Alexandria, Virginia’s Winter Attractions
Not as "big city" as the nation's capital, the historic town of Alexandria, Virginia celebrates Scottish traditions and more each winter in a festival that all family members will really enjoy. Founded in 1749 and is listed on the National Register of Historical Places, Alexandria is steeped in history and is nationally recognized for its abundance of 18th- and 19th-century architecture. The numerous...
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A Teen’s Guide To Packing For A Family Vacation
Your family has announced that you are all going on vacation this year. You are filled with excitement and the first thing you want to do is throw some clothes into a suitcase and just go already. However, being unprepared will only stress you out and ruin your vacation experience. Before you depart, read these steps in preparation for your trip. Here are some tips from a fellow teen...
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Jacksonville’s Great Outdoors (And Beyond)
As we packed up the car and double checked our contraband (sugar-free suckers, charged up kindles, books, and markers), my daughter asked again what the place was called we were going. "Jacksonville! It's a city in Florida." I told her and made sure I had enough coffee to sufficiently caffeinate my way through the next 5-1/2-hours in the car with my kiddos. "But I thought we...
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California Haunted Houses and Halloween Happiness
If ghosts, haunted houses, goblins, and Halloween costumes are on everyone’s mind, there’s now something ghoulishly fun for all fear tolerances including California haunted houses, theme parks, and other Halloween fun. Since the fright industry has grown so quickly, both mild and terrifying fun are available throughout the fall. We’ve found some great events (many of them free) in San Francisco,...
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Gathering The Clan, Reunions At Florida’s Disney World Resort
There's no easier way to plan a togethering vacation -- what small family reunions are sometimes called -- than at a Disney theme park with grandparents in tow. Let's look at some recent stats. We know that more than 37% of grandparents who travel, have traveled with their grandchildren on one or more leisure trips...
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Guide To Orlando’s Disney And Universal Theme Parks By Age
Planning a theme park vacation in Orlando can be overwhelming because so many of the newest attractions come from movies, video games or other familiar media, that each family member may clamor for a different ride or show. We suggest you research the best bets at both Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando for younger kids, older kids, and the family together (grandparent-safe) with this guide; in...
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Disney World: Money-Saving Tips For Maximizing The Fun
By doing some extensive research and talking to lots of traveling families, the FTF staff has come across several ways to save money on your vacation, with these exclusive Walt Disney World tips. (They work at most other themeparks too!) When to Go to Disney World Despite the location, Walt Disney World is exposed to many different weather conditions, so it's good...
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Skip Las Vegas and Bring the Kids to See Camels in Virginia City
Time travel to Virginia City, a Nevada town that offers families the chance to experience what life was like in a 19th-century mining “boomtown” -- and see how fast camels can run. Located just a 45-minute drive from the Reno-Tahoe area, you’ll step back in time as you visit historic buildings and old-fashioned saloons. Kids of all ages should enjoy taking a mine...
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Chicago, Illinois Hotels
If you and your family are looking for lodging in Chicago, Illinois, here are some of the top kid-welcoming hotels to crash in style in the Windy City. Note that Chicago is the Midwest's financial hub, and hotels are substantially cheaper over weekend nights than during the week. If you have trouble deciding whether you'd rather be north of the river (closer to shops, Wrigley Field...
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Something to Look Forward to: Hotel Xcaret Mexico
Edutainment may be a tough concept to sell, yet all parents and grandparents want more from a family beach vacation than a suntan and a bunch of bills. Enter Experiencias Xcaret -- a family owned Mexican company which has successfully run innovative, environmentally-oriented amusement parks for 30 years. Begun with architect Miguel...
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