A Family Reunion On Lake Powell, Arizona
This is the story of my family reunion aboard a houseboat on Lake Powell, and the power of natural beauty to keep us all entertained in Arizona's Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Back...
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Secure Tourism Summit Reveals What’s Next in Airport Security
The first Secure Tourism Summit was held in New York City on April 9,2017. It was sponsored by the industry trade organization, US...
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Specialty Sleepaway Camps for Insta-Stars
Have an unusual kid between the ages of 8 and 16 who hould be the next Insta-star? has unusual interests? Don't we all? Well, there's now an unusual sleep away camp with short (1 or...
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Lake Arrowhead Resort, Lake Arrowhead, California
Lake Arrowhead, at an elevation of more than 5,200 feet in the San Bernardino National Forest, has attracted generations of southern California families with its cool climate, mountain breezes and pristine...
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Mt. Washington Cog Railway to Build Summit Hotel – True or False?
"At age 147, the only cog railway in America east of the Rocky Mountains is getting a makeover." That statement was made in January 2017 based on news we received about one of our favorite...
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A Dozen Fun Things For Kids to Do In Downtown Las Vegas
The Las Vegas Strip is renown for its casinos and adult-sized entertainment, but there's plenty for kids to do, too, that the whole family can enjoy. Downtown Vegas is far from average and is full of...
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9 Questions to Ask Before Planning a Theme Park Vacation
Should you really be schlepping that baby to Disney World for a family themepark vacation? Parents inevitably reach a stage in their lives when they ask themselves: why are we planning a trip...
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Taking Your Sandcastles and Sculptures to the Next Level
Since most beach-goers would enjoy some tips on building better sandcastles, I interviewed the world-famous sand sculptor, Todd Vander Pluym, when he visited New York on behalf of
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Virtual Reality Getting Real for Travelers
Since the 1990 release of "Total Recall," the Paul Verhoeven film starring Arnold Schwarznegger as a man who buys a virtual vacation to Mars, the travel industry has been anticipating the commercial development...
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14 Family-Friendly and Free Things You Should Do in Las Vegas
Traveling with your entire brood can start to get expensive, especially when taking the family to a destination like Las Vegas. Dotted with casinos and high-end hotels, the Las Vegas Strip isn't exactly...
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Indoor Amusement Parks
Indoor amusement parks are great for family fun no matter the weather, but a large part of their appeal is the thrill of enjoying outside fun inside.
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Maui, Hawaii Hotels and Resorts
All of Maui is beautiful and interesting, and there are many experiences to be had. Here's a guide to Maui's family-friendly hotels in the four major resort areas along the 120-mile coastline...
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My 3 Favorite Family Dude Ranches
Looking for a dude ranch experience neither you nor your children will regret? Sit-a-spell and read on. Families with little critters will find most ranches only allow children 7 years and above on...
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A Culinary Revolution in Colonial Virginia
There was a time not long ago when a family visit to Colonial Williamsburg meant living a, shall we say… dated lifestyle. Many parents, especially those with tweens and teens who bore...
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Downclimbing is always harder…In Utah
The first thing you learn when you get to Utah is it takes twice as long to get anywhere you need to go. I don’t mean this in a big city way, with the people and traffic. It takes twice...
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Trip Planning Tips For Colonial Williamsburg
Here is some insider information on getting the most out of your trip to Colonial Williamsburg and the Historic Triangle of Virginia, one of America's top family destinations and...
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You’ll Strike Gold in Northern California
In Northern California's gold country, the western frontier and gateway to the foothills of the rugged Sierra Nevada Mountains, Tuolumne County came to be in 1850, the same year California achieved...
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Ojai Valley Inn and Spa, California
Where do southern California families go for spa, fresh air and fun kids' activities with little fuss? Ojai. Shangri-La would not be too grand a name for the classic Southern California resort...
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Southern California Skiing Means Powder And Sun
As the warmth of winter, the huge powder dumps of 2017 and the sun of spring beckon families, the California ski resorts at Big Bear, Mammoth and the small local mountains continue to up the family...
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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...
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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...
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Lake Tahoe: A Directory of Winter Fun
Seven mountain resorts make the Lake Tahoe mountain district straddling the California and Nevada borders one of the country's most diverse and exciting snowsports destinations....
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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...
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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...
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Where Families Will Go in 2017
After reviewing the latest travel research and trends, Family Travel Forum, the...
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At Keystone Resort Kids Mean Business
Tucked high in the Rockies of Colorado, Keystone is a mountain resort -- and a self-proclaimed Kidtopia – designed to make sure kids have fun with winter activities. As the Vail-owned...
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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...
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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...
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10 Reasons Not to Race Through Cabarrus County
Race fans and car nuts know all about Cabarrus County, a corner of North Carolina that’s home to the
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Floating Across The Sky At U.S. Hot Air Balloon Festivals
Up...up...and away into the world of hot air balloon festivals for a new point of view. Hot air balloon festivals are visually thrilling, whether you choose to ascend or not.
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Discover Great Theatre Off Off Broadway
Fans of Broadway dream about visiting New York to catch a live show in one of the 40 professional theatres located near Times Square and Lincoln Center. “In New York, we have tourists coming...
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Spend Three-Days in Florida’s State Parks
Give me 72 hours and I'll show you a side of Florida you never imagined. Planning a Florida family vacation usually involves rushing from theme park to theme park to hop on the latest ride and pose...
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Getting Your Speed Fix #WhereRacingLives
We are in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, home to the Charlotte Motor Speedway, because my husband is an absolute car nut. However,...
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Cuba is Closer at the American Museum of Natural History
Cuba, a Caribbean isle whose recently unmuted siren song is attracting sophisticated travelers, has just come a little closer. In conjunction with the island nation of Cuba opening up to foreign...
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Disney’s Animal Kingdom Illuminates the Imagination
I have a confession to make. I had never been to Disney’s Animal Kingdom until I stepped through the park gates as dusk approached to check-out their new evening initiatives. I was expecting a pleasant...
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St. George Island, A Vintage Florida Family Vacation
Some people call St. George Island, part of the Gulf Coast, "Florida like it used to be" in its golden era. I suppose that would be true if a Florida family vacation in the old days...
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Top 10 Beach Resort Getaways For Family Vacations
Almost everyone's favorite getaway is a family beach vacation, whether it's winter or summer. Here are FTF's winners from a decade of "Top 10 Getaway" awards in the best family beach category. Our...
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Rainy Day Activities in Orlando
Hitting the Orlando theme parks may conjure up images of sunshine and blue skies, but especially in summer, families often encounter an overcast and damp day. You can still enjoy everything from Disney...
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Live Like a Local on Vacation
Going on vacation doesn’t have to resemble living out of a suitcase while your kids run wild. Vacation homes and condos make for a comfortable and relaxing...
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Palm Springs, California Hotels And Resorts
The desert communities that have blossomed around Palm Springs, California, boast intimate bungalow colonies and big flop and drop resorts, so if you're unsure what your family is looking for, you've come...
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Falling Peso Means Big Savings on Fall Trips to Mexico
In the last six months, the value of the Mexican peso against the U.S. dollar has decreased about 15%, making Mexico vacations more affordable than ever. New direct flights from Southwest have added...
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When Compassion and Travel Work Toward a Cure
October is the month to "Think Pink," the time of year we focus on ways to find a cure for breast cancer, a disease that affects about one in eight women and is the second largest...
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Weekend Getaway At A Luxurious Los Cabos Hacienda
Los Cabos sits at the southernmost tip of Baja California, offering dramatic vistas of stunning shores and Land’s End. No wonder it’s one of Mexico’s top tourist destinations, with accommodations...
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Disney World Value Hotels And Camping
Disney World offers accommodations in all price ranges, including newer themed resorts for Disney fans on a budget. And even the least expensive lodging carries certain privileges like early admission...
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Cincinnati, Ohio Attractions
There's more than meets the eye in Cincinnati; from artisanal donut shops in restored brewery worker housing, to a waterfront park that would make cities twice its size proud,...
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Busy Bee Stop Has a Hashtag for its Bathrooms!
Our family is on a road trip to Jacksonville, Florida, and before getting to Jacksonville, we needed to make one more pit stop. My wife's aunt and uncle said that we have to stop at the Busy Bee in...
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Save Big On College Visits And Student Travels
I've found that packing smartly, shopping around for flights, and bundling flights and hotels into one efficient travel package make instant savings that can be used for more important student expenses. Parents...
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A White Water Rafting Adventure In Maine
If your offspring are anything like mine, the thought of limited cell phone coverage is worse than root canal, so I never imagined my college age son would be game to head to a remote corner of Maine...
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Disney Themeparks Going Where They Haven’t Gone Before
Wondering what's up and coming for the 2017 season at the Disney theme parks? Whether you're heading to Orlando, Hong Kong or a galaxy far, far away, there's a lot new in store. Disney's...
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Top 10 Orlando Vacation Hotels and Resorts
Where to stay in Orlando? We offer some suggestions on the Universal Orlando campus, as well as some other fun options (Sponge Bob, anyone?), golf resorts, condo rentals and more for your consideration. 1....
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Disney World Moderately Priced Resorts
Disney World Resort has a wide range of hotel, room and villa options priced around $80 on up to $500 or more. But this list reflects a level ranging from moderate to less expensive luxury options. At...
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Camp Salmen Nature Park Slidell, LA
Our family loves to take road trips, and this summer was no exception. We decided to venture out of our hometown of Lafayette, LA and head east to Jacksonville, FL so that our kids, ages 3 & 5,...
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Short Breaks And Weekend Getaways From San Francisco
We love vacationing in the Bay Area and its environs, but sometimes even families lucky enough to live there have to find weekend getaways from San Francisco.
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A Day of Amusement at Elitch Gardens in Denver
When in Denver, the list of family activities is plentiful, but there is a fun and historic place to go that the kids will be begging to go back to. Located near the Broncos Stadium in downtown Denver,...
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Short Breaks And Weekend Getaways From Dallas Fort Worth
Many families from the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area enjoy spending their short breaks in Hill Country or along the south coast of Texas. Whether...
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Shelby American Las Vegas – Experiencing the Legend
"I'm not an engineer or a designer but I think I know what people like." - Carroll Shelby I'm so inspired by the humility of a man who...
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Las Vegas, Nevada Hotels And Resorts
We've known for years that Las Vegas, America's #1 city of adult entertainment, had plenty to offer families but hotels didn't really want to welcome visitors under 21. While that's still true at the city's...
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Wilmington, North Carolina has More than Beaches
Families all along the East Coast know that North Carolina boasts nearly endless miles of beautiful beaches. But did you know that the city of Wilmington, located on the state's southern coast, offers...
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Top Baby Beach Getaways
Parents review their top baby beach getaways for that first vacation when your tiny traveler needs a gentle introduction to the pleasures of sun, sand and waves. As parents,...
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