This post comes to us courtesy of Carmel L. Mooney, editor of Road Trips for Couples.

Different types of cruise experiences abound but perhaps nothing offers a more “Wonder-ful” appeal for multi-generational travel than a cruise aboard the Disney Wonder. (and a trip to Disney Resorts afterwards)

Much like the Disney Magic, its sister ship, the Disney Wonder boasts 11 decks and comfortably accommodates 2700 passengers. Nearly a thousand cast and crew members cater to the guests on the Wonder’s Mexican Riviera voyage.

For Disney- Loving Families, a magical Disney cruise experience starts the moment you board this spectacular vessel from the World Cruise Center in San Pedro, California, just a short ride from LAX.

FUN FOR GROWN UPS TOO

What makes the Disney Wonder, and any Disney cruise so magical is the approach to offering activities, dining, serene and quiet places, while offering world class entertainment for all ages and lifestyles.

Disney Wonder’s Captain Thor says, “Our ships are unique in that we target couples, elderly, and families. You can get away and relax in our adults-only areas. As people have become more familiar with our product, we see really wide demographics now.”

When we were recently cruising on the Disney Wonder, my husband and I found it “Wonderful” to be able to escape from the busyness and activities, and yes, even the kids, to simply enjoy a relaxing afternoon in the adults-only pool. Other relaxing adult areas were easy to find.

We found fine dining in Palo, a lovely Italian style restaurant serving exquisite cuisine, a welcome respite from a busy day of family activities as this is an adults-only option as well.

With its elegant Venetian glass and inlaid wood paneling, this romantic spot offers 270 degree sweeping panoramic views of the sea. Floor to ceiling windows and a circular layout afford a unique dining experience. A back-lit bar and open kitchen add to the ambiance. Chef Stephan says, “The galley is open and we love to interact with the guests.”

Numerous lounges and coffee bars with specialty coffee drinks and magazines also allowed us some quiet down time as did the Spa and Fitness Center which both are reserved for grown ups.

Adults-only comedy, art shows, and performances were peppered throughout the itinerary too.

While on board our family met numerous muti-generational traveling families who enjoyed these more mature aspects as well as a well-rounded array of activities that all generations could engage in together. While onboard, several different TV and music trivia games drew participants of all ages, as did golfing tournaments, ping pong tournaments and cooking and ice sculpting demonstrations. Karaoke parties and talent contests seemed to also attract all ages as did some of the professional acts. The guest juggler on our ship was nothing less than astounding. The adults-only sand artist was not only unique, and talented but created art in good taste.

The wait-staff in all of the beautifully themed dining rooms were some of the best we have ever encountered on any ship or cruise line. Each night families are rotated to variously themed dining venues where the same wait-staff follows them from place to place. This proved excellent for several reasons. The wait-staff knew all our preferences and those of the children by the second night and were always a step ahead with preferred beverages and sides. The various dining rooms with spectacular effects, imagery, music, décor, and themes kept things interesting, entertaining, and upbeat.

ENTERTAINMENT

Disney’s onboard world class shows are magnificent. As Jeffrey Mouton, the Dance Captain of the Wonder’s dance crew of 25 says, “We do five Broadway-style shows for our guests on each sailing. Disney’s world famous attention to detail and quality shines through from the costumes and lighting to the effects. Some of the effects we have are award-winning and make the audience literally gasp. Each and every show is family-friendly. The production value is amazing and all steps and costumes are different in each production show. We are also the only cruise line that can show first run movies onboard in our movie theater.”

It was evident that all kids loved the Pirate Deck Party and fireworks display which is a highlight of every sailing. The entire ship becomes Pirate-themed all night starting at dinner with the waiters and music right up to the dance party on deck and finishing with the fireworks show right off the ship’s deck which was truly fantastic.

PORTS OF CALL

Ports of Call for the Mexican Riviera sailing are Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas which both offer a myriad of activities for families and couples alike. Snorkeling, sport fishing, shopping, tours, zip-lining, ocean kayaking and dolphin experiences are just a few of the countless options.

As if this were not enough, many families choose to go from one Disney venue to another by leaving the Disney Wonder cruise when it returns back to the World Cruising Center, to then visit Disneyland and California Adventure, just a short drive away.

For those who truly love Disney, this is the most “Wonder”-ous way to enjoy all things Disney.

No matter what time of the year you order your double dose of Disney you’ll enjoy the magic but this year a family can extend the Disney Holiday Fun into January 2012 with Disneyland’s longer Holiday celebration through Jan. 8, 2012.

Today’s guest post is written by automobile-expert Sean Gray. Sean works with CashForTrucks.com, a company that buys cars and helps people sell their junkers and replace them with new ones.

If you’re a frequent road tripper, you know that comfort, fuel economy, and practicality mean different things when you’re on a road trip than when you’re hitting the super market. Station wagon aside, here are three family-friendly vehicles for all types of travel:

Honda Odyssey EX

Although it sports the classic minivan style, the Honda Odyssey EX packs a lot more punch than the typical soccer mom variety. Not only does it handle more like a touring car than a boxy van, the stark carpool motif is gone and luxury touches like touch-glide doors and DVD players are in. Heavy loads and steep inclines are a breeze with the 244-hp 3.5L V6 engine and 5-speed automatic transmission that gives you towing capacity of 3500 lbs with the full package. The clever backseat can be reconfigured to suit many situations—either as individual seats with a console in between, one long bench or flatten them out completely for maximum cargo space. At 23 MPG on the highway and 16 MPG in town, it does do much better than most vans its size. Depending on how you configure the seats, your cargo capacity can vary between 38.4 to 147.4 cubic feet. The biggest drawback is the low ground clearance if you have to handle rough or snowy roads. This feature undoubtedly adds to its overall stability by lowering its center of gravity, however, making it handle much better on wet roads or in icy conditions.

Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen

Lurking in this sporty looking wagon is a surprising amount of space, both for passengers and cargo. With the option of diesel and the turbo power ride, the Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen gives economy cars a run for their money. The diesel engine mileage is up to 40 MPG and the gas powered version can pull off 30 MPG on the highway and around 21 MPG in the city. The stable body design gives it sports car level handling and the 170-hp 2.5 engine can hit 60 MPH in 8.4 seconds, not bad for a station wagon! Expect German touches throughout the interior with tons of standard features and high-end options like a power sliding panoramic sunroof and a touchscreen navigation panel. The 4MOTION all-wheel drive is so popular in Europe that most US buyers have to settle for the 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic, but all models have the multilink rear suspension for the smoothest possible ride. Fold up the rear seats for 66.9 cubic feet of cargo space and when they’re upright you have 32.8 cubic feet at your disposal. Though you don’t feel like you’re driving a station wagon or a compact car, this well-engineered design somehow manages to qualify for both categories while giving you the kind of performance you expect from a high-performance automobile.

Cadillac CTS-V Wagon

A limited production version of the already impressive Cadillac CTS wagon, the supercharged 6.2 liter V8 gives this model all the power you need for any situation. As expected, this wagon delivers a silky smooth ride with ergonomically designed seats and finger tip cockpit control and naturally handles like a dream. Carry five passengers comfortably and still have 25 cubic feet of cargo room at your disposal. Fold down the seats and you can have 58 cubic feet in all. Magnetic ride control and six-speed manual or automatic transmission give you ultimate control which is a good thing since you can go from zero to 60 MPH in 4.2 seconds. Don’t expect great mileage with that kind of power, the best it can do on highway cruise control is 19 MPG and 14 MPG in the city.

Today’s guest post is submitted by Shannon Entin, traveling, homeschooling mom on the pursuit of happiness. Visit Shannon’s new travel blog, 100 Routes Across America.

For less than $5 per person, the Duquesne Incline is a fun, inexpensive way to spend a couple hours in Pittsburgh. The Duquesne Incline is a cable car that transports people to the top of Mount Washington. Restored in 1963, the Incline features original hoisting gear and cable cars that date back to the late 1800′s.

My family boarded the beautiful wooden cable car and began our trip up the incline. I admit to feeling nervous about being hoisted up the steep hill by the original gear that moved coal centuries ago. I don’t have a fear of heights, but it was a tiny bit unsettling the way the cable car just stuck out and hung off the side of the mountain! And while we were ooh-ing and aah-ing over the incredible view, we shared the car with a businessman on his way home from work – it was just part of his daily commute.

At the top you are greeted with an amazing panoramic view of the city from an observation deck. My son was excited to see Heinz Field (where the Steelers play football) and PNC Park (where the Pirates play baseball). I loved seeing all the bridges that connect Pittsburgh and how those three rivers come together.

When you’ve had your fill of the view,  you’ll find the Incline station overflowing with beautiful artwork offering a pictorial history of Pittsburgh. You can see how the city has changed over the years through industrial development and natural disasters.  There’s also the opportunity to take a tour of the machine room to see the inner workings of the original hoisting equipment. The gift shop has unique maps, posters, artwork, and souvenirs.

If you wander outside the station, you find yourself on Grandview Ave. There’s not much to do there, but if you’re ready for a bite to eat, I suggest the Grandview Saloon. Prices are in line with any restaurant in a city — $10-$20 for sandwiches and salads, $20 – $40 for steak, seafood and pasta entrees.  I had this amazing concoction…

The Grandview Prime Salad: A traditional house salad topped with an 8 ounce U.S.D.A. Prime Center Cut New York Strip Steak, and french fries with cheese on top of that. Heaven.

While the food was fantastic, the view was even better. There is an outdoor terrace right above the Incline or an indoor dining room with a wall of windows offering that same panoramic view of Pittsburgh.

Whether you’re in Pittsburgh for a few days or a few hours, the Duquesne Incline is a great pit-stop on any road trip.

Parking is free at the Duquesne Incline and a round-trip ride is $4.50 for adults and $2.20 for kids. Visit http://duquesneincline.org for more information.

After a recent trip to Nova Scotia, Vera Marie Badertscher, editor of A Traveler’s Library, and the biography of Navajo artist Quincy Tahoma, shares with us her best family road trip tips for the area.

In a previous article, I suggested traveling by ferry whenever possible on your family road trip to Nova Scotia, just because it is so much fun.  When you alight from the gigantic Princess of Acadia at Digby Nova Scotia, you can take advantage of a tourism office not far outside the parking ferry parking lot.

Ft. Anne

Digby is an interesting little town with a pretty waterfront and colorful fishing boats, but you may want to hit the road and head for Annapolis Royal. There you will find Ft. Anne, known as the birthplace of Canada.  The French and British struggled over Ft. Anne in the 1600′s and 1700′s, and both their flags can be seen at the fort.  What’s left of the fort is mostly reconstruction–grassy mounds that were the protective earthworks, but now serve as a great place for climbing and rolling down hills.

Inside the small museum, kids are fascinated by the 18-foot long tapestry designed to show the history of the region, particularly when they learn that Queen Elizabeth herself added a few stitches to the depiction of her great-great-grandmother Victoria. Every room in the museum features activities for little ones, and the dress up costumes let them get totally in the mood.

Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens

Although these gardens are on St. George Street, which is lined with centuries-old houses, the garden itself is fairly new.  The name Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens means that various areas of the gardens show the style of gardens in different periods of this historic town’s past. The flowers of course are stunning, but my favorite thing was the little Cajun cottage.  If your family has visited Louisiana, this ties together the history of the Acadians (Cajuns) who were expelled from Canada and fled south.

Note: There’s a beautiful B & B, Hillsdale House, almost next door. The expansive lawn is great for running off extra energy, and although I don’t usually recommend antique-filled houses for family stays, this one is quite practical and the friendly owners welcome children. They serve an enormous delicious breakfast.

Kejimkujik

Head inland (southeast) for Kejimkujik which is every bit as much fun to visit as it is to say. This forested park around a lake is a National Historic Site of Canada because it was one of the main settlements of the M’ikmaq Indians. (And that is pronounced Mee-maw, in case you were wondering.) The park includes fishing, canoeing and kayaking and swimming in the lake and miles and miles of hiking trails. If you are there for only a short stop, there are some interesting things like birch bark canoes in the visitor’s center, and a snack stand down the road with awesome hotdogs and fries to eat on picnic tables.

Plenty of campgrounds here, if you are traveling with your tents, or you can make it a day trip from Annapolis Royal.

Lunenburg

UNESCO has designated Lunenburg, the old fishing town on the East coast of Nova Scotia, as a World Heritage Site. Steep hills climb up from the docks and houses painted in bright pea green, royal blue, and cerise give the whole place a fairy-tale feel.  The main attraction for families here will be the Fisheries’s Museum of the Atlantic. A sprawling gray-board building along the dock, the museum has both indoors exhibits and open air exhibits, and some boats to clamber through as well. Retired sailors, dubbed shore captains, help out as docents and love to answer questions about the work of whaling, lobster fishing, and all the other activities–including smuggling–that are covered in the museum.  Out on the dock a small shed holds touching tanks where an attendant encourages people to reach in the water-filled trough and fondle a starfish or try to get a clam to snap.

And who is to say a family road trip has to stay on land? Anyone interested in boats, particularly sailing boats, will want to visit the shipbuilding facilities where a famous tall ship, the sailing ship Bluenose, is being restored. There are non-stop festivals all summer long–music, art, and plain old street festivals will entertain you. And of course you can always take a boat ride –for fishing or whale watching or just sight-seeing.

Glooscap Heritage Center

Follow 102 along the coast toward Halifax, Nova Scotia’s largest city, and then turn north on 102 toward Truro. Just a little before Truro , stop at the Glooscap Heritage Center for a great view of the ancient M’ikmaq culture. The tour of this small museum starts with a film narrated by Glooscap himself–a legendary hero of the M’ikmaq. He’s a gentle giant and everyone will want to get their picture taken standing in his shadow. (I did.)

In the museum you’ll see costumes, bead work, rock art, and have a chance to learn some of the M’ikmaq alphabet. When we visited we were fortunate to have a trained archaeologist who is 100 % M’ikmaq to explain things and answer our questions. But whoever you have as a guide, I guarantee your whole family will be happy you made this stop. (And there are a couple of convenient restaurants just down the road in this business loop off the highway.)

Alexander Graham Bell

Although there are plenty of distractions along the way, the next main kid-pleasing stop is in the town of Baddeck on Cape Breton Island–the northernmost extension of Nova Scotia. Baddeck sits on the enormous Bras d’Or Lake rather than on the ocean, and is the beginning of the Cabot Trail, a scenic route that climbs up and around the highest point (3000′) of Cape Breton if you want a day or two’s worth of scenic drive.

The inventor Alexander Graham Bell left his native Scotland and settled near Baddeck, and that is where he carried out most of his exciting experiments. It may come as a surprise when you see how many pies this inventor stuck his finger into. Yes, telephones were the one that made him rich, but he kept right on inventing things throughout his life.

The Alexander Graham Bell Historic Site and museum has a lot of information about sound and about the deaf, since working with the deaf motivated Bell in much of his work. (His wife was deaf, as well as his grandfather.) One of the most interesting exhibits here has life-size panoramic photos and the actual hydroplane boat that he invented.

The museum sits up on a hill over the beautiful lake-side setting of Baddeck, and this is another opportunity to climb aboard a whale-watch boat, or take a ride to an island where you can see puffins and other sea birds.

Note: On the edge of town, you’ll find the multiple buildings of the Inverary Inn scattered across wooded grounds.  The brown buildings and colorful boats pulled up along the shore makes it look a lot like summer camp, and it would seem to be perfect for families. Be sure, however, to check out your rooms in advance, as some have not been renovated in quite some time.

Louisbourg Fortress

Follow the highway north from Baddeck around the north end of the lake, and turn southeast at Sydney as you head for Louisbourg, the town that is farthest East in Nova Scotia. Now you are truly on the Atlantic Ocean and about to dip back into history.  The main attraction on this point of land is the restored Louisbourg Fortress. You drive out to the museum, and after you’ve soaked in some of the French and British history, a bus transports you back in time to 1744 where you meet French soldiers, pub keepers, servants and well-to-do merchants. The costumed reenactors are endlessly fascinating and you’ll want to schedule a whole day at this incredibly detailed recreation that goes on for blocks and blocks.  You can eat a colonial lunch at the on-site restaurant, or take a picnic lunch which can be supplemented with bread from the on-site bakery.

Note: Complete your experience with the Beggar’s Banquet at the Point of View Suites and RV Park.  Everyone who attends is given a period costume before they enter the tent for the 18th century banquet including musicians entertaining with music of the 1700′s.

Pictou and The Ship Hector

Your family road trip continues on Route 4 down the east side of the Bras d’Or Lake, through St. Peter’s and Port Hawkesbury back to the mainland. Stay on 104 to New Glasgow and then take the road north to Pictou. This whole day’s drive is through Scottish countryside. Towns and roads have Scottish names and you can buy authentic tartans and other Scotch souvenirs.  In Pictou, you’ll learn where all those Scotch people came from when you visit the Hector, known as the Scottish Mayflower. The Hector, sailing in 1773, was the first of many ships to bring settlers from Scotland to this rocky land that reminded them of home.

The pride of this town, where practically everybody pitched in to build her, the story of the Hector is told in a museum beside the ship (one ticket for both). After you get an orientation to the way such ships were built, you are invited to board the Hector and see how small was the space that dozens of families crowded into for the sail from Scotland to the United States.

Note: For your final night in Nova Scotia, you could not find a more pleasant and evocative place to stay than Stonehame.The name simply means “stone house” in Celtic, and the original stone house stills stands on the farm and a member of the family still lives in it.  The Lodge and Chalets stand on top of Fitzpatrick Mountain (mountains don’t come extremely high in Nova Scotia). The spacious two-story chalets with full kitchen and fireplace are perfect for a family. The prime ones have an expansive view, clear out to the Northumberland Strait beyond Pictou.  (But do try to arrive on a day without fog. When I was there, I could hardly see my hand in front of my face when I drove in. Fortunately, by morning the fog had lifted a bit and I could glimpse the famous view.)

There are no eating facilities on site, except for a continental breakfast, so bring groceries with you, or plan to drive back down the “mountain” (I would call it a hill) to eat. But just think what fun to stay in a place with a llama, plow horses, paths to blueberry and raspberry patches, and a full-fledged children’s playground!

Be sure to get detailed directions from the website of Stonehame or from the owners before you go because it is truly rural, and can be a bit tricky to find.

By now it is perfectly obvious how much is packed into this relatively small province of Canada. Nova Scotia covers about double the area of Massachusetts. As you drive back onto the mainland of Canada, you will probably be planning your next family road trip to Nova Scotia.

Vera Marie Badertscher blogs about books and movies that inspire travel at A Traveler’s Library. She wrote about her trip with her sister to Nova Scotia both there and at Your Life Is a Trip.

After a recent trip to Nova Scotia, Vera Marie Badertscher, editor of A Traveler’s Library, and the biography of Navajo artist Quincy Tahoma, shares with us her best family road trip tips for the area. This article has up-to-date info on all the ferries in the area — what’s better than combining a road trip with a ferry ride? Lots of ferry rides!

Since Nova Scotia is surrounded by water, one of the really neat things about a road trip is that it includes lots of ferry boat rides.  That’s partly why I recommend starting this trip in New Brunswick, at an International Park that isn’t Nova Scotia, but is on the way from the United States.

Unfortunately, we learned early in our trip planning that the ferry that is mentioned on many websites from Maine to Nova Scotia no longer operates. Instead, you must drive in to New Brunswick. But what a great excuse to visit an important American presidential site.

The Roosevelt Campobello International Park on Campobello Island, can be reached about half way up the coast of Maine. (Approximately 9 1/2 hours drive from Boston). Crossing the border here is a piece of cake–a brief pause and drive over a bridge and there you are in Canada.

Back in the early 1880′s through the 1930′s,  Campobello served wealthy Easterners looking for a summer respite from the heat of cities. One of those families was the Roosevelt family, who built their “cottage” there when the future President was just a baby. These summer homes, which the wealthy people called cottages, are bigger than most of the homes we live in today.

Franklin Roosevelt’s childhood home doesn’t survive, but the 34-room “cottage”, that Mama Roosevelt built for Franklin and Eleanor when they got married, served as a summer base for their family (eventually including five children). The treats of visiting this free park include a beautiful birchbark canoe on the back porch, vintage bicycles, rooms restored to the way they would have looked in the 1920′s, and trails down by the ocean. Younger kids can even play on playground equipment in the big green lawn surrounding the house.

The Three-Ferry trip to Nova Scotia

You might want to start your trip plan by checking the schedule of the Saint John-Digby Princess of Acadia ferry. Then check the Deer Island Ferry for departure times, allowing yourself three hours from Campobello to Saint John, where you’ll get aboard your third ferry of the day. On Deer Island, you’ll take a short drive and board the L’etete ferry to Saint John. From Saint John, it takes four hours to cross the Bay of Fundy to Nova Scotia on the Princess of Acadia. So the whole trip takes about seven relaxing hours.

1.On Campobello, check the Deer Island Ferry for departure times, allowing yourself three hours from Campobello to Saint John, where you’ll get aboard your third ferry of the day.  Drive to the little strip of beach where the Deer Island Ferry lands, and here you will drive your car aboard the first, and tiniest ferry for a half-hour ride past other islands.

2. Once you get to Deer Island, follow the signs to the L’etete ferry landing, and don’t dawdle, because the ferries are timed so that you have enough time to drive across this pretty island to get on the next ferry, which will take you to Saint John, New Brunswick on the mainland. The government runs this ferry so it is free, just like driving on roads or bridges. Unlike the tiny Deer Island ferry, it is possible to get out of the car (if you are on one of the outside lanes) and take a look at the working part of the ferry.

3. When your car rolls off this ferry at Saint John, you have another drive (About 1 1/2 hours) that will take you to the Saint John-Digby ferry. This one is big. Like a small cruise ship, it has comfortable lounges, movies, restaurants, arcade games, a playroom for little kids and WIFI.  Perhaps most unique, as ferries go, the 3 1/2 hour trip is supplemented by some short talks about the environment.  Since you’re crossing the Bay of Fundy, which has the highest tides in the world, whales swimming through, and cliffs of ancient fossils, there is plenty for the experts to talk to you about. And you can try your luck at seeing a whale.

The Department of Tourism has a big desk in the ferry lounge with brochures and maps and a friendly helper who can assist you in planning your stay in Nova Scotia.  Whether you want to doze in the lounge, get out your laptop and take advantage of the WIFI reception, or get some exercise on the deck, you can have fun while you travel to Nova Scotia on the Princess Acadia.

2011 Ferry Prices Include:
Campobello to Deer Island: $16 for car and driver, $3 for each additional adult and no charge for children under 12.

Deer Island-Saint John: Free

Princess of Acadia, Saint John to Digby Nova Scotia: Roughly $150 for a car, 2 adults and 2 children , but there are all sorts of discounts and a $20 surcharge for fuel, so be sure to check the web site for current prices.

Vera Marie Badertscher blogs about books and movies that inspire travel at A Traveler’s Library. She wrote about a book that relates Eleanor Roosevelt’s experiences at Campobello in an article about letters between Roosevelt and her closest friend. 

When we heard about Jennifer Wilson’s move to Croatia — with her family, we knew we had to hear the whole story. We’re friends with many full-time traveling families, families that live on the road and see the world as part of their daily grind. But Jennifer’s family actually moved to a country (temporarily) in search of her history. We’re thrilled to have a guest post from Jennifer — her book comes out today and she’s in hot demand! Here’s more about the adventure:

One time, my young family and I sold everything and moved back to the Croatian mountain village of my ancestors. No, the kids aren’t in therapy (yet).

Here’s how it went…

A few years back, Barack Obama was running for president, charismatically asking Americans to return to our Nation of Immigrants values.

It struck me that many of my generation had no idea what that meant. Like all good writers, I began obsessing on this thing that I did not know.

My obsession was stoked when the last of my immigrant relatives died in the summer of 2008. Sister Paula’s personal papers declared that my old family hailed from the ancient mountain village of Mrkopalj, Croatia.

I’m not going to say that this middle-aged mom had a rational response to learning about Mrkopalj (pronounced MER-koe-pie), but here it is anyway:

In 2009, I sold all our stuff and hauled all four of us back to the Motherland to re-learn our Nation of Immigrant values. I detail our journey in my book, RUNNING AWAY TO HOME.

Funny how I can write that sentence as if it didn’t require some sort of bionic effort. I mean, imagine telling your kids that they’re about to leave their house, the pets and the grandparents—for a country that likely has no decent TV. Suffice to say that having an escape fantasy, and following through on the actual planning of this fantasy, are two entirely different things.

Extracting the Wilson Hoff household from our home in Des Moines, Iowa, entailed the following:

• Purchase The Family Sabbatical Handbook by Elisa Bernick (link: http://www.familysabbatical.com/). We could not have left home without it.

• Apply for a visa. No kidding: The Croatian consulate actually tried to talk me out of getting a visa. But the call of Mrkopalj was strong, and so I persisted. Six months and four digits of persistence, to be exact.

• Tell the kids, then duck. You’ll know if you really want that family sabbatical if you remain resolute through the tears.

• Sell everything. We reduced our earthly belongings by about 75 percent in a name-your-own-price garage sale. What you don’t sell, you pay to store. Even kid toys (they got to buy packable electronics instead).

• Rent/sell your house. We found renters who lived here as if they owned it, which was ideal. But you’ll deal with issues around both renting and selling, so remain flexible and open-minded.

• Get insurance. We canceled our Wellmark policy because the overseas coverage was outrageous and bought a reputable travel policy through Lloyd’s of London. When we got home, Wellmark called this a break in coverage, and we’ve paid for that. Pick your poison wisely.

• Talk to your partner. Talk more. Later, keep talking. If you think a family sabbatical will improve your marriage, you are wrong. Few marriages have to face the strain of extended travel with kids. We were constantly dealing with where to find food, how to deal with money, what’s good (or not) for the kids. Know your strengths and weaknesses as a couple, and prepare for storms. It’s an invigorating experience of a lifetime, but there are dues to pay—most of them in front of a map, in a rental car, while locals shake their fists from Fiat windows.

Jim, the kids, and I, lived in Mrkopalj for about four months, then moved about Croatia and Europe for several more. We lived in one-room pensions. We foraged daily for fresh food. We mostly hung out in the wide-open meadows of Mrkopalj, and frolicked on the beaches of Croatia. We traveled in a compact Peugeot (rented here: http://www.autoeurope.com/; ask for Cameron).

By the time we left Europe, our collective belongings totaled five suitcases.

We’ve done well keeping our lives uncluttered since returning to the States. Sharing a car, avoiding superstores, living as fresh and local as we can—these tips make a lot more room for travel in our budget, and help insulate us against economic volatility in America.

Did we find those Nation of Immigrant values? We found our own version of them: that nothing really matters more than family. Really, nothing. We weren’t any different when we drove one car instead of two. We didn’t miss mountains of toys or all four of our grills (!!!).

More than anything, extended travel in Croatia gave us perspective—when you’ve got it good, be grateful; when you don’t, buck up.

You can call that values, or just the best souvenir I’ve ever gotten.

Jennifer Wilson’s first book, RUNNING AWAY TO HOME, about that time her family ditched the comfortable life for the mountain village of her ancestors, is available at jennifer-wilson.com.

When you’re looking for something to do on a road trip, think like a local. Where do the locals take their kids? Thea Miller Ryan, Editor of Road Trips for Readers has driven many a mile with her daughter and suggests stopping at one of the latest trends — the Butterfly House. Here’s why:

Families on vacation are choosing insects over dinosaurs. The bugs don’t have gnashing, man-eating teeth, but they do have their own appeal, including hairy legs, brightly colored wings, and even nasty-looking fangs.

Butterfly houses, the latest and greatest place to see insects, are springing up all over the United States. There are more than 40 of the indoor tropical paradises where butterflies wing about, sipping on nectar and enjoying the company of hundreds of thousands of guests each year.

Westminster Colorado’s Butterfly Pavilion and Insect Center is an easy trip from Denver International Airport. More than 700 butterflies, imported from all over the world, fly free around the paved paths of their conservatory. Visitors are treated to not just butterflies, but also to their plant collection that provides food and shelter for the winged insects.

Their additional “Crawl-A-See ‘Em” is dedicated to all things multi-legged. Kids get a thrill and a free sticker when they hold Rosie, a Chilean Rosehair Tarantula. Parents who get goosebumps at the thought of bugs in the house may not love the Madagascar hissing cockroaches, but the kids get to hear the wonderful hissing sound that comes from the holes in the roach’s body. Millipedes, walking sticks, stag beetles and scorpions are also featured critters.

Few things are as beautiful as seeing a butterfly emerge. The Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House near St. Louis, Missouri, has viewing windows filled with hundreds of chrysalis waiting to hatch and fly free in the 8,000 square foot conservatory. Besides being host to over 1,000 butterflies, the tropical atmosphere also houses over 150 different tropical plants species.

Their exhibit hall hosts always-changing shows related to the earth and the insects it calls home. Right out the front door, kids climb all over a 30-foot long caterpillar sculpture and parents stand ready with their cameras for some great vacation photos.

The world’s largest temporary butterfly exhibit is housed at the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Each spring the garden brings back the most popular Asian and South and Central American butterflies to fly free in their tropical conservatory. Like most butterfly houses and exhibits, they offer special activities for families each week in conjunction with the exhibit.

The conservatory provides close-up views of butterflies drinking nectar from flowers. Children giggle when a butterfly chooses to land on a nose or shoulder, and parents get the photo opportunity of a lifetime.

The temperature inside a butterfly house remains between 70 and 78 degree Fahrenheit, year-round, making it a very popular place to visit during the cold, snowy winter months as well.

There is no other way to get this close to butterflies and other insects. Up close and personal, a butterfly (and even a tarantula), make family vacations unforgettable.

Carmel Mooney is the editor of our sister site, Road Trips for Couples. She wrote this week’s campground spotlight. If you would like to nominate a campground to feature, leave us a comment.

Over the years we’ve stayed at many RV campgrounds and resorts of all types and sizes. Many RV parks we’ve stayed at have been mediocre and among the things we’ve found annoying at some have been the noise, lack of things to do or see, unfriendly staff, and just a blah overall experience for the kids.

We finally had our expectations met, exceeded, and then some, at the beautiful Durango RV Resort in Red Bluff, California, situated on the lovely Sacramento River, between Sacramento and Mount Shasta.

The caliber of this outstanding resort was unlike any we have ever had the pleasure to experience. A true resort, this is a top-notch property in every regard. Cleanliness, friendly staff, meticulously maintained grounds, and peace and quiet were just a few of the the many things that made this little gem stand out from all the others.

While the resort is peaceful and pleasant in every way, there’s plenty to do. We enjoyed bocce ball, basketball, swimming in the huge, gorgeous heated pool, relaxing in the pristine spa, and at night we chatted with other campers around beautiful, huge, gas fire pits.

We discovered, thanks to the suggestion of the kind and very attentive staff, some wonderful cycling trails along the river. And this resort was so pet friendly, even our elderly Labrador retriever felt loved and pampered. They even have a doggy wash and pet exercise areas.

One morning during our stay, a pancake breakfast was enjoyed by all and included local sausage (the best we’d ever had) served with melt-in-your-mouth pancakes. It was my husband’s birthday and the employees even bought him an ice cream cake for all the guests to enjoy and celebrate together.

This RV resort has it all. They offer internet, things like Cowboy Poetry, cooking demos, local historian speakers, massage therapy, bingo, and so much more. In the area there’s bowling, winery tours, olive and wine tasting, countless museums, art galleries, birding, river boat rides, and the list goes on and on. The property is flat and safe and great for kids to enjoy some safe freedom while mingling with other kids bicycling and shooting hoops or playing bocce with their RV neighbors.

Trash pick up is done every day from each campsite, fresh coffee and tea are offered in the office all day along with smiles and great hospitality, and a great little shop is on site for any incidentals you might need or have forgotten. A supermarket is only a block away should you need something more. Surprisingly, the way the resort faces the river, you feel like you have a secluded little abode away from the busyness of the city.

It’s hard to believe such a pristine and beautifully appointed RV resort could offer such reasonable prices but they do, even for the riverfront spaces. Durango RV Resort is truly a special place where you can unwind, recreate, and enjoy a home away from home.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, children now spend 53 hours a week in front of a television, computer, hand held video game console, cell phone, iPad… and some times, multiple devices at once. As you contemplate what to do with the last weeks of summer, we asked the experts at ARAMARK Parks and Destinations to tell us where they would like to spend some time outside.

Unplugging your kids on summer vacation doesn’t have to be a daunting task for parents. A great way to keep kids interested in what’s happening outside, instead of on their favorite TV show, is to take your family to an area rich with outdoor activities, and free from connectivity. Pick a rustic location far from cell towers or internet connectivity so you can’t cheat and go back to old habits.

But not to fret, a lack of technology does not mean a lack of fun. To help keep even the most tech-addicted child (or parent) entertained, we’ve chosen lodges that feature a number of outdoor activities — from guided hikes and kayaking to white water rafting and rock climbing, where kids will forget their digital devices as they drink in the fun of the great outdoors.

Just because these places aren’t connected, doesn’t mean they aren’t sophisticated. Expect first-class cuisine, featuring local and sustainable ingredients prepared in unique and different ways. Such acclaimed recipes include Mesa Verde’s Metate Room’s Turkey Napoleon which is a tribute to the wild turkeys that still roam the Mesa, and were a staple of the Ancestral Puebloans who lived on the Mesa 1,300 years ago; and Shenandoah’s Pollock Dining Room’s Chicken Riesling with locally raised chicken braised in Virginia wine with seasonal, local fruit.

Lake Powell, Arizona/Utah

The United State’s second largest man-made lake is a boating paradise. With nearly 2,000 miles of shoreline, sapphire blue water and red cliffs, it’s easy to escape the digital world at Lake Powell while on a houseboat. Many houseboats do come with a TV in case you need a little digital distraction. Be sure to see the Rainbow Bridge National Monument and if the water is high enough, take a small boat back to the entrance of the Cathedral in the Desert. The kids will love the Lake Powell Explorer Program while dad takes a fishing trip and mom does some shopping followed by a family horseback ride.

Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

In the heart of the West’s “Grand Circle” of national parks, Mesa Verde is the only national park established to protect the work of man. Farview Lodge offers three tours within the park that will show your children how the Ancestral Puebloans, who lived at Mesa Verde from 550-1300 AD, lived before the invention of the wheel—let alone the internet. Rooms at Farview are free of televisions or phones, the lobby does have wifi. Don’t miss the Durango & Silverton Narrow Guage Railroad tour!

Olympic National Park, Washington

On Washington’s Olympic peninsula, ARAMARK’s three lodges within the national park: Kalaloch Lodge, Lake Crescent Lodge and Sol Duc Lodge are each in a different eco system within this diverse park of rainforest, sub-alpine and coastal bluffs.

All three properties have spotty (at best) cell service and no available wifi. Rooms do not come with televisions or phones. The area is well known for hiking and fishing and also offers beach combing, kayaking/canoeing and hot springs for a relaxing dip.

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Shenandoah National Park was established 75 years ago as a natural retreat for city dwellers, a task it still undertakes to this day. Big Meadows Lodge and Skyland Resort are both historic properties, built in 1939 and 1878, respectively. They lack cell service and wifi, and many rooms do not have televisions or phones. Shenandoah is home to over 500 miles of hiking trails, including 101 miles of the Appalachian Trail. The park also offers horseback riding, rock climbing and nearby cultural attractions.

Togwotee Mountain Lodge, Wyoming

Togwotee Mountain Lodge is the perfect jumping off place for a Wyoming vacation with its close proximity to Wyoming’s top three attractions: Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park and the town of Jackson. In addition, Togwotee is close to a lot of regional outdoor activities from river floats to rodeos, giving you plenty of opportunity to rip your child’s eyes away from the electronics. While Togwotee does boast wifi and TVs in its cabins, you’ll be so busy doing outdoor activities, you won’t have any time to check what’s happening on Facebook.

Zephyr Cove Resort, Lake Tahoe California/Nevada

When Mark Twain first saw Lake Tahoe he declared that it was “the fairest picture the world affords.” The high alpine lake, deep in the Sierra Nevada still has this impact on people today. Zephyr Cove Resort features some of the only lake-front cabins on the lake. To entertain your tech withdrawing kids, there is a plethora of beach activities, water craft rentals, horseback riding and scenic cruises aboard the two paddlewheel boats. Some cruises feature entertainment from a Mark Twain impersonator or guitarist. While the cabins do feature televisions, wifi and some cell service, with such a beautiful lake right outside your door, even the most tech-addicted kid will have trouble staying indoors.

Our guest post this week comes from Carmel L. Mooney, editor at our sister site Road Trips for Couples. Carmel and her family consistently drive thousands of miles a year — all over North America. We asked her for some tips on an Alberta road trip.

We found Edmonton, Alberta to be the perfect starting point for our family vacation to the beautiful Alberta province. Canada’s festival city welcomes families the entire year through with thriving arts and festivals attracting visiting families from around the world. A natural beauty with eclectic shops and neighborhoods, museums, parks and the North Saskatchewan River, its iconic landmarks like the West Edmonton Mall, and the biggest indoor water park in North America, this diverse and cultural hub was named the Cultural Capital of Canada in 2007.

Edmonton is family-friendly in every sense of the word and FamilyEdmonton.com is a wonderful resource for all things family orientated. While exploring downtown, the Holiday Inn Express Edmonton Downtown offered for us the perfect central location for exploring on foot and by taxi. The kids liked the complimentary High Speed Internet in each guestroom as well as a deluxe breakfast. We liked how this family-friendly lodging venue was very close to all the local festivals, dining, and museums.

Fort Edmonton Park is another one of our favorite historic and fun adventure spots where various time periods are depicted by costumed docents. We enjoyed the wonderful train ride through various parts of the park and an amusement area with rides and carnival attractions added to our fun. The kids won lots of prizes at the carnival; what a novelty!

After immersing our clan in the culture and arts of Edmonton, we hopped on the VIA Rail system for a weekender to Jasper National Park, one of the crown jewels of Canada. The spectacular rail adventure takes only a few hours and is some of the most breathtaking and gorgeous scenery a family can experience anywhere. Every second of the journey was savored as we took in the majestic snow covered Canadian Rocky mountains. The train offers a great vantage point to enjoy the majesty from a glass domed car.

Jasper is a serene small town in a big park, a historic settlement that seemingly without effort, strikes a complex balance between conservation and development, ecology and economics. This gateway to adventure and unsurpassed beauty is part of a World Heritage Site where you’ll likely commune with elk, deer, bear, and eagles like we did.

Jasper offers world class luxury married with rugged wilderness and great food paired with the simple beauty of blanketed skies dotted with millions of stars. As a mom, I liked the outdoorsy-ness mixed with comfort.

We enjoyed dinner at Evil Dave’s downtown where a locally owned, funky and laid back restaurant offers globally inspired dishes that share elegance and comfort food. Family-friendly and classy at the same time, this restaurant was unique and fun for everyone.

We stayed at the Tonquin Inn surrounded by snow peaked mountains and located right in the heart of Jasper, convenient to the train station and with easy access to hiking trails, rafting, shopping, and dining. Cozy, comfortable, rustic, and with pool and spas, this should be any traveling family’s top pick. It’s popular though, so plan a little extra time to stand in line for check-in and check-out.

One of the best highlights of our Jasper visit was our float rip down the Athabasca River. We were glad we tried Jasper Raft Tours. This operation was highly organized, safe, and our guide was informed and competent. The scenery was lovely and a great time was had by all the young and old in our group who came from nearly a half dozen different countries.

After rafting all morning, we worked up an appetite for a great dinner at Tekarra Restaurant, a favorite by celebrities and locals alike. A warm, rustic ambiance with delicious hearty entrees and a spectacular view of the rivers and wilderness made this a great all around experience.

The highlight of our entire Jasper trip was taking a Harley Davidson motorcycle and sidecar tour of Jasper National Park. Jasper Motorcycle Tours outfitted us with complete riding gear and the experience was truly the thrill of the trip. My tween has never stopped talking about it. Although I rode motorcycles, B.K. (before kids), I shy away from it now and I actually felt safe letting the kids try this out in a relatively controlled environment. In a National Park the speeds were low, traffic light, and scenery was astounding.

We also took the Jasper Tramway and we thoroughly enjoyed the views from the top as well as spying the local wildlife. Hiking trails abound so plan a few hours to enjoy the various vistas. Looking back, we should have allowed more time for hiking.

After a few wonderful days in glorious Jasper, we opted to return to Edmonton to take in some more festivals and to explore more of the fun there. Staying at the beautiful Fantasyland Hotel right inside the West Edmonton Mall, is by far, the best family-friendly choice anywhere. All the rooms are themed with anything from cowboy western, to igloo, to Africa Safari, to race car, Roman, and Hollywood Star styles. Kids and parents alike will delight in this experience which includes huge in-room jacuzzi tubs, fresh chocolates and liqueurs, fresh fruit, and a sumptuous gourmet buffet breakfast in the mall.

If your kids love a pool like ours, you won’t have to look far for the biggest and most spectacular indoor water park in North America, which happens to be in the mall right by the hotel. The mall has dozens of the best restaurants in the city along with shopping, Olympic size ice rink, life-sized models of famous pirate and sailing ships, miniature golf, and an ocean animal performance and aquatic museum. And don’t forget Galaxyland where kids and parents can enjoy an indoor theme park complete with train and huge indoor thrill rides, roller coasters and attractions. We went several times.

You’ll want to eat at Earl’s, one of the best Canadian family-friendly dining experiences we have ever encountered. Earl’s food is superb, and the staff offers impeccable service. They offer educational, hands on cooking/dining experiences. When we were there, they taught our family about sushi making and the kids loved trying their hand with Earl’s best chefs. This was a great memory!

The beauty of this hotel and mall is that a family can be as involved in the noisy merry-making and excitement as they want while the relaxing and peaceful hotel waits at the edge of the mall, to pamper the weary or those in need of a nap or some down time. You really get the best of both worlds.

If planning your trip in the summer, you won’t want to miss CapitalEx, Canada’s huge Fair of excitement with loads of fun, rides, and education.

We enjoyed the Tellus World of Science Museum and IMAX theater where we learned a lot and had tons of fun with interactive displays and attractions.

When planning your family trip to Edmonton, plan your trip, like we did, around some of the world famous festivals offered throughout the year so you can enjoy a real taste of Edmonton. Whether you plan to stay during the Folk Music, Street Performers, Heritage, Jazz, or Literary Festival, you’ll find Edmonton’s festivals fascinating.

There’s something about roller coasters. When we heard about the Dahlin family (dad is Kurt Dahlin, aka The Coaster Guy) and their Discover Coaster to Coaster tour to visit five Six Flags parks around the country, we had to ask them some questions. Michelle Dahlin (known as “mom” to Kyle and Aaron) answered a few of our most pressing questions. You can Tweet with the Dahlins at @CoasterTour.

How much road trip experience did you have before the tour?

Actually, we have quite a bit of road trip experience. Kurt and I both went on many road trips with our families when we were growing up but recently, most of our road trips have been along the west coast. We’ve been traveling with our sons since they were babies, and road trips have been just one of the ways we’ve done that. The Discover Coaster to Coaster Tour road trip is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and we’re really glad to be able to have so much great family time together this summer.

How is it so far? Do you wish you could do something differently? Have you learned any tricks for traveling together?

So far, so good. Everything has gone really well with exception of forgetting about the time zone changes during my planning.  We made dinner reservations in Albuquerque and were a little stressed when we realized we lost an hour in the morning that day.

As far as tricks go, I think one of the most important things we’ve learned so far is that we need snacks every two to three hours. It’s good to keep your blood sugar levels stable because hungry riders make for grumpy companions.

Also, never run too low on gas, especially when driving long stretches in the middle of nowhere. It’s better to fill more often than needed than to run out of gas in the middle of nowhere. Since gas isn’t cheap, another trick we learned is to use our Discover card for buying gas. From July – September we’re earning 5% Cashback Bonus on all of our gas purchases, so while we’re constantly stopping at the pump, we’re also filling up our bank!

Any favorite rides so far? What’s the one ride everyone was most excited about (whether you’ve visited that park so far or not)?

The roller coaster we were all most excited about was the New Texas Giant at Six Flags Over Texas, and it did not disappoint.  It was very fast and very smooth. While I liked the New Texas Giant a lot, my favorite is still the flying coaster named Tatsu at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California.

What’s your first memory of a roller coaster?

I was six and at a county fair in Georgia. It was called the Mousetrap and it scared me pretty bad.  My dad took me on it at night and I cried the whole time.  I never rode another one until high school and I found out then that I absolutely loved them.

What’s on your bucket list for the future (road trips)?

We really want to take a driving trip through Colorado. We want to see Rocky Mountain National Park and Colorado Springs. I’d like to get to Yellowstone and Glacier National Park, too.

Do you use technology in the car or are you more old-fashioned?

Most definitely. The Ford Flex Titanium we’re driving has in-dash navigation, but it also has weather reports through Sirius satellite radio and Ford Sync. Those have been a huge help in detecting traffic problems and getting us through nasty weather.

For the boys, we make sure we’re able to keep their gadgets charged in the car using the power outlets and USB port. They’re teenagers and even though I might not like it very much, they are happier when they can watch a quick TV show or text their friends back home. We’re also using a wireless hotspot when we’re in the car so we can have a constant Internet connection. This allows us to tweet, upload blog posts and keep up with our followers from the road.

What’s your favorite road trip game?

I like looking for license plates from all the different states. We are seven days into our trip and have already seen 34 different state plates. Our goal is to see all 50. The boys like to play a game where they find letters of the alphabet, one by one, on signs as we drive down the road. Whoever gets to the letter Z first wins.

Is there something you really want other road tripping families to know?

I think the one thing I’d like to pass on is that even though it may sound like a big production, taking a road trip with your family is really a lot of fun.

As long as you keep the driving days no longer than seven hours total and make sure to make the most of your spending, road trips are a breeze. Breaking up the driving with a one or two day stays somewhere and stopping to see different things along the way will ensure everyone remembers a great trip.

To get the most value from your trip, look to your credit cards to help you save. We’ve been booking hotel stays using Hotels.com through Discover card’s online shopping portal, www.ShopDiscover.com. This way, we’re able to quickly find hotels in one place, earn 5% Cashback Bonus on each reservation and because hotel purchases are included in Discover’s July – September quarterly 5% Cashback Bonus period, we’re able to earn more rewards.

When it’s July in Arizona, us year-around residents day dream of places that reach mid-70′s all summer. We visit these locations and send tantalizing Facebook updates to the family back home with pictures of the whole family in a sweatshirt, huddling for warmth. We asked MyWeather.com for their expert advice on the destinations best fitting our criteria — great for families, cool summer weather, and no crowds of tourists. Some of their recommendations might be surprising, take Jackson Hole. But, we’ve spent many a July in Jackson Hole and never felt crowded. So, pack the car and head out for cooler pastures. We’ll see you in Arizona about October.

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For the adventurous vacationer looking to explore new ways of beating the heat this summer, MyWeather.com, the industry’s most personal and precise suite of weather products, is sharing its tips for great getaways to escape a season destined for record highs in many parts of the country. Steering clear of the typical tourist traps, MyWeather has hand-picked 7 domestic destinations (and the unassuming activities that make them cool) that are often overlooked when planning a summer vacation.

The following locations were chosen based on consistent and appealing summer weather, awesome attractions and an array of other appeals that offer something for all types of travelers:

• Breckenridge, Colorado – Average July High: 73°F
  What’s cool about it: This winter wonderland is more than just a ski town boasting 300 days of sunshine annually with activities to keep you busy all year long. Breckenridge Fun Park features scenic gondola and ski lift rides – 2 miles high – along with plenty of hiking, whitewater rafting, and picturesque views of the Continental Divide.
• Upper Peninsula, Michigan – Average July High: 73°F
  What’s cool about it: With more than 150 waterfalls, 40 lighthouses, and a terrain that’s perfect for camping, boating, fishing and other outdoor activities, Upper Peninsula boasts 1,700 miles of shoreline along three of the nation’s five Great Lakes. Want to be adventurous? Try taking a glass-bottom shipwreck boat tour.
• San Francisco, California – Average July High: 68°F
  What’s cool about it: Besides being home to Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Ghirardelli Chocolate Co., San Francisco has the coolest daily summer temperatures among major U.S. cities. In fact, a popular quote (incorrectly attributed to Mark Twain) notes: “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.” While wine country and Fisherman’s Wharf are popular tourist destinations, the Monterey peninsula is a less traveled side trip. Though it may be summer, be sure to bring plenty of layers!
• Jackson Hole, Wyoming – Average July High: 81°F
  What’s cool about it: Breathtaking views, national park access and a whitewater rafting mecca – that’s Jackson Hole. If a leisurely float down the river is more your speed, you can do that, too. Grand Teton and Yellowstone Park offer great hiking, climbing and water activities, with unparalleled photo opportunities. Wyoming’s daytime temperatures run in the 70s and 80s in the summer, but the air cools quickly after sundown and humidity is low year-round.
• Portland, Maine – Average July High: 79°F
  What’s cool about it: With the Atlantic coast and Appalachian Mountains only a 45-minute drive apart, Portland has the best of both worlds. There’s also fine cuisine in between as Bon Appétit recently dubbed Portland the “Foodiest Small Town in America.” With tours to help you sample culinary delights by foot or by trolley, Maine’s seaside climate creates cool breezes and temperatures which are comfortable and with low humidity all summer long.
• Olympic National Park, Washington – Average July High: 73°F
  What’s cool about it: Located on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, this million-acre national park encompasses three major ecosystems ranging from rain forest to snow-topped mountain peaks. Here you can walk, backpack, camp, or fish, as well as participate in one of the many ranger-led programs. Summers are fair and warm with highs between 65-75 degrees. Little rain falls during the summer months, although the low valleys are foggy in the morning.
• Chena Hot Springs Resort, Alaska – Average July High: 73°F
  What’s cool about it: Located 60 miles from Fairbanks, Chena Hot Springs features legendary healing mineral waters, a renewable energy tour, and a working dog mushing kennel. To keep cool you can also visit the Aurora Ice Museum. Maintained by world ice art champions Steve and Heather Brice, the museum began as the only ice hotel in the Americas. Summer days are breezy, dry and warm – perfect for boating, fishing, and other outdoor activities. The area has less than 12 inches of annual rainfall.

A weather application for the Facebook generation, MyWeather.com delivers the most personal and precise suite of weather products for consumers anywhere on the globe offering users completely personalized weather reports tailored for their lives, locations, and interests, whether they’re online or on the go. MyWeather launched its flagship website in May 2011 along with free apps for the iPhone and Android devices. MyWeather is a new consumer brand from Weather Central, the world’s leading provider of interactive weather graphics and data services for television, Web, and mobile.

Looking for a vacation spot that won’t break the bank? We asked Dan Weisman of Flipkey.com, a leading vacation rental website, to give us some suggestions of destinations that are road trip worthy, great for families and fun to visit. Here are his recommendations:

I have distinct memories of a family road trip from Boston to Washington D.C. I was about six, and the ten-hour drive was close to unbearable. The best part was arriving at my aunt’s comfortable house where we stretched out, rested and relaxed after the long ride without all the rules and restrictions of a hotel. By the next morning, my siblings and I had already forgotten the drive and were ready to see the dinosaur bones at the Smithsonian.

Road trips with the family are easier and more fun when the accommodations at the end are as comfortable as home. You don’t even need to visit an aunt ten hours away to get a change of scenery – vacation rentals are often located in perfect family destinations where you can find an activity that makes everyone happy. Whether your tolerance for driving with the kids lasts 30 minutes or three days, here are some ideas for trips that everyone will remember long after they’ve forgotten the “are-we-there-yets.”

Theme Parks

Disney in the Backyard

Orlando and the surrounding towns are always favorite family travel destinations because of the proximity to Disney World. Forget the parks’ all-inclusive family vacation packages and save money by driving and staying in a vacation rental. Not only will you be able to choose which parks you visit (Disney park packages don’t include tickets to Universal Studios), but also you’ll be able to choose where and when you eat, and whether you want to take a day or two off to just relax. For those who don’t live anywhere near Orlando, consider another park, like Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Hershey Park in Pennsylvania, or Cedar Point in Ohio.

National Parks

Rocky Mountain NP

One of the USA’s greatest assets, the National Park System offers access to North America’s most incredible natural features. No matter where you live in the States, you can road trip to a comfortable cabin and have the great outdoors in your backyard. And, no road trip is more iconic than a visit to a National Park. If you’re looking for something different than the tried-but-true Grand Canyon road trip, head to Estes Park, CO, where Rocky Mountain National Park has awe-inspiring views and abundant opportunities for adventure. You can find out more about the National Parks near you by visiting the NPS website here.

Dude Ranch

What’s even better than arriving at a home near your destination? Arriving at a home that is your destination. When you stay on a dude ranch, your whole family can fill their days with activities like horseback riding, fly fishing and hiking, or you can kick back on the porch and read a book. However you choose to pass the time, you can’t go wrong with comfortable accommodations and access to rugged American beauty. Check out these Dude ranches in California, Wyoming, and Montana.

Ball Parks

Wrigley Field View

Not about to build your own field of dreams in your backyard? That’s alright – the great ballparks have already been built and are waiting for you to come check them out. As a native Bostonian, I recommend a pilgrimage to Fenway Park, but if your team allegiances and location make a trip to Beantown impossible, then try Wrigley Field in Chicago. For those who just want to catch a game with the kids, also consider minor league stadiums near your vacation home, which often have inexpensive tickets and fun activities for the family. Make it a family tradition, and try to road trip to every ballpark in the country, or find a fun way to pick which park you’ll visit this summer.

The Beach
It’s summer, so sand and surf (and for foodies, surf and turf) are on everybody’s mind. The best way to enjoy the beach? From a beach house, of course! There are so many great beaches and beach homes that I would need to do at least a top-100 list just to scratch the surface. Instead, here’s a tip on renting a beach house: look for a property with an outdoor shower; kids love the novelty of showering outside and you will love it when they get the sand off before coming inside.

Next time you plan a road trip with the family, think about setting up camp in a vacation rental right in the heart of the action. When you return home your kids won’t be asking, “are we there yet?” They’ll be asking, “when can we go back!”

This guest post is one mom’s mission to create an easy to use app to use during road trips – or any time your kids need to be quiet and unwind.

I’m the kind of person who went to the epidural lecture when I was a mere 4 months pregnant with my oldest.  I figured, I have the time – I should go before I get too busy.  I like to accomplish things before my deadline paralyzes me.

When this same kid was about four months old, I read a book called The Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease.  I wanted to make sure he would be a reader.  What I learned from Trelease is this: read to your child from the time he’s an infant.  Every night.  Read to him even after he learns how to read.  Every night.  Let your children read whatever they want.  Even crap–as long as they like to read, they’ll turn out great.  There!  Now you don’t have to read the book.  That’s the gist.

Here’s what you get when your kids read on the road: they don’t wander away, they don’t fight, they are safe.  They are quiet.  You see where I’m going with this…

So naturally (or because of my compulsion), my kids are into books.  My kids, however, are the type that get car sick when they read in the car.  Like me.  They even get a little sick when watching DVDs in the car.  Not that we watch DVDs in the car.

A little over a year ago, we were on a road trip and I wanted everybody to listen to audiobooks: they improve your vocabulary, they broaden your world!  (Oh yeah, that’s also part of the Trelease book.) I downloaded an iPhone app that had the entire Librivox.org catalog in it for a mere 99 cents.  That’s over 3500 books!  But really: 3500 books is overkill.

And that’s when it hit me:  I would create my own iPhone app with only the children’s catalog from Librivox.  And only with the best narrators.  No matter how good a book is, if the narrator is no good, it’s impossible to enjoy.

I engaged Mazal Simantov – a good friend and excellent designer, programmer  and lifelong children’s advocate.  Together we created Audiobooks For Your Kids.  Thirty of the best narrated titles from the children’s catalog of Librivox.org.  Now, you don’t have to spend the time figuring out which book to listen to: you can search by title, age, genre and author.  The titles are classic children’s literature, stuff like The Jungle Book, Aesop’s Fables and Little Women.  Best of all, the app is only 99 cents.  We also made sure that the design was beautiful, spare and easy to use.

There are no bells and whistles to this app: it’s old school.  If apps can be called such things.  You don’t read along, there are no graphics, no animations.  You just listen.  Slow down and listen.  There’s a lot of noise out there, online, and most of it is no good for us.  You can listen in the car, at home, in the doctor’s waiting room.  We even explain how to do it on our website.  Easy peasy.

Over the summer, we’ll release three new apps with 30 titles in each of the following categories: Science Fiction, Fantasy and Fairy Tales/Folk Tales.  Stay tuned.

Raise your kids as readers.  Audiobooks is too reading!  Enjoy the summer.  Drive safely!

Elizabeth Rodgers is an avid traveler, award-winning filmmaker and Los Angeles native who now lives in Boise, Idaho with her lovely family. She’s the co-creator of the Audiobooks for Kids iPhone app and contributes regularly to TravelingMom.com as the Idaho TravelingMom. Follow her on Twitter at erodg.

How do you teach your children to enjoy hiking?  It’s more important than ever to teach our kids to enjoy time in nature. Screen time is replacing outdoor play time for children and getting the next generation off the couch is vital. Jeff Alt is an avid hiker and he speaks and writes about the outdoors every day.  In addition to walking the 2,160-mile Appalachian Trail, he also walked the 218-mile John Muir Trail with his wife, and trekked across a 50-mile path of Ireland with his wife, young daughter, and extended family. He and his wife emerged from the church doors on their wedding day wearing backpacks, and his son was taken on his first hike at 8 weeks.

Start Early-Develop A Routine:

Give your kids a healthy dose of “Early Outdoor Intervention.” It will pay off later.

• Start hiking with your newborn. Infants and children weighing less than 15 pounds should be carried in a front body carrier or a sling. Children weighing 16 to 40 pounds can fit into a child carrier backpack. Children weighing more than 30 pounds might be ready to hike short distances and carry a little daypack.
  • Let the child lead. This helps you focus on what they’re interested in and keeps you from leaving them in your dust.
  • Get outside every day. Take a walk with the family once a day. Walk around the block, go to the park, go to the beach, and river.  Get maps and books and search out and find new places to go. See new places all the time.
  • Save money and stop driving everywhere. Walk to the grocery store. Walk to your local restaurant for dinner and back. Walk to the library.  Make walking and hiking as routine as brushing your teeth.
  • Bring the outdoors inside.  Educate constantly to generate interest and enthusiasm. Take lots of pictures of the kids and places you go. Make posters for the family and living room and for Christmas cards.  Get magazines, videos, and artwork that show places you want to go. Rent movies about faraway places. Use the Internet together to look at maps, and photographs of the wildlife, environments, and spectacular scenery you will be visiting someday.
  • Go high tech.  Bring on the gadgetry! Turn your computer game nerds on to the adventure technology. (e.g. GPS, pedometers headlamp flashlights, geocaching) and teach them all about how these incredible devices are being used for fun, like scavenger hiking in the Shenandoah & Great Smoky Mtn Ntl. Parks.
  • Take the kids to local orienteering course and learn how to use GPS & compass together.
  • Involve the kids in planning out all trips and adventures. Older children can use the computer to research your destination or sport.  (all national parks and most other destinations have websites chock full of facts & info., maps, wildlife).
  • Let the kids (especially teens) bring along a friend. Get permission from parents and make it a club adventure.
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    Jeff, Beth and Madison Alt

    Research the destination & activity. Have your youngster help you with this-google, park websites, library, bookstore travel section, outfitters, etc.

  • You’ve got mail! Send for maps and guidebooks of the area, and check with the local travel experts on hiking, rangers, guides, etc. Have the packages sent to your child or children.
  • Attend local slide shows or lectures (outfitters/libraries/bookstores) every chance you get.
  • Plan ahead – especially when you have younger children.  Choose a trail that offers easy access to domesticated amenities.  Having a base camp or prearranged lodging allows you to be a parent, not a Sherpa.
  • Check into transportation options.  You should have a plan for what to do if you need to get off the trail.
  • Identify the restaurant and grocery amenities.  Not only is it good to know what’s available before you arrive so that you’ll know what to pack, but if the weather turns bad, you can have an instantly viable backup plan.
  • Prepare and plan what you need based on what you find. What kinds of wildlife can you expect?  Will water be available? What are the weather and terrain like?  You want to avoid hiking in freezing temperatures, lightning storms, and extreme heat. You want to identify and find swimming holes, wildlife, enjoyable views, and great places to boulder, look at flowers, spectacular trees, and wildlife.
  • Acquire the Right Gear. Get everyone properly fitted into essential gear particularly boots and packs.
    • Clothing- NO COTTON! Dress in layers (synthetics, fleece, wool, and waterproof breathable items.  Bring what you need for the weather and conditions you will encounter
      • Rain jacket
      • Hat
      • Shirt
      • Socks
      • Shorts/pants
      • underwear
    • Deet Free bug repellant (Nutrapell, Coleman, etc.)
    • Children’s sunscreen
  • Train at home in your neighborhood with your kids before you go into the wild.  Practice carrying your child in the child carrier. This will help you adjust to carrying the pack, and your child will acclimate to the routine.  Take older children (age 4 and older) on weekly walks so that they are physically conditioned for the journey. Wear your boots and all your gear on your training hikes to condition you and make sure everything fits and works before you leave town.

Prepare your family for your adventure:

Preparation is the key to a successful hike.  Many of the same equipment decisions that you make for your own adventures can be applied to outfitting your children.

Think Food – Think Fun:

Pack your kids favorite snacks.  Desirable food will help encourage your kids to eat and stay energized.  Pack more food than you think you will need.

Try out your food and your stove at home before your trip. Make sure you can cook food the kids will enjoy. When preparing your food, think compact, lightweight, and filling. Bring items that are easy to prepare or ready to eat.

Select foods that just need a little bit of water to prepare. Plan for two pounds of food per person per day. Eliminate bulky packaging; condense food into plastic bags. Pack an extra day’s worth of food.

Depending where you go, remember to bring a food bag and rope to hang 10 feet up in a tree so the bears can’t get to it.

Learn First Aid and be prepared for trail emergencies:

Carry a first-aid kit, and brush up on child first aid and CPR. Learn about the dangers of hypothermia, and monitor children for signs. Pack all of your child’s medication.

Know the location of the nearest medical facility for you and the children.

Learn how to use a compass and map or GPS. Learn how to make a quick shelter to help keep you warm and dry. Keep matches and lighters dry and in a safe place. Know how to start a fire to keep warm.  If you do get lost, make yourself as visible as possible. Place a bright item (e.g. item of clothing or gear) in the open. Make distress signals and make noise. If you brought a cell phone, check periodically to see if it works. Leave a copy of your itinerary with a friend or family member.

Keep the journey fun:

The driving priority with children is to make sure they have fun.  Let them lead the way and tell you what they want to do.  Whatever animal or rock your young child takes interest in, stop and explore with him or her. Talk to your child about what you’re seeing.  Label the animals, rocks, trees, and flowers. Tone down your mileage goals to the comfort level of your child.

Engage older children with trip planning, animals, local history, or anything that applies to what they are learning in school.

Teach your children good backcountry ethics.  Kids can learn to pack out trash, take nothing from the woods but memories and pictures, and proper backcountry toileting at a young age.