A rich archive of weekly “Taking the Kids Columns” in newspaper syndication since 1992
Welcome to a Backroads Breakaway trip. Besides the biking, there are special walking tours in various cities and lunches in out-of-the-way local spots.
Welcome to the only national park in the northeastern United States. Last year, when the park celebrated its centennial, it had its busiest year in 27 years, with a record 3.3 million visitors
The kids immediately saw life wasn’t much fun for slaves. We’ve time traveled back much farther than the United States before the Civil War, though. We’re in Bath, England where slavery was a way of life for the Romans 2000 years ago
We’re talking about a different kind of milestone, but one equally memorable — the 2017 total solar eclipse, something that happens only rarely in this country. It’s an event they’ll remember all their lives, and should be good for many science projects to come.
Hike one of Colorado’s famous Fourteeners — one of the 50-plus mountains that rise more than 14,000 feet — hike to Vail’s famous Back Bowls through a sea of wildflowers or mountain bike on miles of trails. Welcome to Vail in summer.
VisitBritain is celebrating the 200th anniversary of Austen’s death (July 18, 1817) with a year’s worth of exhibitions, talks, walks, writing competitions and performances here and elsewhere, like in Bath, where fans come to walk the streets that Austen
There is certainly lots to choose from this summer — 170 new rides, slides and experiences at 75 parks and attractions across the United States and in Canada
Today, aboard the Queen Mary 2, there is a mural depicting the Cunard history of entertaining kids dating back to the mid-19th century
if you play your cards right, you’ll all have fun celebrating the nation’s birthday — and learning something about American history at the same time.
Maybe he’s an avid camper. Maybe he’s a fisherman or sailor, a hiker, golfer or biker. However the dads in your life enjoy the outdoors, there is plenty of new gear to enhance their experience — just in time for Father’s Day.
These days, especially, it’s important to know what to do if your passport gets lost or stolen or if you need a passport in a hurry (say for a family emergency abroad or last-minute business trip that you can bring a child along).
I’m sure the kids have lots of ideas, and they may not all involve theme parks. It’s a good idea to talk to the kids about what you’re thinking for a summer trip
We’re in the middle of the Arabian Desert at a nearly 140-square-mile Desert Conservation Reserve about an hour southeast of Dubai riding in a four-wheel drive SUV up and down 6,200-foot-high sand dunes.
The new exhibition Mummies at the American Museum of Natural History gives us a rare glimpse into lives and cultures of the past, thanks to 21st-century tools and technologies
With Mother’s Day approaching, think about some little things that will make the moms in your life smile on their next trip. You don’t have to spend a fortune either!
Take the kids and grandkids to San Francisco where the city is marking the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love with a year’s worth of special events, exhibits, concerts and more.
It doesn’t cost anything to visit the Lincoln Memorial at night, to play pilot in a mock cockpit at “America by Air,” a permanent exhibit at the National Air and Space Museum, attend a family event or one for young children at the Museum of African American History and Culture or visit the giant pandas at the National Zoo.
It’s no surprise that Britain is planning a lot of celebrations in Harry’s name. The good news for all of the fans on this side of the pond: It’s an excellent time to visit London and beyond
It’s easy — far too easy — to lose track of kids in a crowded pool, especially on a big cruise ship. Drownings happen silently in a matter of seconds. How to keep them safe.
Wherever you opt to ski this spring break, expect plenty of sunshine, great deals and packages, even at the poshest resorts.
Who says spring break is just for college kids? Certainly not the families impatiently waiting in line at Orlando theme parks, but at least it’s not as hot as in midsummer!
There are other hidden gems like Ski Cooper elsewhere in Colorado and around the country for snow-loving families, suited especially for those with young kids and families just learning. Here are five good bets:
The family had chosen Azul Beach Resort the Fives, a Karisma Gourmet Inclusive Experience, just outside of Playa del Carmen, for their getaway, because it seemed to offer all they needed.
We walked amid thousands of penguins (we saw five species) not bothered by our presence and fur seals who were. The huge elephant seals ignored us, as did the humpback whales we watched from zodiacs.
February is the ideal time to visit a historic site or explore a museum exhibit celebrating African American History Month, which is also celebrated in Britain and Canada.
For five years, David and Shari Jacobson saved as much as they could, but they weren’t saving for a dream house or college for their two sons. They were putting money aside for a dream family trip many thought would never happen.
Welcome to the world of cruising. The best part: You can easily stay within budget and bring the grandparents along without any trouble.
. I know most families don’t think they need travel insurance, but it really can save the day — and lots of money as costs can run into six figures when someone must be evacuated in a medical emergency. And, as travel insurers note, that is as likely to happen at a Mexican resort as on a cruise ship in some exotic locale.
You can teach the kids a lot about the culture of a place through its food. Besides, it’s fun. Two-thirds of those polled for the 2016 Portrait of American Travelers say fine-dining is important on vacation.
Ask anyone what they want from vacation and, besides a good time, they’ll likely answer that they’re after lasting memories for their family
Peanut M&Ms are good, too. The Aspen, Colorado, middle-schoolers I interviewed for my “Kid’s Guide to Denver and Colorado Ski Country” opine that it’s always smart to have “power candy,” in your pocket
But this wasn’t a big holiday sale. People were waiting for the chance to get free tickets to The Broad, Los Angeles’ newest contemporary art museum.
There’s always that one thing you wished you had brought for the trip, but didn’t. Why not give your favorite travelers something that will genuinely make them happier and more comfortable on their 2017 travels? The best news: They’ll think of you, and your thoughtful gift, every time they travel.
Make it an overnight when you head to see that favorite holiday light display or museum exhibit. Go see Santa somewhere else besides the mall.
For a lot of us, heading to holiday light displays has become as big a Thanksgiving weekend tradition as football and pumpkin pie.
Why domillions of us drive hundreds of miles or fly thousands over the busiest travel days of the year to eat too much and sleep on a futon or lumpy sofa bed? Family. That’s why we do it
Not only have spunky Princess Anna and ethereal Queen Elsa stolen the hearts of little girls everywhere, but they’ve significantly contributed to the increasing number of tourists visiting Norway
Whoever wins the World Series, visit Chicago or Cleveland this fall or holiday season and get a dose of happy along with great eats, world-class museums and holiday festivals.
I wondered when I planned this trip if my gang of grown kids, who love nothing more than tearing down those steep slopes, would like a more laid-back holiday — at least for a few days on a week-long winter trip to Colorado. I needn’t have worried.
No wonder families have been coming here for 100 years. San Diego, of course, is a great bet for families all year round — sunny weather, 70 miles of coastline (take your pick of 30-plus beaches), theme parks (SeaWorld and LEGOLAND) and plenty of history
even without a lot of kids, the ship was still packed with families — mothers and daughters, aunts and cousins, brothers and sisters-in-law, grandparents and young grandchildren, even four lifelong friends celebrating their 70th birthdays
You don’t need to wait till Halloween to put on costumes, not when theme parks, resorts and haunted attractions have already kicked off special Halloween events
Almost every major resort and cruise line catering to the family market offers extensive children’s programming, but many Millennial families are opting out. What’s the future
There are literally hundreds of Octoberfests around the country this fall — some kid-friendly — but there are also plenty of apple, pumpkin and harvest festivals from which to choose
As millennial families head to exotic locales, seeking more adventurous and immersive experiences, travel agents — now called travel advisers — are seeing a significant uptick in business.
This upscale, all-inclusive 208-suite resort, a partnership of Karisma Hotels & Resorts and Viacom International Media Networks, is the first all-inclusive to have been built as a themed resort from the ground up
Anyone who has flown with young kids in recent years knows it’s not uncommon to find that your preschooler has been assigned a seat half a plane away. All too often, parents are told it is up to them to ask someone to switch seats.
I always suggest parents and grandparents let the kids lead some of the time on vacation, even when they are in grade school. They will take you in unexpected directions
I think this picturesque city would be a good place to base yourself for several days or a week, though it can get crowded as the city of 150,000 welcomes more than 1.5 million tourists a year
The scenery is beautiful. There are plenty of activities. And you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars for lift tickets to have fun in the summer or fall in Aspen/Snowmass CO.