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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...
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...
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...
This month we are hosting our first Traveling Moms Instagram meme and we would love to have you join in the fun!
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...
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....
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...
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...
“’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...
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 [ ... ]
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 [ ... ]
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 [ ... ]
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 [ ... ]
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 [ ... ]
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 [ ... ]
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.
Kid-Friendly Travel Perks Lauren Sherman, 03.05.09, 6:00 PM ETIt hasn't always been easy to come up with interesting travel options for busy parents. "When I first started TravelingMom, I was really motivated to find resorts that don't just have an all-day camp for the kids," says Orlando. "I was often met by blank stares [from travel professionals]. I wanted something more inclusive; activities that the whole family could do together."
The good news for families: Since 2007, many hotels, resorts and airlines have made traveling with kids more fulfilling, and infinitely easier.
In Depth: Kid-Friendly Travel Perks
For example, kids are a top priority at the Inn of the Anasazi in Santa Fe, N.M. Not only do families have access to concierge MaryAnn Ruiz, who is specially trained in planning family activities, kids and parents have an opportunity to take a cooking class with the hotel's executive chef Oliver Ridgeway. The chef helps the entire family create his signature macaroni and cheddar cheese flavored with Dijon mustard.
The kids then decorate sugar cookies with the chef's icing tools. The macaroni dinner is served at the hotel's restaurant on a specially designed plate adorned with your child's name. (Parents can select from the full menu while kids dig into the pasta.) At bedtime, the decorated cookies are delivered to each child's room with a glass of milk. (A two-night package, including the class and accommodations for two adults and one child, starts at $329.)
This burst of family-friendly amenities, activities and accommodations has a lot to do with demand. While Americans will spend 9.7% less on leisure travel in April, May and June 2009 than they did in the same period last year according to Waltham, Mass.-based market research firm IHS Global Insight, those who can still afford to travel are bringing the whole family along, and they expect more for their money than ever before. Indeed, nearly 60% of family travelers take advantage of children's services, according to the Travel Industry Association in Washington, D.C.
Even the tiniest of your clan can benefit from extra amenities. The just-launched Baby Butler Service at Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort includes a daily diaper delivery, in-room crib, free meals, a baby gift and 10% discount on baby rental items such as infant tubs, strollers, highchairs and bouncy seats. "Families with small children have enough to worry about when packing for a vacation," says Bob Pfeffer, director of sales and marketing at the resort. "We wanted to simplify their packing needs by creating a valuable service." (Packages that include the Baby Butler Service start at $274 per night.)
Some resorts and hotels are taking catering to kids even further, offering accommodations with an adjoining suite dedicated to the little ones. For instance, at the Omni hotels in Los Angeles and San Francisco, the Kid's Fantasy Suite includes a separate kids' room stocked with bunk beds, videogames and a fridge filled with yogurt, carrot sticks and candy. What's more, every child receives a backpack after check-in filled with a stuffed animal and five mystery items. (Rates start at $249 per night.)
Some of the most grown-up of vacation activities are now available to kids, such as a trip to the spa. At the Tabacón Grand Spa Thermal Resort in Arenal, Costa Rica, the family spa includes chocolate body wraps, back massages and mineral pools, which can be enjoyed by all.
Kim Orlando, the family travel expert, recently took her family there. "While my 10-year-old daughter received a therapeutic chocolate wrap on one therapy table, my 12-year-old son received a back massage on the other table," she says. "Meanwhile, my 8-year-old son, my husband and I relaxed a few steps away in a mineral springs-fed Jacuzzi."
http://www.forbes.com/2009/03/05/family-travel-perks-lifestyle-travel_family_travel.html
As the price to fly continues to rise, and the inconveniences rise, more and more people, and especially families, are turning back to the good, old-fashioned road trip.
My pa [ ... ]
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 [ ... ]
Get a jump on your summer vacation with free activities all weekend in Vermont June 8 and 9. The Green Mountain State serves up a bevy of free family fun.
Free at parks
All we [ ... ]
