Cheekwood Mansion

Exploring the sprawling gardens and extensive art collection at Cheekwood is a must for Nashville visitors. Built by the Cheek family, owners of Maxwell House Coffee in 1932, the historic limestone mansion and formal gardens are closely tied to Nashville history. A visit to the gardens and galleries offers an intriguing peek at grand, Southern lifestyles during the early 20 th century. Read More »

Nashville's Athena Parthenos

Nashville may be closely associated with country music and live performances but the Music City nickname is a relatively recent association. Up until the 1940s, Nashville was called “Athens of the South” because of all the universities, museums and cultural activities.  Accordingly, the city’s most stunning landmark is a replica of the Athenian Parthenon.  As the focal point for Centennial Park,  a tour of this dramatic building is a Nashville must do. Read More »

Heading to a Family-Friendly Vegas Wedding

Although Las Vegas has mostly abandoned its efforts to market itself as a family-friendly vacation destination, embracing the “What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas” mantra instead, the desert oasis still holds plenty of appeal for parents who are looking to getaway and bring their kids with them. Why? Because finding someone to watch the kids while you go on vacation alone is a pain in the butt.

If you’ve been dying to go to Vegas, pack up the family. You’ll find plenty to do for everyone. And because I’m sure you don’t need tips on what to do when you’re on your own, here are some suggestions for keeping the minors safely entertained in Sin City.

Where to Stay

Technically, you can check into any hotel casino in Vegas with the kids, but you’ll need to wade through the smoke and slot machines when coming and going. Another option is to book a room at a hotel that is just a hotel. Yes, they exist. The Trump International is just a few blocks off the Strip and offers luxury accommodations without the constant clanging of slot machines.

Are you an RVing family? Sam’s Town RV Park is adjacent to a sprawling casino complex, but removed enough to offer some peace and quiet at night and any other time you need a stimulation break. When you’re ready to rejoin the crowds, the casino’s bowling alley, buffet, and light show are just a short walk across the parking lot.

Where to Eat

You can grab a buffet on any block in Vegas, a great option for competitive eaters and teenagers. You can also pay top dollar for some insanely good surf and turf. But if you have kids under 10, you might be less inclined to splurge for all-they-can-eat or lobster tail they won’t appreciate. A few family-friendly options with reasonable prices in town include:

• I Love Burgers – gourmet burgers for kids and adult milkshakes for parents.
• Buca di Beppo – family-style Italian food that’s actually tasty; there are 3 locations in Vegas.
• Carnegie Deli – located in the Mirage Hotel, this restaurant puts PB&J on the menu.

Where to Play

You won’t want to hit the tables or the clubs with your kiddies, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a rockin’ good time! Just about every casino on the strip offers something for kids to marvel at for free, including acrobats at Circus Circus, animals at MGM, the fountains at the Bellagio, and mini-plays at Caesars. When you’re ready to pull out your wallet, here are a few options worth the cost:

• Renew your vows – book a renewal ceremony with Elvis at Graceland Chapel and your kids can ride to and from the ceremony in the limo and stand as your witnesses when the King serenades you. It’s fun, it’s cheesy, and it’s more than a little romantic.
• Zip line over Fremont Street – while you’re downtown checking out the free light show over the old strip, strap the whole family to a cable wire and go zooming under the canopy of electric lights with Fremont Flightlinez. For just $20 per person, it’s one of the least expensive places to try out a vacation activity that’s become very popular in the last few years.
• Snowboard – yes, there’s snow in Vegas. Well, technically there is snow between November and April in the mountains about 30 miles from the strip. Learn to snowboard at the Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort, taking advantage of group and private lessons.
• Fly over the Grand Canyon – if you really want to make this a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, spring for a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon. Tours with Papillon include transportation to and from Vegas, a narrated flight into the Canyon, and 30 minutes at the bottom of the canyon to explore and enjoy a light meal and champagne toast.

Vegas specializes in entertainment, and they make sure you don’t have to gamble to make memories or leave your money behind. Enjoy Vegas, baby!

Ausable Chasm in the Winter

This Christmas break my family hopped in our Toyota Prius and road-tripped to the Lake Champlain region of the Adirondacks.  Although the ski conditions near our home in Massachusetts were just awful due to the unseasonably warm weather we’ve been experiencing, the conditions were great in the Adirondacks.

To start, we traveled to Plattsburgh by way of Vermont, taking the Grand Isle to Plattsburgh ferry.  It was incredibly easy to take the ferry, which runs every few minutes twenty-four hours a day, and saved us lots of time.  Once we arrived in Plattsburgh, it was just a short drive to the Comfort Inn and Suites, where we were staying for our trip. Read More »