The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the enormously popular and magical addition to Orlando’s Universal Studios Resort, is coming to Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles, California. It’s like Manifest Destiny for wizards and the muggles that love them (you know who you are).

Don’t worry, Florida, your version of  The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is going to be significantly expanded. It is unclear if the new Hollywood version will include the pending Orlando expansions. Read More »

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

Stoweflake Mountain Resort and Spa

There’s nowhere better to visit in the summer than Vermont.  With gorgeous weather, beautiful scenery, and loads of things to do, it’s perfect for a family vacation.  Last month, my family visited Stowe, Vermont for the first time, and we had a great time.

Things to Do in Stowe

There are loads of things to do in the summer in Stowe, including an alpine slide, zip lining, miniature golf, and shopping.  You can also visit some of the factory tours in nearby Waterbury, Vermont (including Ben and Jerry’s).  The whole area is so relaxing and beautiful, and you could easily spend a long weekend there in the summer.

Places to Eat in Stowe

Just about every restaurant in the Stowe area is kid-friendly.  My favorites include the Dutch Pancake Cafe (for breakfast) in the Grey Fox Inn, Gracie’s, and Piecasso for gourmet pizzas.

Places to Stay in Stowe

There are so many hotels, resorts, and inns located right in Stowe.  We stayed at the Stoweflake Mountain Resort and Spa, which offers a kid’s playground, tennis courts, indoor and outdoor pools, games, and the best spa I’ve ever visited!  It’s centrally located, and would be good for a ski vacation also.

Photo credit: Jodi Grundig

Disclosure: I received a complimentary two-night stay at Stoweflake, including a dinner, spa treatment, and breakfast.

Let's give a hoot, people.

Here’s the thing, I believe the children are our future. You teach them well, and then you let them lead the way. I’m a fan of giving them a sense of pride. I think it makes it easier.

Some say that’s the greatest love of all.

I say, sorry about paraphrasing you, Ms. Houston.

The kids of Dunedin City, Florida have that pride and it is in their beautiful beaches. And they don’t want the rest of us screwing it up for them. Fair enough.

It’s too bad that other beaches don’t have this kind of local involvement. I don’t know how many times I’ve taken the family to the shore only to find a collection of trash that would make the landfill blush. Seriously, who does that?

The weather is getting warmer (in some places) and before you know it we’ll be burning our skin and losing sunglasses in the ocean. It happens. None of it warrants littering. Just ask the kids in Dunedin City. Or read their sign.

For more family-friendly travel photos visit DeliciousBaby’s Photo Fridays.

Photo by Samuel Mann via Flickr