Travelling with children can be a great experience for the whole family, but it can also be an exhausting experience for everyone involved. Children are more prone to boredom than adults (or at the very least are more vocal about it), so having a game plan to keep them entertained is of the utmost importance for the sanity of everyone in the car. Here are a few tips to keep your kids entertained in long car trips.

1. Embrace the 21st century - We live in the digital age. Finding a way to keep you

 Do you remember going on family vacations when you were a kid?

   It's funny how I can't remember where I put my keys or my phone or what I was supposed to pick up at the store (so when I arrive, I just stand there looking around for some hint) but I can remember being on vacation with my family when I was a kid.

  My parents worked several jobs at once to keep us afloat. Neither of them had it easy.

   We weren't able to spend much time with our Dad as he worked a day job and a night job.

Las Vegas can be family-friendly and a great winter getaway.  There are shows and adventure for the entire family. Flights from Central New York on Continental Airlines are often under $350.

1.  Show of shows: Not sure what show to take in.  Consider V the Ultimate Variety Show. The show offers something for everyone and it is very family friendly with nothing to embarrass, which can’t be said about many of the Vegas shows. The show includes several acts from heart-stopping aerial antics to belly-l

Used to be they were called “mommy bloggers,” but that was before their Klout scores soared and corporations avidly courted them.

And while I may be exaggerating, I’m not by much. This group of bright, engaged mothers who travel with their kids and run homes and blog, now run the family travel market and drive some of the most exciting conversations on line.


While CEO’s of hot start-ups and established web sites are pronouncing and  pontificating, these women bloggers and journalists are runn

Many young boys are passionate about Legos, and my 9-year-old Matthew is one of them. So on our last trip to Orlando, several weeks ago, a visit to the new Legoland was of course a must. This new amusement park opened October 15 in Winter Haven, a 45-minute drive south of Orlando, on the site of the former Cypress Gardens. Driving down, it felt like we were on a pilgrimage to Mecca - the anticipation was radiating from the back seat of our rental car.

The park was clean, bright, and cheerful, a

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What to do in La Jolla, California? The most popular free activity in the village - especially if you're traveling with kids - is visiting the seals at The Children's Pool. The rope barrier that went up here recently indicates the beginning of the pupping season for the colony of harbor seals who call the cove home.

While the pups aren't usually born until March and April, the rope keeps onlookers at a safe distance from the rookery while the seals are most vulnerable. All onlookers, that is,

Contrary to what a lot of people think, Las Vegas can be very family friendly.  It is a great place to take the grandkids. There are many great shows and activities that are no gamble at all.  Truly fun for all ages and several activities are free.

1. Go wild: There are a variety of attractions for animal lovers. Visit the Flamingo’s Wildlife Habitat featuring Chilean flamingos, swans, ducks, Koi, goldfish and turtles. At the Mirage’s Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden see the amazing white tigers a

Listen to this sound-rich Ottawa, Audio PostCard. Be transported by the sounds of this friendly, accessible city.

It's a bit of a throwback to the theater of the mind when audio created the place

Authentic luxury travelers know that planning any customized trip takes considerable time, and when multiple generations are involved it makes the process even more challenging. Having said that, the popularity of “3G” (three generation) family vacations is soaring because so many busy people want an opportunity to re-connect with kids, parents, spouses, and siblings in a relaxed environment.

Because of time constraints, the planner designated by the family might compromise and book a cruise o

The popularity of family travel has caused parents, grandparents, and toy manufacturers to come up with creative ways to keep kids entertained and engaged en route to their destination.

One of the best ideas I’ve seen yet is the Trunki – a durable plastic suitcase that pre-schoolers can pack, ride-on, and pull along behind them.

Made by Melissa & Doug, the educational toy company, the Trunki comes in a variety of bright kid-friendly colors. My favorite is the red one that looks like a lady bug

This is a great month to travel in Southern California. The weather is cooler, but the “rainy season” hasn’t started, and daylight savings time doesn’t end until November 6.

In La Jolla, San Diego’s favorite coastal community, visitors can expect daytime temperatures of about 75°F (22°C) and overnight lows of around 58°F (14°C).

Kids are free

During the month of October, kids 12 and under are free at 24 San Diego County museums when accompanied by a paying adult. The program is limited to two ch

There came a point when the routine of my life began to annoy me. Don’t get me wrong. It was a lovely routine that involved the blessings of children, but with that came dishes and shopping carts and lots of time in a car. I understood the need and comfort of it all and even thanked God for it, usually on Sundays at ten o’clock.

I began to regard this ordered life with a sense of claustrophobia, like living in an alley. A beautiful alley, but still it had narrow walls and shadows and, for some re

Many families hesitate at the thought of extended travel with middle-school and teen-aged children.  In our overscheduled and often frenetic culture, it may be the most powerful gift you can give them.  Emotional and spiritual growth of emerging teens are equally as important as academics and sports. Travel offers the gift of unstructured time away from, the sometimes overwhelming, social pressures of their young lives.

Sure, the initial disconnect from home may be bumpy, but that phase ends whe

What? Back to school announcements already? I’m just getting into the swing of things and still have so many plans for summer activities. It’s like seeing that first yellow Aspen leaf. I don’t know about you but I’M NOT READY for fall!

With still a few weeks left of summer break, I’m going to pack it in. Only, I’m digging deep into my wallets and coming up with lint. Thankfully, there are many things to do that don’t involve money. All you need are bathing suits, a creative mind and the  energy t

We stepped out from the tiny prop plane and I stood for a moment on top of the stairs breathing in the salty air of Nantucket, filled with the scent of Lilies and memories of teenage debauchery. The words from Diddy’s song, “Coming Home,” swimming in my head:

“Back where I belong, yeah I never felt so strong
I feel like there’s nothing that I can’t try
And if you with me put your hands high
If you ever lost a light before, this ones for you
And you, the dreams are for you….”

Waiting for my sisters, m

1. Don't break the

San Diego has two beachfront hotels and they are both located on La Jolla Shores Beach, a mile from “the village” of La Jolla and about 11 miles from downtown San Diego.

One is La Jolla Shores Hotel and the other is the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club.

I recently toured La Jolla Shores Hotel and – even though I live nearby – I was really sorry when the visit was over. There’s something incredibly special about being right on the beach – kayakers and scuba divers come and go, flocks of pelicans fly o