Eileen Ogintz's newest book "The Kids Guide to New York City" has been published. All of Eileen's Taking the Kids are now available for the NOOK and Kindle. Your kids will love the fun facts, games and puzzles!


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Destinations

On a kids-free winter escape to the Bahamas

February 15, 2011
Pool at Sandals Emerald Bay
This is a most decidedly upscale Sandals—we even have butler service! It is kind of unnerving to have someone—especially a nice young man named Logesh Ambikapathy who is from India—to cater to my every wish. Lemon for my water? Coming right up. He even stops by the pool to see if we need anything. A pizza would be nice, we suggest. He brings it piping hot 15 minutes later. more →
Beach Vacations, Destinations, Last Minute Deals, Travel Topics | comments


Learning to Scuba Dive at a tiny Caribbean resort

February 10, 2011
Melanie learns scuba at Bohio Grand Turk
elax and breathe! That could be the mantra for de-stressing everyday life. But here on tiny Grand Turk Island where many believe Columbus first made landfall in the New World, the words are PADI dive instructor Hilary Sutton’s instructions to my 19-year-old daughter, Melanie, as she prepares to do her first of four open-water dives more →
Beach Vacations, Destinations, Families & Groups, Last Minute Deals, Travel Topics, Weekly Column | 3 Comments


How to manage a whirlwind day at Disney World

January 26, 2011
New Disney attraction -- traveling with Little Mermaid
Theresa Bennett and her extended family are all smiles—even as they wait 40 minutes in line at Epcot to see Soarin’ -- the popular attraction that makes you feel as if you are hang-gliding over California more →
Destinations, Disney, Families & Groups, Travel Diary, Travel Topics | comments


Two days at Disney World and two on new Disney Dream

January 25, 2011
Footbridge over Wild Animal Kingdom
Wild Animal Trek gives you the chance to watch the cheetahs and lions through powerful binoculars, get to the edge of the river above where the crocs loll, albeit tethered to cables that keep a misstep from turning into a tragedy. Yes, we were also tethered going across the bridges more →
Cruises & All-Inclusive, Destinations, Disney, Families & Groups, Lodging, Travel Diary, Travel Topics | comments


Different ways to learn to dive – cold and warm

January 20, 2011
Yoga class at Bohio Grand Turk
For our second dive of the day, we head to the Library, so named because it is directly in front of Grand Turk’s tiny library. We dive along the famous Grand Turk Wall that drops 100 feet. It is marvelous-- all varieties of fish and coral. By the end of the dive, holding the dive master’s hand, Emily is hooked and comes up out of the water smiling more →
Backyard Vacations, Beach Vacations, Destinations, Families & Groups, Lodging, Outdoor Adventures, Travel Topics | comments


Fresh conch salad on the beach anyone?

January 19, 2011
Live conch catch at Bohio Grand Turk
The area east of where we staying at Bohio is apparently full of conch—our novice free divers get 10 in 20 minutes. We head to Gibb’s Cay, a tiny island where Trevor will prepare Conch Salad or Conch Ceviche while he hands out shrimp for us to feed the half dozen stingrays who swim around the beach waiting for their treat. more →
Beach Vacations, Destinations, Families & Groups, Lodging, Outdoor Adventures, Travel Diary, Travel Topics | comments


Learning how to scuba dive on Grand Turk Island

January 18, 2011
Melanie learns scuba at Bohio Grand Turk
My daughter Mel, 19, and I have come to Grand Turk Island so that she can complete the four-day PADI course (www.padi.com) and become a certified diver, as am I. Truth be told, this was supposed to be a family trip over New Years—Mel’s older brother and dad also are divers—but a blizzard in New York derailed our plans. Rather than forgo the opportunity altogether, she and I opted to make it a shorter, girls trip more →
Beach Vacations, Destinations, Families & Groups, Lodging, Outdoor Adventures, Travel Diary, Travel Topics | comments


A TREK TO THE THREE TOWERS

January 16, 2011
Mel and Reg at the base of the Three Towers (photo by Dan)
Our early-morning departure from Remota, smaller-than-average group size, and anticipated 7 hour hike signaled challenge ahead. It was the windiest day in Patagonia that we had seen so far. The tall grass outside of Remota was constantly being flattened by gusts of wind and huge white caps on the fjord outside our window were lapping up against the shore. “You better bring a windbreaker,” My dad told us. He was right. more →
Destinations, Families & Groups, Lodging, Outdoor Adventures, Travel Diary, Travel Topics | comments


When the grandparents lead the way on a family adventure

January 6, 2011
A family rafting vacation
Upping the adventure quotient is exactly what a growing number of well-heeled and fit grandparents are doing to gather their far-flung progeny. They’re sailing in the British Virgin Islands, hiking in Yellowstone, exploring Costa Rican rain forests, bird-watching in the Galapagos Islands, heading to Africa on safari, fishing in Alaska and even studying marine biology in Virginia, typically picking up most of the tab more →
Destinations, Families & Groups, Outdoor Adventures, Travel Topics, Volunteer & Service, Weekly Column | comments


January is the month to learn a snow sport — here’s how and where

December 30, 2010
Learning to ski at Stratton Mountain in Vermont
No wonder I’m smiling. If you thought heading to the slopes this winter would be a budget buster or no fun for mom, think again. Large and small resorts across ski country are pulling out all the stops for families, featuring increased programming off the slopes as well as on, free or discounted lift tickets and even free flights. more →
Destinations, Families & Groups, Lodging, Outdoor Adventures, Snow Vacations, Travel Topics, Weekly Column | comments





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