New Orleans may not be the first city that comes to mind when planning a family vacation. After all, the city does play host to the nightly debauchery that takes place on Bourbon Street. But Bourbon Street is a tiny piece of what New Orleans is truly about. Hurricane Katrina did batter the city almost 7 years ago but the city is rebuilding itself into an even better version of the Big Easy. If you spend a few days eating, dancing, and exploring this unique city with your family it will be impossible not to fall in love with Nawlins.

Beignets and Fishes

Start off your mornings at Café du Monde in New Orleans’ French Market. Mom and dad will love the tasty pick me up of a café au lait and kids will love getting powdered sugar beards while scarfing down beignets. Be sure to take time to walk through the market and browse for bargains as well as Mardi Gras beads in every theme imaginable. Read More >

Here in Pennsylvania, where my family lives, we’ve been experiencing a heat wave – it’s 65 degrees as I write, with no cool-down in sight.  According to the calendar, it’s still winter, but according to the daffodils, spring is still underway.  While cold region families often flock south for the winter, this year, ski destinations top the list  . . . if there’s snow there, that is.

But that snow scarcity has an upside: ski resorts are offering killer deals to attract the family ski business.  If you’re game for some March skiing (even if your bathing suit), check out these great destinations. Read More >

Spring break and family travel go hand in hand. After all, the benefits of taking your kids on a vacation when school’s on a break far outweigh the benefits of having them miss school for that trip. Of course, that means that the most popular theme parks are at their busiest. Fun, family friendly, and exciting: Disney and Universal Studios are popular for good reasons!

LEGOLAND Florida is a great alternative to all those Mickey ears and sorting hats at Disney World and Universal Studios Orlando. It’s in Winter Haven, around 45 minutes from Orlando, but a world apart in terms of spring break crowds. LEGOLAND has always been great fun for younger children; in Florida, the park is also so beautifully designed that parents enjoy taking in the views, and end up having a more relaxing vacation. At almost 40 acres, LEGOLAND Florida is parklike. It feels like a true escape rather than a stressful hurry-up-and-stand-on-line trip to one of the mega theme parks in Orlando. Read More >

Although it’s not ideal, sometimes you don’t have long to explore a great city.  Maybe you’ve just got a layover there, or a quick overnight.  To my way of thinking, a little bit of exploring is better than none at all.  For example, my family recently had just 24 hours to see Seattle.  If you ever find yourself in the same position, here’s how to make every moment count.

Stay near the major sights

You’ll save a lot of time if you can see a lot of the town on foot.  We liked the clean and affordable Homewood Suites Downtown Seattle where we got plenty of room to spread out, a full kitchen, and a nice breakfast too.  It’s just a couple (uphill) blocks from the Space Needle and the Seattle Center.  You can also easily catch the Seattle Monorail from here to Westlake Station, which is just a short walk from Pike Place Market. Read More >