To a Colorado resort that’s no longer hard to reach
Tiny Telluride is a popular place. Nestled in the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado, the mountain range has the highest concentration of 13,000 and 14,000 foot peaks in North America
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Backyard Vacations | Beach Vacations | Destinations | Families & Groups | Parks & Outdoors | Weekly Column
Time to celebrate Halloween everywhere all month
No, I’m not a little early, though Halloween is nearly a month away. That’s because everyone from hotels to theme park to attractions to campgrounds to museums now have special Halloween doings that typically go on all month long.
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Get away from electronics to a fall festival or pumpkin patch
Take advantage of the glorious fall weather wherever you live to get them away from electronics — you too — for a day or a weekend and head to a fall festival, an apple orchard or a pumpkin patch.
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Getting out of the car at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Are you a windshield tourist? That’s what they call the many visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park who simply traverse the park’s famous 30-plus mile Newfound Gap Road through the park and don’t get out of the car much, if at all.
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Touring Kyoto with locals and on bikes: seeing more than temples
Kyoto is famous for its Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. This morning, we’re cycling a 14-mile loop with Kyoto Cycling Tour Project with stops at the Golden Pavilion and Ryoanji Temple with its world-famous rock garden – two of the city’s and Japan’s top tourist attractions.
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Cruises & All-Inclusive | Destinations | Families & Groups | Food and Dining | Getting There | Parks & Outdoors | Travel Diaries
In Hokkaido: navigating on our own is not that difficult
The ship staff had warned that navigating on your own in Japan is different than elsewhere. Very few locals speak English and signs are only in Japanese. I understand now why in the U.S. Japanese tourists always move in a group with a guide.
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A visit to a Japanese hot springs in Hokkaido
Good news! I’m going to live at least seven years longer. That’s because I’ve visited a Japanese Onseng—a hot springs resort. They are ubiquitous in Japan—there are thousands of them.
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Families trying falconry, the sport of kings
We are at Ireland’s School of Falconry — the oldest in the country and home to more than 30 birds, including the always popular Dingle the owl. The school is located at Ashford Castle
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Jake and Tobey go on a Safari in Style in Tanzania
Jake and Tobey Bill, ages 12 and 13 from Weston CT, went on a “Safari In Style” tour of Tanzania with the tour operator Abercrombie & Kent. They had heard great things about Africa and watched a few PBS specials about it, but nothing prepared them for what them saw and experienced in this amazing place.
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Destinations | Families & Groups | Food and Dining | Parks & Outdoors | Travel Diaries | Volunteer & Service
Enesi’s excellent adventure in the Dominican Republic – Part 2
Sixteen-year-old Enesi Domi shares his daily diary from a youth service experience in the Dominican Republic with the community service organization Rustic Pathways. This is the second of two installments. More than 5000 youths will go on Rustic Pathways service trips this year.
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Enesi’s excellent adventure in the Dominican Republic – Part 1
Sixteen-year-old Enesi Domi shares his daily diary from a youth service experience in the Dominican Republic with the community service organization Rustic Pathways. This is the first of two installments. More than 5000 youths will go on Rustic Pathways service trips this year.
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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: 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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At Scotland’s Fort George: a youth bagpipe band
Tour buses took us to Fort George, where the Inverness Youth Band with 30-plus members –drummers as young as nine and led by adults are “Beating Retreat,” performing a traditional military ceremony 16th Century England.
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Fans from all over the world love Harry Potter studio tour near London
The Woods family had flown 24 hours to London from Australia, but they weren’t planning to ride the famous London Eye, see a West End play or even check out the Crown Jewels. In fact, they’d come for just one reason — the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London — The Making of Harry Potter
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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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Fans and their families love the Harry Potter Studio tour near London
The Warner Brothers Studio Tour where the Harry Potter films were made outside of London draws 6,000 visitors a day but is well worth the effort for families with Hogwarts fans.
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10-plus ideas for family summer adventures in ski country
You’ll find increasing mountain-biking options at ski resorts across the country, whatever your level. You’ll also find free kid-friendly activities, festivals, farmer’s markets, mini and disc golf, tennis, challenge courses or, of course, the chance to hike, fish and river raft.
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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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To Rocky Mountain National Park as it celebrates its centennial
Rocky Mountain National Park is one giant outdoor playground offering more than 350 miles of hiking trails, many from Trail Ridge Road, 114 mountain peaks and 147 lakes that stretch 415 square miles between Estes Park and Grand Lake.
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Backyard Vacations | Beach Vacations | Destinations | Families & Groups | Lodging | Parks & Outdoors | Travel Diaries
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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Beach Vacations | Cruises & All-Inclusive | Destinations | Families & Groups | Food and Dining | Lodging | Parks & Outdoors | Weekly Column
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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Visiting Universal Orlando as it celebrates its 25th year
The shop windows are full of surprises, like the self-knitting needles. There’s the towering dragon that breathes fire, the Escape from Gringotts ride through the Gringotts vaults and the chance to chat up the Knight Bus conductor and the shrunken head hanging from the rearview mirror
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How families can benefit from getting off the tourist track in Mexico
Yes, there has been a recent State Department warning about travel to Mexico. But here in what is a tourist destination — albeit one less busy than Cancun or Puerto Vallarta, we certainly feel safe amid vacationing Mexican families.
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Obsessed with Frozen; never too old for princesses in Orlando
It was no surprise that she was mesmerized –along with every other child in the place at the Frozen Sing-a-long at Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios. In fact, the show, which reprises the story of Anna and Elsa complete with music and special effects, is so popular that it is moving to a larger theater.
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Too much fun at the theme park resorts in Orlando
“We hear all the time that guests are cutting down on their time at the parks to enjoy the resort,” said Four Seasons Orlando Resort Manager Ben Shank, noting there are five acres for fun and games.
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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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A bird-watchers paradise on Mexico’s Pacific Coast
People come to San Blas in the Riviera Nayarit from all over the world to see birds—as well as to surf the famous breaks. We are in a boat, mangroves on either side in La Tovara National Park
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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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Beach Vacations | Destinations | Families & Groups | Food and Dining | Lodging | Parks & Outdoors | Travel Diaries
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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Orlando – the most visited city in America
The good news is that if you are planning to visit Orlando in May — before the summer crowds arrive — the lines might not be as long and you’ll save some bucks on your hotel.
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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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National Park Service launches new “Find Your Park” campaign
The National Park Service and the National Park Foundation has just launched a nationwide campaign to encourage Americans to Find Your Park and share their memories and experiences online and via social media with the #findyourpark hashtag
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Backyard Vacations | Destinations | Disney | Families & Groups | Parks & Outdoors | Taking the Kids Blogs
Orlando is the most visited place in the USA. What this means for you…
Spring is one of the busiest times in Orlando which happens to be not only the theme park capitol of the world but the most visited city in the country. What does that mean for your family?
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New coasters arrive to thrill — or scare — your family senseless!
For you coaster lovers, there are more than two dozen new attractions with unprecedented technology, spins and speed at large and small theme parks around the country this year,
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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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Modern camping with kids – and WiFi
Younger campers say having a smartphone on a camping trip is nearly as important as toilet paper, according to the 2015 North American Camping Report. I’m guessing your kids would agree
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Families get acquainted with Thomas Jefferson at historic Monticello
It is only fitting that the home of our third president and the man who wrote the Declaration of Independence is so kid friendly. Jefferson was very fond of his 12 grandchildren, many of whom lived here with him after his retirement.
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Skiing and Soaking at Sunlight Mountain and Glenwood Springs
By springtime, many skiers are exhausted by the lift lines, carved out runs, and crowded resorts in Colorado Ski Country. But Sunlight Mountain Resort is the perfect little oasis where skiers can hit the mountain without having to schlep to the lifts.
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Telluride: An A-Lister’s Dream; a No-Lister’s Playground
Skiing down the “Galloping Goose,” it hit me — Telluride has something for everyone, even the 1 percent A-listers.
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Tapping his inner rebel at Crested Butte Mountain Resort
A die-hard snowboarder since his teens, Chris Yemma decided to try skiing on a blue-bird day at Crested Butte to see if his inner rebel still lives.
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Plenty more for families to do while visiting the Cactus League
March is all about baseball in Arizona — some 2.75 million visitors, 60 percent from outside Arizona, come to watch 15 major league teams get ready for the season through April 4
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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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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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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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Backyard Vacations | Destinations | Families & Groups | Food and Dining | Lodging | Parks & Outdoors | Weekly Column
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!
