My Family Travels | Latest Articles
The swimming pool at Villa Il Palagio in Chianti.
Article
Tuscan Villa Family Vacation in Chianti Farmhouse

If you are craving a getaway "Under the Tuscan Sun," Villa Il Palagio in the heart of Tuscany could be just the spot you are...

Read More    2 min read

Snowboarding at Serre Chevalier.
Article
France Skiing Hostel Style – Six Nights Room, Board from 248 Euros

In a special promotion only a youth hostel could afford, the Serre Chevalier Hostel in the...

Read More    2 min read

Article
More Great Summer Vacation Ideas

Will this summer be for mountain hikes and canoeing? Beaches and sandcastles?  Shopping, shows and food truck tours? Perfecting your Spanish, celebrating our National Parks? Whatever your pleasure,...

Read More    11 min read

Article
5 Tips For Booking Successful Vacation Rentals

With more online resources available, and larger multigenerational family groups traveling together, it's time your family explores the vacation rental option for your next getaway. 1. Why a Vacation...

Read More    4 min read

Article
A Bethlehem, PA Christmas for a Holiday Wonderland

While some of you may hear the name Bethlehem and picture mangers and farm animals, the revitalized former Steel Capital in eastern Pennsylvania has their own take on the Christmas season....

Read More    3 min read

Article
A Cultural Christmas In Oaxaca, Mexico

Mexico's colonial gem of Oaxaca honors every Catholic holiday, but nothing is as colorful or fun as the Festival de la Noche de Rabanos, a world-class Christmas family vacation. Oaxaca,...

Read More    5 min read

Article
Baltimore, Maryland Attractions

Is this your first trip to Baltimore, or have you visited many times? Either way, your ideal first stop is at the Baltimore Visitor Center, conveniently located...

Read More    10 min read

Prague Castle is one of the port excursions on a Uniworld river cruise. Photo c. Uniworld
Article
Family-Friendly River Cruises

With 17 ships in its fleet, Uniworld is considered a first-class river cruising company. The company has been recognized by both...

Read More    2 min read

James Bond Aston Martin
Article
James Bond Tricks and Tech in London

Over the last half century, James Bond has become a household name, synonymous with everything that is suave, smart, and sexy. With over 20 hit movies, a massive fan base, and some of the most beautiful...

Read More    2 min read

The Silent Night Chapel in the village of Oberndorf © Tourismusverband Oberndorf
Article
Experience a Silent Night 200 Years Old

Families are welcome to witness the 200th anniversary of “Silent Night” as Salzburg and neighboring Austrian communities celebrate the song heard round the world. Since its first performanceon December...

Read More    4 min read

Article
Historic Cocoa Beach Pier Offers Closest Sand and Surf to Orlando’s Theme Parks

One of our favorite family travel bloggers, Dave Parfitt from Adventures by Daddy,...

Read More    3 min read

Article
A Club Med Sandpiper Bay Family Vacation

At Club Med Sandpiper Bay, Americans no longer need a passport to enjoy an exotic, all-inclusive family beach vacation packed with children's activities. Club Med's legendary tropical...

Read More    7 min read

Ca'd'Zan, the Ringling Estate in Sarasota, Florida. photo c. Ringling.org
Article
7 Florida Hot Spots to Visit That Don’t Include Disney or Universal

With 271,000 miles of road, more than 30,000 lakes, 11,000 miles of waterways and over 1,300 miles of coastline beaches that touch the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, it's easy to explore Florida...

Read More    3 min read

The
Article
Staying Grounded at Florida’s Space Coast

Central Florida's Brevard County attracts families with its eco-friendly attractions, space history and water sports. For most of us there are two coasts; the east coast and the west coast. I, for...

Read More    4 min read

Article
Top 10 National Parks For Family Vacations

Everyone agrees that the national parks are a treasury of great escapes from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Working with an annual budget over $3 billion and a crew of...

Read More    3 min read

View of the water from Nikko, Japan at dusk.
Article
Nikko, Authentic Japanese Immersion

If you’re considering a family trip to high-tech Tokyo, a side trip to traditional Nikko should be on your list. This beautiful city with a strong sense of place is far enough off the tourist track to...

Read More    4 min read

Windsor Castle with the British flag welcoming visitors.
Article
Join the Royals at Windsor Castle

One of the noblest of treats on a London holiday lies on the outskirts of London -- the town of Windsor and its famous Windsor Castle, which makes every visitor feel regal. The Royal castle,...

Read More    4 min read

Article
Award-Winning Vermont Resort Rolls Out Discount Ski Deals

There are some great winter discount packages coming out of Vermont as more snowflakes fall -- after a big snowy start to the season. At Smugglers Notch in the north country, the #1 Family Ski Resort in...

Read More    2 min read

Bora Bora Bungalows at Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
Article
The Top Disney World Deluxe Resorts

Wondering which of the deluxe Walt Disney World properties is worth the big bucks? It largely depends on style and location; some are built around the Magic Kingdom, some are adjacent to the other theme...

Read More    8 min read

Article
Utah’s Sky High Deer Valley Resort

In the universe of upscale ski resorts, Utah's Deer Valley Resort rests comfortably in the upper cosmos. It was founded in 1981 by the...

Read More    3 min read

Article
$100 Flights Give Lift to New York – Mexico City Tourism Partnership

Great news! American families now have more access with very affordable flights to one of the world’s great cities – Mexico City -- a destination packed with

Read More    3 min read

hiking on Franz Josef Glacier
Article
8 Days Wellington to Queenstown: New Zealand Our Way

My fiancé and I set off to explore the South Island of New Zealand on an eight-day road trip that coincided with the wedding of dear friends. Using online travel blogs and friends’ recommendations,...

Read More    14 min read

hiking in woods
Article
New England Camping For Novices

Are you ready to join an experienced camper and learn how to make New England wilderness camping more fun with young kids? Hope so! As a native of Boston, Massachusetts, I have often sought out more...

Read More    4 min read

Celebrity Equinox evening illumination
Article
Plan a Multi-Generational Cruise Vacation With Celebrity

Cruise vacations are noted for luxury, convenience, varied activities and distinctive ports of call.  Could a cruise be the answer to your 21st century multi-generational group’s dilemma of “what...

Read More    7 min read

Article
Trends: Halal Tourism, By and For Muslims

Travel by Muslims, whether or not they are actively religious or following Islamic social laws, is a market segment known as Halal Tourism. (Halal means a code of dietary laws, similar to the kosher dietary...

Read More    4 min read

Article
Sustainable Fun Makes Pittsburgh Kidsburgh

By cleaning up its act and investing in the quality of life of their city, the Pittsburgh you may remember has evolved into a "Kidsburgh" that attracts families to live and visit....

Read More    7 min read

Article
Coping With Gluten Free, Food Allergies And Special Diets At Theme Parks

Today, theme park restaurants are offering gluten-free, vegetarian, and food allergy sensitive menu choices for those with special diets, as well as anyone watching their weight. In 2016, the Centers for...

Read More    7 min read

The bunkhouse at Whitewater Challengers Camp
Student Article
A Night at the Shack

Last July, my Mother, Grandmother, and Aunty Tracey had excitedly made plans to sleep in a log cabin before rafting down the Lehigh River along the lofty peaks of the Poconos Mountains in Pennsylvania. For...

Read More    2 min read

Article
Istanbul, Turkey: City of Ages

Turkey's capital city of Istanbul is not only full of family attractions, this classic stopover of world travelers has become one of Europe's hottest destinations.

Read More    13 min read

FTF Teen Travel Writing Scholarship logo by FamilyTravelForum.com
Article
Family Travel Forum Announces Winners of 2018 Teen Travel Writing Scholarship

(New York, NY – September 18, 2018) Family Travel Forum (FTF) and its travel industry partners congratulate the winners of the 2018 FTF Teen Travel Writing Scholarship. Completing its 12th year, this...

Read More    4 min read

Feathered Pipe, Montana
Article
Yoga Tourism: The Mind Body Vacation

In this stressful age, the subject of yoga retreats as "vacation" comes up often. Travelers may ask, are they a good option for a parent-child or three generation getaway? The answer is yes,...

Read More    5 min read

Article
Berlin, Germany Attractions

As one of Europe's hottest cities, Berlin, Germany is teeming with the latest shops, restaurants, galleries, clubs and boutique hotels. But it's also a city with a rich history and a lively art center,...

Read More    8 min read

Student Article
International Mafia

We sat around a table in the lobby of the “President” hotel, 20 accented voices in chorus arguing about the proper way to play the card game “mafia”. Argentina asserted it was played with two people...

Read More    2 min read

Student Article
Niagara: A Trancendental Experience

Awe. The sense of being in the presence of forces far beyond our comprehension and control. The sudden clarity of knowing that no matter how powerful we become, there are some things in this world that...

Read More    2 min read

Student Article
Precipice of the Unknown

Crack! The sound of thunder brought me to my senses, standing at the peak of the second highest mountain in the northeast. Cadillac Mountain was shrouded by heavy white clouds, illuminated only by the...

Read More    2 min read

Student Article
The Joys of Bar-Hopping in Valladolid, Spain

When I reflect on my adventures in Spain, and on subsequent conversations with friends who have also been fortunate enough to make the trip, I find that the first words in recounting our respective experiences...

Read More    3 min read

Student Article
Lost

I couldn’t see the ground in front of me, much less my two hands grasping at the path ahead. The sky was dark, filled with thin clouds blotching the moons helpful rays. As I hiked up the cliff, I stopped...

Read More    2 min read

Student Article
The Moment I Was Aware of A Cruel World

I tend to confuse myself and others. I am an extreme pessimist, I expect the worst. Yet I have an upbeat attitude, and have the willingness to hope for things. I think global warming will depleat the planet,...

Read More    3 min read

Student Article
Fueled by Fire: Remembering the Spark that Started it All

At the eastern foot of the Rocky Mountains, a dull cluster of houses, mud-yellow fields, and indoor shopping centers make up my mother’s new home away from home. A year ago, she reluctantly abandoned...

Read More    2 min read

Student Article
Grandmother and Granddaughter Bond over Roman Infrastructure (Literally!)

"50 YEARS OF ADVENTURES" advertised the world map in my grandparents' family room. It was covered with colorful pins stuck in exotic places that some may never have even heard of. My grandparents were...

Read More    3 min read

Club Med la Palmeraie outside Marrakech, Morocco, at dusk
Article
Club Meds Of Morocco

Combine an exotic locale, millenia of history, and a comfortable resort atmosphere populated by like-minded families and voila! You have the three Club Meds in Morocco, each an all-inclusive and family-welcoming...

Read More    4 min read

Student Article
A Leap Into the Past

The bitter wind cut into the sizable group of Floridians that huddled in the city center platz of the medieval city of Rothenburg, Germany. Snowballs soared through the air like cannonballs and smoke escaped...

Read More    2 min read

Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park
Article
Blizzard Beach, Orlando’s Cheap Theme Park

Blizzard Beach, a Disney water park, is one my favorite places to take my sons Wyatt, age 10, and Joseph, age 12, as well as my husband. Done up only as Disney can do, a day at Blizzard Beach is all about...

Read More    2 min read

Article
Helpful Tips For Holidays And Safe Travel With Pets

I love my four-footed friends and want to ensure safe holiday travel with pets and help you make your adventures more pet-friendly.

Read More    5 min read

Student Article
A Natural Revelation

A short year ago, a city of great feats stood before me as my feet lifted from the grey steps of the airplane’s rickety ladder, and landed on the concrete below me. This tentative step marked the first...

Read More    3 min read

Student Article
From Ten to Twenty – Lessons learned Ecuador

As our large bus wheeled up the narrow path along Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador, I was distracted from the likelihood of death by the breathtaking view. Flowers I’ve never seen before, livestock, and people...

Read More    2 min read

Student Article
Discovering the Natural World in Norway

My sister Hanna and I sprinted down the dirt path, with our parents lagging behind. Ahead of us was one of the many stunning mountains that line Norway’s fjords. Waterfalls spewed from its cliffs. At...

Read More    2 min read

Student Article
Bear-ly Up the Mountain

The trail, meandering below the canopy as hardly a trickle of dust, seemed nondescript. We stood at the edge of its start, our backpacks hanging from our sweaty backs as mosquitos buzzed our ears. “Ten...

Read More    2 min read

Student Article
A Volunteer Trip I’ll Never Forget

Over the last six years, I have amassed over a thousand community service hours, volunteering at a variety of different events and organizations. I’ve worked at trash pick-ups, tutoring clubs, golf tournaments,...

Read More    2 min read

Student Article
The Bahamas

From the bright blue sky above, the sun beat down, casting its rays of warmth across the Bahamian sand. I felt warmed from the inside out, while a light misting from the ocean kept me cool. The soft breeze...

Read More    2 min read