Taking the Kids is your information resource for family, multi-generational and group travel. We have reports on thousands of family-friendly destinations including unique resorts, lodges, hotels, camps, theme parks, cruises and more. Creator Eileen Ogintz is a nationally syndicated travel columnist and the author of more than a dozen books.
Our Seasonal Travel Guides bring you the best ideas for vacations or getaways – Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring – plus Best Holiday Light Views and our Annual Cruise Guide
23 Fabulous Fall Getaways for 2023
51 Great Ideas for Your Best Family Summer Vacation
Plan smart—and as soon as you can, whether you want to go to Europe or the nation’s most popular national parks
Spring Break Ideas to Meet Every Family’s Wish List
Wherever you want to go this spring, we’ve got you covered with our 23 ideas for 2023. You can get away on a budget — or splurge if you want
Taking the Kids Annual Family Cruise Guide
Most pandemic restrictions have been lifted. Cruises are filling up again. Health and safety still top of mind, especially for family cruises
Best Family Getaways to Light Your Winter
Are you ready to plan one of the best winter family getaways ever this year? You have plenty of affordable options after the holidays
Fun in the Snow: Our annual family ski guide
Winter is a great time to get outdoors with the kids. Choose a ski and snow family vacation at one of North America’s top mountain resorts
Holiday Lights: Our guide to the best and brightest
Many may forsake holiday vacations due to rising costs. But Americans are also more resilient about finding fun in closer to home locations
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Despite Uncertainties, Americans still want to take vacations
More Americans have already taken a vacation this year than any other time during the Allianz Partner USA’s survey’s history.
How To Get Your Kids Off Phones and Learning About Nature
Consider the unique Kids in Nature, Glaciers & Wildlife Family Explorer trips in Alaska. Explore rarely seen parts of Glacier Bay Nat Park
Make Memories and Save Money Camping and Glamping at Jellystone Parks
More than 75 locations across the U.S. and Canada, Jellystone Park is renowned for its pools, water slides, mini golf, and family activities
Family Trip of A Lifetime: To Antarctica with Abercrombie & Kent
We walked on Wilhelmina Bay – ice three feet thick. In a zodiac, we marveled at dozens of Southern Humpback whales around us.
Family Magic Rafting Trips With ROW Adventures
These five-day trips on Idaho’s Salmon River are exclusive to families – you can’t join if you don’t bring a child!
See Alaska by Sea with Carnival Corp Cruise Lines
According to Travel Alaska, 1.65 million tourists will visit this summer, more than half on 60 large and small cruise ships.
Carnival Brands Embrace Sustainable Practices
The world’s leading cruise company is pioneering sustainability at sea and producing fewer greenhouse emissions than in 2011, down 15%
How To Plan A Last Minute Spring Break
Travel insurance can help when you are delayed, someone gets sick, or an emergency causes you to cancel the trip or return early
CroisiEurope Launches Special European Family Cruise Program
This year, cruise together safely in Spain, Portugal, Italy, on the Rhine or the Adriatic Coast. Discover the beauty of Europe
Searching for Airline Tickets? Two New Sites Make It Easier
Searching for the best airline tickets? New sites Directflights.com and Flightroutes.com make your search easier and more fun!
#CruiseDealsForAll In Wave Season
Alaska has always been a bucket list trip and now is one grandparents want to share—the glaciers, the wildlife, the history and culture
Orlando Spreads Holiday Cheer with 50 Days of Events
Orlando is unwrapping a full lineup of holiday celebrations for visitors in all the theme parks and beyond the parks.
Festive Fall Fun at Walt Disney World Resort
Fall is a great time to visit Walt Disney World Resort because it’s less crowded, the weather is cooler and there’s plenty to experience
Walt Disney World Turns 50 And Better Than Ever
Imagine themed lands far, far away like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge or the immersive Pandora The World of Avatar.
Booking.com is all smiles this summer
Summer of ‘Yeah’ campaign is timed to the 50th anniversary of The Smiley Company, the brand behind the iconic smiley face
Eileen’s weekly family travel columns “Taking the Kids” have been syndicated national in newspapers and websites since 1991
A fall getaway with or without the kids
Whether for a long weekend hiking and biking trip amid changing leaves or a longer break, perhaps overseas
Take the family out to a fall festival or two near you
If you can’t make it to Munich, Fredericksburg, Texas, considers itself the polka capital of the Lone Star State
Go See Washington’s Giant Pandas While You Still Can
During a 9-day celebration, visitors can dive into free panda-themed fun, including hashtag-worthy photo backdrops, hands-on arts and crafts
Playgrounds can be as important as museums when traveling with kids
If you are lucky, you’ll discover playgrounds offering unique experiences and challenges. Take San Francisco for example
Heading to the mountains for the fall colors and festivals
If your kids aren’t in school yet, or you are empty-nesters, late summer and fall is a great time to get away, especially to mountain towns.
When a grown daughter and her pooch join the fun
SLO has bountiful outdoor space, dozens of Central Coast wineries, public art, great restaurants and dog-friendly lodgings
A very family friendly dude ranch in Southern Wyoming
There are scavenger hunts, horseback rides, treasure hunts, while grown-ups enjoy a five-course farm-to-table meal at the Cheyenne Club
Grown-ups going out to play and out their comfort zones on a whitewater raft trip
There are 22 of us on this bona-fide adults-only adventure. The group includes five former guides. Most of us have been on rafting trips
How to a visit to a National Park without stressing out
When you visit any of the national parks, there are some easy hacks to make your first visit with kids easier, more fun and less stressful.
The “Daddy of ’em All” in Cheyenne Wyoming
Frontier Days, celebrating its 107th year, attracts a half-million people to see championship bull riding, country music stars and much more
Who knew Vail CO could be a value destination for families?
Summer rates begin at $159 and there are plenty of free activities as well as memory-making adventures at the top of the mountain
Inflation is squeezing summer vacations but don’t give up!
I’m talking about the always difficult conversation about vacation finances and how much the kids can spend on souvenirs and snacks
Theme parks and swimming pools; camping trips, city sights and a history lesson!
This summer, you can effortlessly inject a little American history with the fun, even if the Independence Day celebrations are over.
How to cope with yet-another holiday air travel mess
Sad that this is what we need to consider as we plan for summer vacation — for many the first “big” trip since before the pandemic
Keeping the kids safe on vacation this summer
Uou want to kick back. It’s summer vacation, after all. But the reality is when you are vacationing with kids, you need to be extra vigilant.
Fifteen-plus festivals to brighten your summer
Some last just a few days; others all summer. Some are free, others can be pricey. You will find them all over the world. Meet the locals!
Think outside the box for the dads who like to travel
How you can give dad things he could use on his next Great Adventure or vacation. Maybe a tennis or golf lesson? A cooking class?
Why you should include museums in your summer plans
Whether it’s a rainy day, or too much sun, or you want the kids to learn something on vacation, you won’t go wrong with a museum visit
Where are your summer adventures going to take you?
The economy is uncertain; air travel delays add stress, but AAA reports that 42.3 million Americans are expected to travel for Memorial Day
Camping, RVing, or Glamping this summer?
Camping now accounts for one-third of the leisure travel market with campers spending more than $52 billion last year.
Touring Alaska far from the crowds but close to wildlife
Our small UnCruise ship, known for Alaska wilderness experiences, enabled us to kayak and hike away from crowds, but get close to the bears
What Moms and Grandmoms Really want for Mothers Day
They will tell you they’d prefer a little time for themselves – sleeping late, time for a leisurely bath or at the gym.
Virgin Voyages: No kids but a lot of families
The cruise line just swept all five awards in the Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards, the first brand to do so
Take the Family To a National Park During Parks Week
National Park Week, April 22 through April 30, is a nine-day celebration of everything “parks.” Entrance fees will be waived on April 22
How families can travel more sustainably
Got your reusable water bottle? That’s one of the easiest things you can do to reduce your environmental footprint when you are traveling.
Read about our most recent travel experiences.
Plan a Family-Friendly Getaway to Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Rapids is the second largest city in Michigan, with a population of approximately 199,000. The Grand River runs through it
Parting ways after a great 6-day adventure on Idaho’s Salmon River
Ask people on the same river trip what resonates most — what they will remember —and everyone has a separate answer.
Getting out of your comfort zone on a river-rafting trip
For me, just being able to go on this trip was a huge milestone after what the knee replacement ordeal I’ve been through the past year
Living On The Salmon River on and off the grid
We also meet Bill “Bronco” Burchak who is one of the first wooden dory boatmen in the Grand Canyon and trained our trip leader
On this OARS river rafting trip everyone has a story
“I had not learned to advocate for myself,” she explained. “I went from being an active kid to being told I’d be in a wheelchair by 30″
Learning the history and magic of the Dory Boat on the Main Salmon River
Today we travel roughly 20 miles through nine named rapids, stopping to see an ancient pictograph and sample Barth Hot Springs.
Rafting the Main Salmon River in Idaho with a diverse group of adventurers
There are 22 of us on this adventure. Most have rafted before. We range from 30- to 70-somethings. The group includes five former guides
Park City UT in Summer Offers Plenty of Outdoor Activities Plus Great Dining and Shopping
The Chateaux is a place where you can have a luxe hotel room or a four-bedroom unit with shuttles to Park City’s historic Main Street
Jackson WY in summer – Good Eats, Good Sleep, Plenty of Family Activities
Jackson Hole is souvenir central, with everything from tee shirts and hoodies to cowboy hats and boots to fine Western Art
A very unique hike with pair of llamas in Wyoming
Brush Creek Ranch has added llama experiences this summer. They are increasingly popular for backpackers in the mountainous states
Most of the delicious food at Brush Creek Ranch is homegrown
Most everything will be used at the ranch restaurants; some at local farmers markets and restaurants. The rest will be consumed by the goats
In Wyoming, one of the most kid-friendly guest ranches ever
This may be the fanciest ranch I’ve ever seen, complete with its own goat herd, llamas, 100 horses, distillery, spa, and much more
Value Vacations in Summer – Vail CO
Summer is much more affordable in Vail with lots to do. Rates are less than half than in winter with some lodging starting at $159
Taking the toddler necessitates a new travel style
It was a different equation when they decided to take 16-month-old Dominic with them for a quick spring break in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
San Antonio: 11+1 Reasons to Take the Kids
Happy Cinco de Mayo from San Antonio Texas, a major city in south-central Texas with a rich colonial and Hispanic heritage.
The Fable of the Octopus and the Fisherman
Welcome to Scarlet Night aboard Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady. We were encouraged to wear red to honor the Red Night Sky
A Different Kind of Cruise on Virgin Voyages
The minimum age is 18 on this mid-sized ship (about 2,400 aboard this voyage from Miami.) And that suits the passengers just fine.
On Virgin Voyages a Tragic Event First Day at Sea
A young woman fell off her balcony to her death just hours after we had departed Miami for a six-night Caribbean cruise.
How To Curate A 72-Hour Teen-Approved Itinerary in London
Guess what? teens are interested in the experience that comes with exploring new cities, countries and shorelines.
Aboard the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser Halcyon
The “ship” is very well-appointed, celebrating its 275th anniversary! This is the vessel on which Princess Lea and Hans Solo honeymooned.
Zero-proof cocktails now vogue at Walt Disney World
Just don’t call them mocktails. Zero-proof cocktails are for adults to have an elevated drink experience without alcohol, a whole new market.
It’s Gingerbread Time at Walt Disney World Resort
At Walt Disney World’s Beach Club Resort, a Gingerbread carousel spins with candy colored horses named for Disney princesses
Meet Jack at the Surf Jack Hotel Waikiki
He’s the hotel dog at the boutique SurfJack and Swim Club Hotel in Waikiki. Jack has his own Instagram account @jackthehoteldog
Turtles and more on Hawaii’s North Shore
They were oblivious to the paparazzi, splashing and sunning on the rocks as adults and kids alike gathered around snapping photos.
Ollie the Collie Takes the Big Apple
I was so happy when we arrived at the Kimpton Muse Hotel in Midtown Manhattan, where they are VERY doggy friendly!
Truly welcoming to kids: Four Seasons Ko Olina on Oahu
The Four Seasons Oahu Ko Olina, about a half hour north of Honolulu and the crowds on Waikiki, lives up to its promises
Beauty and fun at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort
This place offers something for everyone from kids to those on honeymoons, celebrating anniversaries or a multi-generational vacation.
Checking out the food scene on Kauai
The story of the Taro plant, a mainstay of Hawaii cooking, is spiritual. It’s the eldest sibling of the Hawaiian Royal Family in legend
At the literal end-of-the-road on Kauai HI
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.
3 Lessons RV Pros Taught a First Time RVer
My wife and I recently bought our first travel trailer. We had been waiting for months and we traveled from Colorado to Ohio to pick it up
The latest news and trends from the world of family travel.
Denver Art Museum: Engaging families with free and interactive programs
Each gallery at the museum has some sort of interactive program in English and Spanish for kids and families to help them better engage with what they are seeing
What Fiddler teaches us about the past and present
Fiddler is entertaining and a sobering reflection today’s events as Russia tries to brutally subjugate Ukraine and antisemitism is rising
Plenty of options for your best Spring Break
According to new research, 41 per cent of US consumers say they are planning a spring break, even prioritizing ahead of other trips.
The Sand Creek Massacre – Echoes of the past reverberate
There were many atrocities committed in our nation’s 19th Century quest for “Manifest Destiny.” The Sand Creek Massacre was one of the worst.
To Kill a Mockingbird on the road in Denver
To Kill a Mockingbird is an enduring story of justice and injustice, racism, closed minds, coming of age, grief, compassion, and change
Orlando’s Terminal C Is A Destination In Itself
Orlando International Airport’s Terminal C is a place that will make you want to stay, despite the big theme parks being only minutes away
Flying into Denver? Check out the Stanley Marketplace
Stanley Marketplace sits the site of the previous airport – Stapleton Field (closed 25 years ago) and the old Stanley Aviation Hanger
First Look As The Disney Wish Sets Sail
The Disney Wish set sail July 14, 2022, propelled by wishes from godmother Make-A- Wish Foundation and thousands of Disney cast members
Engaging Kids with Art in Denver
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
The Curious Theatre in Denver
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
How road trippers can cope with high gas prices
We are all dealing with the impact of high gas prices and will have to adjust. Here’s how families can still vacation this spring and summer.
Inventors highlight Outdoor Retailer Show
Four inventors were among those showcasing new products at Outdoor Retailer Snow Show at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver this week
Get Outdoors: It’s the Safest Place to Vacation
The Covid-19 experts say we’re safest outdoors and can even take off our masks in most settings. So, you’re thinking, where can you take the kids safely for a winter or spring break that won’t bust the budget?
What’s your go-to holiday tradition?
Vaxxed and boostered, we are excited to see how the Mile High City lights up the holidays
Memories from our first Pandemic cruise
There were a lot of perfect moments aboard the Wind Star despite all the changes the pandemic had wrought
Get in touch with academic essay writing service – CustomWritings – with a team of academic experts.
Cool stuff we like and recommend for your travels
New device for satellite messaging when you’re off the grid
Not much larger than a car key fob, motorola defy links your smartphone directly to powerful GEO stationary satellites 22,300 miles up
MBT footwear cushions the stride in the gym or the trails
We’re fans of MBT physiological footwear not because we pound the pavement but because these shoes cushion the walks to-and-from the gym!
Hot Chillys for all seasons
Moisture-wicking clothes helps regulate your body temperature and pulls sweat from your body which then evaporates, keeping you dry.
MBT Physiological Footwear for the active days
I had a friend, an avid runner and head of wellness at our local YMCA try a pair. She loved the cushioning and that her feet stayed cool
RuffWear Keeps Jake Cozy In All Weather
Our rescue doggie, Jake, loves the snow, and not when it’s bone chilling cold to his 11-pound frame. RuffWear to the rescue!
Finding the best holiday gifts for your favorite travelers
There is something wonderful—even magical—watching someone you love opening a gift they love and will use again and again
ReadyDry from Royal Robbins for active travelers
When you travel like we often do, laundry expenses can build up fast. Royal Robbins ReadyDry underwear can be washed and rinsed in the sink.
Schofferhofer’s juice and beer
Move over hard seltzer. This summer’s most satiating patio drink is Schöfferhofer’s half fruit juice/half beer Hefeweizen beers.
The Weber Traveler for your road trip cooking
Although I love my trusty charcoal grill it isn’t always possible to haul it to a picnic at the park or a tailgater at the game.
Great water sandals made from recyclables
Chaco sandals, long favorites for rafters, hikers and those kicking back somewhere sunny and warm are made from recyclable plastics
No-hassle road trip coffee
Here’s another way to travel sustainably — make a hot cup of specialty coffee as easily as a hot cup of tea. And help save the planet.
Small batch sauces for road trips
The Athena jump starts your road trip
On your next road trip, you can recharge all your electronic devices — even jump-start your car in an emergency.
Fresh coffee guaranteed for your next trip
When you’re traveling and want a fresh cup of coffee in the morning, it’s a bummer when you can’t get a fresh cup.
Safe drinking water in a reusable bottle
An easy and cost-effective way families can travel more sustainably is by using a water purifier bottle instead of buying single use plastic bottles.
Inspired by sardines and great for outdoors
Inspiration often strikes when you’re looking for something else. Ask the inventors of Freshe Meals. In this case it was sardines.
Staying hydrated on the slopes
When you’re on the slopes, truly enjoying a Blue Bird ski day, the last thing you want is to stop for a drink of water. Camelbak has solutions for you.
Non-toxic baby bath products from Hand Over Heart
As a new mom of a 12-week-old baby boy, I try to create a non-toxic environment in my home by using safe and natural products. From nursery furniture to toiletries, I have frequently found “greenwashing” in baby products.
Sustainable, comfortable from Royal Robbins
I love it when travel clothes are comfortable, versatile and sustainable so I can brag about how I care about the planet.
Hoka delivers in a comfy sneaker
We wore out last sneakers during long walks during the Pandemic, when our gym was closed for nearly a year. For back-to-workouts, we needed new gear
The Best of Taking the Kids
We share our best family travel experiences over the recent years, international and domestic, at sea and in the mountains – every continent!
Learning about the world aboard a cruise ship
Listen up parents and grandparents. If you think great sites are the reason you are treating your children and grandchildren to a cruise, think again. A lot of what they learn about the world takes place right on board in the kids’ and teen clubs, especially when they are meeting so many youngsters from different cultures and countries.
Kayaking at the Top of the World
We are in bright yellow inflatable kayaks steering with foot pedals (I feel kind of like I’m on bumper cars cruising around the fjord, the ship in the distance, crew watching us from zodiacs. As safety is always a concern here, we are given signalers to wear around our neck—should we tip over. But the kayaks are steady and the water so calm. It is only 32 degrees but with the sun shining, it feels much warmer.
Fulfilling a long-held dream: the hike from Crested Butte to Aspen
As I struggled to my feet, I smiled remembering all the times her dad and I were trying to avoid a meltdown
Returning to Tokyo after 60 years revives old childhood memories
60 years ago my father, a U.S. Air Force officer, moved his growing family to Japan for four years. So when we had the opportunity to visit Tokyo this month, I naturally thought of my childhood and wondered if we could try to find some of my old haunts.
Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro with my daughter
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.
Cleared for takeoff — over the Alaska Range
Kantishna Air Taxi mostly flies visitors around the mountain, said our pilot Andy Young. “A plane in Alaska is like a car anywhere else,” he explained. “It is how we get around. There just aren’t any roads in a lot of the state.”
TIME TO GO FISHING AGAIN – to a great resort in Canada
Last summer, after many years away from the sport, son Matt and I decided it was time to go fishing again. We recruited our cousin-in-law Mike Sitzman and his dad John, who live in Golden, CO to join us. After some basic internet research we decided upon a spot in Canada’s Ontario Province – Garden Island Lodge
The Galapagos Islands — not cheap, not luxurious, but oh the wildlife and the memories!
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.
The Chick Flies the Coop
“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
Remembering the long goodbyes as we took our kids to college
Two parents, five overweight bags and a college-bound daughter about to burst into tears. Talk about a stressful beginning to the Long Goodbye.
Two weeks in France visiting Paris, champagne country and Normandy via river cruise
Arriving in Paris jet-lagged, a quick trip to see Monet’s water lillies at the Musee de L’Orangerie was just the tonic. Armed with a Paris Pass, we didn’t have to wait in a long line for tickets.
A visit to Lady Liberty and Ellis Island on a cold January day
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
Memories of Monet’s Garden: where a little girl led the way
From the time we told Melanie we were going to France that summer, she insisted we must visit Monet’s Garden. It wasn’t that far-fetched an idea.
To Norway, the land of fjords, ‘Frozen’ and family fun
No, not the Splash Mountain in Walt Disney World or Disneyland, we’re actually in Norway touring the gorgeous fjords with Adventures by Disney where one waterfall is bigger and more awesome than the next
A real pasta machine: in the charming village of Grazie
Day Six – at charming small restaurant La Locanda de le Grazie in the village of Grazie just a few miles outside the amazingly preserved undiscovered Renaissance city of Mantova (Mantua in English).
Skiing in Austria
I’ve never seen such wide open slopes — no trees, no houses, just field after field of newly fallen snow. And I’ve never seen my 18-year-old daughter Mel, an avid and expert skier, as happy to ski with mom.
Families on a different kind of water adventure
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
The Amazing Cathedral of Thorns in Curacao
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.
Why Cuba? History and reconciliation and the recipe for Cuban life
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.”
Second acts: a century in the making
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
Apex day 2 – A woman following her dreams
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
Jamaican Food at Its Best: Star San
Award-winning and well-known Jamaican Chef Brian Lumley is showing us how to make coconut curry shrimp and just-caught fish—lionfish, parrot fish, snapper
The White Stallion Ranch experience
If you thought a dude ranch was just about horses, think again—even a historic one like the White Stallion Ranch in Tucson, owned by the True family for decades
A unique Colorado experience
Only the huge stone fireplace is left of the Nanny’s Cabin and Camp Vigil is the kid-friendly Ranch at Emerald Valley, part of the historic Broadmoor Resort
Here’s to new culinary adventures!
Likely because we are stuck at home, I’ve been thinking about once-in-a-lifetime outdoor meals we’ve enjoyed on vacation.
Weather can’t spoil a trip to remember down the Grand Canyon
Finally! Five hours after we were scheduled to leave, the helicopters started to fly again, taking two or three passengers at a time rather than four because of the conditions
A hike to remember: North Rim of the Grand Canyon
After a five-mile hike, we’re sitting on a rock taking in the panoramic view from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon
Bryce Canyon National Park: Hoodoo you think you’re feeling?
Hoodoos actually have eroded out of cliffs, forming thin walls of rock called fins.Isn’t nature amazing?! Here at Bryce Canyon we are at the top of what is famously called “The Grand Staircase”
Three generations, 75 years: The Averill family and Flathead Lake Ranch
Flathead Lake Lodge is much more than a lodge – it’s a ranch, farm and acre upon acre of wilderness and lakefront.
Bear jam in Grand Teton National Park – for a very good reason
Meet Grizzly #399, perhaps the most famous bear in North America not only because of her advanced age (24) but her fertility (she has had seven litters—20 cubs. This year’s quadruplets, Smith said, account for only two percent of Grizzly Bear litters.
Taking the Kids — on different kind of trip to Alaska
You can’t get much more remote — or farther away from cruise crowds than at Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge, which opened 10 years ago — the first and only lodge in the national park and accessible only by a four-hour boat trip from Seward
To a special Jamaican villa
The experience, of course, is entirely different, as I discovered. Think being on a mega cruise ship with morning-till-night activities vs. your own private yacht with a staff to cater to every whim
Seeing San Antonio like local families
At the state-of-the-art Naylor Family Dinosaur Gallery at the Witte Museum in San Antonio, where you can step inside a cast of an Alamosaurus footprint at The Dino Lab. What’s different from other dinosaur exhibits? This one is focused on ancient creatures that called Texas home, including ancient fish, turtle and, yes, a full-size Tyrannosaurus rex.
To a galaxy far, far away
Kevin Gerber isn’t even a “Star Wars” fan, but he had happily just spent $100 to build a droid with his 5-year-old son at Disney World’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge’s Droid Depot
San Antonio has a new kind of “Pearl”
Pearl is the new go-to area of San Antonio – a 22 acre mixed use space for housing, shopping, dining, a year-round farmer’s market, riverside amphitheater and the third campus of the Culinary Institute of America
Tips from kids finishing their first cruise
On this “day at sea,” the kids put off playing a game in Club Mariner to impart some wisdom for kids whose parents and grandparents may be planning a cruise
To Robben Island, a Relic of South Africa’s Apartheid Regime
Nelson Mandela would have turned 101 this year, at a time when South Africa has been rocked by political corruption and still fraught with the ills that Apartheid wrought
This could be one of the best seasons ever for river rafting in Colorado – we know!
We just spend five days and four nights on the Yampa River in Dinosaur National Monument with the premier river rafting outfitter OARS. Take a look at some of our photos
A historic Army post transformed — San Francisco’s Presidio
Welcome to San Francisco’s Presidio — nearly 1,500 acres transformed from a bustling army post to a national park, the largest national park in an urban area, drawing 7.5 million visitors a year
World-class snow sculptures draw crowds from all around to Breckenridge CO
Young Colorado art critics were among the thousands who came to Breckenridge to see the results of the work of 16 teams from around the world that came to this historic mountain town to create enormous snow sculptures
On a safari planned for more than seeing amazing wildlife
The Madikwe Game Reserve borders Botswana to the north and is home to the famous “Big Five.” Before breakfast one morning, we’d seen four of them — lions, elephants, Cape buffalo and white rhino
Eating your way through Italy
Food has become increasingly important to traveling families as kids have expanded their palates by first watching the Food Network and then trying new foods on vacation. I can’t think of a better way to experience a new culture than through food or a better place than Italy where it won’t take any coaxing to convince kids to “eat local.”
Little Taste of Italy – Part 2
Little Taste of Italy Part II starts at the Umbria Region farmhouse (viaumbria.com) in Canarra with tours of Perugia, Spello, Assissi and Gubbo, then moves to Bologna and Parma, where we observed the making of Parmaggiano Reggiano cheese.
A Little Taste of Italy – Part 1
A Little Taste of Italy – October 2018 – Pt 1 – Starts in Milano with tour of Verona and Valpolicella Wine Region, followed by 6-day Uniworld River Cruise aboard the River Countess. Excursions to Ferrara, Padua, Chiccogia and Turano, with lots of time to explore Venice.
A big lesson in tolerance and humanity — Assisi Italy
Today, six million people a year visit Assisi, a hillside medieval town of 25,000 in Umbria, making it the second most visited religious site in Italy after Rome
At the Crested Butte Chili and Beer Festival, It’s Not About Winning or Losing
For my husband and daughter, it proved a fun shared experience—choosing the recipe, shopping for ingredients, and then two evenings cooking in our VRBO rental
Trooper’s Big Adventure Becoming a Mountain Dog in Breckenridge, CO
A first Gondola ride up a mountain is exciting for anyone—dogs included. And when Trooper gets to the base of Peak 8 on Breckenridge mountain, she is officially a mountain dog!
Taking the Kids — to Berlin
There’s no better place to see reconciliation at work that than in Berlin where the Berlin Wall, as of last month, has been down longer than it was up
Spending New Year’s with the whales in Antarctica
Everyone is busy getting ready for the black-tie New Year’s Eve bash. Here in Antarctica, it’s a giant penguin party, of course. Whales are invited too
Our special place — Curtain Bluff Resort on Antigua
“This is our special place,” said Gwen Larder. I get it. We honeymooned here 35 years ago and have returned 5 times. Curtain Bluff is our special place too.
Biking in the rain along the Danube in Austria
It is pouring, raining so hard that we’re getting soaked despite good rain gear. Did I mention we are on bikes riding alongside the Danube River in Austria?
Taking the Kids — to family reunion central
As fun as Colorado is in the summer, there’s something more important going on here at the YMCA of the Rockies. “It’s eating and joking around with all of our cousins.”
To Antarctica, South Georgia and Falklands – a trip of a lifetime even for kids
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.
South Georgia Island: home of the Oakum Boys
they’re juvenile King Penguins, also known as “Oakum Boys,” who still have a fluffy coat of downy brown feathers and they’re pecking at their moms to feed them
Taking the kids to Germany’s famous Christmas markets
Germany has the most holiday markets in Europe, drawing tourists from around the world, though you’ll also find them a popular holiday tradition in neighboring Austria, Switzerland and Czechoslovakia.
At Vista Verde Ranch in Colorado – on a different kind of snow vacation
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.
TO CUBA ON THE FIRST AMERICAN SHIP TO SAIL HERE IN NEARLY 60 YEARS
I’ve learned first hand that encouraging kids to be global citizens, to be comfortable outside their own comfort zones, helps them navigate unfamiliar and difficult turf in their lives as they grow up.
Confronting Germany’s dark history: how the mighty had fallen
As I kept thinking about all of those architectural monstrosities that we saw on our tour of Nuremberg, I reminded myself of that photo I saw in Berlin of the Nazis crouching in fear at war’s end. How the mighty have fallen, I thought.
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,
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.
A new place or travel experience to think about every day
Experience Fall at Monticello
Autumn at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello is a spectacular melding of foliage colors, crop harvests, and historical lessons
Holland America Launches Global Fresh Fish Program
Dining experiences will also include a “Catch of the Day” across regional menus, sourced directly from those who know the areas bes
Where to See Fall Foliage in Tennessee
According to the Farmer’s Almanac 2023, Tennesse will see peak colors Oct. 12-28. Here’s a few great places for leaf peeping.
Princess Cruises California Coastal “Hollywood Insider” Theme Cruises in October
Bringing together the stars of Dallas, musicians, special effects and makeup artists to share stories working in the entertainment industry
A guide to Norway’s most haunted places that you can visit
Spooky places in the land of Frozen, from a notorious former prison in Oslo to haunted hotels in spectacular surroundings.
Art in Scottsdale: Six Not to Miss
Interactive and immersive contemporary exhibits, awe-inspiring events, and timeless masterpieces. An art lover’s paradise awaits this fall.
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Looking at finances and making smart choices can make your trip more affordable. The key is to combine several strategies and to be patient.
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