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Family-Friendly Holiday Travel Destinations

There’s no time like the holidays to travel with your extended family. However, you don’t have to break the bank jetting off to a tropical island or a high-end ski resort to bond with grandma, grandpa, aunts, uncles and cousins. Instead, consider checking out these affordable holiday-themed events and attractions that are ideal for family members of all ages: CANADA The Zoolights event at the Calgary Zoo is a real crowd pleaser. In addition to viewing the animals, you can take in an interactive light show that features more than 1.5 million twinklers. The zoo is also home to an … Continue reading →

Family Travel: Festive Christmas Displays

Last weekend my family traveled to Madison, Wisconsin, to take in the city’s spectacular Christmas displays. My kindergartner squealed with delight at the botanical garden’s annual gingerbread mansion and holiday train show. She was equally thrilled when we headed over to the State Capitol building’s rotunda to view the stunning 60-foot Christmas tree decorated with thousands of twinkling lights and handmade ornaments. Finally, her jaw dropped when we got to the city’s popular outdoor Festival of Lights event featuring more than 250,000 colorful Christmas lights strung on elaborate moving displays. It was a great way to get into the Christmas … Continue reading →

Avoiding Holiday Travel Woes

AAA estimates that more than 33 million people will be hitting the nation’s highways today. The Sunday following Thanksgiving is traditionally the busiest travel day of the year, and this year is no exception. Adding to the mad rush are the millions of others, who will be heading home from Turkey Day celebrations, via boat, train or plane. Unfortunately, for those of you who are doing it all over again next month, travel experts don’t expect numbers to decrease. Meaning, you will have just as much company on the roads and in the skies as today. However, thanks to the … Continue reading →

Travel Tidbits—News You Can Use Regarding Jet Lag, Long Security Lines and Frequent Flier Miles

Can Chronic Jet Lag Kill? If the answer to that question is “yes” then I know a few people who are close to kicking the bucket. In all seriousness, recent tests on mice suggest that chronic jet lag and other behavior involving sharp light-cycle changes, like rotating shift work, could shorten a person’s lifetime. The study done by University of Virginia scientists found that disrupting the circadian rhythms (the 24-hour physiological cycle of humans and many animals) for test mice increased the mortality of especially older mice. During the course of the study the scientists adjusted the light-cycle of the … Continue reading →

Ways to Escape the Holiday Madness

Resorts around the world want you to rethink spending the holidays sleeping on Aunt Lucy’s lumpy sofa bed. As incentive to get you and your family to ditch grandma’s house this season and relax in a spacious hotel room, a number of popular properties are offering amazing money-saving deals on holiday retreats, including: Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado: The family-friendly property is celebrating its 50th anniversary with half-off lifts and deeply discounted lodging. You can save even more by taking advantage of the “Friends and Family Fly Free,” which offers a free ticket for every two you purchase. Azul … Continue reading →

Holiday Escape

How much are you willing to spend NOT to have to attend your family’s annual holiday get-togethers… and deal with the piles of dirty laundry, mountains of filthy dishes and rooms of punctured air mattresses? I know a lot of people who would rather grab their spouse and kids and skip the whole fa-la-la-la extended family gatherings. If you have the guts to breakout on your own this holiday season there are many, many resorts around the world that are more than happy to host you and your immediate family, including: Stratton Mountain Resort: This popular Vermont travel destination allows … Continue reading →

Christmas in Florida

After the Blizzard of 2009, I’m sure more people than ever are considering traveling to Florida for Christmas. I prefer Hawaii myself, but I digress. Sunny Florida is a hotspot for snowbirds looking to escape Old Man Winter’s blast. However, some shy away from flying south because they don’t think the sand and surf make for a traditional Christmas backdrop. Little do they know that Florida is filled with festive displays and attractions this time of year, including: ORLANDO The House of Mouse goes all out for the holidays. If you are planning to travel to Orlando this month, don’t … Continue reading →

More Family-Friendly Christmas Displays

Who says you have to spend a ton of money or travel to the far ends of the planet to view fabulous holiday light shows? Christmas displays are a dime a dozen this time of year, and most don’t require draining your wallet to enjoy. Hundreds of communities from coast-to-coast erect awe-inspiring seasonal showcases to inspire Christmas goodness. The following festive displays are among the nation’s most popular: Atlanta: Macy’s Great Tree at Lenox Square Mall is a stunning piece of holiday craftsmanship. The towering tree is festooned with hundreds of lights and serves as the backdrop for many family … Continue reading →

Family-Friendly Christmas Displays

My neighbor’s 8-foot tall inflatable snowman didn’t survive last night’s blizzard. The nearly two feet of snow and 35 mph sustained winds that ripped through our rural Wisconsin neighborhood proved too much for Frosty to take. Such a shame. The snowman is just a small part of an elaborate Christmas display that our neighbor painstakingly erects each year. His holiday light show has all the pizzazz associated with professional displays put on by major cities, only on a slightly smaller scale. If you are looking to take in the sights and sounds of the season this month, consider visiting the … Continue reading →

Feeling Airsick?

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I’m not a very good flier. The slightest bump leaves me clutching the arm rests, heart thudding and sweaty. But one thing I’ve never done is actually needed to use the barf bag in the seat pocket. I do, however, tend to get motion sickness. It’s worse in a car than in a plane, but I still experience some of the symptoms. If you get airsick, here are a few tips to help soothe your stomach (and other body parts). Bring peppermint or ginger candies with you. These are two traditional remedies for an upset stomach that really work! When … Continue reading →