Travel
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Taking the Kids: Camping
Tent, RV or cabin? Many people I know, who once were devoted backpackers, eventually saw the wisdom of camping with a trailer or a recreational vehicle (RV), especially when young kids were part of the equation. I know because I was one of them.
“If we are just camping in Colorado, we love tent camping. But once we started thinking about ...Read more

Taking the Kids: Visiting Alaska without the crowds
The bear was too busy snacking on salmon to notice us. We were kayaking — a safe distance away. What an experience! Our small UnCruise ship, known for Alaska wilderness experiences, enabled us to kayak and hike away from ...Read more

Taking the Kids: What moms and grandmas really want for Mother's Day
Flowers are nice, so is a fancy brunch, a heartfelt card and a box of chocolates. But ask busy moms what they really want for Mother’s Day, and they will tell you they’d prefer a little time for themselves – sleeping late, time for a leisurely bath or at the gym.
“Last Mother’s Day I had a newborn and a toddler, and my husband got me ...Read more

Taking the Kids: A different kind of cruise
On this mid-sized cruise ship there are no kids jumping in and out of the pool; budging in line to get ice cream or racing down the halls.
“We’re loving it,” said Kate Charlesworth-Miller, here on a girls’ trip with her daughter, and her daughter’s sister-in-law and mother-in-law. “Without kids it is so much more relaxing and ...Read more

Taking the Kids: Celebrating National Parks Week
It had been a long hike for little legs. We were in Glacier National Park and had hiked one of the park’s famous hikes to a glacial lake — nearly five miles. My son, Matt, was eight; his sister, Reggie, six, and our baby, Melanie, a toddler. She complained after so long in a backpack on her dad’s back that her legs were “broken.”
...Read more

Taking the Kids: Traveling more sustainably
Got your reusable water bottle? That’s one of the easiest things you can do to reduce your environmental footprint when you are traveling.
Around 85 percent of plastic water bottles, which can take up to 1,000 years to degrade, end up as waste, according to a new report from the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and ...Read more

Taking the Kids: Visiting Washington, D.C. in the spring
Welcome to America’s front yard. That’s what many call The National Mall in Washington, D.C., — the three-mile-long stretch from the Potomac River to Capitol Hill.
Here’s where you find the famous Reflecting Pool, the Smithsonian museums, and the memorials to five U.S. presidents and to America’s ...Read more

Taking the Kids: Playground or museum?
Playground or museum? When you are visiting a new city with kids, each can be equally important. At playgrounds, kids not only can let off steam, but they can meet local kids. Parents can meet local parents who can offer valuable tips on spending time in their city. They can point you to favorite restaurants and ice cream shops for a treat.
New...Read more

Taking the Kids: Is it safe to take the kids to Mexico?
Is it safe to travel abroad? That may be the first question parents ask when considering whether the kids can embark on an adventurous activity.
But after the horrific kidnapping of four Americans that left two dead in the Mexican border town of Matamoros (across the Rio Grande from Brownsville, Texas), many are questioning travel to Mexico, ...Read more

Taking the Kids: Visiting a snow resort when you don’t or can’t ski
The kids and your significant other want to head to the slopes but you’re not thinking you’ll have much fun in the snow.
Maybe like me, you can’t this year. (I’m rehabbing from knee surgery.) Maybe you just don’t like snow sports. It’s not necessary to sacrifice your vacation to please your family.
No, I’m not suggesting you and ...Read more

Taking the Kids: Flying with babies and toddlers safely
Free is good, but it’s not always the best course. That’s especially true when you are flying with infants and toddlers.
Yes, children two and under can fly free on your lap, but the FAA says, “The safest place for your child under the age of two on a U.S. airplane is in an approved...Read more

Taking the Kids: Going on spring break
Ready for spring break? Don’t fret if you haven’t made plans yet. There are lots of options whether you want to be among the first to experience a new theme park ride, see how many sites you can pack into a city visit, ski or ride in spring sunshine or bask on the beach, frothy drink in hand.
Let’s not forget spring training, whether in ...Read more

Taking the Kids: Romance any time you can make it happen
Let’s hear it for romance! You’re never too old — or too busy — to enjoy a romantic interlude, and I don’t mean a mushy card and some chocolate for Valentine’s Day, either.
“Romantic travel doesn’t have to be limited to February. In fact, planning your romantic getaway outside of February gives you the freedom to enjoy better ...Read more

Taking the Kids: Visiting San Diego
Sunshine and exotic animals … theme parks and miles of beaches and museums to please everyone. San Diego is our pick for Pacific Coast beach areas. Even if lay-in-the-sun weather doesn’t cooperate, you can’t do better than San Diego’s world-class zoo and safari park, homeandleisure/travel/takingthekids/s-2786500">Read more

Taking the Kids: New places to explore Black history
James Forten may be one of the most important Black leaders you’ve never heard of.
The Philadelphian — and his family — were influential from the Revolutionary War to the abolitionist movement, as well as in business. In 1833, they helped start the American Anti-Slavery Society and the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society, and also ...Read more

Taking the Kids: Get ready to ride the wave
See the whales up close in Baja or the glaciers calve in Alaska. Explore Tahiti or Japan, maybe Norway’s fjords. Kick back in the Caribbean.
It’s the cruise industry’s WAVE season, which means the best deals are available from now until March, whether you are looking for an adventure on an expedition ship, a trip with the kids on a ...Read more