My cousin is probably the most efficient family traveler I know. She has her work cut out for her with 2-year-old and 4-year-old girls. Like a well-oiled machine, she’s ready for every contingency as if preparing for a survival operation. Sticky hands or nowhere to wash before eating? She pulls packets of wet wipes from a handy pocket of her carry-all, akin to Mary Poppins’ bottomless carpetbag. Hungry? She keeps Ziploc bags of healthy snacks and small juices or waters at the ready. Cold? Hot? O

Although I'm only getting around to posting this now, during the UK winter our little family spent 2 months in New Zealand visiting friends and family and enjoying the great outdoors in the only way you can truly savour it, camping.  If you are planning to visit the land of the long white cloud during the southern hemisphere summer months, now's a good time to start planning.  Typically the best weather is in late January through February, but you can always expect sudden downpours and changeabl

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

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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It’s not easy or always reassuring.
You're on the road for a family vacation. You've done lots of family-friendly things and now you and your significant other want a night out.

Or at least a dinner in the hotel's much touted dinning room.
But who'll watch the kids?

Hotels will often provide staff sitters or the names of agencies that they do business with, who'll sit for children while the parents are out.
But the question nags: How safe are your kids in the hands of a stranger ...and how do

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

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

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

1. Don't break the