7 Top Dude Ranches to Take the Kids
For any kid that ever dreamed of being a cowboy or cowgirl, a dude ranch vacation is the perfect place to try on your spurs and see what your little cowpokes are made of. Some dude ranches can be a working ranch, rounding up cattle by horseback during the day and sitting ‘round a campfire at night. However, many dude ranches cater to families with a resort atmosphere focusing more on outdoor summer...
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Lake Charles Louisiana Knows How To Party
Given a limited budget, an unlimited appetite and an interest in local culture, you can’t go wrong with a weekend escape to Southwest Louisiana, the South’s party capital. I recently spent three days in a Lake Charles casino for the annual Travel Media Showcase –- the best conference to learn...
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Coming to America: Visas And Entry Requirements
Changing entry visa regulations and exit rules for foreign nationals and American citizens require preparation if your family is planning a vacation to the United States of America. According to US Department of Commerce, 69.8 million international tourists visited the United States in 2013, generating an all-time record $180.7 billion in revenue. That reflected a 12% increase from 2012. While...
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Our 15 Favorite Mardi Gras Celebrations Outside New Orleans
Here's our top 15 places for party-lovers and Catholics everywhere to commemorate Carnival, Mardi Gras and other pre-Lenten festivals. A traditional period of celebration that begins on 12th Night in January, and culminates on Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday (also called Shrove Tuesday), it's always celebrated 47 days before Easter to mark the first day of Lent. New...
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Safety Tips For Hotel And Resort Vacations
When travelers are surveyed about what is most important to them when planning a family vacation, the No. 1 answer is a safe environment. But while safety is top-of-mind when planning a vacation, many families often forget the most common-sense safety rules once their vacation begins. In case you're wondering how safe it is to let the kids wander around your hotel, here are some tips from...
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These Trends Will Impact 2017 Vacation Plans
Why would families leave the comfort of home after a year marked by terror incidents, volatile currencies, global refugees, the Zika virus and extreme politics? You might expect parents, who cite safety as their number one concern when planning a vacation, to avoid the turmoil of travel this year, but there’s lots of evidence to the contrary. Young Families More Eager to...
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Where Families Will Go in 2017
After reviewing the latest travel research and trends, Family Travel Forum, the vacation planning resource trusted by families since 1996, is presenting its view on where families will go in 2017 and, more importantly, why. Here are the Top 10 Destinations plus an old trend –...
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Who Says Las Vegas Isn’t For Kids? On Strip Activities For Your Family
"In the end, kids won't remember that fancy toy or game you bought for them, they will remember the time you spent with them" - Kevin Heath How true are those words? Think of your own childhood, you remember the memories made and the time well spent as a family more so than any lavish toys you had. Most people think Las Vegas isn't the place for kids but as someone who grew up in...
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Travel in the Machine Age: Robots Join the Frontline Workforce
Since HAL and his offspring, C-3PO and R2-D2, first entered popular culture, humans have grown accustomed to the notion of benevolent robots being trained to serve them. And while some high-end novelty shops have been selling household robots as a fun toy, most travelers had few practical examples of their utility. That's rapidly changing as the travel and tourism industry embraces robots,...
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Skiing Vermont On A Tight Budget, No Snow
Whether there was snow or no snow, we decided to ski in Vermont over the winter holidays. Now, as a family of four, we ski on a tight budget. This is tough with the high price of lift tickets, especially during the holidays, when no off peak discounts are available. We also want to be able to drive to our destination from our home, for convenience and savings. Heading north of our home in...
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