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

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

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

1. Don't break the