Interacting with the Turtles at SeaWorld Orlando

Interacting with the Turtles at SeaWorld Orlando

TurtleTrek is home to adult and juvenile sea turtles, including hawksbill, Kemp’s Ridley, loggerhead and green sea turtles — all of whom, like Grandma, have been deemed nonreleasable by the Florida government.

Discovering the beauty of the California Coastal region

Discovering the beauty of the California Coastal region

During our five-mile hike, we see plump yellow banana slugs, the tiny Calypso orchid and blooming trillium, a member of the lily family. But the best part is the conversations with my daughter, Reg, who lives across the country from us in San Francisco. I’d forgotten how conducive hiking is to catching up!

Lots of places to rediscover your inner Titantic

Lots of places to rediscover your inner Titantic

The real point here is to encourage youngsters and their parents to “journey to new depths of discovery.” That includes a 4-D theater where SpongeBob SquarePants takes you and your kids on an undersea adventure, complete with mist and bubbles

Time to plan your visit to our National Parks

Time to plan your visit to our National Parks

My youngest daughter, Mel, says those national parks trips when she was little (and complained her legs were “broken” from all the hiking) spurred her interest in environmental science — her college major

Spiderman vs. Harry Potter at Universal Orlando

Spiderman vs. Harry Potter at Universal Orlando

Move over, Harry Potter. Spider-Man has arrived. “I’m just not that into Harry Potter,” explains 16-year-old Jordan Madow who preferred the newly reanimated Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man

Touring the old city of Dubrovnik, Croatia

Touring the old city of Dubrovnik, Croatia

The city’s medieval walls helped protect the city and there was tremendous international publicity decrying the bombing of this historic city and in favor of granting Croatia diplomatic recognition.

A visit to see the biggest Budda in the world

A visit to see the biggest Budda in the world

Not just any giant Buddha but the Tian Tan Buddha, the world’s largest outdoor sitting Buddha — some 98 feet tall and weighing 250 tons, his humongous right hand raised to deliver a blessing to all.

Lower Manhattan is New York’s must-see destination

Lower Manhattan is New York’s must-see destination

We’re talking about Lower Manhattan — specifically the area south of Chambers Street that’s surrounded by water on three sides. In 2011, a record 9.8 million tourists visited Lower Manhattan — 800,000 more than the previous year.