Travel ideas and reports for families and groups, including multigenerational families
The scientists are mostly under the age of 10. Welcome to the new “Treasures of the Earth” exhibition here at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, launched in partnership with the National Geographic Society and world-renowned archaeologists, at the largest children’s museum in the country, which draws well over a million visitors a year to Indy.
How much would you pay for a memory? I was thinking about that looking around at the parents, grandparents and hoards of young children—especially little boys—at the Foxwoods Theater on Broadway where Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, the most expensive production ever mounted and one fraught with problems and delays, has recently opened.
The Continental Army. Here in the heart of historic Philadelphia on a steamy summer day, we’ve time traveled back to the heady days of the American Revolution, the drafting of the Declaration of Independence and the making of Betsy Ross’ famous flag sewn at the request of General George Washington — all right where it all happened — thanks to 30 terrific costumed “History Makers,” as well as 40 first-rate storytellers from the nonprofit Historic Philadelphia organization .
Which party are you going to? Across the country on July 4th weekend, everyone will be slurping ice cream cones, waving flags and having a good time — hopefully. If you want to do more than attend — or host — a BBQ in your backyard, you certainly have your pick. Here are five picks guaranteed to please without busting the budget
A growing number of ultra deluxe resorts around the world, which once never saw kids or barely tolerated their presence, have changed their tune as more wealthy parents are bringing their kids along. The good news for those of us without unlimited resources: Choose your dates wisely and you may be able to vacation like the rich and famous
What sets this place apart is his philosophy that I wish other restaurant owners and chefs would embrace. Rather than limiting kids to a kids menu, he offers smaller portions of just about everything on the menu – from calamari to filet mignon and Scottish salmon — at a reduced price.
Hidden Pond is just 16 spacious cottages spread over 60 wooded acres a mile from Kennebunkport’s famous Goose Rocks Beach that’s open just from May to October. It’s a place where kids can tool around on bikes, go for a hike, do cannon balls in the pool and gather around the fire pit for s’mores and even take an outdoor shower in the cottages or pick vegetables or herbs in the gardens
We learn from our affable captain Dave Coleman that Maine provides the world with 75 per cent of its lobsters and that licensed lobstermen work very, very hard—with each one having about 800 traps and checking on about 150 a day. We see how much work it is for Dave to haul in just the one trap andcheck the lobsters for size.
Who said today’s families—even teens and college students—are too jaded for old-fashioned vacations? Not on a Lake Powell Houseboat. These days, it’s hard enough to gather the family at the same place together much less come up with something that will please everybody, whatever their ages
This summer, if you are willing to fly, you may find a better deal in the Caribbean or even Hawaii than in traditional beach resort towns like Newport, R.I., or Cape Cod, Mass. In fact, when Travelocity named summer’s Top 10 family destinations, after Orlando, they included Cancun and Puerta Vallerta, the Hawaiian Islands, the Bahamas, Turks & Caicos and the Dominican Republic.
These days, many dads live far from their kids and are getting ready for their annual Summer Vacation Visit. Many count on vacations together to make up for all the time apart. Other dads plan just-me-and-the-kids getaways camping, hitting ball parks or fishing. This all adds up to a lot of dads traveling solo with their kids
Here you have no sense of the outside world. Everyone is always smiling. Everyone is helpful and anticipates your every need. And the always obliging concierge can steer you in the right direction whether you want to go surfing or shopping. After their first visit, though, General Manger Steiner says, people don’t even leave. “They have everything they need right here.”
According to recent polls from Travelocity and Orbitz, Orlando is the number one destination for families this summer. It is affordable with some of the summer’s best room rates (plenty of hotels and condos under $100 a night and special deals for those in the U.S. military) and flights. And we all know you won’t run out of things to do
Our kayak guide Carlos Michaud tells us locals call the Pacific side beach Divorce Beach because it is so rough. We’ve kayaked from Cabo San Lucas to see the famous arch—the natural rock arch that is surrounded by towering rock walls. It is said this is where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez here on this peninsula but our guide tells us the true spot is probably two hours north of here.
The kids pool at One&Only Palmilla may be nicer than the adult pool. It overlooks the Sea of Cortez. Perch on pint-sized beach chaise and watch the ocean—or the resident Iguana. There are a whole variety of pool toys for the taking— and life guards on hand. Kids and parents congregate at the zero entry area ideal for toddlers and preschoolers, No one cares that there’s no water slide.
There’s plenty for young spa goers too—a Wish Upon a Star facial for $40 a Dancing Feet Pedicure for $30 and an entire array of “family sanctuary” treatments like a massage for mom or dad and head and hand massage for your child ($290) a teen face care and make up lesson ($150) and even a session for a teen with a private trainer.
RVing may not be for die hard backpackers like my grown kids, but it’s still a great way to get kids outdoors and get some R&R. You don’t have to worry about what to do when it rains either. Sure gas prices are high, but some families park their RV in one spot rather than touring the region. What a great way to explore one part of the state or one national park, returning to the camp ground in the evening where you’ll find congenial neighbors, activities, Wi-Fi in many places and even swimming pools.
Cabo—Los Cabos “the capes” is the name generally given to this area –a 20-mile long stretch of white sandy beaches and resorts between San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. One&Only is between the two towns at the tip of the Baja Peninsula—the meeting point of the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. It’s a less than two-hour flight from Los Angeles or Phoenix, with non-stops from Chicago, Texas and even Newark. People love it here because winter or summer, the weather is reliable—no rain except in September, I’m told.
Sometimes in our rush to take the kids to see major museums and historic sites, we skip smaller cities like Baltimore — ideally located 40 minutes north of Washington, D.C., and 90 minutes south of Philadelphia — that are not only easily navigable (even free buses) but can be easier on our wallets.
The sheer size of the place can’t help but impress even the most jaded teen. Some of the towers soar more than 100 feet. The massive pillars look like tree trunks, stone chameleons, tortoises and turtles.
This summer, with every electronic accoutrement and despite high gas prices — the current national average price for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline is $3.95, $1.04 more than last year — most of us will still hit the road, according to AAA, though nearly four in 10 of us will adjust our travel plans as a result, suggests a new survey from TripAdvisor
Across the country and even abroad, such small unique hotels are gaining a following among families who appreciate the intimate atmosphere, the service and the fact that they have, well, more personality than big chain hotels. Small hotels don’t necessarily cost any more and in some cases they cost less.
Whether your kids are science geeks, future engineers or artists, or you just want them to have a unique experience, San Francisco’s two-dozen museums deliver. The California Museum of Sciences — one of the city’s top tourist draws since its move to Golden Gate Park — is the only place in the world to combine a natural history museum, aquarium and planetarium in one building. It’s the greenest museum in the world.
Everything changed that trip in one fell swoop. My kids—aged 21, 19 and 14 at the time—decided after years of following us on vacation, it was time for them to lead mom and dad on an adventure, they said (though they expected us to pay for the privilege, of course)
Aboard a cruise ship you can relax and meet families from around the world, instead of schlepping from city to city. And after an exhausting day of touring, you return to a place where most everyone speaks English and there are big swimming pools, familiar food and, with morning-till-night youth activities, a welcome break for mom and dad..
Happy Mother’s Day! I’ve been on those “I can’t believe we’re spending so much money for such a non-vacation” trips with my three kids more times than I want to remember. Here’s the good news for all of you young moms: Vacations get easier as the kids get older and more self sufficient
Talk about a unique family getaway — yes, while this is primarily for adults and couples there are family weekends with a litany of kids’ activities — pony rides nearby, a bonfire with s’mores, croquet on the lawn, biking and hikes, fishing in the pond… you can even sleep in a helicopter!
Locals and tourists scoff at the notion that they might not be safe here or along the Riviera Maya (www.rivieramaya.com), which stretches south of Cancun to Tulum. “Mexico is a big country and the violence is so far away from here,” explains cab driver Fernando Morales, who has lived in this area all his life. “Once people get here, they relax.”
It is amazing that we are standing in stone rooms where families flourished so many centuries ago. Balcony House is one of the best preserved sites in the park and offers a spectacular view down into Soda Canyon. There are some 38 small stone rooms and two ceremonial kivas here with plazas and even some of the original wood poles that formed a balcony.
Reg and Dan set the itinerary and the pace, while we picked up the tab. It’s nice for a change not to be in charge and to be able to let grown children lead the way, catching up with them about their lives when we’re not distracted by extended family gathered for a big event or holiday. It’s also nice to be able to just focus on one child at a time too