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How to visit national parks and avoid crowds
For years I’ve been trying to figure out how to visit National Parks and avoid the crowds. From the Grand Canyon to Yellowstone and Bryce and Zion (all my favorite national parks), I’m zoning in on one park and 4 tips to help you enjoy your vacation. Yosemite National Park attracts 4.5 to 5 million…
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Wildlife viewing in grand teton national park in wyoming
Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming is filled with wildlife like bears, moose, elk and eagles. The national park is an Aspen-light mixture of hikers, cowboys, art galleries and families on vacation. The nine mile Wilson-Moose Road from Teton Village (ski resort), to the Grand Teton National Park Headquarters is a wildlife hot spot. The…
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Family travel. the best and the worst family getaways.
Family travel is a time to make memories that last a lifetime. Over two decades and to over two dozen countries, I traveled with my kids, usually without an adult partner to help out. If you want to do more than beaches and amusement parks, then read on for tips and scroll down for suggestions for…
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Calgary stampede in alberta, Canada is not to be missed.
Why wait if you love horses and a good party? I dusted off my cowboy boots and joined daredevils, music lovers, families, and wannabe cowboys, at Calgary’s Stampede Park to take part in one of the world’s largest rodeos. Spanning ten days in July, the Stampede draws over a million visitors from around the world.July…
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Magic in the heart of the Austrian alps
From ski slopes with stunning vistas to fine food at the top of the world, the Austrian Alps roll out the welcome mat. Not far from the violin harmonies of Mozart in the gilded halls of Salzburg, I discovered a quieter perfection – the sound of a gurgling mountain stream and cowbells while hiking through…
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Peru and Machu Picchu with disney. beyond the magic kingdom
A mother-daughter trip to Machu Picchu in Peru My 21-year-old daughter Annalyse draped her arm around my shoulder and I melted into the magic of the ethereal moment. Breathing heavily in the thin air at 8,000 feet, we were acutely aware of being intensely alive: oxygen rushed to our lungs and blood pulsed through our…
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Volunteer vacations for a day.
Volunteer Vacations Many tourists hunt for a meaningful service project overseas, however, most volunteer vacations are for a week or longer. Family Vacations What do you do with three teenage kids in Cambodia? Anthony Damaschino found a unique opportunity for his family to volunteer with Give A Day Global. They made all the arrangements for…
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Volunteer vacations for a day.
Volunteer Vacations Many tourists hunt for a meaningful service project overseas, however, most volunteer vacations are for a week or longer. Family Vacations What do you do with three teenage kids in Cambodia? Anthony Damaschino found a unique opportunity for his family to volunteer with Give A Day Global. They made all the arrangements for…
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5 things to do for car safety before hitting the road
Before you hit the road, here are some basics everyone driver needs to know for car safety and to save money. Avoid expensive repairs that you don’t want or have to make—you’ve got a tan to catch! In light of the recent Tesla Model S crash and automatic brake failure, it’s vital to be proactive in…
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5 things to do for car safety before hitting the road
Before you hit the road, here are some basics everyone driver needs to know for car safety and to save money. Avoid expensive repairs that you don’t want or have to make—you’ve got a tan to catch! In light of the recent Tesla Model S crash and automatic brake failure, it’s vital to be proactive in…
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Travel with teens. tips and best vacations.
Why Travel With Teens? Attitude with a capital A, sullen silence and mono-syllabic conversations are only half the fun of traveling with teens. Add to this the pungent aroma of smelly socks (travel with teenage boys), or being locked out of the bathroom for hours (travel with teenage girls) and you might wonder if family…
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Family safari in africa
The noise was wild and untamed—the primeval voice of Africa herself. The full-chested roars of two male lions echoed across the plain, striking terror into their prey and pumping adrenaline into our veins. Nine-year old Annalyse slipped her tiny hand into mine and squeezed it. I squeezed back with a sweaty palm. Naturally our first…
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Family safari in africa
The noise was wild and untamed—the primeval voice of Africa herself. The full-chested roars of two male lions echoed across the plain, striking terror into their prey and pumping adrenaline into our veins. Nine-year old Annalyse slipped her tiny hand into mine and squeezed it. I squeezed back with a sweaty palm. Naturally our first…
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In Bali new friends lead to a magical memory
In Bali, I was reminded that there are all kinds of people who transform a ho-hum trip into a magical memory. One morning as the roosters announced a new day, my husband, two daughters and I met Mahdey, our hiking guide, in the hotel lobby in Ubud, Bali. He grinned widely, and enticed 9-year-old Annalyse and…
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Family travel on a disney cruise
My Mickey ears were cast aside in my teens when I graduated to American Band Stand and Woodstock. Later in life, as a parent, I bought new ears on our numerous family visits to the Disney parks, but I thought our Disney days were over when our daughters reached their teen years. Not so! A…
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A family trip on horseback in arizona navajo country
“Campfire smoke rising up the canyon walls, stars overhead, and a full belly, what more could you want?” our Navajo guide asked us on our family horseback trip in Arizona. I glanced at my two daughters, huddled close to the blazing fire, and nodded. Maybe it was the aspirin I had taken to soothe my…
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Mother daughter travel to Machu Picchu – a family affair
Mother/Daughter Travel We thought we were prepared, but we really weren’t. Our first glimpse of the colossal pre-Columbian city, standing regally under a piercingly blue sky, moved us emotionally and physically. We were both surprised by our reaction to the 15th-century Inca site perched almost 8,000 feet above sea level. My 21-year-old daughter Annalyse draped…
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Travel advice. three tricks to get the kids involved on a family vacation
The Three Ps of Engaging Your Kids in Your Family Vacation Every year, I’d take my kids on a family vacation—the Grand Canyon, the Monterey Aquarium, Yosemite. When they were little, it was easy to keep them engaged and happy. Then they hit their teenage years and it was all I could do to get…
