I’ve used many a Lonely Planet Guide when researching travel, so when they offered to send me the new edition of their Travel With Children, I was eager to give it a read.  While a non-parent myself, I’ve had occasion to travel with some small fry, and after working for 20+ years as a Flight Attendant (and I’m not telling you how many years that + represents), I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly about kids on planes.
So I settled in for a good read.
Unfortunately, I didn’t make it past more than a handful before I began …read more

Food expenses are a major budget consideration when planning your vacation, and while you can’t eliminate the expense, there are lots of things you can do to keep it as low as possible.  Here are some ideas to keep in mind:
Book accommodations that have a kitchen.  Whether it’s staying at a condo, an extended-stay property, or maybe just a room with a coffee maker and refrigerator, these will all presents ways to help you save on food expenses.  With a full kitchen you can stock up on supplies so that you’re not dining out for every meal, while still keeping …read more

It’s been a busy week of travel for me, with overnights in Vancouver BC and Chicago, but I still managed to find some great travel posts to share with you this weekend.
Velvet Escape tackles the weighty topic of. . . refrigerator magnet.  I love them!  And now, I think I’ll start a collection of my own.
The Paris Traveler shares a whiff of the Paris exotic with information about how to get your very own custom French fragrance.  What a delightful, and practical memory of a great vacation.
The Trends explain about a sort of reverse pick-pocketing going on in London.  Instead …read more

Vacation time, whether far away or close to home, should be an escape from the ordinary, a time to see and do different things.  Some of the same old rules from home shouldn’t apply when you’re on vacation!  And that’s especially true with so many people choosing to vacation close to home.
With only a couple of weeks till school starts, there’s still a chance to get in a little special treat before the kiddos have to get back on a schedule!
What can you do, though, with limited time and money, that can still be fun for both the kids and …read more

I’ll be heading off to Las Vegas tomorrow, and exploring the family-friendly side of Sin City.  While the city once promoted itself as a family-friendly destination, it has long since abandoned that idea, and has had great success (and fun) with “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.”
With so many families wishing to vacation close to home this year, and often trying to find a destination that keeps both adults and kids satisfied, Las Vegas seems to be cropping up as destination that’s starting to appeal to families once again.
Las Vegas offers bargains galore, on food and accommodations, has shows …read more

When people visit Seattle and ask me for recommendations about what to see, the Pacific Science Center is always on my list.  In addition to its location on the grounds of the Seattle Center, home of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, the graceful arches and fountains, make it an architecturally pleasant and appealing place to visit.  Everyone seems to enjoy the Science Center.
During the World’s Fair, this was home to the US Science Pavilion.  Today it is an independent, not for profit science museum, with eight buildings housing hundreds of science exhibits, two IMAX theaters, a large Laser Dome …read more

Today I’m pleased to introduce you to Jon Rochetti, a fellow travel blogger and friend, and who, over the years, has shared with me his wonderful city of Washington DC.  Today he writes a guest post about a trip to Cozumel, Mexico.
—
The image of the submarine varies. Let it be Jules Verne’s submarine, the Nautilus from the book 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, the claustrophobic World War II U-boat searching the Atlantic for it’s next target, a nuclear-era stealth “boomer” playing blind man’s bluff with the Soviets, or a deep sea exploration sub diving to uncharted regions of the …read more

It seems like there are certain constants no matter where you happen to be.  No matter how far I go, it seems that I can’t escape McDonald’s and its golden arches.
Needing a bit of a stretch break, along with wanting some coffee and a bit of nourishment for the road, our band of travelers stopped at the “ristop” just off the autostrada (A-1) south of Milan.
I’m not a McDonald’s kind of gal.  No apologies – it’s just not my fast food preference.
Fortunately for me, right next to the burger and fries counter was a wonderful selection of pastries, paninis …read more

How much do I love my iPhone apps?  Enough to try out most every iPhone travel app that comes along!
Check out Family Car Games, created by a family of four to help your family pass the time with instructions for 100 different games.  You can play the games in the car, on a long flight, or while waiting at the airport.  Or waiting anywhere for that matter.
I downloaded the app ($1.99) to check it out.  And hey – I like games, too!  There seemed to be a nice variety, hitting on a number of different themes, from words games …read more

Shopping is one of the top vacation activities, and that’s part of the reason why I’m always on the lookout for great shopping places to write about.  Of course, the other reason is that I love a good shopping spot myself!
A great LA shopping experience, from both the shopping and the experience point of view, is the Rose Bowl Flea Market.  This is not some lightweight flea market, no sirree!  This is a monster event, with over 2,500 vendors attracting 15-20,000 buyers.  Operating the second Sunday of every month, you’ll find vintage jewelry, clothing, handmade crafts, antiques, plants, collectibles, …read more