While visiting Peru, I saw all the bucket-list sites I planned to see: Machu Picchu, the Incan towns of the Sacred Valley, and beautiful Cusco. I hiked, I took hundreds of photos, and I took in the colorful marketplaces Peru is known for. But in addition, I saw and experienced things I had no way of knowing I wanted—perhaps even needed—to see and do. I met jewelers at Arte Magico employing … [Read more...]
Dominican Republic with kids: Power snorkeling at Sosua Beach
July 18, 2016 By
During our Fathom cruise in the Dominican Republic, we knew we wanted to both visit a local beach and take a snorkeling trip. We were able to do both during a power snorkeling trip with Wild Play Adventures. Usually, we opt to skip official cruise excursions in favor of booking privately. You get a more personalized experience, usually for less. However, in the case of our DR trip, the … [Read more...]
Dominican Republic with kids: Exploring Puerto Plata with Marysol Tours
July 13, 2016 By
If you find yourselves on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic near Puerto Plata, you’ve probably come to the island via Carnival or Fathom cruise, to Amber Cove port. (Most all-inclusive resorts are located at the far tip of the island at Punta Cana.) From Amber Cove, the town of Puerta Plata is only about 10 minutes away, and well worth a visit in your exploration of the area. You … [Read more...]
How to spend three days in SW Louisiana
June 13, 2016 By
Southwest Louisiana has something for everyone: families will find rich culinary traditions, incredible wildlife, history, and adventure. Plus, there's plenty in the way of relaxation and play. Whether you come to Louisiana for the cajun cooking, festivals like Mardi Gras, or to glimpse an alligator, here's how to spend three days in SW Louisiana, act like a local, and get (almost) everything … [Read more...]
Driving the Creole Nature Trail in SW Louisiana
June 8, 2016 By
One of only a handful of All American Roads, the Creole Nature Trail runs in a loop of 180 miles, with numerous wildlife refuges, gulf beaches, and marshes along the way. Driving the Creole Nature Trail sounds like a lot of miles, but can easily be done in a day. It was the highlight of my trip to SW Louisiana. Along the way, families will find wildlife refuges, beaches, piers, and even a … [Read more...]
Ultimate family vacation in Pittsburgh for the younger set
May 16, 2016 By
If you have toddlers and preschoolers who love Daniel Tiger and visiting kid-friendly attractions like children's museums, consider an easy-to-plan summer getaway to Pittsburgh. How to plan a vacation in Pittsburgh: If you're not sure where to start in the planning process, or aren't familiar with this kid-friendly city, Visitpittsburgh.com/Kidsburgh is your one-stop destination to book your … [Read more...]
Exploring Rome with kids: Overome Colosseum tour review
March 21, 2016 By
Touring Rome's Colosseum and Forum is always in the top three attractions for families. This center of ancient Roman history is a must-do, but also big, crowded, and complex. We were very glad we opted to see the Colosseum and Forum with a small group tour. If Rome is in your family travel plans, read on for our Overome Colosseum tour review. We chose to see the Colosseum with Overome based … [Read more...]
The Rome you may have missed: Why book a Walks of Italy tour
March 9, 2016 By
For anyone who can say, “I’ve seen the major sights of Rome, what next?” the answer is Walks of Italy’s Hidden Gems and Ancient Wonders tour. Perfect for adults and teens, this 3.5 hour tour dips in and out of the city and suburbs or Rome to hit upon a somewhat arbitrary yet completely fascinating bouquet of small stops. None of the sights on the tour take more than thirty minutes to view, and … [Read more...]
Dog sledding and snowmobiling in Breckenridge
February 10, 2016 By
The town of Breckenridge Colorado is known for its epic skiing and snowboarding, but there are many other ways to enjoy the snowy mountains here. Whether you want to plan a day away from the slopes during a longer vacation or have non-skiers among you, head out to Good Times Adventures, about twenty minutes from town. Good Times Adventures offers snowmobiling tours as well as dog sledding … [Read more...]
Walk in the footsteps of Harry Potter and his friends on your next visit to London
February 5, 2016 By
There's no doubt about it, children and adults all over the world are obsessed with Harry Potter and his adventures. From Harry Potter Book Nights, where fans gather to celebrate the Harry Potter series, through to tours of the locations and the studio where the movies were made, if you're a Harry Potter aficionado you can always find something to satisfy your thirst for further knowledge of the … [Read more...]
