Three Waterparks Worth a Detour in Europe
If you're taking the clan to Europe and feeling anxious about entertaining everyone, we recommend one of these terrific waterparks to guarantee fun. Need three good reasons to include one as part of a European Grand Tour? You will avoid sunstroke from touring public squares in the heat. You will relax the human brain, which can only absorb so much culture in a day. You...
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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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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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The Very Best Spring Break Vacation Ideas
Spring is our favorite time of year -- a season of beginnings and growth -- and an ideal time to travel affordably between the pricey winter break and crowded summer months. Here are 37 fresh destinations and family adventure ideas selected with our partners at TakingtheKids.com. Use our guide today to make your spring break...
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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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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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Vera Bradley, Queen of Fort Wayne, Indiana Outlet Sales
As an East Coaster, it took me awhile to recognize the Vera Bradley label inside a dizzying array of quilted fabric accessories but, as soon as I did, I understood the appeal of her annual outlet sale. Her Pucci-like bright-colored, floral and paisley-patterned fabric totes, purses, and laptop bags are ubiquitous, and expensive. The Cult of Vera Bradley Given my late introduction...
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Kids Free Learn To Ski Passes
Kids Free and Student Learn To Ski Passes provided to local schoolchildren by several states are a great value for family ski vacations and introduce residents to the winter recreation around them. We like to apply the expression “think globally, act locally” to teaching our kids snowsports –- let them dream of conquering the runs at Sochi, but start them off small at a local...
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Where Teens Want to Go in Philadelphia
Everyone knows if the kids are happy on vacation, so are parents and grandparents. That’s why it wasn’t surprising to learn from family travel research curated for our most recent TMS Family Travel conference that kids increasingly are influencing...
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