Austin, Texas Restaurants
In Austin, the next meal never looked so good. Endless variety and great local specialties such as barbecue, chicken fried steak, cheesey chili dishes, grilled chicken and grilled steak sandwich, New Texas...
Read More 3 min read
Maine, New England Restaurants
Read on for some really great family food stops in Maine, when you've had enough of the fresh lobster.The concentration of colleges and universities in the northeast makes it very likely that...
Read More 2 min read
Springfield, Massachusetts Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Let your teens imitate Michael Jordan and your little ones play with the Cat in the Hat--all in Springfield, Massachussetts. Regular readers know that Massachusetts' Connecticut River Valley...
Read More 3 min read
Obama Family Vacation: Oahu, Hawaii Estate is a Superstar
President Barack Obama and his family showed 2008 the door at Paradise Point Estates at Kailua Bay, a luxury beachfront estate complex in O'ahu. Mr. President Barack Obama and his family...
Read More 2 min read
Oklahoma – Midwest Meets Southern Charm
Because of its unique place in history, this petroleum-rich town outside Tulsa offers mansions, museums, Wild West lore and more to visitors.Where can families see roaming herds of exotic...
Read More 3 min read
Bus Bazaar Lee: New York to Boston
Every once in a while, some brilliant employee behind a desk at Megabus headquarters decides to bestow unbelievably low-priced tickets upon a lucky traveler such as myself. Taking advantage of the bus...
Read More 1 min read
Summer with my Grandparents
In May of 2007 after attending my sister's high school graduation I left to spend a month of summer vacation with my grandparents. I wasn't sure about the trip because while I liked them a lot I'd never...
Read More 3 min read
Hawaii By Sea
Cruising the Hawaiian Islands on NCL's American-flagged ocean liner means never packing and unpacking the kids as you tour around a state made to be seen by sea.Is exploring Hawai'i by sea...
Read More 8 min read
Beverly Wilshire, Beverly Hills, California
Hollywood's classiest upscale hotel transforms itself on request into an urban resort for sightseeing families.You might have heard of the Beverly Wilshire, a legendary hotel smack dab in the...
Read More 3 min read
MassMOCA: A Weekend In North Adams, Massachusetts
This contemporary art museum in the rehabilitated mill town of North Adams proves that contemporary art can have family appeal, and can attract some quality lodging for visitors.Are you interested...
Read More 4 min read
Forget Trick or Treating Just Dance all Night Instead!
About two months ago my friend, Paul, told me about the line up for HARD Haunted Mansion. I was still in Ireland and had already missed out on seeing Soulwax...
Read More 4 min read
My Church Pilgrimage Trip
Our mission was to help the people who live in Calais, Maine. Many of them are poor and they live in houses that need to be painted. Some just need a friend to talk to. We were to be divided into groups,...
Read More 8 min read
Rollin’ through Yellowstone National Park
Life is either a daring adventure or it is nothing," said Helen Keller. This summer, my family, my mom, dad, sister and I, went on an adventure. Our family vacation was to Yellowstone National Park....
Read More 2 min read
Football Heaven
About two years ago when my family took our first real vacation, we traveled from our home in Fort Riley, Kansas, to the middle of Colorado. We three kids were teens by this time, and that trip was...
Read More 2 min read
Riding The Back Roads
Our annual motorcycle trip began early Sunday, when my parents and I left Murfreesboro, Tennessee via the back roads to Thomasville, Georgia for a few days then north to Greeneville, South Carolina,...
Read More 2 min read
Craziness to San Diego
On the last week of June this summer, I went on a last minute and crazy trip to San...
Read More 3 min read
A Surfing Escape in Sandbridge Beach, Virginia
No matter how much you love the beach, a crowded one is not fun; it can be overkill. Screaming children, nagging moms and dads… sometimes you just need space. And...
Read More 4 min read
New to New York
It took me less than an hour to fall in love. From the moment the airplane’s wheels graced the tarmac until the minute we set off from our hotel toward Times Square. That was all I needed. I...
Read More 2 min read
My life changing trip
The trip I went on was not one very far from home. It started on June 17 in a town called Tuscaloosa. I was feeling tired and sick so my mom took me to the doctor and I had double pneumonia. When they...
Read More 3 min read
Go West, Young Woman!
During my semester abroad, I traveled the many sides of China—Beijing in the north, Shanghai in the east, Guangzhou in the south and Sichuan in the west—but I can probably count the number of U.S....
Read More 3 min read
My life
My name is Lizzie, and this is the story of my life. People sometimes say, they wish that they could move, or travel the world. When I, on the otherhand, strive to stay in one place. My story begins...
Read More 4 min read
Six Flags Over Texas
Six Flags over Texas is a great theme park. Even though it is a bit overpriced ($40-$50...
Read More 2 min read
Ten Tips for Traveling with Teens
It is the most difficult age for parents to deal with; many would just like to let their teens be and not bother with them. But there has to be a time for family unity, so why not create a time during...
Read More 5 min read
How I Got My Sailing Grin
My parents aren’t sailors. My mom thinks the main sheet is a sail, and my dad thinks heeling means running like mad. But they both recognize my sailing grin, which erupts when you put water, a...
Read More 2 min read
An Attempt at the Inexplicable
I have no idea why I love to sail. The more I ponder this topic, the less and less of an explanation I have to offer. My mind automatically reverts to the poetic cliché that sailing is all about...
Read More 2 min read
Why I Love Sailing
When I think of my experiences with sailing, two words come to mind, freedom and unpredictability. I now realize what attracted me to sailing in the beginning and why I continue sailing. It’s...
Read More 2 min read
Shop New York!
Where do hip girls ages 12-18 shop when they get to New York City? Well, they usally avoid the stores that are in the malls back home. Here are some of our favorite stores with location information....
Read More 2 min read
Winter Revelation
One of the most challenging and rewarding moments emerged the winter I went to Williams, Arizona with my church. It allowed me to get an indepth view, at my past, my future and the people that will...
Read More 2 min read
Let’s Go To…
Check out these wacky town names in the United States that I read about in an article from an airline magazine. I so don't want to go to any of these places if I don't have to.The weird...
Read More 1 min read
Traveling with Parents
Traveling with parents is a conundrum. Travel is an escape. Parents??? Usually a lockdown for teens, but the fact of the matter is, traveling with parents is really worth it. Why you...
Read More 2 min read
Quebec City’s Winter Carnaval
Ever since 3rd grade I have wanted to go on this school trip to Québec City, Canada. In 5th grade in 1997, it was so cool to be able to go on such an awesome trip with my friends, I couldn't...
Read More 3 min read
Teens Love New York: 4 Friends Discover What’s Hot, What’s Not
The city that never sleeps is the perfect place for teens to visit. In August 2001, my sister and I and our friends, Angela and Regan, took the opportunity to check out some of the different...
Read More 6 min read
Splish Splash
Splish Splash is a family water park in Riverhead, New York. Riverhead is in eastern Long Island within an hours drive of the beaches known as the Hamptons. My grandparents live near there so it's fun...
Read More 3 min read
Disney World: Rating the Rides 1-10
At MGM Studios in Disney World there is a new ride called The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. This ride was really very scary. Once you get inside what looks...
Read More 2 min read
Big Muskie Bucket, Ohio
This summer I learned there are many exciting, educational things to see in Ohio. I found something in my own “backyard” in Southeastern Ohio, The Big Muskie Bucket. Big Muskie...
Read More 2 min read
Roscoe Village, Ohio
On July 21, my family and I went to Roscoe Village. Roscoe Village is a restored town in Coshocton, Ohio. It is an historic town that has informational shops such as the blacksmith, pottery, weaving,...
Read More 1 min read
Rhode Island, The Freedom of Sailing
As a kid, my life is very controlled. At home I always have to do chores before going anywhere. Empty the dishwasher, vacuum the floor, weed the garden, make my bed – the list goes on and on....
Read More 2 min read
Teens at Snowmass/Aspen: Colorado Skiing with a Girlfriend
Although Snowmass and Aspen are only about 20 minutes apart by car, they are two very different places to visit. Snowmass is more family friendly and Aspen is more geared towards adults. As a 17-year-old,...
Read More 6 min read
Winter Vacation in Vail, Colorado
Upon returning to Vail in 2004 for the first time since I was little, the first thing I noticed was the lack of snowboarders. Snowboarding is becoming more and more popular, especially among teens,...
Read More 4 min read
A World Lies Before Me: Alaska Expedition
From my window I can see the city skyline. The Empire State Building, the Twin Towers, the smoke stacks. This is home, my home, but beyond what seems to be that ever continuous skyline lies a world I...
Read More 3 min read
Water Fun In The Poconos
The first thing I noticed when entering the huge, forest-themed lobby of Great Wolf Lodge was the large number of children ages six to 12. Being one of the older kids at the luxury resort, I figured...
Read More 2 min read
Florida Is Really Fun
I went to a resort called Sandestin. It is so big it has it’s own zip code. Sandestin is located in Destin, Florida. It is 2,400 acres in size. We stayed on the 20th floor of one of the main hotels....
Read More 1 min read
New York City is a Festival
"Visiting New York City is like going to a festival!" That's how my 10-year-old son Nicolas described our recent visit to the Big Apple. We visited last August, two weeks before the World...
Read More 3 min read
Teen Trips Sampler
Family Travel Forum provides information on exciting, alternative travel adventures for teens.Departing for a group tour sans parents can be an exciting new experience for a teenager. ...
Read More 3 min read
Pride of America
NCL's newest vessel to ply the Hawaiian Islands gets a full inspection from FTF's admiral and falls short on "aloha-ness."Frankly, cruise ships that ply the Hawaiian Islands have a hard...
Read More 6 min read
Vail Resorts Leads Snowsports Movement
There's no denying that global warming, whatever its causes, has adversely affected the snowsports industry for several seasons. And like many other businesses, the mountain resorts which drive the...
Read More 2 min read
British Columbia’s Backcountry Ski Lodges
In the back woods of Canada's far west, you can rough it in style with expert skiers or enjoy the snowy wilderness with little ones. It has been a long day - exhilarating and exhausting. We...
Read More 4 min read
Snowshoes, Dog Sleds And Non-Sporty Winter Pursuits
Families with snowbirds will be pleased to learn that they can safely avoid the tropics in winter and learn to love the "stay-warm" fun of snowshoeing and dog sledding, great family fun for un-sporty mountain...
Read More 4 min read
