even if we were there the wrong time of day to see thousands of Penguins, we saw plenty.

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Families & Groups | Weekly Column

When They Lead the Way: Looking Back on 2009
ByEileen Ogintz January 5, 2010June 28, 2023

Rule One: The kids are the leaders. Rule Two: We follow — happily — most of the time anyway. We all know the dirty little secret of family travel: If the kids are happy, the grown-ups are happy, and it doesn’t matter whether you are in a five-star resort in Scottsdale or a budget cabin in the Ozarks, on an once-in-a-lifetime trip to Costa Rica or camping in the nearest state park.

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Bonus coverage of silverton from the three amigos (Mel, Reg and Dan):
ByEileen Ogintz January 2, 2010June 28, 2023

The three of us love skiing… hard. Silverton satisfied our collective appetite for steep slopes, open powder fields and “earning our turns.” With only one lift (not counting the bumblebee-like helicopter that pilots experts to otherwise un-gettable peaks) the Mountain has a huge variety of terrain which can be accessed only by strapping one’s skis to backpacks and trudging up in ski boots.

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Destinations | Families & Groups | Food and Dining | Lodging | Snow Vacations | Travel Diaries

Last Day in Telluride — One eye on the weather
ByEileen Ogintz January 1, 2010June 28, 2023

DAY FIVE AAH. I’m face down with soft music playing at the Golden Door Spa at the Peak’s Resort in Telluride as the massage therapist works magic on my aching muscles (after four days of skiing )

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Day 4 – Visiting a ghost town
ByEileen Ogintz December 31, 2009June 28, 2023

DAY FOUR — I’m standing in a ghost town—in the snow in the middle of the forest. Who says all there is to do on a winter trip to a ski resort is ski or snowboard?

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DAY 3 — Spread your tentacles in Telluride
ByEileen Ogintz December 30, 2009June 28, 2023

Sixteen year-old Max Walker-Silverman, a Telluride native has a message for visiting teens: “Get out of the mountain village and spread our tentacles and you will find a cool historical town.”

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Day 2 — On to Telluride
ByEileen Ogintz December 29, 2009June 28, 2023

We drive from Silverton about two hours across a mountain pass to another world at Telluride Ski Resort, where we check in to a luxe condo–so luxe I can’t even figure out the lights or the shower (do I want rain shower, multi jets…?) at The Peaks Resort

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Five Days in Silverton and Telluride, Colorado
ByEileen Ogintz December 28, 2009June 28, 2023

Some people do make their dreams come true. “It’s a lot of hard work and a lot of fun and you just have to learn to roll with the punches when there is an obstacle in your path,” says Aaron Brill, the 38-year-old owner and founder, with his 37 year-old wife Jenny, of Silverton Mountain Resort in Colorado (www.silverton.com) that is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. This isn’t any ski resort. For one thing, there is only one lift and no bathrooms–just an outhouse.

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Cruises & All-Inclusive | Families & Groups | Food and Dining | Weekly Column

Aboard the Biggest Cruise Ship Afloat
ByEileen Ogintz December 27, 2009June 28, 2023

hink every kind of food the kids and you could want 24-7 (wine-pairing menus to burgers and fries, chicken noodle soup to gazpacho, healthy smoothies to ice cream sundaes), entertainment (“Hairspray” to synchronized divers performing in an outdoor AquaTheater and children’s puppet shows) and activity (mini-golf and water playground, teen disco and giant arcade, carousel and junior spa).

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Taking the Kids Blogs

KEEP IT COOL!
ByEileen Ogintz December 26, 2009June 28, 2023

That’s what my daughters told me this morning as I was stressing about our upcoming international flight to Chile. I wasn’t worried about increased security in the wake of a foiled–thank goodness–terrorist who was on board at Northwest-Delta flight from Amsterdam.

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Taking the Kids Blogs

GRAB SOME FUN WHEN YOU CAN
ByEileen Ogintz December 22, 2009June 28, 2023

Sometimes it’s impossible to get my entire gang together between work and school schedules. I accept that and grab some fun with my three kids whenever I can, even if it means all five of us aren’t all together at the same time.

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Families & Groups | Cool Travel Gear | Weekly Column

Buying Some Gifts for the Traveling Family
ByEileen Ogintz December 20, 2009June 28, 2023

Instead of rushing around trying to find the perfect gift for my favorite family travelers, I’m going to get them what I find most helpful to have with me when I’m traveling with my gang. According to a new survey from TripAdvisor.com, 38 percent of travelers hope to receive a travel-related gift this December.

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Jivn’ Jellyfish to learning to be a DJ
ByEileen Ogintz December 18, 2009June 28, 2023

Kids rule aboard Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s new megaship. There are designated areas on board for arts (partner with Crayola); science experiments (want to learn about volcanoes, bugs or global warming), and an awesome kids’ theater where Broadway veteran John Tartaglia has developed a puppet show that is performed by the youth staff, who all incidentally have college degrees in education, recreation or related fields AND three to five years working with kids.

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Cruises & All-Inclusive | Families & Groups | Travel Diaries

DAY 2 on the Oasis of the Seas– What to do?
ByEileen Ogintz December 17, 2009June 28, 2023

Do I want a roast beef sandwich or a slice of fresh made pizza, popcorn shrimp and fries or a salad made to my specifications? This is the largest cruise ship at sea—when full, Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas can carry 6,296 guests and a crew of 2,165. So it makes sense there’d be more dining options.

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Families & Groups | Cruises & All-Inclusive | Travel Diaries

ABOARD OASIS, THE BIGGEST SHIP AT SEA
ByEileen Ogintz December 16, 2009February 1, 2024

Think Vegas on Steroids. Think overstimulation. Think every kind of food, entertainment you—and your kids could want. If you don’t mind vacationing with 6,200 plus guests and 2,165 crew (from over 71 countries—welcome aboard Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas which made its maiden voyage December 5, 2009.

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Beach Vacations | Destinations | Families & Groups | Lodging | Weekly Column

A Caribbean Resort That Works for Generations
ByEileen Ogintz December 13, 2009June 28, 2023

Welcome to Beaches Resort in Turks and Caicos — the family resort of the Sandals brand — where the littlest vacation goers like Milo Greenspan rule. Milo may only be four but he drove his family’s vacation decision — straight from Chicago to this resort. “He’s been asking for the last two years to come to Elmo’s Beach,” explained his mom Catherine. “And if he’s happy, I’m happy.”

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TURKS AND CAICOS – Last day
ByEileen Ogintz December 10, 2009June 28, 2023

The bride and groom say their vows in front of the sea under a canopy billowing in the wind, their guests sitting in front of them on white-covered chairs. There’s no one else on the beach.

It couldn’t be more romantic or beautiful. I’m watching from my balcony of my room at the Gansevoort on Turks and Caicos, where the wedding couple and their 80 guests have been ensconced for the last few days.

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TURKS AND CAICOS – Day three
ByEileen Ogintz December 9, 2009June 28, 2023

We’re stretched out on the white sand beach staring at the turquoise water. We didn’t have to fight for beach chairs and though I’m told the Gansevoort Turks & Caicos (www.gansevoorttc.com) is sold out this weekend courtesy of a wedding. It is only 91 rooms. Neither the beach nor the drop-dead gorgeous pool (have you ever seen cushioned lounges that rest in a few inches of water?) are crowded.

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Beach Vacations | Destinations | Families & Groups | Lodging | Travel Diaries

Turks and Caicos — Day Two
ByEileen Ogintz December 8, 2009June 28, 2023

Milo Greenspon may only be four but he drove his family’s vacation decision—straight from Chicago to Beaches Resort in Turks and Caicos.

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