Kids can have fun on a grown-up cruise

Kids can have fun on a grown-up cruise

Al Palazzo is a bit disappointed that the kids are more interested in shopping and gondola rides than Great Sites but he’s glad everyone is having a good time and more importantly, he’s not navigating the family and all their bags from city to city.

It’s getting easier to eat healthier away from home

It’s getting easier to eat healthier away from home

My interview with the First Lady got me thinking of all the power we have as parents if we let hotels, resorts and restaurants know in no uncertain terms that we don’t want to feed kids a steady diet of chicken fingers, fries and mac and cheese on vacation.

Finding new ways and places to celebrate July 4

Finding new ways and places to celebrate July 4

Maybe this July 4th you’ll be home marching or watching a local parade. Maybe you’ll be visiting the relatives and cheering on nieces and nephews as they march. Maybe you’ll be celebrating some place new, joining in special and unique celebrations.

Exploring the coastal region near Half Moon Bay

Exploring the coastal region near Half Moon Bay

This area is also home California’s first and only broad based ecotourism visitor program, through which more than 30 farmers, fisherman and business community members have come together to offer visitors hands-on activities and a chance to meet local residents.

Six days in San Francisco and Redwood country

Six days in San Francisco and Redwood country

The Fairmont San Francisco’s Executive Chef jW Foster installed the beehives in the hotel’s 1,000-square foot culinary garden to help support the bee population which has dropped 90 per cent since the 1980s.

Remembering a great adventure in the high Chilean desert

Remembering a great adventure in the high Chilean desert

It’s only 10 a.m. but I feel like we’ve been going all day. That’s because we left our hotel Tierra Atacama before dawn—I’d never seen such bright stars across the desert sky—on our way to the highest geyser field in the world—El Tatio Geisers at 14,190 feet!

Getting out of your comfort zone is a good thing – just ask the kids

Getting out of your comfort zone is a good thing – just ask the kids

It’s no secret that the snowsports industry wants to encourage more minorities to hit the slopes. But that’s not easy with lift tickets costing over $90 at many places, not to mention all the gear that’s needed. (Even long underwear and the right socks can be expensive.)

Just a walk in the snowy woods

Just a walk in the snowy woods

I was thinking about that Snow Walk the other night when Mel called from college to report giddily that she’d spent the weekend on a back-country skiing trip that “was harder than anything I’ve done on skis.”

Tired of cooking turkey? Try a Thanksgiving destination

Tired of cooking turkey? Try a Thanksgiving destination

Whatever the reason, it’s not too late to turn Thanksgiving into a mini vacation with the kids. You’ve already got half the week off from work and school anyway. Tell the relatives you’ll see them at Christmas or, if you like them enough, invite them along.

Crab Cakes and more on a day at sea on the Wind Surf

Crab Cakes and more on a day at sea on the Wind Surf

I would assume the 240-plus adults on board the Wind Surf being attended by 187 crew would agree on this spectacularly sunny sea day. They are reading on deck, playing scrabble and cards, indulging in a leisurely lunch (everything from gyros to Greek beef salad, cold cuts, chilled cranberry soup, Asian fish curry… the list goes on and on. This is our only day at sea and I wish we had another it is so wonderful!