By the Starlight
I came into the dining car to eat my half cold, half microwaved turkey and swiss hoagie. I had...
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From Textbook to Travel Experience
It's amazing how real history is when you get to see where it happened. Yeah, reading about it is exciting, or maybe boring depending on how much you care, but once you lay your eyes on a place ...
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Beirut
A few weeks back, I travelled to Beirut, Lebanon. I feel it’s important to capture what I experienced in the few days I spent in the country. As my buddy and I walked ourselves out of the airport,...
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Zimbabwe
It is a ghost town. The shops are closed, the windows shuttered and the interiors gutted.But it is not an abandoned ghost town. People do still live here. Their livelihoods, however, do not.This...
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I’ve Been So American
I tossed my shoes out onto the roof to dry, and flopped onto my new bed. My eyes were tired, but every time I tried to close them, they begged to be wide open, taking...
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What is Too Much Poverty?
Last summer I saw something that completely shocked me. I witnessed a man attempting to unclog a flooded street in Dhaka, Bangladesh. That doesn’t sound too shocking, but given the circumstances,...
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A Golden Morning at Goldbug Hotsprings
We arrived after dark with our packs loaded and ready to hike. There were four of us and we were all severely overloaded for an easy one and a half mile hike and two night stay. I was carrying...
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Authentic Chai With You
I have found nothing quite like the richness of the gravy-air in the land of spices. You could blindfold me and put me on an India-bound airplane without telling me where on earth I was going, and once...
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It’s Alright to Be American Again
As I wove my way through the densely packed, smoke filled bar I paused for a moment amongst the madness to catch a glimpse of the television...
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Plane Trip with an Infant to Florida
My mom has always worked in the travel industry. My first plane trip, at five years old, was to Las Vegas. Needless to say, I have many stories...
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Iterations of Equality
Parvati stood out from all the other women in her village. She could read and write. She was confident and charismatic. She looked men in the eyes when she spoke to them. She spoke to them. And when...
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London Bridge
Cold. Cold. Cold. My boots clatter against the icy cobblestones to this repeating mantra. I try to wiggle my toes to see if the sleet has seeped in beneath three layers of socks—but they are too numb...
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Star Trekking: 04:2010: Antonio Banderas Takes Riviera Maya by Stallion
"All I need now is for Antonio Banderas to show up on a shiny black stallion." How many times have I said that to myself, while studying my toenail polish from a chaise lounge on a pristine beach...
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Conflict Travelers couch surfing Belfast
My friends and I are conflict travelers: if the destination has at one point been a conflict hot spot, we are much more likely to spend a disproportional amount of time visiting, lingering around, casually...
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Trip to Nice, France.
We stood at the corner of a gravel lot in Le Parc de la Colline du Chateau. The four of us passed a soccer ball back and forth, the sun on our faces, just off an 8 hour flight from a gray and rainy...
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Atlantis Resort’s AKA Tropical Family Paradise
When you have a mega-resort that thrills all ages and you add a new kids club, tween and teen entertainment, and a Lego playroom, you get paradise.
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Mom, 3 Kids, 5 Days – Los Angeles To Vancouver Family Road Trip
Follow my advice on how to avoid a bumpy ride -- or should we say mom's worst nightmare ever? -- on a roadtrip from Los Angeles through Oregon, Washington state and Vancouver.
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Anthropology of Fiji for the Backpacker
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Atlantis Goes GaGa For Babies
Located on Paradise Island in the Bahamas, Atlantis is a true family getaway with special programs and perks for even the tiniest travelers.A few minutes of peace, a spontaneous adventure -- The...
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A Weekend Break In Breckenridge, Colorado
Colorado's Breck is a top-notch place for winter fun, with great skiing and riding -- but it shines year-round with places to visit, play, and eat around town. Breckenridge is among the most attractive...
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Following Lewis And Clark Through Washington
Washington State looked different to us than its wilderness did to Lewis and Clark so many years ago, so we became our own Corps of Discovery. When Lewis and Clark blazed a trail...
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Exploring The Other Side Of The Great Wall Of China
Avoid the tourist hordes by climbing the Great Wall with this family and their private Chinese guide, for an insider's look at one of the 7 New Wonders of the World.When we first heard about...
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US Family Tours And Attractions
A gallery view of some of our favorite daytrips, sightseeing excursions and city tours for families visiting the US.
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A Day in Princeton, New Jersey
My teen-aged daughter Maddy and I recently spent an activity filled day in Princeton, New Jersey. Equidistance from New York and Philadelphia, it is well connected...
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Hamburg, Germany Welcomes The World
Europe's largest port hosted millions of emigrants at the turn of the century and weclomes millions more to visit today.Hamburg, Germany's largest port and one of Europe's key trans-shipment...
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Star Trekker: Robin Thicke Performing At Atlantic City Resort
Smooth singer and songwriter Robin Thicke is set to perform Saturday, March 13 at the Tropicana Casino & Resort’s Showroom in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Tickets for the event are available from...
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Becoming An Astronaut On Cape Canaveral
A wannabe astronaut delights in the many varied outer space-themed attractions, museums and classes in central Florida that are designed for all ages."One small step for a man, one giant leap..."...
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Punzabo Winner Megan Baatz Conquers Grand Canyon With Friends (January 2010)
Congratulations to the January 2010 Punzabo winner, Megan Baatz, author of “A Landscape Transformed”! Megan...
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Washington’s New Art And Soul Fuels City
A new mood in the nation's capital promotes slow food, organic produce, folk arts, and American heritage -- all to the betterment of the U.S. government.A new mood in the nation's capital promotes...
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My First All-Inclusive – Mexico’s Aventura Cove Palace
A wary mom's first experience with an All-Inclusive family beach vacation in Tulum, Mexico turns out to be a success, and won't be her last. I admit that we are an unlikely family...
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Writers Comment On A Winner: “The Pennsylvania Hills”
For 2009, the winners of the Family Travel Forum Teen Travel Writing Scholarship were selected by professional writers and editors from the Society of American Travel Writers. They chose Kassandra...
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Unusual Blog “Beautiful Nepal” Generates Controversy Among Writers
Christine Anderson’s essay “Beautiful Nepal” was the Second Place Winner of FTF's 2009 Teen Travel Writing Scholarship, the...
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Cheaper Travel ID Options For Kids At Certain Borders
As many families already know, since January 23, 2007, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) has required all U.S.As many families already know, since January 23, 2007, the...
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Breezes Runaway Bay, Jamaica Resort And Golf Club
Newly renovated, this Jamaica resort provides families -- with teens and older -- an all-inclusive vacation that meets all of life's simple requirements for sun, food, drink and fun.Nestled...
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Star Trekking: Justin Bieber Swims with Dolphins at the Atlantis
Justin Bieber, the 15-year old Canadian pop star famous for his hits like “One Less Lonely Girl” and “One Time,” loves the Atlantis...
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Stowe Mountain Resort For Four Season Family Fun
All year round, the picture-perfect village of Stowe and the mountain resort that crowns it welcome families with outdoor adventures and activities to suit every interest. While strolling...
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Boca Raton Resort And Club
This mother and daughter enjoyed a relaxing beach, plus great programs for children and adults, at the Boca Raton Resort in Florida. While Florida certainly has plenty of resorts to choose...
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Aruba Attractions
Like most Caribbean family beach getaways, Aruba offers visitors opportunities to rest in the sun on a tranquil beach, as beautiful, gentle blue waves lap at the sand. Conversely,...
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Cayman Islands Calling Stingrays
This "hot" three-island British Crown Colony markets to families interested in sun n'surf, a pristine environment and accessible marine wildlife with tours to meet its native stingrays. Having...
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Hawk Cay Resort Review – The Perfect Family Vacation
This Florida Key resort with its many family activities is surprisingly civilized in an archipelago known for its casual vibe and funky charms.
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Custom Itinerary – Summer Out West With Teens
Q - Chris B. of Burlington, North Carolina writes: I would like to take my 15-year-old son out West to the Rocky Mountains this summer to ride houses, hike and raft. Any ideas?
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Top Cheap Cruise Getaway: Carnival Freedom
Carnival Cruise Lines' Freedom is a winner of FTF's Top 10 (Cheap) Getaways For Family Travelers 2008 award. Hitting the open seas may sound a little too luxurious for the budget-minded family. ...
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Top 10 Getaway for Luxury Travelers – One And Only Palmilla, San Jose del Cabo, Mexico
In 2006, FTF's annual Top 10 survey of award-winners honored the One&Only Palmilla, San Jose del Cabo, Mexico as a Top Luxury Golf Resort.In 2006, FTF's annual Top 10 survey of award-winners...
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Rocky Mountain High: Breckenridge With Teens Or Babies
When you're doing snowsports with teens, you need more than just a great mountain, you need a great scene. Breck delivers all-around fun plus super infant and toddler programs.What if you asked...
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Custom Itinerary – Sailing Adventure with Teen
Q - Ann S. of Las Cruces, New Mexico writes: I want to take my 11-year-old son on an adventure/not-so adventure trip this summer. He loves sailing. Do you know of any kid-friendly trips that include...
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Introducing: The 2009 FTF Teen Travel Writing Scholarship Judges
As the Family Travel Forum Teen Travel Writing Scholarship entered its third year, the experienced FTF judges were ready for anything...
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Good News: What’s Hot for Today’s Teen Traveler Is Helping Others
Media Only, December 3, 2008. Voluntourism is on the rise for today's teen traveler, according to an analysis of results from the 2008 FTF Teen Travel Writing Scholarship competition. (New York, NY) ...
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My adventures in Angkor Wat
We woke up and drove out to the Angkor complex. First we went to Angkor Thom which was one of the biggest Khmer cities. We went to Bayon temple which was really cool. It had 54 towers with 4 huge faces...
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Israel Teen Tours And Jewish Student Travel Programs
Considering study abroad programs or looking for a Jewish cultural tour for your teen? An expert reviews some of the top programs in Israel and elsewhere.The phrases 'Teen Tour' or...
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