Planning a Winter Getaway

Do you prefer a getaway in Mexico, or a ski vacation in the Rockies?  Explore your options and narrow down your picks with these ideas for your winter getaways.

Plan a Warm-Weather Escape

Winter can be long, cold and snowy.  Although the white stuff is pretty to look at, it can get old quick.  That's when it is time to escape to a warm-weather destination.  Think Florida, Southern California, Hawaii, Mexico or the Caribbean.  When looking for a vacation filled with sunshine, families also need to consider budget, time frame and location.  For example, if you're on the East Coast, you might have to spend a whole day just getting to Oahu, while those who live in the Pacific Northwest may find getting to an island in the Caribbean is too long of a trip.

Go Skiing

For families that live in warmer climates year-round, a trip to a snowy white mountain ski resort may be the perfect getaway for you.  You'll find a high concentration of ski resorts in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York and Pennsylvania on the East Coast, and Colorado, Utah and California on the West Coast.  You'll also find great resorts in the Midwest.  Many resorts offer ski, stay and play packages that work with any budget and time frame.  And it's okay if you or your children have never hit the slopes before--winter is the best time to enroll in a ski school and learn.  At the end of a long day, sip hot cocoa and warm up by the fireplace with your family.

See a City

Hitting a major city like New York, Chicago, or Washington, DC during the holidays means your family will never lack for anything to do or see (not to mention plenty of restaurants remaining open on major holidays to ensure you are well fed)!  Visit historical sites, stroll through museums and take in shows at the theater.  Find kid-specific fun like discovery museums, zoos and aquariums.

Go to a Theme Park

Winter is a great time to visit your local theme park.  Whether you're headed for Disney World or a Six Flags park, you'll get to enjoy rides, plus holiday-themed events and treats.

Learn Something New

Just because the kids are on a break from school doesn't men the learning has to stop.  There are plenty of destinations around the country--and the world!--that offer an insight into history and science, and will have your family leaving vacation with a plethora of new knowledge (and not even realizing it).  Museums are a great options for families, but if you're not into quiet exhibits and fragile fossils, try heading to locations with history at every turn.  Colonial Willamsburg is great for children (and especially festive in the winter) and kids will love the old-fashioned clothing of the actors in the Virginian colony,  If you're looking for something a little bigger and more breathtaking, head to the Grand Canyon--the U.S. landmark is sure to make a big impression on the whole family.

Try These Tips Before Planning that Family Trip Abroad

The family summer vacation has ended, but many families have started thinking about those family trips for the next year.  If your family is like many this year, you may be thinking of taking your family on a trip outside of the United States.  Whether you thinking of taking your kids for their first cruise, or you want to take your teens to Europe to experience their heritage; here are some tips on how to provide their kids a global perspective in preparation for traveling abroad.

1. Start Travel Early

Some people will tell you that you should wait to travel with kids until they're old enough to remember.  I do not agree, and think there's value that comes from your ability to expose them to travel at an early age. You're affected, and they're affected.  Go!


2. Expose Kids to Similar Cultures but Different Places

My husband and I made sure our first trips with the kids were to places we felt comfortable.  North America and even the Caribbean are easy stops where you'll find many of the things you're use to at home.  Those early trips helped us understand what their fears and curiosities were about travel, so that when we went further, everyone in the family was prepared and excited to go!

3. Encourage Teachable Moments

Talk your kids about places when you're at home.  Is Asia in the news?  Is their class talking about Roman history?  That's a great opportunity to look at these places together on Google and expose them to the possibility of seeing these places in real life.


4. Search for Family-Friendly Experiences

Not everyone will love your kids like you do.  You will more likely run into situations where you feel as though your family is less than welcome.  Roll with it.  Seek out people and places who feel differently and chalk it up to experience.  Also research and using a travel professional to help you plan places to travel will alleviate many of these situations and make the trip more enjoyable.  There are many places on the planet that will be more than welcoming.


5. Be Willing to Explore Beyond Your Comfort Zone

Remember that the things that you may have heard about how dangerous a place is may completely disappear the closer you get to that destination.  Don't let the news scare you away from somewhere before you have had a chance to do your own research.