There are a few places in the USA that every child should see, if possible, before they turn eighteen. Williamsburg, Boston’s Freedom Trail, Philadelphia’s Independence Hall, and of course, Plymouth top the list. In Plymouth, MA, they’ll see the legendary Plymouth Rock, climb aboard a Mayflower ship, and travel back a few hundred years at Plimoth […] Read more

You never know when you might find a doubloon or two along a sandy shore or deep within a vine-covered cave in the Virgin Islands. The real-life Pirates of the Caribbean once made their home on these tropical islands, and who knows where you might unearth leftover loot. St. Thomas, one of a group of […] Read more

Dreaming of a getaway to a Caribbean island? Make it happen with a US Virgin Islands family vacation. These islands are just a short flight from the East Coast, and because they are US territories, no passports are required. Here are recent publications of my best tips and recommendations: Great Spots to Get Back to […] Read more

One of the aspects of being a travel writer that I enjoy the most is the community of  people who don’t just love to travel…they revel in the experience. This week I’m delighted to share a new book from one of my favorite travel writers, Mara Gorman–aka The Mother of All Trips–who is raising the […] Read more

What if there was a way to guarantee that your children would love to learn? Ensuring top grades in school and higher income prospects after graduation? And what if all this could be yours along with a happier, stronger family? Studies now show that the secret to all these wonderful outcomes lies in the travel […] Read more

Mother Nature has given notice: ski season countdown is on. Jiminy Peak, our backyard ski mountain, says snowmaking is just 45 days away (give or take a week) and their final season pass deadline looms on October 15th. Liftopia’s pre-season ticket sale is in full swing, and this is the time to get the best deals on 100+ ski […] Read more

Earning entry into the Adirondack High Peaks Forty-Sixers club has long been on my bucket list, and considering the proximity of the 46 mountain peaks, there was no good reason not to give a go. Last weekend, I finally embarked on what will likely be a very long term quest when I took on Cascade Mountain, […] Read more

My sister refused to join us at Vans US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, California. Her husband, an Orange County native, warned that it was going to be a “zoo,” and didn’t think it would be a good environment for their young children. But even he didn’t expect to wake up to headlines about […] Read more

I’ve been thinking a lot about why family vacations seem to bring us closer. Developing shared interests and just having time to spend together are big factors, but I think the main reason is that we bond over outdoor adventures with kids. Seven Reasons for Outdoor Adventures with Kids When I first read Extreme Kids: How to […] Read more