Fun in the snow off the ski slopes
It may be Christmas week, but we’re as far from a mall and city crowds as we can get. We’re hiking the Crawford Trail, the longest continually used trail in the country, snow crunching under our feet
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The sights, sounds and scents of Tokyo, Japan
It is eight in the morning and we are a few blocks from the hotel at Tokyo’s famous Tsukiji Fish Market, Japan’ largest. More than 15,000 people work here; international tourists line up in the early hours of the morning for the chance to watch the famous fish auctions,
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Taking the Kids to a galaxy far, far away … with Disney
I’m speechless. You would be too with a menacing Darth Vader haranguing you behind his black helmet and costume. But then I laugh and we pose for a picture. This is Disneyland, after all, at its immersive best.
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Finding gifts for your favorite travelers this holiday season
This year, I hope everyone gets something they can use on their next trip, wherever they want to go, even if they are simply heading to a nearby city.
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Where holiday lights build family traditions
For many families, sharing holiday displays, whether at a theme park, a hotel or a nearby neighborhood is an annual tradition that gets everyone away from pre-holiday chores and stress. It’s just these days, you’ll find Santa, elves and millions of lights at the ready long before the Thanksgiving leftovers are gone.
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Volunteering on Vacation: Memorable Adventures from Family Trips
When the two Whitaker teens talk about their holiday trip to Tanzania two Christmases ago, it’s not the animals they saw on safari that proved the most memorable, as amazing as the elephants and giraffes were. It’s how they helped a small unofficial orphanage.
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To Montana, which offers outdoor fun all year
I love Yellowstone in winter — no crowds, lots of animals and the chance to see Old Faithful and other thermal features without any crowds. (Did you know Yellowstone has more thermal features than anywhere in the world — 10,000 bubbling mud pots, hot springs and geysers?) Honestly, we felt like we had the whole place to ourselves.
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So much invention in Seattle: Inspiration for Kids
The Museum of History and Industry, now in the historic Naval Reserve Armory at Lake Union Park, boasts the largest heritage organization in Washington State with nearly 4 million artifacts. It is a good place to start any family visit to Seattle.
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Baseball teaches an important American history lesson in Kansas City
They were among the best baseball players in the United States, traveling cross-country to play the game they loved before cheering fans. But they were often forced to sleep on their bus and eat peanut butter crackers.
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Ireland’s Ashford Castle: very popular with American families
Ashford Castle, in western Ireland on 350 acres along the shores of Lough Corrib and the River Cong, is famous for its fishing and falconry but if you’re a boy just staying in a bona-fide castle is the real attraction.
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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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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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A haunting visit to an elementary school in Hiroshima
I’ve got chills as Amber Whaley, 12, and her friend Miko Uno, 11, lead us into their elementary school’s basement. This was all that was all that remained of the Honkawa Elementary School when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima 70 years ago this past August 6.
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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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Finding real books and bookstores on your family trips
I know a lot of kids don’t even read “real” books anymore. Everyone is all about interactive books kids can read on tablets with all sorts of fun features. But there’s still something to be said for stopping in at a local bookstore — or a national park visitor center — and browsing their collection of children’s books.
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Sampling Orlando’s changing restaurant scene during Magical Dining Month
Visit Orlando’s magical dining month, which starts August 24 and continues throughout September and highlights many restaurants offering prix fixe dinners for $33. (Ready to share with your junior foodie?)
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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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On a multigenerational cruise with Windstar in Scotland
The 91-year-old had chosen the Windstar Star Legend, a 212-passenger ship for a cruise with her 17-year-old grandson— one of three yachts without the line’s famous sails that the company has recently acquired from Seabourn
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New York City in August – good time for families to visit
New York, of course, is always tops on tweens and teens lists of wanna-go places. If you have a few days before school starts, it turns out August is a good time. Sure it may be hot, but with business travelers scarce, you are likely to get a good hotel deal.
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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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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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New efforts to convince Americans to take their vacation days
Whatever the reasons, Americans failed to use 429 million days of paid time off last year, the U.S. Travel Association reports. Those who get vacation time are taking less, while a quarter of Americans don’t get any paid vacation at all
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A new Orlando resort that does more for families
The kids want to stay right where they are because they’re having way too much fun at the expansive Explorer Island pool-water play area at the New Four Seasons Orlando at Walt Disney World,
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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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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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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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Ten fabulous Caribbean summer deals for families
Looking for a summer beach bargain?
You know, somewhere with white sand beaches, clear blue water and plenty of activities to keep everyone happy — paddle-boarding, giant sand castle building, boogie-boarding and snorkeling. Let’s not forget kayaking.
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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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Why families love all-inclusives, even when they didn’t think they would
In Puerto Vallarta, all-inclusives account for 80 percent of the hotels and they are especially popular with families in Mexico and the Caribbean. They’re certainly upping their game to appeal to families.
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Family vacation IOU: a Mother’s Day gift guaranteed to please
This Mother’s Day, give the moms in your life something they will really appreciate. My friend, Nancy Schretter, managing editor of Family Travel Network calls it “Me Time for Moms with a Bow.”
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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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Taking the Kids? What’s your souvenir strategy?
Just as you should plan your itinerary and have a “what if” talk if the kids (or you) get lost, you need to have a souvenir strategy before the trip even starts. You don’t want to bust the vacation budget on something like a $40 sweatshirt, or a toy that will be forgotten the next day.
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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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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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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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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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Our family trip back to Crested Butte, where memories were made
The 6 year old was determined to set herself apart from her older brother and sister on vacation. My youngest daughter declared she was a “big girl” and could decide for herself what fun she would have in the snow that week in Crested Butte CO
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It’s almost March – time to take the kids on spring break!
Whatever you choose, spring break is a good time to get away with the kids. Plan smart and you might even snare a bargain. The good news is you’ve still got plenty of time to get a trip organized.
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Making sure Mom gets out to play in the snow
Come on, moms! Got your snow pants and mittens? Let’s go have some fun in the snow — on the ski slopes. No watching the kids, no trying to keep up with your husband!
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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!
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Teen Ambassadors offer unique perspective on 9/11 Memorial Museum
David Rothblatt and Fia Hargil are among the six members of the inaugural class of teen ambassadors trained to work with children who visit the National September 11 Memorial Museum, which opened at the new World Trade Center this past May.
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Winter is a great time for a family visit to a zoo or aquarium
The human kiddos laugh and giggle at the antics of the animals all day at the St. Louis Zoo. It’s one of three major free zoos left in the country along with the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., and the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago.
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Fun off the slopes: learning to build a snow sculpture in the mountains
Mountain resorts across the country offer an ever-growing array of off-the-slopes activities where the kids — and you — can get inspired to build your own sculpture either at home or near where you are vacationing in mountain country
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Teaching the kids about civil rights at our national monuments
If you want to expand on what the kids are learning in school, then head to a national park. That’s right. There are many national historic sites that figured into the fight against slavery and the civil rights movement and are ideal for out-of-the-classroom learning opportunities, especially when so many are offering special activities this month.
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In Northern Italy, a little-known gem of history and culture: Mantua
You won’t find that many tourists here, but you will find the quintessential Italian experience — restaurants spilling out onto cobblestoned piazzas, locals starting their morning with a cafe, the weekly market that takes over the entire Piazza Sordello
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Kid tips for hitting the slopes for Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month
If you are a newbie, there is no better time than January, the nationally designated Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month to hit the Colorado slopes.
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To Jumby Bay, Antigua: A unique all-inclusive resort in the
Many families have a special vacation spot — a snow sports resort, a lake where the kids caught their first fish, a beach where they build giant sand castles. Jumby Bay is one of them.
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Soaking up the family holiday spirit at a theme park
Across the country, theme parks are adding new and bigger holiday attractions every year, enticing more and more families to come through the gates, glad to forsake holiday shopping and cooking for a few hours, even though it can be a costly afternoon or evening.
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Mixing American history with holiday fun in Valley Forge and Philadelphia
Every Dec. 19, an annual event commemorates the arrival of the rag-tag Continental Army to Valley Forge PA, and its determination to persevere against hardship to become the first American Army.
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Kids rule at London’s newly expanded Imperial War Museum
Follow the local kids. That’s a good plan when you are exploring a new city with your gang. That’s what we did recently at the newly expanded Imperial War Museum in London, which was teeming with enthusiastic British families.
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WOW moments on Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas
Royal Carribbean’s new Quantum of the Seas is the first in a new class of cruise ships that the company says it going to up the number of WOW moments on every family’s vacation.
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How to light up your family’s holidays this season
Since holiday lights have become more and more festive each year, create new traditions to see them, even as early as Thanksgiving weekend, wherever you find yourselves.
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The beauty, charm and eco-friendliness of Nicaragua
The San Francisco family was inspired to come to Nicaragua by friends who had visited with their kids, they said, and didn’t want to spend all their time on the beach — as gorgeous as it is
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Families love the greatly expanded National World War II Museum in New Orleans
There are dented helmets, letters home, photographs, flight jackets and K rations, complete with chocolate bars and gum.
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Take it from the kids: San Francisco is a foodie’s paradise
“Dim Sum is one of my favorite foods. Everyone likes Dim Sum!” said Andy, 14, one of the many local kids who contributed their ideas on what kids like for my new “Kid’s Guide to San Francisco.”
