Electronic books are obviously here to stay, but when it comes to browsing, give me an independent bookstore –and the recommendations that come along with it—any day. When you’re traveling, giving kids some time in a bookstore and a small budget to spend can be a pleasant way to spend an hour in a new city.  Keep an eye on them though, because a lot of these places are not small!  Here are some great bookstores to check out with your family if you find yourself in these cities. Read More >

Animal Encounters

Atlanta is home to the Georgia Aquarium, the world’s largest, with over 10 million gallons of water and over 100,000 fish.  It houses Ocean Voyager, the world’s largest aquatic habitat which features a 100-foot long tunnel.  It allows visitors to feel immersed into an underwater environment with sea creatures on three sides. 4 whale sharks, the largest fish in the world, as well as various other sharks, rays, and fish from 3 different oceans call this tunnel tank home. Other exhibits featuring albino alligators, penguins, sea turtles, dolphins, and a wide variety of tropical fish are also not to be missed.

After experiencing life under the sea, check out wildlife that lives on land at Zoo Atlanta. Young children love this zoo because not only does it house a nice collection of animals, but it also has a train ride, carousel, petting zoo, and playground.  The zoo is home to 1,000 animals including the second-largest gorilla population in North America as well as the endangered and beloved Giant Pandas. Read More >

Best barbecue restaurants in the south

Barbecue is a bit of a passion of mine, if simply for the obstinate comfort of eating foods that are warm and familiar to me. Heading to a new city? Need a place to eat? Probably going to default to a BBQ restaurant. It’s hard to get wrong.

Naturally we couldn’t expect to cover every single great BBQ joint in the south in one article, but we can point you in the right direction and give you a few headlining features. Here are the top line products:

Austin, TX

You can’t really have a discussion on BBQ in the south without mentioning Austin, and you can’t really talk about Austin without mentioning the Salt Lick. There are three of these delightful restaurants in the city: one in the airport (strangely enough) another in Driftwood and a third north of the city in Round Rock. A few years back I found myself on the outside patio of the Driftwood restaurant and got the beef brisket. First hand, I can vouch for the succulence of this great slice of meat, and if you get the chance to visit Salt Lick I would strongly recommend the dish. Read More >

You probably know that we’re having an unseasonably warm spring here on the East Coast

Hard to believe that we’re breaking temperature records!  The great news?  This spring, Washington, D.C., will be even more fun to visit if you don’t have to bundle up the kids against the chill.  And given that American history is an important part of the curriculum at schools across the country, you should be able to get the kids on board for a real, live civics lesson.

First things first:  what should be your home base?

Well, the D.C. Homewood Suites is right in the center of everything, near the Metro, bustling Dupont Circle, and tons of fun shops and restaurants.  The rooms are hugs and comfortable, with sofa beds and multiple TVs, plus kitchens so you can prepare snacks right at “home.”  Add in a full, hot breakfast, plus a three-course evening meal during the week, and you’ve got a central, cost-efficient crash pad in our nation’s capital. Read More >