I’ve been driving around the United States for about six months now and I’ve covered a good portion of the part that lies to the east of the Mississippi River. Because I write about my trip, I get quite a bit of advice from friends, family, and strangers. I’m grateful for most of it, but I’ve also run across a lot of tips that would be great if I wasn’t traveling with two small children. Checking out the honkey tonks in Nashville, for example, isn’t exactly practical for two parents with a 6 and 11 year old in tow.

All this time traveling with my family has changed the way I view a city and given me a new perspective on what I consider family-friendly. Before I give a city the family-friendly stamp of approval, I look for a few important factors.

Is the nightlife the biggest draw?

A place like Las Vegas is amazing – for adults. But I wouldn’t even want to take my kids out of the hotel room after dark for fear of stumbling into a drunken bachelor party. I was surprised to find that Nashville also had very little to offer families when the sun went down – some of the most popular restaurants in town were bars.

Are there free (or very cheap) things to do?

This is a big one for me. When you’re traveling with a family of four, even low admission prices can become budget busters. A $20 attraction ticket becomes an $80 event for us. This was my biggest beef with Myrtle Beach: lots of things to do, but only one (the beach) came without a hefty price tag. I tend to favor cities with great public park systems, historic districts, or really inexpensive museums. Savannah is great for families looking to travel on a budget.

Are there good learning opportunities?

Sure, you might be on vacation, but if my kids aren’t seeing, doing, or learning something they couldn’t do at home – what’s the point? We don’t have to be in a museum to learn. Cities with rich histories or cultural diversity tend to have learning opportunities intrinsically woven into most experiences. A perfect example? Philadelphia’s Chinatown or Reading Terminal.

What do you look for in a city when planning a family vacation?

Photo: Britt Reints

USS Arizona and the Arizona Memorial

On Saturday, May 29 at 2:30 p.m., join the Phoenix Symphony at Phoenix Symphony Hall and celebrate Memorial Day with a stirring program of patriotic songs. Festivities include a musical parade for the kids, as well as a pre-concert sing-along starting at 1:30 p.m. in the lobby. Kids can also try their hand at creating a patriotic craft, and taking pictures in the photo booth. Come dressed in red, white & blue! Tickets start at $10.

Motorcycle enthusiasts are encouraged to join Riders USA as they pay tribute to our fallen soldiers. On Monday, May 31 from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m, at the Phoenix National Cemetery, there will be a flag display and salute along with the official ceremony, which kids off with the riders’ arrivals. Ride into the cemetery at 7:45 a.m, with the official ceremony beginning at 8 a.m. The ceremony, flag display, and salute are free. For $10 donation you can sponsor a flag.

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Walkway along Old Town Scottsdale.

There’s always something great going on in Scottsdale, Arizona! Here is a short listing of FREE events that you will surely enjoy.

The 21st annual Summer Spectacular Artwalk is taking place on July 8th from 7 to 9 p.m. in the downtown Scottsdale Arts District. The festival will feature artist demonstrations, gallery show openings, live music, prize drawings, delicious food samples and more. The event and the parking are both free, so it’s a great opportunity to visit the delightful Arts District, people-watch, and stroll among the shops and restaurants.

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Like any good fish story, this one got away.  That’s right, you just missed Salmon Days in Issaquah, WA and you should be ashamed of yourself.  Go ahead and cry it out.  I’ll wait.

Okay, enough.  You brought it upon yourself.  Now sit still and let me tell you what you missed, aka, rub it in.

Every year about this time the salmon leave the deep, salty waters of Seattle’s Puget Sound and they start swimming.  They swim through lakes and streams and wind their way to Issaquah Creek, where the water is shallow and clear.  They swim all the way to the hatchery in which they were born, they do their thing with the eggs and the stuff and then they die.  Needless to say the salmon don’t find the occasion as festive as we do.  I watched them for hours and never saw a single party hat. Read More »