If your family is headed to the Disneyland Resort this spring break, you're not alone. That's the bad news! The good news is, there's a brand new way to help kids handle long wait times in the Happiest Place on Earth. When author and mom Meredith Lyn Pierce sent me Lots to Do in Line: Disneyland for review, I wasn't sure I could endorse anything geared toward coping with long lines at … [Read more...]
Smuggler’s Notch with kids: guide to skiing for adults
February 21, 2012 By
I grew up skiing in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, so I have a healthy skepticism of New England skiing. The mountains aren’t as big, there’s not as much snow (although there also aren’t as many giant Manzanita bushes to get stuck in…just saying), and there’s too much ice. Well, I still can’t ski on ice, but I’m coming around to New England ski resorts, and Smuggler’s Notch is one of the best spots … [Read more...]
Smuggler’s Notch with kids: programming for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers
February 17, 2012 By
If you’re like a lot of families with very young kids (think pre-K), the prospect of a ski vacation is tempting, but overwhelming. Who wants to spend precious vacation dollars taking endless runs on the bunny hill with a toddler while your partner is stuck in the lodge chasing a baby determined eat every French fry she finds on the floor? Family ski resorts like Smuggler's Notch understand this, … [Read more...]
Northstar-at-Tahoe with kids: dining on and off the mountain
February 10, 2012 By
Let's face it: feeding a hungry family at a ski resort can be pricey! Northstar-at-Tahoe is no exception, but with a thriving village scene and the addition of a brand new mid-mountain lodge, guests have more choices than ever. And we all know that more choices mean greater food freedom for families. Plus, with most lodging options including kitchens or kitchenettes, it's easier than ever to bring … [Read more...]
Northstar California with kids: a stay at Big Horn Lodge
February 3, 2012 By
As with any large Tahoe ski resort, families have many lodging options at California's Northstar-at-Tahoe, from rental homes to studio suites and condos, to hotel rooms. For our three-day weekend family getaway, we choose to stay in a luxury condo at Big Horn Lodge. Operated by Tahoe Mountain Lodging, Big Horn Lodge is located ideally in the heart of the Northstar Village. From our 5th floor … [Read more...]
Seeking ohana in Kauai’s quiet spaces
January 26, 2012 By
This post is sponsored by The Hawaiian Islands, where you could be Living in the Moment on the Island of Kauai. Miles past the smattering of resorts, tourist destinations, and restaurants dotting Kauai's scenic coastline, a rusted pick-up truck sits at the end of a dirt drive, waiting to be loaded with the week's mango crop. My three-year-old nephew, barefooted and shirtless, hefts one in, … [Read more...]
Is Mexico safe for traveling families?
January 23, 2012 By
The short answer: it depends on where you go. Asking whether Mexico is safe for traveling families is like asking whether the entirety of the U.S. is safe, or the Caribbean, or anywhere else you may wish to travel in the world. One cannot judge an entire country by unsafe activities in isolated parts. For the long answer, I spent several days last month in Puerto Vallarta with the … [Read more...]
Camping with babies and toddlers: gear up!
January 12, 2012 By
The first time my family and I took our eldest son out camping, it was a three-day backpacking trek into Oregon's Columbia Gorge near Multnomah Falls, and he was 13-months old. Were we crazy? Well, yes, but we had a great time introducing baby Nate to the outdoors we loved, and I believe the experience (and others that followed) helped him acclimate at a young age to the idea of roughing it. Is … [Read more...]
Winter camping: extend your outdoor travel season
December 22, 2011 By
'Tis the season for everyone at the Around the Campfire community to be talking about winter camping. What's quickly become apparent, however, is that everyone's interpretation of 'winter' and 'camping' is different. As an avid camper and backpacker, I'm glad to know so many versions of outdoor overnights exist; no matter what your comfort level or geographic location, there's a way to continue to … [Read more...]
Full-time family travel: live chat with Britt Reints
December 12, 2011 By
Tonight at Around the Campfire, we're hosting a live chat with Britt Reints of In Pursuit of Happiness, in which she will discuss her family's monumental decision to sell their possessions, alter their daily lifestyle, and set off to explore the U.S. in an RV full time. The Pit Stops crew has taken our fair share of long road trips (as many as 21 days in a row!), so the idea of taking to … [Read more...]
