Riding a bike in the Sonoran Desert — at night!

Riding a bike in the Sonoran Desert — at night!

Our Guide Kerry Echer is leading us on one of several unique adventures offered by the Golden Door Spa here. Earlier in the day, we’d noticed Echer teaching rock climbing on the giant boulders; there are also guided hikes and mountain biking.

Getting them outdoors and away from electronics this fall

Getting them outdoors and away from electronics this fall

They’re the one thing I always put in my backpack when heading outdoors with kids in the fall — whether they’re 4, 14 or 24. Those Ziploc bags of M&Ms have been known to inspire art creations, stop a meltdown and even spur healthy debate..

Visiting the nation’s capital is cool in the fall

Visiting the nation’s capital is cool in the fall

Fall is a great time to visit Washington, D.C. Hotel rates are down as much as half, and the summer humidity has disappeared, along with the crowds. No wonder it’s Travelzoo’s featured destination right now.

This fall, explore America off the beaten path

This fall, explore America off the beaten path

Take a fall weekend to explore a smaller city or region near your home and you’ll be amazed at what you find; especially if you let the kids lead the way. Honestly, before I got there, I wondered what Sioux Falls S.D. would have to offer a traveling family.

Last evening in New York — at the Statue of Liberty

Last evening in New York — at the Statue of Liberty

My family decided to end our stay in the Big Apple with a trip to see the Statue of Liberty. Let me tell you, the “Summer Evenings” Cruise out to the Statue of Liberty was the highlight of our whole trip.

Nieces on a road trip to Boston and New York City

Nieces on a road trip to Boston and New York City

My nieces from Arkansas recently visited Boston and New York with on a two week road trip with their parents. The girls used CityPASSes to visit top attractions and museums in New York and Boston.

Exploring Colorado in the summer

Exploring Colorado in the summer

The skies are blue, the air is clear and there is no evidence of fire where tourists would go. “Some people watching TV thought the whole city burned up,” one local told me. “Some people thought the entire state burned,” said another in Crested Butte. Fortunately, Colorado’s fire-impacted areas represent less than 1 percent of the state’s 23 million acres of public land.

Last day in Aspen — biking to Woody Creek Tavern

Last day in Aspen — biking to Woody Creek Tavern

What’s left? Biking, of course. Locals are huge mountain bikers so we’ve at least got to give it a shot. We opt for the Rio Grande Trail—a rail to trail favorite of locals for running, hiking, walking and of course biking.

Exploring nature in and around Aspen with ACES

Exploring nature in and around Aspen with ACES

ACES, as the environmental center is known, offers a variety of winter and summer activities for families from custom hikes (a bargain at $40 an hour) to a free birds of prey program we dropped in on in the afternoon meeting the resident horned owl and golden eagle…