My Family Travels | Latest Articles
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The Unthinkable

On February 3, 2014 the unthinkable happened, unthinkable to me because a child lost his life on a cruise vacation.  That he was just four; that he drowned in a pool aboard a ship...

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Montreal, Quebec Hotels

Our pick of charming Old Town B&Bs, downtown Quebecois favorites and Montreal, Canada's greatest luxury hotels will help you plan the best vacation ever to this wonderful city.Located along...

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Learning English on A Cheap American Vacation

Looking for affordable vacations where you can experience a new culture or maybe even learn a new language while still being able to enjoy the sunshine, beaches, fresh air...

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Family Travel Forum Honors Teen Travel Writing 2012 Scholarship Winners

Congratulations to all student travel...

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New Book Series Helps Travelers With Food Allergies

The Let’s Eat Out! series is a compilation of books, apps, and guides designed to help those with gluten and allergy restrictions educate themselves and eat safely in their own homes and...

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New York Grand Hyatt Woos Kids with American Girl Big City Deals

Embarking on a family trip to Manhattan takes a little planning, and perhaps more than in other urban destinations, a key consideration is hotel location. Do you want to be in...

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Weekend Adventures with Kids Around the Bay Area

We love San Francisco’s Bay Area and the Monterey Peninsula and return often with our family to sample new hotels, restaurants and the ever-changing scene.  Fans who have been leery of attempting...

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Kauai Adventures For Adventurous Families

Kaua’i invites families to be as active or laid-back on their Hawaii beach vacation as they choose: plop in the sand, play in the surf, or follow rainbows in a rental car exploring the island’s...

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The Lure of Dark Tourism: Murder and Mayhem

Places like Cambodia’s Killing Fields, Auschwitz, New York’s Ground Zero, or the Wolf’s Lair where Hitler barely survived an assassination attempt in 1944, exert a powerful pull on travelers.But...

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Amelia Island Plantation: All Natural Florida

Amelia Island is an all natural, friendly and all-comfortable resort in north Florida that is often overlooked by the beach traveler. Don't make that mistake, especially now that a...

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BioLite, An Eco-Friendly And Fun Camping Stove

I once wrote, "When the next Superstorm threatens your home or your roadtrip, there's no better piece of travel gear to have on hand than the BioLite CampStove," but I am updating that...

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Patagonia Cruises To The End Of The World

Families who have “been there, done that” (even in Paris, Alaska or on an African safari) will be interested to learn about Cruceros...

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Appetite for Wellness, Tech Among Family Travel Trends 2014

Travel industry moving fast to meet needs of multigenerational travelers for diverse experiences12 Trends and Predictions for Family Travel in 2014 from the Experts at Family...

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Seattle, Washington Attractions

Regardless of the ages you travel with, hip Seattle, Washington offers an abundance of entertainment options for all members of your family.  Considered the belle of the Pacific...

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Nashville Hotels Offer Holiday on Ice Packages starting at $189/N

Country fans will want to get on one of these fun-filled packages to spend the winter holidays in Nashville, Tennessee before the year is out. Young or old, any generation can appreciate what this city...

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Devil’s Thumb Ranch

Devil's Thumb Ranch typifies the best of western Colorado and Western culture, the way it was meant to be experienced by all ages. Located in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, the Ranch encompasses 4,000...

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Short Breaks And Weekend Getaways From Washington DC

Capital region families are ideally poised to head north or south along the Atlantic coast for a variety of urban and beach getaways suited to every season. If you and your family live near...

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Short Breaks And Weekend Getaways From The New York Tri-State Region

Surrounded by ocean, farmland, mountains and great cities, the New York - New Jersey - Connecticut tri-state region and Pennsylvania have unlimited potential for family weekend getaways.Although...

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Short Breaks And Midwest Weekend Getaways From Chicago

Living in the center of the US, Chicago area families have some driving to do for weekends away at fun museums, waterparks, and great cities. The Midwest is both the Land of Lincoln and the...

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Short Breaks And Weekend Getaways From Houston

Houston Metro area families can plan long weekends or short breaks in other parts of Texas, or vacation offshore on a Pacific cruise.Whether your family is looking for a short break holiday,...

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Kauai, Hawaii Hotels And Resorts

Hawaii's so-called "Island of Discovery" Kauai boasts so many natural treasures that families often don't spend much time thinking about the man-made facilities available...

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Los Angeles Hotels: Westside And Santa Monica

Find out the best places to stay west of Hollywood or near the Pacific Coast beach in this California playland.  As you move west across Los Angeles, the real estate values rise and the smog disappears...

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Downtown Los Angeles Hotels And Resorts

Your guide to the personalities and amenities of top value "downtown" hotels in California's largest city.LA's "Downtown" has become one of those commercially rejuvenated neighborhoods that...

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Best Kid-Friendly Hotels In Los Angeles, California

A team of Oyster reporters spent weeks exploring 52 top hotels in and around Los Angeles, including Beverly Hills, Hollywood, and Santa Monica. We slept in the beds, lounged by the pools, ate in the...

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Miami, Florida Hotels And Resorts

After several visits and constant change, we're ready to rate which SoBe hotels and those close to the zone will really put up with -- and put out for -- your kids. Not so many years ago,...

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Boston, Massachusetts Hotels And Resorts

If your family is visiting historic Boston, Massachusetts for its many attractions, or just taking the teens to see local colleges and universities, we know you'll enjoy a centrally located hotel near...

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Hershey, Pennsylvania Hotels And Resorts

If drifting off to sleep to the sweet aroma of chocolate sounds yummy, check out read these reviews of top family hotels in Hershey, a fun central Pennsylvania town. Hershey may be most often...

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St. Louis, Missouri Attractions

Our guide to St. Louis, Missouri attractions shows you where to walk in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark and explore the Gateway Arch which overlooks this exciting city. Many...

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Nashville, Tennessee Attractions

Learn about Music City Nashville's history, visit an 1800's print shop, cruise on a riverboat, and see the Parthenon without ever leaving the South -- and at great prices to boot. When...

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Anaheim – Orange County, California Attractions

With Disneyland and other themeparks, the city of Anaheim in Orange County is a must-stop vacation destination for any family touring souther California. The region also has some great Southern California...

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The All Male Spa Comes of Age

Ladies, did you know that there are six men-only spas in the United States? These include Nickel Spa for Men in New York City, The Grooming...

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Making the Most of Your Familymoon: Marriage with Kids in Tow

According to the Stepfamily Association of America, there are now as many stepfamilies as “intact” families. The Association says a...

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Win Two Free Nights with Embassy Suites Hotels by Sharing Good Guest Tips

Just in time for holiday travel planning, Embassy Suites Hotels,  the brand that brings travelers those great all-suite accommodations,...

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Valley Forge, Pennsylvania: Cradle Of Independence

Discover patriot history in the Valley Forge area, not far from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and you'll be delighted to see how history comes to life for all ages. When I told a friend from college...

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A Brazil Family Vacation For First Time Visitors

Our vacation planning ideas for that first family trip to Brazil provide a 10-day tour of this huge, fascinating country and leave plenty more to do on your second trip. Those...

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Barbados, West Indies Hotels And Resorts

Barbados is a very civilized Caribbean Island that takes its British heritage seriously, offering families beautiful beaches, a proud and well educated citizenry, and quality accommodations at a price...

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New York Hotels Courting Families with Winter Fun and Savings

Fall and winter are magical in New York City, the season when visitors from around the world flock to the Big Apple to dress up for the

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Norwegian Getaway Sets Her Sails For Miami

Norwegian Cruise Line may be leading the race among the majors to win the hearts and minds of novice cruisers. Just as their tag line “Cruise Like a Norwegian” brings to mind intrepid...

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Ski Mammoth And Enjoy Family Fun At Mammoth Lakes

One of our favorite things about a winter or spring vacation in Mammoth Lakes, California is that it's as fun for skiing and riding families as it is for those who just want to get...

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The Unexpected Charms of Rockford, Illinois

We are in a Victorian era, one-room schoolhouse where a costumed interpreter holds up a one-legged wooden stool. "This is for children who can’t sit still," he explains. "They stay here until they...

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Big New Family-Friendly Things Happening In Dallas, Texas

When I think Texas, I think big. It is the largest of the lower 48 states, more vast than any European country.  Billboards with bold slogans such as “Everything’s Bigger...

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SeaWorld Orlando Wraps Injured Manatee in Neoprene Style

SeaWorld is now caring for an adult male manatee that was rescued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission October 10, 2013 near Ponte Vedra, just south of Jacksonville, Florida.  According...

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Going To Gulf Shores, Alabama

Alabama's Gulf Shores promises the pleasures of a sand beach, watersports and fine golf, with the gracious ways, slower pace and lower prices of the Old South. And, while America's...

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Chattanooga, Tennessee

There's more than a choo-choo train in Chattanooga, an example of what the U.S. News and World Reports dubs a "Smart City" -- a city that exemplifies extraordinary...

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History Comes Alive At Mississinewa 1812

History buffs will love the War of 1812 reenactment of the Battle of Mississinewa in Marion, Indiana. This annual reenactment of a major battle from the War of 1812 has been called the...

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Article
Family Travel Forum Announces 2013 Teen Travel Writing Scholarship Winners

(New York, NY - September 22, 2013) Congratulations to all student travel bloggers who earned 2013 Scholarships from Family...

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Boston Strong with the Ryan Family

When you have a young child and travel, your thoughts focus on how to keep them busy by educating and engaging them in activities that please the mind and body and help them to grow. The parents make the...

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Family Travel Forum Hosts Major Media at TMS Family Travel Conference

A Select Group of Media Outlets Invited to Contribute to Improving the Family Vacation Experience Networks with Travel, Tourism and Parenting Thought Leaders   NIAGARA FALLS,...

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Student Article
The Untouched Magic of Kaua’i: The Garden Island

When you wake up to the sound of the waves crashing on the shore, it's nearly impossible to "wake up on the wrong side of the bed". That is reality on the little island of Kaua'i,...

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Student Article
Running Saved my Life!

Numerous bullets ring through the air like deadly fireworks across the dark sky. Two figures scramble behind cars as chaos once again fills the streets. While my mother and her friend were caught in the...

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