Hike And Ride The Rails At Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Located in Brecksville, between the cities of Cleveland and Akron, little known Cuyahoga Valley National Park surrounds the 100-mile-long Cuyahoga River, named by American Indians for its “crooked” shape. It famously caught on fire in 1969 for just 24 minutes because of pollution. Long cleaned and restored, the river now provides a cool place to fish, kayak and relax without the crowds that many...
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Favorite Clearwater Beach Family Resorts
Clearwater Beach, halfway between St. Petersburg and Tampa with about 4,000 hotel rooms, has become so popular that it was named #1 Beach in the US and #7 Beach in the World by the 2017 TripAdvisor Readers Choice Awards. Clearwater delivers a great family beach experience because it’s cheaper than Florida’s East Coast beaches; and it’s on the Gulf of Mexico which is calmer, shallower and therefore,...
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Swimming With Manatees, Gentle Giants of the Sea
Swim and explore the undersea world of the manatee in Crystal River, home to the largest concentration of Florida manatees in the world. These lovable mammals are native to the bays and fresh-water estuaries around the towns of Crystal River and Homosassa, Florida. Although only 85 miles west of Orlando, it's a vacation experience that's a world away in natural beauty and Southern charm.
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The King of Tupelo, Mississippi
I recently overheard two guys who'd scaled Kilimanjaro, run Class VI rapids on the New River, and rested their heads on the most expensive pillows in Paris agree that, of all their travel journalism adventures, none was as much fun as the Tupelo Elvis Festival in Mississippi. Turns out Tupelo is one of the best places on earth. From my research, Elvis Presley fans who have been...
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National Civil Rights Museum And Martin Luther King Jr.
Even if you've seen the very special Martin Luther King Memorial in Washington DC, your family should not miss an opportunity to visit "his" museum: The National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee. Each winter, this fascinating collection runs several special family programs at the National Civil Rights Museum in honor of Dr. King and African American History...
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Okemo Mountain Resort Has What You Need
Okemo has everything you and your family need for a winter getaway. Ten years ago, it was the first ski resort I ever visited, tagging along with a friends’ family to take in the sights of Central Vermont and spend a day learning how to ski. This return trip, over a decade later, was a reminder of what a great destination Okemo is, and I was also able to appreciate how it’s improved… almost as...
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Surviving Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month
Tackling a new sport like skiing -- whether you're my age or a toddler -- is a challenge that the snow sports industry helps overcome each January with Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month. Perhaps a child, a new companion, or a childhood yearning have driven you to try skiing or snowboarding. Some may be ready to face...
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Celebrate First Night On New Years
Archaeologists believe the Babylonians were the first civilization to celebrate the New Year, with an 11-day holiday tied to the vernal (spring) equinox starting with a first-night festivity. Sometime during the Roman era, New Year's was set as January 1st, a custom that was adopted in the Middle Ages by many Western countries. For millions who equate New Year's Eve with a party, however, that date...
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This Year’s Best Ski And Snow Family Vacations
Winter is a great time to get outdoors with the kids, whether it's a family ski and snowboarding vacation at one of North America’s top mountain resorts, snowmobiling or snow shoeing on local trails, fun in the snow on a tubing run or seeing wildlife at a national park. Not only is it healthy to take some vacation days and get the whole family away from their screens; it’s also easy to find...
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Gifts that Give Back – Kids Presents That Help Others
This season, why not skip the long lines, reduce click-fatigue, save money, stay warm, help a good cause and get some adorable gifts that give back? You can live your family values out loud by spending your gift allowance to show the kids how to support many wonderful adopt-an-animal programs, educational initiatives, and life-changing organizations that work around the world. Here are some of the...
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