When the benefits of travel trump the costs
Not only do the vast majority of travelers believe that traveling with friends and family brings them closer together but that they value experiences vs. acquiring more material belongings.
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Making memories in the fall: leaf peeping and Halloween
Who has collected the biggest leaves? The most sticks? The most different colored leaves as mementos of the fall?
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Halloween? What’s your family’s agenda? How about a spooky road trip?
Halloween events have already been in full swing for weeks — whether you want to hit a Halloween-themed festival, mega-theme park event, visit a haunted house or stay in a “haunted” hotel
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Ready for Autumn Getaways? How to find a festival or event near you
Fall festivals are in big cities and small towns across the country, decidedly family-friendly, some a tradition dating back a half-century or more with a backdrop of spectacular fall foliage. Many are free.
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Grand Lake CO: The other side of Rocky Mountain National Park
We opted to stay in the smaller, less crowded Grand Lake at the Western edge of the park at the historic Grand Lake Lodge which opened in 1920 and is a national historic landmark. We stayed in one of the 75 cabins that originally were purchased as kit homes from Sears Roebuck & Company
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Exploring Europe’s countryside and holiday markets on a CroiseEurope river cruise
How about a seamless trip with great food and no traipsing from city to city lugging suitcases. The heat is gone and so are the crowds. Experts on board can help you take a deep dive into the regions you are visiting and, in many cases, excursions are included.
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Unique adventures: On the original Route 66 near Santa Fe NM
While visiting northern New Mexico recently, we had the opportunity to drive on the last unpaved stretch in Santa Fe in a 1973 open-sided Swiss Military Vehicle.
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Have Dog Will Travel: Are pets the new hotel VIPs?
According to data from the GlobalVetLink pet travel trends, roughly 78 percent of pet owners take trips with their animals every year. The majority travel by car but, according to the American Pet Products Association, of those who travel with their dogs, a growing number – 74 percent – have traveled by plane.
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Grand Lake Colorado: homespun charm and the alternative to the crowds of Estes Park
This year, there will be events all through December in Grand Lake Colorado to commemorate the holiday season. Many come in mid-to-late September to enjoy the foliage and then for a cozy Thanksgiving.
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Meow Wolf: a whole new world for kids and families to explore
Welcome to Meow Wolf Santa Fe’s House of Eternal Return. This is an immersive experience like no other that has exploded in popularity since it opened here a decade ago. Today there are five open exhibits (Las Vegas, Denver, Grapevine, Texas, and Houston. Los Angeles is expected to open at the end of the year and NYC next year.
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How to get out of your comfort zone: visit Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam
I hung on to Mr. Su, a Vietnamese man in his 60s or 70s, on the back of his motorbike as we weaved through traffic in Ho Chi Minh City, dodging cars, buses and other motorbikes down tiny alleys, across bridges and main roads, neon lights winking.
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New outdoor travel gear: Your camping, hiking, and biking experiences just got better
Having the right travel gear, whether you are heading to explore an undeveloped country, sightseeing in big cities, or camping can make a big difference in the experience
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Santa Fe NM: Arts, music and foodie paradise – take the Four Seasons curated tour
The Four Seasons Rancho Encantado, with just 65 casita-style rooms on its 57-acre property north of Santa Fe, has curated this art-focused tour of downtown Santa Fe, about 20 minutes from the resort.
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Families & Groups | Food and Dining | Lodging | New Mexico | Parks & Outdoors | Snow Vacations | Travel Diaries
Beating the summer heat in New Mexico’s beautiful Taos Ski Valley
Nestled in the Sangre de Christo mountains of Northern New Mexico, Taos Ski area offers great skiing in winter and is a great place to beat the heat in summer.
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Celebrating Colorado’s 150th birthday in the mountains
Locals and visitors are celebrating Colorado’s 150th birthday of becoming a state on Aug. 1 with special events, exhibits, concerts and more.
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Calistoga California: Wellness over wine; try a mud bath
Although there are 550 wineries in the 47-mile stretch of Napa Valley – 55 right around tiny (population around 5,000) Calistoga – people are drinking a lot less and are seeking other ways to relax, often with kids in tow.
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Happy Hour: Great deals on meals and drinks on family vacations
Have you taken your family to happy hour lately? Everyone is welcome – families, couples, groups of friends of all ages. It’s a good way to save on restaurant outings in today’s inflated economy.
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Breckenridge Colorado: Celebration Central All Year Round
Welcome to Breckenridge Colorado, a historic mining town that is 9,600 feet above sea level and about a two-hour drive from Denver.
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Tips to keep kids (and everyone else) safe this summer
Is your car seat secured properly? Did you pack a first aid kit? What about a ‘fact sheet’ with each family member’s medications, emergency contact numbers, etc.?
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Take a Tasty Bite of San Francisco: tour historic Chinatown and visit the iconic Tonga Room
Did you know that the fortune cookies Americans enjoy in Chinese restaurants actually were Japanese in origin? We learned this and more in San Francisco recently.
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Curacao: a tiny Caribbean island is a darling of the World Cup
Curacao is the smallest country (just 160,000 residents) to ever have a team qualify for the World Cup. And it’s a great place for families to visit.
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How To Plan Safe Multi Generation Vacations Abroad This Year
Discover how to successfully plan and execute safe, stress-free multi-generational family vacations abroad with expert logistical tips and document checklists.
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For Father’s Day: a travel experience or traditional gift or both?
These days, a lot of us prefer an experience, especially if it is one we can share with those we care about most.
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Two Hotels, One Anniversary: How Milwaukee Brings America’s Story to Life
Milwaukee’s Pfister and Saint Kate mark the nation’s 250th with curator-led art tours, patriotic Afternoon Tea, and cocktails honoring the presidents who once stayed in Milwaukee
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All the reasons and places to celebrate Juneteenth
Big city celebrations are everywhere. Some are multi-day festivals. Some events are on June 20
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Airport lounges are popular and often the reason families choose a flight route
Access to a preferred airport lounge has become a major driver of airport and airline selection, with 47 percent of lounge customers indicating they plan their routes based on lounge access and 82 percent indicating they choose a specific airline based on lounge access
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Gas prices? Turmoil? Are you rethinking your summer travel plans
There are many reasons to travel this summer. The kids will only be this age once. You are celebrating a special anniversary, graduation or birthday.
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How to celebrate on vacation this summer despite the rising costs of travel
High gas prices. International travel worries. Yet, vacations are too important for us to forego! We may have to adjust this year.
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When it makes sense NOT to take the kids or grandkids
A new family travel trend is quietly gaining traction– parents traveling with grown kids, not just when they are out of college, but when they are well into middle age. I’ve met these families on luxury cruise ships, far-flung adventures, all-inclusive resorts, even on a white-water raft trip
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A trip down memory lane in Austin, Texas
Besides being the capital of Texas, and home to the University of Texas, with 55,000 students, Austin is famous for its music scene and festivals (Austin City Limits, among them) and cutting-edge culinary options, from hotel restaurants to food trucks.
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A Unique Adventure in the Sapa Region of Vietnam
The Sapa region of north Vietnam, famous for its steep, tiered rice paddies and tiny villages that are home to groups like the Hmong, known for their distinctive crafts and dress.
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Camping and RVing: how to get unplugged on your family vacation
Not only do we yearn to get outdoors away from crowds, but camping enables a more relaxed pace. Families can also easily bring their pets, not only saving money on a kennel, but not stressing over leaving them behind.
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Autism Awareness on your family’s travels
April is Autism Acceptance Month, which aims to foster inclusion, understanding and support for those on the autism spectrum and their families.
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Earth Day 2026: Dozens of Ways To Get Involved
Ready to get your hands dirty? Earth Day 2026 is April 22 with dozens of ways to get involved cleaning up our planet – and helping to make it healthier – whether you are home or traveling.
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Riverboating from Cambodia to Vietnam: on to Ho Chi Minh City
As we came to the end of our cruise that started in Cambodia and sailed to Ho Chi Minh City, I felt lucky to have had such experiences that wouldn’t be possible on a larger boat cruising the Mekong River
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Get ready to celebrate America’s 250th Birthday: Plenty to do and see in Washington DC
Ready to get to center stage? Not at a concert. We’re talking about America’s 250th birthday celebration.
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10 Charming Iowa Day Trips That Are Perfect For A Quick Spring Getaway
Spring in Iowa hits differently when the tulips are blooming, the air smells like fresh earth, and the open road is calling your name. You…
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Riverboating from Cambodia to Vietnam: Part 1 of 2
The riverboat is small, the cabins tiny. But no complaints. This is all part of the adventure and sailing the way it would have been years ago.
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In Cambodia: floating village, acrobats, golden girls, monkeys, temple-destroying trees, and Angkor Wat
We visited Siem Reap, famous for being the home of Angkor Wat, the largest Buddhist temple complex in the world as well as many other temples.
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This Charming Wisconsin Town Is A Peaceful Escape Few People Know About
Along the southern shore of Lake Superior sits a tiny town that many travellers overlook entirely. With fewer than 600 residents, it might seem easy…
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What if political violence upends your family’s vacation?
Registering for travel alerts, purchasing travel insurance are essential for international trips today
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Cruises & All-Inclusive | Destinations | Families & Groups | Food and Dining | Parks & Outdoors | Travel Diaries
Fish massage anyone? Anything goes on Cat Ba Island in Lan Ha Bay, Vietnam
On our 3-week tour of Vietnam and Cambodia, we spent three days and two nights on Lan Ha Bay. Goodbye tiny city!
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Hanoi Vietnam: a welcoming metropolis with a lot of American history intermixed
Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, was bombed repeatedly by American forces during a war half a century ago, but today it welcomes American visitors with welcome arms.
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Destinations | Families & Groups | Food and Dining | Lodging | Parks & Outdoors | Travel Diaries | Volunteer & Service
Trekking in Vietnam: making the best of it when travel plans go awry
After less than a mile of traversing the steep, winding, and rocky trail, dodging motorbikes carrying passengers or loads of goods, I realized I couldn’t finish the 80 percent of the trek that remained.
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What are your family vacation goals this year?
Maybe you simply want to unplug and spend some unfettered time with your family. Maybe you want to climb a mountain or visit every Major League baseball stadium.
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Celebrating women during Women’s History Month
The aim this year is to celebrate the diverse contributions of women leading sustainability efforts across environmental, economic, educational and social justice movements and at the same time empowering others to act. Exploring what women have accomplished throughout our history is a great way to start.
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This No-Frills Alabama Diner Might Just Have The State’s Top Cheeseburger
There’s something special about a cheeseburger that doesn’t try too hard. No towering gimmicks, no over-the-top toppings, just a perfectly seasoned patty, melted cheese, and…
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Savoring an Iftar and more in Jordan during Ramadan
In Jordan, Iftar has become the way many local families break their fast during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar observed by Muslims around the world by fasting, prayer, reflection and community
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12 Great Ideas For Your Family’s Spring Getaway
It’s not too late to plan a Spring Getaway. In fact, According to CheapOair, one of the world’s leading online travel agencies, families as well as those traveling without kids are waiting to book less than a month in advance. Growing numbers want to take a road trip, camping or RVing along the way, though that may change giving the sudden spikes in gas prices.
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Last minute ideas for your family spring break
You will likely find tempting deals wherever you want to go this spring season. Frontier and Southwest are among the airlines offering spring deals.
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DESTINATIONS | Destinations | Families & Groups | Food and Dining | Parks & Outdoors | Snow Vacations
Sundance Resort: a unique combination of skiing and culture in Utah
“People come here to connect with the land and the land in turn inspires the creative spirit,” suggests Megan Ah You who oversees the Art Studio and its programs.
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How to find the perfect romantic getaway with or without the kids
Experts say it is important for kids to see parents have a life beyond being parents. And your getaway can be just as much an adventure for the kids, whether they are staying with grandparents, their best friends or a favorite babysitter.
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Destinations | Families & Groups | Food and Dining | Lodging | Parks & Outdoors | Snow Vacations | Travel Diaries | Utah
Deer Valley Resort in Park City UT is undergoing a huge expansion
This year, Deer Valley resort has unveiled its East Village expansion, with the largest increase of skiable terrain in its history. Pardon the dust
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Backyard Vacations | Destinations | Families & Groups | Parks & Outdoors | Snow Vacations | Weekly Column
How you can participate in the Winter Olympics closer to home
There are plenty of options in North America where you can try on your winter Olympian.
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Destinations | Families & Groups | Food and Dining | Lodging | Parks & Outdoors | Snow Vacations | Travel Diaries | Volunteer & Service
Sundance Resort: A small Utah ski spot that is so much more – thanks to Robert Redford
Unlike other snow resorts, the arts have been central to Sundance Resort since Robert Redford bought the resort in 1969 in an effort to prevent this valley, which he loved, from being developed.
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Wave Season: How to get the best cruise deals of the year
During Wave Season, the cruise lines really roll out the perks to help sweeten the deals and encourage booking. For travelers, it’s a great time to compare deals
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Families Are Obsessed With This Magical Florida Canal Boat Adventure
Tucked away in the heart of Winter Park, just minutes from Orlando’s bustling theme parks, lies a waterway experience that has quietly captivated families for…
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15 Secret Michigan Lakes Hikers Swear Are Worth Every Step
Michigan hides some of the most stunning, untouched lakes that most people never get to see. Tucked away in wilderness areas, state parks, and remote…
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10 Breathtaking Desert Landscapes That Make Arizona Unforgettable
Arizona stretches beyond the cliché of cacti and tumbleweeds, it’s a place where towering red rocks meet ancient canyons, and sunsets splash the sky with…
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13 Scenic Colorado Drives That Belong On Your Road Trip Bucket List
Colorado’s mountain roads unfold like a painter’s canvas, with winding paths that snake through towering alpine forests, across majestic passes, and beside sparkling rivers. From…
