Getting out of the car at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Getting out of the car at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Are you a windshield tourist? That’s what they call the many visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park who simply traverse the park’s famous 30-plus mile Newfound Gap Road through the park and don’t get out of the car much, if at all.

Finding real books and bookstores on your family trips

Finding real books and bookstores on your family trips

I know a lot of kids don’t even read “real” books anymore. Everyone is all about interactive books kids can read on tablets with all sorts of fun features. But there’s still something to be said for stopping in at a local bookstore — or a national park visitor center — and browsing their collection of children’s books.

Families trying falconry, the sport of kings

Families trying falconry, the sport of kings

We are at Ireland’s School of Falconry — the oldest in the country and home to more than 30 birds, including the always popular Dingle the owl. The school is located at Ashford Castle

On a multigenerational cruise with Windstar in Scotland

On a multigenerational cruise with Windstar in Scotland

The 91-year-old had chosen the Windstar Star Legend, a 212-passenger ship for a cruise with her 17-year-old grandson— one of three yachts without the line’s famous sails that the company has recently acquired from Seabourn

New York City in August – good time for families to visit

New York City in August – good time for families to visit

New York, of course, is always tops on tweens and teens lists of wanna-go places. If you have a few days before school starts, it turns out August is a good time. Sure it may be hot, but with business travelers scarce, you are likely to get a good hotel deal.

Gleneagles: a world-famous golf resort, now family friendly

Gleneagles: a world-famous golf resort, now family friendly

Of course, Gleneagles is known for golf — it is home to three of Scotland’s best championship courses and it is where the 2014 Ryder Cup was played. But today, only 30 percent of guests play golf — and some of them may be kids taking lessons.

Fans from all over the world love Harry Potter studio tour near London

Fans from all over the world love Harry Potter studio tour near London

The Woods family had flown 24 hours to London from Australia, but they weren’t planning to ride the famous London Eye, see a West End play or even check out the Crown Jewels. In fact, they’d come for just one reason — the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London — The Making of Harry Potter

New efforts to convince Americans to take their vacation days

New efforts to convince Americans to take their vacation days

Whatever the reasons, Americans failed to use 429 million days of paid time off last year, the U.S. Travel Association reports. Those who get vacation time are taking less, while a quarter of Americans don’t get any paid vacation at all

A new Orlando resort that does more for families

A new Orlando resort that does more for families

The kids want to stay right where they are because they’re having way too much fun at the expansive Explorer Island pool-water play area at the New Four Seasons Orlando at Walt Disney World,