Tag Archives: family trips

How Much More Fun Could a Kid Have?

It used to be that massive pools and room-service ice cream sundaes were all it took to appease children during hotel stays. These days select resorts around the country are going all out to attract young visitors in hopes that their parents will make the adventure a family tradition. It’s truly amazing what some properties are doing to insure kids experience a trip of a lifetime. For example, children are a top priority at the Inn of the Anasazi in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Not only are kids given the opportunity to take a cooking class with the hotel’s executive … Continue reading →

Having Fun in Chicago

My family always has fun during our trips to Chicago. The Windy City offers dozens of kid-friendly attractions that are as educational as they are fun-filled. If you have never visited the Midwestern metropolis or you are returning sans wheels this spring, then consider taking advantage of one of the city’s best-kept secrets. Chicago Neighborhood Tours allows you to sit back and let someone else do the driving while you enjoy the sights on themed bus rides. This year the city’s Office of Tourism has added several new themed half-day bus tours to its offerings. Take a look: HYDE PARK … Continue reading →

Cool Places to Visit Santa

If you have children, then you likely have plans to visit Santa Claus in the next few weeks. Some of you will head to the mall to meet up with Jolly Ol’ St. Nick while others of you might catch the rotund elf in a Christmas parade. For those of you looking to make this year’s visit with Santa extra special for your little ones consider the following holiday events: The Polar Express (Grand Canyon Railway) If you’re near Williams, Arizona this month then you don’t want to miss the chance to ride the rails with Santa. The Grand Canyon … Continue reading →

Christmas Fun in North Pole… Alaska

Yesterday I wrote about several U.S. cities that sport Christmas-themed names, including Noel, Missouri; Santa Claus, Indiana; Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; and Christmas, Florida. Thanks to an astute reader I’m back again with one more-—North Pole, Alaska. North Pole, Alaska—-not to be confused with the planet’s geographic North Pole—-is located roughly 12 miles from Fairbanks amid the Arctic Ocean. Alaska’s North Pole has a population of 2,200 and got its name back in 1953. Each year despite the bitter cold tens of thousands of residents and visitors turn out for the city’s annual ice festival and sculpting contest. This year’s big North … Continue reading →

A Week’s Worth of Fun Thanksgiving Projects

Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away; do you have your decorations set? If not, you’ve come to the right place. Over the last few days I’ve shared some simple seasonal art projects that the entire family can help create. Consider making some of these fantastic creations (or participating in the following Thanksgiving-themed adventures) as you countdown to Turkey Day: November 10th—–Ideas for Holiday Family Fun. If you are looking for a way to get the most out of the holiday season this is the blog for you. It contains a list of family-friendly holiday events that your clan is … Continue reading →

Ideas for Holiday Family Fun

You know you live in a small town when a visit by the world-famous Radio City Rockettes makes headlines. Just in time for the holidays the precision kickers are coming to northeast Wisconsin. It’s the first time in history that the Rockettes have rolled into town and families looking for some holiday excitement are all a buzz. But, we’re not the only stop on their tour. If you can’t make it to New York to see the annual Radio City Christmas Spectacular at Rockefeller Center, the Rockettes are taking their show on the road this season with stops in Buffalo, … Continue reading →

A Week’s Worth of Seasonal Fun for the Entire Family

So long jack-o’-lanterns, hello turkeys. Now that Halloween is over it’s time to think Thanksgiving. This week I shared a number of fun craft ideas featuring fall themes. In addition, Pam contributed ways to create a family-oriented Election Day party. We rounded out the week with ways to make the most of autumn’s golden days as a family. If you didn’t get a chance to read all about it, here’s what you missed: November 3rd—–Fun Fall Crafts for Preschoolers: Homemade Trees. If you have a craft-loving tot at home this project is a great way to let his inner artist … Continue reading →

Fun Family Events for Animal Lovers

The end of leaf-peeping season is in sight for most families. However, just because the fiery displays of fall foliage are disappearing doesn’t mean you should start hibernating yet. There are a myriad of outdoor adventures waiting for you and your family during these last weeks of fall and several of them feature kid-friendly companions—-animals. Take a look: New Mexico In Taos, New Mexico you and your family can hook up with a group of lovable llamas as you tour the surrounding countryside. The llamas-for-hire come courtesy of Wild Earth Llama Adventures, which pairs each family member with a gear-carrying … Continue reading →

Leaf Peeping and Other Fun Fall Family Weekend Activities

Northern Michigan, parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont are exploding with vibrant fall colors right now making this Columbus Day holiday weekend the ideal time to gather up the clan and hit the highways to go leaf peeping. The colors are at peak in the areas I listed above, but in other parts of the country the leaves are just starting to turn or are nearing their brilliance, which means that sometime in the next couple of weeks you should seriously consider taking your family outdoors to enjoy all the season has to offer. Leaf peeping doesn’t … Continue reading →

Ways to go Wild with Your Family in Nature this Fall

It’s fall… which means most of us only have a few more weeks before Mother Nature’s bitter joke that is winter has us hibernating in our homes until spring. Don’t let autumn’s natural beauty pass you by. Dads, forget about football for one day, and moms, consider running errands during the week so you can use one of fall’s fleeting weekends to take the entire family outdoors for an adventure in nature. One idea: Head to your local wildlife refuge. Hundreds of wildlife refuges around the nation are using Halloween as a way to showcase creatures that are nocturnal or … Continue reading →