Vounteer Vacations Where Going Away Means Giving Back
Interest in volunteer vacations has grown as travelers seeking a local experience realize their presence affects a destination -– for better (creating jobs) or worse (degrading the environment). Because it’s hard to get the balance right, the best volunteer programs encourage responsible travel that emphasizes respect, cross-cultural exchange and sustainable development. The Value of Volunteering The...
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Outside The Gates: Adventures In Jamaica
Jamaica has redefined what it means to have an all-inclusive beach vacation by suggesting that guests explore real island culture outside their resort. It's a great idea to share the wealth that tourism brings to this friendly island, and a fun way to connect with the locals. A Jamaican company -- Island Routes -- is making it easier to do just that, by breaking...
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Experiential Trips and Vacations Top Teen Travel Trends in 2017
The Family Travel Forum Teen Travel Trends Report finds teens prefer cultural explorations and vacation travel while “heritage” trips diminish in frequency. (New York, December 20, 2017) - Family Travel Forum, the vacation planning resource trusted by families since 1996, has...
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Custom Itinerary: San Francisco And Yosemite on Tight Budget
Q. Cathy P. and family of St. Peters, Missouri are visiting San Francisco and Yosemite National Park and want budget hotel and sightseeing ideas along the way. A. Thank you for your note requesting itinerary planning advice for your upcoming trip to California. As we understand it,...
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Atlantic Morocco: Beach With Benefits
An Atlantic oceanfront view of north Africa's most intriguing country, Morocco, presents this family with a relaxing and rewarding vacation. We knew a few things from our first trip to Morocco: its ideal location in north Africa, its distinction as one of the most tolerant Muslim societies, the fact that French is universally spoken. We remembered the country's intense markets and devoted artisans,...
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Innocents Abroad: Students Traveling Alone
For teens and college students, the freedom of their first trip or study abroad program without parents can be a rush. Empower them to stay safe by sharing this advice. Parents often think of traveling with children only in the context of family vacations or similar trips. However, despite the valuable experience that this gives children, it is not the same as when they travel for...
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St. Petersburg And Clearwater, Florida Attractions
The St. Petersburg/Clearwater area provides so much of what a vacation in Florida should have: some of the nation's finest beaches, facing the calm and shallow Gulf of Mexico, fun eco-adventures in the wild, plus many family-friendly attractions and resorts. This great spot is a 90-minute drive from Orlando's Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, and Universal Studios, and just 30 minutes from Tampa's Busch...
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Safari West And Save Yourself A Flight To Africa
Those unexpectedly upside down moments in life, like seeing the Golden Arches among the pagodas of Beijing, can be fun and very reassuring, especially when traveling with kids. But when it's the reverse -- finding the exotic in the familiar -- it can be unsettling. So when we first heard there was an African safari camp outside Santa Rosa, California, we were skeptical... and a bit suspicious. A...
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Mines and Meadows ATV – RV Resort, Wampum, Pennsylvania
Not a conventional umbrellas-in-your-drink resort, Mines and Meadows is a rough-cut, rough-riding gem for ATV enthusiasts in the hills north of Pittsburgh... and a real family vacation find. Mines and Meadows, the vision of entrepreneur and motorsports aficionado Robert Svihra, is a self service “resort” for fans of dirt bikes and UTVs. Family members who are already motorheads will...
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How To Volunteer On Vacation
It's no secret that volunteer vacations have rapidly entered mainstream travel trends, and families are taking notice. It's an opportunity to see the world, enrich lives, serve others and, for students, even give their college resumes a boost. Here are some tips to help families select an appropriate volunteer vacation, then make the most of it once all ages are on board. What...
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