Thar they blow! Humpbacks galore on the Inside Passage
We are cruising around Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska aboard the InnerSea Discoveries Wilderness Discoverer when we spy humpback whales. So cool! Two are off the bow of the ship!
-
-
Heading off on an “un-cruise” in Southeast Alaska
This morning kayaking near the entrance to the Dry Pass, we see giant red sea stars, anemones and the biggest clams I’ve ever see – Gasper Clams (so-called because they squirt water out of their shells). We learn make these clams make for great bear snacks.
-
Parents need sleepaway camp too!
Migis Lodge in Maine is a small resort too—just 35 cottages—at most, 150 guests.We could all use a place like that this summer to get unplugged with the kids, if only for a few days. There’s no glitz or glam, just old-fashioned family time.
-
Bushwhacking through the Willows in Denali National Park
What people also don’t realize is that hiking here is far different than hiking in Yosemite or Yellowstone or most other places. There are no defined trails, and no trail signs. You either need to be experienced in the backcountry and know how to use a compass and map or be fortunate enough to be hiking with someone like Brian McCormick who has been guiding visitors for years.
-
Camp Denali: fascinating tales from three generations
Wood showed us a film after dinner of the building of “Camp” as they call it—hauling logs with a World War II surplus jeep, sawing huge trees with hand saws, giving climbers who successfully summited the largest mountain in North America (20,320 feet!) a free spaghetti dinner.
-
Finding new ways and places to celebrate July 4
Maybe this July 4th you’ll be home marching or watching a local parade. Maybe you’ll be visiting the relatives and cheering on nieces and nephews as they march. Maybe you’ll be celebrating some place new, joining in special and unique celebrations.
-
A “moderate/strenuous” hike on the Denali permafrost
They said the views from the ridge at the top of the Tiga Trail are spectacular. We ask can we do a “moderate-slash-strenuous” hike (translation: slower). Everyone laughs and the six of us in our family—three nursing bad knees—head off with the naturalists
-
Two weeks in Alaska: Day One on the road to Camp Denali
We’ve already seen a huge Grizzly munching on a ground squirrel, four Dall sheep, Caribou, a moose and two recently born calves, a red fox …and we’d only been in Denali National Park a few hours.
-
Remembering a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Tahiti
That trip was three summers ago and since Mel left for college, we’ve shared adventures but she’s gone off much more often on her own—as it should be. I’m glad we made it to paradise when we did.
-
Coasters are great, but never force a child to ride
If the kids balk when you get to the front of the line, walk away. Tell your child there’s always next year.
-
First stop on a family trip to NYC — Central Park
In my new book The Kid’s Guide to New York City, I do my best to make sightseeing in the Big Apple fun for kids as well as parents, with plenty of tips from local (play soccer in the park!) and visiting kids (try roasted nuts from a vendor! )
-
Backyard Vacations | Destinations | Families & Groups | Food and Dining | Lodging | Parks & Outdoors | Weekly Column
Lots to do in the mountains and farms of Vermont in summer
The kids have already petted a chicken (and learned they’ll eat cantaloupe, as well as worms) met the baby calves Fiona and Danika and the draft horses Joe and Jim. Certain days of the summer, kids, ages 10 to 15, can become a farm vet for a day…
-
Beach Vacations | Cruises & All-Inclusive | Destinations | Families & Groups | Lodging | Weekly Column
To the Caribbean and savings in summer
Come here in summer and you may be able to afford to vacation like the 1 percenters. Like everywhere in the Caribbean, you can save significant bucks on airfare, as well as lodging.
-
Five ‘uncruise’ vacations you may not have thought of
Not to say big cruise ships aren’t a lot of fun—they are!—and often a good deal. But if you are looking for NEW ways to reconnect with your kids and with nature around water this summer, here’s how.
-
In Virginia, a Tattoo is not what you might think
Traditionally a tattoo is a ceremonial military performance. The Virginia Arts Festival’s International Tattoo is a huge tribute to this tradition.
-
Half million more of us will vacation this summer
Memorial Day official kicks off summer vacation season and AAA says 34.8 million of us will be traveling—up 500,000 from last year. We’re not letting gas prices keep us home and most of us—almost nine out of 10 holiday travelers—will drive.
-
Healthy food is part of the kids’ adventure at some hotels
Finally, it appears, the hotel industry is paying attention to what traveling families have long been saying: Make kids’ menus healthier; give kids more choices!
-
The Wild Side of Puerto Rico: Extreme Sports f
‘Snuba’ is not a typo, it’s one of the fastest growing aquatic activities that combines the best of snorkeling and scuba diving and allows you to explore coral reefs in the depths of the tropical seas without getting scuba diving certified.
-
Orlando treats you like a VIP
Who doesn’t want to be treated like a VIP on vacation? We all do, of course, cutting lines, getting pampered, seeing what most tourists don’t. Orlando offers plenty of VIP options for the entire family—assuming you’re willing to pay extra for the privilege, of course.
-
Backyard Vacations | Destinations | Families & Groups | Parks & Outdoors | Volunteer & Service | Weekly Column
Interacting with the Turtles at SeaWorld Orlando
TurtleTrek is home to adult and juvenile sea turtles, including hawksbill, Kemp’s Ridley, loggerhead and green sea turtles — all of whom, like Grandma, have been deemed nonreleasable by the Florida government.
-
Beach Vacations | Destinations | Families & Groups | Food and Dining | Lodging | Taking the Kids Blogs
Remembering a friends getaway to Puerto Rico
I’m here with two old friends for a girlfriends’ getaway too and we decide Puerto Rico is a good bet—easy to reach, no passports required and plenty to do (even a big outlet mall, if you are so inclined.)
-
Verbolten bolts you at Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Orlando isn’t the only place with new attractions this summer. Get ready to climb aboard Verbolten, an all-new multi-launch, indoor/outdoor roller coaster opening at Busch Gardens Williamsburg.
-
Backyard Vacations | Beach Vacations | Destinations | Families & Groups | Lodging | Parks & Outdoors | Weekly Column
Discovering the beauty of the California Coastal region
During our five-mile hike, we see plump yellow banana slugs, the tiny Calypso orchid and blooming trillium, a member of the lily family. But the best part is the conversations with my daughter, Reg, who lives across the country from us in San Francisco. I’d forgotten how conducive hiking is to catching up!
-
Backyard Vacations | Cruises & All-Inclusive | Destinations | Families & Groups | Food and Dining | Lodging | Travel Diaries
Farm to table at the historic Ocean House in Rhode Island
Jane Dane, the mom of three, is a modern day Forager. That means it is her full time job to act as the liaison between local farmers and the chefs at the luxe 49-room Ocean House in Watch Hill, RI which is a designated Relais & Chateau property with a focus on farm to table cuisine.
-
Eating your way through a destination city
A prominent food magazine editor wrote recently about traveling to a far flung destination just for a great meal. I guess that’s a more common practice among foodies than you might think. I can relate.
-
Lots of places to rediscover your inner Titantic
The real point here is to encourage youngsters and their parents to “journey to new depths of discovery.” That includes a 4-D theater where SpongeBob SquarePants takes you and your kids on an undersea adventure, complete with mist and bubbles
-
Getting out of the bubble while on vacation
Tourists need to get the message that it is safe to venture out of their manicured hotels. “You will really feel the love,” he promises, and here the crime rate is very low. He introduces me to Jahealo Calvin Clunie who shows off his paintings and carvings.
-
Prepping for a Family Road Trip
If you’re looking for family vacation ideas, consider taking a road trip. Driving to your family vacation destination is often more affordable than buying plane tickets for the whole family
-
A Spring Skiing Adventure at Heavenly and Kirkwood ski resorts
Heavenly Ski Resort. We both agreed that this ski area had been aptly named. We looked out over the giant span of beautiful Lake Tahoe from the top of the mountain.
-
Time to plan your visit to our National Parks
My youngest daughter, Mel, says those national parks trips when she was little (and complained her legs were “broken” from all the hiking) spurred her interest in environmental science — her college major
-
An Easter brunch to remember — Day Five
We are at the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay’s Sunday Brunch that is so popular in the Bay area that people drive an hour or more to indulge.
-
Giant Redwoods and little yellow slugs – Day Four
The Giant Redwoods, soaring hundreds of feet in the air, were amazing. But what was even better was the conversations with my daughter Reggie as we hiked through Butano State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains
-
Backyard Vacations | Beach Vacations | Destinations | Families & Groups | Parks & Outdoors | Travel Diaries
Exploring the coastal region near Half Moon Bay
This area is also home California’s first and only broad based ecotourism visitor program, through which more than 30 farmers, fisherman and business community members have come together to offer visitors hands-on activities and a chance to meet local residents.
-
Day Two – exploring San Francisco’s Japantown
Everyone knows San Francisco’s bustling, busy Chinatown, the largest outside of Asia.
But Japantown? This area is worth exploring and not just for the food. -
Six days in San Francisco and Redwood country
The Fairmont San Francisco’s Executive Chef jW Foster installed the beehives in the hotel’s 1,000-square foot culinary garden to help support the bee population which has dropped 90 per cent since the 1980s.
-
Spiderman vs. Harry Potter at Universal Orlando
Move over, Harry Potter. Spider-Man has arrived. “I’m just not that into Harry Potter,” explains 16-year-old Jordan Madow who preferred the newly reanimated Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
-
How to get your teens to spend time with you
Question: How do you make two high school senior girls happy AND get them to spend time with you?
-
Teens meet DisneyWorld – really like Epcot
When we got to Magic Kingdom the first day we were in DisneyWorld, it was a little overwhelming. After walking through Cinderella’s castle, we were greeted by Hannah Montana
-
Learning animation on Disney’s cruise ship Fantasy
Wow! Even the jaded 17 year olds I’m with are impressed. At the end of the show, each of our names — as we signed them on our placemat — is listed on the credits as “guest animator.”
-
Two teens explore Universal Orlando and Harry Potter’s world
Once we arrived at Universal we met up with Matt, our amazing tour guide, who immediately brought us to our most anticipated attraction, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
-
Just a couple of teens on a Disney Cruise
Jack Sparrow greeted us, along with crystal clear, bright blue waters and white sandy beaches. We walked past the first beach because it was a little crowded, but found chairs AND, much to our content, a water slide at the second beach
-
Learning local history adds to vacation memories
Since we’re here on a girl’s getaway, we find it amusing that at the height of the mining boom in the 1900 census, there were 22 seamstresses in Park City but only two sewing machines.
-
A club dedicated to getting moms back on the slopes
Welcome to Park City Mountain Resort’s new Ladies’ Club, offered certain days of the week. Women who hadn’t skied in a while, said Martell, “didn’t want a high powered clinic. They just wanted an opportunity to get back on the mountain in a non-threatening way.”
-
Touring the old city of Dubrovnik, Croatia
The city’s medieval walls helped protect the city and there was tremendous international publicity decrying the bombing of this historic city and in favor of granting Croatia diplomatic recognition.
-
Luxe and lots of powder at Deer Valley UT
For those who can afford luxe on the slopes, tt doesn’t get any better than the ski-in, ski-out Montage (with its own Compass Sports rental shop and ski valet where they buckle and unbuckle your boots) and Deer Valley
-
Good eats in and around Park City UT
Here as well as at neighboring Deer Valley –which led the industry in providing good mountain eats—we’re seeing ever better food with an emphasis on what is locally sourced.
-
Meet Holly Flanders – and make time for yourself on the slopes
Flanders teaches women’s ski workshops at Canyons—I thoroughly enjoyed one a few years ago—but now has a new mission—to convince women they need to make that time, no matter what else is going on in their lives.
-
Remembering a great adventure in the high Chilean desert
It’s only 10 a.m. but I feel like we’ve been going all day. That’s because we left our hotel Tierra Atacama before dawn—I’d never seen such bright stars across the desert sky—on our way to the highest geyser field in the world—El Tatio Geisers at 14,190 feet!
-
A visit to see the biggest Budda in the world
Not just any giant Buddha but the Tian Tan Buddha, the world’s largest outdoor sitting Buddha — some 98 feet tall and weighing 250 tons, his humongous right hand raised to deliver a blessing to all.
-
Getting out of your comfort zone is a good thing – just ask the kids
It’s no secret that the snowsports industry wants to encourage more minorities to hit the slopes. But that’s not easy with lift tickets costing over $90 at many places, not to mention all the gear that’s needed. (Even long underwear and the right socks can be expensive.)
