A visit to the family friendly Texas State Fair

A visit to the family friendly Texas State Fair

The State Fair of Texas Downtown Parade in Dallas traditionally kicks off the annual state fair, which runs through October 20. Locals and tourists lined the streets to watch dozens of colorful floats, marching bands, drill teams and cheerleaders.

Getting your family outdoors with the help of the Appalachian Mountain Club

Getting your family outdoors with the help of the Appalachian Mountain Club

The Appalachian Mountain Club is celebrating the 125th anniversary of the mountain huts — the oldest hut-to-hut network in the country. The AMC is even older. Founded in 1876, it’s the oldest conservation and outdoor recreation organization in the country with more than 100,000 members and supporters. Today, a big part of its mission is to encourage families to get outdoors.

Fall is a fine time to take the kids and family to see Colorado’s beauty

Fall is a fine time to take the kids and family to see Colorado’s beauty

Fall, in fact, we discovered, is a terrific time to gather the grown gang in Colorado. The days are sunny — warm enough for stand-up paddle-boarding and kayaking — and the evenings crisp. There’s plenty to do, whether you want to browse in Aspen’s shops, peruse the Saturday farmer’s market, hike or bike or even attend a film festiva

Travel Writers conference showcases the best of the Midwest in autumn

Travel Writers conference showcases the best of the Midwest in autumn

Being in Rockford for a travel writers conference—Travel Media Showcase– and talking to a lot of people from Midwest cities and States—Peoria and St. Paul, the Quad Cities in Western Illinois and Eastern Iowa, Fort Wayne and Kansas City—made me realize once again how much the Midwest has to offer families.

ACES in Aspen: a hidden gem for local and visiting families

ACES in Aspen: a hidden gem for local and visiting families

The Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) is celebrating its 45th anniversary and it is a great place to learn more about the spectacular environment here—and the creatures who call it home, whether you visit in summer, fall or winter.

Fly fishing near Aspen — it’s about the fishing not the catching

Fly fishing near Aspen — it’s about the fishing not the catching

“It’s about the experience,” says our guide Trevor Clapper from the Little Nell Adventure Shop, which offers trips that end in Basalt, about 20 miles downriver. Clapper says of everything people want to do in the summer or fall when they come to Aspen—off road jeep tours, guided hiking trips, white river rafting—fly fishing is the most popular.