Helping others motivates family travelers and earns scholarships for writers ages 13-18 in Family Travel Forum’s 2008 Teen Travel Writing contest.
(New York, November 11, 2008) – Family Travel Forum (FTF), the award-winning publisher of family vacation information on the web, is proud to announce the winners of its second annual Teen Travel Essay Scholarship competition. More than 6,000 students ages 13 to 18 applied for this merit scholarship.
A common theme in many of this year’s diverse adventures was a passion for making positive change in places visited and — fortunately for parents footing the bill — a renewed appreciation for those who supported teens’ global travels. “Topics ranged from visiting grandparents in Poland and Puerto Rico and touring the art treasures of Europe to working in the slums of Tijuana, Nairobi and San Francisco,” notes judge Laura Sutherland. “Stories were remarkably well crafted, vivid, insightful, funny and probably worthy of admission to Harvard. I expect we’ll be reading more from many of the winning writers over the years to come, as they have distinct voices and the ability to bring travel destinations and experiences to life in refreshing new ways.”
Congratulations to the recipients of Family Travel Forum’s 2008 Teen Travel Writing Scholarships.
2008 Scholarship Winners:
1st Place ($1,000):
“Blue Knob, Clay County, West Virginia” by Chelsea Knights; Long Beach, California
2nd Place ($500):
“1884 Miles on a Smokin’ Rock” by Isaiah Cornelius; Arvada, Colorado
3rd Place ($200):
“Most Cars Don’t Come Back: A Final Trip to Croatia” by Connor de Bruler; Greenville, South Carolina
2008 Scholarship Honorable Mentions
Honorable Mention authors will receive a Certificate of Commendation and a copy of the “Rand McNally 2009 Road Atlas”:
– “A Canadian Adventure” by Madeline Kuttner; Alameda, California
– “A Clumsy Sort of Paradise” by Emily Lydic; Raymond, Ohio
– “An Unexpected Beauty” by Caitlin Newell; Delaware, Ohio
– “A World Away from Home” by Abigail McAlister; Winston-Salem, North Carolina
– “Children of Fiji” by Rachel Taube; Short Hills, New Jersey
– “China, A Second Home” by Anne Marie Ou; Lewisville, Texas
– “Costa Rica” by Joyce Chung; Great Neck, New York
– “Emerald Water Memories” by Caitlin Needham; Shawnee, Oklahoma
– “French Fever” by Natilee Festa; Orlando, Florida
– “Going Home” by Julia Nejedlo; Hortonville, Wisconsin
– “Honduras, Beautiful Lessons” by Sarah Curley; Pueblo, Colorado
– “If Thoreau Went Backpacking” by Nathan McKinley; Mason, Ohio
– “I Left My Tongue in Branson” by Nolan Jones; Chesapeake, Virginia
– “Learning Through a Bowl” by B.O.; Ashland, Kentucky
– “My India” by Poonam Shah; Corona, California
– “My Jamaican Heart” by Brittany Castle; Macungie, Pennsylvania
– “My Trip to Philadelphia” by Laura Hastings; Wildwood, Missouri
– “My Trip to the Moon” by Samantha Dupler; Rockville Centre, New York
– “Taiwan: The Same Sky” by Shirley Chen; San Jose, California
– “The Becoming of Appreciation” by Sara Hamza; Nashville, Tennessee
– “The Other Side of Jamaica” by Kaylie Church; Wheaton, Illinois
– “Tijuana, Mexico: An Eye-Opening Trip” by Mariko Newton; Beaverton, Oregon
– “Travels in Paris” by Amanda Sweeny; Luray, Virginia
– “With Clouds Beneath My Feet” by Lauren Zumbach; Hinsdale, Illinois
– “Worlds Apart, Closer than Ever” by Jessica Cooke; California, Maryland
Judging the sheer volume of eloquent travel tales, photographs and videos required a team of college and graduate level journalism majors to assist FTF editors in selecting all finalists, whose compelling work can be seen on myfamilytravels.com. The top finalist essays, less than 3% of those submitted, were passed up to a panel of five travel journalists from the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), who judged them on originality, eloquence and a sense of place. FTF was honored by the support and participation of SATW, a professional organization known as “Travel’s Most Trusted Voices,” because of their commitment to responsible journalism, conservation and the preservation of travel resources worldwide. To learn more about all of the judges involved, check out their bio.
The 2009 FTF Teen Travel Scholarship will begin accepting applications on June 15, 2009 at http://scholarship.familytravelforum.com.
About FTF
Family Travel Forum (FTF) has served all who “Have Kids, Still Travel” with print and online guides since 1996. FamilyTravelForum.com has won many awards for its expert global coverage of family vacations ranging from multi-generational cruises to eco-adventures, travel gear reviews and pediatric travel health. FTF’s Trip Planning service boasts a Seal of Approval from the National Parenting Center for its comprehensive personalized itineraries and travel resources. Other FTF publications include travelBIGO.com for the Before I Get Old crowd; adventures with babysitting for parents of under-5s at TinyTravelers.net; blogs for those who’ve been there, done that and tell all at FamilyTravelBoards.com; and e-newsletters packed with vacation deals, breaking news and trends. FTF partnerships range from the guidebook, “Amazing Places to Take Your Kids in North America” to students licensing for Disney’s Family.com and the Discovery Channel, and strategic consulting to Fairmont Hotels, Chrysler and Forbes among others.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
Are you ready for a Road Trip? Explore these eleven incredible cross-country road trip routes across the U.S.!
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I love spending time in London. I think if you want to spend time out of the city, Brighton is also a great place to visit, especially as it’s close by. There are a number of family-friendly hotels, too, like The Brighton Hotel:
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It’s a steam excursion train, shorter ride, probably many kids on board. This would be better suited to younger children. Much better choice for the under-12 set.
Ralph
Originally created as a recreation area for employees of the Hershey Chocolate factory, today Hershey Park boasts plenty of chocolate paraphernalia, as well as roller coasters and a water park. Tickets include admission to the nearby ZOOAMERICA. Originally owned by the Knott’s jam producers, Knott’s Berry Farm amusement park is one of the older parks in the US, Knott’s Berry Farm is a classic for those looking for thrill rides, water rides and family fun.
Hi Ralph, thank you for your reply. I haven’t booked it yet as I had similar reservations that since it’s an 8-hr journey, it will not be wise to take the kids at this age but would love to take them on a shorter train tour, I’m currently looking at the Jacobite express (here in the UK).
Hello Zeb,
For children under 10, It would simply be too long a day in too confined a space for them, might get a little boring for them after the first 20 minutes; it’s an eight-hour journey.
If they are active, there isn’t a lot of room to run around on the train, which is smaller than the ones we are used to here in the U.S.
If you have already booked a space, and will have toddlers or young children, suggest you bring lots of things to keep the little ones entertained.
Ralph
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Have been to Switzerland but missed the Glacier Express, I’ve heard it really one of the best train journeys in the World with amazing mountain/alps view. Is it good to travel with kids 7 and 4 years old) too, since it’s 8 hours long?
Sunlight, particularly in late summer and fall, sets off the production of anthocyanin. Cloudy weather dampens production and leads to less colorful displays. Many scientists argue that warming temperatures do not have much to do with the intensity of color, only with its timing: when it appears and how long it lasts. But Howard Neufeld, a professor of biology at Appalachian State University in North Carolina, said climate change could eventually affect the complex processes in leaf senescence and lower anthocyanin production, dulling the autumn reds.
Gladiator School – My new favorite thing to do in Rome. We did this on our last trip to Rome and both kids and adults absolutely loved it. Instructors are great. Highly recommended. Book far in advance. (Pictured above.) Walking Tour: Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill – Excellent guided tour of Ancient Rome. Skip the line to enter all three sites. Very kid-friendly.
Deer Valley caters to families with kid-friendly skiing, child care programs and a limited child-to-instructor ratio. Because Deer Valley sells a limited number of daily lift tickets, tiny tots and pint-sized groms have plenty of room to work on their pizza wedge and French fries. Other amenities include a Children s Center, Adventure Camp and furry mascots on the Adventure Trails. I grew up skiing here and learned to love the mountains and snow at this resort. The amenities are top notch and the food is amazing. As a young kid, when the skiing got tough, I would always head inside and get delicious food and hot cocoa. See more Deer Valley reviews here .
Fall is very busy in the mountainous regions with the influx of leaf peepers from the New England area, around the United States and the world. In these extremely popular areas, you ll want to make lodging reservations at least several weeks ahead, especially on weekends. Columbus Day weekend (Oct 7-9, 2017) is another time in which advanced booking is advised throughout the region.
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Traveling to other cities with your kiddos? Don’t miss Curbed’s maps of the best family activities
Good to know : West Valley is open daily from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Apples are $0.85 a pound. Follow their Facebook page for updates on U-pick apples. And be sure to bring containers for their popular juice pressed right on site!
Minneapolis, Minnesota is a great pick for outdoor-loving families thanks to kid-friendly (and free) favorites like the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, home to more than 40 outdoor works of art
You can’t go wrong with a safari and I would recommend booking with a company like Timbuktu Travel. Have a look at their safari travel tips – .
The K Bar S Lodge, built in 2006, is located a short distance from Mount Rushmore. It is quietly secluded on 31 forested acres and away from busy streets. Battle Creek winds its way throughout the property and the large meadow in front of the Lodge is often a playground for deer and turkeys. As a single traveler it was so fun to be with this group. It s much nicer to be with others when you share a great experience or see something wonderful. And, it s safer than traveling alone. I m hooked on Road Scholar.
Rockefeller State Park offers seasonal activities including hiking, running, bird-watching, fishing ( New York state fishing license required), picnicking, horseback-riding, carriage-driving, photography, painting, and geocaching (park permit required). Sleepy Hollow and neighboring Tarrytown have a deep immigrant history resulting in a rich mix of cuisines: Italian, Greek, Mexican, Indian, French, Portuguese, Irish, Japanese, Dominican, Chinese, Ecuadorian, Thai, Moroccan, and Chilean. Foodies should not miss the Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow farmers market at Patriots Park where you ll find fresh Hudson Valley produce, meat, bread, and wine.
Speaking of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, don t miss out on seeing the Rockettes show-stopping leg kick precision chorus during the holidays at Radio City Music Hall.
Jimmy Buffet s restaurant is a short walk from the Comfort Suites Paradise Island Hotel and Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island. What could be better than eating a literal Cheeseburger in Paradise? Pairing it with a yummy margarita, of course.
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Make sure you check out the new sustainable Christmas Market in Berlin!! Its located by Hacksnshiremarkt!
What s more exhilarating than seeing the city from 108 floors above the world-famous Las Vegas Strip? Jumping off it. Strap in and face your fear as you jump off the side of SkyPod at The STRAT.
Have you ever dreamed of creating your own ice sculpture? The Quebec Winter Carnival has just what you’re looking for! Bring your group to our Ice Sculpture Workshops under the guidance of a team led by none other than Marc Lepire, chief sculptor of Bonhomme’s Ice Palace! During this one-hour event, you will learn the workflow of master sculptors and enjoy the unique experience of carving your own solid ice block with your group of 2 to 4 people. Free all-you-can-drink hot chocolate will keep you warm throughout the frosty fun.
When you’re travelling with your kids, indoor-fun options are a must no matter what the season. Montreal saves the day with all kinds of activities, from adventurous physical feats to skill-testing games and educational entertainment.
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Make sure to have lists of important contacts, in case of any emergency like health issue, car issue, towing issue (for emergency roadside assistance nyc), police issue, these all contacts make a trip safe and secure
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Great Read! Travelling with your family is one of the most exciting way to spend your holidays. If you are wondering where to travel next, here are some of the best vacation spots in the world.
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We have traveled through several airports in Germany but never Munich. We will keep Munich on our list for the next trip through Europe since it sounds like the best place to have a stop over with kids. Thanks for the review and the information for kids to do in Munich Airport.
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