Montreal International Jazz Festival, Quebec
Music festivals are fun for all ages, and the famous Montreal Jazz Fest is a great centerpiece for a top value family getaway to Canada. Ten thousand kids a day can't be wrong! That's the estimated number the International Festival de Jazz de Montreal attracts daily from the 2.5 million visitors who attend each year. Kids are brought to this family-friendly event to learn, listen, and have fun...
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Paris, France: City Reborn
When sightseeing with teens, you'll notice that Paris is more environmentally conscientious and respectful of other cultures than ever before, while remaining as charmingly French as ever. To visit the City of Light after an absence of 12 years is to find it ever more brilliant, illuminated by an hourly lightshow of electronic sparkles that play across the Eiffel Tower. Brilliant and smarter, too:...
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Trending: Diversity and Inclusion in Tourism
The recent ITB Berlin travel trade conference featured several inclusive vacation opportunities for gay and lesbian couples with children, as well as several initiatives to celebrate travelers' increasing diversity. “Thanks to ITB Berlin, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender has developed in recent years from a niche into an internationally recognized product,” said Rika Jean-François, Corporate...
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Amsterdam, The Netherlands Attractions
With new Eurostar highspeed train service direct from London to Amsterdam, Holland's colorful cultural center and Europe's party capital will see more tourism than ever. Families, however, can take a different path through the city's intricate canal network and historic cobblestone lanes to find a huge array of attractions. Only half the size of Maine, tiny Holland began as a fishing village in...
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See Istanbul with Free Sightseeing and Stopover Tours
We really appreciate what Turkish Airlines has done to make families feel welcome, by offering in-flight toys, family entertainment and healthy dining and drink options on their Trans-Atlantic flights -- and now, free tours. Yes! A few well-guided Istanbul city tours are available, absolutely free, for passengers in transit with a minimum six-hour layover. With so many
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Exploring the Riches of Eastern Germany
Families are just beginning to discover the former East Germany, land of romantic castles, historic towns, beautiful beaches and German infrastructure… all at Croatia prices. We recently visited the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, 3 hours from Hamburg or Berlin and just 7 hours from Copenhagen, and found a perfect destination to experience rich European culture with kids in a safe, English speaking...
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Ledbury and the Malvern Hills
We recently explored the towns around Ledbury and the Malvern Hills in historic Herefordshire and Worcestershire counties. Whether you have a week or a weekend, there’s plenty of local culture and recreation to keep all ages busy. The region is an ideal country alternative to Britain’s big cities, because it’s just 90 minutes by train from Birmingham and 3½ hours from London. Eastnor,...
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Orlando Attractions For Theme Park Haters
Getting beyond it's role as the theme park capital of the United States, Orlando also has a fascinating variety of natural, cultural, historical, and downright unusual activities--so many, in fact, that it would take you an estimated 67 days to see everything. Whether you're sticking to theme parks or venturing beyond, a visit to Orlando's Official Visitor Center at 8723...
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Road Trip USA: Exploring The Diverse Cultures of New Mexico
Exploring the byways and Camino Real of New Mexico -- from Albuquerque to Taos -- makes a Southwestern road trip adventure with many unexpected pleasures. New Mexico offers a unique fusion of Native American, Hispanic and Anglo cultures, making it a particularly interesting place to explore. With 22 Native American tribes in the area, there are 19 pueblos (villages), in addition to numerous...
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Best Winter Fun in the Black Forest
For families with toddlers and school-age children –- or snowsports novices of any age -- Germany's Black Forest is a magical place to fall in love with alpine sports and the outdoors. Having toured the mountains of southern Bavaria in summer, we are dreaming of returning in winter, when the region’s towering evergreens have a dusting of snow. We will re-sample the region's cultural icons: cuckoo...
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