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Ideas for Family Vacations in Nevada with your Kids

Thursday, March 27th, 2008
Family Travel Ideas for Family Vacations to Nevada with your Kids

Ideas for Family Vacations in Nevada with your Kids


If you’re thinking about taking a summer family vacation in the state of Nevada, there’s a good chance that you’re planning to go to Vegas. It’s a good place for a trip, especially with those low-cost buffet meals that you can find if you look around. But it’s not the only city in Nevada and it’s not the only spot in the state offering summer vacation options for your family. Don’t be afraid to go to Vegas “ but don’t be afraid to think about going somewhere else in Nevada either!

Las Vegas

For awhile, Vegas was really beginning to be considered a family destination. Some of that has faded away and a lot of what the city has to offer is in the manner of adult fun, but there are still some great spots for families. Hotels that cater to kids (like Circus Circus), shows that are good for all ages (such as The Tournament of Kings), and nearby day trips that take you out of the city (like Hoover Dam) all make for great family fun. And Vegas is good for parents who might want to enjoy some fun away from the kids because it is a place with reputable babysitters or kids’ rooms available in many hotels and attractions areas. For more details information on what to do with your kids in Vegas, visit Las Vegas Kids, Kids in Vegas and The Vegas.com site’s page on kids.

Lake Tahoe

If Vegas is the big city destination for families on summer vacation in Nevada, then Lake Tahoe is the big natural destination. This awesome location offers every kind of lake activity that you can imagine, including camping and family-friendly lodging on the shore. You can go to the north shore or the south shore, or you can start at and take “The Most Beautiful Drive in America” to reach the other. In addition to activities on the lake, you can visit historical sites, do some shopping and enjoy some great food at the local restaurants.

Scenic Byways

The drive along the shore of Lake Tahoe may be beautiful, but it’s not the only scenic drive in the state of Nevada. If you do the RV thing with your family, or if you’re open to the idea of a road trip this summer, you’ll find that there are nine other scenic byways in Nevada that offer terrific views and interesting activities. See the Nevada travel website for more details about these trips.

Valley of Fire / Lake Mead

For a destination that is popular but may be less hectic than Vegas or Tahoe, think about heading to the area near Lake Mead. Valley of Fire State Park, located here, is great for picture-taking since its home to Nevada’s red sandstone formations. It’s also good for getting some Native American history in since there are petroglyphs here to take a look at. And it’s located right near Lake Mead so you’ll be able to ecape the heat with some water activities.

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Ideas for Family Vacations in New Hampshire with your Kids

Wednesday, March 26th, 2008
Family Travel Ideas for Vacations in New Hampshire with your Kids

Ideas for Family Vacations in New Hampshire with your Kids


If you go to the official web page for the state of New Hampshire, you’ll find that the first thing you see there is the slogan: “New Hampshire: You’ll Love It Here”. It may sound presumptuous, especially for such a little state. But after spending your summer family vacation in the state, you’re likely to find that you agree with the motto. If that’s not enough to convince you, maybe you’d like to know that under the link titled simply, “Why NH?”, their second reason given is “fun and affordable family vacations”. And if that’s still not reason enough to book your summer vacation to this New England destination, then take a look at these trip ideas for a visit to the state:

Hands-on Science

New Hampshire offers many indoor spots for exploring science with your kids. The SEE Science Center, the Mt. Washington Observatory’s Weather Discovery Center and the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium are some of the major science center spots that you could visit on a science tour throughout the small state. If you’re planning such a tour, you should also consider the state’s children’s museums as destinations which might have science stuff for your kids to enjoy. The Children’s Museum of Portsmouth is one of the choices in that category.

Get outside

Science centers offer great indoor fun but if you’re going to go all the way to New Hampshire, you should make sure to see the scenery of this absolutely gorgeous state. The summertime in New Hampshire is nice enough to make hiking, camping and other such outdoor activities more than pleasant. State parks that you might enjoy with your family include Coleman State Park, Deer Mountain Campground and Pawtuckaway State Park. See the New Hampshire State Parks website for more info on these and other spots. In addition to the state parks, you can visit waterfalls in the White Mountains or safely see wildlife at spots like the Silk Farm Audubon Center.

Ride the Rails

No, you’re not going to go so far as to jump on the backs of moving trains during your New Hampshire vacation, but you should definitely be sure to book yourself a seat on one of the scenic railroad routes that are located all throughout the state. Your choices include Conway Scenic Road, Hobo Railroad, Mt. Washington Cog Railway, White Mountain Central Railroad and Winnipesaukee Railroad. Your kids will love the chance to ride on a real train and you’ll get to sit back, relax and enjoy the New Hampshire scenery.

See the Strange

New Hampshire is beautiful and offers the chance for a family vacation that’s pleasant and fun. But perhaps your family is more Osbornes than Cleaver. Okay, so you’re not that strange, but you do have a penchant for seeking out oddities with your kids in order to make for memorable vacations. In New Hampshire, some such oddities might include The Storyland children’s theme park in the city of Glen, the rock profiles of George Washington (in Jackson) and “an Indian head” in Franconia Notch or the Mack Truck Museum in Hillsborough. For more ideas about oddities to see on a New Hampshire summer vacation, check out Roadside Attractions.

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Ideas for Family Vacations in New Jersey with your Kids

Wednesday, March 19th, 2008
Ideas for Family Vacations in New Jersey with your Kids

Ideas for Family Vacations in New Jersey with your Kids


Your kids might laugh and you might rapidly hear things about “Joisey” if you’re thinking about taking your summer family vacation to this state that many consider to be a suburb of New York City. However, after spending a few days laughing it up at the Jersey Shore or a week exploring the ins and outs of the rest of New Jersey, your kids may have a different take on the situation. And your summer vacation might have you thinking that this state deserves recognition all its own despite its proximity to the biggest of American cities.

The Jersey Shore

You really shouldn’t take a family vacation to New Jersey without spending at least a day at the Jersey Shore. Not only is it one of the most popular attractions in the state of New Jersey, but it offers all of the family that basically define summer for a kid: amusement park rides, beach activities, and boardwalk goodies. There are several different beaches along the Jersey Shore, such as Long Beach Island and Beach Haven. And if the basic beach and boardwalk fun of this area isn’t enough to make the family feel like they’ve had an exciting summer, a couple of days spent at the Six Flags Great Adventure amusement park and wildlife safari should do the trick.

Watch the Wildlife

The wildlife safari park at Great Adventures isn’t the only spot in the state for checking out some interesting wildlife. In fact, you might be surprised to know just how many opportunities there are to see exotic animals during a vacation in New Jersey. There are at least five zoos, an aquarium, a national wildlife refuge and a whale watching center all located within this small state. More details can be found here.

Day trip to NYC

Okay, so it’s cheating a little bit to think about going to New York City when you have the fun of New Jersey at your fingertips. But it’s an unforgettable place and a day there can supplement the rest of your New Jersey summer vacation. See the city; just don’t neglect the wonders of New Jersey in the process.

Trenton

Of course, New Jersey has cities of its own. The capital of Trenton clearly can’t compete with the glamour and activity of New York City but it shouldn’t be overlooked during a family summer vacation in the state. Check out the Grounds for Sculpture Art Park, a 22-acre activity-filled urban park. Enjoy water activities with the family on the Delaware River. Or go watch a baseball game at Mercer County Waterfront Park. Trenton is also a spot that gives you great access to several state parks so if you’re looking for a home base for your New Jersey vacation, it’s a good one to think about.

Jamesburg

Perhaps it’s not a city that you’re looking to spend the summer in but rather a small town. There are plenty of these throughout New Jersey that you can choose from but Jamesburg stands out because of its friendly air and historic quaintness. If you want a place where you can wind down and let the kids entertain themselves with nature walks, afternoons at the soda shops and reading books in corner parks, Jamesburg is a good place to begin.

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Ideas for Family Summer Vacations in North Dakota with your Kids

Thursday, March 13th, 2008
Ideas for Family Summer Vacations in North Dakota with your Kids

If you’re trying to plan your family summer vacation and you want to go somewhere that you haven’t been before, you might want to think about heading to North Dakota. The state provides for some interesting travel experiences that make for great memories and terrific photos for your kids’ scrapbooks. Here are a few North Dakota trip ideas for your family to consider this summer:

The Enchanted Highway

If you enjoy long drives with your family, this is a great place to go. That’s because it provides enough activity and points of interest along the way to keep the kids from getting bored, letting the whole family get the best out of a North Dakota road trip without the hassles that usually accompany long drives with young children. They’ll be thrilled to see the large metal sculptures that dot over thirty miles of this stretch of The Enchanted Highway. The big metal grasshopper, the deer jumping over a bridge and the tin family reminiscent of The Tin Man from Wizard of Oz are just a few of the sculptures that may dot your family photo album if you make this area a part of your North Dakota vacation. Oh, and the other reason that it’s good for families is that, other than the cost of gas, this attraction is free!

Jamestown

Less mobile families might want to confine their North Dakota vacation to the limited area of one small town. If that’s the case, you might consider Jamestown for your vacation. It is the hometown of westerns author Louis L’Amour, jazz singer Peggy Lee and the rare albino buffalo “White Cloud”. It is also the current home of a huge buffalo sculpture known as “the world’s largest buffalo” which can be found at a visit to the city’s National Buffalo Museum near historic Frontier Village. And you won’t be lacking for summer activities in Jamestown because it’s also home to the Jamestown Reservoir where three lakes come together to provide a spot for swimming, boating and other water adventures.

Native American History

North Dakota is a terrific state for taking a summer family vacation which revolves around Native American history. The Knife River Indian Villages is one historic site that your family may enjoy on this kind of vacation. You can see tipis, learning about the culture of the people of this area and see some beautiful natural landscape all at the same time. Another beautiful spot where such history can be explored is the Abraham Lincoln State Park which includes the On-A-Slant Mandan Village sharing the lives of the Mandan people.� The rich history of the American Indians can be found at various spots like these all throughout the state.

The North Dakota Badlands

Usually when you think about going to The Badlands, you think about a trip to South Dakota. But you can visit the North Dakota Badlands at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Stay in the nearby historic Old West town of Medora, take a scenic drive through the park and enjoy hiking, horseback riding and camping with the family.

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Ideas for Family Summer Vacations in Indiana with your Kids

Thursday, March 13th, 2008
Ideas for Family Summer Vacations in Indiana with your Kids

Indiana is a state that has a variety of experiences to offer so that you can plan your family vacation around the type of travel that best suits you. Perhaps you really want to get away to a simpler life - then you can go visit the Amish country. Or maybe you want to give your kids the chance to go to amusement parks without having to foot the bill to get to Disneyworld. Maybe you’re just seeking a nearby city - such as Indianapolis - where you get some learning fun in that the whole family will enjoy. Whatever the case may be, Indiana probably has something for you.

Experience the Amish

The Amish people live an interesting life - without electricity, technology and other modern conveniences, these people spend their days working hard. The life they live is a simple one in which the emphasis is on family and community. Although we might not want to live without some of our amenities, we certainly do strive to teach our kids that a non-materialistic heart-focused life is a good one to have. Indiana offers the chance to show them what the Amish live like. Amish Acres and Amishville USA are two areas where families are welcome to experience this life. Visiting the farmer’s markets where they sell their goods is another way to get this experience.

Amusement Parks

Teaching the kids about the simple life is great, but your family also probably wants some family-oriented modern adventure during their summer vacation. Indiana has plenty of amusement and water parks to keep you all happy. Indiana Beach is a popular choice, with its roller coasters, kiddie rides, sand beaches and the option to lodge nearby in either hotels or campgrounds. Other amusement parks in Indiana include the Fun Spot Amusement Park & Zoo, Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari and the two top waterparks: Atlantis and Splash Down Dunes.

Explore Indianapolis

This big city offers much to do in the way of family activity, after all, their motto is “so easy to do so much”. The Children’s Museum, The American Super Heroes Museum and the Connor Prairie will also allow for a fun learning experience for the kids. The Indianapolis Zoo will keep the kids occupied for an entire day. And you’ll have to go back to its downtown neighborhood because it’s located in White River State Park which also has baseball games, an IMAX theatre and other activities for the whole family.

Santa Claus

Longing for a little bit of Christmas in July? There won’t be any snow, but the fun of going to a city like Santa Claus might make you feel a little of that exciting holiday energy. You can see the forty-ton concrete Santa Claus statue, go camping at the very family-friendly Lake Rudolph Campground, and get some goodies at the free-to-see Candy Castle.

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Ideas for Family Summer Vacations in Illinois with your Kids

Thursday, March 13th, 2008
Ideas for Family Summer Vacations in Illinois with your Kids

What does the Midwest have to offer in terms of family summer vacations? If you make your way throughout the state of Illinois with your family this year, you’ll come home with more answers to that question than you might have expected. Of course, there’s the unique urban landscape of the metropolis that is Chicago which undeniably offers a lot of activity for you and your kids, but there are also interesting spots all throughout rural Illinois which might surprise you with their fun-filled family activities.

Chicago

A trip to Chicago with your family is an adventure that requires a page all on its own. This city is filled with rich cultural experiences, museums for families of all ages, a magnificent thriving arts scene and many activities that can’t be experienced elsewhere. It’s as urban as urban gets and offers a really unique experience whether your family is from an urban area such as New York or Los Angeles or from a rural area somewhere else in the country. The animals of the Lincoln Park Zoo, the astounding elevator ride and view from Sears Tower, the major league baseball games and the activities of Lake Michigan will all wow your kids and make for an exciting trip for your whole family.

The rest of Northern Illinois

Chicago may be the big attraction for spending time in Northern Illinois, but there is a lot to see and do in the quieter Northwest portion of the state as well. Take the kids hiking amidst the canyons and waterfalls of Starved Rock State Park. Visit Galena, where the historic main street will give the kids a glimpse into nineteenth century lifestyles and the historic sites will make for an education vacation. Take a trip to the Railway Museum in Union, IL. Or see something unique at the annual Sandwich Fair in Sandwich, IL.

West-Central Illinois

Heading south, but not too far south, you’ll find that the center strip of Illinois also has some fun activities for your family. These tend to be more in the area of nature and give the kids a chance to explore Illinois wildlife. A favorite here is the 2000 acre Wildlife Prairie State Park where wolves, cougars and bears can be seen from afar. History can come alive at the many Abraham Lincoln sites that exist in this area. And a day spent at the Amish Villages can give your kids a look at history played out in modern life. If the rural life in the area makes the kids too antsy, you can make a stop at inPlay, an interactive gaming and entertainment center that will make them go wild - and will probably wear them out!

Southern Illinois

Families which are traveling up from the south and only have a little bit of time to spend in the state won’t have to worry that there’s nothing to do because the southern portion of Illinois is also filled with activities. Outdoor activities are in abundance here, with activities along the Ohio River being a favorite of the area. River taxis are good for the more relaxed families while horseback riding and hiking in the area’s state parks are better for more active families. If you’re going to be driving through this part of the state, make sure you brush your kids up on their old Popeye cartoons and then go see the statue located in Chester, IL.

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Ideas for Family Summer Vacations in Georgia with your Kids

Thursday, March 13th, 2008
Ideas for Family Summer Vacations in Georgia with your Kids

What do you envision for your summer vacation? Camping with your kids in a beautiful mountainous area? Adventuring at major theme parks, zoos and aquariums with your family? Or perhaps visiting historic sites and learning about the cultural diversity of an area that is different from where you live? Georgia offers all of these things so that families of all kinds can enjoy a summer vacation in this unique state. Here are just a few of the things that you and your family might enjoy if you take a trip to Georgia:

Animals

There are many different opportunities to spend the summer seeing different animals in Georgia. Zoo Atlanta is well-known for being one of the only zoos to feature an exhibit on Giant Pandas. And that’s not all that the state is known for, they’re about to open a new aquarium, the Georgia Aquarium, which is going to be one of the largest aquariums in the world. There’s already a unique RiverQuarium in the state (in Albany, located in Southern Georgia), a Kangaroo Conservation Center, and a wild animal safari park.

Theme Parks

That wild animal safari park, Wild Adventures, is also a theme park features rides and shows across 170 acres of land. Of course, Georgia is also home to Six Flags Over Georgia and the Six Flags White Water Park. Additional amusement parks located throughout the state include Alpine Amusement Park, American Adventures and Stone Mountain Park, the latter of which is a 3300 acre theme park. Each of these parks offers something different for families spending their summer vacation in Georgia.

History & Culture

There are many different historical sites located throughout Georgia which you might want to share with your family this summer, but there are a few that are likely to be of particular interest. You can head north into the Georgia Mountains to experience the days of the gold rush in Georgia and even pan for gold with your family. A trip to the Georgia coast can take your family to Hog Hammock, where a unique African American community known as the Gullah lives out a traditional lifestyle that can educate your children about diversity. Even just a trip to Savannah is filled with history, since this city was the first city in America to be planned and designed before being constructed. Throughout the state, there is rich colonial and Civil War history to share with your children.

Museums

Of course, you can always head to the museums to experience some of that history in a more modern way. Museums in Georgia that are enjoyed by families visiting the area include Imagine It! (The Children’s Museum of Atlanta), Agirama Historic Village and Museum, Fernbank Science Center and Museum of Natural History (loved by kids for the big dinosaur exhibits), and the several lighthouse museums which dot the Georgia Coast.

Looking towards the future

If you’ve already got your summer vacation planned and Georgia isn’t it, you might want to think about making this state a destination for future vacations with your family. Not only is there clearly a lot to see and do here, but there’s also incentive for families visiting the state. That’s because Georgia is currently trying to encourage tourism in the area and is offering the Georgia Dream Pass which features obligation-free discounts on attractions in the state. Currently, the dream pass has just been launched and is only featuring golf-themed discounts but additional family-oriented discounts are said to be available soon. A great trip at a great price - what could be better?

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Taking a Disney Cruise

Thursday, March 13th, 2008

Are you thinking about taking a Disney cruise with your family?

 

Of course the thought has at least crossed your mind; after all, the kids get the fun of a Disney adventure while you can enjoy the relaxing benefits of a vacation on a cruise line. But you haven’t done it yet. Why? Maybe you think it’s too expensive or you think it’s something you should wait to do when the kids are a little bit older.  Not the case!  Taking a Disney cruise is an affordable option for families with kids of all ages, as long as a little planning goes into place.

 

The Disney cruise is a perfect introduction to cruise travel for families who have never taken a cruise before.

� It is specifically geared towards first-time cruisers and cruisers with kids so it has all of the amenities and on-board assistance that you might need should you have any concerns at all about cruise travel.

� The Disney Cruise line also knows that families are going to be on board and has a variety of activities for all ages so that everyone in the group can have a good time.

 

The Disney Cruise can take you to a number of different destinations so you can select something that’s right for your family.

� Maybe the cruise is a compromise vacation between your husband’s promise to you that he’d take you to the

Bahamas and his promise to the kids that they could do

Disneyland this year.

� A Disney Cruise to the

Bahamas satisfies everyone.

� Other destinations include the Mediterranean and the Mexican Riviera so you can give your family a cultural experience within the safety of the cruise ship.

 

Disney cruises are available for a range of different lengths of time so that your family can travel within the amount of time that you have available.

� Maybe you just have a long weekend and want to take a quick three-day cruise or perhaps you need to get the kids out of the house for an extended vacation over summer break and a ten-day cruise is more along the lines of what you had in mind

.� The Disney cruise offers packages at both ends of the spectrum to make sure your family travels for as long (or not) as need be.

 

Speaking of packages, Disney knows that kids are expensive and so there are regularly-offered deals for well-priced travel packages on the Disney cruise lines.

� You can find the deals yourself through the website, signing up in advance for notification of special offers, or you can work with a travel agent who specializes in Disney travel to get the best price on your cruise.

� A Disney cruise is certainly a luxury but it doesn’t have to cost like one!

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Tips For Inexpensive Family Travel Fun - Take a Trip with Your Kids on a Budget

Thursday, March 13th, 2008

Tips For Inexpensive Family Travel Fun - Take a Trip with Your Kids on a Budget

 

Family travel is an important part of a child’s growing-up experiences but it can often be the thing that puts the parents’ bank account in the red. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be that way.

 

You can have fun trips with your family on a regular basis without spending a fortune by sticking to a few simple travel tips that minimize your costs.

 

  • Think about your mode of travel.
    • � If you’ve got seven kids and an SUV, it might be most cost-effective to load them up and then go somewhere that isn’t too harsh on the gas mileage.
    • � If you’ve got one teenager who can listen to an mp3 player for hours on end, you might think about the cheap seats on a bus or train to get you to your travel destination.
  • Stick close to home.
    • � People think about going on vacation and they automatically think about the big destinations, be it Disneyland or Hawaiian beaches.
    • � However, there are plenty of unexplored towns in your own backyard which can make for inexpensive travel destinations.
    • � Exploring a new place as a family can be an adventure and it’s really exciting to find out what adventures are within a day’s driving distance from your home
    • � It makes home that much more interesting!
  • Sleep cheap.
    • � Hotels are one of the biggest expenditures for family travel so do what you can to find inexpensive places to stay.
    • � Travel to destinations where you have friends or family that would be happy to put you up for a night.
    • � Do some Internet research on kid-friendly hotels where children under a certain age can stay for free.
    • � Or consider camping out in the family tent.
  • Eat light.
    • � Food is the other big expenditure on family travel that can cause the budget to go into bank-breaking levels.
    • � Eating out at restaurants and fast food places can get pricey if you’re doing it three times a day just because you’re on vacation.
    • � Stop at the grocery store as soon as you’ve arrived at your travel location to reduce the food costs of your family travel.
  • Do free stuff wherever you go.
    • � Vacations tend to involve a lot of time spent finding stuff to do.
    • � That can mean spending money, but it doesn’t have to mean that at all.
    • � Check local newspapers and tourist websites to find the free events and low-admission locations in every city.
    • � There’s plenty of stuff to do in every destination and you don’t have to pay big bucks to do it.
  • Plan ahead for the bigger trips.
    • � Okay, so usually you do the close-to-home vacations but you do want your kids to see Mickey Mouse or Honolulu before they grow up.
    • � That’s fine; just know that you can do it a lot cheaper if you plan in advance.
    • � Look for deals, save up your frequent flier miles, and travel in the off-season to avoid spending much money on those bigger trips.

 

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Last Minute Family Trips - Ideas for You and Your Kids to Take Last Minute Vacations

Thursday, March 13th, 2008

You and Your Kids Should Take that Last Minute Family Trips - Ideas for Last Minute Family Trips 

You didn’t think that you were going to be able to take a vacation with the kids this year but then something changed and now you’re ready to take off at the last minute on a family trip.

 

� Maybe you got a bonus at the job that gives you the extra spending money or perhaps you just admitted to yourself that another week home alone with the kids on their summer vacation would drive you batty.

 

� Whatever the case, you’re ready to go somewhere with the whole brood but you don’t have a lot of time to do your trip planning.

 

� What do you need to think about in the days before you take off?

� First off, consider where you can realistically go on vacation given your budget and your family dynamics. � Yes, it’s tempting to just hop on a plane and go to

Disneyland because you know that the kids will have fun there, but is that the best use of your spontaneous vacation time?

 

� Usually, if you’re doing a trip last minute, it ends up costing you some bucks, so it’s a better idea to stick close to home and to avoid major tourist destinations which take advantage of the last minute family in terms of cost.

 

� Besides, your teens might actually be happier doing some shopping at a new mall in a nearby town or seeing a concert during a family trip than putting on the Mickey Mouse ears.

� You should also think about who you want to see on your vacation. � Last minute trips can be really stressful and you don’t want to add to that by agreeing to visit relatives that you don’t actually enjoy spending time with. � Save the big family vacation for a planned reunion and take advantage of your spontaneous urge to travel by enjoying a new destination with your immediate family. � Alternatively, maybe you just need a break from the day-to-day grind with the kids and heading to Grandma’s house can give you that much needed break. � Think about why you decided to go on vacation with your family and who you want to see to realize that reason. � Finally, don’t sacrifice safety for spontaneity. � One of the biggest mistakes that families make when they take last minute vacations is that they get so enmeshed in the details of pulling off a last minute trip that they forget to take care of important things that need to be taken care of to keep the kids safe. � If you’re traveling by car, this means taking that extra day at home to make sure the maintenance on the car has been done. � If you’re going to a foreign destination, this means double-checking that your kids’ vaccinations are all in place. � Sure, it’s nice to be spontaneous with your family but not at the cost of being unsafe. � Last minute family trips can provide some of the most memorable vacation experiences that you’re family will ever have. � Your kids will say one day, years after the trip, “hey, remember that time that we decided to go explore that little town in the northern part of the state?” � Or you’ll be visiting Grandma and she’ll reminisce about that great long weekend when you unexpectedly turned up with the kids. � Just make sure that you put your important items in order before you leave even if you’re taking off mostly on a whim.

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