Autumn in Lake Placid: The Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort

When you think of Lake Placid, the first thing you probably think of is the 1980 winter Olympics (Miracle on Ice, anyone?). While the wintertime recreation opportunities are spectacular, Lake Placid is also a wonderful place to visit during the summer and fall. So leave your skis (or bobsled) at home, and pack up your swimsuits, canoe, and hiking boots! We recently took to the family to Lake … [Read more...]

NYC with kids: making sense of subways, taxis, and trains

During our four days in New York City this past June, we relied exclusively on subway trains, taxi cabs, and our own feet to get us where we needed to go. Despite being accustomed to using public transportation in other cities, I will admit we found the NYC subway system to be overwhelming with kids...at first. By the time we were ready to leave, we (almost) felt we had it figured out, but to help … [Read more...]

New York City with kids: what to do in Central Park

Central Park is not only an iconic stop in New York City, it's a welcome respite from the noise, crowds, and outright stimulation of city touring. During our three days in New York, we ducked into this leafy green sanctuary more than a few times, and discovered something new with each trip. Since it can be hard to get your bearings while in the park, a good place to start (before you … [Read more...]

New York City with kids: Times Square and Rockefeller Center

There's lots to do in the vicinity of Times Square and Rockefeller Center with kids, and the nice part is, you can easily walk from point to point. Start out in the afternoon to visit the Rockefeller shops before they close (which is surprisingly early) and save the Times Square portion of this pit stop for evening, as this is its time to shine. (I liken visiting Times Square in the day to … [Read more...]

New York City with kids: Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

While visiting NYC with kids, the Statue of Liberty is a must-do. We found, however, that Ellis Island's Immigration Museum is an even more interesting stop, so be sure to do both. You’ll want to start your trip planning with a visit to the Statue Cruises website, where you can purchase your ferry tickets (you can also purchase them at the New York Visitor’s Center at 234 W. 42nd). Because … [Read more...]

New York City with kids: a stay at Affinia 50

We chose to stay at Manhattan's Affinia 50 for our kids' introduction to New York City, and within moments of checking in, I knew we'd made the right decision. It was instantly made clear to me that Affinia 50 does things differently than standard big city hotel chains: they're small enough to be personal, but large enough to provide the amenities families need. First off, they deliver on … [Read more...]

New York’s Adirondack Museum

The Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake, New York makes for a great half or full day pit stop during your Adirondack summer family vacation! Dedicated to families with young kids through teens, the museum features indoor and outdoor exhibits, nature studies, and family programs filled with hands-on experiences. It seems like there's always something going on at the museum, whether it's … [Read more...]