15th St Vacations With Your Kids: Family Travel to 15th St: Articles, Tips, & Guides to 15th St

<%@LANGUAGE="JAVASCRIPT" CODEPAGE="1252"%> 15th St Vacations With Your Kids: Family Travel to 15th St: Articles, Tips, & Guides to 15th St


	ARTICLES AND TIPS ABOUT 15TH ST: Family Vacations and Trips to 15th St with Your Kids INVITING A FRIEND ALONG - Abbey Allen had never been on a plane or even out of New England. But the suburban Boston teen didn't hesitate a minute when her friend's family invited her to Mexico. SECRET SERENGETI - Secret Serengeti Allen Bechky Safaris reveal rarely seen side of Africa ALTEA, THE DOME OF THE MEDITERRANEAN - As you approach Altea, Alicante either from the south coming from Benidorm or from the north from Calpe or Denia, the blue mosaic domes of the church are its landmark telling you that you have arrived at one of the most beautifully landscaped tourist area ( LA JOLLA, THE "JEWEL" VACATION - Boasting some of California's most beautiful terrain and attractions, La Jolla (pronounced la hoya) is also the home of exquisite arts, restaurants, activities, and shopping. Just a short drive north of San Diego, you won't need a passport to visit this ( NIAGARA FALLS--WORTH THE TRIP? - For years Niagara Falls has been one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States and Canada. Visitors from abroad and North America cannot seem to shake their desire to visit this dramatic aquatic spectacle. ( MONACO PRINCE TAKES POLE POSITION - Less than a year after succeeding to the throne, Prince Albert of Monaco is swapping the luxury of his palace for the wilds of the North Pole to highlight global warming. ( BRUGES HOTEL GUIDE - Bruges is the capital of West Flanders, which is a region of Belgium. The city has been nicknamed "the Venice of the north" due to the many waterways that cross through the city. Bruges is a historic city and has been a world heritage site since the year ( CABIN RENTALS SMOKY MOUNTAINS - TOP 3 CABIN RENTAL DESTINATIONS - Cabin rentals Smoky Mountains can be found in either Tennessee or North Carolina. For cabin rentals Smoky Mountains, the busiest months are the summer months as visitors enjoy the cooler mountain air and all that the Smokies area has to offer. ( THE SPANISH REGION OF CATALONIA - A look at Catalonia or Catalunya, the autonomous region in north east Spain. Including it's four provinces - Girona in the north, Barcelona to the east, in the south Tarragona and landlocked Lleida in the western part of the region. ( TAKING A PADDLEBOAT CRUISE - Mary Hanna chronicles her cruise on the Paddleboat Empress of the North. The itinerary of the cruise is the same as that of Lewis and Clarke's expedition on the Columbia, Snake and Willamette Rivers. ( MONACO ROYAL TAKES POLE POSITION - Less than a year after succeeding to the throne, Prince Albert of Monaco is swapping the luxury of his palace for the wilds of the North Pole to highlight global warming. ( GREECE VACATION IN MOLYVOS - Greece vacation in Molyvos, a stylish city in the north part of Lesbos with its panoramic view, its Castle, its beautiful restaurants and bars. WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF NORTH KOREA? - Find out who the president is and other facts and information on North Korea. CHIANG MAI, THAILAND - A BEGINNER'S GUIDE - An overview of Chaing Mai, written as an introduction for people wishing to learn more about this rich and vibrant capital of the North of Thailand. BILTMORE ESTATE IN NORTH CAROLINA - The Biltmore Estate was once the largest private residence in the U.S. This 250-room chateau situated on 125,000 acres in the Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina is now a popular travel destination. BILTMORE ESTATE IN NORTH CAROLINA - The Biltmore Estate was once the largest private residence in the U.S. This 250-room chateau situated on 125,000 acres in the Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina is now a popular travel destination. WINDOW ROCK, ARIZONA - Window Rock is in the heart of the Navajo Nation. If you plan a visit to Arizona you'll want to pass through and spend a day in this area. DESTINATIONS AND ATTRACTIONS: DEATH VALLEY INFORMATION - Information on Death Valley, the hottest and driest place in North America. Ideas for vacation plans, including sights. NORTH AMERICAN SIGHTS: MCCORD MUSEUM OF CANADIAN HISTORY - Located in downtown Montreal, the historical collection began in 1921 with the personal collected by David McCord. VISIT HISTORIC NORTH VANCOUVER - When visiting Vancouver BC you must take the short jaunt over the bridge to visit Historic North Vancouver. This city is Rich in History. TOURIST TIPS: LEADVILLE, COLORADO - In the Rockies, North America's highest incorporated town. The town features historic buildings and an impressive mining museum. DESTINATIONS AND ATTRACTIONS: TRAVEL GUIDE FOR HABERSHAM COUNTY, GEORGIA - A brief overview of Habersham County, Georgia, including its two colleges, North Georgia Technical Institute and Piedmont College, including sights and activities. LUMPKIN COUNTY, GEORGIA - An overview of Lumpkin County, Georgia. Includes festivals, North Georgia College, and other points of interest for visitors. THE YORKSHIRE VILLAGE OF FEWSTON - The resevoir North of Yorkshire Village at Fewston is a hidden place in the countryside. This gem is six miles west of Harrogate. CATHEDRAL ROCK AT MOUNT CHARLESTON - Mount Charleston is located 45 minutes from Las Vegas. This cooler, wooded retreat offers picnicking facilities and hiking trails. Water and bathrooms are provided. EL MORRO NATIONAL MONUMENT, NEW MEXICO - At El Morro National Monument you will find the fame Inscription Rock with names of dates of travelers dating back to 1605. ACOMA PUEBLO IN NEW MEXICO - Acoma Pueblo is on top of a high mesa, and has been home to the Acoma Indians since the 1200's, and is one of oldest continuously occupied locations in North America. KURE BEACH, NORTH CAROLINA - Kure Beach, North Carolina; a quiet, family oriented spot for a vacation, where the emphasis is on surf, sand, and seafood? NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF ART IN RALEIGH - If you find yourself in Raleigh, North Carolina, then a trip to the Museum of Art is a must! ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME IN CLEVELAND - The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. If you haven't been to Cleveland in the past 10 years, You're missing out on a lot. TOURIST GUIDE: MUSEUMS OF NORTH EAST OHIO - NE Ohio offers a listing of museums like the University Circle, Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, Metropark Zoo, Great Lakes Science Center, Bridge of Fire, Omnimax Theater. SOUTH CAROLINA: NORTH ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE ON WINYAH BAY - The North Island Lighthouse on Winyah Bay is twelve miles from Georgetown, South Carolina. It was established in 1795 and known as the Georgetown Lighthouse. VISITING ROCK CITY AT LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, TENNESSEE - Visit the area of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee. The first stop, Rock City. MOUNTAIN BIKING TRAILS IN UTAH - Utah has been a favorite spot for seasoned mountain bikers for years. If you're an avid biker, you won't want to miss out on some of the most scenic, challenging rides in North America. MERRILL, WISCONSIN - When you want to run away somewhere quiet and escape the hustle and bustle, head to Merrill, Wisconsin, a small city of 10,000 located in north central Wisconsin, on the northern end of farm country and the lower edge of the great Wisconsin northwoods. THE YORKSHIRE VILLAGE OF FEWSTON - The resevoir North of Yorkshire Village at Fewston is a hidden place in the countryside. This gem is six miles west of Harrogate. EL MORRO NATIONAL MONUMENT, NEW MEXICO - At El Morro National Monument you will find the fame Inscription Rock with names of dates of travelers dating back to 1605. ACOMA PUEBLO IN NEW MEXICO - Acoma Pueblo is on top of a high mesa, and has been home to the Acoma Indians since the 1200's, and is one of oldest continuously occupied locations in North America. TOURIST GUIDE: MUSEUMS OF NORTH EAST OHIO - NE Ohio offers a listing of museums like the University Circle, Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, Metropark Zoo, Great Lakes Science Center, Bridge of Fire, Omnimax Theater. VISITING ROCK CITY AT LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, TENNESSEE - Visit the area of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee. The first stop, Rock City. ROTORUA, NEW ZEALAND TOURISM - Rotorua New Zealand is popular sight for tourism. Situated in the North Island of New Zealand and famous for its geothermal activity it is now one of that country's most popular destinations. L'ANSE AUX MEADOWS: ANCIENT VIKING SETTLEMENT - L'Anse Aux Meadows, in Newfoundland, Canada, is the first North American Viking settlement. Dr. Helge Ingstad proved Norsemen sailed to America 500 years before Columbus. L'ANSE AUX MEADOWS: ANCIENT VIKING SETTLEMENT - L'Anse Aux Meadows, in Newfoundland, Canada, is the first North American Viking settlement. Dr. Helge Ingstad proved Norsemen sailed to America 500 years before Columbus. A ROARING GOOD TIME AT DISNEY WORLD'S ANIMAL KINGDOM - ORLANDO -- The big rock didn't look like much. OCEAN EDGE, CAPE COD OFFERS SUMMER PLEASURE YEAR-ROUND - I can really see how after spending a week at Ocean Edge, on Cape Cod Bay, you could come away saying "I feel like a new person." You feel the beginning of the metamorphosis take hold as you settle into the soft sand and watch as the tide slips away, exposing the rippled pattern in the smooth sand it leaves behind. The tidal pools become a source of endless delight over the simplest things: a patch of seagrass, a small sand crab, a tiny fish-the beginning of the ecological chain of life-a speckled rock, a perfectly formed delicate shell that has not yet cracked or chipped in any way. NAPLES, FLORIDA, IS AT NEXUS OF NATURE AND CULTURE - Coming in to Naples, on Florida's western coast, from the Palm Beach area on the east coast (it is an easy 2 ½ hour drive, much of it along the incredible "Alligator Alley"-Interstate 75), we veered off at Route 29 North to make our way to the NORTH QUEENSLAND - An article about taking a family vacation with your kids to North Queensland. NORTH QUEENSLAND TOURS - An article about taking a family vacation with your kids on North Queensland Tours. NSW NORTH COAST - An article about taking a family vacation with your kids to NSW North Coast. SAN DIEGO WILD ANIMAL PARK: TRAVEL BRIEF - If you're looking for an outing that's both fun and educational, the San Diego Wild Animal Park might be the right choice for your family. The San Diego Wild Animal Park is a unique adventure -- a zoo unlike traditional zoos -- in which animals roam in entire herds and flocks, in enclosures measured in acres rather than feet. It is a facility designed first for the animals, and second for the people who come to observe them. Herds of elephants, giraffes, rhinos, and antelope are among the hundreds of animals you can see roaming the scenic rolling landscape of East and North Africa, the Asian plains, an Asian waterhole, South Africa, and the Mongolian steppe. GRAND COULEE DAM: TRAVEL BRIEF - If you're looking for a vacation full of nature, science, and history, the Grand Coulee Dam might be the right destination for you. The dam was created in 1933 as the greatest engineering endeavor of its time. In addition to recreation, the dam provides hydropower, flood control, and irrigation, and houses fish and wildlife. The area offers numerous year-round outdoor activities in the dam's surrounding lakes, forests, and rock formations. DINOSAUR STATE PARK: TRAVEL BRIEF - If you're looking for an outing that's both fun and educational, Dinosaur State Park might be the right choice for your family. This park is one of the largest dinosaur track sites in North America. Beneath its geodesic dome is an exceptional display of early Jurassic fossil tracks that were made 200 million years ago. Surrounding the Exhibit Center are more than two miles of nature trails and the Dinosaur State Park Arboretum, containing more than 250 species and cultivars of conifers, as well as katsuras, ginkgoes, magnolias, and other living representatives of plant families that appeared in the Age of Dinosaurs. BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK: TRAVEL BRIEF - National parks and national preserves boast some of the most beautiful land in the country, and Big Bend National Park is no exception. The park, which covers more than 801,000 acres of west Texas, is a land of borders. Situated on the boundary with Mexico along the Rio Grande, it is a place where countries and cultures meet. It is also a place that merges natural environments, from desert to mountains. It is a place where south meets north and east meets west, creating a great diversity of plants and animals. CEDARBURG, WIS. - German and Irish immigrants who first settled in Cedarburg during the 1840s built five dams and mills to take advantage of the fast-running creek that cuts through the cedar trees and stone-strewn fields 20 miles north of Milwaukee. The refurbished mills, saved from the wrecking ball in the 1970s, attracted artists and crafters. SITES THAT SHAPED OHIO HISTORY - Before canals and railroads brought prosperity to the Maumee Valley of northwest Ohio, newly arrived frontiersmen fought Native Americans and the British for control of the valley. In 1794, U.S. General "Mad" Anthony Wayne built Fort Defiance at the junction of the Maumee and Auglaize rivers in what's now downtown Defiance. Inside a dark earthen outline of the fort, a granite boulder remains to mark the flagstaff pointing travelers north. THE SURPRISING BLACK HILLS OF SOUTH DAKOTA - From the rocky perch atop Buzzard's Roost, Spearfish Canyon looks like my private oasis. I'd hiked for almost an hour along the steepest of the three trails from Spearfish Canyon Lodge into the Black Hills, through forests redolent of fern and birch, having no idea that such a dramatic vista would be my reward. If I had any breath left, this view would take it away. A thousand feet below me lies the bed of the canyon, waterfalls coursing down its limestone walls, against an expansive backdrop of Black Hills extending as far as my eyes can see. Less than 50 miles north of Mount Rushmore, I feel as if I'm worlds removed from the bustle of crowds. But I soon realize that such enthrallment isn't mine alone. I spot a plaque commemorating an earlier visitor: "How is it that I've . . . heard so much about the Grand Canyon," asked architect Frank Lloyd Wright, "when this is even more miraculous?" LOVE OF MIDWEST LAKES - Dancing waves emerge amid fields of corn on the central Illinois prairie. You might think you see a mirage, considering Carlyle Lake was farmland just 30 years ago, before the Corps of Engineers created this huge reservoir (50 miles east of St. Louis). The 18-by-5 mile lake, surrounded by public lands, draws mariners and landlubbers alike. Sun-drenched swimming beaches and marinas where you can rent pontoons or houseboats join forested nature trails to make this one of the state's best-kept-secrets. Bird-watching ranks high on Karen Sandheinrich's to-do list. The resident of Belleville, Illinois, just east of St. Louis sets up camp along the shore with her family at least six times a year. "There's a hummingbird!" Karen exclaims, making a quick grab for her binoculars. She's also spotted great egrets and blue herons. You can rent cozy, modern cottages along the water or stay in brand-new hotel rooms and cottages at Mariner's Village Resort. Whichever accommodations you choose, you almost always get a view of rainbow-colored sailboats bobbing on the lake. The wide-open water, prairie landscape and strong winds make Carlyle excellent for sailing. In fact the only time you may find a crowd is on sunny summer Sundays, when spectators line the shore to watch sailing regattas, some of them Olympic-sanctioned events. Anglers fish for bass, bluegill and channel catfish on the open water or below Carlyle Lake Dam at the south end of the lake. Strollers and bicyclists like to venture across the top of the dam. Just west, you can grab a bite in the county-seat town of Carlyle or golf at Governor's Run, a 36-hole course north of town. But soon, lake breezes that feel almost tropical call you back to the shore. CEDARBURG, WIS. - German and Irish immigrants who first settled in Cedarburg during the 1840s built five dams and mills to take advantage of the fast-running creek that cuts through the cedar trees and stone-strewn fields 20 miles north of Milwaukee. The refurbished mills, saved from the wrecking ball in the 1970s, attracted artists and crafters. MEMPHIS, TN - Yes, Elvis is still alive in this proud southern city. You can't go anywhere around town without seeing -- or hearing -- the King. (He has even appeared in concert here, albeit posthumously on video.) From Graceland to hotels and restaurants that bear his name, expect to eat and breathe Elvis in Memphis -- the "Birthplace of Rock and Roll" (and home of the blues, too). LOESS HILLS, IOWA - The Loess Hills, which the wind sculpted from silt deposits as glaciers retreated eons ago, dominate a narrow section of western Iowa in the Big Sioux and Missouri River valleys. The region stretches from Akron (about 25 miles north of Sioux City) south through the Council Bluffs area to Hamburg, just north of the Missouri state line. While the silty loess (pronounced "luss") soil is common, it's accumulated in such proportions in only a few places (Germany, China and Iowa). WISCONSIN ETHNIC SETTLEMENT TRAIL - The Ethnic Settlement Trail is a 200-mile corridor that passes through 14 counties along the Lake Michigan shore from Racine and Kenosha counties in the south to Marinette and Door counties in the north. BRODIE CASTLE - Brodie castle is situated in parkland in an area near Forres in the North of Scotland which is approximately 24 miles North East of Inverness. The castle has a long and dramatic history (as most of Scotland's castles have) and is presently owned and managed by the National Trust for Scotland. THE TREKKING REGIONS OF GARHWAL AND KUMAON - Garhwal and Kumaon together constitute what is known as Uttarakhand. This is a high mountain region in northern Uttar Pradesh from where the sacred Ganga River originates, draining into the fertile Indo Gangetic plains of North India. Of the two, Garhwal is the western region of Uttarakhand and Kumaon is its PRINCE RUPERT - THE NORTHWEST CONNECTION - Prince Rupert is located on Kaien Island at the mouth of the Skeena River on British Columbia's north coast. It is situated 920km (550 miles) north of Vancouver and 65km (40 miles) south of southeast Alaska. Prince Rupert is best known as Canada's marine gateway to Asia and is the second HOLLYWOOD NORTH: TORONTO GLITTERS AT THE 28TH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL - These days there is more buzzing in Toronto then the latest West-Nile scare. After a year of SARS scares, West Nile fears and even a tainted meat scandal, Toronto will play host to more than 396 films from around the world in the 28th annual International Film Festival. NORTH AMERICAN AIRLINE DIRECTORY - In an effort to help users find airline's websites to make online reservations, I have created this directory of all the major airlines in North America. THE RHINE RIVER.GATEWAY TO GERMANY'S SOUL - Originating in the snowy peaks of the Swiss Alps (near Andermatt), the Rhine river is alternately a trickling brook, a raging stream, a breathtaking waterfall, and a last but not least a majestic river. It finally joins with the waters of the North Sea.In 53 B.C. it refused to easily yield A TIP FOR A TRIP - In the north of Slovakia there is the smallest region of my country, where I was born, called Kysuce. The center of this region is the city Cadca, 34 km north of Zilina. It is situated at the boundary of the highlands Turzovska vrchovina, Javorniky, Kysucka vrchovina and Kysucke Beskydy. The GUADELOUPE - A LITTLE-KNOWN CARIBBEAN ESCAPE - Karukera - the Island of Beautiful Waters - Martinique's laid-back sister - whatever you call it, Guadeloupe is one of the Caribbean's best kept secrets. Located just 65 miles south of Antigua and 73 miles north of Dominica, Guadeloupe offers a unique combination of French cuisine and atmosphere as well as A IS FOR ARTS IN THE ADIRONDACKS - Summer is almost here, and it is time for the explosion of arts related events throughout the Adirondacks. Art shows, workshops, theatre performances, music and opera abound in many parts of the Adirondacks as summer visitors make their way north to enjoy the scenery and the beauty that our area holds. PLAINFIELD, OUR TOWN - Hoosier Hannah takes us on a tour of Plainfield, her home town in Hendricks Country, Indiana. Once home to the Miami, Potawatomi, Shawnee, and Delaware tribes, we see how Quakers moved in from North Carolina to settle and farm in the area. We see the traditional Old Settlers Picnic, the Keeley ODE TO NOCTOBER - For the last few years now, it seems like what used to be the season in September is far more like what August used to be, and October more like a wetter and brusque September. What I used to yearn for in October on the North Shore of Massachusetts, I now DINOSAURS' VEGETATION FEEDS TODAY'S FUEL APPETITE - Imagine 65 million years ago. Western North Dakota is part of a lowland area lying between the emerging Rocky Mountains to the west and an interior seaway to the east. Visualize walking through woods and swamps and past ponds and watching crocodiles, birds, snails, lizards, turtles, and dinosaurs. Species such as FLORAL GARDENS COMMEMORATE PEACE - I'm driving north on Highway #3 from the geographical center of North America at Rugby, North Dakota through a prairie pot hole landscape of ponds amid grain fields and pastures. About 25 miles from Rugby, just beyond Dunseith, the road climbs and I'm looking at wooded hills known as the Turtle GREAT SCIENCE, GREAT ART = GREAT TIMES - From the outside, The Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland is a little deceptive. The physical structure is almost dwarfed by the new Cleveland Browns Stadium, and a bit outclassed by the snazzy Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Inside, however, it always offers big fun.A recent trip to see the HAVE A SIDE OF BEANS - You probably know that Honda, the first Japanese automaker to make cars in the United States, opened its first U.S. plant in central Ohio. (Since then, the company has added plants in Alabama and North and South Carolina, as well.) But did you know the Marysville plant exports soybeans--to Japan? To THE NEW ICE AGE? - The Great White North offers numerous natural wonders to behold. One that never fails to mesmerize is a glacier. There are 100,000 of these ice monoliths dotting the Alaskan landscape. While some are advancing, others recede; often up a steep slope, or over a mountain pass. They are a sight difficult SOUTHERN ROCK WITH A MESSAGE - Webster's Creed. "A brief statement of religious belief; confession of faith, a specific statement of this kind, accepted as authoritative by a church, a statement of belief, principles, or opinions on any subject, the Creed, the Apostles' Creed." THE NORTH CAROLINA ESTUARIUM - The town of Washington is located on the Pamlico River deep within the heart of eastern North Carolina. The Pamlico River is part of a unique ecosystem called an estuary. Located within Washington and on the banks of the Pamlico River is the North Carolina Estuarium. The North [nce.jpg]Carolina Estuarium exists PADDLING NORTH CAROLINA'S NEW RIVER: PART II - Part I of this series was published in March of 2005. In Part II, I describe some of the details from our time on the New River in August of 1993. A BULL ISLAND ADVENTURE - The coast of North and South Carolina is unique in that it is dotted with numerous barrier islands. Some of these islands have become tourist havens for vacationing visitors looking to escape for days or weeks of fun in the sun. Other Carolina barrier islands have been reserved by the government PADDLING NORTH CAROLINA'S NEW RIVER: PART I - If you are looking for fun, adventure, good exercise, relaxation, and beautiful scenery all rolled into a single experience, you might want to try a canoe trip on the North Carolina section of the New River. Most famous for its exhilarating white water further north in West Virginia, the North Carolina KICK BACK, COOL OFF, AND ENJOY DILLSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - It's hot in the Southeastern U. S. I know what they say about it not being the heat, but the humidity, but I maintain that it's the heat AND the humidity. In the South, July and August are sweltering, the kind of heat that makes your clothes stick to you seconds PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES SQUARE OFF IN LONE DEBATE - The two candidates in Peru's June presidential election met in their one and only debate last Saturday. The debate was televised live from the Marriott Hotel in Lima. North American viewers were able to watch it live on Canal Sur and CNN Espanol. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES SQUARE OFF IN LONE DEBATE - The two candidates in Peru's June presidential election met in their one and only debate last Saturday. The debate was televised live from the Marriott Hotel in Lima. North American viewers were able to watch it live on Canal Sur and CNN Espanol. SF ON LOCATION - Robin Williams housekeeping a Pacific Heights mansion in grandmotherly drag; Clint Eastwood chipping away at the Rock; Steve McQueen ripping his Mustang around Russian Hill like he owned the joint. SF ON LOCATION - Robin Williams housekeeping a Pacific Heights mansion in grandmotherly drag; Clint Eastwood chipping away at the Rock; Steve McQueen ripping his Mustang around Russian Hill like he owned the joint. CHILDREN & FAMILIES - Children & Families Parents who can choose where to send their children to school become more involved in their children's education... A recent study of a nationally known effort in North Carolina to improve services for young children finds that parents are not always seen as equal partners... etc. IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILDREN... - In the Best Interest of the Children... A new legal term is creating debate across North America: the "rebuttable presumption of joint custody." It means family courts should presume that divorcing parents will equally share the legal and physical custody of children unless there is compelling reason to rule otherwise. GOING TO EXTREMES - Going to Extremes The issue of fathers' rights in the U.K. may be entering a more violent phase. If so, this should act as a cautionary tale for North America. IN DEFENSE OF 'DEADBEAT' DADS - In Defense of 'Deadbeat' Dads It is time for the prison release of impoverished deadbeat dads to become official policy in every corner of North America. CUBA -- A DRY RUN - Cuba -- A Dry Run North of Havana is a fantasy world of mangrove-lined cays and green water flashing with tropical fish---perfect sea-kayaking country. But the line between what's permissible and what's not in Castro's kingdom falls in a gray area, and comings and goings by water always mean trouble. WHERE THE BULLS RUN AMOK - Where The Bulls Run Amok Traveling the Badlands in North Dakota's Theodore Roosevelt National Park... NORTHERN EXPOSURE - Northern Exposure Whether your idea of a good time is skiing, shopping or lounging in front of a fire, North Conway is a winter wonderland THIS CANYON ROCKS - This Canyon Rocks Savvy out-of-towners make a point to escape the fetid air of the casinos and the convention halls by touring the Red Rock Canyon, a swath of craggy sandstone just 10 miles west of the flashing neon Vegas strip. PITY POOR FARGO - Pity Poor Fargo North Dakota's largest city is more than a movie... ON WALKABOUT IN AUSTRALIA'S WILD EDEN - On Walkabout in Australia's Wild Eden Kakadu is Australia's largest---and most famous---national park. Kakadu includes one of the finest and most extensive collections of rock art and embraces some spectacular scenery. MY ICELAND OBSESSION - My Iceland Obsession Only on this remote North Atlantic island do you find such glorious quirks as tolting ponies and entire villages of sleep-deprived puffin chasers... THE MYSTIQUE OF MOROCCO - The Mystique Of Morocco Stimulating, mystical and steeped in ancient history and Islamic culture, the North African nation of Morocco tantalizes all who visit its wonders. TOP 10: NORTH AMERICAN SCENIC DRIVES - Top 10: North American Scenic Drives Each route that made the list winds through spectacular scenery; beyond that, they share little in common. ASK THE PILOT - Ask the pilot Why are pilots so scruffy? What happened to the mile-high hanky-panky of yesteryear? Plus: More entries for the rock 'n' roll jetliner hall of fame. AN ADVENTURER'S GUIDE TO NEW ZEALAND - An Adventurer's Guide To New Zealand For the nature lover, thrill seeker or energetic adventurer, there is simply no place on Earth that can rival New Zealand. Offering the world's geography in one compact country, this group of islands boasts an incredible number of world-class spots to ski, sail, rock climb and scuba-dive. EXPLORE THE JOIE DE VIVRE OF MONTREAL - Explore The Joie De Vivre Of Montreal Thanks to legendary festivals, a wild nightlife and a cosmopolitan atmosphere, this Canadian island city has emerged as one of the world's most exciting. With its French predominance and Old World charm, it offers a taste of Europe on North America's East Coast. AIRLINES JUMP ON - Airlines Jump on Just one week after United announced its "Fly 3, Get 1 Free" summer promotion targeting business travelers, every major North American airline has come out with its own, remarkably similar, promotion. ST. PETERSBURG: WINTER WONDER - St. Petersburg: Winter Wonder Snowy weather becomes "the Venice of the North" -- especially as it marks its 300th birthday DUENDE VISTA - Duende Vista Every year, I wander to Mexico in search of crashing waves, cilantro-tinged ceviche, and people whose first priority is to play. Last January, I found all three 45 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta in Sayulita, a sleepy fishing village slowly being swallowed up by yoga retreats and surf camps. AEROPLAN ANNOUNCES ELITE-LEVEL CHANGES - Aeroplan Announces Elite-Level Changes Changes to Air Canada's Aeroplan elite program, announced in 2004, let members choose from an assortment of benefits "packages" to best complement their travel habits, whether they are North American, transpacific, or transatlantic flyers. ADVENTURE NEVER FELT SO GOOD - Adventure Never Felt So Good Ten North American spas that will recharge your mind, body, and soul THE VENICE OF THE NORTH - The Venice of the North Scenic Pender Harbour, British Columbia is a classic destination HIKING JACK KEROUAC'S NORTH CASCADES - Hiking Jack Kerouac's North Cascades Jack Kerouac's dream of a "rucksack revolution" still seems possible in the remote wilderness surrounding Washington's Desolation Peak. FLOATING GEORGIA O'KEEFFE'S RED ROCK WEST - Floating Georgia O'Keeffe's Red Rock West One of New Mexico's best rafting trips--the three-day journey down the Rio Chama--begins atop a high plateau, in dense forest. RED ROCK COUNTRY - Red Rock Country Gorgeous red sandstone adorns much of the West, but arguably, none is as magnificent as that in Sedona, Arizona. The varying topography, temperate climate and captivating scenery make the Sedona area a haven for outdoor activity. THE ENSENADA EXPERIENCE - The Ensenada Experience Ensenada is more than margaritas and mariachis -- savvy boaters can find a month's worth of exciting land-based adventures, excursions and side trips just north and south of town. A MIDWEST GLACIAL RETREAT - A Midwest Glacial Retreat Giant potholes carved by glacial melt during the last ice age, basalt flows from the mid-continental rift and deep chasms from glaciers offer a great lesson in geology during a hike, rock-climb or canoe trip in Minnesota and Wisconsin Interstate State Parks. NORTH SEA FLYER - North Sea Flyer We drive the stylish, sleek and swift new Fairline Targa 62 yacht from Holland to England. TOP 10: BACHELOR PARTY DESTINATIONS - Top 10: Bachelor Party Destinations Every destination below is in close enough proximity to head there for a weekend (well, at least for North American residents). This means you can plan a 2- or 3-day escapade and won't need to take time off from work. PRIVATE SPACE TRAVEL: WE MAY HAVE LIFTOFF - Private Space Travel: We May Have Liftoff If all goes well on June 21, the world's first private space plane will have shot 62 miles up into space before gliding back to land at the Mojave airport north of Los Angeles, launching a new revolution in space tourism. SPORTSMAN'S HOLIDAY - Sportsman's Holiday The Pearson True North 33 is a great platform for a Bahamian fishing adventure. FIND YOUR FLOW - Find Your Flow We've zeroed in on the best blue-ribbon river trips in North America--from remote rapids to meandering flatwater--for getting wet, wild, and recharged. Also recommended gear. ROYAL BC MUSEUM CELEBRATES ETERNAL EGYPT - Royal BC Museum Celebrates Eternal Egypt Highlights of the North American tour from the the British Museum's Egyptian collection: Standing Statue of Sesostris III... Head of Amenhotep III... Lion of Amenhotep III Reinscribed for Tutankhamun... Mummy Mask of Satdjehuty... etc. ROVING OREGON'S DUNES - Roving Oregon's Dunes Oregon Dunes is the largest coastal dune system in North America and visitors often see dune-buggies, rather than rovers, wandering the landscape that looks as alien as the scenes from Mars. ALASKA SPEAKS - Alaska Speaks The author takes a trip to Alask and brings back some recipes from the North: Gravlox... Smoked Alaskan Salmon Chowder... SUMMER'S LAST STAND - Summer's Last Stand Four luxurious north-woods hideaways where you can chill into fall. THE RIVER WILDER - The River Wilder A Thoreauvian river trip through Maine's North Woods. LIVING IT UP IN ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA - Living it up in Asheville, North Carolina If you're tempted by stunning mountains, awesome river access, and a lifestyle that mixes play into each day, then be warned: These photos may move you to relocate. A LITTLE BIT OF SWEDEN IN LINDSBORG, KANSAS - A Little Bit of Sweden in Lindsborg, Kansas Whether you are crossing the country going East-West on 70 or North-South on 135, this little Swedish town is really worth a stop -- for a meal, a day, or a week-end! MOTORCYLING ON VIENTAM'S HO CHI MINH TRAIL - Motorcyling on Vientam's Ho Chi Minh Trail A North Vietnamese war veteran, Cuong, will be your guide, offering his unique perspective on historic landmarks like the birthplace of the trail's namesake revolutionary; the hand-dug underground Cu Chi Tunnels, safe havens for Viet Cong fighters and villagers THE OUTER BANKS OUT OF SEASON - THE PLACE TO BE - The Outer Banks Out of Season - The Place To Be Recommended ways to enjoy the Outer Banks of North Carolina include the local history, hang gliding and walking barefoot along beautiful deserted beaches to name a few. THE MYSTERIES OF LALIBELA, ETHIOPIA - The Mysteries of Lalibela, Ethiopia The following is a personal geologic travelogue recounting a recent trip to Lalibela, Ethiopia where 11 churches were intricately sculpted out of rock and interconnected by a series of tunnels and trenches.. NEXTEL TEMPTS TRAVELERS WITH WI-FI - Nextel Tempts Travelers With Wi-Fi Nextel debuts WiFi HotSpot, a service that provides business travelers with 7,000 hot spots in North America. NEW WATERFRONT IN LA PAZ UP AND RUNNING - New Waterfront in La Paz Up and Running The town has rebuilt its picturesque waterfront, and the region is enjoying a rebirth of yachting thanks to the reconstruction of Marina de La Paz downtown and the new construction of Marina CostaBaja north of town. THE RED ROCK ROUTE - The Red Rock Route Information about touring Zion National Park and Grand Canyon National Park. EARTH, WOOD AND WATER - Earth, Wood and Water Nowhere else in the Northwest, or perhaps even in North America, is the love of wooden boats celebrated as passionately as it is at Port Townsend's annual Wooden Boat Festival, held annually the second weekend in September. POWER PLAY - CROSSING THE BORDER - Power Play - Crossing the Border The pleasure and the pain of clearing customs in the North and in the South by powerboat or land yacht. PELTON'S WORLD: THE NEXT LEVEL - Pelton's World: The Next Level Five once dangerous, now safe (sort of) travel picks for '06: Sabah... Afghanistan... Sierra Leone... Colombia... North Korea... THE RED ROCK ROLL - The Red Rock Roll Explore Utah's crowd-free canyonlands with this road-trip map, itinerary, and playlist. TOP 10: NORTH AMERICAN NEW YEAR'S EVE DESTINATIONS - Top 10: North American New Year's Eve Destinations Whether midnight on New Year's Eve will be spent in the arms of your sweetie at an outdoor concert or in pursuit of unknown sweeties on a boat on the Atlantic, make sure you're in a setting that's vibrant, even it means hopping on a plane or bus to make it happen. DARK ALLIANCE: TWO EXPLORERS TREK TO THE NORTH POLE IN COMPLETE DARKNESS--AUDIO INTERVIEW - Dark Alliance: Two Explorers Trek to the North Pole in Complete Darkness--Audio Interview Can the world's two greatest living solo explorers share a tent without driving each other crazy - or worse, getting each other killed? Borge Ousland and Mike Horn are about to find out on the first-ever trek to the North Pole in the pitch black 24-hour dark of polar night. FROM A TO Z-FEST - From A to Z-Fest Not just for sailboaters anymore, the annual Z-Fest in Zihuatanejo Bay (110 miles north of Acapulco) is a five-day festival of nautical fun and games, all for a good cause. TOP 10: NORTH AMERICAN WATERFALL DESTINATIONS - Top 10: North American Waterfall Destinations North America is full of alluring waterfalls that have been untouched by the sullied hand of consumerism. USA: SOUTHEAST, FAMILY CAMPS FOR THE FUN. - Family camp requires no management skills. From exotic up-close animal encounters at Busch Gardens or mother/daughter sailing lessons in North Carolina to space simulations at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville or river rafting at Ace Adventure in West Virginia. Family camps make it easy to be a kid with your kids. MASSACHUSETTS: BOSTON, TAKING THE KIDS. - Walk the "Freedom Trail" or ride with the swans; gaze at the stars or climb a rock wall; talk with a Pilgrim or touch a sea star; a family vacation in Massachusetts is like taking a premium field trip. Our favorite vacation stops may help in planning your own perfect vacation. USA: SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVALS MEAN FAMILY FUN 2005. - This is the good stuff, enjoy your summer and "listen to the music."?Music festivals and festivals with music make for great family vacation times. Whether it is perform in a city park or an amphitheatre on a mountainside, relaxing and letting the music take hold is the whole idea.?We've assembled an action list which includes good vibrations from Grant Park in Chicago, Barefoot Landing in North of Myrtle Beach, Dollywood in Pigeon Forge and the list goes on. Our Events Directory has oodles more,?sorted by location on the planet. MISSISSIPPI: TUPELO, TAKING THE KIDS. - Mississippi: Tupelo, Taking the Kids. Southern charm, soft-spoken friendly folks and fresh-squeezed lemon tea await visitors looking for the birthplace of "The King of Rock & Roll". Tupelo is Elvis and more but first on any visit is his birthplace. NEW HAMPSHIRE: CONCORD, TAKING THE KIDS NORTH. - Imagine getting off the freeway and traveling along an unmarked road. Imagine so many trees that it is impossible to determine true north without a compass. Add hand churned ice cream, moose crossing signs, roadside lemonade stands, rhubarb, antiques, rocky coldwater streams and happy people. New Hampshire fits the description. NORTH CAROLINA:THE WAYNESVILLE/MAGGIE VALLEY, TAKING THE KIDS TO SNOW. - The Waynesville/Maggie Valley area is a mountain destination with winter holiday charm. Slow-paced and out of the way, it is perfect for families wishing to experience the season without having to stand in any well-disguised patron lines. With the promise of snow and no lines I had no trouble selling the idea to my family. As with all vacations, the next step was where to stay? ARKANSAS: LAKE CHICOT STATE PARK INSIDER INFORMATION. - Lake Village in the southeast corner of Arkansas lies a prominent - though under appreciated - natural wonder: North America's largest ox-bow lake. Shaped like a "C," it is 20 miles long and at some places just shy of a mile wide. The park has lately been undergoing a face-lift of substantial proportions and the result is ideal for families. NEW ZEALAND: QUEENSTOWN, LOOKING FOR MIDDLE EARTH? - The magnificent Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed in New Zealand, much of it near Queenstown. For fans the chance to see the location of Middle Earth itself, surrounded by the misty mountains, rock-laden streams and fern grottoes reminiscent of the films is almost too tempting. NORTH CAROLINA: TAKING THE KIDS ALONG US HIGHWAY #1. - Smiling faces and patriotic slogans; sky shows and canal hikes; Civil War sites and dinosaur tracks; all in one family vacation. Family vacations with one-of-a-kind discoveries make memories of a lifetime. Our North Carolina activity list is just the beginning.? NORTH CAROLINA: BOONE, TAKING THE KIDS SNOW TUBING. - We knew nothing about snow tubing but it looked quick easy and fun; the ideal combination for a family adventure on a crisp winter day in the mountains. ADVICE: RELIEF FROM BACK SEAT BOREDOM. - If your family vacation includes a few thousand miles on the highways in North America then read on for an interesting ideas. USA/CANADA: LIGHTS, CAMERA, AND A CITYPASS. - If you've seen the movie then see the city. Visiting North America's movie locations is a 'wrap' with a pocket-sized vacation pass created to make a vacation easier to handle once its underway. ADVICE: RELIEF FROM BACK SEAT BOREDOM. - If your family vacation includes a few thousand miles on the highways in North America then read on for an interesting ideas. USA/CANADA: LIGHTS, CAMERA, AND A CITYPASS. - If you've seen the movie then see the city. Visiting North America's movie locations is a 'wrap' with a pocket-sized vacation pass created to make a vacation easier to handle once its underway. WEST VIRGINIA: OAK HILL, ROCK AND REPEL WITH ACE ADVENTURE. - Staring out over the New River Valley Gorge, adrenaline pumping through my system and rain soaking everything I should have been miserable or scared. Strangely, I was neither. That's saying something for someone that's as terrified of heights as I am. Sitting there, looking out at such an incredibly beautiful view, I felt such an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. SNOW PLACES: CROSS COUNTRY SKIING THE ULTIMATE FIELD TRIP. - For Devon McCarney and her mom cross country skiing has always been part of their winter vacation fun. Now almost eight winters old she is seasoned and gives beginners three times her age advice.According to information released by the Cross Country Ski Areas Association (CCSAA) North American travel patterns are changing. Vacations are closer to home and emphasize family. VIRGINIA: LURAY CAVERNS, GOING UNDERGROUND WITH THE KIDS. - Last summer on our return from Canada to Florida we made a few stops in Virginia. One of those stops was Luray Caverns just off US 81. Even though I spend most of the calendar year teaching middle school science I was surprised at the abundance of underground possibilities in Virginia. For years I have explained to my students that 400 million years ago a continental shift caused the Blue Ridge Mountains. That what is now the Shenandoah Valley was once at the bottom of the sea. This shift caused conditions that eventually resulted in the formation of hundreds of caves and caverns located in North America. Last summer I had the chance to show my own children first hand one of these ancient wonders of the natural world. NORTH DAKOTA: LEWIS AND CLARK, CREATING A FAMILY FIELD TRIP. - Everyone loves a great field trip and kids are no exception. The good news is that noted historian Clay Jenkinson in collaboration with North Dakota Tourism staff have made it easy to travel the Lewis and Clark Trail by creating a paper guide and audio guide. Make plans and take a family field trip. NORTH DAKOTA: LEWIS AND CLARK, CREATING A FAMILY FIELD TRIP. - Everyone loves a great field trip and kids are no exception. The good news is that noted historian Clay Jenkinson in collaboration with North Dakota Tourism staff have made it easy to travel the Lewis and Clark Trail by creating a paper guide and audio guide. Make plans and taka a family field trip. ONTARIO: SUDBURY, GREAT SCIENCE NORTH. - Northern Ontario, is the image fuzzy? Then zero in on the city of Sudbury. This city is the home to one of the best science experiences on the planet. Science North is an entertainment experience that includes the Science Centre, an IMAX theater, a simulator adventure ride, the F. Jean MacLeod butterfly gallery, a restaurant and an array of family friendly programs. NEVADA: SPREAD YOUR WINGS AND SOAR OR JUMP. - From the north to the south, Nevada offers numerous ways to "get air." Whether you crave the thrill of bungee jumping, prefer a peaceful ride in a hot air balloon or something in between, Nevada is home to a variety of air sports set above the state's beautiful terrain. NEW JERSEY: COLUMBIA, LAKOTA WOLF PRESERVE. - There is no substitute for being there. Luckily to hear and see really wild stuff it isn't essential to spend hours on the open plains of North Dakota or Saskatchewan. Families may participate in a wolf watch with in the mountains o f the Delaware Water Gap. NORTH DAKOTA: WHERE THE WEST BEGINS ON HORSEBACK. - From the rugged Badlands to the forested Turtle Mountains, one of the best ways to see the land "where the west begins" is on horseback. Horses played an important part in the settlement of North Dakota, from the pioneer lore found in the eastern half of the state, to the cavalry and ranching heritage of the west. Today, many areas still remain accessible only by horseback or on foot. Some of the best areas for horseback riding CONNECTICUT: DINOSAUR TRACKING. - For all of the families that sat glued to the Dinotopia series it I snow time to have saurian adventure. In North America there are several spots to begin tracking. USA: TAKE OFF ON AMERICA'S AVIATION ADVENTURE. - With the summer family vacation on the horizon this is an adventure option worth a look. A group of 15 aviation museums and sites in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia and North Carolina have a plan well-suited to family vacations. SLEEPING PLACES: AUSTRIAN HOTELS FOR NORTH AMERICANS. - In an effort to ensure that the only surprises North American visitors to Austria encounter are pleasant ones, the Austrian National Tourist Office has put together a brochure listing only those hotels that "go the extra mile" to please their English-speaking visitors. To qualify, all must meet a number of criteria that are listed below. TOURS: A MAGICAL CHRISTMAS JOURNEY TO THE ARCTIC CIRCLE. - Visit Santa Claus, his elves, and his reindeer, too, at the "North Pole" on an exciting pre-Christmas adventure to Russia and Lapland. Children and grandchildren will never forget giving Santa their Christmas list in person at the North Pole. USA/CANADA: GREAT SNOW PLACES FOR FAMILIES. - Safe,friendly and attentive to families; fun, awesome and energizing the snow destinations listed below offer some of the best snow resort experiences in North America. QUEBEC: LAURENTIANS, FAMILY FUN NORTH OF MONTREAL. - The Laurentians are magnificent in the winter, thick with snow and stripped with bark shadows. Maple sugaring and marvelous French Canadian music make this resort appealing even if the snow is gone. CALIFORNIA: A COASTWALK FOR FAMILIES. - Moderately paced educational hikes include an exploration of Catalina Island, a backpack along the Lost Coast, and an opportunity to meander among the north coast's massive redwoods. QUEBEC: SLEEPING ON ICE AGAIN. - Whatever Mother Nature has planned, winter has produced another Ice Hotel in Quebec. The snow blowers have once again produced the one and only Ice Hotel in North America. BRITISH COLUMBIA: MEET THE DOGS. - If you have seen the movie "Kevin of the North," and wondered where the dogs live, wonder no more. Hollywood is not their home. EXPLORE ILLINOIS' STARVED ROCK STATE PARK - Stay in a rustic log cabin at Illinois' Starved Rock State Park Lodge FAMILY-FRIENDLY ALBUQUERQUE - From Indian pueblos to ancient rock drawings, Albuquerque, New Mexico boasts a rich, cultural heritage and many outdoor activities. VACATION AT MONTANA'S CHICO HOT SPRINGS RESORT - A visit to Montana isn't complete without stopping by this 146-acre family resort 30 miles north of Yellowstone THE PERFECT BEACH TRIP: BALD HEAD ISLAND, NORTH CAROLINA - Take your family on vacation to Bald Head Island where a bike, beach towel and fishing pole will keep a kid busy for days FAMILY-FRIENDLY HOSTEL IN NORTH CAROLINA - Whether your family wants to swim, beach-comb, fish or even fly, you'll find what you're after at this comfortable, newly converted 1920s schoolhouse TAKE A COVERED WAGON RIDE IN SCENIC NORTH DAKOTA - Take your family on an adventure back in time by riding a covered wagon across the scenic North Dakota prairie FAMILY-FRIENDLY HOSTEL IN CALIFORNIA - Get a picture-book view of rock-strewn beaches at the Redwood National Park Hostel in Klamath, California WINTER IN BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA - The whole family will enjoy hiking, skiing and snowboarding in Boone, North Carolina MOUNT RUSHMORE: THE FOUR MOST FAMOUS GUYS IN ROCK - A salute to patriotism and history, Mount Rushmore is a grand monument of presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt NORTH CAROLINA MINOR LEAGUE BALLPARK - In this impressive baseball cathedral, there's a kids' playground beyond the third-base line and delicious barbecue RICOCHET - A great wild mouse coaster for kids testing the thrill ride waters in both Charlotte, North Carolina and Doswell, Virginia VISIT THE EXCITING CLEVELAND METROPARKS ZOO - At this zoo, visitors can watch gray wolves roaming and romping in their simulated north-country habitat A FUN FALL WEEKEND IN ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA - DESTINATIONS: TOKYO : EATING IN TOKYO: BENTO - A reasonable picnic lunch can be assembled at any convenience store. These stores go by a variety of names but look just like they do in North America. Look near the cash register, or in a cooler case, for pre-made sandwiches and Japanese bento (AKA O-bento). The latter is a plastic tray with rice and many little things to eat, usually some form of fish, chicken or mystery meat. The garish pink stuff is some kind of processed fish thing, the Asian equivalent of SPAM. If your kids don't already like fish, this pink stuff is not going to convince them to change. DESTINATIONS GRAND CANYON - It is a big hole. Lots of rock, a tiny, tiny river down at the bottom, pretty hot in the summer. At least that's how we joked about seeing the Grand Canyon on the way there; our oldest asked (first time funny, 167th time not as funny) "Are we just gonna look into a big hole for five days?" DESTINATIONS: KYOTO : ADVANCED KYOTO: RYOANJI AND KINKAKUJI - The area north of the central city is lush and green, full of stands of bamboo and open views of the mountains that surround Kyoto. DESTINATIONS: SINGAPORE THINGS TO DO: A WALK DOWN NORTH BRIDGE ROAD - Find your way onto North Bridge Road and head away from Raffles Hotel. Watch the street names and you'll see more British influences-Mayfair City, Stamford Street, High Street Centre and more. The sidewalks are wide and flat, with no stroller problems. We didn't see any toilets or water fountains, so be sure to tank up/down at Raffles. NORTH QUEENSLAND - An article about taking a family vacation with your kids to North Queensland. NORTH QUEENSLAND TOURS - An article about taking a family vacation with your kids on North Queensland Tours. NSW NORTH COAST - An article about taking a family vacation with your kids to NSW North Coast. RUGGED FACEOFF BETWEEN ROCK AND SEA - THE land and the sea are said to be eternally at war, but in Newfoundland it's more ... CONCERTS ROCK THE TINY KINGDOM OF SKULLBONIA; A MUSIC PARK IN RURAL TENNESSEE DRAWS THE STARS, LIQUOR AND WHITE SUPREMACISTS - Touring rock bands are listing a new stop on their itineraries, along with more ... GRACE NOTE ON THE OUTER BANKS - THE tiny town of Duck on North Carolina's Outer Banks has always had something of a ... GATHERINGS; FACING HARSH REALITY, FAMILIES TAKE FANTASY TRIP TO NORTH POLE - IT was an event that required suspension of disbelief: 25 children, most with ... FINDING SATISFACTION AT THE TOP - IN rock climbing, the belay rope is your umbilical cord. If you lose your balance, ... IN PASSPORT CASE, STORY OF 'JOHN DOE' DOESN'T PASS MUSTER - First there was the thick foreign accent that did not sound anything like North ... RUGGED FACEOFF BETWEEN ROCK AND SEA - THE land and the sea are said to be eternally at war, but in Newfoundland it's more ... THE OUTSIDER; WHERE THE POOLS ARE NEVER CROWDED, AND WATER SLIDES ARE NATURE'S OWN - The pool in the hard rock of the Bouquet riverbed was filled with dark and ... CONCERTS AND COBBLESTONES IN OLINDA - THE ancient church-stuffed, art-crazed town of Olinda, four miles north of Recife in ... Q/A - Brazilian Beach Hotels Q. I'd like to visit the beaches north of Maceio, in ... WHERE HISTORY STOPPED BY - ONCE a major refueling stop for ships traveling between the North and South Atlantic, ... TRAVEL ADVISORY: BEDS AND BEACH IN BALI, GIMME SHELTER STYLE - The hotel pool has rock music piped in so Mick or the Spice Girls can serenade ... JOURNEYS: 36 HOURS \| AMELIA ISLAND, FLA. - VISITORS to Amelia Island, just north of Jacksonville, can easily spend a long weekend ... JOURNEYS: 36 HOURS \| NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - IN summer, North Myrtle Beach swings to the beat of the shag. Perhaps best known as ... HOW FAR AWAY? FAR ENOUGH! - YOU don't need to be a rock star on a honeymoon to want to get as far away as ... THE TREKKING REGIONS OF GARHWAL AND KUMAON - Garhwal and Kumaon together constitute what is known as Uttarakhand. This is a high mountain region in northern Uttar Pradesh from where the sacred Ganga River originates, draining into the fertile Indo Gangetic plains of North India. Of the two, Garhwal is the western region of Uttarakhand and Kumaon is its AOTEAROA-THE LAND OF THE LONG WHITE CLOUD - The South Island is renowned for its mountain ranges and beautiful fiords, while the North Island has its beautiful Bay of Islands and the boiling mud, hot springs and geysers of Rotorua. PRINCE RUPERT - THE NORTHWEST CONNECTION - Prince Rupert is located on Kaien Island at the mouth of the Skeena River on British Columbia's north coast. It is situated 920km (550 miles) north of Vancouver and 65km (40 miles) south of southeast Alaska. Prince Rupert is best known as Canada's marine gateway to Asia and is the second HOLLYWOOD NORTH: TORONTO GLITTERS AT THE 28TH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL - These days there is more buzzing in Toronto then the latest West-Nile scare. After a year of SARS scares, West Nile fears and even a tainted meat scandal, Toronto will play host to more than 396 films from around the world in the 28th annual International Film Festival. NORTH AMERICAN AIRLINE DIRECTORY - In an effort to help users find airline's websites to make online reservations, I have created this directory of all the major airlines in North America. THE RHINE RIVER.GATEWAY TO GERMANY'S SOUL - Originating in the snowy peaks of the Swiss Alps (near Andermatt), the Rhine river is alternately a trickling brook, a raging stream, a breathtaking waterfall, and a last but not least a majestic river. It finally joins with the waters of the North Sea.In 53 B.C. it refused to easily yield A TIP FOR A TRIP - In the north of Slovakia there is the smallest region of my country, where I was born, called Kysuce. The center of this region is the city Cadca, 34 km north of Zilina. It is situated at the boundary of the highlands Turzovska vrchovina, Javorniky, Kysucka vrchovina and Kysucke Beskydy. The GUADELOUPE - A LITTLE-KNOWN CARIBBEAN ESCAPE - Karukera - the Island of Beautiful Waters - Martinique's laid-back sister - whatever you call it, Guadeloupe is one of the Caribbean's best kept secrets. Located just 65 miles south of Antigua and 73 miles north of Dominica, Guadeloupe offers a unique combination of French cuisine and atmosphere as well as A IS FOR ARTS IN THE ADIRONDACKS - Summer is almost here, and it is time for the explosion of arts related events throughout the Adirondacks. Art shows, workshops, theatre performances, music and opera abound in many parts of the Adirondacks as summer visitors make their way north to enjoy the scenery and the beauty that our area holds. PLAINFIELD, OUR TOWN - Hoosier Hannah takes us on a tour of Plainfield, her home town in Hendricks Country, Indiana. Once home to the Miami, Potawatomi, Shawnee, and Delaware tribes, we see how Quakers moved in from North Carolina to settle and farm in the area. We see the traditional Old Settlers Picnic, the Keeley ODE TO NOCTOBER - For the last few years now, it seems like what used to be the season in September is far more like what August used to be, and October more like a wetter and brusque September. What I used to yearn for in October on the North Shore of Massachusetts, I now DINOSAURS' VEGETATION FEEDS TODAY'S FUEL APPETITE - Imagine 65 million years ago. Western North Dakota is part of a lowland area lying between the emerging Rocky Mountains to the west and an interior seaway to the east. Visualize walking through woods and swamps and past ponds and watching crocodiles, birds, snails, lizards, turtles, and dinosaurs. Species such as FLORAL GARDENS COMMEMORATE PEACE - I'm driving north on Highway #3 from the geographical center of North America at Rugby, North Dakota through a prairie pot hole landscape of ponds amid grain fields and pastures. About 25 miles from Rugby, just beyond Dunseith, the road climbs and I'm looking at wooded hills known as the Turtle GREAT SCIENCE, GREAT ART = GREAT TIMES - From the outside, The Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland is a little deceptive. The physical structure is almost dwarfed by the new Cleveland Browns Stadium, and a bit outclassed by the snazzy Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Inside, however, it always offers big fun.A recent trip to see the HAVE A SIDE OF BEANS - You probably know that Honda, the first Japanese automaker to make cars in the United States, opened its first U.S. plant in central Ohio. (Since then, the company has added plants in Alabama and North and South Carolina, as well.) But did you know the Marysville plant exports soybeans--to Japan? To THE NEW ICE AGE? - The Great White North offers numerous natural wonders to behold. One that never fails to mesmerize is a glacier. There are 100,000 of these ice monoliths dotting the Alaskan landscape. While some are advancing, others recede; often up a steep slope, or over a mountain pass. They are a sight difficult SOUTHERN ROCK WITH A MESSAGE - Webster's Creed. "A brief statement of religious belief; confession of faith, a specific statement of this kind, accepted as authoritative by a church, a statement of belief, principles, or opinions on any subject, the Creed, the Apostles' Creed." THE NORTH CAROLINA ESTUARIUM - The town of Washington is located on the Pamlico River deep within the heart of eastern North Carolina. The Pamlico River is part of a unique ecosystem called an estuary. Located within Washington and on the banks of the Pamlico River is the North Carolina Estuarium. The North [nce.jpg]Carolina Estuarium exists PADDLING NORTH CAROLINA'S NEW RIVER: PART II - Part I of this series was published in March of 2005. In Part II, I describe some of the details from our time on the New River in August of 1993. A BULL ISLAND ADVENTURE - The coast of North and South Carolina is unique in that it is dotted with numerous barrier islands. Some of these islands have become tourist havens for vacationing visitors looking to escape for days or weeks of fun in the sun. Other Carolina barrier islands have been reserved by the government PADDLING NORTH CAROLINA'S NEW RIVER: PART I - If you are looking for fun, adventure, good exercise, relaxation, and beautiful scenery all rolled into a single experience, you might want to try a canoe trip on the North Carolina section of the New River. Most famous for its exhilarating white water further north in West Virginia, the North Carolina KICK BACK, COOL OFF, AND ENJOY DILLSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - It's hot in the Southeastern U. S. I know what they say about it not being the heat, but the humidity, but I maintain that it's the heat AND the humidity. In the South, July and August are sweltering, the kind of heat that makes your clothes stick to you seconds THE NEW ICE AGE? - The Great White North offers numerous natural wonders to behold. One that never fails to mesmerize is a glacier. There are 100,000 of these ice monoliths dotting the Alaskan landscape. While some are advancing, others recede; often up a steep slope, or over a mountain pass. They are a sight difficult SOUTHERN ROCK WITH A MESSAGE - Webster's Creed. "A brief statement of religious belief; confession of faith, a specific statement of this kind, accepted as authoritative by a church, a statement of belief, principles, or opinions on any subject, the Creed, the Apostles' Creed." THE NORTH CAROLINA ESTUARIUM - The town of Washington is located on the Pamlico River deep within the heart of eastern North Carolina. The Pamlico River is part of a unique ecosystem called an estuary. Located within Washington and on the banks of the Pamlico River is the North Carolina Estuarium. The North [nce.jpg]Carolina Estuarium exists PADDLING NORTH CAROLINA'S NEW RIVER: PART II - Part I of this series was published in March of 2005. In Part II, I describe some of the details from our time on the New River in August of 1993. A BULL ISLAND ADVENTURE - The coast of North and South Carolina is unique in that it is dotted with numerous barrier islands. Some of these islands have become tourist havens for vacationing visitors looking to escape for days or weeks of fun in the sun. Other Carolina barrier islands have been reserved by the government PADDLING NORTH CAROLINA'S NEW RIVER: PART I - If you are looking for fun, adventure, good exercise, relaxation, and beautiful scenery all rolled into a single experience, you might want to try a canoe trip on the North Carolina section of the New River. Most famous for its exhilarating white water further north in West Virginia, the North Carolina KICK BACK, COOL OFF, AND ENJOY DILLSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - It's hot in the Southeastern U. S. I know what they say about it not being the heat, but the humidity, but I maintain that it's the heat AND the humidity. In the South, July and August are sweltering, the kind of heat that makes your clothes stick to you seconds PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES SQUARE OFF IN LONE DEBATE - The two candidates in Peru's June presidential election met in their one and only debate last Saturday. The debate was televised live from the Marriott Hotel in Lima. North American viewers were able to watch it live on Canal Sur and CNN Espanol. SF ON LOCATION - Robin Williams housekeeping a Pacific Heights mansion in grandmotherly drag; Clint Eastwood chipping away at the Rock; Steve McQueen ripping his Mustang around Russian Hill like he owned the joint. BRODIE CASTLE - Brodie castle is situated in parkland in an area near Forres in the North of Scotland which is approximately 24 miles North East of Inverness. The castle has a long and dramatic history (as most of Scotland's castles have) and is presently owned and managed by the National Trust for Scotland. DESTINATIONS: TOKYO : EATING IN TOKYO: BENTO - A reasonable picnic lunch can be assembled at any convenience store. These stores go by a variety of names but look just like they do in North America. Look near the cash register, or in a cooler case, for pre-made sandwiches and Japanese bento (AKA O-bento). The latter is a plastic tray with rice and many little things to eat, usually some form of fish, chicken or mystery meat. The garish pink stuff is some kind of processed fish thing, the Asian equivalent of SPAM. If your kids don't already like fish, this pink stuff is not going to convince them to change. DESTINATIONS GRAND CANYON - It is a big hole. Lots of rock, a tiny, tiny river down at the bottom, pretty hot in the summer. At least that's how we joked about seeing the Grand Canyon on the way there; our oldest asked (first time funny, 167th time not as funny) "Are we just gonna look into a big hole for five days?" DESTINATIONS: KYOTO : ADVANCED KYOTO: RYOANJI AND KINKAKUJI - The area north of the central city is lush and green, full of stands of bamboo and open views of the mountains that surround Kyoto. DESTINATIONS: SINGAPORE THINGS TO DO: A WALK DOWN NORTH BRIDGE ROAD - Find your way onto North Bridge Road and head away from Raffles Hotel. Watch the street names and you'll see more British influences-Mayfair City, Stamford Street, High Street Centre and more. The sidewalks are wide and flat, with no stroller problems. We didn't see any toilets or water fountains, so be sure to tank up/down at Raffles. DESTINATIONS: TOKYO : EATING IN TOKYO: BENTO - A reasonable picnic lunch can be assembled at any convenience store. These stores go by a variety of names but look just like they do in North America. Look near the cash register, or in a cooler case, for pre-made sandwiches and Japanese bento (AKA O-bento). The latter is a plastic tray with rice and many little things to eat, usually some form of fish, chicken or mystery meat. The garish pink stuff is some kind of processed fish thing, the Asian equivalent of SPAM. If your kids don't already like fish, this pink stuff is not going to convince them to change. DESTINATIONS GRAND CANYON - It is a big hole. Lots of rock, a tiny, tiny river down at the bottom, pretty hot in the summer. At least that's how we joked about seeing the Grand Canyon on the way there; our oldest asked (first time funny, 167th time not as funny) "Are we just gonna look into a big hole for five days?" DESTINATIONS: KYOTO : ADVANCED KYOTO: RYOANJI AND KINKAKUJI - The area north of the central city is lush and green, full of stands of bamboo and open views of the mountains that surround Kyoto. DESTINATIONS: SINGAPORE THINGS TO DO: A WALK DOWN NORTH BRIDGE ROAD - Find your way onto North Bridge Road and head away from Raffles Hotel. Watch the street names and you'll see more British influences-Mayfair City, Stamford Street, High Street Centre and more. The sidewalks are wide and flat, with no stroller problems. We didn't see any toilets or water fountains, so be sure to tank up/down at Raffles. A SCHOOL COMMUNITY UNITES - September 11 was the second day of school for our early childhood center, a school for children ages 2 to 6 in Yonkers, NY, which is located just north of Manhattan. I heard the events happening on the radio as I pulled into the parking lot, but parents arriving with their children didn't seem to be alarmed. I told the school secretary and the teachers what was unfolding, then stayed in the front hall to be available for parents who were bringing in their children. About 9:15 a.m. a parent's cell phone rang, and thus the news began to circulate. LA'S TEEN SCENE - LA's TEENscene. Author Maerov uses her Free Press contacts to go behind-the-scenes in LA's Rock n' Roll world, then reveals how teens can find it, live it, THE 15TH ANNUAL FREDDIE AWARDS - The 15th Annual Freddie Awards The very best of the frequent travel programs are honored with a Freddie Award. SCOTLAND'S MYSTERIOUS ROSSLYN CHAPEL - Scotland's Mysterious Rosslyn Chapel Scotland's Rosslyn Chapel captivates visitors with its elaborate 15th-century stonework and its mysterious legends. WHO WAS SAM STEELE? - Sam Steele Days in Cranbrook this year take place from June 13th to June 16th with the annual parade taking place on Saturday June 15th. Colourful floats come from many regions of Canada and the US. SAN FRANCISCO - The updated edition of the free Access San Francisco guide for travelers with disabilities is now available. The 34-page book offers detailed information about 150 city venues and travel services. ( A NIGHT IN SAN FRANCISCO - When traveling to most cities of the world, finding discount accommodations when arriving to your destination is always a possibility. Not so in the diverse and complex city of San Francisco. ( MUSEUMS IN THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO: FREE OR REDUCED PRICES - San Francisco's major museums have days, usually once a month, when admission is free or discounted. Special passes, for visitors, and membership, for residents, are also ways to save money on admission costs. SAN FRANCISCO'S AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATER - San Francisco's American Conservatory Theater stages innovative and exciting drama at Geary Theater, a building constructed in 1909 and restored in 1996 after an earthquake severely damaged it. It also has training programs that have taught such luminaries as Denzel Washington, Annette Bening, and Winona Ryder. SAN FRANCISCO'S NEW COOL FAMILY SPOTS - SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- Forget Fisherman's Wharf. Leave the tourists behind, grab the kids and head directly to the roof of the Moscone Convention Center. COASTAL CALIFORNIA'S MORRO BAY IS TREASURE TROVE FOR FAMILIES - How to get your kids interested in the good stuff-history, nature, science, art? You make it part of an adventure, preferably, one in which your children can participate rather than be a spectator. One of the best places to do this, we discovered, is Morro Bay, in the Central Coastal region of California, a relatively undiscovered region, exactly midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. SAN FRANCISCO FAMILY VACATION GUIDES - San Francisco ... there's no other city like it. If you plan well and come well prepared, San Francisco is a surprisingly kid-friendly town and a family favorite. There are a handful of sites and attractions unique to San Francisco that should be on every family's list of must-do activities. Because the sightseeing opportunities are so diverse (indoor/outdoor, walking/riding, etc.), planning is key. Before diving into our material, take note of these general recommendations for getting around the city. SAN FRANCISCO: TRAVEL BRIEF - San Francisco is one of the top -- and most exciting -- tourist destinations in the world. In addition to Fisherman's Wharf and its famous streetcar rides, San Francisco offers fine dining, shopping, the arts, and historic neighborhoods, such as the Castro District, Haight-Ashbury, and Japantown. The rolling hills and San Francisco Bay provide the city with breathtaking views. In touch with its rich history, San Francisco has spared many older buildings from demolition, opting instead to convert them into modern offices and shops. NEW ORLEANS' ST. CHARLES STREETCARS - At the top of this page is a photograph of one of San Francisco's historic streetcars, which I wrote about in one of my earliest columns. Although this photograph is not a New Orleans streetcar, San Francisco is in possession of one of these luxurious streetcars. With its mahogany seats, brass A ROOF OF YOUR OWN - Amidst the steel and concrete canyons of downtown San Francisco, serene green spaces await. Hidden rooftop gardens dot the avenues, offering choice views, peaceful respite, or quiet places to contemplate the city's wild historical ride. FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA - THE SOULSTICE TRAIL RUN - Flagstaff, Arizona - The Soulstice Trail Run, though only in its sophomore year, is already attracting the southwest's most rugged trailrunners - most of this gorgeous, grueling run is above 9,000 feet! If you haven't seen the San Francisco Peaks rising above the mountain town of Flagstaff, this is your time A ROOF OF YOUR OWN - Amidst the steel and concrete canyons of downtown San Francisco, serene green spaces await. Hidden rooftop gardens dot the avenues, offering choice views, peaceful respite, or quiet places to contemplate the city's wild historical ride. FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA - THE SOULSTICE TRAIL RUN - Flagstaff, Arizona - The Soulstice Trail Run, though only in its sophomore year, is already attracting the southwest's most rugged trailrunners - most of this gorgeous, grueling run is above 9,000 feet! If you haven't seen the San Francisco Peaks rising above the mountain town of Flagstaff, this is your time GREENER ACRES - Greener Acres For Karen Harris, it started as a grand experiment, an adventure, really. In 1998, the consultant and her journalist husband decided to rent out their two-bedroom apartment in San Francisco, pack up the kids and spend a year in Thetford, Vt.... CALIFORNIA SENATE LEADER TO FAMILY COURTS: DON'T CONSIDER CHILDREN'S BEST INTERESTS - California Senate Leader to Family Courts: Don't Consider Children's Best Interests Senate President Pro Tem John Burton (D-San Francisco) is trying to slip a bill through the legislature to make it easier for custodial parents to sever these bonds by slipping out of town. GREENER ACRES - Greener Acres For Karen Harris, it started as a grand experiment, an adventure, really. In 1998, the consultant and her journalist husband decided to rent out their two-bedroom apartment in San Francisco, pack up the kids and spend a year in Thetford, Vt.... SAN FRANCISO - San Franciso San Francisco is a sculpture of tiered hills wrapped by a commanding bay. It is fog, a famous red-gold bridge--- Golden Gate---and a city of surprises and secrets... THE BAY AREA'S HIDDEN VALLEY - The Bay Area's Hidden Valley Livermore, an often overlooked wine region, is a short drive from San Francisco. SAVORING SAN FRANCISCO - Savoring San Francisco Underneath its foggy cover, San Francisco hosts plenty of hotspots that will keep you entertained. From the Golden Gate Bridge to the Farmer's Market, find out how to best spend three days in Frisco. RIDE, CAPTAIN RIDE - Ride, Captain Ride By switching to VHF Channel 16 you will be on the monitoring channel for the San Francisco Harbors and ready to navigate into one of six marinas open to guest docking within the city limits. FIREWORKS, SAILBOATS AND THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY - Fireworks, Sailboats and the San Francisco Bay The Inn Above Tide is a sophisticated, yet comfortable, 29-room boutique inn located in the heart of Sausalito. SAN FRANCISCO: HOTEL VITALE - San Francisco: Hotel Vitale This luxurious-yet-boho hot spot truly lives up to its name. Its healthy perks include in-room soaking tubs, pillow menus, and an aromatherapy garden. CALIFORNIA: SAN FRANCISCO, PIER 39 GO SEE IT NOW. - On the waterfront and fun for all ages.what could be better? The premier festival marketplace on the Bay, it includes specialty shopping, waterfront dining, activities and entertainment. USA: GIVE ONE CITY OR GIVE ALL NINE. - For the family that has everything Go USA Card has the answer - a city pass. The new card pass offers a choice of nine major US cities for one low price. So it is possible to give Boston, San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, Chicago, Orlando, Miami, Los Angeles or Honolulu. USA/CANADA: CITYPASS OFFERS THE "A" LIST TO FAMILIES. - Planning a city holiday for a family can be a hassle. Too many choices and too many opinions often slow and confuse the process. There is an easy way to proceed with planning. Guaranteed good and worth the vacation time, CityPass offers the best cities and the best attractions and museums for less. Using the pass makes a city vacation affordable and easy. Destinations include: New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Southern California CityPass, and Toronto, Ontario, Canada. USA: GIVE ONE CITY OR GIVE ALL NINE. - For the family that has everything Go USA Card has the answer - a city pass. The new card pass offers a choice of nine major US cities for one low price. So it is possible to give Boston, San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, Chicago, Orlando, Miami, Los Angeles or Honolulu. USA/CANADA: CITYPASS OFFERS THE "A" LIST TO FAMILIES. - Planning a city holiday for a family can be a hassle. Too many choices and too many opinions often slow and confuse the process. There is an easy way to proceed with planning. Guaranteed good and worth the vacation time, CityPass offers the best cities and the best attractions and museums for less. Using the pass makes a city vacation affordable and easy. Destinations include: New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Southern California CityPass, and Toronto, Ontario, Canada. CALIFORNIA: SAN FRANCISCO, A HOLIDAY FAIR - Families and kids at heart are invited to kick off the holiday season at Embarcadero Center's Holiday Fair. SAN FRANCISCO MARITIME NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK - San Francisco's Maritime National Historic Park features four 19th-century ships plus a restored WWII submarine FAMILY TRAVEL EXPERTS: THE BEST OF SAN FRANCISCO - Find out why San Francisco is one of our family travel experts' favorite cities FAMILY-FRIENDLY SAN FRANCISCO - With its colorful ethnic neighborhoods and legendary cable cars, San Francisco is full of exciting things to do and see SAN FRANCISCO CITY GUIDE - Your travel guide to the family-friendliest American cities WHERE TO STAY IN SAN FRANCISCO - Ready to explore the city by the Bay? Check out these family-friendly hotels in a variety of price ranges. SAN FRANCISCO FAMILY VACATION GUIDES - San Francisco ... there's no other city like it. If you plan well and come well prepared, San Francisco is a surprisingly kid-friendly town and a family favorite. There are a handful of sites and attractions unique to San Francisco that should be on every family's list of must-do activities. Because the sightseeing opportunities are so diverse (indoor/outdoor, walking/riding, etc.), planning is key. Before diving into our material, take note of these general recommendations for getting around the city. FAMILY VACATION GUIDE: SAN FRANCISCO - San Francisco ... there's no other city like it. If you plan well and come well prepared, San Francisco is a surprisingly kid-friendly town and a family favorite. There are a handful of sites and attractions unique to San Francisco that should be on every family's list of must-do activities. Because the sightseeing opportunities are so diverse (indoor/outdoor, walking/riding, etc.), planning is key. Before diving into our material, take note of these general recommendations for getting around the city. A NIGHT IN SAN FRANCISCO - A Night In San Francisco SAN FRANCISCO: TRAVEL BRIEF - San Francisco: Travel Brief SAN FRANCISCO - FORGET stuffy dioramas and dimly lighted, pedantic exhibits. Children these days will ... WEEKEND WITH THE KIDS: SAN FRANCISCO; A MOST ADULT CITY HAS PLENTY OF APPEAL FOR THE YOUNG, TOO - SAN FRANCISCO already invites sneaker-footed adult tourists to act childlike: Ride a ... TAKING THE TRAIL BY THE BAY - A CURIOUS aspect of life in the San Francisco Bay area is that it can often be ... NEW ORLEANS' ST. CHARLES STREETCARS - At the top of this page is a photograph of one of San Francisco's historic streetcars, which I wrote about in one of my earliest columns. Although this photograph is not a New Orleans streetcar, San Francisco is in possession of one of these luxurious streetcars. With its mahogany seats, brass A ROOF OF YOUR OWN - Amidst the steel and concrete canyons of downtown San Francisco, serene green spaces await. Hidden rooftop gardens dot the avenues, offering choice views, peaceful respite, or quiet places to contemplate the city's wild historical ride. FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA - THE SOULSTICE TRAIL RUN - Flagstaff, Arizona - The Soulstice Trail Run, though only in its sophomore year, is already attracting the southwest's most rugged trailrunners - most of this gorgeous, grueling run is above 9,000 feet! If you haven't seen the San Francisco Peaks rising above the mountain town of Flagstaff, this is your time CHILD MAGAZINE'S 2005 CHILDREN'S CHAMPION AWARDS: A SALUTE TO SIX HEROES - It was a night to be inspired and uplifted. On November 9, 2005, Child magazine hosted its third annual Children's Champion Awards, celebrating the accomplishments of six incredible individuals who have truly made a difference in children's lives. The honorees -- Linda Ellerbee, producer, writer, and host of Nick News; G. Denman Hammond, M.D., founding president of CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation; Francisco J. Núñez, founder and artistic director of the Young People's Chorus of New York City; Samuel B. Ross Jr., Ph.D., founder and executive director emeritus of Green Chimneys Children's Services; Marlo Thomas, national outreach director of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; and Joe Torre, founder and chairman of the Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation -- were a diverse group of individuals with one common bond: a deep commitment to make the world better for kids. 2005 CHILDREN'S CHAMPION AWARDS: A SALUTE TO SIX HEROES - It was a night to be inspired and uplifted. On November 9, 2005, Child magazine hosted its third annual Children's Champion Awards, celebrating the accomplishments of six incredible individuals who have truly made a difference in children's lives. The honorees -- Linda Ellerbee, producer, writer, and host of Nick News; G. Denman Hammond, M.D., founding president of CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation; Francisco J. Núñez, founder and artistic director of the Young People's Chorus of New York City; Samuel B. Ross Jr., Ph.D., founder and executive director emeritus of Green Chimneys Children's Services; Marlo Thomas, national outreach director of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; and Joe Torre, founder and chairman of the Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation -- were a diverse group of individuals with one common bond: a deep commitment to make the world better for kids. WHERE TO STAY IN SAN FRANCISCO - Ready to explore the city by the Bay? Check out these family-friendly hotels in a variety of price ranges. WHAT'S FUN FOR KIDS IN SAN FRANCISCO - Top spots for families in this bustling city by the bay. WHERE TO STAY IN SAN FRANCISCO - Ready to explore the city by the Bay? Check out these family-friendly hotels in a variety of price ranges. COMPARE AND CONTRAST - Compare and Contrast Huntington Harbour is very boater friendly. There are boat supply stores, yacht brokers, a shipyard, great restaurants and a vibrant nightlife that rivals Catalina's Avalon Harbor. JACKSONVILLE BEACH RESTAURANTS SUCCUMB TO MULTI FAMILY HOUSING BOOM - Just over a month after the First Street Grill's final New Years Eve bash, another popular eatery on the Intracoastal Waterway closes its doors for the last time on February 3rd. The Lighthouse Grill, located at the San Pablo River bridge on Beach Blvd... ( JANUARY RIVER - Once having been the capital of Brazil, in 1959 Rio lost this status but is still one of the centers of the country - with the offices of the large corporations, the first airport in Latin America and, of course, its carnival! ( AMSTERDAM SIGHTSEEING AND HOTELS - Amsterdam is the capital city of the Netherlands, and is one of the largest historic cities in Europe. The city lies near two bodies of water, the Amstel river and the IJ bay. For many tourists, Amsterdam is a city which is well known and praised for its ( ANTWERP HOTEL GUIDE - Antwerp is a city in Belgium, which is a center of commerce. It has a population of just under half a million people and is the capital of Antwerpen province, one of the three areas of Belgium. The city is situated on the right side of the Scheldt River. ( FRANKFURT HOTEL GUIDE - Frankfurt is the fifth largest city in Germany and is an important financial center of the country. It lies on the Main river and the metropolitan area has a population of five million people. It is one of the wealthiest cities in the European Union. ( CASTLES ALONG THE RHINE - The Rhine River is one of Germany's most popular tourist attractions. This famous river has been at the heart of German history for centuries, dating back to at least Roman times. In fact the river marked the eastern frontier of the Roman Empire. ( GREAT PLACES TO VISIT: PRAGUE CAFES AND CASTLES - Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic is an extraordinarily beautiful city. Standing on the banks of the river Vltava (the locals generally use the German name for it the Moldau). ( TRAVEL IDEAS: HIKING IN SUSQUEHANNA STATE PARK - Hiking trails at Susquehanna, along the East Coast's longest river, are a popular nesting spot for bald eagles. Tips for making a trip. THE NIGER RIVER - The Niger - Learn about the great river that feeds many nations. BRANTFORD - ONTARIO, CANADA - The history of Brantford, Ontario can be traced back three centuries to when Chief Joseph Brant forded the Grand River. Brantford has come a long way since then. THE BIG MANISTEE RIVER IN MICHIGAN - Learn about the Big Manistee River in Michigan: its location, canoeing, fishing, and wilderness. A TRIP TO NEW HOPE, PENNSYLVANIA - An article describing the town of New Hope, Pennsylvania, known for its art galleries and magnificent views of the Delaware River. SOUTH CAROLINA LIGHTHOUSES: GOVERNOR'S LIGHTHOUSE - South carolina lighthouses: The Governor's Lighthouse in Light Keeper's Village near Little River, South Carolina is definitely worth visiting while you're touring South Carolina. SOUTH CAROLINA LIGHTHOUSES: CAPE ROMAIN LIGHTHOUSE - South carolina lighthouses: The Cape Romain Lighthouse, located on Lighthouse Island near McClellanville, South Carolina, sits on Raccoon Key, 10 from the entrance to the Santee River. JAMES RIVER PLANTATIONS IN VIRGINIA - The James River Plantations hold the keys to the history of this country. PLAN A TRIP TO CASSEVILLE, WISCONSIN - Plan a trip to Casseville, Wisconsin. Town of the Great River Road and close to Potosi. Sites available to see their like lead mines, Stonefield Village and caves. THE BIG MANISTEE RIVER IN MICHIGAN - Learn about the Big Manistee River in Michigan: its location, canoeing, fishing, and wilderness. A TRIP TO NEW HOPE, PENNSYLVANIA - An article describing the town of New Hope, Pennsylvania, known for its art galleries and magnificent views of the Delaware River. SOUTH CAROLINA LIGHTHOUSES: GOVERNOR'S LIGHTHOUSE - South carolina lighthouses: The Governor's Lighthouse in Light Keeper's Village near Little River, South Carolina is definitely worth visiting while you're touring South Carolina. SOUTH CAROLINA LIGHTHOUSES: CAPE ROMAIN LIGHTHOUSE - South carolina lighthouses: The Cape Romain Lighthouse, located on Lighthouse Island near McClellanville, South Carolina, sits on Raccoon Key, 10 from the entrance to the Santee River. JAMES RIVER PLANTATIONS IN VIRGINIA - The James River Plantations hold the keys to the history of this country. PLAN A TRIP TO CASSEVILLE, WISCONSIN - Plan a trip to Casseville, Wisconsin. Town of the Great River Road and close to Potosi. Sites available to see their like lead mines, Stonefield Village and caves. COLORADO IN THE SUMMER - Go take a bike -- or a hike. Raft down a river or race down a mountain slide. Practice that golf swing or tennis serve. Learn to fly-fish or horseback ride. Count the constellations from your sleeping bag. There's so much to do even the most finicky kids won't complain they're bored on this trip. ON A FRENCH BARGE TRIP - ALONG THE RIVER SAONE IN FRANCE -- Uh oh. Our captain is angry. The crew isn't moving fast enough. A RAFTING TRIP -- EXCITING FOR EVERYONE - Guy Gibson has the answer for parents whose teens insist they've outgrown family vacations. And he's not talking about leaving them home or dropping them at the nearest theme park. The Northern California attorney and father of three teens advises gathering the gang and heading for the river, one with enough white water to keep the young folks interested but not so much that parents have to clutch the raft for dear life. OZARK MOUNTAIN REGION: TRAVEL BRIEF - If outdoor activities and a connection to nature are what you're looking for in a trip, then the Ozark Mountain region might be the right destination for your family. This area spans five Arkansas counties and is known for its phenomenal natural attractions: beautiful scenic mountains, vast wilderness areas, magnificent underground caverns, crystal clear lakes, world-class trout streams, and the majestic Buffalo National River. Also absorb a bit of Ozark history with a visit to museums and old-time villages. DELAWARE WATER GAP NATIONAL RECREATION AREA: TRAVEL BRIEF - National parks and national preserves boast some of the most beautiful land in the country, and the Delaware Water Gap is no exception. This park preserves 40 miles of the middle Delaware River and almost 70,000 acres of land along the river's New Jersey and Pennsylvania shores. At the south end of the park, the river cuts eastward through a scenic water gap in the Appalachian Mountains. The park also includes historic Millbrook Village and several environmental education centers. NEW ORLEANS: TRAVEL BRIEF - New Orleans may be large in population, but it hasn't lost its small-town feel. Many families have lived there for generations and pride themselves on the city's classic neighborhoods, Cajun history, and Dixieland jazz. Its most popular tourist attractions, such as Bourbon Street, Jackson Square, the French Quarter, and the Mississippi River, are must-sees, but to get a feel for the heart of the city it is also highly recommended that you visit the jazz clubs and taverns where locals congregate. MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL: TRAVEL BRIEF - Located on opposite sides of on the Mississippi River, Minneapolis and St. Paul were settled in the 19th century. Minneapolis is a major city with a blend of architecture and the city skyline, while St. Paul has preserved much of its Victorian architecture. Popular cultural destinations in Minneapolis include the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis Planetarium, and Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. St. Paul offers the Minnesota Historical Society, the Science Museum of Minnesota, and the Minnesota Children's Museum. Due to the cold winters, these cities have extensive skyway systems that allow people to spend a day in town without ever stepping outdoors. TRAVELING WITH HOLIDAY FOOD - We may not go over the river and through the woods anymore, but many of us still head to Grandmother's house at holiday-time, sometimes with a dish or two to contribute to the Thanksgiving table. And that presents a problem that can affect your health: How to keep hot foods hot, cold foods cold, and all food safe to eat FESTIVALS OF NEW ULM, MINN. - More than a century after Germans settled this town of 14,000, the community above the Minnesota River northwest of Mankato holds fast to its heritage. Greenery and colorful lights trim Minnesota Street, as festivals launch the holiday season. MINNESOTA'S GRAND PORTAGE STATE PARK - You hear the rushing water rumbling like a freight train long before you arrive at the viewing platform near the top of Minnesota's highest waterfall. The Pigeon River crashes between granite boulders that glisten under the warm sun. Then, the river cascades 120 feet down a series of stone ledges in Grand Portage State Park (150 miles northeast of Duluth), bursting into a shroud of mist. MISSOURI RIVER, NE - The year 2004 marks the bicentennial of Lewis and Clark's expedition. But modern-day explorers have already begun retracing the steps of this dynamic duo as they charted their way west. BUCKS COUNTY, PA - When the weather calls for one of those 3H (hazy, hot, and humid) weekends, take some advice from Big Mouth Billy Bass, the singing fish: "Take them to the river!" MISSOURI RIVER, NE - The year 2004 marks the bicentennial of Lewis and Clark's expedition. But modern-day explorers have already begun retracing the steps of this dynamic duo as they charted their way west. LOESS HILLS, IOWA - The Loess Hills, which the wind sculpted from silt deposits as glaciers retreated eons ago, dominate a narrow section of western Iowa in the Big Sioux and Missouri River valleys. The region stretches from Akron (about 25 miles north of Sioux City) south through the Council Bluffs area to Hamburg, just north of the Missouri state line. While the silty loess (pronounced "luss") soil is common, it's accumulated in such proportions in only a few places (Germany, China and Iowa). FORE RIVER SANCTUARY - Fore River Sanctuary, Portland Attraction type: Nature reserve THE TREKKING REGIONS OF GARHWAL AND KUMAON - Garhwal and Kumaon together constitute what is known as Uttarakhand. This is a high mountain region in northern Uttar Pradesh from where the sacred Ganga River originates, draining into the fertile Indo Gangetic plains of North India. Of the two, Garhwal is the western region of Uttarakhand and Kumaon is its TREKKING REGIONS - GARHWAL & KUMAON - PART 2 - The lower hills in this region too are the Shivaliks lying below an altitude of 3,000 m. From West to East ,this is how the trekking regions are oriented. Western Garhwal, bordering Sirmour and Kinnaur of Himachal Preadesh has the Tons River and the Har ki dun Valley, a delightful trekking GANGES: THE RIVER MOTHER - The Ganges is variously called Ganga, Gangai, Mahishmati, Bhaageerathi. By whatever name the Hindus refer call it, the Ganges represents the ultimate clearnser of sins and soiled minds. It is the ingrained wish of every Hindu over the generations to make a pilgrimage to the riverside town of Varanasi (or Kasi) TASMANIAN PLACE NAMES 3 - So, you'd like even more Tasmanian place names? I hope you're game! We'll start today with colour names which include Auburn, Black Creek, Black Hills, Black River, Blackmans Bay, Blackstone Heights, Blackwall, Blackwood Creek, Blue Rocks, Red Hills, Redpa, Blumont, Cornelian Bay, Golden Fleece Rivulet, Albion Heights, Golden Valley, White Beach, CAMPBELL RIVER - THE SALMON CAPITAL OF THE WORLD - Located on the East Coast of central Vancouver Island, this lovely community lies on the shores of Discovery Passage. The natural beauty of the mountains, water and forests make Campbell River & district a wonderful destination. This town of 31,000 people is the gateway to Northern Vancouver Island and as you PRINCE RUPERT - THE NORTHWEST CONNECTION - Prince Rupert is located on Kaien Island at the mouth of the Skeena River on British Columbia's north coast. It is situated 920km (550 miles) north of Vancouver and 65km (40 miles) south of southeast Alaska. Prince Rupert is best known as Canada's marine gateway to Asia and is the second TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR OF DüSSELDORF, THE FW'S CITY OF ORIGIN! - Relax and visit the beauty that is D?sseldorf, take a virtual stroll along the Rhine river, down the K?nigsallee, and through the Altstadt. Enjoy a virtual tour through the art museum, and read fascinating details about this city that grew from just a small village at the river D?ssel. THE RHINE RIVER.GATEWAY TO GERMANY'S SOUL - Originating in the snowy peaks of the Swiss Alps (near Andermatt), the Rhine river is alternately a trickling brook, a raging stream, a breathtaking waterfall, and a last but not least a majestic river. It finally joins with the waters of the North Sea.In 53 B.C. it refused to easily yield BRATISLAVA CASTLE - The imposing silhouette of Bratislava Castle, which is familiar to people throughout the Slovak Republic, can hardly escape the attention of visitors of the capital city Bratislava. The castle is situated on the hill over the river Danube and its visitors can enjoy the view over the Old Town and the FORT QUIATENON'S FEAST OF THE HUNTER'S MOON - Hoosier Hannah visits the famous Feast of the Hunter's Moon, a festival reenactment of the 18th Century Rendezvous of trappers and Native Americans that took place each year in September at Fort Quiatenon on the Wabash River, West Lafayette, Indiana. HOT? GET WET - Hot and Bothered? Good. Now you can chill out at a water park.or in a park.New Trails to FollowFrom ODNR comes this great news: On June 4, the Ohio Water Trails team designated the Kokosing River Water Trail as the first Ohio Water Trail in the state. What's a "Water Trail?" THE NORTH CAROLINA ESTUARIUM - The town of Washington is located on the Pamlico River deep within the heart of eastern North Carolina. The Pamlico River is part of a unique ecosystem called an estuary. Located within Washington and on the banks of the Pamlico River is the North Carolina Estuarium. The North [nce.jpg]Carolina Estuarium exists PADDLING NORTH CAROLINA'S NEW RIVER: PART II - Part I of this series was published in March of 2005. In Part II, I describe some of the details from our time on the New River in August of 1993. PADDLING NORTH CAROLINA'S NEW RIVER: PART I - If you are looking for fun, adventure, good exercise, relaxation, and beautiful scenery all rolled into a single experience, you might want to try a canoe trip on the North Carolina section of the New River. Most famous for its exhilarating white water further north in West Virginia, the North Carolina EXPLORERS FIND SOURCE OF THE AMAZON RIVER - Explorers from an international team sponsored by National Geographic determined the precise source of the Amazon River high in the mountains of Peru late last year. It is a truly historic scientific discovery. EXPLORERS FIND SOURCE OF THE AMAZON RIVER - Explorers from an international team sponsored by National Geographic determined the precise source of the Amazon River high in the mountains of Peru late last year. It is a truly historic scientific discovery. THE BEND IN THE RIVER - Some of the most spectacular scenery in Texas lies out west in the Big Bend region where the Rio Grande makes a gigantic S-curve. This is the sort of landscape associated with the state, especially by those whose mental images of Texas were formed by watching western movies filmed with locations THE BEND IN THE RIVER - Some of the most spectacular scenery in Texas lies out west in the Big Bend region where the Rio Grande makes a gigantic S-curve. This is the sort of landscape associated with the state, especially by those whose mental images of Texas were formed by watching western movies filmed with locations GARDENS OF QUEBEC - Gardens of Quebec In June, eastern Canada along the St. Lawrence River is a gardener's paradise. Here are three reasons why. DESTINATIONS: NEW ZEALAND; BRONX NY - Destinations: New Zealand; Bronx NY According to legend, New Zealand's South Island was formed when the dawn froze 150 shipwrecked gods into mountains. There are worse places to spend eternity... Canoeing the Bronx River... A RIVER LOST IN TIME BUT OPEN FOR TRAVEL - A River Lost in Time But Open for Travel Although not yet officially announced, the Mekong border crossing has been reopened to foreigners, allowing river travel from the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh to southern Laos for the first time in half a century... MACAU OFFERS A FUSION OF FLAVORS -- BY THE TON - Macau Offers a Fusion of Flavors -- By the Ton Centuries before the term fusion was invented, it was cooked up in this former Portuguese outpost across the Pearl River Delta from Hong Kong... CANOEING THE ZAMBEZI - Canoeing the Zambezi Our river guide Solomon gave us a few pointers before we shoved our canoes into the Zambezi River and began a three-day, thirty-mile paddle through Zimbabwe's Mana Pools National Park... ROOMS WITH A VIEW - Rooms with a View Aaah, what's not to like about snuggling up to a warm fire with a loved one and glass of wine after a day on the river? Why nothing, of course, and that's why we've compiled the following list of river lodges where pampering comes into play as much as paddling... WAKE UP TO THE SUNSHINE COAST - Wake Up to the Sunshine Coast Explore nature's playground at Powell River and Lund, British Columbia THAILAND: DETOUR - Thailand: Detour Umphang's superlative Mae Klong river THE ALLURE OF LUANG PRABANG - The Allure of Luang Prabang This spectacular, unspoiled, river-flooded town, set in northern Laos, turns the clock back to the 19th century. A STROLL ON THE SOUTH BANK - A Stroll on the South Bank An afternoon spent on the River Thames' Jubilee Walkway offers an intense dose of London art and entertainment. RIDING THE WILD COLORADO - Riding the Wild Colorado Strategies for taking America's ultimate river trip. OZARK MOUNTAIN DAREDEVILS - Ozark Mountain Daredevils On river and ridge in Arkansas: Day 1 - Most paddlers do the ten-mile (16-kilometer) run to Kyles Landing in one day, but camping gives you time to explore... Day 2 - Hit the water early, then break at river mile 35.8 to hike to... etc. SOUTHBOUND ON THE MEKONG - Southbound on the Mekong The best way to catch a ride in Laos hasn't changed in centuries. Just walk down to the Mekong River and hop on a cargo boat headed your way. LAOS BY RIVERBOAT - Laos by Riverboat Along the Mekong River, Southeast Asia's superhighway, Laos is one small country that delivers big. DRY RUN ON THE RIVER OF SORROWS - Dry Run on the River of Sorrows The Dolores used to be one of the mightiest whitewater rivers in the West. Then politics and dry weather got in the way. But neither drought nor dam nor partisan bickering can stop the author from floating (and walking and driving) the entire course of the Rio de Nuestra Senora de los Dolores. FIND YOUR FLOW - Find Your Flow We've zeroed in on the best blue-ribbon river trips in North America--from remote rapids to meandering flatwater--for getting wet, wild, and recharged. Also recommended gear. THE RIVER WILDER - The River Wilder A Thoreauvian river trip through Maine's North Woods. LIVING IT UP IN ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA - Living it up in Asheville, North Carolina If you're tempted by stunning mountains, awesome river access, and a lifestyle that mixes play into each day, then be warned: These photos may move you to relocate. THE GRAND RIVER RIDE - The Grand River Ride You too can follow in the wake of John Wesley Powell down the Colorado on an adventure trip. BRAZILIAN BUSHWACKER - Brazilian Bushwacker Taking Buccaneer Yachts' hull No. 1 up an uncharted river in Brazil called for guts, guile and one tough trawler. UNTOUCHED NUNAVUT - Untouched Nunavut This adventurer/photographer was eager to see Canada's Burnside Falls and the region's prolific wildlife, so she set off with her husband to raft the frigid river. CHINA PHOTO ESSAY 2 - China Photo Essay 2 Photos of Wuhan, the Hubei Province and the Three Gorges: The Museum of Jinzhou in Jinzhaou, Hubei Province... Hubei Provincial Museum, Wuhan... Cruising on the Yangtze River to experience the Three Gorges... SAFARI ON THE SALMON RIVER - Safari on the Salmon River We began our 86-mile float down the Salmon River with the sun shining and snow-bright clouds mushrooming on the horizon. By the time we pulled into Magpie Beach for lunch the clouds had turned kettle black and let loose on our tostada salads. THERE & BACK - There & Back Temple and Vivian Harris raft the Zambezi River, Africa. EAGLES SOAR - Eagles Soar A great place to find Bald Eagles in the winter is to head to northern Washington state, to the Nooksack River valley and the Skagit River valley. THE RIVER WILD - The River Wild Extreme-sports fans head down to the Zambezi for the ride of their lives. Expert guides lead river boarders into violent Class IV and V rapids with dangerous drops and irregular currents and names like Stairway to Heaven and Oblivion. USA: SOUTHEAST, FAMILY CAMPS FOR THE FUN. - Family camp requires no management skills. From exotic up-close animal encounters at Busch Gardens or mother/daughter sailing lessons in North Carolina to space simulations at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville or river rafting at Ace Adventure in West Virginia. Family camps make it easy to be a kid with your kids. CZECH REPUBLIC: TAKING THE KIDS. - European cities provide storybook scenes and marvelous experiences to share with kids. From freshly baked sweets and hand dipped chocolates to funiculars and river boats Prague does not disappoint. Many American movies and television shows were shot in Prague. Episodes of Mission Impossible and Alias as well as Spy Game, Amadeus and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Known for celebrating music in a grand style, 2006 is reserved for Mozart. Go for the music and enjoy the city. ? FLORIDA: LAKE BUENA VISTA, WATER FUN AT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT. - Take a ferry excursion across Seven Seas Lagoon or ride the Norwegian river adventure at Epcot. Experience an encounter with a flash flood at Disney-MGM Studios or splash through a white-water raft ride at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Take a plunge down a mountainside in a hollowed-out log in Magic Kingdom. Plus. UTAH: MOAB, GOING DOWN THE GREEN RIVER WITH THE KIDS. - It is not easy to stay in touch with active grandkids. Their schedules are as hectic as those of adults. It seems that each week brings one more way for children to pretend to do something that is like "real life". I have visited almost-to-scale models and waited bench-side near thrill rides. No more! My advice to parents and grandparents, get real. ILLINOIS: CHICAGO, TAKING THE KIDS. - From the beauty of Lake Michigan and Grant Park to the fireboats on the Chicago River, Chicago is an awesome place. The parks are better than ever and the Sears Tower is still a thrill when it is not in the clouds. Best of all Chicago has traditional neighborhoods easy for visitors to find and to enjoy. Street fairs in the warmer months seem to run continuously; all of them free.?Imagine unending possibilities for fun. Trying a new pizza place every night could take months. The city offers a true glimpse of the creative energy found in the heartland of America. FLORIDA: VERO BEACH, FAMILY VACATION TREASURES. - Beginning with real gold from sunken Spanish galleons; miles of world-class beaches; easy flowing estuaries; woodland pathways; moonlight paddles; turtle quests; surfing and kayaking, Indian River County, on Florida's Central East Coast, is loaded with delightfully affordable family vacation treasures. They've got the fun stuff to make memories. TEXAS: SAN ANTONIO, TAKING THE KIDS. - Texas: San Antonio, Taking the Kids. The city is really a vacation playground for families. From beautiful Brackenridge Park with the Witte Museum and the San Antonio Zoo to the lively city center with the energizing River Walk and the historic Alamo, the city is spunky and fun. ENGLAND: CYCLING THE ROYAL THAMES VALLEY. - The River Thames is England's royal thoroughfare - for centuries, kings and queens used it as a link between their palaces and castles. Along its meandering course, much of the nation's history has been written. WEST VIRGINIA: OAK HILL, ROCK AND REPEL WITH ACE ADVENTURE. - Staring out over the New River Valley Gorge, adrenaline pumping through my system and rain soaking everything I should have been miserable or scared. Strangely, I was neither. That's saying something for someone that's as terrified of heights as I am. Sitting there, looking out at such an incredibly beautiful view, I felt such an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. WEST VIRGINIA: OAK HILL, ACE ADVENTURE CENTER, SURFING THE RIVER. - I could hear the screams of delight; bodies of all shapes and sizes were bounced about as each raft navigated the first rapid on the New River. Soaked by the first rapid and my heart pounding, I could see more whitewater and more fun ahead. I knew it was going to be a vacation to remember. AMERICA: RUNNING WITH THE DOGS. - Dog sledding is a moving ceremonial salute to winter. It begins when the dogs make the first eye contact with potential riders. The musher (the commander to them) positions the sled and connects the harnesses. The dogs commence to bark/sing in unison. The translation, 'Me too.me too.choose me, me, me.' USA: FAMILY CAMP VACATIONS--PURE FUN WITH KIDS. - Each summer millions of kids enjoy time away from home at sleepover camps. The idea is fun times ten. For parents just a little envious of the concept there is a practical solution "family camp". Growing in popularity, family camp requires adults to let go for a little while. No management skills needed just show up with the kids and enjoy the experience. Family camp, just like a river rafting trip or a family adventure tour, requires paying attention to the fun and enjoying the good stuff. USA: WESTERN EDGE, FAMILY CAMPS JUST FOR FUN. - Ever been a tad jealous when reading about the fun planned for you kids at summer sleepover camp? You are not alone. The good news is there are family camps to fit all family types and some of the best are in the west. Imagine kayaking with dolphins off the California coast or fort-building under giant sequoias. Try river rafting with the kids or watch elk graze at sunset. From square dancing to storytelling family camps offer memory making experiences with or without green Jello. USA: MOUNTAINS WEST, FAMILY CAMPS JUST FOR FUN. - Having fun with the kids while someone else takes care of the details, that is the basic idea of family camp. From square dancing to storytelling family camps offer memory making experiences with or without green Jello. Hike a rocky mountain path; try river rafting with the kids; watch elk graze at sunset or count stars from a cozy sleeping bag. Make one-of-a-kind memories. MASSACHUSETTS: CAMBRIDGE, BE TREATED LIKE A JEDI KNIGHT. - It's neither a long time ago nor in a galaxy far, far away - May the force be with you as you experience the Museum of Science's outstanding exhibit which highlights numerous parallels between technologies in the Star Wars films and real-world technology. Encounter new technologies and witness first-hand intriguing similarities between how scientists and filmmakers think while you discover high level guest service and thoughtful amenities at the Hotel Marlowe, a AAA Four-Diamond hotel located along the banks of Charles River overlooking Boston. USA: FAMILY CAMPS WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. - There are family camps to fit all family types. Some are pure camps that allow adults along with kids and some are hybrids that are really resorts with great activity programs. Some of the best are connected with museums and universities. All create opportunities for families to enjoy each other while having fun while someone else takes care of the details. FLORIDA: SUWANNEE RIVER, CHILL YOUR TOES IN PURE WATER. - Introducing kids to nature is the fun stuff. No script needed, Mother Nature provides a wide range of perfect settings to create adventures large and small. Along the dark and mysterious Suwannee River nature is at its best. Three remarkable parks, Manatee, Fanning and Hart, provide marvelous connecting points with the cooler side of Florida. QUEBEC: LAURENTIANS, FAMILY FUN NORTH OF MONTREAL. - The Laurentians are magnificent in the winter, thick with snow and stripped with bark shadows. Maple sugaring and marvelous French Canadian music make this resort appealing even if the snow is gone. FAMILYFUN: FAMILYFUN - MISSISSIPPI RIVER ROAD TRIP - Mark Twain's Hannibal, Missouri is alive and well WENATCHEE RIVER SALMON FESTIVAL IN WASHINGTON - See how salmon are bred in captivity and how they manage on their own in the wild FAMILYFUN: FAMILYFUN - FROM MANHATTAN TO WEST POINT - Take a trip up the Hudson River DESTINATIONS: GRAND CANYON : RAFTING THE GRAND CANYON - OK, this isn't for little kids, but if your kids are a little older and more adventerous, there is no better way to see the Grand Canyon than to raft down the middle of it. When you're deep inside the Canyon, you experience it differently. You get to watch the colors change on the walls throughout the day, you get to explore its cracks and crevicies and you ride on the river that created it. It's truly a once in a lifetime experience. DESTINATIONS GRAND CANYON - It is a big hole. Lots of rock, a tiny, tiny river down at the bottom, pretty hot in the summer. At least that's how we joked about seeing the Grand Canyon on the way there; our oldest asked (first time funny, 167th time not as funny) "Are we just gonna look into a big hole for five days?" DESTINATIONS: SINGAPORE : THINGS TO DO: BOAT RIDE - For those who watched enough PBS to know that "bum" means "butt" in British English, it is unclear why the small cargo boats that used to work the Singapore River are called "bum boats" but they are, and you can now sit your bum down in them and enjoy a very pleasant ride. The boats include not stupid recorded commentary about the historic and cultural things you'll see, and provide a very cooling break from walking around Singapore's Colonial area. Plus, thirsty Moms and Dads, we found if you ask nicely the boat driver will drop you off on the opposite side of the river from whence you board, right in front of about a million eating and drinking places on Clarke or Boat Quays. DESTINATIONS: TOKYO : WHAT TO DO: SUMIDA RIVER LINE RIVER CRUISES - In Paris the boats that cruise the Seine take you under bridges hundreds of years old, bridges that maybe some famous French person crossed, or at least looked at. In Tokyo, the Sumida River Line boat passes under 12 bridges, some of which are concrete and stone, others which are stone and concrete. The river banks are encased in concrete (gray with black streaks as is traditional in old Edo) and the water is murky. If your kid fell in he would never grow hair again. DESTINATIONS: BANGKOK SOME THINGS TO SEE AND DO: WATER TAXI - This turned out to be one of the unexpected way fun things that makes travel worth doing. Bangkok sits alongside a wide river, and is interlaced with canals. Many have been filled in over the years as cars outpaced boats, but water travel is still very much a real thing in the city. FAMILY HIKING IN OREGON'S CASCADES - DEEP in the woods six miles up from the Columbia River in Oregon, the people who ... DREAM HOUSE WITH SCENIC VIEW IS ENVIRONMENTALISTS' NIGHTMARE - Perched on a gusty bluff high above the Columbia River, the dream house that Brian ... HERS - LEAD: I DREAMED my daughter before I had her. I dreamed her on a Yangtze River ... ON THE ROAD; COSMOPOLITAN MAKEOVER FOR A TIDEWATER BACKWATER - Hampton Roads, the natural harbor where the James River and several lesser streams ... JOURNEYS: 36 HOURS \| EUGENE, ORE. - IN 1846, a New Yorker named Eugene Skinner settled along the Willamette River. He ... HAVENS: WEEKENDER \| JIM THORPE, PA. - JIM THORPE, a picturesque Lehigh River village at the base of steep mountains, is a ... TRAVEL ADVISORY: THE HUDSON VALLEY OPENS ITS DOORS AND OUTDOORS - In what amounts to a 10-county open house, the Hudson River Valley National Heritage ... A DUTCH TOUR BY BIKE - EVERYTHING in the Netherlands is on the smallest scale: the River Ijssel, once the ... JOURNEYS: 36 HOURS \| EUGENE, ORE. - IN 1846, a New Yorker named Eugene Skinner settled along the Willamette River. He ... HAVENS: WEEKENDER \| JIM THORPE, PA. - JIM THORPE, a picturesque Lehigh River village at the base of steep mountains, is a ... TRAVEL ADVISORY: THE HUDSON VALLEY OPENS ITS DOORS AND OUTDOORS - In what amounts to a 10-county open house, the Hudson River Valley National Heritage ... A DUTCH TOUR BY BIKE - EVERYTHING in the Netherlands is on the smallest scale: the River Ijssel, once the ... THE TREKKING REGIONS OF GARHWAL AND KUMAON - Garhwal and Kumaon together constitute what is known as Uttarakhand. This is a high mountain region in northern Uttar Pradesh from where the sacred Ganga River originates, draining into the fertile Indo Gangetic plains of North India. Of the two, Garhwal is the western region of Uttarakhand and Kumaon is its TREKKING REGIONS - GARHWAL & KUMAON - PART 2 - The lower hills in this region too are the Shivaliks lying below an altitude of 3,000 m. From West to East ,this is how the trekking regions are oriented. Western Garhwal, bordering Sirmour and Kinnaur of Himachal Preadesh has the Tons River and the Har ki dun Valley, a delightful trekking GANGES: THE RIVER MOTHER - The Ganges is variously called Ganga, Gangai, Mahishmati, Bhaageerathi. By whatever name the Hindus refer call it, the Ganges represents the ultimate clearnser of sins and soiled minds. It is the ingrained wish of every Hindu over the generations to make a pilgrimage to the riverside town of Varanasi (or Kasi) TASMANIAN PLACE NAMES 3 - So, you'd like even more Tasmanian place names? I hope you're game! We'll start today with colour names which include Auburn, Black Creek, Black Hills, Black River, Blackmans Bay, Blackstone Heights, Blackwall, Blackwood Creek, Blue Rocks, Red Hills, Redpa, Blumont, Cornelian Bay, Golden Fleece Rivulet, Albion Heights, Golden Valley, White Beach, CAMPBELL RIVER - THE SALMON CAPITAL OF THE WORLD - Located on the East Coast of central Vancouver Island, this lovely community lies on the shores of Discovery Passage. The natural beauty of the mountains, water and forests make Campbell River & district a wonderful destination. This town of 31,000 people is the gateway to Northern Vancouver Island and as you PRINCE RUPERT - THE NORTHWEST CONNECTION - Prince Rupert is located on Kaien Island at the mouth of the Skeena River on British Columbia's north coast. It is situated 920km (550 miles) north of Vancouver and 65km (40 miles) south of southeast Alaska. Prince Rupert is best known as Canada's marine gateway to Asia and is the second TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR OF DüSSELDORF, THE FW'S CITY OF ORIGIN! - Relax and visit the beauty that is D?sseldorf, take a virtual stroll along the Rhine river, down the K?nigsallee, and through the Altstadt. Enjoy a virtual tour through the art museum, and read fascinating details about this city that grew from just a small village at the river D?ssel. THE RHINE RIVER.GATEWAY TO GERMANY'S SOUL - Originating in the snowy peaks of the Swiss Alps (near Andermatt), the Rhine river is alternately a trickling brook, a raging stream, a breathtaking waterfall, and a last but not least a majestic river. It finally joins with the waters of the North Sea.In 53 B.C. it refused to easily yield BRATISLAVA CASTLE - The imposing silhouette of Bratislava Castle, which is familiar to people throughout the Slovak Republic, can hardly escape the attention of visitors of the capital city Bratislava. The castle is situated on the hill over the river Danube and its visitors can enjoy the view over the Old Town and the FORT QUIATENON'S FEAST OF THE HUNTER'S MOON - Hoosier Hannah visits the famous Feast of the Hunter's Moon, a festival reenactment of the 18th Century Rendezvous of trappers and Native Americans that took place each year in September at Fort Quiatenon on the Wabash River, West Lafayette, Indiana. HOT? GET WET - Hot and Bothered? Good. Now you can chill out at a water park.or in a park.New Trails to FollowFrom ODNR comes this great news: On June 4, the Ohio Water Trails team designated the Kokosing River Water Trail as the first Ohio Water Trail in the state. What's a "Water Trail?" THE NORTH CAROLINA ESTUARIUM - The town of Washington is located on the Pamlico River deep within the heart of eastern North Carolina. The Pamlico River is part of a unique ecosystem called an estuary. Located within Washington and on the banks of the Pamlico River is the North Carolina Estuarium. The North [nce.jpg]Carolina Estuarium exists PADDLING NORTH CAROLINA'S NEW RIVER: PART II - Part I of this series was published in March of 2005. In Part II, I describe some of the details from our time on the New River in August of 1993. PADDLING NORTH CAROLINA'S NEW RIVER: PART I - If you are looking for fun, adventure, good exercise, relaxation, and beautiful scenery all rolled into a single experience, you might want to try a canoe trip on the North Carolina section of the New River. Most famous for its exhilarating white water further north in West Virginia, the North Carolina THE NORTH CAROLINA ESTUARIUM - The town of Washington is located on the Pamlico River deep within the heart of eastern North Carolina. The Pamlico River is part of a unique ecosystem called an estuary. Located within Washington and on the banks of the Pamlico River is the North Carolina Estuarium. The North [nce.jpg]Carolina Estuarium exists PADDLING NORTH CAROLINA'S NEW RIVER: PART II - Part I of this series was published in March of 2005. In Part II, I describe some of the details from our time on the New River in August of 1993. PADDLING NORTH CAROLINA'S NEW RIVER: PART I - If you are looking for fun, adventure, good exercise, relaxation, and beautiful scenery all rolled into a single experience, you might want to try a canoe trip on the North Carolina section of the New River. Most famous for its exhilarating white water further north in West Virginia, the North Carolina EXPLORERS FIND SOURCE OF THE AMAZON RIVER - Explorers from an international team sponsored by National Geographic determined the precise source of the Amazon River high in the mountains of Peru late last year. It is a truly historic scientific discovery. THE BEND IN THE RIVER - Some of the most spectacular scenery in Texas lies out west in the Big Bend region where the Rio Grande makes a gigantic S-curve. This is the sort of landscape associated with the state, especially by those whose mental images of Texas were formed by watching western movies filmed with locations DESTINATIONS: GRAND CANYON : RAFTING THE GRAND CANYON - OK, this isn't for little kids, but if your kids are a little older and more adventerous, there is no better way to see the Grand Canyon than to raft down the middle of it. When you're deep inside the Canyon, you experience it differently. You get to watch the colors change on the walls throughout the day, you get to explore its cracks and crevicies and you ride on the river that created it. It's truly a once in a lifetime experience. DESTINATIONS GRAND CANYON - It is a big hole. Lots of rock, a tiny, tiny river down at the bottom, pretty hot in the summer. At least that's how we joked about seeing the Grand Canyon on the way there; our oldest asked (first time funny, 167th time not as funny) "Are we just gonna look into a big hole for five days?" DESTINATIONS: SINGAPORE : THINGS TO DO: BOAT RIDE - For those who watched enough PBS to know that "bum" means "butt" in British English, it is unclear why the small cargo boats that used to work the Singapore River are called "bum boats" but they are, and you can now sit your bum down in them and enjoy a very pleasant ride. The boats include not stupid recorded commentary about the historic and cultural things you'll see, and provide a very cooling break from walking around Singapore's Colonial area. Plus, thirsty Moms and Dads, we found if you ask nicely the boat driver will drop you off on the opposite side of the river from whence you board, right in front of about a million eating and drinking places on Clarke or Boat Quays. DESTINATIONS: TOKYO : WHAT TO DO: SUMIDA RIVER LINE RIVER CRUISES - In Paris the boats that cruise the Seine take you under bridges hundreds of years old, bridges that maybe some famous French person crossed, or at least looked at. In Tokyo, the Sumida River Line boat passes under 12 bridges, some of which are concrete and stone, others which are stone and concrete. The river banks are encased in concrete (gray with black streaks as is traditional in old Edo) and the water is murky. If your kid fell in he would never grow hair again. DESTINATIONS: BANGKOK SOME THINGS TO SEE AND DO: WATER TAXI - This turned out to be one of the unexpected way fun things that makes travel worth doing. Bangkok sits alongside a wide river, and is interlaced with canals. Many have been filled in over the years as cars outpaced boats, but water travel is still very much a real thing in the city. DESTINATIONS: GRAND CANYON : RAFTING THE GRAND CANYON - OK, this isn't for little kids, but if your kids are a little older and more adventerous, there is no better way to see the Grand Canyon than to raft down the middle of it. When you're deep inside the Canyon, you experience it differently. You get to watch the colors change on the walls throughout the day, you get to explore its cracks and crevicies and you ride on the river that created it. It's truly a once in a lifetime experience. DESTINATIONS GRAND CANYON - It is a big hole. Lots of rock, a tiny, tiny river down at the bottom, pretty hot in the summer. At least that's how we joked about seeing the Grand Canyon on the way there; our oldest asked (first time funny, 167th time not as funny) "Are we just gonna look into a big hole for five days?" DESTINATIONS: SINGAPORE : THINGS TO DO: BOAT RIDE - For those who watched enough PBS to know that "bum" means "butt" in British English, it is unclear why the small cargo boats that used to work the Singapore River are called "bum boats" but they are, and you can now sit your bum down in them and enjoy a very pleasant ride. The boats include not stupid recorded commentary about the historic and cultural things you'll see, and provide a very cooling break from walking around Singapore's Colonial area. Plus, thirsty Moms and Dads, we found if you ask nicely the boat driver will drop you off on the opposite side of the river from whence you board, right in front of about a million eating and drinking places on Clarke or Boat Quays. DESTINATIONS: TOKYO : WHAT TO DO: SUMIDA RIVER LINE RIVER CRUISES - In Paris the boats that cruise the Seine take you under bridges hundreds of years old, bridges that maybe some famous French person crossed, or at least looked at. In Tokyo, the Sumida River Line boat passes under 12 bridges, some of which are concrete and stone, others which are stone and concrete. The river banks are encased in concrete (gray with black streaks as is traditional in old Edo) and the water is murky. If your kid fell in he would never grow hair again. DESTINATIONS: BANGKOK SOME THINGS TO SEE AND DO: WATER TAXI - This turned out to be one of the unexpected way fun things that makes travel worth doing. Bangkok sits alongside a wide river, and is interlaced with canals. Many have been filled in over the years as cars outpaced boats, but water travel is still very much a real thing in the city. A SOLDIER'S WIFE - Renee Calderon, 31, a former schoolteacher from the Bronx, NY, says she has what many consider the most difficult job in the world -- she's a military wife and mother. Her husband, Enrique (Rick), 25, also from the Bronx, is a corporal in the United States Marines, and is stationed in Kuwait. As a heavy equipment operator and engineer, he works on building runways for planes to land and camps for prisoners of war. Rick has been in the military for four years and recently reenlisted at Marine Corps Air Station New River, located in Jacksonville, N.C. The couple lives in nearby Camp Lejeune with their son, Sean, born in August 2002. CONFESSIONS OF A HAPPY MOM - My 6-year-old son Carter is studying lantern fish. He tells me they are bioluminescent -- "that means they glow from within, Mom." He calls me Mom instead of Mommy, or Mama, now that he is 6. He has blue eyes the color of a river, sandy blonde hair, and a gap-toothed smile. He is so beautiful it takes my breath away. At least once a day, I try to make a point of seeing him as he is. If I blink I can imagine the young man he will become. If I close my eyes I can remember the baby in my arms. It's topsy-turvy, this business of being Mom. 10 WAYS TO IDENTIFY IF YOUR MOVER IS RIGHT FOR YOU - If you manage to find the right mover then half the battle is won. One of the greatest challenges of moving from one city to another, to the countryside, or abroad is locating an efficient and honest mover. ( VACATION IDEAS: HIKING IN BRANDYWINE CREEK STATE PARK - Brandywine Park, Delaware's first, is a hiker's paradise, including a protected grove of the tallest tulip polar trees on the East Coast. HIKING PENNSYLVANIA'S GRAND CANYON - An 800-foot deep gorge carved by Pine Creek, known as Pennsylvania's Grand Canyon, is a popular spot for hikers of all abilities. SKI WOLF CREEK, PAGOSA SPRINGS, COLORADO - Wolf Creek Ski Area, is just 25 miles Pagosa Springs, SW Colorado. It is a wonderful family and snow board friendly non-resort resort. THE BATTLE AT VICKSBURG - The battle at Vicksburg can be remembered aboard the tour through Vicksburg National Military Park, recreate this historical battle of the civil war. HIKING FRENCH CREEK STATE PARK TRAILS - French Creek State Park, with more than 40 miles of heavily forested trails, is a premier destination for hikers in southeastern Pennsylvania. HIKING RIDLEY CREEK STATE PARK, PENNSYLVANIA - A working farm for over 250 years, Ridley Creek State Park is now a popular destination for hikers just outside Philadelphia. VISITING COWPENS NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD - During the American Revolution the Continental Congress awarded only 14 medals and three were given for heroism at Cowpens near Chesnee, South Carolina. VISITING CHATTANOOGA - National Military Park, United States, Tennessee, Civil War, Chattanooga, Chickamauga, Georgia, Battle of Lookout Mountain, Aquarium, Craven's House, THE BATTLE OF THE ALAMO 1835 - Historical and tourist information on visiting The Alamo in San Antonio, Texas and other points of interest in the area. CIVIL WAR TRAVEL DESTINATION: MANASSAS BATTLEFIELD - Manassas battle field, or Bull Run, is the site of the first major battle of America's Civil War. So in July of 1861 union and confederate forces fought. HIKING FRENCH CREEK STATE PARK TRAILS - French Creek State Park, with more than 40 miles of heavily forested trails, is a premier destination for hikers in southeastern Pennsylvania. HIKING RIDLEY CREEK STATE PARK, PENNSYLVANIA - A working farm for over 250 years, Ridley Creek State Park is now a popular destination for hikers just outside Philadelphia. VISITING COWPENS NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD - During the American Revolution the Continental Congress awarded only 14 medals and three were given for heroism at Cowpens near Chesnee, South Carolina. VISITING CHATTANOOGA - National Military Park, United States, Tennessee, Civil War, Chattanooga, Chickamauga, Georgia, Battle of Lookout Mountain, Aquarium, Craven's House, CIVIL WAR TRAVEL DESTINATION: MANASSAS BATTLEFIELD - Manassas battle field, or Bull Run, is the site of the first major battle of America's Civil War. So in July of 1861 union and confederate forces fought. CEDARBURG, WIS. - German and Irish immigrants who first settled in Cedarburg during the 1840s built five dams and mills to take advantage of the fast-running creek that cuts through the cedar trees and stone-strewn fields 20 miles north of Milwaukee. The refurbished mills, saved from the wrecking ball in the 1970s, attracted artists and crafters. CEDARBURG, WIS. - German and Irish immigrants who first settled in Cedarburg during the 1840s built five dams and mills to take advantage of the fast-running creek that cuts through the cedar trees and stone-strewn fields 20 miles north of Milwaukee. The refurbished mills, saved from the wrecking ball in the 1970s, attracted artists and crafters. FOOD TO BLOODY BATTLES - SEPTEMBER IN SHROPSHIRE - With the last Bank Holiday before Christmas now over it is clear that the year is speeding to a close. However Shropshire provides a great range of events in September. From the famous Ludlow Food Festival to the re-enactment of a bloody battle the county once again gives visitors an array SUMMER IN DANMARK: THE COPENHAGEN INTERNATIONAL FASHION FAIR - The Battle of Europe TASMANIAN PLACE NAMES 3 - So, you'd like even more Tasmanian place names? I hope you're game! We'll start today with colour names which include Auburn, Black Creek, Black Hills, Black River, Blackmans Bay, Blackstone Heights, Blackwall, Blackwood Creek, Blue Rocks, Red Hills, Redpa, Blumont, Cornelian Bay, Golden Fleece Rivulet, Albion Heights, Golden Valley, White Beach, INDIANA AUTUMN - Suite 101.com's Hoosier Hannah waxes lyrical about Fall in her native Indiana as the Sandhill cranes and Whooping cranes fly south to Florida and the Canadian Geese clean the soy bean and corn fields after harvest. She takes us to the annual Fall Festivals at Billy Creek Village and Nashville to ROAD KILL IN THE MOUNTAINS - (Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in "From the Creek Bed", a now defunct online column on Central Appalachia, in February of 1998, shortly after the bill was approved. It is used here with the authori's permission, which was easy to obtain since the author was me...) ROAD KILL IN THE MOUNTAINS - (Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in "From the Creek Bed", a now defunct online column on Central Appalachia, in February of 1998, shortly after the bill was approved. It is used here with the authori's permission, which was easy to obtain since the author was me...) SAND CREEK REVISITED - The morning of November 29, 1864, dawned cold and cloudy for the members of the Cheyenne tribe led by Chief Black Kettle. The 163 men, women, and children were camped at Sand Creek, in southeastern Colorado on the orders of the US military and Colorado governor John Evans. Their encampment was WHERE JOHN WAYNE FILMED 'THE ALAMO' - One of the most popular tourist attractions in Texas is the Alamo, site of the historic battle in 1836 during the Texas Revolution. Many of the visitors are surprised to find the historic structure situated in the shadow of skyscrapers in downtown San Antonio. Some remember seeing the familiar facade of SAND CREEK REVISITED - The morning of November 29, 1864, dawned cold and cloudy for the members of the Cheyenne tribe led by Chief Black Kettle. The 163 men, women, and children were camped at Sand Creek, in southeastern Colorado on the orders of the US military and Colorado governor John Evans. Their encampment was WHERE JOHN WAYNE FILMED 'THE ALAMO' - One of the most popular tourist attractions in Texas is the Alamo, site of the historic battle in 1836 during the Texas Revolution. Many of the visitors are surprised to find the historic structure situated in the shadow of skyscrapers in downtown San Antonio. Some remember seeing the familiar facade of REPRODUCTIVE EMERGENCY - Reproductive Emergency Casual supporters of abortion rights may be unimpressed when the National Organization for Women (NOW) declares an official state of emergency in the battle over reproductive choice. But the more you know about threats to choice, the more you share NOW's sense of urgency... THE BATTLE OVER BIRTH - The Battle Over Birth With elective C-sections, detailed birth plans and better medication, European women are demanding control over the birth process. But cash-strapped medical systems are fighting back. Who decides how we are born now? PURVEYORS OF DECEIT: WHY PBS MUST YANK 'BREAKING THE SILENCE' - Purveyors of Deceit: Why PBS Must Yank 'Breaking the Silence' The film falsely portrays one mother as a sympathetic underdog doing heroic battle against a legal system that was biased against women while undermining the fact that dads who go through a divorce often face a hellacious struggle trying to stay involved in their kids' lives. SHEIKHS + FREAKS - Sheikhs + Freaks The Rise and Fall and Exile and Triumphant Possible Return of Rod of Massachusetts to the Battle-Torn Bedouin Kingdom of Dahab THAILAND'S HUA HIN RESORT HAS THE ROYAL TOUCH - Thailand's Hua Hin Resort Has the Royal Touch Southeast Asia's battle of the beaches has been raging since sun, surf and sand became a holiday Holy Grail to hordes of package tourists from cooler climes. Each season trumpets the discovery of yet another dream beach. PAPOOSE CREEK LODGE - Papoose Creek Lodge Roger and Cindy Lang became legends to environmentalists when they exchanged their Silicon Valley lives for a 25,000-acre Montana ranch, then leased the water rights to a trout-conservation group. A few years later, the Langs built their new friends an exclusive retreat. HOTEL SITES - Hotel Sites Forget reality television. For real competition, check out the major hotel reservation sites. In a Survivor-like battle for market share, each site promises exclusive rates for thousands of hotels that won't be beat elsewhere. Alas, not all of these deals are so hot -- or so exclusive. POINTS OF INTEREST - ON CLIPPED WINGS - Points of Interest - On Clipped Wings As America's first black military pilots, Tuskegee airmen faced a battle against racism. In 1998, the National Park Service established the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site. IF YOU GO - If You Go Indian Creek Ranch, located 36 miles northwest of Salmon, Idaho, offers accommodations from March to November. UP THE CREEK - Up The Creek The big problem with booking travel online is the gnawing sense that you've left a great deal on the table. Kayak.com tries to allay your worry by searching dozens of travel sites at once. DRY CREEK SURGES - Dry Creek Surges Always known for its Zinfandels, this Sonoma Valley wine region is worth a visit for friendly tasting rooms pouring Rhone varieties and the quirky charm of Healdsburg. UP FISH CREEK - Up Fish Creek The Fish Creek House Bed and Breakfast is a beautiful log home located on forty acres with gorgeous views of the mountains. WINNING THE BATTLE - AWARD REDEMPTION IN 2006 - Winning The Battle - Award Redemption in 2006 With most airline flights full of paying passengers, it might come as a surprise that there's hope that you, too, can really get the award you want. But it's not always an easy fight. WEST VIRGINIA: FAYETTEVILLE, TAKING THE KIDS TO OPOSSUM CREEK RETREAT. - Fresh-cut flowers and scrumptious home-baked cookies welcomed us to the farmhouse at Possum Creek and proved to be a sign of good things to come. The cookies, a signature recipe baked by our host, disappeared in less than 20 minutes; we enjoyed the flowers the rest of the week. CALIFORNIA: THE REDWOODS, DRIVES AND HIKES FOR FAMILIES. - RNP is actually a linchpin component of a quartet of areas known as Redwood National and State Parks Supporting California State components include Prairie Creek Redwoods, Norte Coast Redwoods, and Jedediah Smith Redwoods. CARIBBEAN: VIRGIN GORDA BVI, BIRAS CREEK RESORT. - Secluded, deluxe and almost dreamy, this is the location for families with a desire too get away from it all. Accessible only by boat, this is one of the Caribbean's secret places. This Relais and Chateaux property frequently offers a "Family Getaway Package." PARENT-CHILD POWER STRUGGLES: AVOIDING FUTURE BATTLES - Our parenting expert shows you how to resolve your parent-child battles for control and how to lessen the chances of future struggles. WHERE TO STAY IN VAIL AND BEAVER CREEK, CO - Ready for a winter ski trip? These hotels, in a variety of price ranges, welcome families. SURVIVING VACATION (IT'S A FAMILY BATTLE) - IT'S August, and Americans are on the move. In airplanes, rowboats, hiking boots, vans ... HEADS UP \| MARMARTH, N.D.; DIGGING UP DINOSAUR BONES IN THE FOSSIL-RICH BADLANDS - THE gullies and buttes of the Dakotas and Montana are home to the Hell Creek ... EXPLORING THE DARKER SIDE OF OKINAWA - IT has been half a century since the Battle of Okinawa, but in the inky depths of ... TASMANIAN PLACE NAMES 3 - So, you'd like even more Tasmanian place names? I hope you're game! We'll start today with colour names which include Auburn, Black Creek, Black Hills, Black River, Blackmans Bay, Blackstone Heights, Blackwall, Blackwood Creek, Blue Rocks, Red Hills, Redpa, Blumont, Cornelian Bay, Golden Fleece Rivulet, Albion Heights, Golden Valley, White Beach, INDIANA AUTUMN - Suite 101.com's Hoosier Hannah waxes lyrical about Fall in her native Indiana as the Sandhill cranes and Whooping cranes fly south to Florida and the Canadian Geese clean the soy bean and corn fields after harvest. She takes us to the annual Fall Festivals at Billy Creek Village and Nashville to ROAD KILL IN THE MOUNTAINS - This article originally appeared in "From the Creek Bed", a now defunct online column on Central Appalachia, in February of 1998, shortly after the bill was approved. SAND CREEK REVISITED - The morning of November 29, 1864, dawned cold and cloudy for the members of the Cheyenne tribe led by Chief Black Kettle. The 163 men, women, and children were camped at Sand Creek, in southeastern Colorado on the orders of the US military and Colorado governor John Evans. Their encampment was WHERE JOHN WAYNE FILMED 'THE ALAMO' - One of the most popular tourist attractions in Texas is the Alamo, site of the historic battle in 1836 during the Texas Revolution. Many of the visitors are surprised to find the historic structure situated in the shadow of skyscrapers in downtown San Antonio. Some remember seeing the familiar facade of FOOD TO BLOODY BATTLES - SEPTEMBER IN SHROPSHIRE - With the last Bank Holiday before Christmas now over it is clear that the year is speeding to a close. However Shropshire provides a great range of events in September. From the famous Ludlow Food Festival to the re-enactment of a bloody battle the county once again gives visitors an array SUMMER IN DANMARK: THE COPENHAGEN INTERNATIONAL FASHION FAIR - The Battle of Europe BEYOND HARRY POTTER - Many will prefer the more life-threatening fare in Madeline L'Engle's Newbery Award-winning A Wrinkle in Time as Meg Murry and her family must help good triumph over evil. The battle persists through A Swiftly Tilting Planet and the other books in the powerful Time Quartet series (Dell Yearling). SAFETY IS A FRAME OF MIND - My son and I sit on the low stone wall in front of our Jerusalem apartment building, waiting for the school minibus. I sip my coffee; he tells me about the story he's been rereading, in which Hobbits and trolls battle, in the lovely passion of faraway, imagined danger. He's 12 and old enough to wait for the bus by himself, but we enjoy the few moments of quiet together before he goes to the noise of the classroom and I go to the office. BATHROOM BATTLES - It's not unusual for 3-year-olds to employ evasive tactics when it's time to wash up. We've got tips on how to get your child clean while keeping him happy. BEDTIME BATTLES - Toddlers are surprisingly adept at avoiding sleep. Read our strategies for handling bedtime protests and getting your child to nod off. WHAT'S FUN FOR KIDS IN VAIL AND BEAVER CREEK - Check out our guide to these hot family ski spots. WHERE TO STAY IN VAIL AND BEAVER CREEK, CO - Ready for a winter ski trip? These hotels, in a variety of price ranges, welcome families. WHERE TO STAY IN VAIL AND BEAVER CREEK, CO - Ready for a winter ski trip? These hotels, in a variety of price ranges, welcome families. MANY WILL PREFER THE MORE LIFE-THREATENING FARE IN MADELINE L'ENGLE'S NEWBERY AWARD-WINNING A WRINKLE IN TIME AS MEG MURRY AND HER FAMILY MUST HELP GOOD TRIUMPH OVER EVIL. THE BATTLE PERSISTS THROUGH A SWIFTLY TILTING PLANET AND THE OTHER BOOKS IN THE POWERFUL TIME QUARTET SERIES (DELL YEARLING). - Beyond Harry Potter VACATION IDEAS: HIKING IN BRANDYWINE CREEK STATE PARK - Brandywine Park, Delaware's first, is a hiker's paradise, including a protected grove of the tallest tulip polar trees on the East Coast. FLORIDA DESTINATION TRAVEL GUIDES: THINGS TO DO IN COCONUT GROVE, FLORIDA - Florida travel guide: What are some sights you don't want to miss in Coconut Grove? What makes them unique? YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK: TRAVEL BRIEF - National parks and national preserves boast some of the most beautiful land in the country, and Yosemite National Park is no exception. It harbors a grand collection of waterfalls, meadows, and forests that include groves of giant sequoias, the world's largest living things. Highlights of the park include Yosemite Valley, Wawona's history center, the Mariposa Grove, Glacier Point, Tuolumne Meadows, and Hetch Hetchy. A GREAT LITTLE BEACH TOWN: PACIFIC GROVE, CALIFORNIA - Pacific Grove's untouched coastline makes it one of the most appealing getaways for beach-lovers, walkers and cyclists. THE DALTON HIGHWAY: HELL-BENT FOR THE ARCTIC! - The Dalton Highway: Hell-Bent for the Arctic! A bike tour of Prudhoe Bay on Alaska's most scenic roads. FLORIDA: BEACHES OF SOUTH WALTON, TAKING THE KIDS TO THE SEA. - Within 26 miles 13 remarkable beach communities, each with its own vacation personality and all family-friendly, Beaches of South Walton embrace family vacations offering a rich menu of activities and options for relaxation at its best. ? VACATION AT VERMONT'S TYLER PLACE RESORT - Take your family to The Tyler Place resort, an all-inclusive getaway located in Highland Springs, Vermont EXPERT ADVICE: FAMILY RESORTS (TYLER PLACE) - Expert advice: Family resorts (Tyler Place) SAVE MONEY ON AIRPORT PARKING AND GET A GREAT START TO YOUR HOLIDAY - If you have recently bought and paid for a holiday abroad this article is for you. Here are two pieces of information that will not only enhance your trip but will also save you money on your airport parking fees. There are also plenty of tips here to get the most out of your airport parking purch... THE WONDER OF DISNEY - This article is about how Walt Disney started his empire, which started with drawings and led to full blown theme parks. ( WHAT ARE THE MUST-SEE ATTRACTIONS IN ORLANDO? - Orlando, Florida is filled with attractions for vacationers of every age group; it is known for its beaches, golf courses, night life, museums, restaurants, and theme parks. ( DARTMOOR: ENGLAND'S LAST GREAT WILDERNESS - Given National Park status in 1951, Dartmoor sits in the south of county Devon, southwest England, and covers an area of 365 square miles. Almost half the park is swampland, a haven for wildlife and those wishing to escape the rigours of city life. ( ALL ABOUT WINTER PARK - Hate the dreariness of the plains or the heat and dust of summer? Looking for a winter park? A vacation spot that will give you the freshness of mountain air, the adrenaline rushes from skiing or snowmobiling. ( DISNEYLAND VS. DISNEY WORLD - There are many differences between Disneyland and Disney World. This article explains them, and the debate of which park is better. ( ALL ABOUT KAUAI - Kauai, most appropriately nicknamed the Garden Isle, is the Hawaiian vacation destination treasured for its lush tropical greenery and sparkling sand beaches. The tropical paradise of Kauai basks amidst the sparkling blue waters of the Pacific Ocean, abou ( ALL ABOUT BANFF - In the year 1883, three Canadian Pacific Railway construction workers stumbled across a cave containing hot springs on the eastern slopes of Alberta's Rocky Mountains. From that humble beginning was born Banff National Park, Canada's first national park a ( VIENNA - A CITY OF WALTZ AND PARKS - A capital of Austria - beautiful city of Vienna - carefully keeps its traditions and cultural treasures. The city has managed to safe a lot of its ancient appearance and unique ambiance. ( DISCOVER HOW TO ENJOY YOUR NEXT FAMILY CRUISE! - A family sail is a perfect getaway with lots of fun and a exciting time for everybody. Whenever you have kids bored with the same things like amusement parks, theater and all and your spouse needs a switch, plan a cruise get away. ( DERBY CITY GUIDE, INCLUDING HOTELS - Derby holds a great appeal for those visitors in search of unspoilt tradition and character. In the shadow of the ornate Cathedral tower lies a great multi-cultural city bursting with a wealth of entertainment venues, attractions, parks and shops. ( THE WORLD WITHIN YOUR REACH - Sometimes when life is so dragging at our present stage, when work is too exhausting and your own environment suddenly seems small, we tend to reach out and find comfort in some quiet corner. A walk in the park is soothing as well. ( JOURNEY TO ULLSWATER - Ullswater lies in the northwest of England, amidst the charm of Lake District National Park. Renowned for its stunning natural beauty, the Lake District has inspired many a young poet and artist. ( STATE PARKS OF TEXAS - Some of the best state parks in each region of Texas. The ameneites, flora and fauna as well as wildlife. VACATION IDEAS: HIKING IN BRANDYWINE CREEK STATE PARK - Brandywine Park, Delaware's first, is a hiker's paradise, including a protected grove of the tallest tulip polar trees on the East Coast. TRAVEL IDEAS: HIKING IN SUSQUEHANNA STATE PARK - Hiking trails at Susquehanna, along the East Coast's longest river, are a popular nesting spot for bald eagles. Tips for making a trip. ILLINOIS STATE PARKS - Illinois has some wonderful state parks. Here are some highlights and location information for most of them. CAMPING IN NEVADA - The bright lights of Las Vegas aren't the only attraction in Nevada! Camp in the state's most appealing State Parks. THE PHOENIX PARK IN DUBLIN - The Phoenix Park in Dublin is the largest enclosed park in Western Europe. It has many items of interest, from the American Ambassador's residence to the zoo. TRAVEL GUIDE FOR NAMIBIA: GAME RESERVES AND NATIONAL PARKS - A travel guide for Namibia with a list of the Game Reserves and National Parks. NAMIBIA EXPLORATION: GAME RESERVES AND NATIONAL PARKS - Plannig to explore Namibia on a future vacation? A list and some background information of the Game Reserves and National Parks. NATIONAL PARK RESERVES SOUTH AFRICA - This is a list of the park reserves in South Africa. THE SOUTH AFRICA NATIONAL PARK - A list of South Africa's National Parks; this excludes GAME RESERVES of which there are plenty in South Africa. JONES RUN FALLS OF SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK - A sketch of the 3.4 mile hike to Jones Run Falls in the Shenandoah National Park. The park stretches 100 miles along Skyline Drive in northern Virginia. VACATION ATTRACTIONS: STATE PARKS YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS IN TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA - What are the State Parks you don't want to miss in Tallahassee, Florida? What can you do and see at these places? ZIMBABWE SAFARI: GAME RESERVES AND NATIONAL PARKS - Zimbabwe is a country with a rich heritage of botanical splendour and magnificent wildlife. Read more about the Zimbabwe safari of game reserves and national parks. INFORMATION ABOUT KRUGER NATIONAL PARK - Information on Kruger National Park, one of the biggest and best reservations for wildlife in the world. THE SOUTH AFRICA NATIONAL PARK - A list of South Africa's National Parks; this excludes GAME RESERVES of which there are plenty in South Africa. PAINTED DESERT, ARIZONA AND THE PERTRIFIED FOREST - If you are traveling across Arizona on Interstate 40 between the towns of Holbrook and Gallup, New Mexico you will pass through the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest.Make plans to spend at least one day at these National Parks to see some of the mostspectacular wonders that only Mother Nature can create. SAN FRANCISO'S GOLDEN GATE PARK - San Francisco's Strybing Arboretum & Botanical Gardens in Golden Gate Park is a relatively little-known but wonderful attraction for tourists and residents alike. CALIFORNIA BIKE TRAILS - California bike trails. Known for sun and fun, California won't let serious bikers down. State parks and trails make this State a favorite spot for diehard riders. LA PURISIMA MISSION - A guide to La Purisima State Historical Park, a faithful restoration of a California mission in a beautiful, inviting rural setting. MALIGNE LAKE IN JASPER NATIONAL PARK, CANADA - Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park, Canada is a beautiful corner of the world. It connects one with spirituality, not to mention beauty and fun. THE PACIFIC RIM NATIONAL PARK RESERVE - Pacific Rim National Park is where pounding surf meets Canada's coastal rain forest. Inside the forest, silence envelopes you and giant evergreens stretch toward the sky. NIAGARA PARK BUTTERFLY CONSERVATORY - Description of the Butterfly Conservatory, located in Niagara Falls, Canada, and what you will see upon your arrival. BRITISH COLUMBIA NATURE TRAVEL: LAKES AND SPRINGS - British Columbia, Canada is filled with many sparkling clean, lakes, oceans and salt springs. For the best in nature travel, why not check them out? PARKWOOD ESTATE: SIGNS OF A GOLDEN ERA - Description, history and present of Parkwood Estate built by GM man Samuel McLaughlin. ROOSEVELT CAMPOBELLO INTERNATIONAL PARK - Roosevelt Campobello International Park, off the coast of New Brunswick: where history and nature meet. TRAVEL TIPS: MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK - Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado, is a historic monument destination and archeological dream. Information on vacations, hotel accomodations, sightseeing and events. ROYAL GORGE BRIDGE - Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, including the Aerial tram, the incline railway, the restored carousel, and the wildlife of the area, make a perfect family trip BISCAYNE NATIONAL PARK - Biscayne National Park consists of 73,000 acres. The tropical setting of the park offers picturesque beauty and abundant wildlife to visitors. ORLANDO, FLORIDA NATURAL ATTRACTIONS - The Orlando area isn't just theme parks. Visitors can explore the natural side of Central Florida at many parks, historic sites and out-of-the-way destinations. Here are 12 places where you can get away from the crowds in Central Florida. STATE PARKS IN THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE - What are the different State Parks in the Florida Panhandle? What do you need to know about them? What can you see and do there? FLORIDA KEYS DESTINATION VACATION GUIDE: STATE PARKS TO VISIT - Planning a Florida Keys vacation? Learn about the amazing parks that you can visit on you trip! FLORIDA VACATION TRAVEL PLANNING: TOUR FLORIDA'S EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK - How should you tour Florida's Everglades National Park? Here are some tips and sights that should be observed... FORSYTH PARK IN SAVANNAH, GEORGIA - What is the history and tradition behind Forsyth Park in Savannah, Georgia? IAO VALLEY: MAUI'S HIDDEN PARADISE - Located in the west Maui Mountains the park houses the Iao needle, a velvety green pillar that reaches a height of 1200 feet (2,250 feet from sea level). CAMPING IN ILLINOIS - Camping in Illinois is an amazing experience. If you're traveling through the midwest, you won't want to miss these five-star parks and campgrounds. HOLIDAY WORLD IN SANTA CLAUS, INDIANA - Holiday World is an amusement park with something enjoyable for the whole family. Located in Santa Claus, Indiana, it offers visitors thrilling roller coasters, Santa Claus Land, and water activities. PARKE COUNTY, INDIANA COVERED BRIDGES - With 32 historic wooden bridges, Parke County, Indiana county has more covered bridges than anywhere else in the nation. COVERED BRIDGE FESTIVALS OF PARKE COUNTY, INDIANA - Things to see and do during the second and third weeks of October during the Covered Bridge Festival in Parke County, Indiana. STATE PARKS IN WESTERN KENTUCKY - Brief description of 10 State Parks that are located in Western Kentucky. Information includes locations, facilities, lodging, recreational activities, and contact information. FORT WILKINS STATE PARK IN MICHIGAN - Fort Wilkins State Park, Copper Harbor Michigan, is an U.S. Army fort from the 1800's, offering reenactments, fishing on Lake Fanny Hooe, wildlife viewing, and camping. VACATION IDEAS: NATIONAL MILITARY PARKS & MUSEUMS - These sites honor those who fought in the Civil War Battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga. Travel tips for history and civil war buffs. THE BATTLE AT VICKSBURG - The battle at Vicksburg can be remembered aboard the tour through Vicksburg National Military Park, recreate this historical battle of the civil war. THE LAKE LILA PRIMITIVE AREA EXPERIENCE - Pertinent information regarding camping and paddling Lake Lila in the Adirondack Park of New York State. OHIO STATE PARK - The Ohio State Park in Indiana contains 386-million year old exposed fossils beds, which are among the largest of their kind. CUYAHOGA VALLEY NATIONAL REACREATION AREA - Cuyahoga Valley National Reacreation Area. Visitor information and on this scenic national park area. TOURIST GUIDE: MUSEUMS OF NORTH EAST OHIO - NE Ohio offers a listing of museums like the University Circle, Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, Metropark Zoo, Great Lakes Science Center, Bridge of Fire, Omnimax Theater. GETTYSBURG NATIONAL MILITARY PARK - Gettysburg Park is a reminder that Gettysburg isn't just a tourist attraction or a National Park. It was a war, with all the blood and violence that the age could muster, and it was all unleashed on a sleepy farm town in the middle of Pennsylvania. All Americans need to visit this battlefield for an amazing trip throughhistory. PENNSYLVANIA HIKING TRAILS: SERPENTINE BARRENS - A hike through Nottingham Park features a rare nutrient-deficient serpentine barrens that is home to plants and animals found nowhere else in Pennsylvania. TRAVEL DESTINATION: BRANDYWINE SPRINGS PARK - One of America's first spas, Brandywine Springs was a great Victorian amusement park once forgotten but now being rediscovered bit by bit. Tips on your visiting, driving, accomadations. HIKING FRENCH CREEK STATE PARK TRAILS - French Creek State Park, with more than 40 miles of heavily forested trails, is a premier destination for hikers in southeastern Pennsylvania. COOK FOREST STATE PARK, PENNSYLVANIA - A brief history on Cooks Forest, Pennsylvania what to see and do while visiting the area. HIKING RIDLEY CREEK STATE PARK, PENNSYLVANIA - A working farm for over 250 years, Ridley Creek State Park is now a popular destination for hikers just outside Philadelphia. KNOEBELS AMUSEMENT RESORT - Tucked away in central Pennsylvania is a free admission amusement park, Knoebels Amusement Resort, that is sure to please every member of a family. A VISIT TO HERSHEY PARK, PENNSYLVANIA - Learn about Hershey Park, Pennsylvania, from the amusement rides to the chocolate tour. PRESQUE ISLE STATE PARK - Presque Isle in Erie, Pa is a 3200 acre state park filled with activities to keep everyone happy. KNOEBLES AMUSEMENT PARK - Knoebles Amusement Park is an amusement park in central Pennsylvania, a hidden treasure with a great roller coaster and other rides. CADES COVE, TENNESSEE - Cades Cove is a poular tourist site near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. VISITING CHATTANOOGA - National Military Park, United States, Tennessee, Civil War, Chattanooga, Chickamauga, Georgia, Battle of Lookout Mountain, Aquarium, Craven's House, KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE SITES - Knoxville, Tennessee is filled with museums, a riverboat and parks. All the best things to see without breaking your budget -- in and around Knoxville. VACATION IN BIG BEND STATE PARK - Go to Big Bend National Park, Texas, where you can enjoy the unique desert scenery of this remote and infrequently visited park. TRAVEL THE BEAUTIFUL BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY IN VIRGINIA - Learn the history of one of America's most beautiful senic parkways. Learn where to stay be it camping or staying in a lodge, also places and things of intrest along the way. WASHINGTON D.C. TOUR - A tour of eight parks located in the Washington, D.C. Metro area that are great for hiking and walking. FORT WILKINS STATE PARK IN MICHIGAN - Fort Wilkins State Park, Copper Harbor Michigan, is an U.S. Army fort from the 1800's, offering reenactments, fishing on Lake Fanny Hooe, wildlife viewing, and camping. THE LAKE LILA PRIMITIVE AREA EXPERIENCE - Pertinent information regarding camping and paddling Lake Lila in the Adirondack Park of New York State. CUYAHOGA VALLEY NATIONAL REACREATION AREA - Cuyahoga Valley National Reacreation Area. Visitor information and on this scenic national park area. TOURIST GUIDE: MUSEUMS OF NORTH EAST OHIO - NE Ohio offers a listing of museums like the University Circle, Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, Metropark Zoo, Great Lakes Science Center, Bridge of Fire, Omnimax Theater. PENNSYLVANIA HIKING TRAILS: SERPENTINE BARRENS - A hike through Nottingham Park features a rare nutrient-deficient serpentine barrens that is home to plants and animals found nowhere else in Pennsylvania. TRAVEL DESTINATION: BRANDYWINE SPRINGS PARK - One of America's first spas, Brandywine Springs was a great Victorian amusement park once forgotten but now being rediscovered bit by bit. Tips on your visiting, driving, accomadations. HIKING FRENCH CREEK STATE PARK TRAILS - French Creek State Park, with more than 40 miles of heavily forested trails, is a premier destination for hikers in southeastern Pennsylvania. COOK FOREST STATE PARK, PENNSYLVANIA - A brief history on Cooks Forest, Pennsylvania what to see and do while visiting the area. HIKING RIDLEY CREEK STATE PARK, PENNSYLVANIA - A working farm for over 250 years, Ridley Creek State Park is now a popular destination for hikers just outside Philadelphia. KNOEBELS AMUSEMENT RESORT - Tucked away in central Pennsylvania is a free admission amusement park, Knoebels Amusement Resort, that is sure to please every member of a family. A VISIT TO HERSHEY PARK, PENNSYLVANIA - Learn about Hershey Park, Pennsylvania, from the amusement rides to the chocolate tour. PRESQUE ISLE STATE PARK - Presque Isle in Erie, Pa is a 3200 acre state park filled with activities to keep everyone happy. KNOEBLES AMUSEMENT PARK - Knoebles Amusement Park is an amusement park in central Pennsylvania, a hidden treasure with a great roller coaster and other rides. CADES COVE, TENNESSEE - Cades Cove is a poular tourist site near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. VISITING CHATTANOOGA - National Military Park, United States, Tennessee, Civil War, Chattanooga, Chickamauga, Georgia, Battle of Lookout Mountain, Aquarium, Craven's House, KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE SITES - Knoxville, Tennessee is filled with museums, a riverboat and parks. All the best things to see without breaking your budget -- in and around Knoxville. VACATION IN BIG BEND STATE PARK - Go to Big Bend National Park, Texas, where you can enjoy the unique desert scenery of this remote and infrequently visited park. VACATION IDEAS: NEW ZEALAND NATIONAL PARKS - Learn about the beautiful National Parks of New Zealand. A guide to the sights of a real paradise down under. AWESOME VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK ON THE BIG ISLAND - VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, HAWAII -- Flashlights in hand, the kids led the way through the dark, spooky cave. They were having too much fun to be scared. EUROPEAN AMUSEMENT PARKS - The kids are clambering to the top of giant mushroom-shaped boulders, yelling their lungs out on the upside-down roller coaster and scarfing down too much popcorn, ice cream and cotton candy. They couldn't be happier while their weary parents look like they can't take one more line. It's theme park business-as-usual -- with one big difference. GETTING THE MOST OUT OF HIGH-TECH EPCOT - LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The kids were crowded around state-of-the art computers, eyes glued to the color monitors. Parents, seeing how much fun the junior programmers were having, couldn't resist showing off some fancy keystrokes themselves, playing the latest virtual reality and high-tech sports games. NEW YORK'S TIMES SQUARE NOT A THEME PARK, BUT CLOSE - NEW YORK -- When she's not belting out ``Tomorrow'' on stage, Annie, accompanied by an orphan or two, likes to head out to Times Square for a quick game of Lazer Tag at one of the slick new arcades followed by a bowl of spaghetti or a burger at a hip but positively kid-friendly eatery. TO THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS - We kept a careful eye out for their bubbles. But we didn't see Ruffles, Granny, Sparky, Rascal, Dylan or any member of their families. STAY AWHILE AT GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK - http://www.familytravelnetwork.com/articles/kdz_grandteton.asp IT'S ALL HAPPENING AT THE ZOO - Good thing butterflies don't mind noisy kids. There's an orange butterfly on a first-grader's shoe! There's a blue one on a classmate's finger! The excited children can't contain themselves, pointing and jabbering, as nearly 1,000 of the delicate, brightly hued creatures, oblivious to the ruckus they've sparked, flit and fly everywhere. LEARNING ABOUT LIFE IN THE ALASKAN BUSH - DENALI NATIONAL PARK, Alaska -- Talk about getting back to nature. When Carol Schlentner needed water to cook her kids' dinner, she'd go out in subzero weather and chip ice. She potty-trained her daughters in a freezing outhouse and home-schooled them without benefit of electric lights. Heat and hot water were courtesy of the wood she and her family chopped. To get through the long winter, they'd grow hundreds of pounds of potatoes and preserve hundreds of fish. Their nearest neighbor was 60 miles away, the pediatrician a 90-minute helicopter ride. Her kids' best friends were their dozen sled dogs. LEGOLAND -- A NEW KIND OF THEME PARK - My race car is a dud, too slow to beat a snail. I quietly switch to building houses. The auto designers around me are too busy to notice, working at a furious pace to get their brightly hued creations ready for the test track. NATIONAL PARK MEMORIES - All 10-year-old Matt wanted was to meet a moose. PLANNING A TRIP TO A NATIONAL PARK - The kids wanted to play, splashing in the lake and climbing the rocks. I kept looking at my watch, thinking of all that we were missing at the national park -- the fields of wildflowers, the scenic mountain vistas, even the historical exhibits in the old lodge. I wanted to hit every one. The kids wouldn't budge. They were having too much fun. A RAFTING TRIP -- EXCITING FOR EVERYONE - Guy Gibson has the answer for parents whose teens insist they've outgrown family vacations. And he's not talking about leaving them home or dropping them at the nearest theme park. The Northern California attorney and father of three teens advises gathering the gang and heading for the river, one with enough white water to keep the young folks interested but not so much that parents have to clutch the raft for dear life. STAND-OUT NATIONAL PARK MOMENTS - Luke DeKoster could almost feel the hail of Union Army bullets and the smoke in his eyes as he charged up the steep hill to Cemetery Ridge in Gettysburg on a sunny, hot day. TAKING THE KIDS -- AND DOING THE NATIONAL PARK CIRCUIT - Stand eyeball to eyeball with a moose. Slide down a gigantic sand dune, or hike through a dark rain forest. TAKING THE KIDS -- TO A WATERPARK - Here's a guaranteed cure for those ``what do we do now ?'' vacation blues: Grab the sunscreen and hustle the kids off to soak their heads. BAR HARBOR, MAINE: ACADIA NATIONAL PARK IS ONLY ONE OF THE MANY SPLENDORS - It struck me, as we had just finished kayaking at the mouth of the Atlantic Ocean, amid glorious boats of every stripe and were about to return to Acadia National Park and bike down carriage trails beside the peaks and lakes, that Bar Harbor, on Maine's coast, offers a unique combination of sea and mountain within a small, self-contained area. CAPE CODDER RESORT: NEW WATERPARK, SPA MAKE HYANNIS HOTEL "PLACE TO BE" FOR FAMILIES - Like Goldilocks, after enjoying a full spectrum of accommodations during visits to Cape Cod, from grand resorts and quaint bed-and-breakfasts to tented campsites, I feel I have finally found the perfect family resort on Cape Cod-the service level of a luxury hotel, the amenities of a major resort (including an extraordinary indoor water park), ideally located near to beaches and cultural attractions, offers a selection of marvelous restaurants, and is priced just right: the Cape Codder Resort. VANCOUVER FAMILY VACATION GUIDES - Vancouver is a gorgeous city, surrounded by water and ringed by tall snow-capped mountain peaks that seem close enough to touch. This young city enjoys some of the most temperate weather in the world and a staggering amount of natural beauty. You'll find lots to do here, including great indoor attractions such as museums and aquariums, theme parks, shopping, a huge array of dining options, sports, and outdoor activities. DISNEYLAND PARK - An article about taking a family vacation with your kids to Disneyland Park. WHITMAN MISSION NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE: TRAVEL BRIEF - Whitman Mission, located in the southeastern part of Washington State, preserves the site of Waiilatpu Mission, a Presbyterian mission to the Cayuse Indians from 1836 to 1847. The site also served as a stopping point for pioneers following the Oregon Trail. The park preserves the foundations of the mission buildings, the Mill Pond and irrigation ditch, and the mission's gravesite. Native grasses in the park give visitors a strong visual sense of how the mission looked to its original habitants. SAN DIEGO WILD ANIMAL PARK: TRAVEL BRIEF - If you're looking for an outing that's both fun and educational, the San Diego Wild Animal Park might be the right choice for your family. The San Diego Wild Animal Park is a unique adventure -- a zoo unlike traditional zoos -- in which animals roam in entire herds and flocks, in enclosures measured in acres rather than feet. It is a facility designed first for the animals, and second for the people who come to observe them. Herds of elephants, giraffes, rhinos, and antelope are among the hundreds of animals you can see roaming the scenic rolling landscape of East and North Africa, the Asian plains, an Asian waterhole, South Africa, and the Mongolian steppe. JOHN MUIR NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE: TRAVEL BRIEF - This site preserves the 14-room mansion where the naturalist John Muir lived from 1890 until his death in 1914. While living in Martinez, Muir battled to prevent Yosemite National Park's Hetch Hetchy Valley from being dammed, served as the first president of the Sierra Club, played a prominent role in the creation of several national parks, and wrote hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles and several books expounding on the virtues of conservation and the natural world. The Muir house and historic Martinez adobe became part of the National Park Service in 1964. JOHN F. KENNEDY NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE: TRAVEL BRIEF - John F. Kennedy National Historic Site preserves the birthplace in 1917 and boyhood home of the 35th President of the United States. The modest frame house in suburban Boston was established in 1969 following the family's donation of the home to the National Park Service. Park Rangers present guided tours of the birthplace, as well as the nearby neighborhood including homes, schools, and church associated with the Kennedy family. INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE: TRAVEL BRIEF - National parks and national preserves boast some of the most beautiful land in the country, and the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is no exception. It runs for nearly 25 miles along southern Lake Michigan and sits on approximately 15,000 acres -- 2,182 of which are located in Indiana Dunes State Park. The park contains miles of beaches, sand dunes, bog, wetlands, woodland forests, an 1830's French-Canadian homestead, and a working 1900-era farm. GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK: TRAVEL BRIEF - National parks and national preserves boast some of the most beautiful land in the country, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is no exception. This park encompasses 800 square miles of which 95 percent are forested. It is world renowned for the diversity of its plant and animal resources, the beauty of its ancient mountains, the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, and the depth and integrity of the wilderness sanctuary. DELAWARE WATER GAP NATIONAL RECREATION AREA: TRAVEL BRIEF - National parks and national preserves boast some of the most beautiful land in the country, and the Delaware Water Gap is no exception. This park preserves 40 miles of the middle Delaware River and almost 70,000 acres of land along the river's New Jersey and Pennsylvania shores. At the south end of the park, the river cuts eastward through a scenic water gap in the Appalachian Mountains. The park also includes historic Millbrook Village and several environmental education centers. COLUMBIA GORGE DISCOVERY CENTER AND MUSEUM: TRAVEL BRIEF - If you're looking for an outing that's both fun and educational, Discovery Center and Museum might be the right choice for your family. This complex includes two museums and an historical park. Visit the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center to see reenactments of volcanic upheavals and raging floods. Visit the Wasco County Historical Museum to learn about the Native Americans, explorers, and traders who used to occupy the land. Take a walk around the Oregon Trail Living History Park for reenactments of the joys and hardships of early settlers in the Northwest. YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK: TRAVEL BRIEF - National parks and national preserves boast some of the most beautiful land in the country, and Yosemite National Park is no exception. It harbors a grand collection of waterfalls, meadows, and forests that include groves of giant sequoias, the world's largest living things. Highlights of the park include Yosemite Valley, Wawona's history center, the Mariposa Grove, Glacier Point, Tuolumne Meadows, and Hetch Hetchy. YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK: TRAVEL BRIEF - National parks and national preserves boast some of the most beautiful land in the country, and Yellowstone National Park is no exception. Established in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is the first and oldest national park in the world. Preserved within Yellowstone are Old Faithful Geyser and some 10,000 hot springs and geysers, the majority of the planet's total. The area is also home to the grizzly bear, wolf, bison, and elk. WASHINGTON D.C.: TRAVEL BRIEF - If you want to give your child a great lesson in U.S. history, consider visiting our nation's capital. Tour the White House, the Capitol, the Library of Congress, or the U.S. Supreme Court, and you'll be surprised how much you learn. As the world's first planned national capital, this city is full of majestic buildings, monuments to former presidents, and memorials to those who died for their country. And unlike other large cities, Washington isn't dominated by skyscrapers; the governmental buildings are surrounded by museums, parks, and gardens. WALT DISNEY WORLD: TRAVEL BRIEF - Disney World isn't just one park. It's a combination of parks housed together in this amazing complex. Magic Kingdom offers thrilling rides and human-size Disney characters. Epcot has live performances and exploratory journeys that encourage kids to discover the world. Animal Kingdom lets you interact with animals, both real and made-up. The Disney-MGM Studios gives you a sneak peek at the inside of show business. FLINTSTONES BEDROCK CITY: TRAVEL BRIEF - If your child loves Fred, Wilma, Pebbles, and Dino, then the Flintstones Bedrock City might be the right destination for your family outing. Bedrock comes alive in this modern Stone-Age setting of fun-filled buildings and play areas. You can tour Fred's Bedrock City, ride the Flintmobile and Iron Horse Train, see Mt. Rockmore, and enjoy the new Flintstone Trio Show. Even the park's food includes Brontoburgers and Dino Dogs. STORY LAND, NEW HAMPSHIRE: TRAVEL BRIEF - Story Land Theme Park is a great destination idea for a kid-based trip. The New Hampshire-based park includes live storytelling and 16 fantasy-themed rides, including a tour of Cinderella's castle, a ride on Alice's teacup, a climb on a Buccaneer pirate ship, and a ride on a wooden shoe. Each year the park adds a new ride, show, or attraction to keep its product fresh! ST. LOUIS: TRAVEL BRIEF - St. Louis, known as the "Gateway to the West," sits at the junction of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. Its architecture is unlike most in the United States, with many buildings made of red brick and stained glass. Although the majestic Gateway Arch is its most popular tourist destination, St. Louis also offers a variety of attractions for family travelers, such as museums, amusement parks, and sports arenas. SEATTLE: TRAVEL BRIEF - Seattle has only recently developed into a metropolitan hub, with a diversified population and growing suburbs. As well as being a major city, Seattle is now known as the home of grunge bands, Starbucks, and Microsoft. Accompanying Seattle's continually growing population are professional sports teams, convention centers, museums, and theater companies. Seattle prides itself on urban sophistication, evident in the fancy restaurants, sophisticated architecture, fashion design, coffee houses, and ethnic diversity. The beauty of Seattle also lives in its sparkling waters, rolling hills, and rich forests. SEATTLE: TRAVEL BRIEF - Seattle has only recently developed into a metropolitan hub, with a diversified population and growing suburbs. As well as being a major city, Seattle is now known as the home of grunge bands, Starbucks, and Microsoft. Accompanying Seattle's continually growing population are professional sports teams, convention centers, museums, and theater companies. Seattle prides itself on urban sophistication, evident in the fancy restaurants, sophisticated architecture, fashion design, coffee houses, and ethnic diversity. The beauty of Seattle also lives in its sparkling waters, rolling hills, and rich forests. ORLANDO: TRAVEL BRIEF - Orlando is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States. Its surrounding area includes world famous theme parks such as Walt Disney World, Epcot Center, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld. But the city of Orlando has other things to offer. Downtown Orlando includes beautiful skyscrapers, museums, and bustling shops. Just outside the city are the attractions for nature lovers, such as Ocala National Forest and the Florida Audubon Society's Center for Birds of Prey. MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK: TRAVEL BRIEF - National parks and national preserves boast some of the most beautiful land in the country, and Mount Rainer National Park is no exception. Established in 1899, the park spans 235,625 acres -- 97 percent of which is designated wilderness. It includes Mount Rainier -- an active volcano encased in over 35 square miles of snow and ice -- old-growth forests, and sub-alpine meadows. LOS ANGELES: TRAVEL BRIEF - Los Angeles is a collection of cities within a city. Some of the neighborhoods that make up Los Angeles have strong Hispanic or Asian influences. It is best known as the heart of the film and television industry and attracts many tourists looking to meet the rich and famous -- or to find fame and fortune themselves! In addition to the beautiful weather and the sandy beaches, Los Angeles boasts international cuisines, 50-plus major museums, hundreds of theaters and performance spaces, acres of state parks, and a downtown business district. LAS VEGAS: TRAVEL BRIEF - Las Vegas is a continually growing and changing city, with mega-hotels and casinos popping up all the time. But Las Vegas isn't just for gambling. It's quite kid friendly as well, with attractions such as museums, libraries, parks, shops, and historical sites. LEGOLAND: TRAVEL BRIEF - LEGOLAND California is a 128-acre park geared specifically towards youngsters ages 2 through 12. It combines 40 "hands-on," interactive attractions, family rides, shows, and restaurants. Towns, castles, and technology centers fill the path along the "LEGO brick road." The park is decorated by 5,000 LEGO models made from thirty million LEGO bricks and is open 365 days a year. There are four park locations worldwide: LEGOLAND Billund LEGOLAND California LEGOLAND Duetschland LEGOLAND Windsor HERSHEYPARK: TRAVEL BRIEF - Hersheypark, also known as "the sweetest place on earth," offers year-round fun (and lots of chocolate) to parents and children. The park includes 60 rides and attractions and offers seasonally themed entertainment. Also visit the Hershey Museum and Hershey Chocolate World to find out how chocolate is made -- from the cocoa beans to the factories. Finish your trip off with a complimentary sample of Hershey's chocolate. DINOSAUR STATE PARK: TRAVEL BRIEF - If you're looking for an outing that's both fun and educational, Dinosaur State Park might be the right choice for your family. This park is one of the largest dinosaur track sites in North America. Beneath its geodesic dome is an exceptional display of early Jurassic fossil tracks that were made 200 million years ago. Surrounding the Exhibit Center are more than two miles of nature trails and the Dinosaur State Park Arboretum, containing more than 250 species and cultivars of conifers, as well as katsuras, ginkgoes, magnolias, and other living representatives of plant families that appeared in the Age of Dinosaurs. DINOSAUR PARK, UTAH: TRAVEL BRIEF - If you're looking for an outing that's both fun and educational, Dinosaur Park might be the right choice for your family. Realistic sculptures of more than a hundred dinosaurs, based on the findings of fossil skeletal remains, fill the park. As you span the park, you can hear the dinosaurs walking and roaring and the crashing of trees brought down by powerful herbivores. The park also includes an education center where kids of all ages can learn more about dinosaurs through exhibits, books, arts, and lessons. BUCKSKIN JOE, COLORADO: TRAVEL BRIEF - You may not be able to turn back time, but you can come close at the Buckskin Joe Frontier Town. The park gives you a taste of the Old West with reenactments of 19th-century events, gold mining, and horse-drawn trolley rides. Thirty of the buildings that make up the Frontier Town are original structures from ghost towns in the Rocky Mountain Region. Buckskin Joe has also been the location for many local and national television commercials and photo shoots with an Old West theme. DISNEYLAND: TRAVEL BRIEF - Disneyland is more than just a park. It's a vacation complex with hotels, restaurants, guided tours, and loads of entertainment. Take a walk down Main Street U.S.A. to get a taste of pure Americana. Visit Fantasyland to meet your favorite Disney characters. Enter Adventureland for a jungle adventure with ancient darts, snakes, and artifacts. Also experience the surrounding California adventures with the Hollywood Pictures Backlot and Paradise Pier. No matter how long you plan to stay at Disneyland, it's not long enough. BOSTON: TRAVEL BRIEF - Boston, also known as "Beantown," is a city full of history and culture. One of the first major cities in the United States, it was also the first to have a public library, public schools, and a subway system. Its narrow streets and acres of parkland makes Boston a very walkable city. It would only take a day or two to see the historical sites and find today's cozy hangouts. BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK: TRAVEL BRIEF - National parks and national preserves boast some of the most beautiful land in the country, and Big Bend National Park is no exception. The park, which covers more than 801,000 acres of west Texas, is a land of borders. Situated on the boundary with Mexico along the Rio Grande, it is a place where countries and cultures meet. It is also a place that merges natural environments, from desert to mountains. It is a place where south meets north and east meets west, creating a great diversity of plants and animals. ACADIA NATIONAL PARK: TRAVEL BRIEF - National parks and national preserves boast some of the most beautiful land in the country, and Acadia is no exception. Located on the coast of Maine, Acadia encompasses 47,633 acres of granite-domed mountains, woodlands, lakes, ponds, and ocean shoreline. Entwined with the natural diversity of the land is the story of people. Evidence suggests native people first lived there at least 5,000 years ago. OHIO'S LAKE ERIE SHORE - From the quiet Marblehead Peninsula that juts into Lake Erie you almost can hear the thunder of roller coasters at Cedar Point across the bay in Sandusky. The longtime amusement park, as well as bustling resort communities and intriguing islands, draw thousands of visitors to this stretch of shore each year. MISSOURI'S GRAND GULF STATE PARK - It's not unusual for visitors to Grand Gulf State Park to gasp in amazement when they step to the edge of this gorge, plunging deep into southern Missouri's Ozark foothills. Gently rolling countryside on the 6-mile drive west from the small, hilly town of Thayer (75 miles west of Poplar Bluff) doesn't prepare you for the 130-foot drop into the buff-colored canyon beyond a forest of maples, oaks and sycamores. MINNESOTA'S GRAND PORTAGE STATE PARK - You hear the rushing water rumbling like a freight train long before you arrive at the viewing platform near the top of Minnesota's highest waterfall. The Pigeon River crashes between granite boulders that glisten under the warm sun. Then, the river cascades 120 feet down a series of stone ledges in Grand Portage State Park (150 miles northeast of Duluth), bursting into a shroud of mist. BIG BEND, TX - Big Bend is one of those hidden jewels in the national park system. Very hidden. Tucked in a far corner of southwest Texas, it's more than 100 miles from the nearest interstate, and at least 200 miles from the closest city. APRES-SKI SEASON - If you think all the ski resorts close shop when summer hits and the snow melts, think again. These winter wonderlands transform during the summer months into havens for mountain-biking schools and family golf camps, water parks, arts festivals, and more. ACADIA NATIONAL PARK, ME - Is your kids' idea of a scenic walk a stroll through the local mall? GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, MT - The folks in Montana like to call their state "The Last Best Place." If so, then Glacier National Park is "The Last Best Place in the Last Best Place." BIG BEND, TX - Big Bend is one of those hidden jewels in the national park system. Very hidden. Tucked in a far corner of southwest Texas, it's more than 100 miles from the nearest interstate, and at least 200 miles from the closest city. AMUSEMENT PARK SURVIVAL GUIDE - Before you throw on that weekend uniform -- a sweatshirt and jeans -- and head for the amusement park, give your wardrobe a second thought. LAURA INGALLS WILDER PARK AND MUSEUM, BURR OAK, IOWA - The website chronicles the efforts in the 1970s of a group of concerned citizens to buy the old building (then a private residence) and renovate it into a museum and national historic site (90 miles northeast of Waterloo). YOUR INTIMATE FAMILY REUNION: A PLANNING CHECKLIST - No matter what size your family is, gathering in someone's home can be a comfortable year-round alternative to a state park family reunion. These types of reunions are often hosted by the family matriarch or patriarch, especially when Grandma's home has played a strong role in the family history. Boisterous Christmas parties, casual Labor Day barbecues, and even graduation parties can be wonderful occasions to gather far-flung relatives and long-lost family members under one roof. DEERING OAKS PARK - Deering Oaks Park, Portland Attraction type: Park BRODIE CASTLE - Brodie castle is situated in parkland in an area near Forres in the North of Scotland which is approximately 24 miles North East of Inverness. The castle has a long and dramatic history (as most of Scotland's castles have) and is presently owned and managed by the National Trust for Scotland. MOFFAT- THE TOWN OF CONTRASTS - The main park is a pleasant hub of activity with some very pleasant surroundings (hence the Scotland in bloom award) with a collection of busy little shops on the main street. If you wander up the main street you will find a chemist shop which claims to be one of the VERSAILLES: GREEN PARKS AND HISTORY, C'EST LE PARADIS! - When I think of the Chateau de Versailles, I think of ladies with powdered wigs -- wearing pastel satin gowns with tiny cinched-in waists, wide skirts and square-cut bodices -- flirting outrageously with wigged men in satin breeches and frock coats, and listening to baroque music in a gilded pastel salon MOVIE WORLD!!! - Hi! This time I will tell you about another fabulous theme park on the Gold Coast, Warner Bros. Movie World ! Movie World ( N IS FOR NEW LAND PROTECTED IN ADIRONDACKS - In keeping with his goal to protect one million acres of land in New York State over the next 10 years, on April 8, 2004, New York State governor George E. Pataki announced the protection of two parcels of land equaling nearly 16,000 acres within the Adirondack Park. The land was LAST MINUTE SHOPPERS GALORE! - Every year the same thing happens. Stores, malls, shops and parking lots become bombarded with droves of last-minute shoppers. Customers are in a rush, employees are irritable and crying children are a dime a dozen. This is typical to those who practice this ritual year after year. HOT? GET WET - Hot and Bothered? Good. Now you can chill out at a water park.or in a park.New Trails to FollowFrom ODNR comes this great news: On June 4, the Ohio Water Trails team designated the Kokosing River Water Trail as the first Ohio Water Trail in the state. What's a "Water Trail?" FRYING PAN PARK - A few weeks ago I had the dubious pleasure of chaperoning a field trip for my seven-year old son's camp group. It was unbearably hot and we were scheduled to go to spend the day outside at the park. I'm happy to say however that despite a very crowded bus ride, FRYING PAN PARK - A few weeks ago I had the dubious pleasure of chaperoning a field trip for my seven-year old son's camp group. It was unbearably hot and we were scheduled to go to spend the day outside at the park. I'm happy to say however that despite a very crowded bus ride, THE BIG THOMPSON FLOOD: COLORADO'S WORST NATURAL DISASTER - Last week when I drove up the Big Thompson Canyon between Loveland and Estes Park, I stopped for a few minutes at one of the memorials to victims of the Big Thompson Flood. This memorial is for two police officers (Sgt. W. Hugh Purdy, Colorado State Patrolman and Michael Conley Estes WAIMEA ADVENTURE PARK - 59-864 Kamehameha Hwy HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK - From Hilo Airport: 30 miles or about a 45 minute drive along Highway 11. VISITING LEIMERT PARK VILLAGE - There is a community within Los Angeles that is richly cultural and vibrant. On any day of the week there is jazz and African-style rhythms echoing throughout its streets. There is laughter and conversation on its walks. Every Sunday, by way of illustration, Leimert Park in South Central Los Angeles, has INSIDE BALBOA PARK - Take a walk along the Prado first and simply observe the ambience, lest you find Balboa Park overwhelming. Only ten miles inland from the beaches and the city, Balboa Park is the first stop on any local or tourist's recommended list on places to check out and savor. HISTORIC RT 66 RUN - 5K IN NORTHERN AZ - The Williams Kiwanis Club, in cooperation with the Maine Consolidated School Parent/Teacher Organization, is hosting the inaugural "Parks in the Pines 5K", May 1st, along historic Route 66 in Parks, located about 15 miles west of Flagstaff, Arizona. FAMED THEME PARK GOING STRONG - Any vacation in the Dallas-Fort Worth area should include a day or two set aside to visit the state's most famous theme park, Six Flags Over Texas. Located in Arlington, a city midway between Dallas and Fort Worth, Six Flags Over Texas has entertained multiple generations of visitors. The park celebrated WAIMEA ADVENTURE PARK - 59-864 Kamehameha Hwy HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK - From Hilo Airport: 30 miles or about a 45 minute drive along Highway 11. VISITING LEIMERT PARK VILLAGE - There is a community within Los Angeles that is richly cultural and vibrant. On any day of the week there is jazz and African-style rhythms echoing throughout its streets. There is laughter and conversation on its walks. Every Sunday, by way of illustration, Leimert Park in South Central Los Angeles, has INSIDE BALBOA PARK - Take a walk along the Prado first and simply observe the ambience, lest you find Balboa Park overwhelming. Only ten miles inland from the beaches and the city, Balboa Park is the first stop on any local or tourist's recommended list on places to check out and savor. HISTORIC RT 66 RUN - 5K IN NORTHERN AZ - The Williams Kiwanis Club, in cooperation with the Maine Consolidated School Parent/Teacher Organization, is hosting the inaugural "Parks in the Pines 5K", May 1st, along historic Route 66 in Parks, located about 15 miles west of Flagstaff, Arizona. FAMED THEME PARK GOING STRONG - Any vacation in the Dallas-Fort Worth area should include a day or two set aside to visit the state's most famous theme park, Six Flags Over Texas. Located in Arlington, a city midway between Dallas and Fort Worth, Six Flags Over Texas has entertained multiple generations of visitors. The park celebrated MY SON, THE DOWNSIZER - My Son, the Downsizer Watching Zach run a virtual amusement park business on his PC, I had to wonder whether inside each of us beats the heart of a Jack Welch or, worse, an Al Dunlap... "LOVE AT GOON PARK" BY DEBORAH BLUM - "Love at Goon Park" by Deborah Blum Psychologist Harry Harlow proved that children need warmth and affection -- but he tormented dozens of monkeys to do it. MY, HOW YOU'VE GROWN - My, How You've Grown A wave of drugs for short kids is sparking social controversy -- and an expanding market. Growth hormones are likely to remain in the spotlight for another reason: They could become the first-ever biotech drugs to become available in generic form. ARE YOU EXPERIENCED? - Are You Experienced? From Anheuser-Busch's exclusive tropical paradise to VW's 3-D marketing brandland, the personalized theme park is here. ROLLER SPRAWL - Roller sprawl The renaissance of coasters is a bonanza for the amusement park business. A FRENCH EXCEPTION TO THE SCIENCE PARK RULE - A French Exception to the Science Park Rule Sophia Antipolis' antidote to PowerPoint presentations WHERE THE BULLS RUN AMOK - Where The Bulls Run Amok Traveling the Badlands in North Dakota's Theodore Roosevelt National Park... SPIRES, HOODOOS, BREAKS, AND DUNES - Spires, Hoodoos, Breaks, and Dunes Though my heart was racing, I marveled at the extraordinary views of the Zion Narrows. The spectacular gorge runs for l6 miles within southwest Utah's Zion National Park. Exploring within the shadows and light of its lofty walls, sandstone grottos, hanging gardens, and natural springs is an unforgettable wilderness adventure experience... LISBON'S OCEAN SIDE - Lisbon's Ocean Side When in Lisbon it's worth feeding the eyes on marine life before filling the stomach. As befits such a seafaring land, Portugal's capital lays claim to Europe's biggest oceanarium at the Park of Nations, on the site of the 1998 Expo... DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK - Death Valley National Park Enjoy Springtime in California's Desert Wonderland... SPARKLING EDINBURGH AND THE ISLE OF SKYE - Sparkling Edinburgh and the Isle of Skye Scotland's lowland and highland gems shine brightly... THE WINDY CITY FROM A TO Z - The Windy City From A to Z With its soaring skyscrapers, attractively landscaped parks, and numerous works of public art, downtown Chicago is a great walking city... FRESH TRACKS - Fresh Tracks Reading the Hot Spots electronic newsletter is like listening to a world-band police scanner for a few minutes each morning -- voyeuristic but informative, especially for globetrotting adventure-seekers... Park concessionaire stops serving threatened fish... etc. CANOEING THE ZAMBEZI - Canoeing the Zambezi Our river guide Solomon gave us a few pointers before we shoved our canoes into the Zambezi River and began a three-day, thirty-mile paddle through Zimbabwe's Mana Pools National Park... FRESH TRACKS - Fresh Tracks GowithaPro, a new travel company that matches clients with pioneers of extreme outdoor sports... Two new eco-experiences in South America's most stunning national parks invite guests to explore remote scenery... etc. ON WALKABOUT IN AUSTRALIA'S WILD EDEN - On Walkabout in Australia's Wild Eden Kakadu is Australia's largest---and most famous---national park. Kakadu includes one of the finest and most extensive collections of rock art and embraces some spectacular scenery. TOP 10: STATE PARKS IN AMERICA - Top 10: State Parks In America If you live in the US or plan to visit, a trip to a state park is a must. The breathtaking natural beauty on display rivals any artificial monument or government building. Let the perfection of Mother Nature serve as a catharsis from the daily grind... SINGING THE GRIZZLIES - Singing the Grizzlies Go visit the national parks. Then come home refreshed, revitalized, and ready to save them... UP NEXT - Up Next A high-desert stunner gets fast-tracked as the next national park... HOW GREEN IS MY VALLEY? - How Green Is My Valley? Forget the hut in the woods. The new breed of ecoresort has 300 rooms, air conditioning, and RV parking. But is it really sustainable? WORLD'S FIRST HYDRAULIC COASTER - World's First Hydraulic Coaster Xcelerator, the world's first hydraulically launched roller coaster, has been unveiled at Knott's Theme Park in Buena Park, Calif. PARADISE OR PARKING LOTS? - Paradise or Parking Lots? How will China manage ecotourism? SHORE THING - Shore Thing In the new Boston Harbor Islands national park area, city dwellers can escape the madding crowds. HEADACHE-FREE AIRPORT PARKING - Headache-Free Airport Parking Driving around in circles will never be the same. SPARKLING SHANGHAI - Sparkling Shanghai It's old, it's new, and in the wake of SARS, discounts abound THE CITY THAT GLOWS: SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - The City That Glows: San Antonio, Texas San Antonio has been throwing a Christmas party for years. It gets bigger every winter. The town starts twinkling right after Thanksgiving and sparkles until the New Year. The pinnacle of the celebration is a candlelight procession, Las Posadas. WEST TEXAS: GOING BEYOND BIG BEND - West Texas: Going Beyond Big Bend From the national park to world-class hideaways, you can find an escape from the hurly-burly. Information on resorts and things to do in West Texas. GRAND CANYON TOOL KIT - Grand Canyon Tool Kit Some four million people visit Grand Canyon National Park each year. If you plan to be one of them, here's everything you need for planning the perfect Big-Ditch trip. TOP 10: FASTEST U.S. ROLLER COASTERS - Top 10: Fastest U.S. Roller Coasters There's something about a roller coaster that makes you feel like a kid again. Maybe it's the amusement park atmosphere or the fact that you scream like a prepubescent boy when the coaster careens around corners at record-breaking speeds. UNTOLD OREGON - Untold Oregon A bay and two alpine lakes beckon tourers with clear waters and wildlife region... Riding the Mists of Hosmer Lake... Defining Reality at Sparks Lake... The Scappoose Bay Choices... IN THE LAND OF THE DREAMTIME - In the Land of the Dreamtime Visiting petroglyphs, pristine marshes and the deep past in the vast wild of Australia's Kakadu National Park. SAVING DISNEY'S WORLD - Saving Disney's World Disney is facing allegations that its theme parks are in a state of disarray. A MIDWEST GLACIAL RETREAT - A Midwest Glacial Retreat Giant potholes carved by glacial melt during the last ice age, basalt flows from the mid-continental rift and deep chasms from glaciers offer a great lesson in geology during a hike, rock-climb or canoe trip in Minnesota and Wisconsin Interstate State Parks. POINTS OF INTEREST - ON CLIPPED WINGS - Points of Interest - On Clipped Wings As America's first black military pilots, Tuskegee airmen faced a battle against racism. In 1998, the National Park Service established the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site. THE BIG EASY - The Big Easy Denali National Park, Alaska is accessible for hikers, but you can also relax alone in the backcountry. It also features the highest peak in the continent, Mount McKinley. THE SOUTH'S SACRED FOREST - The South's Sacred Forest Congaree National Park, South Carolina features hiking trails, jet-black waters, and America's largest remnant of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest. THE GLACIAL GALLERY - The Glacial Gallery Montana's Glacier National Park is one of the world's premier showcases of glaciation, a land of deep valleys separated by spiny aretes, cirques that shelter turquoise tarns, and summits in every conceivable shape, from layer cake to Egyptian pyramid. BEYOND THE TRIPLE CORKSCREW - Beyond The Triple Corkscrew This summer's new park rides rely on special effects as well as G-forces to produce thrills. PIZZA PARK - Pizza Park Sure, the new Kids' Farm at the National Zoo will be educational, but a giant rubber pizza and a caring corral will make it also a place for fun. HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK - Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Over the past 30 years, ongoing volcanic activity has perpetually helped to reshape the park, closing roads, covering trails and continually altering the park's landscape. NATIONAL PARK SECRET TRIPS - National Park Secret Trips Locals' no-tell favorites, from Acadia to Yellowstone to wildest Alaska--along with a roundup of dream towns nearby, the places to eat, drink, and dance after a day or three in backcountry heaven. YELLOWSTONE MUDSLIDES CLOSE ENTRANCE - Yellowstone Mudslides Close Entrance Following severe thunderstorms and heavy rains on Sunday night, mudslides cascaded off a Yellowstone National Park mountainside onto a road on Sunday, blocking off the eastern entrance to the park. TRAVEL: MOTELS & MOTORIN' - Travel: Motels & Motorin' Ready for a road trip? These hotels and motels will provide plenty of vacation stories -- such as the "doo-wop" trailer park in Wildwood, NJ. HIKING UNDERGROUND - Hiking Underground The longest cave in the world wends below Kentucky's Mammoth Cave National Park. Here visitors can view cave formation up close. THE CENTER OF IT ALL: VISITING CENTRAL PARK - The Center of it All: Visiting Central Park New York's Central Park presents a treasure trove of important geologic information. BRING YOUR PARKA, AND PARTY - Bring Your Parka, and Party Minneapolis-St. Paul, from Jan. 28 to Feb. 6, is a winter carnival of skating, skiing, and shopping. THE NEW POCKET-SIZED THEME PARK CONCEPT - INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT - The New Pocket-Sized Theme Park Concept - Interactive Entertainment 5Wits founder Matt DuPlessie created Tomb, an Egyptian-inspired interactive adventure that pits teams of flashlight wielding "explorers" against the Pharaoh's challenges. GLACIER: CROWN OF THE CONTINENT - Glacier: Crown of the Continent Established as a national park in 1910, Glacier National Park's geologic and ecologic significance is internationally recognized. CAMPING & RVING AT MT. RAINIER NATIONAL PARK - Camping & RVing at Mt. Rainier National Park Whenever you go, you'll fall in love with this incredible place of wonder. LOCAL KNOWLEDGE - BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA - Local Knowledge - Beaufort, South Carolina There are three public marinas in Beaufort, and all offer essential services, but the Downtown Marina, located on Bay Street and adjacent to the park, is the perfect spot for touring. SOUTH SOUND SECRET REVEALED - South Sound Secret Revealed On the way south to Olympia from the Strait of Juan de Fuca, you will have seen countless passes, inlets, islands, terrific mountain views, numerous marine parks and friendly harbors along the way. THE SIERRA SKYWAY - The Sierra Skyway A guide to visiting Yosemite National Park and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. THE RED ROCK ROUTE - The Red Rock Route Information about touring Zion National Park and Grand Canyon National Park. GREAT LODGES OF THE GREAT PARKS - Great Lodges of the Great Parks From backcountry decadence to rustic simplicity, here are the Ten Best Places to bed down in the U.S. national parks. ALASKA FLY-IN: KATMAI NATIONAL PARK - Alaska Fly-In: Katmai National Park Witness a brown-bear salmon-feeding frenzy in Alaska. COLORFUL DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK - Colorful Death Valley National Park Death Valley welcomes thousands of tourists each season of the year, who are surprised at the range and depth of color. DESTINATION FUN - AN ACCESSIBLE RV PARK - Destination Fun - An Accessible RV Park Sun N Fun Sarasota is one of the friendliest RV resorts, and is accommodating to those with limited mobility. DO YOU BELIEVE DUBAI? - Do You Believe Dubai? Glittering five-star hotels and epic shopping sprees aren't the only reason to visit Dubai. Las Vegas for boaters, a psychedelic ocean park, the greatest show on earth (and water), this Emirate is no desert mirage. AROUND MOUNT RAINIER - Around Mount Rainier The stratovolcano has not erupted since a few small events were recorded in the early 1800s. But numerous lahars -- mudflows triggered by various events -- continue to reshape the landscape, and the effects are visible throughout the park today. WINNING WINTER GETAWAYS - Winning Winter Getaways This season's hottest getaways combine outdoor play with mind- and body-soothing relaxation. Here are some of the best places to indulge: Adventure Yoga Retreats, Mammoth, California... Women's Quest at Snow Mountain Ranch, Winter Park, Colorado... etc. WELCOME TO WATER WORLD - Welcome to Water World Ream National Park is the most established National Park in Cambodia. Here you will find secluded beaches, tropical jungles and wide rivers. FLORIDA: FORT LAUDERDALE, TAKING THE KIDS. - Once known as a spring break place for college kids, Fort Lauderdale has grown up and out of that image. Now visitors will find classy shops, world-class art, and a new Florida-chic attitude. The beaches, waterways and parks frame a rich menu of activities and make it easy to ?unwind and escape from the stresses of everyday life. Imagine more than 300 miles of navigable waterways and 40,000 resident yachts. Providing sophisticated fun- in-the-sun, Greater Fort Lauderdale offers family vacation fun beyond-the-beach.? FLORIDA: MIAMI, TAKING THE KIDS. - Commonly known for its fabulous restaurants and lively nightclubs, the city also has a softer side for families. Our action list includes the fun stuff for families. Think about sunshine and shopping, Cuban coffee and luscious pastels, theatre and dance and all things on the water including fishing, sailing, wave running and skiing. Discover parrots, pirates, and monkeys. Wiggle your toes in the sand at Crandon Park. Sign up for salsa lessons or kick back and relax. Urban and definitely tropical, Miami has fun stuff to do with the kids. FRANCE: PARIS, TAKING THE KIDS. - Paris may be known as the romantic heart of Europe, but its appeal is multigenerational. From the Eiffel Tower to the Lourve the city is a feast for the senses of both the young and the young at heart --think Beauty and the Beast and Hunchback of Notre Dame. It is a place to ride a pony in the park; sample scrumptious pastries, cheese, fresh bread, and wine. From Astrix, kid-cinemas and cirques to biking and in-line skating. Paris is magical for young children; for teens it is MTV time ten; for families it is fun. FLORIDA: CRESCENT BEACH, A SECRET BEACH PLACE FOR FAMILIES. - Miles of lovely hard-packed sand make beach hiking, bike riding, and sand volleyball almost too good to pass up. When the tide is out residents and visitors drive along the ocean's edge, sometimes parking against the sand dunes that frame the land. Uncrowded and laid back, no high rise buildings buffer the beach zone. Shrimp boats cruise the currents; dolphins weave through the waves; pelicans glide over the shallows; summers bring sea turtles to nest; winters bring "Nor'easters" and treasures from the sea. Crescent Beach is picture perfect 24/7. FINLAND: HELSINKI, TAKING THE KIDS. - Helsinki offers plenty of options for families that wish to enjoy a city by the sea. The public transportation system is very efficient allowing access to dozens of parks and museums. Easy paced and friendly, residents enjoy showing off their Artic gem. FLORIDA: LAKE BUENA VISTA, WATER FUN AT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT. - Take a ferry excursion across Seven Seas Lagoon or ride the Norwegian river adventure at Epcot. Experience an encounter with a flash flood at Disney-MGM Studios or splash through a white-water raft ride at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Take a plunge down a mountainside in a hollowed-out log in Magic Kingdom. Plus. GEORGIA: THE BEST OF ARTS & BASEBALL. - From art museum treasure hunts and open-air folk concerts to ballpark tours and double headers communities across the state have a sense of how to make enjoying "the good life" easy. Friendly residents enjoy sharing their unique heritage and insider tips. Georgia has a comfortable style that makes vacationing with kids effortless. Family vacation options span the state. We've selected some of the good stuff but there is plenty left to be discovered. QUEBEC: QUEBEC CITY, ENJOYING SNOW EXTEMES. - Quebec City as a snow vacation for families is perfect. It is made even more perfect when the annual winter carnival is in progress. The party atmosphere is prevalent everywhere. No one is concerned about snow or ice slowing down activities. Larger than life ice sculptures line the park walk just outside the walls of the old city. The festival mascot Bon Homme oversees the festivities. ?Anytime after mid-day festival goers, those not on the ski slopes, will begin to hear the bleating of horns. The sound may originate from the middle of any group on the street. The odd thing is that for sure there will be an answer and usually more than one. Tourists buy these horns and eagerly begin moose calling on their own. Normal looking business folk appear in public places wearing red elf hats and every one is happy. ILLINOIS: CHICAGO, TAKING THE KIDS. - From the beauty of Lake Michigan and Grant Park to the fireboats on the Chicago River, Chicago is an awesome place. The parks are better than ever and the Sears Tower is still a thrill when it is not in the clouds. Best of all Chicago has traditional neighborhoods easy for visitors to find and to enjoy. Street fairs in the warmer months seem to run continuously; all of them free.?Imagine unending possibilities for fun. Trying a new pizza place every night could take months. The city offers a true glimpse of the creative energy found in the heartland of America. ARIZONA: WILLIAMS, RIDING THE GRAND CANYON RAILWAY. - The sun was barely visible as we crossed the parking lot and approached the train platform. Only one in our family is a morning person and he was pushing ahead at an unbearable pace. MINNESOTA: MINNEAPOLIS, TAKING THE KIDS TO THE CITY. - A remarkable city for a family holiday, winter in Minneapolis is primetime. From marvelous theatrical productions and inspiring museum programs to dreamy snow covered parks and tempting hot chocolate stops, the city shines. ? MARYLAND: BALTIMORE, TAKING THE KIDS. - Bright colored flowers line parkways; street vendors sell luscious crab cakes and lemon tea. Baltimore is an energizing city with dozens of family vacation options, no matter the season. USA: SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVALS MEAN FAMILY FUN 2005. - This is the good stuff, enjoy your summer and "listen to the music."?Music festivals and festivals with music make for great family vacation times. Whether it is perform in a city park or an amphitheatre on a mountainside, relaxing and letting the music take hold is the whole idea.?We've assembled an action list which includes good vibrations from Grant Park in Chicago, Barefoot Landing in North of Myrtle Beach, Dollywood in Pigeon Forge and the list goes on. Our Events Directory has oodles more,?sorted by location on the planet. SOUTH CAROLINA: MYRTLE BEACH, THE BREAKERS RESORT. PROVIDES BEACH FUN. - The Breakers Resort complex has one of the best locations on the Strand. Not only is the Atlantic steps from the pool deck but it is possible to park the car and walk or use the trolley to almost everything worth doing while on a family vacation. ARKANSAS: LAKE CHICOT STATE PARK INSIDER INFORMATION. - Lake Village in the southeast corner of Arkansas lies a prominent - though under appreciated - natural wonder: North America's largest ox-bow lake. Shaped like a "C," it is 20 miles long and at some places just shy of a mile wide. The park has lately been undergoing a face-lift of substantial proportions and the result is ideal for families. NETHERLANDS: TIME TO CELEBRATE! - Amsterdam is a family friendly city with oodles of delightful places to visit. It is certainly an option for those parents that have abandon Paris as a family vacation option. Laced with canals and dotted with parks the city is easy to navigate on foot or by public transit. Basically all one must do is locate the central train station and the rest is simple. PENNSYLVANIA: LAUREL HIGHLANDS, PURE FUN WITH THE KIDS. - I need to remind myself this is the 21st century. Looking around at the amusement park attractions and vendors, the rides of my childhood whirled in a blur of nostalgic scenery. I was delighted to be with my kids at Idlewild Park and Soak Zone, a pre-eminent example of a premium family amusement park of the simpler 1960's, restored and reminiscent of an era before Six Flags and other urban and over priced experiences. FLORIDA: LAKE BUENA VISTA, LA NOUBA, A CIRQUE DU SOLEIL SALUTE AT DOWNTOWN DISNEY. - A six month series of special events will offer guests a never-before glimpse backstage into the artistic talents of the Cirque du Soleil performers. TEXAS: SAN ANTONIO, TAKING THE KIDS. - Texas: San Antonio, Taking the Kids. The city is really a vacation playground for families. From beautiful Brackenridge Park with the Witte Museum and the San Antonio Zoo to the lively city center with the energizing River Walk and the historic Alamo, the city is spunky and fun. FLORIDA: LAKE BUENA VISTA, GROSVENOR RESORT. - It's all about location and this resort has a great spot for a family vacation. So what, you may be thinking? First off, it is just a short walk to Downtown Disney and the Resort provides complimentary access to all of Disney's realm. As an extra bonus, book a vacation package and get a Florida-style Piccadilly Picnic. UTAH: PARK CITY, SNOW DREAMING - World-class and wonderful, Park City is the place of dreams for all ages. From riding "The Polar Express" out of Heber or chasing bunny tracks over the Park City Golf Course to a first-time bobsled run or virtual reality skiing, it's snow dreaming. MONTANA: BOZEMAN, OUR FIRST TIME. - The air seemed cool to all of us. T-shirt clad and exited, we stood gazing from the parking lot at stunning views of mountains in every direction. TRAVEL SAFETY: THEME PARK SAFE ZONES. - Dolly's Splash Country in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee is one of several theme parks in the USA to offer state-of-the-art SafeTzone Guest Locating SystemsT. TRAVEL SAFETY: THEME PARK SAFE ZONES. - Dolly's Splash Country in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee is one of several theme parks in the USA to offer state-of-the-art SafeTzone Guest Locating SystemsT. FLORIDA: LAKE BUENA VISTA, SURF, DIVE OR FISH AT DISNEY. - Guests who really want to plunge into the water for fun discover they can surf, snorkel, water ski and scuba dive at Walt Disney World Resort. The water fun also includes the chance to captain a variety of rental craft, go on a private bass fishing excursion, and even parasail. FLORIDA: LAKE BUENA VISTA, ON SAFARI AT DISNEY. - Whispering winds sweep across the balmy, Africa-like plain, a peaceful sanctuary at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. From balconies overlooking the savannahs, hotel guests marvel as creatures large and small roam the grasses, forage for food and play in harmony. SWITZERLAND: INTERLAKEN, DISCOVERING MYSTERY PARK. - Visitors to Interlachen will have an opportunity to experience a fantastic virtual voyage to discover the great mysteries of the world. OREGON: BULLARDS BEACH STATE PARK, YURT CAMPING. - Yurt camping family-style is one of the best-kept secrets in Oregon. In spite of the weather and last minute planning the Gourleys found the perfect location and have insider information to share. VIRGINIA: NIGHT HIKING, SKIPPING ROCKS, TAKING TEA. - Virginia's state parks offer a wide variety of interesting activities for families. From night hikes and fossil hunts to campfire programs and swimming lessons, it's all about having more fun and taking home great memories. KENTUCKY: MAMMOTH CAVE, GOING DOWN UNDER. - Mammoth Caves National Park has been on our list of "must see" for many years. We finally made it to the park and discovered it's a great place even if you don't like caves. ARKANSAS: DEGRAY LAKE, WHAT LIES BENEATH THE SURFACE. - "Yoo hoo. You in the tent," the ranger at DeGray Lake Resort State Park called to my friends and me. He told us we had to register for our campsite by 10 a.m. We checked our watches: it was 9:35. After a trip to the visitors center, we knew we were lucky to get one of the park's last vacant sites. ARKANSAS: BRINKLEY, LOUISIANA PURCHASE REAL TIME. - Arkansas: Brinkley, Louisiana Purchase Real Time. Bicentennial celebrations at Louisiana Purchase State Park will span 2004-2006 and beyond providing visitors with real time perspective on the epic journey. SOUTH DAKOTA: CUSTER STATE PARK, BUFFALO ROUNDUP. - Custer State Park is one of the places in the United States where bison roam free. It is where granite spires tower over pristine lakes and where clear mountain streams flow through unspoiled forests. CALIFORNIA: THE REDWOODS, DRIVES AND HIKES FOR FAMILIES. - RNP is actually a linchpin component of a quartet of areas known as Redwood National and State Parks Supporting California State components include Prairie Creek Redwoods, Norte Coast Redwoods, and Jedediah Smith Redwoods. AFRICA: PARK EAST, GIVE THE GIFT OF LEARNING. - In Africa unlike the sunset that seems to linger, dawn intrudes the senses, no sleeping-in when on safari. The first sensation sounds, unidentifiable, some echo and others repeat answering and adding to the chaos that is a natural symphony. Binoculars clenched, eyes squinting everyone waits for the first movement of dawn. CALIFORNIA: FAMILY VACATIONS AND THE REDWOOD PARKS. - Northern California offers everything for a perfect family vacation. FLORIDA: KISSIMMEE, VACATION PACKAGES, BASEBALL TICKETS FOR SPRING TRAINING FANS. - Travelers longing for the ideal spring training getaway with warm weather, a fun day at the ballpark and exciting baseball action make Kissimmee their dream destination. Kissimmee, the spring training home of National League Champion Houston Astros, offers vacation packages tailored for spring training fans wanting a baseball-themed vacation that makes more dreams come true. USA: HEARTLAND, SPRING BREAK FAMILY VACATION IDEAS. - Getaway ideas to cure spring fever may be found through the Heartland States. From Minnesota and Illinois to Indiana and Ohio, we have ideas that spell fun. Whatever your family's passion, we have spring break vacation ideas to fit the quest. Need to feel warm sunshine and the crunch of snow underfoot? Want the excitement of splashing the kids at a state-of-the-art waterpark? How about riding the trails before breakfast or star gazing with the kids? Take in a show; shop 'til you drop; discover a museum. The good stuff awaits - take a break. Have we missed something? Our Vacation Directory has at least 101 more ideas for the perfect spring break. CALIFORNIA: ANAHEIM, VISIT DISNEYLAND® RESORT AND CELEBRATE. - As the 50th Disney Anniversary Celebration enters its final months, the fun continues. Witness the most amazing entertainment spectacles in Disneyland® history as "Remember.Dreams Come True" Fireworks Spectacular and Walt Disney's Parade of Dreams fill Disneyland® Park with their amazing magic. While over in Disney's California Adventure® Park, Disney presents the Pixar Film Pals in Block Party Bash, a street extravaganza like no place else on earth. FLORIDA: LAKE BUENA VISTA, MAGICAL GATHERINGS AT DISNEY WORLD. - Think of all the people who make you the happiest and imagine being with them right now. What would it be like? In no time, you'll be telling old stories; making up new ones; laughing until it hurts and feeling like everything is right. But in the real world, how often can any of us make these moments actually come to life? Walt Disney World® Resort is celebrating the special magic that happens when friends and family gather together - Magical GatheringsT. CONNECTICUT:: BRISTOL, TRY FLYING SCOOTERS. - Lake Compounce, New England's oldest family theme park, is committed to entertaining families and keeping the best of the "good old days'while ading high energy adventures. FLORIDA: LAKE BUENA VISTA, BE A PRINCESS AT DISNEY. - Little Princesses may enjoy tea for two with the new My Disney Girl's Perfectly Princess Tea Party offered in the Garden View Lounge at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. UTAH: MOAB, TAKING A "JOHN WESLEY POWELL ADVENTURE". - One national park, two rivers, three canyons and one great adventure, the multi-faceted "John Wesley Powell Adventure" combines magnificent wonder, spectacular whitewater challenge and triumphant personal achievement. It is the ideal balance of serenity, thrill, and fascination that will transform your life. NEW YORK: NYC, THE RITZ-CARLTON BATTERY PARK, SISTERHOOD - THE REAL THING. - To celebrate and commemorate lifelong friendships The Ritz-Carlton New York & Warner Brothers Pictures invite young women to document their "Sisterhoods" in the city.In the spirit of the best-selling novel by Ann Brashares and the new film from Warner Bros. Pictures, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants which opened June 3rd,2005. TENNESSEE: PIGEON FORGE, PARKWAY TROLLEY STOPS. - Imagine endless shopping stops and even more places to be entertained. Think about skydiving inside and racing like Richard Petty. It is all along the famous Fun Time (Parkway) Trolley Route in Pigeon Forge. Planning a family vacation in the mountains just got easier.getaways during the summer months. PENNSYLVANIA: HERSHEY, RIDE A HYDRAULIC LAUNCH COASTER. - The $12.5 million coaster is designed to travel 0-72 mph in two seconds with lifts and flips. The new attraction is Hershey's tenth roller coaster and will be located in the Pioneer Frontier area in Hersheypark, already home to 11 Western-themed rides, 12 restaurants, six gift shops and four games. FLORIDA: SUWANNEE RIVER, CHILL YOUR TOES IN PURE WATER. - Introducing kids to nature is the fun stuff. No script needed, Mother Nature provides a wide range of perfect settings to create adventures large and small. Along the dark and mysterious Suwannee River nature is at its best. Three remarkable parks, Manatee, Fanning and Hart, provide marvelous connecting points with the cooler side of Florida. PENNSYLVANIA: HIDDEN VALLEY, SNOW TUBING THE ICE MONSTER. - Hidden Valley, Snow Tubing the Ice Monster. Hidden Valley Resort has created winter amusement area called "Outback Park". The new area features The Ice Monster, the longest, steepest snow-tubing run in Pennsylvania. FLORIDA: FOUR NEW STATE PARKS. - Need a little warm weather? Want a place where the kids can run bare footed. Four new state parks have been added to the already extensive state park system. WYOMING: SKI YELLOWSTONE. - Nordic Heaven Skiers Package caters cross-country to families who want to experience Yellowstone National Park in the winter. For those who prefer snowmobiling there is a Sno-Mo Deal. NEW YORK: LAKE PLACID WITH SNOW. - Located in the 6.1 million-acre wilderness known as Adirondack Park, Lake Placid is far from remote. The resort-mountain complex is best known for hosting two Winter Olympics, one in 1932 and again in1980. Today, the destination embraces the coldest months with a plethora of winter options for families. INSIDE DISNEY'S ANIMAL KINGDOM - Check out the animals, the rides, the shows and more at the Magic Kingdom's newest theme park CAN'T-MISS ATTRACTIONS AT ANIMAL KINGDOM - Check out the animals, the rides, the shows and more at the Magic Kingdom's newest theme park GOLF AT LAKE BUENA VISTA IN DISNEY WORLD - An insider's guide to golf at Walt Disney World FOOD AND SHOPPING AT ANIMAL KINGDOM - Check out the animals, the rides, the shows and more at the Magic Kingdom's newest theme park THE YOUNGER THE KIDS, THE BIGGER THE DISNEY MAGIC - Video to order for tips on taking a preschooler to the Walt Disney World parks. LEARN ABOUT THE LATEST FUN AT DISNEY'S CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE - A new park at the Disneyland Resort showcases the best of the Golden State CAMP IN STYLE AT OHIO'S PUNDERSON STATE PARK - Stay in modern, spacious trailers at Ohio's Punderson State Park EXPLORE ILLINOIS' STARVED ROCK STATE PARK - Stay in a rustic log cabin at Illinois' Starved Rock State Park Lodge MAGIC KINGDOM, MGM & EPCOT - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises WALT DISNEY WORLD/WONDER CRUISE TO BAHAMAS - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises DISNEYLAND (ANAHEIM) - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises THEME PARK EXPERT: SINGLE PARENTS AT DISNEY WORLD - Tips from our theme park expert on how single parents can best spend their time at Disney World with their kids THEME PARK EXPERT: VILLA-STYLE LODGING AT DISNEY WORLD - Disney World's villa-style lodging options may be just the thing for your family ROAD-TESTED VACATIONS - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises THEME PARK EXPERT: THE BEST DISNEY WORLD ATTRACTIONS FOR TEENS - Get the scoop from our theme park expert's 16-year-old daughter, who's been to Disney World over 25 times THEME PARK EXPERT: DISNEY WORLD TICKET PRICING AND INFORMATION - Find out ticket pricing for all Disney World theme parks and water parks THEME PARK EXPERT: DELUXE RESORTS AT DISNEY WORLD - Find out what the deluxe resorts at Disney World are located and offer their guests THEME PARK EXPERT: DISNEY WORLD DINING WITH TODDLERS (AND OTHER FUSSY EATERS) - Read on for the best dining options in the theme parks and other tips for fussy eaters DISNEY WORLD - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises WALT DISNEY WORLD/DIXIE LANDING - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises THEME PARK EXPERT: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT DISNEY WORLD - Find out the answers to your most frequently asked Disney park questions FAVORITE SKI SPOT: WINTER PARK, COLORADO - Winter Park includes a 25-acre Discovery Park which gives beginners room to practice their skills GREATEST OUTDOORS: SIX NATIONAL PARKS GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK, ... - Greatest Outdoors: six national parks to visit this year vacation travel family THEME PARK EXPERT: FASTPASS FOR DISNEY PARK RIDES - Find out how to avoid waiting in line at Disney parks THEME PARK EXPERT: VISITING DISNEY PARKS WITH DISABLED GUESTS - Make your trip to a Disney park with a disabled guest comfortable and fun WDW/DISNEYLAND/CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises WALT DISNEY WORLD/POLYNESIAN RESORT - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises EUGENE T. MAHONEY STATE PARK RESORT, NEBRASKA - Enjoy resort-like amenities while camping at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park Resort in Ashland, Nebraska TRAVEL: GULF STATE PARK: GULF SHORES, ALABAMA - Enjoy camping with resort-like amenities at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama CLUB DISNEY, CALIFORNIA - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises DISNEYLAND PARIS, FRANCE - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises DISNEY ORLANDO - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises THEME PARK EXPERT: CHARACTER BREAKFASTS AT DISNEY WORLD - Tips and locations for dining with the characters at Disney World WALT DISNEY WORLD - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises EPCOT/MGM/ANIMAL KINGDOM/MAGIC KINGDOM - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises TRAVEL: VISIT ARKANSAS' CRATER OF DIAMONDS STATE PARK - Search for real diamonds at this Arkansas state park ALL-STAR MOVIES RESORT/WDW - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA & DISNEY WORLD - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises WALT DISNEY WORLD/ALL STAR MUSIC RESORT - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises WALT DISNEY WORLD-FLORIDA - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises CHALET-STYLE LODGING IN MONTANA'S GLACIER NATIONAL PARK - Your family will love this lakeside lodge with hiking, canoeing, fishing, boat tours, and horseback riding FLORIDA'S EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK - Suggestions for places to eat when visiting the Florida Everglades. THEME PARK EXPERT: STAYING AT DISNEY WORLD'S ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE - Find out about Disney World's new resort where you can watch the animals roam WALT DISNEY WORLD, CONTEMPORY HOTEL - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises DISNEYLAND: ANAHEIM, CA - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises EVERYWHERE - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises THEME PARK EXPERT: DISNEY WORLD FAMILY REUNION TIPS - Find out how to make your trip more enjoyable for the whole family GREATEST OUTDOORS: SIX NATIONAL PARKS ACADIA MAINE TRAVEL VACATION TRIP ... - Greatest Outdoors: six national parks to visit this year vacation travel family DISNEYLAND, CALIFORNIA - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises WALT DISNEY WORLD/FORT WILDERNESS RESORT - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises WALT DISNEY WORLD, FLORIDA - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises TWO GREAT NEW YORK STATE PARK RESORTS - Enjoy resort-like amenities while camping in New York's Letchworth and Wellesley Island State Parks DISNEYLAND PARIS - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises GREATEST OUTDOORS: SIX NATIONAL PARKS YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK FAMILY FUN ... - Greatest Outdoors: six national parks to visit this year vacation travel family THEME PARK EXPERT: BEST STAGE SHOWS AT DISNEY WORLD - Learn about the stage shows you really shouldn't miss while on your Disney World vacation DISNEY BEACH & YACHT CLUB - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises WALT DISNEY WORLD/HALLOWEEN - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises OKLAHOMA STATE PARK RESORT GETAWAYS - Enjoy resort-like amenities while camping at Oklahoma's Western Hills Guest Ranch and Roman Nose Resort Park UNIVERSAL STUDIOS IN ORLANDO - Discover the Island of Adventure, Universal Studios' theme park in Orlando THEME PARK EXPERT: MID-PRICED RESORTS AT DISNEY WORLD - Learn what the mid-priced resorts at Disney World offer their guests DISNEY WORLD-ORLANDO FL - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises DISNEY'S ANIMAL KINGDOM - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises PORT ORLEANS/MGM - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises WDW - POLYNESIAN RESORT - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises FT. WILDERNESS - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises DISNEYLAND - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises DISNEY-MGM STUDIOS, FL - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises WALT DISNEY WORLD/ALL STAR RESORT - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises SAN FRANCISCO MARITIME NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK - San Francisco's Maritime National Historic Park features four 19th-century ships plus a restored WWII submarine WALTDISNEYWORLD AND CRUISE - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises EVERYWHERE!!! - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises WALT DISNEY WORLD/PORT ORLEANS - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises WALT DISNEY WORLD: NOT SO SCARY HALLOWEEN - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises CALIFORNIA NATIONAL PARKS IN WINTER - Winter is the best time to visit Death Valley and Yosemite for fun outdoor activities DISNEYLAND: ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises THEME PARK EXPERT: DISNEY WORLD WITH A BABY - Tips on the best way to explore Disney World or Disneyland with a baby or toddler ALL 4 PARKS - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises VISIT MONTANA'S HISTORIC ROOSEVELT LODGE CABINS - Stay at the Roosevelt Lodge Cabins in Montana's Yellowstone National Park VISIT FLORIDA'S EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK IN WINTER - Take a crack at seeing 14 endangered species, thousands of wetlands birds and 600-year-old cypress trees GREAT DINING IN MAINE'S ACADIA NATIONAL PARK - Maine's Acadia National Park offers a wonderful escape for your family WALT DISNEY WORLD, FL - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises GREATEST OUTDOORS: SIX NATIONAL PARKS TO VISIT THIS YEAR VACATION TRAVEL FAMILY - Greatest Outdoors: six national parks to visit this year vacation travel family WALT DISNEY WORLD/PORT ORLEANS RESORT - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises THEME PARK EXPERT: FUN, UNUSUAL ACTIVITIES AT DISNEY WORLD - Already been to Disney World? On your next trip, check out some of the more unusual activities available THEME PARK EXPERT: VALUE RESORTS AT DISNEY WORLD - The All-Star resorts at Disney World are cheap, but not boring PIPESTEM RESORT STATE PARK, WEST VIRGINIA - Enjoy resort-like amenities while camping at the Pipestem Resort State Park in Pipestem, West Virginia THEME PARK EXPERT: CELEBRATING BIG OCCASIONS AT DISNEY WORLD - Tips on how to make a birthday or anniversary a special occasion at Disney World THEME PARK EXPERT: THE BEST DEALS ON HOTEL ROOMS IN ORLANDO - Looking for a place to stay in Orlando? This is the place to find the best deals in the area WALT DISNEY WORLD/DISNEY'S POLYNESIAN RESORT - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises WALT DISNEY WORLD/EPCOT/MGM - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises DISNEYWORLD, FLORIDA - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises CARRIBEAN RESORT - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises WALT DISNEY WORLD/BOARDWALK VILLAS - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises THEME PARK EXPERT: SAVING MONEY ON FOOD AT DISNEY WORLD - Find out where to eat on a budget at Disney World WALT DISNEY WORLD/DISNEY'S BEACH CLUB RESORT - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises DISNEY WORLD, MGM, MAGIC, EPCOT,KEY WEST RESORT - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises VISIT NEW YORK'S ADIRONDACK STATE PARK - Explore the largest state park in the U.S. at Adirondack Loj Wilderness Campground EXPLORE AUSTIN, TEXAS WITH YOUR KIDS - In Austin you'll discover super parks, swimming holes and a city that revels in its role as the rowdy little sibling among Texas towns BEACH CLUB RESORT - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises WALT DISNEY WORLD/CARIBBEAN BEACH RESORT - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises GREATEST OUTDOORS: SIX NATIONAL PARKS OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK WASHINGTON TRAVEL... - Greatest Outdoors: six national parks to visit this year vacation travel family THEME PARK EXPERT: WONDERFUL ADULT DINING AT DISNEY WORLD - Find out about the special restaurants at Disney World that make for a great parents' night out WALT DISNEY WORLD: ALL FOUR PARKS - Find out what other parents have to say about their trips to Disney parks or on Disney cruises SAN DIEGO WILD ANIMAL PARK, CALIFORNIA - Covering 1,800 acres, the San Diego Wild Animal Park offers visitors the chance to observe wild animals in their natural habitat much like a real safari. VISIT CONNECTICUT'S DINOSAUR STATE PARK - Your kids will love this state park where they can make plaster casts of real dinosaur tracks THEME PARK EXPERT: ALL ABOUT ORLANDO'S SEAWORLD - Find out about the best attractions, shows, and exhibits for your gang JURASSIC PARK AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS ORLANDO - Discover the Island of Adventure, Universal Studios' theme park in Orlando FAMILY TRAVEL EXPERT: YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK IN WINTER - According to our family travel experts, Yellowstone is a winter wonderland THEME PARK EXPERT: HOW TO SPEND YOUR FIRST NIGHT AT DISNEY WORLD - Suggestions on how to spend your first day at Disney World if you're arriving too late to go to the theme parks A TODDLER-FRIENDLY RESORT IN SEQUOIA NAT'L PARK - Experience summer camp all over again with your children at the Montecito-Sequoia Lodge. FAMILY-FRIENDLY HOSTEL IN CALIFORNIA - Get a picture-book view of rock-strewn beaches at the Redwood National Park Hostel in Klamath, California FAMILY-FRIENDLY HOSTEL IN MINNESOTA - This beautifully restored log building sits among the park's virgin pines, just a short distance from the Mississippi River's headwaters XCELERATOR - A wild coaster themed around fifties hot rods in Buena Park, California THE LOST CONTINENT AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS ORLANDO - Discover the Island of Adventure, Universal Studios' theme park in Orlando VISIT THE OLD FAITHFUL INN AT YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - Stay at Yellowstone's Old Faithful Inn, one of the grand lodges of the national park system VISIT NEW MEXICO'S CARLSBAD CAVERNS IN WINTER - Check out this national park where trails wind through exquisitely sculpted chambers full of stalagmites, stalactites and everything in between VISIT THE MARINE AND ANIMAL LIFE AT THE ALBUQUERQUE BIOLOGICAL PARK - See close-ups of sharks, eels, and everyone's favorite, polar bears at Albuquerque's Aquarium IOWA MINOR LEAGUE BALLPARK - At this Iowa ballpark you'll find country bands and baseball's best ice cream STAY NEAR THE WORLD'S LONGEST CAVE IN KENTUCKY'S MAMMOTH CAVE NATIONAL PARK - Activities at this lodge include boat tours, hiking, canoeing, camping, fishing, and campfire programs TRAVEL: CALIFORNIA MINOR LEAGUE BALLPARK - This California ballpark attracts families with its carnival-like games and friendly dinosaur mascots NIAGARA PARKS BUTTERFLY CONSERVATORY IN CANADA - Discover an exotic, tropical oasis abounding with butterflies in Ontario, Canada. ATTRACTIONS AT YELLOWSTONE'S OLD FAITHFUL INN AND ADVICE FOR FAMILIES - Stay at Yellowstone's Old Faithful Inn, one of the grand lodges of the national park system GREAT GUEST IDEAS: CRATER OF DIAMONDS STATE PARK - Favorite camping spots from FamilyFun guests. SNOWSHOEING IN PARK CITY, UTAH - Snowshoeing is a world away from the crowded slopes and the bustle of the ski base A TODDLER-FRIENDLY RESORT IN PENNSYLVANIA - At the Hotel Hershey, your family will enjoy a Mediterranean-style resort stay as well as a chocolate-inspired amusement park. HELPFUL HINTS FOR UNIVERSAL STUDIOS ORLANDO - Discover the Island of Adventure, Universal Studios' theme park in Orlando WATER SPORTS GALORE IN MINNESOTA'S VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK - Activities at this lodge include hiking, bird-watching, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing FAMILY-FRIENDLY ANIMAL PARKS AROUND THE US - The US offers a variety of family-friendly zoos VISIT HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK IN WINTER - Visit this national park where you can see safe, active volcanoes ZION NATIONAL PARK - A slice of heaven in Utah's desert NEW YORK'S THRILLING CENTRAL PARK WILDLIFE CENTER - The Central Park Wildlife Center is an exotic oasis smack in the middle of America's busiest city and the place in Manhattan to let kids cut loose. FAMILY-FRIENDLY MINNEAPOLIS - Bike, hike, walk, picnic and fish amidst Minneapolis' 22 lakes and 170 parks, a recreational paradise NORTH CAROLINA MINOR LEAGUE BALLPARK - In this impressive baseball cathedral, there's a kids' playground beyond the third-base line and delicious barbecue FLORIDA WATER PARKS - Check out eleven places around the country to make a splash EUROPEAN LEGO CONSTRUCTION SITES - Your family is sure to love the LegoLand theme park in Carlsbad, California A TOBOGGAN RUN IN WATERFORD, MICHIGAN - Take a ride down 1,000-foot-long refrigerated fiberglass chutes at the Waterford Oaks County Park in Michigan. TENNESSEE MINOR LEAGUE BALLPARK - Bonuses at this ballpark include a kids' concession stand, old-time wooden seats, mechanical ceiling fans and a barbershop behind home plate WINTER IN PARK CITY, UTAH - Snowshoeing is a world away from the crowded slopes and the bustle of the ski base GREAT GUEST IDEAS: VOGEL STATE PARK - Favorite camping spots from FamilyFun guests. VISIT ARIZONA'S PETRIFIED FOREST NATIONAL PARK - Your kids will love this Arizona national park, which features several varieties of dinosaur skeletons THEME PARK EXPERT: SWIM WITH DOLPHINS AT ORLANDO'S DISCOVERY COVE - At this theme park, you can swim and play with bottlenose dolphins, then snorkel through clouds of fish in a coral reef lagoon FAVORITE FAMILY VACATION SPOT IN THE WEST - Colorado and Utah are full of national parks where hiking and exploring are widely encouraged VISIT TWO GREAT UTAH DINOSAUR ATTRACTIONS - Kids will love Utah's Dinosaur National Monument and George Eccles Dinosaur Park MARVEL SUPER HERO ISLAND AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS ORLANDO - Discover the Island of Adventure, Universal Studios' theme park in Orlando TEXAS MINOR LEAGUE BALLPARK - In this beautiful stadium, the inventive mascot, Henry the Puffy Taco, races the bases with fans in the sixth inning WASHINGTON MINOR LEAGUE BALLPARK - Fans in the grandstand at this ballpark are treated to real seats (not benches) with ample legroom and some of the liveliest music in the minors THEME PARK EXPERT: EXPERIENCE UNIVERSAL ORLANDO - Find out all about Universal's thrilling theme parks, fun entertaining and dining complex, and on site hotels MARYLAND MINOR LEAGUE BALLPARK - Kids can watch a game here while riding a 20-horse carousel or playing on grassy hillside berms along the first-base line FAMILY-FRIENDLY HOSTEL IN OHIO - Situated on a 914-acre working farm in Malabar Farm State Park, this hostel boasts cattle and sheep herds as well as a petting zoo, barn and sap house VISIT THE EXCITING CLEVELAND METROPARKS ZOO - At this zoo, visitors can watch gray wolves roaming and romping in their simulated north-country habitat COLORADO WATER PARK - GEORGIA WATER PARK - NATIONAL WATER PARKS - OHIO WATER PARK - NEW YORK WATER PARK - CALIFORNIA WATER PARK - WISCONSIN WATER PARK - STAY AT THIS COZY INN IN BAR HARBOR, MAINE - Your family will love the luxurious Cove Farm Inn, near Maine's Acadia National Park DINING RESERVATIONS - Advice on making reservations at Disney park restaurants. BANFF NATIONAL PARK IN ALBERTA, CANADA - Here you'll find majestic mountains and glaciers, snow-dipped forests and outdoor options ranging from ski runs to sleigh rides OUR FAVORITE NATIONAL AND STATE PARKS - ORLANDO FOR FAMILIES - A theme park veteran's tips on how to plan, what to see, and ways to save PENNSYLVANIA MINOR LEAGUE BALLPARK - This stadium is on an island with miniature golf, batting cages, a kids' train and playground, swimming and boating THE 10 BEST NATIONAL PARKS - CHILD'S exclusive survey looks at the forest through the families -- and reveals which spots are tops for parents and kids. THE 10 BEST NATIONAL PARKS - CHILD'S exclusive survey looks at the forest through the families -- and reveals which spots are tops for parents and kids. DESTINATIONS: ECUADOR - Ecuador I don't have many nice things to say about this city, Guayaquil, Ecuador. It's a dirty, hot, crowded city with great airline deals when compared to Quito (which is beautiful, friendly and just plain nice). This will also give a good starting point for minor culture shock. They do have a nice waterfront area called Malecon 2000 and La Rotonda, (not beach or swimming) with a monument to the person who founded the city and a big park that is nice during the day. It's a bit nerve racking with very mobile little ones, because of the water, but still a nice day trip. DESTINATIONS: KUALA LUMPUR - Time was short in Kuala Lumpur and we did not have a chance to visit three potentially kid-good places: the zoo, the bird park and the butterfly park. The first is a bit out of town, while the other two are co-located near the new central train station, so we have no real excuse but lameness. Shame on us. DESTINATIONS: HAWAII : SEALIFE PARK - The short take is that if you have kids say between three and ten who like dolphins, seals, penguins, turtles and other stuff from the sea and who saw "Finding Nemo" 673 times last weekend, you'll probably like Sealife Park. DESTINATIONS: GRAND CANYON : HIKING - Having been to other National Parks, we know the park people work hard to balance accessibility to the general non-serious hiker public and their mission in preserving nature. In the case of the Grand Canyon, you've got an official Wonder of the World and you don't want to mess it up with cable cars and a roller coaster. DESTINATIONS: SEAWORLD: MORE INFORMATION - We found two things within the park that sneakily required additional charges, the you-pedal-'em swan boats and the multi-mega story observation tower. The charges are a couple of bucks if you want to, but for us we saw these additional costs late in the day and it provoked one of those parent things where I didn't want to lay out any more money while the kids were confused why they couldn't go on the pedal boats. Now forewarned, you can hopefully handle this better than I did. DESTINATIONS: HONG KONG : OCEAN PARK - Ocean Park is a nice day out for a family in Hong Kong. It is small enough to enjoy in a day without feeling rushed, but big enough that you don't feel ripped off or get stuck repeating rides to try and prolong that theme park feeling. DESTINATIONS: KAMAKURA : THE GREAT BUDDHA - After leaving the beach you should make your way back to the place where you got off the train. Look for a long road with many restaurants and gift shops. At the very end of this road (right next to a gift shop with a big sign for Mt. Fuji) you will come across a large forested park area. This is the Daibutsu temple. The entrance fee is Y200 (about $2.00) for adults and Y100 (about $1.00) for children. Once you get inside, it is about a two minute walk from the entrance to the actual Buddha. DESTINATIONS: SEAWORLD : SEAWORLD: WHAT TO DO - Soon after you enter, on your left, you'll see an information counter. Stop and get a map, as maps are unavailable anywhere else in the park. There are maps available in several languages, so get the one best for your family. DESTINATIONS KUALA-LUMPUR - Kuala Lumpur (KL) is an excellent city to visit with kids, though not quite up to the theme park-like levels you'll enjoy in nearby Singapore. Unlike such garden spots such as Jakarta, sleazy Manila or even sleazier Bangkok, KL is clean, safe, modern but with nice older touches and, with just a little advice from us, a good spot for an enjoyable visit. DESTINATIONS: NEW YORK CITY : WHAT TO DO: CENTRAL PARK - Sometimes you just get a decision right, really nailing it. That's what happened 150 years ago in New York when somebody decided to take the 843 acres of swamp in what was then the farther reaches of Manhattan and turn it into one of the best things in the City. Forward-thinking and green space is not a feature of all of our great cities, so it is especially wonderful that somebody thought about it for New York. DESTINATIONS: HAWAII : KAILUA AND THE WINDWARD SIDE - Waikiki is great, a kind of theme park for families and beaches and the issues that confront them both. We have had many, many pleasant sandy experiences in Waikiki and still spend time there whenever we visit Hawaii. DESTINATIONS: GRAND CANYON : WHERE TO STAY - Stop. Before you do anything else, if you want to stay at one of the places inside the Grand Canyon Park itself, you need to make reservations now. Lodgings within the Park fill up six to 12 months in advance, maybe even earlier for holiday times and popular places. We were able to get reservations, not our first choice mind you, but at least a room six months in advance for July but it was tight. DESTINATIONS: HAWAII : HAWAIIAN WATERS ADVENTURE PARK - Hawaiian Waters is a decent time for everyone, but a great time especially for kids around 10 years old or so. Parents with older kids might want to consider other fun, and those with young kids infant-sized can still have a good time but might want to think about the admission prices before, um, taking the plunge. DESTINATIONS: SEOUL PLACES TO SEE WITH THE KIDS: PARKS - Namsan Mountain and Seoul Tower are both pleasant breaks from a noisy city. The Tower is open all days and most evenings and, for a small admission charge, gives you a way-cool view of the whole city. There is also a bland restaurant up there. DESTINATIONS: HAWAII NOT FREE BUT WORTH DOING: BISHOP MUSEUM - From Kuhio Avenue heading away from Diamond Head, board the 2 School Street-Middle Street bus and ride to School Street and Kapalama Avenue. Walk toward the ocean on Kapalama Avenue one block to Bernice Street. To return, stand on School Street in the opposite direction from where you alighted and board the 2 Waikiki-Kapiolani Park bus. Buses run about 10- 15 minutes apart. DESTINATIONS: NEW YORK CITY WHAT TO DO: STATUE OF LIBERTY AND ELLIS ISLAND - And speaking of icons, it is hard to find two more well-known than the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. You can visit them both, with a nice ferry ride and a skyline view thrown in, in one day. The trip is a nice mix of basic tourism (skyline view), history (Ellis), and park-like settings in the clean harbor air after all that taxi and bus fuming in the City. DESTINATIONS: SEOUL PLACES TO SEE WITH THE KIDS: LOTTE WORLD - Lotte World is a (mostly) indoor amusement park, built inside of what might otherwise be a huge indoor stadium. Indoors means that you can entertain the kids year 'round. The rides are fairly tame, good for younger children, with a moderate roller coaster and an outdoor drop-from-a-high-place ride that will keep kids up through the early teens entertained. VANCOUVER FAMILY VACATION GUIDES - Vancouver is a gorgeous city, surrounded by water and ringed by tall snow-capped mountain peaks that seem close enough to touch. This young city enjoys some of the most temperate weather in the world and a staggering amount of natural beauty. You'll find lots to do here, including great indoor attractions such as museums and aquariums, theme parks, shopping, a huge array of dining options, sports, and outdoor activities. DISCOVERY COVE: SWIMMING WITH DOLPHINS IS CENTERPIECE OF EXTRAORDINARY NEW INTERACTIVE PARK - THE CHARM OF SMALL AMUSEMENT PARKS - The Charm of Small Amusement Parks LEGOLAND -- A NEW KIND OF THEME PARK - Legoland -- A New Kind of Theme Park NATIONAL PARK MEMORIES - National Park Memories PLANNING A TRIP TO A NATIONAL PARK - Planning A Trip To A National Park STAND-OUT NATIONAL PARK MOMENTS - Stand-Out National Park Moments TAKING THE KIDS -- AND DOING THE NATIONAL PARK CIRCUIT - Taking the Kids -- And Doing the National Park Circuit TAKING THE KIDS -- TO A WATERPARK - Taking the Kids -- To A Waterpark THE CHARM OF SMALL AMUSEMENT PARKS - The Charm of Small Amusement Parks LEGOLAND -- A NEW KIND OF THEME PARK - Legoland -- A New Kind of Theme Park NATIONAL PARK MEMORIES - National Park Memories PLANNING A TRIP TO A NATIONAL PARK - Planning A Trip To A National Park STAND-OUT NATIONAL PARK MOMENTS - Stand-Out National Park Moments TAKING THE KIDS -- AND DOING THE NATIONAL PARK CIRCUIT - Taking the Kids -- And Doing the National Park Circuit TAKING THE KIDS -- TO A WATERPARK - Taking the Kids -- To A Waterpark THE CHARM OF SMALL AMUSEMENT PARKS - The Charm of Small Amusement Parks LEGOLAND -- A NEW KIND OF THEME PARK - Legoland -- A New Kind of Theme Park NATIONAL PARK MEMORIES - National Park Memories PLANNING A TRIP TO A NATIONAL PARK - Planning A Trip To A National Park STAND-OUT NATIONAL PARK MOMENTS - Stand-Out National Park Moments TAKING THE KIDS -- AND DOING THE NATIONAL PARK CIRCUIT - Taking the Kids -- And Doing the National Park Circuit TAKING THE KIDS -- TO A WATERPARK - Taking the Kids -- To A Waterpark DISCOVERY COVE: SWIMMING WITH DOLPHINS IS CENTERPIECE OF EXTRAORDINARY NEW INTERACTIVE PARK - Discovery Cove: Swimming With Dolphins is Centerpiece of Extraordinary New Interactive Park FAMILY VACATION GUIDE: VANCOUVER - Vancouver is a gorgeous city, surrounded by water and ringed by tall snow-capped mountain peaks that seem close enough to touch. This young city enjoys some of the most temperate weather in the world and a staggering amount of natural beauty. You'll find lots to do here, including great indoor attractions such as museums and aquariums, theme parks, shopping, a huge array of dining options, sports, and outdoor activities. SAVE MONEY ON AIRPORT PARKING AND GET A GREAT START TO YOUR HOLIDAY - Save Money on Airport Parking and Get a Great Start to Your Holiday BIRDS BY NATIONAL PARKS OF TANZANIA - Birds by National Parks of Tanzania SAN DIEGO WILD ANIMAL PARK: TRAVEL BRIEF - San Diego Wild Animal Park: Travel Brief GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK: TRAVEL BRIEF - Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Travel Brief YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK: TRAVEL BRIEF - Yosemite National Park: Travel Brief YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK: TRAVEL BRIEF - Yellowstone National Park: Travel Brief MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK: TRAVEL BRIEF - Mount Rainier National Park: Travel Brief HERSHEYPARK: TRAVEL BRIEF - Hersheypark: Travel Brief BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK: TRAVEL BRIEF - Big Bend National Park: Travel Brief ACADIA NATIONAL PARK: TRAVEL BRIEF - Acadia National Park: Travel Brief SAN DIEGO WILD ANIMAL PARK: TRAVEL BRIEF - San Diego Wild Animal Park: Travel Brief GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK: TRAVEL BRIEF - Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Travel Brief YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK: TRAVEL BRIEF - Yosemite National Park: Travel Brief YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK: TRAVEL BRIEF - Yellowstone National Park: Travel Brief DISNEYLAND PARK - An article about taking a family vacation with your kids to Disneyland Park. CONCERTS ROCK THE TINY KINGDOM OF SKULLBONIA; A MUSIC PARK IN RURAL TENNESSEE DRAWS THE STARS, LIQUOR AND WHITE SUPREMACISTS - Touring rock bands are listing a new stop on their itineraries, along with more ... TRAVEL ADVISORY: CYBERSCOUT; WHEN YOU WISH UPON THE WEB: PLANNING A THEME-PARK TRIP - A family trip to a theme park is, under the best of circumstances, a mix of ... CAT IN HAT MEETS HULK - IN Universal Studios' new billion-dollar theme park, Islands of Adventure, two Dr. ... THE GLORIES OF FRANCE IN MINIATURE - EAST of Paris, in the lurid form of the Euro Disney theme park, lies a sort of ... PRACTICAL TRAVELER: WHEN KIDS TAKE TO SKIES ALONE - MANY parents will not leave a young child alone in the library or a park, will not ... FRESH AIR CHILDREN ENCOUNTER NATURE, EYE TO EYE - Sheba Clarke's eyes sparkled when she heard that farmers often mixed molasses with hay ... OUR TOWNS; SURVIVING CHECK-IN DAY AT THE SHORE - CHARLES MARPLE left his family in the parking lot of the Greenhouse restaurant to see ... TRAVEL ADVISORY: U.S. IMPOSES FEES IN VIRGIN ISLANDS PARK - Visitors to the two most popular attractions in Virgin Islands National Park, on the ... TAKING A CRUISE IN THE LAZY LAND OF BLUE LAGOON - ON Saturday around lunchtime, the sun came out, and suddenly everything sparkled. The ... PARK POPULARITY THREATENS VIRGIN ISLANDS PARADISE - LEAD: The words rasped through the afternoon air with no-nonsense authority: ... JOURNEYS: 36 HOURS \| BLOCK ISLAND, R.I. - THE same mile-high glacier that parked off southern New England, heaping up Nantucket ... TRAVEL ADVISORY: MIAMI'S PARROTS GET A BIGGER JUNGLE ISLAND - Parrot Jungle Island, the new exotic-bird theme park in the middle of Biscayne Bay in ... THE OUTSIDER; CAMPING AND FISHING ON THE BEACH IN MONTAUK - Hither Hills State Park in Montauk is a dozen miles past the village of East Hampton ... DAY TRIPS; BIKING DARK TUNNELS AND WIDE LANES ON A LOST HIGHWAY - PULLING into the parking lot of the Ramada Inn in Breezewood, Pa., you'd never ... DAY TRIPS; BIKING DARK TUNNELS AND WIDE LANES ON A LOST HIGHWAY - PULLING into the parking lot of the Ramada Inn in Breezewood, Pa., you'd never ... MOVIE WORLD!!! - Hi! This time I will tell you about another fabulous theme park on the Gold Coast, Warner Bros. Movie World ! Movie World ( N IS FOR NEW LAND PROTECTED IN ADIRONDACKS - In keeping with his goal to protect one million acres of land in New York State over the next 10 years, on April 8, 2004, New York State governor George E. Pataki announced the protection of two parcels of land equaling nearly 16,000 acres within the Adirondack Park. The land was LAST MINUTE SHOPPERS GALORE! - Every year the same thing happens. Stores, malls, shops and parking lots become bombarded with droves of last-minute shoppers. Customers are in a rush, employees are irritable and crying children are a dime a dozen. This is typical to those who practice this ritual year after year. HOT? GET WET - Hot and Bothered? Good. Now you can chill out at a water park.or in a park.New Trails to FollowFrom ODNR comes this great news: On June 4, the Ohio Water Trails team designated the Kokosing River Water Trail as the first Ohio Water Trail in the state. What's a "Water Trail?" FRYING PAN PARK - A few weeks ago I had the dubious pleasure of chaperoning a field trip for my seven-year old son's camp group. It was unbearably hot and we were scheduled to go to spend the day outside at the park. I'm happy to say however that despite a very crowded bus ride, FRYING PAN PARK - A few weeks ago I had the dubious pleasure of chaperoning a field trip for my seven-year old son's camp group. It was unbearably hot and we were scheduled to go to spend the day outside at the park. I'm happy to say however that despite a very crowded bus ride, THE BIG THOMPSON FLOOD: COLORADO'S WORST NATURAL DISASTER - Last week when I drove up the Big Thompson Canyon between Loveland and Estes Park, I stopped for a few minutes at one of the memorials to victims of the Big Thompson Flood. This memorial is for two police officers (Sgt. W. Hugh Purdy, Colorado State Patrolman and Michael Conley Estes THE BIG THOMPSON FLOOD: COLORADO'S WORST NATURAL DISASTER - Last week when I drove up the Big Thompson Canyon between Loveland and Estes Park, I stopped for a few minutes at one of the memorials to victims of the Big Thompson Flood. This memorial is for two police officers (Sgt. W. Hugh Purdy, Colorado State Patrolman and Michael Conley Estes WAIMEA ADVENTURE PARK - About traveling to the Waimea Adventure Park HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK - From Hilo Airport: 30 miles or about a 45 minute drive along Highway 11. VISITING LEIMERT PARK VILLAGE - There is a community within Los Angeles that is richly cultural and vibrant. On any day of the week there is jazz and African-style rhythms echoing throughout its streets. There is laughter and conversation on its walks. Every Sunday, by way of illustration, Leimert Park in South Central Los Angeles, has INSIDE BALBOA PARK - Take a walk along the Prado first and simply observe the ambience, lest you find Balboa Park overwhelming. Only ten miles inland from the beaches and the city, Balboa Park is the first stop on any local or tourist's recommended list on places to check out and savor. HISTORIC RT 66 RUN - 5K IN NORTHERN AZ - The Williams Kiwanis Club, in cooperation with the Maine Consolidated School Parent/Teacher Organization, is hosting the inaugural "Parks in the Pines 5K", May 1st, along historic Route 66 in Parks, located about 15 miles west of Flagstaff, Arizona. FAMED THEME PARK GOING STRONG - Any vacation in the Dallas-Fort Worth area should include a day or two set aside to visit the state's most famous theme park, Six Flags Over Texas. Located in Arlington, a city midway between Dallas and Fort Worth, Six Flags Over Texas has entertained multiple generations of visitors. The park celebrated BRODIE CASTLE - Brodie castle is situated in parkland in an area near Forres in the North of Scotland which is approximately 24 miles North East of Inverness. The castle has a long and dramatic history (as most of Scotland's castles have) and is presently owned and managed by the National Trust for Scotland. MOFFAT- THE TOWN OF CONTRASTS - The main park is a pleasant hub of activity with some very pleasant surroundings (hence the Scotland in bloom award) with a collection of busy little shops on the main street. If you wander up the main street you will find a chemist shop which claims to be one of the VERSAILLES: GREEN PARKS AND HISTORY, C'EST LE PARADIS! - When I think of the Chateau de Versailles, I think of ladies with powdered wigs -- wearing pastel satin gowns with tiny cinched-in waists, wide skirts and square-cut bodices -- flirting outrageously with wigged men in satin breeches and frock coats, and listening to baroque music in a gilded pastel salon DESTINATIONS: ECUADOR - Ecuador I don't have many nice things to say about this city, Guayaquil, Ecuador. It's a dirty, hot, crowded city with great airline deals when compared to Quito (which is beautiful, friendly and just plain nice). This will also give a good starting point for minor culture shock. They do have a nice waterfront area called Malecon 2000 and La Rotonda, (not beach or swimming) with a monument to the person who founded the city and a big park that is nice during the day. It's a bit nerve racking with very mobile little ones, because of the water, but still a nice day trip. DESTINATIONS: KUALA LUMPUR - Time was short in Kuala Lumpur and we did not have a chance to visit three potentially kid-good places: the zoo, the bird park and the butterfly park. The first is a bit out of town, while the other two are co-located near the new central train station, so we have no real excuse but lameness. Shame on us. DESTINATIONS: HAWAII : SEALIFE PARK - The short take is that if you have kids say between three and ten who like dolphins, seals, penguins, turtles and other stuff from the sea and who saw "Finding Nemo" 673 times last weekend, you'll probably like Sealife Park. DESTINATIONS: GRAND CANYON : HIKING - Having been to other National Parks, we know the park people work hard to balance accessibility to the general non-serious hiker public and their mission in preserving nature. In the case of the Grand Canyon, you've got an official Wonder of the World and you don't want to mess it up with cable cars and a roller coaster. DESTINATIONS: SEAWORLD: MORE INFORMATION - We found two things within the park that sneakily required additional charges, the you-pedal-'em swan boats and the multi-mega story observation tower. The charges are a couple of bucks if you want to, but for us we saw these additional costs late in the day and it provoked one of those parent things where I didn't want to lay out any more money while the kids were confused why they couldn't go on the pedal boats. Now forewarned, you can hopefully handle this better than I did. DESTINATIONS: HONG KONG : OCEAN PARK - Ocean Park is a nice day out for a family in Hong Kong. It is small enough to enjoy in a day without feeling rushed, but big enough that you don't feel ripped off or get stuck repeating rides to try and prolong that theme park feeling. DESTINATIONS: KAMAKURA : THE GREAT BUDDHA - After leaving the beach you should make your way back to the place where you got off the train. Look for a long road with many restaurants and gift shops. At the very end of this road (right next to a gift shop with a big sign for Mt. Fuji) you will come across a large forested park area. This is the Daibutsu temple. The entrance fee is Y200 (about $2.00) for adults and Y100 (about $1.00) for children. Once you get inside, it is about a two minute walk from the entrance to the actual Buddha. DESTINATIONS: SEAWORLD : SEAWORLD: WHAT TO DO - Soon after you enter, on your left, you'll see an information counter. Stop and get a map, as maps are unavailable anywhere else in the park. There are maps available in several languages, so get the one best for your family. DESTINATIONS KUALA-LUMPUR - Kuala Lumpur (KL) is an excellent city to visit with kids, though not quite up to the theme park-like levels you'll enjoy in nearby Singapore. Unlike such garden spots such as Jakarta, sleazy Manila or even sleazier Bangkok, KL is clean, safe, modern but with nice older touches and, with just a little advice from us, a good spot for an enjoyable visit. DESTINATIONS: NEW YORK CITY : WHAT TO DO: CENTRAL PARK - Sometimes you just get a decision right, really nailing it. That's what happened 150 years ago in New York when somebody decided to take the 843 acres of swamp in what was then the farther reaches of Manhattan and turn it into one of the best things in the City. Forward-thinking and green space is not a feature of all of our great cities, so it is especially wonderful that somebody thought about it for New York. DESTINATIONS: HAWAII : KAILUA AND THE WINDWARD SIDE - Waikiki is great, a kind of theme park for families and beaches and the issues that confront them both. We have had many, many pleasant sandy experiences in Waikiki and still spend time there whenever we visit Hawaii. DESTINATIONS: GRAND CANYON : WHERE TO STAY - Stop. Before you do anything else, if you want to stay at one of the places inside the Grand Canyon Park itself, you need to make reservations now. Lodgings within the Park fill up six to 12 months in advance, maybe even earlier for holiday times and popular places. We were able to get reservations, not our first choice mind you, but at least a room six months in advance for July but it was tight. DESTINATIONS: HAWAII : HAWAIIAN WATERS ADVENTURE PARK - Hawaiian Waters is a decent time for everyone, but a great time especially for kids around 10 years old or so. Parents with older kids might want to consider other fun, and those with young kids infant-sized can still have a good time but might want to think about the admission prices before, um, taking the plunge. DESTINATIONS: SEOUL PLACES TO SEE WITH THE KIDS: PARKS - Namsan Mountain and Seoul Tower are both pleasant breaks from a noisy city. The Tower is open all days and most evenings and, for a small admission charge, gives you a way-cool view of the whole city. There is also a bland restaurant up there. DESTINATIONS: HAWAII NOT FREE BUT WORTH DOING: BISHOP MUSEUM - From Kuhio Avenue heading away from Diamond Head, board the 2 School Street-Middle Street bus and ride to School Street and Kapalama Avenue. Walk toward the ocean on Kapalama Avenue one block to Bernice Street. To return, stand on School Street in the opposite direction from where you alighted and board the 2 Waikiki-Kapiolani Park bus. Buses run about 10- 15 minutes apart. DESTINATIONS: NEW YORK CITY WHAT TO DO: STATUE OF LIBERTY AND ELLIS ISLAND - And speaking of icons, it is hard to find two more well-known than the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. You can visit them both, with a nice ferry ride and a skyline view thrown in, in one day. The trip is a nice mix of basic tourism (skyline view), history (Ellis), and park-like settings in the clean harbor air after all that taxi and bus fuming in the City. DESTINATIONS: SEOUL PLACES TO SEE WITH THE KIDS: LOTTE WORLD - Lotte World is a (mostly) indoor amusement park, built inside of what might otherwise be a huge indoor stadium. Indoors means that you can entertain the kids year 'round. The rides are fairly tame, good for younger children, with a moderate roller coaster and an outdoor drop-from-a-high-place ride that will keep kids up through the early teens entertained. DESTINATIONS: TOKYO PARKS - Tokyo is a concrete monster you say? Wrong. DESTINATIONS: ECUADOR GUAYAQUIL - Ecuador I don't have many nice things to say about this city, Guayaquil, Ecuador. It's a dirty, hot, crowded city with great airline deals when compared to Quito (which is beautiful, friendly and just plain nice). This will also give a good starting point for minor culture shock. They do have a nice waterfront area called Malecon 2000 and La Rotonda, (not beach or swimming) with a monument to the person who founded the city and a big park that is nice during the day. It's a bit nerve racking with very mobile little ones, because of the water, but still a nice day trip. DESTINATIONS: KUALA LUMPUR - Time was short in Kuala Lumpur and we did not have a chance to visit three potentially kid-good places: the zoo, the bird park and the butterfly park. The first is a bit out of town, while the other two are co-located near the new central train station, so we have no real excuse but lameness. Shame on us. DESTINATIONS: HAWAII : SEALIFE PARK - The short take is that if you have kids say between three and ten who like dolphins, seals, penguins, turtles and other stuff from the sea and who saw "Finding Nemo" 673 times last weekend, you'll probably like Sealife Park. DESTINATIONS: GRAND CANYON : HIKING - Having been to other National Parks, we know the park people work hard to balance accessibility to the general non-serious hiker public and their mission in preserving nature. In the case of the Grand Canyon, you've got an official Wonder of the World and you don't want to mess it up with cable cars and a roller coaster. DESTINATIONS: SEAWORLD: MORE INFORMATION - We found two things within the park that sneakily required additional charges, the you-pedal-'em swan boats and the multi-mega story observation tower. The charges are a couple of bucks if you want to, but for us we saw these additional costs late in the day and it provoked one of those parent things where I didn't want to lay out any more money while the kids were confused why they couldn't go on the pedal boats. Now forewarned, you can hopefully handle this better than I did. DESTINATIONS: HONG KONG : OCEAN PARK - Ocean Park is a nice day out for a family in Hong Kong. It is small enough to enjoy in a day without feeling rushed, but big enough that you don't feel ripped off or get stuck repeating rides to try and prolong that theme park feeling. DESTINATIONS: KAMAKURA : THE GREAT BUDDHA - After leaving the beach you should make your way back to the place where you got off the train. Look for a long road with many restaurants and gift shops. At the very end of this road (right next to a gift shop with a big sign for Mt. Fuji) you will come across a large forested park area. This is the Daibutsu temple. The entrance fee is Y200 (about $2.00) for adults and Y100 (about $1.00) for children. Once you get inside, it is about a two minute walk from the entrance to the actual Buddha. DESTINATIONS: SEAWORLD : SEAWORLD: WHAT TO DO - Soon after you enter, on your left, you'll see an information counter. Stop and get a map, as maps are unavailable anywhere else in the park. There are maps available in several languages, so get the one best for your family. DESTINATIONS KUALA-LUMPUR - Kuala Lumpur (KL) is an excellent city to visit with kids, though not quite up to the theme park-like levels you'll enjoy in nearby Singapore. Unlike such garden spots such as Jakarta, sleazy Manila or even sleazier Bangkok, KL is clean, safe, modern but with nice older touches and, with just a little advice from us, a good spot for an enjoyable visit. DESTINATIONS: NEW YORK CITY : WHAT TO DO: CENTRAL PARK - Sometimes you just get a decision right, really nailing it. That's what happened 150 years ago in New York when somebody decided to take the 843 acres of swamp in what was then the farther reaches of Manhattan and turn it into one of the best things in the City. Forward-thinking and green space is not a feature of all of our great cities, so it is especially wonderful that somebody thought about it for New York. DESTINATIONS: HAWAII : KAILUA AND THE WINDWARD SIDE - Waikiki is great, a kind of theme park for families and beaches and the issues that confront them both. We have had many, many pleasant sandy experiences in Waikiki and still spend time there whenever we visit Hawaii. DESTINATIONS: GRAND CANYON : WHERE TO STAY - Stop. Before you do anything else, if you want to stay at one of the places inside the Grand Canyon Park itself, you need to make reservations now. Lodgings within the Park fill up six to 12 months in advance, maybe even earlier for holiday times and popular places. We were able to get reservations, not our first choice mind you, but at least a room six months in advance for July but it was tight. DESTINATIONS: HAWAII : HAWAIIAN WATERS ADVENTURE PARK - Hawaiian Waters is a decent time for everyone, but a great time especially for kids around 10 years old or so. Parents with older kids might want to consider other fun, and those with young kids infant-sized can still have a good time but might want to think about the admission prices before, um, taking the plunge. DESTINATIONS: SEOUL PLACES TO SEE WITH THE KIDS: PARKS - Namsan Mountain and Seoul Tower are both pleasant breaks from a noisy city. The Tower is open all days and most evenings and, for a small admission charge, gives you a way-cool view of the whole city. There is also a bland restaurant up there. DESTINATIONS: HAWAII NOT FREE BUT WORTH DOING: BISHOP MUSEUM - From Kuhio Avenue heading away from Diamond Head, board the 2 School Street-Middle Street bus and ride to School Street and Kapalama Avenue. Walk toward the ocean on Kapalama Avenue one block to Bernice Street. To return, stand on School Street in the opposite direction from where you alighted and board the 2 Waikiki-Kapiolani Park bus. Buses run about 10- 15 minutes apart. DESTINATIONS: NEW YORK CITY WHAT TO DO: STATUE OF LIBERTY AND ELLIS ISLAND - And speaking of icons, it is hard to find two more well-known than the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. You can visit them both, with a nice ferry ride and a skyline view thrown in, in one day. The trip is a nice mix of basic tourism (skyline view), history (Ellis), and park-like settings in the clean harbor air after all that taxi and bus fuming in the City. DESTINATIONS: SEOUL PLACES TO SEE WITH THE KIDS: LOTTE WORLD - Lotte World is a (mostly) indoor amusement park, built inside of what might otherwise be a huge indoor stadium. Indoors means that you can entertain the kids year 'round. The rides are fairly tame, good for younger children, with a moderate roller coaster and an outdoor drop-from-a-high-place ride that will keep kids up through the early teens entertained. EXPERT ADVICE: AVOID THEME PARKS - Expert advice: Avoid theme parks MINIVAN OR SUV: WHICH IS RIGHT FOR YOUR FAMILY? - When it comes to young kids, minivans are the closest they can get to a playhouse on wheels. Inside a palatial minivan, young kids can stand, play, eat and sleep. Better yet, this playhouse will take them to the park or zoo. TRAVEL TEXAS: GET ON A ROLL AND "BIKE TEXAS" - The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has published a 16-page brochure called "Bike Texas," available for 99 cents at bicycle shops statewide, many state parks or by a free Web download (see Resources). "Bike A SCHOOL COMMUNITY UNITES - September 11 was the second day of school for our early childhood center, a school for children ages 2 to 6 in Yonkers, NY, which is located just north of Manhattan. I heard the events happening on the radio as I pulled into the parking lot, but parents arriving with their children didn't seem to be alarmed. I told the school secretary and the teachers what was unfolding, then stayed in the front hall to be available for parents who were bringing in their children. About 9:15 a.m. a parent's cell phone rang, and thus the news began to circulate. A FIVE-STAR CHILDREN'S MENU - Stroll along the elegant gardens, sparkling fountains, intricate mosaics, and rare antiques at the Boca Raton Resort & Club in Florida and you'll be transported back to 19th-century Spain. That's exactly what self-taught architect Addison Mizner intended when, to great acclaim, he opened the Cloister Inn on beachfront property 75 years ago. The opulent 100-room hotel, modeled after a Spanish castle, attracted many celebrities of the day, including Elizabeth Arden and Al Jolson. SETTING THE STAGE FOR FANTASY - You can play a key role in jumpstarting your child's imagination. Read on for specific ideas on sparking fantasy play. THE 10 BEST NATIONAL PARKS - CHILD'S exclusive survey looks at the forest through the families -- and reveals which spots are tops for parents and kids. THE TOP SOFTWARE AND VIDEO GAMES OF 2002 - This year saw several promising trends in children's software and video games. Games have better graphics and easier controls, girl gamers can find more sports titles (Barbie: Sparkling Ice Show) and female protagonists (Starflyers: Alien Space Chase), and parents may feel confident that some games help kids build skills such as reading (I Spy), strategic thinking (Risk), and even Spanish (Dora the Explorer: Backpack Adventure). Some of the best titles (Lego Spybotics, Dance Dance Revolution) actually require off-the-computer activities. We've named our top choices in this age-by-age guide (since video games are mostly for older children, we've grouped them by platform). Game on! THE 10 BEST NATIONAL PARKS - CHILD'S exclusive survey looks at the forest through the families -- and reveals which spots are tops for parents and kids. WHEN IT COMES TO YOUNG KIDS, MINIVANS ARE THE CLOSEST THEY CAN GET TO A PLAYHOUSE ON WHEELS. INSIDE A PALATIAL MINIVAN, YOUNG KIDS CAN STAND, PLAY, EAT AND SLEEP. BETTER YET, THIS PLAYHOUSE WILL TAKE THEM TO THE PARK OR ZOO. - Minivan or SUV: Which is Right for Your Family? THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT HAS PUBLISHED A 16-PAGE BROCHURE CALLED "BIKE TEXAS," AVAILABLE FOR 99 CENTS AT BICYCLE SHOPS STATEWIDE, MANY STATE PARKS OR BY A FREE WEB DOWNLOAD (SEE RESOURCES). "BIKE - Travel Texas: Get on a Roll and "Bike Texas" SPLISH SPLASH - Splish Splash by Regan Bozman. Splish Splash is a family water park in Riverhead, NY. Riverhead is in eastern Long Island within an hours drive of the CALIFORNIA: THEME PARKS OF SO. CALIFORNIA - Amusement Parks of Southern California. By Michael Mendelson, Valencia, California, age 12 Please see my rating system (1 to 10, with 10 being the highest) WINDOW ROCK, ARIZONA - Window Rock is in the heart of the Navajo Nation. If you plan a visit to Arizona you'll want to pass through and spend a day in this area. CATHEDRAL ROCK AT MOUNT CHARLESTON - Mount Charleston is located 45 minutes from Las Vegas. This cooler, wooded retreat offers picnicking facilities and hiking trails. Water and bathrooms are provided. EL MORRO NATIONAL MONUMENT, NEW MEXICO - At El Morro National Monument you will find the fame Inscription Rock with names of dates of travelers dating back to 1605. ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME IN CLEVELAND - The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. If you haven't been to Cleveland in the past 10 years, You're missing out on a lot. TOURIST GUIDE: MUSEUMS OF NORTH EAST OHIO - NE Ohio offers a listing of museums like the University Circle, Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, Metropark Zoo, Great Lakes Science Center, Bridge of Fire, Omnimax Theater. VISITING ROCK CITY AT LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, TENNESSEE - Visit the area of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee. The first stop, Rock City. EL MORRO NATIONAL MONUMENT, NEW MEXICO - At El Morro National Monument you will find the fame Inscription Rock with names of dates of travelers dating back to 1605. TOURIST GUIDE: MUSEUMS OF NORTH EAST OHIO<

ARTICLES AND TIPS ABOUT 15TH ST: Family Vacations and Trips to 15th St with Your Kids