Oktoberfest may put you in the mood for German beer and pretzels, but when touring the U.S. in search of a great pub, you’ll have a better chance finding a good Irish tavern.

So, here are five of the best Irish pubs in the country where you’ll find the right atmosphere and the best beer and authentic food.

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I’m one of those moms who mistrusts antibacterial hand sanitizer. Whether I’m at home or on the road, slathering noxious chemicals on my children’s skin just doesn’t strike me as a good long-term health strategy.

You can’t have a successful family vacation with sick kids, though. Here are the top five things you can do to keep kids healthy while traveling.

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With a writer mom, my kids never had a chance: They had to love reading from the minute they were born. Luckily, they took to books like a pig takes to mud, and now a lot of our family time consists of sitting together on our family room sectional, each absorbed in our own book.

So how can you get your kids addicted to books? Travel’s a perfect vehicle (please forgive the pun) – or at least, so I’ve found with my two. Given the amount that we travel (often several weeks a year, and at least a couple of weekends a month), the reading bug has come in super-handy for my girls, both because they have a way to entertain themselves in transit and because they can learn all about the places we’re going before we ever get there. Read More >

It’s true…when traveling, calories are still calories. Unfortunately, the increase in temptation, long days and lack of routine can push you to make poor food and exercise choices. Here are some tips to help keep you healthy and fit on your next vacation.

Pack the goods. Having healthy snacks like fruit, veggies and nuts on hand can go a long way and they are a much better choice than the street vendor or fast food joint on the corner.

Snack often. There are times when traveling that it’s easy to lose track of time and forget to eat, which means your blood sugar can suffer and open a world of other problems. Don’t let yourself get hungry and have a snack. Read More >