Are Hotels Safe in the Age of Coronavirus?
Having tested negative for COVID-19 after a two-week road trip where we slept in a B&B, Airbnb, motel, historic inn, boutique resort and several chain hotels, we can confirm that hotels are safe in the age of coronavirus. The trick is staying alert to the many ways you can protect yourself and your loved ones.
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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 road trip based in Lake Charles, Southwest Louisiana. I recently spent three days at a Lake Charles casino resort and discovered the glitz, cuisine and the nightlife that people love about Las Vegas plus real Southern hospitality.
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Reopening Soon? Summer Travel in the Untied States
Look ahead to travel reopening during summer 2020 and you’ll know why we call it the Untied States of America. The once united states are completely untied, vying with each other to keep their borders open or closed, to protect their residents’ health or to ward off economic ruin.
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Dubai World Expo Is A Dazzling World’s Fair
The United Arab Emirates once anticipated welcoming millions of visitors to a dazzling Dubai World Expo in 2020 but their dream was posponted due to the impact of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. The international exposition is now scheduled to take place Oct. 1, 2021 to Mar. 31, 2022.
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Vera Bradley, Queen of Fort Wayne, Indiana Outlet Sales
It took me awhile to recognize the Vera Bradley label belongs on a dizzying array of quilted fabric accessories but, as soon as I did, I understood the appeal of the Queen of Fort Wayne and her famous outlet sale.
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Hot Springs of Truth or Consequences
Spa going in the hot springs of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico is a quirky family endeavor that may start your kids on a lifelong path to wellness. It's also among the most affordable winter...
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Okemo and Stowe and the Vail Effect
Who wins when we compare the Okemo and Stowe mountain resorts in Vermont to see what they offer families and how they’ve changed under Vail Resorts' ownership? You do. Overall, we found Okemo reliable and comfortably luxurious while Stowe is showier and more opulent than other New England mountain resorts. Is one better...
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11 Very Japanese Things To Love About Kanazawa
Kanazawa has so many very Japanese things to love – its own shogun castle, Geisha district, quirky museums, fish market -- that it’s earned the nickname “Little Kyoto.”
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Falling in Love with the Taj Mahal in Agra
On your first trip to India, fall in love with the Taj Mahal in Agra, a monument to love that is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This UNESCO World Heritage site divides the world into two kinds of people, said President Bill Clinton, “Those who have seen the Taj Mahal and those who have not.”
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One Day Layover In Dubai
In Dubai, a one day layover is an ideal family adventure because this financial hub of the United Arab Emirates is a unique destination. Dubai is flush with contemporary superlatives because it was built to be just that; a city state with one of the world’s largest airports, its tallest building, the world’s third largest...
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Destinations Where Black Lives Matter
Explore these historic sites, institutions and destinations where black lives not only matter, they fuel fascinating cultural conversations too few travelers know about.
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Highlights Along The Silk Road, Journey Of A Lifetime
Trek 4,000 miles from the Kingdom of Xi'an west across the Gobi Desert, through the oases of Dunhuang, Turpan and Kashgar, across the Stans to the courts of India, Persia and Europe and you've traced the highlights of the historic Silk Road, one of travel's most storied journeys. And one of its most relevant. It is...
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Munich Airport, Unexpected Palace of Family Fun
If there's one airport in Europe to get stuck in, make it MUC in Munich, Germany, then follow this Munich Airport activities guide and discover its many surprising attractions and amenities. The sleekly modern Munich Airport (MUC), voted the #1 in Europe in the 2019 World Airport Awards survey, is more than a European hub. Hundreds of foreign carriers and 45 million annual passengers...
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12 Reasons to Love Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows
Those who recall Vice President Richard Nixon opening the VIII Olympic Winter Games here on February 18, 1960, know Lake Tahoe’s Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows resort simply as “Squaw Valley.” And, after 58 years, it just keeps getting better. Here’s why. Beginners love it. Squaw Valley’s learning terrain...
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These Four Hotels Made Me Fall in Love with the Bahamas
Nassau and Paradise Island, among the beautiful Islands of the Bahamas not impacted by Hurricane Dorian, share a sparkling surf that melts from blue to green as it gently laps the sand. Served by short flights from major U.S. cities, they boast delicious local cuisine, nightlife, resorts for every budget, two world-class casinos and some of the most gracious locals you’ll...
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Family Ties To Fort Wayne
With many kid-friendly attractions, comfy and affordable accommodations and welcoming brewpubs, Fort Wayne, Indiana is the kind of place families immediately feel at home. I don’t actually have family ties to this friendly town, but I suspect their amazing genealogy research center will soon find ties to all humankind.
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Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, An Epic Adventure
Give in to the gravitational pull of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland and Walt Disney World because there’s just no resisting it. Whether or not you’re a Star Wars fan, whether you side with the Resistance or the First Order, these duplicate 14-acre "lands" – the largest in Disney’s history – are so immersive that being there is just, well, irresistible. Bright...
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How Kids Grow Up to be Dinosaur Hunters
They may study long-ago creatures some call “mythical,” but paleontologists today are anything but dinosaurs. Instead, at the Jurassic Mile excavation site in Wyoming, we met dynamic and multi-talented scientists searching for a deeper understanding of our planet and its history. The...
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Permission To Travel and Travel Consent Letters And Why You Need Them
Adults traveling outside the U.S. with children under 18, other than their own, must have a Permission or minor travel consent letter from both of the minors' guardians. The travel consent letter also covers a child traveling internationally with only one birth parent, one guardian, grandparents or other adults. This written and notarized Permission to Travel Letter from both birth...
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Awed By The Water World Of Niagara Falls USA
Having spent five days exploring Niagara Falls, New York, we are fascinated to see how water defines the entire region. Of course it’s the home of Niagara Falls, one of the largest cataracts in the world and a site we all agree is worth the journey. But there’s so much more to experience we are almost...
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China Trip Planner Itinerary for First Time Visitors
Preparing for your grand tour of China, including creating an itinerary to meet your family's interests and managing your time, may be a little easier with these useful tips. When I began planning our family's summer trip to China, it seemed overwhelming, and hard to discern where we would need a tour guide and where we could be totally independent. When I look back on our family vacation, I realize...
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Universal Orlando Resort, Florida
Universal Orlando in Florida has been thrilling theme park goers for more than 25 years. Now three massive theme parks comprise Universal Orlando Resort, each with their own distinct personality. Universal Studios is where movie magic comes to life with attractions based on blockbusters from...
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The Cowboy Life For Me At Cheyenne Frontier Days
Widely known as "The Daddy of 'em All," the annual Cheyenne Frontier Days is a 10-day summer festival (July 19-28, 2019) that celebrates all things cowboy and Indian. The centerpiece is the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) sanctioned rodeo (the prize purse tops $1 million) where you can watch bronco and bull riding and...
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Rocket Launches and Where to See Them
The Jumbotron was bellowing “T -6, 5, 4...” when suddenly the sky ahead burst into flames. We were on the shore of Banana Creek, about 4 miles from Cape Canaveral’s Launchpad 39A to see the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch a Crew Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station. Our NASA host had said, “Watch, don’t listen.” The livestream from SpaceX Mission...
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Heavenly Greek Islands Cruise with Celestyal
Greece is one of the world’s best multigenerational destinations, with activities ranging from beaches to shopping, to historic sites and museums that entertain mixed ages and interests. If you do the Greek Islands with a Greece-based cruise company like...
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In Roswell, Aliens Among Us
When a loud noise forced foreman William Mack Brazel to hop in his pickup truck and inspect Foster Ranch, he found such strange debris in a corn field that he assumed it was the wreckage of a UFO and the victims, aliens. That was July 2, 1947. About 75 miles away, the closest New Mexico town -- Roswell -- quickly became known as the “flying saucer crash site.” Roswell has long played...
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Drive Me To The Moon In Ohio
If anyone in the family has caught the space bug, make Ohio your road trip destination and explore America’s space heritage in style. Did you know that Ohio, homeland of the Wright Brothers and a few dozen astronauts, calls itself the Birthplace of Aviation (and, by extension, space travel)? The state, within a day's drive of 60 percent of the U.S. population, is promoting its
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50 Cosmic Ways To Celebrate Space
July 20, 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing when Commander Neil Armstrong took his “first step for man, giant leap for mankind.” It was a huge achievement for 1969 – meeting President Kennedy’s deadline to reach the moon and besting the Russians – and an upnote in a country roiled by political assassinations, anti-war protests, the Hippie movement and changing values. The...
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Swimming with Whale Sharks Makes the Hit List
Well it wasn't on my Life's Greatest Hits list but with a birthday coming up and a son graduating from college I couldn't resist the opportunity to swim with whale sharks on a recent press trip to Cancun. Really? "Swim with whale sharks" was what it said on the itinerary for the day following a "Swim with Dolphins" excursion. Sounded equally harmless. And PR people...
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Saving Euros on a European Adventure
Since summer is the most expensive time to visit Europe, we're sharing the euro-saving tips we learned from our own recent adventure. And, with the strong exchange rate, drop in tourism due to several factors, and bargains we've uncovered in our summer vacation roundup, you can find some good...
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Gambling on a Good Time with the Kids
As summer approaches, one of the hottest destinations in America will be Las Vegas, a place where you don't have to gamble on a good time with the kids. Huh? If the idea of a Vegas ‘family vacation’ seems ludicrous, you’ll be surprised with how much the city caters to young vacationers. Games of Chance Galore Why? Start with the thrill rides and arcades at many casinos...
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Best of Indianapolis and Indiana for Kids
The heart of the Midwest and a city to emulate, Indianapolis, Indiana boasts several kid attractions as well as leading efforts in sustainable development and wellness. It's a place where families find electric ride-share vehicles, organic farm-to-table cuisine and educational institutions advocating social change -- and it's not the only progressive place in this surprising state. Called the "Hoosier...
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9 Lessons Learned: Michelle Obama on Becoming a Family Traveler
I recently learned some family travel lessons from Michelle Obama, one of the most traveled women in the world. Anyone who’s had the pleasure of reading Becoming, the new...
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An Ideal Phoenix Family Resort For Multigenerational Travel
The family amenity specs at the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak are impressive when seen online: 563 all-suite accommodations including a separate living room, two flat-screen TVs, and a queen-sized sofa bed; two-story casitas with even more sleeping room plus 224 Agave Suites at North Pointe with a concierge and dedicated pool; terrific kids club; and a 4-acre River Ranch water park that features a winding...
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Gallup True to Itself
From 200 feet up, the scrubby arid plains of the Navajo Nation surrounding Gallup look soft and inviting, welcoming visitors to pause along Route 66 for a closer inspection. This northwest corner of New Mexico is a melting pot of Navajo, Zuni, Spanish and Anglo cultures -— a very affordable place where the landscape, local traditions and welcoming people guarantee memories your family will not...
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16 Family Experiences You Can Only Share in Israel
Israel, usually marketed as a destination for religious pilgrims, has many unique sites that non-sectarian families can learn from. During my fully-escorted weeklong tour in December, 2018, I discovered 16 experiences that have had lasting impact. I also corrected several misconceptions, including that the climate was warm and dry; it's not necessarily so in winter. Jerusalem Highlights for...
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Northstar California Shows You How to Raise a Snowboarder
Anyone who has a passion for snowboarding and wants to excel should line up at the Burton Academy at Northstar California. At Northstar, snowboarding is more than a sport. “It’s a lifestyle we teach here,” says Luke (Shep) Sheppard, the director of the resort’s unique school. Northstar...
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Surviving Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month
Tackling a new sport like skiing -- whether you're my age or a toddler -- is a challenge that the snow sports industry helps overcome each January with Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month. Perhaps a child, a new companion, or a childhood yearning have driven you to try skiing or snowboarding. Some may be ready to face...
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Top 10 Geek Sights In Silicon Valley
If you're tired of technology taking over your life, take back control in Silicon Valley, where you can see the 10 top tech sights of interest to any geek and nerd. Google is headquartered in Mountain View, Facebook in Menlo Park, Yahoo! and Twitter are in Sunnyvale – all suburbs within a half-hour of San Jose. But Silicon Valley –- silicon...
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A Cultural Christmas In Oaxaca, Mexico
Mexico's colonial gem of Oaxaca honors every Catholic holiday, but nothing is as colorful or fun as the Festival de la Noche de Rabanos, a world-class Christmas family vacation. Oaxaca, Mexico is one of the country's better-kept secrets. A center of craft and culture, it is, at first glance, an obvious mentor to New Mexico’s Santa Fe. Although we love visiting Fanta Se (as it’s...
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A Club Med Sandpiper Bay Family Vacation
At Club Med Sandpiper Bay, Americans no longer need a passport to enjoy an exotic, all-inclusive family beach vacation packed with children's activities. Club Med's legendary tropical village ambiance -- minus the beads -- has been remade in central Florida at the very sporty Sandpiper Bay. The resort is thriving after a $27-million investment a few years back that improved its...
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Travel Insurance For Families
We love travel insurance and won't leave home without it. Since the very first holiday spent battling storms and re-booking missed flights (at great expense), our family has found it essential. It should be for every smart vacation planner, too, particularly when traveling with kids. Hopefully, none of you will ever need it, but I urge you to consider purchasing family travel insurance...
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Feeling Good-Good in Baden-Baden
Wellness has been a given since Napoleon III made Baden-Baden a trending destination in the mid-1800s, and Europe’s royalty, celebrities and politicians followed. What the tourism office smartly calls the “the good-good life” today is available to visitors of all ages as budget allows. Fresh air and abundant gardens, thermal spas and regal architecture, organic cuisine served in typical...
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Istanbul, Turkey: City of Ages
Turkey's capital city of Istanbul is not only full of family attractions, this classic stopover of world travelers has become one of Europe's hottest destinations. Istanbul was founded in antiquity for the same reason it prospers today: its location on the banks of the broad Bosphorous River made it a strategic port linking...
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Yoga Tourism: The Mind Body Vacation
In this stressful age, the subject of yoga retreats as "vacation" comes up often. Travelers may ask, are they a good option for a parent-child or three generation getaway? The answer is yes, if all participants are interested in connecting over the same activities. Family members should also share an appreciation for the contemplative aspects of yoga, like meditation, numerology (
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Club Meds Of Morocco
Combine an exotic locale, millenia of history, and a comfortable resort atmosphere populated by like-minded families and voila! You have the three Club Meds in Morocco, each an all-inclusive and family-welcoming resort. Let's take a look. Club Med Agadir is one of the region's oldest resorts, an Atlantic Ocean beachfront environment in a purpose-built resort area not far from...
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Living the Imperial Life in Vienna
There are few European cities associated with imperial style like Vienna, where hundreds of palaces, gilded monuments and museums attest to a grand past. Today, visitors to the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire can experience that lavish lifestyle for themselves. Sleeping at a Castle Relive the life of a Hapsburg empress at the delectable Schönbrunn Grand Suite...
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Amanjena, Peaceful Paradise In Marrakech
A day at the Amanjena Resort in Marrakech is like a tour of the palace depicted in the tale "One Thousand and One Nights." Simply put, it's a more refined narrative of Arabian life than is usually available to the average traveler, even in the elegant and very Moroccan rose-red city of Marrakech. But that is the Aman...
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12 American Stories from Philadelphia’s Historic District
Philadelphia is one of America’s most fascinating cities for families because every cobblestone and brick reeks of history. Over a two-day weekend, I was struck by how much we learned about America by just walking in and out of the remarkable museums of the Historic District. The city’s oldest section, much of it dating to the early 1700s, comprises important landmarks...
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A Cabin Country Family Reunion in New Mexico
Most Texas families are familiar with Ruidoso, a picturesque mountain town just two hours’ drive from El Paso that’s cool during summer and snowy in winter. Thanks to moderate prices, a variety of recreation and dining, plus some cultural entertainment, Ruidoso's appeal to empty...
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Catch the Sound of Music in Salzburg
The city that’s best known to Americans as the setting for the 1965 blockbuster, “Sound of Music,” is regarded elsewhere as the capital of classical music. Each summer, while the great orchestras are on vacation, the six-week Salzburg Festival invites the top musicians from around the world to perform at Salzburger...
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The Cayman Islands Food Revolution
New kids' cooking classes and food education programs in the Cayman Islands are just the start of a food revolution aiming to support local agriculture and teach children where their food comes from. To find out more about it, we recently spoke with Chef Maureen Cubbon, an active participant in Cayman’s farm-to-table scene and an ambassador for the Food Revolution Movement started by celebrity...
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Windjamming In Maine
Try a family cruise vacation on a schooner off the coast of Maine for something different, fun and unplugged; here's our account of a three-night, four-day adventure. As rain clattered down on the bare granite shores of Nameless Island, petite blonde Alexa pushed back the hood of her poncho to admire the rainbow arcing above Northhaven. Shaun and his sister Frankie, sophisticated preteens from Long...
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The Every Teen on a Train Initiative
Do you agree that every teen should have a chance to travel? Just 18 months ago, we wrote about a European Union parliament member who wanted to encourage understanding between EU nations by giving teens free rail passes. And now, it's come to pass! Here's the latest news and info about how European teens can claim a free rail pass.
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Summer of Guns
Summer holidays are bringing relief to American parents as well as students, for a shocking reason: gun violence. As of the May 18, 2018 Santa Fe school massacre, more people have been killed...
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Madrid, Spain Attractions
Madrid exudes such positive energy that it's a worthwhile destination for everyone of every age. We guarantee enough museums and galleries to satisfy every art lover in the family. There are plenty of music and dance performances to inspire your inner entertainer. And, grand palaces and statues to make your Bob the Builder want to become an architect. From bull fighting to flamenco, Madrid will awaken...
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Three Waterparks Worth a Detour in Europe
If you're taking the clan to Europe and feeling anxious about entertaining everyone, we recommend one of these terrific waterparks to guarantee fun. Need three good reasons to include one as part of a European Grand Tour? You will avoid sunstroke from touring public squares in the heat. You will relax the human brain, which can only absorb so much culture in a day. You...
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Charlevoix And Le Manoir Richelieu, Quebec
Canada's scenic region of Charlevoix and the luxury resort, Fairmont le Manoir Richelieu, provide natural beauty, outdoor recreation and pampering for all family travelers including pets. Charlevoix is that rarity, a region of Canada's Quebec province which offers the Laurentian mountains, a dramatic shoreline on the St. Lawrence Seaway and a warm welcome -- combined -- at an isolated,...
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Paris, France: City Reborn
When sightseeing with teens, you'll notice that Paris is more environmentally conscientious and respectful of other cultures than ever before, while remaining as charmingly French as ever. To visit the City of Light after an absence of 12 years is to find it ever more brilliant, illuminated by an hourly lightshow of electronic sparkles that play across the Eiffel Tower. Brilliant and smarter, too:...
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Trending: Diversity and Inclusion in Tourism
The recent ITB Berlin travel trade conference featured several inclusive vacation opportunities for gay and lesbian couples with children, as well as several initiatives to celebrate travelers' increasing diversity. “Thanks to ITB Berlin, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender has developed in recent years from a niche into an internationally recognized product,” said Rika Jean-François, Corporate...
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