While the country struggles with the issue of same-sex marriage, hotels in Boston, Dallas, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix and San Francisco are proclaiming themselves both gay and family-friendly.
Same-sex couples traveling with children will find a variety of offerings – gay, lesbian and straight – in most North American urban centers. “When we travel with our girls,” say a New York father and his partner, “we pick gay-friendly destinations, like a city where we can at least go visit the gay areas, but we don`t necessarily stay in gay-operated establishments.” Here’s a selection of the types of hotels where GLBT adults will be comfortable socially — and kids will be treated to amenities and special facilities — that gay and lesbian couples with children will discover more and more, over time.
Across the US
Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants (415/397-5572), originally from San Francisco, has turned its gay-friendly formula into a very successful boutique hotel concept welcoming all types of style-conscious travelers. Kimpton has taken many of their fresh ideas, such as providing goldfish to guests who miss their pets back home, to small, hip, upscale hotels around the country. With 14 of their 39 properties in and around San Francisco alone, families will enjoy perusing their website to select one with the glamour, wild fabrics, lavish mirrors, sleekly modern fixtures or a combination of looks for which the chain has become known.
Best yet, families will now find Kimpton Hotels in Silicon Valley; Portland, Oregon; Vanouver, BC; Seattle, Washington; Salt Lake City, Utah; Chicago, Illinois; Denver and Aspen, Colorado; New York City; New Orleans, Louisiana; Washington DC; Boston, Massachusetts; and the funky South Beach suburb of Coconut Grove, Florida. Many have seasonal packages in which tickets to local attractions, or other family perks, are bundled with room rates.
New to 2008, the gay-owned and operated Attitude Hotels boasts Premier, Comfort, and Value hotels along with a selection of Inns and B&B’s. Currently, Attitude can only be found in the United States in New York, Fort Lauderdale, and Palm Springs. But their brand has already spread throughout Europe, Thailand, the Caribbean and plans for worldwide expansion. A twist on the norm, Attitude calls themselves “straight-friendly” with a focus on offering a welcoming environment to the gay and lesbian traveler.
Boston, Massachusetts
Boston has a wide variety of LGBT-welcoming lodges, ranging from the Wyndham Boston (877/999-3223) where family packages include late check-out and an in-room pizza party, to six other Wyndham hotels, including two of their Summerfield Suites’ all-suite hotels.
There are seven Hilton-managed properties (800/HILTONS) in Boston, including four of the all-suite Doubletree hotels as well as the high-tech Hotel@MIT in Cambridge. For families interested in sightseeing, we recommend the Hilton Boston Back Bay (pool pictured at left), within walking distance of most attractions, or the Doubletree Guest Suites Boston, which is further away but on the shores of the scenic Charles River near Cambridge. This hotel of one-bedroom suites, with spacious living rooms with sofabeds and privacy for the kids, has free shuttle service to Harvard Yard, Faneuil Hall and Copley Square.
Dallas, Texas
Dallas, with its strong theatre base, art galleries, fine museums and the popular Oaklawn neighborhood for nightlife, has long been a gay stronghold. The Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau is quick to remind an inquiring audience that Dallas has the sixth largest gay population in the United States, Texas’ largest gay nightclub and, in this conservative state, the largest LGBT church in the world. The ongoing Main Street Initiative, a downtown revitalization project aimed at boosting downtown shopping and dining, and the forthcoming Trinity River Project, a recreation oasis with two lakes, hike and bike trails, an 8,000-acre park and three bridges (including a 40-story suspension bridge designed by the renowned architect Santiago Calatrava) are sure to increase the city’s appeal as a cultural destination.
The Adam’s Mark Dallas (214/922-8000; 800/444) represents a small chain of 13 city hotels that is gay and family-welcoming. Other popular hotels, each with business facilities, large swimming pools, fitness centers and a central location, include the Crowne Plaza Market Center, Hilton Lincoln Center, the Stoneleigh, the Westins of Dallas and the Wyndham Anatole, a property, like other Wyndhams, that goes out of its way to appeal to kids. The Kimpton Groups’ Hotel Palomar (214/520-7969) is a magnet for style-conscious travelers and cool kids.
New York, New York
In bustling New York City, the ideal neighborhood for same-sex couples and their kids might well be Chelsea, a casually fashionable quarter north of Greenwich Village, south of Times Square, on Manhattan’s West Side. It’s a lively walkable district of low-rise historic buildings and townhouses interspersed with the Flower Market, Garment District and galleries, not far from Macy’s or Madison Square Garden. The 20-story Hampton Inn Chelsea (212/414-1000) has 144 simple, clean and comfortable rooms, offering a coffeemaker, iron and ironing board, data port and WiFi Internet access, and free in-room movie channel. Families are entitled to free local calls and a free breakfast bar, as well as a complimentary newspaper.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is one of our favorite family destinations, a small, civilized and eminently walkable place filled with history, fascinating neighborhoods and gracious residents. The city’s tourism office claims the City of Brotherly Love (and location for the gay rights film, “Philadlephia”) as the “site of some of the nation’s earliest gay rights protests in the mid-1960s.” Gay-friendly, family-friendly, whatever. This is a terrific destination any time of year.
The Best Western Independence Park (215/922-4443) is in its own landmark building near the new Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross House, Penn’s Landing and other historic attractions. It features a glass-enclosed courtyard where complimentary breakfast (including a “make your own waffle bar”) and afternoon Tea & Cookies are served, spacious rooms with VCRs, a guest laundry room, and a pets-welcome policy.
The Loews Philadelphia (215/627-1200) is located right on Market Street, near the Convention Center and City Hall, in the former PSFS bank dating from 1932. A National Historic Landmark, this luxurious 583-room hotel (including 37 suites) offers families Loews Loves Kids, Teens and Grandparents packages, plus rooms with business equipment and work desks, 3 phone lines (teens will love this!), coffee maker, ironing board and iron. Overall, there are a stylish lobby and public spaces marked by historic marble flooring, with classic Cartier clocks that used to adorn the bank. Facilities include a heated indoor pool, fitness center, good business facilities, and a pet-welcoming policy typical of al the Loews Hotels.
Alexander Inn (877/ALEX-.INN, 215/923-3535) is located near Rittenhouse Square in the city’s most walkable district. It’s gay-owned but welcomes everyone with its fairly-priced stylish rooms, artwork, complimentary food service including a breakfast buffet, fruit and snacks; in-room TVs with several movie channels. Some spacious corner rooms have two double beds.
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, a city by any measure, has such a warm desert climate year-round that business is often conducted at the golf course, tennis club, or around the pool. Given their outstanding recreation facilities, most of the city’s top hotels would be considered resorts elsewhere. Imagine an urban getaway that promises a waterslide outside your room, a fascinating museum of Native American arts nearby, and terrific Mexican and Southwest cuisine at every corner.
We turned to Passport magazine for their pick of the top hotels for same-sex couples, and they came up with the Arizona Biltmore (800/950-0086), Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort at Gainey Ranch (800/633-7313), Phoenician (800/888-8234), and the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort (800/947-9784), all top family choices. However, all but the Pointe Hilton are quite pricey, especially in the winter high season. Savings of up to 50% can be found in the broiling summer months. The heat is just bearable if you remember to spend the middle part of each day indoors — easy to do when you realize each of these properties has an excellent children’s program for the kids and a top-notch spa for adults.
San Francisco, California
San Francisco, the nation’s largest gay community, is one of its major family destinations. “Every hotel in San Francisco is gay-friendly,” notes a San Francisco C&VB spokesperson. “During the open period for same-sex unions, several hotels just refocused honeymoon packages and added family elements for the newlyweds who came with children.”
From dozens of excellent hotels, one local chain deserves special mention. Joie de Vivre Hospitality (800/738-7477) is a collection of boutique hotels that successfully markets to the LGBT crowd. Their 25 small properties in San Francisco, Silicon Valley and Marin County welcome all travelers to “innovative and idiosyncratic niche hospitality products.” The elegant motel-style Hotel de Sol in the Marina district, the landmark Maxwell House on Union Square and the small studios at the Laurel Inn in Pacific Heights especially welcome gays with children and/or pets. In fact, their formula has proven so successful that they are consultants to The Indigo Hotels, a new brand of mid-priced, style-savvy hotels started in 2004 by the huge InterContinental Hotels corporation.
On a much smaller scale, the eight-room Inn on Castro (415/861-0321) sums up what the entire tourism industry should be aspiring to. This B&B welcomes singles, families – gay and straight – as well as grandparents, to its two-bedded rooms and three-person apartment. Muses innkeeper Frederick Schermer, “Though it is not always easy to predict how ‘gay’ and ‘sexual’ the inn in going to be, in general, there is not too much going on… but friendly people staying at our small B&B.”
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We vacationed at a dude ranch in Colorado called the Drowsy Water Ranch. We have two kids (9,4) who along with us had the best vacation we have ever had. The ranch offered lots of activities and excellent kids programs and riding instruction.
Our favorite parts of the trip was the evening activities, great staff and ranch owners, learning to ride like cowboys and cowgirls, rafting and most of all watching our kids enjoy their vacation.
We would highly recommend Drowsy Water Ranch to anyone looking for a dude ranch vacation. We are planning on returning to the ranch again this coming summer!
I've heard that this housing development project has made Amsterdam city living more affordable for young families. What a wonderful way to keep a very old urban center alive.
Jessica,
I love your essay. Very descriptive and well written. Thanks for sharing it!
Mrs. Toombs
I love your incorporation of the “Disney” portrayal of Paris. I was also a little disappointed when I actually saw the Moulin Rouge, it was definitely not as romantic as Nicole and Ewan made it seem.
This is really good!
your job sounds so interesting, sort of like a war correspondent with less of the war and more of the correspondence. I look forward to week 2.
Wow… really interesting to hear about Iraq from this non-news oriented perspective. Thanks for sharing and can’t wait for more.
Good luck and be safe!
I’d like to thank the judges, who gave my essay the time of day and even went as far as to award it third place. This event has been really awesome.
There’s an area in Berlin with segments of the Wall still standing, and these are covered with graffiti and really interesting to see. I never heard of this, will definitely check it out next time I’m in Praha. Thanks for sharing.
gee Brandon,
that’s a really heavy thought but a very interesting one. i loved cancun when we went; it’s full of life and very sophisticated. yes, we could see the difference between the glitzy lifestyles of the locals around the tourist hotels, versus the people who lived in the countryside, but they all seemed pretty happy to me.
The Holland America ships sailing on a 7-day itinerary only have time for a day in port at Quebec City. However, they have a few 13 day itineraries that spend 2 days in this fun port of call. Mid September-October is a great time to go.
I was able to get the docs, cancel the request. If all else fails, read the directions, right? Thanks
For a unique, exhilerating and unforgettable experience in Wales, try an “adventure weekend” at Preseli Venture. My weekend there included learning how to surf and hiking for 7 miles along the gorgeous coast. Other activities were kayacking and, my personal favorite, coasteering – a combination of swimming, rock climbing and cliff jumping that will leave you sore, tired and smiling. The rest of our time there was spent hanging out around a bonfire, eating delicious food and having drinks with friends. Your body will be challenged and your soul will be rejuvinated after a weekend here!
Norway is an absolutely magical country where you can see tiny grass-roof houses occasionally dotting the countryside and some of the bluest waters you can imagine. My family has an incredible trip to Norway a few years ago. All of us would definitely recommend that you try the strawberries at the open-air market in Bergen. They were the best we’ve ever had. However, don’t be tempted to try the chain pizza restaurant, Pippin’s. Their idea of pizza is not quite what most Americans are used to and its very expensive. After a disastrous experience with Norwegian pizza, we ventured toward the less touristy eateries and discovered that tiny restaurants that sell delicious rotisserie chicken platters were everywhere and quite affordable. We were so proud of ourselves for making this little discovery that I though I’d share it with anyone considering a trip to this amazing place!
Big Sur, the National Park along Highway 1, just south of Monterey is also worth a visit. I spent many summers there as a child and it’s always a pleasure to go back. You’ll be camping(but there are cabins and hotels available) among the giant redwoods, with the beach right beside the forest. Some of the scenery just driving through the park are the best, in my opinion of the entire Highway 1 experience and definitely worth at least a day trip while in the area.
The Bellagio has an amazing nightly water show. The fountains make the water seem to dance to classical music. The show only lasts about 5-10 minutes, but it runs every half hour during the week and every 15 minutes on the weekends. You can tell when the show is about to start as soon as the area around the Bellagio’s entrance gets packed, so be sure to beat the rush and get a comfortable viewing area.
I’ve made two requests for permission travel letters and have not received an email. I have a mac…is that a problem?
The Lake George region is one my favorites to vacation in upstate New York. The town is beautiful and an evening walk along the water after a nice meal makes for an enjoyable evening.
When I vacationed with my family a few years ago we stayed at the Lake George Escape Camp Ground. My family is not one for roughing it, so even though there were families on the grounds living out their tents and RVs, we were able to rent one of the log cabins, with all the modern “luxuries” that I deem necessary (shower, bed, kitchen). The huge grounds has a baseball field, an outdoor pool and a rec room with a tons of games for the kids to play. There is nightly entertainment and the atmosphere is very friendly with families grilling on their own BBQs and offering hotdogs to other guests walking by.
While in town, we found the time to explore the area and two of the things I highly recommend are Six Flags Great Escape Park and just a half-mile down the road from that is the Glen Falls Drive-In movie theater. The theme park has a bobsled rollercoaster and the drive-in has double features (for the price of one) every night during the summer!
Our teen son has been to the New Orleans Jazz Festival twice and he just loves it. There is something magical about listening to music out of doors that keeps kids involved. If we put on some of the music he loved at NoLa at home, he would scoff at it! But there, sitting on the lawn, his musical horizons were much broader. This festival sounds just great.
Hello Steve~ I’m hoping your still active on this site and my post reaches you soon. It was a wonderful sight for me to stumble upon this site and find your name and some photos. Please try to contact me so that we can catch up. You may email me erinmbrice on yahoo.
Everyone should go to the Cliffs of Moher, one of the most amazing things I did in Ireland!
During Christmas of 2006, I went down to the Caribbean for the first time with my family. It was me, my younger brother and sister (who were in their mid to late teenage years at the time) and our parents.
I was a little apprehensive since I have never been on vacation during the holidays before, but like Kristen, we stayed at the Barcelo Capella and it was a GREAT TIME. There was a huge tree in the middle of the resort decorated with lights and they even had parties for all the guests on Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
The staff is comical, welcoming and entertaining. My favorite part of each night was after dinner when the performers took a break from their music and dancing and put on what the resort calls, “Ice Breakers.” Basically, they pull out random guests and members of the audience to come on stage and participate in embarrassing, but incredibly funny activities. You may have to dance the tango with a stranger, pop balloons with your butt, or make animals noises. It keeps the crowd pleased and certainly does break the ice.
I went down with my family, but left the resort with a ton of friends. The Barcelo Capella definitely enhances the typical family vacation. PLUS- It is ALL INCLUSIVE and beach front. You really cannot go wrong here.
Oahu can be congested sometimes, but it’s too beautiful to pass up. Another great thing to do is visit The Contemporary Museum on Makiki Heights Drive. It’s small and intimate and full of interesting exhibits. It’s a great place to beat the heat and get away from crowds.
Absolutely beautiful, in summer and winter. Lake Louise holds a special place in my heart! Although I would suggest during winter bundle up. Seriously, I spent the winter holidays skiing here and it was -40 degrees, hand warmers are a must!
I loved going to Lugu Lake. It took a six hour bus ride to get there from Lijiang, which is a short flight away from Kunming. The trip was definitely worth it though, the lake is gorgeous! If you have time, get tickets for the Mosuo performance. The Mosuo people are a matriarchal society who lives near Lugu Lake and the show teaches you all about their customs through singing and dancing.
I go back to Grand Targhee every winter with my dad for so many reasons. I love it! The lift lines are never long, the food is cheap and with my college I.D I was able to ski for $35 over spring break 2008. I was even able to go skiing with my friends who had never skied before.
If you’re looking to visit pandas without leaving the city, just head over to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. The research base is just a short taxi ride away from the heart of the city and a perfect day trip. I spent three hours there before my evening flight, just enough time to visit everything from the Baby Panda Nursery to Giant Panda Kindergarten. The pandas are adorable and although they didn’t do much (mostly sleeping and eating), none of the visitors, including me, could take their eyes off the slow-moving animals. For 400 RMB (about 53 US dollars), visitors can stand next to and take a picture with a baby panda, but if you want to hold one, be prepared for sticker shock. It costs 1000 RMB, or about 133 US dollars!
I also recommend stopping and watching the video about the giant panda and the center’s breeding efforts. Visit the less popular red pandas as well. They’re much more energetic than their large black and white counterparts and the kids were excited to see them leaping around and wrestling with one another. Like most other tourist destinations, the breeding center has a souvenir shop near the exit. Stop by and take a look at the cuddly stuffed pandas and t-shirts, but you may want to buy the items at the stands across the street from the breeding center where you can bargain. Be careful when getting on one of the taxis waiting outside. They know that most of the visitors are tourists and will try to rip you off so make sure they start the meter once you get on.
While in Chengdu, I stayed at Universal House Golden Hotel, a four star hotel not far from the city center. It was inexpensive (I paid around 60 US dollars per night) and the service was wonderful. The front desk was eager to help and recommended two wonderful restaurants, including Huang Cheng Lao Ma which specializes in Sichuan-style hotpot.
The Giant’s Causeway is definitely worth the trip from Belfast, which by bus tour took a couple hours for us. There is a particular rock out near the water that is rumored to be magical and is considered Finn’s chair. Supposedly anyone who sits on that particular step stone can wish for any one thing and Finn will grant that wish.
I also highly recommend the Crown’s Liquor Saloon. The Farmer’s Chicken was excellent and keeping with the wonderful pub atmosphere. Now that there is a smoking ban in Northern Ireland, I bet it’s even more pleasant without the cloud of smoke.
A couple other things that to think about doing is visiting Queen’s University, just to see how like good wine, universities are better with age and a stroll through the Botanical Gardens is nice when weather permits, but if showers occur, seek shelter in the Palm House, a glass greenhouse with a huge variety of tropical flowers and plants. Admission is free to both.
Another way to travel through Belfast is with the Black Cab tours, which offers private tours in those classic cab cars that look old fashioned compared to the sedan Yellow Taxis of New York City. These personalized tours allow up to four people to pick and choose which sites ranging from within Belfast City to as far as Antrim to the Giant’s Causeway. They also have tours to the Shankill Murals and Falls Murals, which are always viewed better with a local guide to explain what these paintings represent, along with the history.
Edinburgh has a great haunted tour. A lot of it is more about the ‘gore’ of hanging days, but they take you down into their underground vaults, which was voted as one of the most haunted places on earth. It’s not all that scary, but definitely for older kids (and grown-ups) who love to be spooked.
I love Portland! Try out the Rose Gardens, it’s a nice place for the kids to run around while the parents enjoy the flowers.
I stayed at the Embassy Hotel while there and we ended up with a suite, very spacious, clean, great staff.
Little Italy is a great spot for gelato and family-style Italian food. And the suburb of Westlake (about 15 minutes from Cleveland) has a huge pedestrian area and shopping village called Crocker Park with tons of shops, eateries, and kid-friendly stops.
I stayed at the Hix House, designed by environmentalist architect John Hix. We absolutely loved it, though it is very rustic and run on solar power, no TV, AC, etc. They require children be 16 and older, so this is only a good option for older kids who love the outdoors and want to explore unique environmental lodging options.
I like free kayaking in Hudson Park through Downtown Boat House. They provide free kayaks to venture out solo or tandem for about 20-minutes along the Hudson. Kids under the age of 16 have to go tandem with a guardian. While 16-18 year olds can go solo, but their guardian has to sign a waiver and be present the whole time. Makes for a fun and inexpensive family activity.
Hudson Park also has a summer trapeze school, batting cages, bike rentals, rock climbing, play areas, and free movie programs during summer.
St. Thomas isn’t the island for me. Personally, the last thing I want to see when entering a Caribbean port is an oversized Rolex store, a local market overflowing with cheap goods from China, and a misplaced McDonald’s.
The Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort is well-kept, but has some of the worst service I’ve ever experienced. If you’re not there on an all-inclusive, they’ll nickel and dime you to death with $20 to $50 to check your email, or even more to get online from your room. My room’s internet connection did not work and when alerted to the problem, the cranky staff did nothing beyond making false promises and passing the buck and I left having never been able to connect.
The beach is rocky and uninviting and so far from the rooms as to almost make it not worth the visit. Snorkeling gear is free to guests, but they make you pay $5 for life vest’s for your little ones. I had to leave my credit card as a deposit when they wouldn’t take my room number instead.
I don’t recommend the Wyndham…
Hi
Stay in what Hans Christian Andersen called “Denmarks Garden” at this magnificent Manor House, http://www.skrobelevgods.dk
Huge and bright suites with en-suite bathrooms, winecellar, lounces with open fireplaces etc.
Hi
Another fantastic French castle is Hattonchatel Chateau in Lorraine – the view is fabulous and the listed knights hall “la Salle de Burgraves” is one of the few wonders of this world.
Mention the night skiing at Squaw Valley. It has one of the longest night-lit runs I’ve ever skied — 3.2 miles from top to bottom. Plus the terrain park is lit at night and that includes a half-pipe. Really fun.
Susan F.
Northstar at Taoe is a great place for teens because all of the housing on the resort site is served by a bus. That means they can sleep in and get themselves to the slopes. It also has really fun terrain park features for both skiers and snowboarders. It would be nice to see daycare for infants, though.
– Laura S.
Wow, you sound like a disgruntled Yankee Fan!
Having personally vacationed at Point Sebago with my family for a week at least 7 years so we speak from first hand experience. Most years we never leave the resort and check-out feeling we participated in a small fraction of the resorts multitude of offerings. You make no mention of the family camaraderie we find so refreshing around the campfire each evening. Did you ever start a camp fire? Probably not as it sounds like you spent very little time at the resort (5 days vacation and 5 Maine excursions).
Obviously your teens do not enjoy tennis, canoeing, kayaking, golf, driving range, miniature golf, sailing, volleyball, shuffleboard, hanging out on the beach, or going on a teen cruise or teen dance.
You make the “Park Homes” sound small. And, when compared to a house – this point can not be argued. However many families vacation and share a single motel/hotel room with 2 double beds. Compared to that, our 2-bedroom Park Home every year feels quite spacious.
You also mention the 10 minute walk from your unit to the water. You do not mention the dozens of homes directly on the water (given the resort popularity, we do reserve months in advance to get a waterfront Park Home).
Point Sebago Resort has over a 80 percent repeat guest and referral rate. Families who love Point Sebago are loyal, return year after year (some for generations) and tell their friends. We have refered dozens of families and all have loved it! Thousands find this to be a real “Maine woods” experience.
But when you visit a resort with so much to offer and the 6 highlights of your visit are 5 off-sight visits (you were only there for 5 days) and the sixth highlight was teaching your son to drive. Well, as you say, clearly your family “did not click with it” – but did you even try?
Does not sound like you will, but if you were to visit again, try actually participating in some of the resorts activities and events. They are numerous, they are fun! You make new friends and you reconnect as friends with your family – surprisingly this happens over mini golf or s’mores. We find this is what really makes the true Point Sebago experience!
-Greg Burke
This author is amazing! This article was very informative and makes me want to go to Seefeld right now!!!Keep up the good work!!!
Our family visited Columbus in July one year and attended the Ohio State Fair. What a great time we had – our 2 year old loved petting the animals in the 4H tent where many older kids were gathered with the younger “siblings” of the cows, sheep and goats who were in competition. The Ohioans are so friendly too, that made it extra fun. Highly recommended, especially with little ones.
I was at this ski resort in March one year and it was awesome. There’s an outdoor cafe halfway up the mountain, near the open air skating rink built for the Olympics — both are a great place to hang out in the noon day sun. really neat.
This sounds like such a fun trip, but do you think it would be hard to drive a minivan full of kids for us, since it’s on the “wrong” side of the street in Ireland?
I wonder how much traffic there is and how stressful this would be, with parking, filling up the gas tank, etc.
Don’t miss “Gum Alley” in downtown San Luis Obispo, where visitors have left their artistic mark in gum. You’ll see gum initials, gum hearts, gum peace symbols, and thousands and thousands of pieces of ABC (already been chewed) gum. Found objects such as old 45 rpm records and charms are often stuck onto the wall and there’s always room for more. The wall is located off Higuera between Chorro and Broad Streets.
I haven’t, but I found a nice site at http://www.auto-europe.co.uk/- It’s AutoEurope, the car rental company, and they have lots of fly-drive offers for families interested in visiting the Christmas markets in Munich, Dresden, Nuremberg, Salzburg, Vienna, Zurich and Strasbourg. maybe it will have some good ideas for your next Christmas market adventure.
A few things to do iin Moscow include the Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier’s changing of the guard ceremony, a Kremlin tour, Lenin’s Mausoleum, Armory and Diamond Fund Tours.
You can explore central Moscow on foot. Kids may like the shopping mall with the food court under Red Square.
Other possiblities include the Izmalova flea market, the KGB Museum and Park Pobedy (Victory Park).
The Bolshoi ballet is a treat and you’ll need to book tickets quite a ways in advance.
You should have plenty of excellent ideas for St. Petersburg in this article!
I am interested in a family trip in July for my two children and myself to include at least Moscow and St Petersburg. I am a member. Help! Christi Bourne
I just didn’t want FamilyTravelForum.com to be hit by nasty emails from parents with young kids curious to know just what Bomba and the women are doing in all those photos and why.
The Bomba Shack is a tourist attraction — trap may be more like it. It’s a really gross place.
Candyce Stapen
Anyone who has ever been to Tortola knows that this is just an absurd landmark… a taste of local color… that people actually ask to stop at. It is definitely just a place to take a photo as they have the strangest things hanging there. We saw lots and lots of license plates, etc… and did not take note of bras and panties, etc. We did not recommend that anyone “hang out” there.
Nonetheless, we feel that if anyone is offended… then this item definitely has to be eliminated from our article about the island.
Mel and Ronnie Greenberg, authors
You really should delete the reference to “Bamba Shack.” First of all, it’s the “Bomba Shack” and secondly, it appeals to drunken college students and twenthysomethings. It’s not family-friendly.
Women’s panties and naked, explicit — very explicit photos — of Bomba feeling up and doing all kinds of X-rated activities with visiting women are on the walls and hang from the rafters.
I wouldn’t even want my daughter going there when she was in college, let alone when she was younger.
Candyce Stapen
[Editor’s Note: Travel expert Candyce H. Stapen is a contributing editor and columnist for Family Fun, Vacations, the Washington Times, and National Geographic Traveler. She is also the author of the four “Great Family Vacations” guides (Prima Publishing): Northeast, South, Midwest & Rocky Mountain Region, and West, as well as “Cruise Vacations With Kids” and “Fun With the Family in Virginia” (Globe Pequot Press). Stapen has two children and lives in Washington, DC.]