Themed Itineraries Add Spice To Cruises
When my family boarded Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas for a Caribbean cruise with dozens of passengers wearing black leather and chains, we didn’t yet realize that 1,850 shipmates were sailing on the themed High Seas Rally cruise for motorcycle enthusiasts. Fortunately, today’s megaships are big enough to accommodate...
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Taking the Waters in Bath, England
For centuries, the healing and calming properties of warm mineral springs have defined wellness, a tradition that flourishes in the ancient city of Bath. Named a World Heritage Site in 1987, the south west England city has recently been revived as a center for “taking the waters” in facilities blending ancient and modern, a practice I know you'll enjoy for a mother-daughter getaway. The...
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Meeting Banksy and Brunel in Bristol
The city of Bristol is located in the South West region of England, two hours from London. An historic city with maritime roots, it has been reshaped into a cool mecca of contemporary culture with arts, music, theater, and film performances. Bristol’s history as a trading port dates to the 11th century and, by the 14th century, trade with Spain, Portugal and Iceland were established....
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Star Trekking: Lady Gaga Shrieks Viva Las Vegas
One of the world's most flamboyant and individual performers joined the A-list at Madame Tussauds in Las Vegas! Her "little monsters" can pose with the wax look-alike and don their favorite Lady Gaga inspired masks and costumes. Post a few selfies of you and Gaga and see how many of your friends think it's the real celebrity. An incredibly lifelike Lady Gaga debuted...
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Relive The Wild West In Virginia City, Nevada
Virginia City, at its peak a bona fide frontier boomtown, is located in Nevada’s starkly beautiful high desert. It is under an hour from Reno and Lake Tahoe and approximately three hours from San Francisco. Although it’s close to modern diversions, a visit here feels like a step back in time. When silver was discovered in the mid-19th century, people from around the globe flocked to Virginia...
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Be An Exchange Student In Egypt – Respect Is Free
Interested in seeing the world, meeting new friends and exploring different cultures? Hostelling International is hosting a two-week learning program in Egypt that will include four very lucky American participants. As most students know, Hostelling International USA (HI USA) is a non-profit member organization founded on, and we quote,...
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Double Your Pleasure On California Streets And Chutes
This wallet-friendly California road trip from fabulous San Francisco to the sunny slopes of Lake Tahoe's mountain resorts delivers twice the vacation bang for your buck. As luck would have it, my daughter Eve lost her a high-tech job in Seattle just as the snow began gracing the slopes around Lake Tahoe, California. What better place to search -- not too hard– for a new meal ticket? Our...
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Amsterdam, The Netherlands Hotels
Whether afloat or on dry land, it's fun to stay like a local in Amsterdam, the city of canals. This friendly central European city has many lodging and dining options for traveling families, ranging from houseboats -- a unique family "home" with privacy and room to roam -- to contemporary highrises with a pool and business center. Amsterdam Family Friendly...
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Rotorua Hobbits and Maori Culture
A New Zealand family introduces their kids to the wonders of Maori culture, with a bit of Hobbit lore from Hobbiton, as seen on Rotorua. Last January, the warmest month in New Zealand, is the time we stopped for a while in Rotorua. Rotorua was originally a Maori village, settled about 600 years ago, built next to a geothermal area where the inhabitants could watch the geysers, swim in the...
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Toronto, Ontario Canada Attractions
Toronto is Ontario's cultural center, a sophisticated city whose global perspective thrills foodies, fans of fine art, and families with kids of any age. If there is one word that defines Toronto, it's diversity. The late author and Toronto resident Jane Jacobs, an expert on cities, wrote that cities "flourish most prolifically" when people live and work together in buildings of differing ages,...
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