In Edinburgh, where Harry Potter was written and history abounds
Welcome to Daigon Alley. No, this is not at Universal Studios Orlando. It’s here in Edinburgh, where JK Rowling famously wrote the first book in a coffee shop.
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At Gleneagles, falconry is more than for the birds
Margo is a Harris Hawk at the British School of Falconry here on the grounds of the historic Gleneagles Hotel, the first in the country and extremely popular with kids. In fact, we had an audience as I was learning to hold Margo and let her fly.
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Gleneagles: a world-famous golf resort, now family friendly
Of course, Gleneagles is known for golf — it is home to three of Scotland’s best championship courses and it is where the 2014 Ryder Cup was played. But today, only 30 percent of guests play golf — and some of them may be kids taking lessons.
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Gleneagles Hotel in Scotland – a foodie paradise
What is vacation without good food and Gleneagles Hotel certainly delivers. It is home to Andrew Fairlie, chef of Scotland’s only two Michelin-starred restaurant. But the other restaurants offer something special as well—maybe trying Scottish food for the first time.
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Gleneagles: Famous for golf but beloved by UK and US families
Gleneagles is known for golf—it is home to three of Scotland’s best championship courses but today, only 30 per cent of guests play golf and Gleneagles is a kid-friendly resort that draws families from the United Kingdom as well as the United States back year after year
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A multi-gen foodie heaven at Ireland’s Ashford Castle
The great food at Ashford Castle in Ireland is inspired by Lord Ardilaun, a scion of the Guinness family, who insisted on only the freshest and most varied of local produce, a tradition continued by new executive chef Philippe Farineau
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Ireland’s Ashford Castle – beloved by American families
We are at Ireland’s School of Falconry—the oldest in the country—at Ashford Castle that dates back to 1228 on the shores of Lough Corrib, the largest lake in Ireland, and the River Cong, which is reputed to have the best salmon and trout fishing in Europe.
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Hotel VIP Lounges – great for families on extended vacations
It’s not that I need to be treated like a VIP. I just want to de-stress experience as much as possible—especially with kids. That means not having to wait to be served breakfast or a snack or paying through the nose for food the kids won’t eat.
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Tea with Charlie at a hip but kid-friendly London hotel
In Britain these days, one young local explained, tea “is for a special occasion—like a birthday. Maybe it’s going to see your first West End Play—say Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
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Puerto Vallarta resort is more than an all-inclusive
If you think Mexico is only about all-inclusives, think again. The Westin Resort & Spa Puerto Vallarta, with its contemporary décor and just 280 rooms, offers all-inclusive options, though many also like to explore Puerto Vallarta’s lively dining scene.
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A new Orlando resort that does more for families
The kids want to stay right where they are because they’re having way too much fun at the expansive Explorer Island pool-water play area at the New Four Seasons Orlando at Walt Disney World,
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Take your family to Lisbon
Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, is a city webbed with narrow cobblestone streets, opening onto squares of medieval cathedrals and monasteries overlooking the Rio Tejo. With its yellow trams, open parks, 1930s cafés, and ghostly spirit, Lisbon is a city that has plenty to offer every member of the family.
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A Very Special Destination Wedding
Like one in four American couples getting married this year, according to research by TheKnot.com, my daughter, Reggie Yemma, and her new husband, Dan Foldes, opted for a destination wedding
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Lake Tahoe On a Budget: The Beach Retreat & Lodge
Lake Tahoe is one of the largest alpine lakes in the world, with a full menu of recreational options to match its grand size. Combine the cobalt blue water with miles of pristine nature trails and you’ve got a perfect match for lovers of the great outdoors.
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A father-daughter trip to the parks and beaches of Southern California
Ten-year-old Hannah Sitzman is a serious and competitive gymnast who only gets one week off her training a year. So she and her Dad Mike made the most of every day on a whirlwind visit to the parks and beaches around Los Angeles recently.
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21 ways to show your Dad some love on summer vacation!
As Father’s Day coincides with the start of the summer vacation season, I figured there’s no better time to offer some suggestions to up dad’s fun quotient on vacation, which is a much better idea than yet another Father’s Day tie, or an IOU, accompanied by a charming kid’s drawing.
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Ten fabulous Caribbean summer deals for families
Looking for a summer beach bargain?
You know, somewhere with white sand beaches, clear blue water and plenty of activities to keep everyone happy — paddle-boarding, giant sand castle building, boogie-boarding and snorkeling. Let’s not forget kayaking.
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Kids influence family vacations, HomeAway survey finds
HomeAway, the world’s leading online vacation rental marketplace, has found in a new survey that kids are wielding increasing influence on where families go and what they do not only in the United States but in Europe too.
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Why families love all-inclusives, even when they didn’t think they would
In Puerto Vallarta, all-inclusives account for 80 percent of the hotels and they are especially popular with families in Mexico and the Caribbean. They’re certainly upping their game to appeal to families.
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A memorable feast of mangrove-grilled Snapper
Giovanni Arredondo holds up two huge Pargos—a kind of snapper—that had just been caught this morning, more than enough to feed the 10 of us.
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On the Riviera Nayarit along Mexico’s Pacific Coast
At the Iberostar Playa Mita in Riviera Nayarit on the Pacific Coast of Mexico they feel they’ve gotten as close to family vacation nirvana as they could possibly get. “We’ve never had free room service,” joked Troy Nathan.
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Dolphins and art galleries in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
There are dolphin discovery programs run by this company all over the Caribbean but this park is different because for the same price (a little over $100) there is a challenge course, water slides, a water play area for younger kids, even a zipline over the slides).
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Day Two – a tour around the all-inclusives of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Puerto Vallarta is known for its galleries and its food but it is probably known more as a cruise ship stop and for those visiting the all-inclusive resorts.
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Visiting the Grandest of Canyons with young kids
I looked around and saw kinds of families — from around the world here to experience what is widely considered one of the wonders of the world.
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Three days in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico: Day One taco tour!
We’re in Puerto Vallarta, which is increasingly known for its food and happens to have some 500 taco stands open into the early hours of the night—each one with a specialty that locals come to savor. Every ingredient comes from within a 20 mile radius.
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Baseballs, burgers, crepes, water parks and family time in Arizona
Once we land, I talk the rental car lady and my Dad into getting us a cool Mustang to ride around in instead of this family looking car they had for us. My dad tells me I have rental car swag.
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Discovering history and fun in the countryside outside London
After seeing London’s great sites, it’s a joy to explore Britain’s famous Cotswolds towns, which are just about a two-hour train trip from London’s Paddington Station — ideal for a day or a weekend when you’ve had enough of the city, as fun as it is.
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Enjoying a week of baseball spring training in Arizona with a young cousi
Matt Yemma and his 12-year-old cousin Ethan Sitzman spend a week shagging baseballs, autographs and enjoying the waterparks and sunshine of spring training in Arizona.
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Boarding, burgers and teen bonding in Bolton Valley, VT
A high school junior and scholar in the A Better Chance program writes about a weekend of snowboarding fun and bonding time with his housemates in Bolton Valley, VT.
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Off the slopes and into the Spa: At The Peaks in Telluride
My daughters and I head up to one of Colorado’s biggest Spas at The Peaks Resort in the Mountain Village, where kids love the indoor-outdoor heated pool complete with water slide and is ranked a top spa by Conde Nast Traveler
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Let it snow! Transformational day at Telluride Ski Resort
After a week of bluebird weather, a much-needed winter storm has moved into Colorado and it is dumping snow at Telluride Ski Resort.
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Telluride CO: historic mountain town welcomes modern families
Welcome to Telluride Ski Resort, about an hour from Montrose and 2.5 hours from Durango (both of which have regional airports) in Southwest Colorado with just 2500 year-round residents who happily live in a box canyon 8750 feet above sea level. Yes you feel that altitude.
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Spring training – where families get up close with ballpayers
The parks are smaller, the food cheaper and you might get close enough for those who are big baseball fans in your gang to get an autograph.
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Our family trip back to Crested Butte, where memories were made
The 6 year old was determined to set herself apart from her older brother and sister on vacation. My youngest daughter declared she was a “big girl” and could decide for herself what fun she would have in the snow that week in Crested Butte CO
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Plenty to do on and off the slopes in Crested Butte, CO
For a town of 1500 people, Crested Butte, CO has enough restaurant choices to please any palate, promises David Wooding, co owner of the popular new Mexican restaurant Bonez
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Returning to our favorite ski resort when the kids were young – Crested Butte CO
When my kids were small, we often skied at Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Southwest Colorado. This trip we’re back with family and I remember quickly why I love this place and so do the other families I meet.
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It’s almost March – time to take the kids on spring break!
Whatever you choose, spring break is a good time to get away with the kids. Plan smart and you might even snare a bargain. The good news is you’ve still got plenty of time to get a trip organized.
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San Francisco’s hidden gem — The Presidio
We’re hiking the famous Batteries to Bluffs trail in San Francisco’s Presidio, a national park unlike any other, which takes us up and down steps along the western Pacific shoreline, past historic gun batteries, rewarding us with a spectacular view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Wow!
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Two worlds for kids and adults in one resort on St. Lucia
Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa in St. Lucia offers Splash, a wing where the kids club is housed and visitors delight in being young and taking part in family-friendly activities and Harmony, Coconut Bay’s adults-only wing.
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Marriott Vacation Club Opens the World for Traveling Families
Maybe you should check out Marriott Vacation Club. Backed by the Marriott name and celebrating its 30th anniversary, it’s a far cry from those old school timeshares
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A quirky new hotel in San Francisco makes you feel special
Welcome to the Hotel G, San Francisco’s newest boutique hotel with 151 rooms just north of Union Square but miles away from the big-box chain hotels in the neighborhood. Incidentally, there have been hotels in this building since just a few years after the 1906 Earthquake.
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At the Presidio in San Francisco, top chef aims at kids menus
Award winning San Francisco chef Traci Des Jardins wishes American restaurants would take a page—a menu page—from their counterparts in other parts of the world. “The United States is one of the only places in the world that has special meals for kids,” she said. “We are conditioned to teach kids to eat differently than we do and that is a mistake.”
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Off the slopes snowshoe fun at Northstar California
Rather than ski, I’m going to have some fun in the snow a different way—hiking on snowshoes in the woods, though the lack of snowfall does impede us a bit.
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Families love concierge level for informality
“I love it here,” said Martha Kramer, enjoying an early dinner with her two kids, including one with special needs. She could have gone to the first rate restaurant downstairs Manzanita with her husband and his business colleagues, she said, “But this is more relaxing.”
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At Northstar CA, moms get pampered with special ski progam
This program at $295 is less than an all day private lesson. The women are grouped according to their ability, no more to four to a group. They might end up with a private coach all day. The day includes a lift ticket, the latest demo equipment and at the end of the day, champagne and canapés during a “tech talk” about equipment. Considering that a lift ticket is over $100 and demo equipment $70, this is a bargain.
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Fun in the snow at YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch in Colorado
You’ll certainly be warmly greeted at the YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch, and many of the welcomes will come in the way of furry kisses by the adorable and powerful Snow Mountain Ranch dog sled team.
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A taste of Olde England and its literati in St. Louis, MO
We’re not in England though it feels like it. We’re in suburban St. Louis at the locally owned Cheshire, celebrating its 50th anniversary.
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In Northern Italy, a little-known gem of history and culture: Mantua
You won’t find that many tourists here, but you will find the quintessential Italian experience — restaurants spilling out onto cobblestoned piazzas, locals starting their morning with a cafe, the weekly market that takes over the entire Piazza Sordello
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To Jumby Bay, Antigua: A unique all-inclusive resort in the
Many families have a special vacation spot — a snow sports resort, a lake where the kids caught their first fish, a beach where they build giant sand castles. Jumby Bay is one of them.
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Not just any sandy beach, Jumby Ban is a private island family paradise
Karin Allyn is celebrating a birthday on a beautiful stretch of white sand beach under a thatched umbrella with her children and grandchildren. But not just any beach—she’s at Jumby Bay
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Fish fit for a king, or a snorkeler, at Jumby Bay, Antigua
We’re at Jumby Bay on its own island just off the coast of Antigua–an all inclusive where the food isn’t like any other all inclusive I’ve seen—of course this is one of the most exclusive resorts in the Caribbean.
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A friends getaway to Jumby Bay, Antigua; an upscale all-inclusive resort
Here on a pre-holiday annual getaway with my three oldest friends, I’m glad to be ensconced in this villa within the upscale all inclusive
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Mixing American history with holiday fun in Valley Forge and Philadelphia
Every Dec. 19, an annual event commemorates the arrival of the rag-tag Continental Army to Valley Forge PA, and its determination to persevere against hardship to become the first American Army.
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A Sunday brunch to die for at the famed Hotel del Coronado in San Diego
At the Hotel del Coronado’s famed Sunday Brunch there are over 100 items to choose from—freshly made ceviche and crab legs, calamari salad, fresh oysters and smoked salmon, trout, prime rib, ham and smoked turkey carved in front of us. That’s just to start!
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Relaxing and thinking fitness at the Omni La Costa Resort and Spa in CA
The Omni La Costa in Carlsbad CA is considered a top wellness resort in the country with a fitness center, expansive spa with its own pool as well as café, yoga center, golf and tennis.
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The beauty, charm and eco-friendliness of Nicaragua
The San Francisco family was inspired to come to Nicaragua by friends who had visited with their kids, they said, and didn’t want to spend all their time on the beach — as gorgeous as it is
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Cheesesteak and history for all – fun in Philadelphia with teenaged boys
Cheesesteak and ice cream. The Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution and a galaxy of top-flight colleges… that’s what we found on a whirlwind day in Philadelphia with a group of teenaged boys.
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Enjoying our last night Italy and finding very-hard-to-find bad pizza
Now, I’m determined to enjoy our last night in Italy—and it would be hard not to at the Four Seasons Milan — considered by those in the know as one of Italy’s top city hotels.
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Riding bikes in the Alps: our Italy adventure moves to Lake Garda
Yes the Alps. We’re out for our Sunday ride in Italy with my friend Ron van Dijk who directs European Operations for Austin Adventures and has been leading bike trips in Europe for more than 30 years
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Mantova Italy – a hidden gem of history, art, music and literature
We stay in Mantova, between Milan and Venice and near Verona, an off-the-tourist-track town that has an amazing history in art, music and literature. Shakespeare wrote that Romeo bought his poison here.
