Travel advice and reports for families considering a “volunteer vacation” or other form of public service
Whether it’s a honeymoon or a trip to Orlando, the anticipation — and planning — can be nearly as much fun as the trip itself.
Pearl Harbor, with over 1.8 million visitors annually is the top tourist spot in Hawaii. It can be difficult for kids to appreciate
There is something wonderful—even magical—watching someone you love opening a gift they love and will use again and again
Post Pandemic, these displays in big cities, smaller towns, resorts, theme parks, zoos, botanic gardens are bigger and better than ever.
What are your kids studying this fall? Consider a visit to a museum or battlefield that can engage their interest outside the classroom
I came upon this 52-unit resort more than a decade ago when my daughters were hiking one day, and I’ve always wanted to return.
Many people who lose 35 pounds would splurge on a new wardrobe. I opted for this adventure—one I could share with my daughter before she left for college. That was six years ago and I’ve traveled the world since. Still, our Kili Climb remains one of the most memorable trips we’ve ever taken.
This wouldn’t be everyone’s first choice for an expensive vacation. There are no beach chairs or bars on these protected beaches, where tourists may only venture with a guide. But this is an adventure we’ll never forget, starting with those sea lions we spotted on San Cristobal Island, snoozing on rowboats as if they owned the place.
“This is going to be the first time truly putting my travel skills from growing up to the test but I know it is just the beginning,” my youngest daughter Mel wrote in the “thank you” note she left
Despite the blustery January weather, crowds of bundled-up tourists from around the world lined up to take the Statue Cruises ferry to Liberty Island, good-naturedly taking off belts and watches for the security screenings. The second stop would be historic Ellis Island
If you are itching for a different late summer/fall getaway on the water, there are lots of options that won’t break your budget
If you could jump into a painting and walk around in it, what painting would you choose? It’s a good way to engage kids when visiting an art museum
What was your best Fourth of July? A parade, a barbecue with your nearest and dearest, fireworks or perhaps an entirely new experience?
Do you know your ABCs? We’re talking the ABC islands — Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, the three westernmost islands of the Leeward Antilles
If you could jump into an artwork and walk around in it, what would you choose? It’s a good question to ask kids visiting an art museum
Lucky little orphans. Actually, big orphans — bear cubs. They were rescued and now live happily at the Fortress of the Bear in Sitka, Alaska
Think a maze made out of thorns—92 million fashioned into blocks in which art has been inserted, creating an open-air gallery of sorts.
Got pine needles? Brew them into tea to help with Covid-19 respiratory symptoms. We learned this at an eclectic herb garden in the Caribbean.
Live performances are springing back to life after two years and in Denver it’s great to have this “gutsy” little theater down the street
Who really needs clean towels and sheets every day on vacation? Ditto for super-long showers. It’s not hard to travel more sustainably.
Cuba: “a dose of World War II rationing, a pinch of Soviet era austerity, the family values of South America, the educational values of the US and the loquaciousness of the Irish.”
Who hasn’t had a travel nightmare? The worst I’ve heard is angry passengers booing as you try to calm a child on the autism spectrum.
As you plan your spring and summer trips, consider noting women’s contributions wherever and however you travel, especially with kids
Ireland just announced that it will be extending the festivities for a four-day-long weekend this year, as part of a big “thank you” to frontline workers and everyone else for enduring the COVID-19 pandemic
The Underground Railroad wasn’t underground nor was it a railroad. There were no tickets, guides or maps. It consisted of secret routes
Marco has been cooking at Chaa Creek for years and is working to become a master chef. He will be cooking at the Masters Golf Tournament in Georgia in April.
Romantic? You bet! This he Lodge at Chaa Creek on the Macal River about two hours east of Belize City. It bills itself as “Windly Civilized. The resort has an unlikely origin
Are you ready for a challenge before your trip to Belize? All you need to do is pack a pound less in your suitcase.
One visit to Athens won’t cut it. “You’ve got to come back for a second visit,” says Spyros Kagkas. I might say the same about experiencing New York, San Francisco, or Paris
Since the news broke that the first cases of the Omicron variant had been found in South Africa, I’ve been thinking more about the people we met on that trip
This holiday season, show how you are paying attention. Yes, you can donate in their name to a favorite nonprofit
Let’s see where we can celebrate, whether we return to an annual tradition or make it an outing with relatives and friends you’ve been with over Thanksgiving
“It should be the new normal this holiday season … to ask for the vaccination status of hosts and invitees,” said Dr. Mobeen Rathore, an infectious disease expert
13 ships—including the brand new flagship Carnival Mardi Gras—are sailing from 6 US ports. And that’s just four months into Carnival Cruise Line’s restart
Bike or hike? Sonoma Valley may have more than 100 wineries, but there are 13,000 acres of state and regional parks as well.
Frank Bartholomew, a United Press war correspondent, handed Antonia a deed for a run down 500-acre ranch in Sonoma, CA and then returned to cover World War II
Anyone who travels knows a perfect—or near perfect—vacation day is rare. So I count us lucky on this warm, sunny blue-sky October Day in San Francisco
The Hispanic population of the United States totals 60.6 million people, making it the largest ethnic group
How about traveling abroad during a pandemic, and then boarding a cruise ship, perhaps for the first time?
This was the last day of our cruise on Celebrity’s newest ship Apex and we were trying to pack in as much time as possible
The Captain made the announcement at cocktail hour: A vaccinated guest had tested positive for COVID-19
Fragedaki is an engaging teacher as she instructs us on how to make spinach pie, tzatziki (a cucumber yogurt sauce), and stuffed tomatoes and peppers
Imagine if you are a competitive Greek god or goddess of ancient mythology with a big ego, not to mention you’re immortal with many superpowers
On a first visit, Kagkas explains, tourists check off the must sees–The Acropolis, the Plaka, the museums, but they don’t experience Athens like a local
Maine is the number one producer of wild blueberries in the country, and you can certainly take your pick of how to eat them if you visit
It’s no wonder that the Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway, just reopened after a 4-year makeover, is hugely popular with families
Anyone who has tried to interest and show kids Great Art knows they may not always respond the way you’d like, or even expect.
You don’t want to miss taking a selfie when you are exactly a mile high, 5,280 feet — on the 13th step of the west side of the State Capitol Building
Rangers underscore that our national parks are not theme parks, that there are real dangers. It’s essential that you teach the kids that you must be careful
Cummings explained he has fond memories of growing up in Jamaica until his parents moved him and his siblings to Brooklyn when he was 13
As we begin to travel again (safely), many of us are paying more attention to the environment. Can you afford to go to Antarctica before more ice melts?
March is Women’s History Month and it commemorates and celebrates the vital role women and girls have played and continue to play
Now for the first time, dinosaur lovers can meet SUE outside of Chicago; Denver’s Museum of Nature & Science is the first stop
This pandemic winter, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History kicks off Black History Month 2021 with its first virtual festival, dedicated this year to “The Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity.”
The inauguration and upcoming Presidents’ Day holiday are terrific teaching moments to introduce kids to the presidents and their families, starting with something all kids love to hear about, their pets
While big-ship cruises are a lot of fun, there is also growing interest for small-ship adventures that in some cases don’t cost much more than a big ship.
There are plenty of socially distanced options at zoos, botanic gardens and museums across the country, though you need to make reservations and purchase tickets in advance
Welcome to the new 60,000-square-foot U.S Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado, located at the base of Pikes Peak
We are diverse group of 32 (not including four guides) on this seven-day rafting adventure in the Grand Canyon, from across the country and generations.
Many museums have reopened during the pandemic with restrictions, while many remain shuttered but with excellent virtual programming