Vacations Blog

Kanab Utah Main Street

Many people call Kanab, Utah the Gateway. Kanab sits in Southern Utah along route 89 about seven miles north of the Arizona border and subsequently gets visitors on their way to the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon and the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park among many others. Summer finds the town packed with RVs towing boats and wave runners on their way to Lake Powell and family vehicles bursting at the seams with camping and hiking equipment. The winters in Kanab are not quite as busy but still full from people going to ski at

Coral Pink Sand Dunes

Brianhead Ski Resort and snow tubing at Coral Pink Sand Dunes. The beauty to be found in Kanab and the surrounding area is breathtaking and you usually take a little bit home with you in the form of the red dirt that Kanab is famous for.

Kanab’s population is small, about 3,500, and the residents rely heavily on tourists as the largest source of income for the city. The slow-paced small town feel is a nice change from the crowded attractions and parks and the people are friendly as you walk down Main Street to check out the stores. Frontier Movie Town is a short walk away from downtown where you’ll see authentic movie sets and memorabilia from some great western movies made there. They also have the Pioneer Museum with classic western and pioneer artifacts. Read More »

The kids are all wet at Lake Tahoe.

Lake Tahoe, Nevada, is a great getaway for everyone. Seriously, how fun does this look?

Let’s go with very.

(Photo by Lisa Romano)

Don’t let the heat fool you.  Just because it’s hotter than molten lava outside doesn’t mean that the holidays won’t be here before you know it.  Seriously, they’re coming. Read More »

Traveling is expensive.  This is not news.

Traveling with kids can be an exercise in restraint.  It happens.

Kids need a moment to run, stretch and yell.  And possibly air out. You know, kid stuff.  What kids don’t need, however, is something that costs a lot of money.  Sure, they’d be pleased as punch to stop at an arcade or amusement park, and maybe you will, but don’t underestimate the appeal of a rest area hill and a piece of cardboard.

Granted, you may not have a piece of cardboard in the family truckster, but you do have imagination and a road open with possibilities.

After all, it’s the trip, not the destination.

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

Photo by W. Honea

Tomorrow marks the arrival of my friend and her family from the east coast to our home in Los Angeles.  Two adults, two children.  That means there will be four adults and four children in my house during the hot summer heat that is hot in the San Fernando Valley.  We may not stay inside with the air conditioner on full blast, eating ice cream and watching “Wall-E” on repeat.  No, we have to do some stuff.  I’ve been planning and stressing out and researching and making lists about how to entertain and pacify all these kids without taking the fun out of our visit.  Here is the list of survival tactics activities I’ve planned and supplies I’ve stocked up.

1.  We’ll enjoy at least one relaxed meal at home.  I’ve gathered fresh fruits and vegetables and some indulgent treats from the farmer’s market and a discount produce store to keep costs down and freshness up.  We’ll grill some meat and sit in our backyard with some cocktails while we watch the children play in the wading pool or run under the sprinklers.  It’s four on four – we’re still in a man-to-man defense, so this should be do-able.

2.  We’ll expect less and/or interrupted sleep.  The kids will sleep on air mattresses.  Even my kids will do this, if it makes them go to sleep easier knowing they are mimicking their guests.  We are lucky enough to have a guest bed in the 2-year-old’s room, so my husband and I will sleep in there with him while the friends all sleep in our room.  As such, I expect much havoc with bedtimes and have low expectations for the morning routine.
Read More »

"Pink skies at night, sailors' delight."

This photo taken from a dockside restaurant near the Rhode Island-Connecticut border is a typical scene in seaside towns along the coasts of Rhode Island and Southeast Connecticut. If only the sunsets were always this beautiful.

Innovation Analysis Group does a bunch of cool stuff, but that didn’t stop them from hosting yours truly in their ongoing series of travel-related podcasts.

Listen to the patient Addison keep me on track as I discuss the perils and benefits of traveling with children.  Really, there are benefits!

It’s only 14 minutes of your life that you’ll never have back. And yes, sadly, that is my real voice.

Traveling With Children

The City of Montreal is the second largest in Canada.

During these tough economic times for many families it’s just not financially feasible to take a vacation across the pond in France. But luckily there is a way to experience the essence of Paris right here in North America. Often overlooked by Americans as a vacation destination, the city of Montréal is an excellent place for a family vacation.

Crowds of Canadians celebrate Canada Day in Vieux-Montreal.

While winters can be downright frigid in the Québec province, summer days and nights can be exquisite. And the beginning of July is the perfect time to visit and take advantage of great sights and sounds. For example, last year we visited the city during the first week of July with the purpose of attending The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, but we also enjoyed the city-wide festivities celebrating Canada Day and Quebec Day, all in one week. These made for an exciting, fun-filled adventure.

Montréal, originally called Ville-Marie, is Canada’s second largest city and is truly cosmopolitan. Its mix of centuries old architecture in Vieux-Montréal (Old Montréal) in contrast with the modern landscape of Centre-Ville (downtown) and Parc Olympique, offer an unforgettable experience.

The Basilica Notre Dame in Montreal.

Some of the great “must-see” attractions in Montréal include the truly grand Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal, located adjacent to the Place D’Armes, a square located in Vieux-Montréal that is the second oldest public site in Montréal. A fan of Gothic Revival architecture, I found the basilica to be one of the most magnificent structures I’ve come across while traveling through North America. The colors that illuminate the interior can be summed up as “breathtaking.”

The illuminated interior of the Basilica Notre Dame is breathtaking.

Surrounding the basilica are the narrow streets of Vieux-Montréal. There you’ll find art galleries, shops, and one-of-a-kind cafes, many of which feature outdoor seating during the warm summer months. You can take a horse-drawn carriage ride through the streets to see all of the historic sites.

The epicenter of Vieux-Montréal is Place Jacques-Cartier, which fronts the Vieux-Port (Old Port) and is surrounded by such sites as the Montréal City Hall, Bonsecours Market, as well as preserved colonial mansions such as the Château Ramezay and the Sir George-Étienne Cartier National Historic Site of Canada. Across from the historic structures that line the port is the ultra-modern Centre des Sciences de Montréal.

Cafes front the Vieux-Port

It was at Place Jacques-Cartier where we encountered the Canada Day and Quebec Day celebrations, which included live music, food, fireworks and much, much more.

The Parc Maisoneuve is located just northeast of Centre-Ville and Vieux-Montréal and is home to the Jardin Botanique de Montréal, Montréal Insectarium, Biodôme de Montréal and Stade Olympique, which together make for a great day trip. The 185-acre botanical garden is great for a scenic stroll. The Japanese and Chinese gardens in particular and worth visiting. The insectarium offers a wide variety of creepy, crawly creatures that both children and bug enthusiasts are sure to enjoy. The biodome was one of the best we’ve ever visited. It contained four different climatic regions and was filled with a variety of live animals, from penguins to fish to birds. The only problem we faced there was the large crowds of summer camp groups.

The bontanic gardens' Chinese Garden is lush and green.

Another great park to visit is the Mont Royal, located north of Centre-Ville and offering Spectacular views. The nighttime panorama is especially worth experiencing to see the lights of the city.

If you plan your trip for summer, you absolutely can’t pass on the world-famous Festival International de Jazz de Montréal. This year the festival celebrates its 30th year and is sure to wow visitors. Taking place from June 30 to July 12, the festival offers free and ticket-entry performances by artists from all over the world at locations through the city. However, the main festival area is located at the Place des Arts. More than two million people experience the festival each year, attracted to its electric atmosphere and diversity of shows. Children can enjoy the festival too, with areas set up just for kids. It’s a can’t miss.

Crowds gather at the Montreal Jazz Festival

Now, where to stay? Hotels throughout the city range from low-budget to luxury. During our vist last year we stayed at the Marriott Residence Inn on Rue Peel in Centre-Ville. It was affordable and conveniently located near the Peel Metro Station. Montréal’s Metro System is top-notch and has stations located at or near all of the top tourist attractions, so I definitely recommend choosing a hotel near a station.

As you can see there is much to see and do in Montréal. Actually, there’s more than I can ever write about in one post. I encourage you to plan your summer family vacation to Montréal and make your own great discoveries. You won’t regret it.

The Montreal Metro is a clean, safe and cost-effective way to get around.

And, finally, don’t be scared by the French language. Most people we encountered in Montréal also spoke English, although all of the signs were in French. However, it’s amazing how quick and easy you pick up common phrases. The only challenge was the fact that the Metro announcements we’re only in French and could be hard to hear and understand. Just remember to pay close attention or you may miss your stop.

All photos by Jason Roth.