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A Jersey Girl’s Ode to the Jersey Shore

“’Cause down the shore everything’s all right.” ---Tom Waits, JERSEY GIRL Some see the Jersey Shore as a travel destination, a place to take the family for a couple of...

Summer Vacation at the Boar's Head Inn in Charlottesville, Virginia

Summer vacations for some families mean active adventures, while for others the summer is a perfect time to start exploring college campuses.  Imagine being able to do both in one...

Best Advice for Planning Your Summer Vacation

Planning your family vacation can be overwhelming--where to go, what to do, how to get there, you name it. There are a lot of details to planning a summer vacation....

Stress-Free Travel is Right Under Your Nose

Air travel can be stressful nowadays with long lines, flight delays and cramped seating.  Add luggage, children, strollers and even pets to the mix and you have a veritable powder...

Summer Fun at Midwest Lake Resorts

Midwest winters can seem endless. The payoff? Perfect summer temperatures! Each year I vow to savor every minute of the warm weather. Although I can’t put everything on hold, I...

5 Summer Vacation Ideas for Teens

Teens sometimes get a bad rap. People think they’re hard to please and harder to travel with. But the key to traveling with teens—and keeping the whole family happy—is to...

Join In Our Instagram #TMOMphoto Meme

This month we are hosting our first Traveling Moms Instagram meme and we would love to have you join in the fun!

2013 Toyota Highlander Hybrid: More Space, Luxury, and Better Gas Mileage, Too

Thomas Jefferson advised the we should have a revolution every 20 years. He meant government, but the idea applies to anything: If we don’t continually rethink how we do what...

May 27 Twitter Party: Summer Travel Planning

Summertime's almost here – time to start planning your summer travels! We've taken the guesswork out of your planning by seeking out advice from top family travel writers from across...

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Family Travel Experts

Family Travel Stories and Ideas

Follow the Honey
Discovery TravelingmomFollow the Honey

There’s a reason “Follow the Honey,” in Cambridge, Massachusetts is not just a simple honey store. For founder and owner, anning, traveling the world on her personal journey led her to open a shop filled with honey stories to tell, and products with a conscience.

In Search of Healing an [ ... ]

21 Not-To-Miss Brunch Places in Chicago
Foodie TravelingMom21 Not-To-Miss Brunch Places in Chicago

Must we trade brunch dates and Bloody Mary’s for barely edible pancakes and sippy cups once we have kids? Hardly. Chicago restaurateurs, many of whom now claim the title of parents themselves, know how to host a good brunch which welcomes us and our progeny. Unlike some downtown areas which only  [ ... ]

8 Things to Do When Visiting Memphis, Tennessee
Missouri TravelingMom8 Things to Do When Visiting Memphis, Tennessee

For those living in the middle of Missouri, there are only a few options for hitting the "big city" -- St. Louis, Mo., or Memphis, Tenn. Last spring, my gal pal Jessie and I chose to visit Memphis for the first time. 

Our trip to Memphis might be one of the most unorganized trips I've ever take [ ... ]

Big Top Candy Shop in Austin, Texas
Texas TravelingMomBig Top Candy Shop in Austin, Texas

I’m a sucker for an old-fashioned candy shop. I just love the candy-filled bins, the drugstore-feel complete with a bar and soda jerk…it makes everyone feel like a kid. With unique treats like Elvis Bark and chocolate-covered bacon, the Big Top Candy Shop in Austin, Texas is a fun treat for any  [ ... ]

A Close Encounter with Devil's Tower, WY
World TravelingMomA Close Encounter with Devil's Tower, WY

When planning out your summer road trip don't overlook Devil's Tower, Wyoming. It is one of my favorite side trips and possibly one of the most overlooked National Parks. 

The first time I drove through Wyoming was in the summer of 1981 on a road trip with my my Mom. Somehow, in a pre-Internet  [ ... ]

Summer Fun: Vegetarian Travel to NYC
Vegetarian TravelingMomSummer Fun: Vegetarian Travel to NYC

Vegetarian travel gets easier in the summer, when farmers markets and their bounteous produce draw tourists and local chefs. Summer is also know for outdoor eating, and New York City has one of the best (I’m slightly biased) eating extravagnzas, orgasburg. Actually, make that two. Smorgasburg ha [ ... ]

Experiencing the Everglades by Airboat
TravelingMom with TeensExperiencing the Everglades by Airboat

You could visit South Florida without paying homage to the Everglades, but why would you want to? And paying proper homage to the Florida Everglades requires an airboat ride.

Harry Potter Flies Into New York

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playingquidHarry Potter: The Exhibition, which just opened in New York, is a cross between a Disney World pre-ride and Universal Studios Florida. Disney because it has that great immersive quality, transporting you directly into the world of Harry Potter.  And Universal because that’s where The Wizarding World of Harry Potter brings the books and movies to life.

At Harry Potter: The Exhibition, groups enter together and a couple of people volunteer for the sorting ceremony. If you don’t know what that means, this exhibit is not for you.

The true magic begins after you watch a few scenes from the movies, there is a train whistle, then the wall disappears to show the Hogwarts Express train. Though this is a replica, it is a life-size and makes for a dramatic entrance.

My 13 year old, who has read each book dozens of times and watched every scene of the Potter movies repeatedly, was enchanted. She was not as thrilled with the audio commentary, particularly the ones by the heavily accented costume designer. But she loved seeing (though not touching) the actual costumes and props. Whether or not the exhibit is educational is debatable, but it is certainly teen-friendly.

pullingmandrakesHands-on

There are a couple of interactives; kids can pull Mandrakes from their pots and hear them scream, sit in Hagrid’s oversized chair and toss quaffles through hoops. The Great Hall has fancy (and Ron’s - not fancy) outfits from the Yule Ball, the candies made by the Wesley twins and Dobby.

Scary Times

If you are taking small children, note that some of the settings are scary. The Dark Forces area shows Death Eaters’ robes and masks, a Dementor, and a video of “He Who Shall Not Be Named.” Also, once you enter the exhibit, you can’t leave for the bathroom and return; once you leave, that’s it. And at $25 a ticket ($19.50 for ages 4-12) you don’t want to rush through.

It takes at least an hour to get through the exhibit, and the gift shop can eat up more time, and money. Stick to the $2.95 chocolate frog.

Photo courtesy of Warner Brothers.
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Author Profile: Vegetarian TravelingMom

Judy Antell lives in Brooklyn and her vegetarian family loves to visit the farmer’s market for local, organic produce. They have bicycled in Europe, skied downhill and cross country, and hit the beaches seeking vegetarian food - and chocolate!

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Family Freebies

Summer in Rhode Island: FREE Family Fun
Summer in Rhode Island: FREE Family Fun

Rhode Island may be a small state, but it celebrates summer in a huge, family-friendly way.

One of the best known free warm weather events is the annual Waterfire celebration, [ ... ]

Free in May: LEGOLAND Florida!
Free in May: LEGOLAND Florida!

Police, Fire and EMS Appreciation Days return in May. Police officers, fire fighters and EMS employees can receive a free single day admission to LEGOLAND Florida, along with  [ ... ]

Five Free Family Friendly Attractions in Skagway, Alaska
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One glimpse of Skagway and it’s easy to see why this quaint Alaskan town is a popular port for cruise ships sailing along Alaska’s Inside Passage. Skagway offers beautiful [ ... ]