Even if it rains, glamping is still fun
For the uninitiated, glamping means experiencing the outdoors without the work or challenges (except maybe weather!) that camping typically requires
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Staying safe in national parks from COVID, bears, bison and more…
As well as keeping our distance and wearing masks to avoid contracting COVID-19, it’s imperative as we flock to national parks to consider what else we must do to keep ourselves and our families safe
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Backyard Vacations | Destinations | Families & Groups | Getting There | Lodging | Pandemic Family Travel | Parks & Outdoors | Weekly Column
On the road this pandemic summer
We experienced the mask issue firsthand on our 2,850-mile road trip from Colorado to Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, social distancing as much as possible
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Destinations | Families & Groups | Food and Dining | Getting There | Lodging | Parks & Outdoors | Weekly Column
To a unique family-owned Montana ranch
A visit to Flathead Lake Lodge, just south of Glacier NP, this pandemic summer is about a lot more than learning a new sport or upping your skill, visiting kids say, especially after being stuck at home for months.
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On a Road Trip in Eastern Utah
Many families like to anchor themselves in Moab because they can visit Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, as well as mountain bike, paddleboard, river raft, horseback ride, hike, fish, golf
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Planning Ahead for Next Year
there are also pluses to waiting until next year. Perhaps there will be a vaccine for COVID-19 that will make travel safer for all of us. And in many cases, you will get an especially good deal if you put down a deposit now.
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Backyard Vacations | Destinations | Families & Groups | Pandemic Family Travel | Parks & Outdoors | Weekly Column
How to make the most of the pandemic summer
The good news: If you can work remotely with kids’ camps and summer school canceled, you can opt for a longer break. Perhaps this is the year to take that big road trip out West or get a longer rental in a mountain or beach town.
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As Orlando Reopens, Safety First at Theme Parks
Just to enter, you’ll need an advance reservation, temperature screening and a mask. Welcome to the New Normal as Orlando begins to open in this Pandemic Summer.
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A Dozen-plus Gifts for the Outdoorsman Dad
After months of sheltering at home with the kids and, maybe working remotely, Dad probably can’t wait to get outdoors. Some gift ideas.
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Families & Groups | Backyard Vacations | Destinations | Getting There | Lodging | Parks & Outdoors | Weekly Column
On a road trip to South Dakota’s Black Hills and Badlands
This summer, it seems, road trips are expected to be particularly popular — if families opt to leave home at all. That’s why throughout the summer, we’ll spotlight some classic American road trips — like to South Dakota’s Black Hills and Badlands.
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Heading outdoors any way you want this summer
Families, it seems, think camping can be the antidote they seek — and a way to get out of town safely, according to a new COVID-19 edition of the North American Camping Report, sponsored by Kampgrounds of America.
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Beach Vacations | Destinations | Families & Groups | Getting There | Lodging | Parks & Outdoors | Weekly Column
Summer travel, or not, in the new normal
What’s a family to do? If families get away at all, they are likely to drive and stay closer to home, suggests Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association
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Getting moms and daughters out of their comfort zones
When Steff Keene wanted to backpack for the first time, she didn’t turn to adventure-loving friends for advice like college students might. She turned to mom.
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Let’s hear it for moms everywhere (grandmas, too!)
Happy Mother’s Day! If there ever was a time to thank moms for all they do it’s this year, as we celebrate the strangest Mother’s Day ever
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Backyard Vacations | Cruises & All-Inclusive | Families & Groups | Getting There | Parks & Outdoors | Weekly Column
Thinking about adventures past and to come — in Alaska
Nearly a year later, stuck at home, trips canceled in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, I smile thinking about that stellar day and the rest of last summer’s trip to Alaska
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To Golden Gate Park for its big birthday
They called the area the Great Sand Wastes, but even those who believed in the project could never have imagined what Golden Gate Park would become
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Learning about the origins of the Titanic in Belfast, Northern Ireland
At the award-winning Titanic Belfast, the world’s largest Titanic visitor experience, you are right where Titanic was built (a special dry dock had to be constructed — the largest in the world at the time).
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Backyard Vacations | Cruises & All-Inclusive | Destinations | Families & Groups | Parks & Outdoors | Weekly Column
Thinking about the great outdoors
As for Doc, he retired and opted for a second career where people meet him with big smiles on their faces, some having waited more than a year to meet him
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On a virtual adventure
Since we are all grounded right now, let the kids lead us all on virtual adventures (and they can safely share them with grandparents too)
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Taking the Kids — when they are on the autism spectrum
The 13th annual World Autism Awareness Day is April 2. Thousands of landmarks, buildings, homes and communities were expected to be lit light blue in recognition of people living with autism
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Learning to cope with travel disappointments
It’s not irresponsible or shallow to be upset about your derailed vacation plans. Don’t minimize the kids’ disappointment either, the experts say.
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Traveling through the COVID-19 crisis
The coronavirus pandemic has derailed many upcoming family trips — everything from shipboard reunions to destination weddings to spring breaks. What to do?
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To Philadelphia and celebrating women during women’s history month
For 2020, Philadelphia has officially changed the city’s “City of Brotherly Love” moniker to the “City of Sisterly Love,” acknowledging that women of color were not fully enfranchised until the 1965 Voting Rights Act
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Backyard Vacations | Destinations | Families & Groups | Food and Dining | Lodging | Parks & Outdoors | Snow Vacations | Weekly Column
Fun in the snow off the slopes
Spring also is a great time to come to the slopes with plenty of sunshine, warmer temperatures and late season deals
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Backyard Vacations | Destinations | Families & Groups | Lodging | Parks & Outdoors | Snow Vacations | Weekly Column
Taking the Kids — on spring break
Spring break is such a good time to get away. Hopefully, your kids will have that same week off. And you may find it easier to escape for a week or a long weekend than in the middle of the summer when everyone wants to get away
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Celebrating Black History Month
African American History Month is celebrated with an ever-growing array of exhibits, festivals, discussions and performances around the country, including in locales and about topics you might not have considered
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Taking the Kids — on different kind of trip to Alaska
You can’t get much more remote — or farther away from cruise crowds than at Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge, which opened 10 years ago — the first and only lodge in the national park and accessible only by a four-hour boat trip from Seward
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Beach Vacations | Best of Taking The Kids | Destinations | Families & Groups | Food and Dining | Lodging | Parks & Outdoors | Weekly Column
To a special Jamaican villa
The experience, of course, is entirely different, as I discovered. Think being on a mega cruise ship with morning-till-night activities vs. your own private yacht with a staff to cater to every whim
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Backyard Vacations | Best of Taking The Kids | Destinations | Families & Groups | Food and Dining | Lodging | Weekly Column
Seeing San Antonio like local families
At the state-of-the-art Naylor Family Dinosaur Gallery at the Witte Museum in San Antonio, where you can step inside a cast of an Alamosaurus footprint at The Dino Lab. What’s different from other dinosaur exhibits? This one is focused on ancient creatures that called Texas home, including ancient fish, turtle and, yes, a full-size Tyrannosaurus rex.
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When rain upends your plans on a cruise ship
Weather can derail the best-laid plans. We almost didn’t make it to San Diego and the Oosterdam before she sailed, in fact, because of canceled flights
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To a galaxy far, far away
Kevin Gerber isn’t even a “Star Wars” fan, but he had happily just spent $100 to build a droid with his 5-year-old son at Disney World’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge’s Droid Depot
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On a winter adventure that won’t bust the budget
With our partners at Family Travel Forum, we have put together 20 Winter Adventures for 2020, whether you want some fun in the snow, in the sun or to in a new city together, regardless of age, physical ability level or budget.
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On the newest, glitziest ship afloat
Welcome aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s new Encore — nearly 1,100 feet long and large enough to accommodate nearly 4,000 passengers and 1,735 crew.
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Rethinking holiday eats
Many families, it seems, are forgoing the traditional home-cooked holiday feast for a restaurant or, like Claridge, a different sort of family celebration. It may be the first year after a divorce or death in the family or simply the desire to do something different.
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To a snow resort without busting the budget
Whenever you want to ski or ride this winter you can hit the slopes on a budget — as long as you plan smart. Here’s how
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Taking the Kids — two dozen gifts for your favorite travelers
There are many affordable gifts starting at less than $20 that will please the travelers in your family, whatever their ages, interests or travel style
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Taking the Kids to see the best and brightest holiday lights
Make it an early gift for the kids to get away for a pre-holiday weekend, reveling in the holiday lights and festivities
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Taking advantage of Cyber Monday family travel deals
On Cyber Monday (Dec 2), you’ll find some of the best travel deals of the year, some you can use immediately and some for all next year
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A new, innovative way to experience Monet’s art, especially for kids
Welcome to the Denver Art Museum and the most comprehensive U.S. exhibit of Monet paintings in more than two decades — Claude Monet: The Truth of Nature
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Backyard Vacations | Destinations | Families & Groups | Getting There | Parks & Outdoors | Weekly Column
Taking the Kids RVing
The secret to this unusual road trip bliss: A 36-foot rented RV where the kids can be safely strapped in seatbelts but still able to play games at the table between them
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Taking the Kids — away for Thanksgiving
Families increasingly are seizing Thanksgiving week for a family vacation. Families explain it is typically a slow week at work and school — some kids have the entire week off, and there may be fewer family obligations.
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Beach Vacations | Destinations | Families & Groups | Food and Dining | Parks & Outdoors | Weekly Column
To Belize for sun, sand and adventure
Belize boasts more than 500 species of fish and marine life. The water is so clear you can see the reef, sea turtles, rays and more from a kayak too
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10 ways to savor fall — before it’s gone
When was the last time you spent a day biking or hiking with the kids, crunching leaves under your feet and seeing who can spot the most colorful leaves? It’s not too late for fall foliage
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Continuing the discussion about climate change
Zoos, aquariums and science museums can also be excellent places to explore this important topic and start a dialog with kids — even young ones — about what they might do to be good environmental stewards
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Celebrating Halloween throughout October
If you thought you had weeks left to get those costumes ready, think again. That’s because Halloween is now celebrated — big time — from theme parks to zoos, children’s museums to hotels and resorts all October long
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On a guided trip just for your family — without breaking the bank
Private trips are growing more popular, whether a family wants to celebrate a 50th anniversary sailing on a Turkish gulet, go whitewater rafting, biking or to explore Italy or visit a national park
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Taking the Kids — calling all empty nesters — nine trips to take
Dry your tears, empty-nesters. There are plenty of options this fall for a short (or longer) getaway that won’t break the bank.
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To a kid-friendly Vancouver
Welcome to the Kids Market on Vancouver’s Granville Island, which draws 10 million visitors annually to its famous public market, restaurants, theaters, galleries, studios and pop-up stores
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On a cruise, when you never thought you would
National Grandparents Day is Sept. 8, and you’re never too old for a new experience, especially one that will bring your far-flung family together
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College touring in Boston
Having weathered college tours with three kids from upstate New York and New England to Colorado and California, I think a little pet therapy may be just the thing
