USA West

Almost all my photos of Olympic National Park are of Tween Traveler climbing on things. Olympic is an enormous park. It has alpine and rain forests, lakes, streams, mountains and beaches. All of these various environments offer a plethora of boulders, fallen tree trunks, enormous roots and giant piles of …

Albuquerque was both the first and last stop on a spring break New Mexico road trip that also included Taos and Santa Fe. It’s a flat and sprawling southwestern city and everything is connected by Freeway. It didn’t instantly charm us the way Santa Fe did or offer the adventures …

We loved Santa Fe pretty much the moment we rolled in to town, and I imagine that’s how most people react. The Old Town is a historic district where local people live and work —rather than one that seems frozen in time for tourists. This gives it liveliness and relevancy …

Taos, an artsy town in northern New Mexico, receives a mere 13 inches of rain a year. We had the bad luck to encounter a fair amount of it during our three-day spring break visit. Seeing a place in the rain definitely colors your perception of it. But it’s easy …

Sitting adjacent to Aspen in a picturesque mountain setting, Snowmass Village, Colorado has always been a great winter ski destination. But recent updates to Snowmass a destination for visitors in spring, summer and fall, too. The base village completed a renovation this spring, expanding the lodging options and addingnew activities …

We would have never guessed it was spring in Lake Tahoe as we climbed out of the car on a May weekend. While the ski lifts were closed, plenty of winter snow lingered. Nevertheless, with attractions like the Olympic Village at Squaw Valley, boat rides on the lake and opportunities …

In a bookstore in Portland, Oregon we spotted a book called This is Portland: The City You’ve Heard You Should Like. It pretty well summed up our experience in this Pacific Northwest city-of-the-moment. We didn’t dislike Portland. We found things to do with kids and teens, and good, inexpensive places …

Updated June 2020 Have you ever had a vacation where you booked a quick stop in a place, arrived, realized you really like it and wish you’d allowed more time? That was our reaction to Flagstaff, where we planned to spend 24 hours before flying back to NYC on our …

We had never heard of Page, Arizona before planning our recent trip to the Southwest. It turns out Page is a good size town planted strategically between Zion, Mesa Verde and Grand Canyon national parks. It’s further than you want to be for day trips to any of these places, but …

We went to Zion National Park without knowing anything about it other than that everyone who has been says it’s stunning. Well, it is stunning, in a variety of ways. And we absolutely loved the 48 hours we spent there and in the nearby town of Springdale. Zion has some …

As my family walked toward the first scenic overlook we came to at Grand Canyon National Park, I was more interesting in seeing 9YO Tiny Traveler’s reaction to natural wonder than I was in the canyon itself. She was suitably wowed and all the work of planning our spring road …

Californians take Sonoma Valley’s wine country for granted for romantic sojourns and girlfriend getaways. But it’s also one of my favorite family destinations. It’s one of those places where it’s possible to find activities that keep parents and kids happy at the same time, making it a surprisingly rich destination …

Driving up the mountains on my way to Tenaya Lodge in early December there was still a lot of gorgeous fall foliage to see. As we continued to climb up the mountain, though, the golden leaves began to disappear, replaced by freshly fallen snow. That is when I knew this trip …

The Christmas season in Denver offers a month-long series of family-friendly parades, special holiday performances, lots of local shopping, and the largest holiday light display in Colorado. Any of these holiday activities are a good start for a December weekend getaway with kids. If you do decide to come to …

Updated August 2020 Autumn is a perfect time for a family weekend getaway to San Diego. The weather is fine, attractions are less crowded, the beaches are still open, and promotional events like Restaurant week and Kids Free month make travel cheaper. Stay in the city proper, visit Carlsbad or …

Nothing makes Tiny Traveler’s face light up more than the familiar sight of a playground in a new city; they’re often what she remembers most from a trip. If you can find a playground that adds to your visitor experience with great views, funky equipment or just a super convenient …

Bryce Canyon would seem like a big enough reason (literally) to visit Garfield, County Utah. But there’s more to the area than that stunning National Park. Opportunities for recreation, culture and family fun abound. Here are five ways to enjoy Bryce Canyon Country. 5 Things To Do With Kids in Bryce …

US Route 101 is one of the most breathtaking road trips in America, winding along 363 miles of the Oregon coast. Traveling between the mouth of the Columbia River and the old-growth redwoods of Northern California, you’ll encounter charming costal towns about every thirty miles along the drive. A local historian …

Here’s the cool thing about driving around or across Alaska: While our 49th state has nearly 700,000 square miles of real estate, it does not have an extensive road system. It provides just enough major highways to be interesting and a bunch of little byways with exciting twists and turns. …

Park City is almost better known for its star-studded Sundance film festival than for its skiing these days. So we wondered how it would be as a family winter destination. We took a chance and headed out there in April for some late season skiing and winter fun. To our surprise …

Updated January 2020 We went to Steamboat Springs, Colorado to visit friends for Thanksgiving. It was a quick trip over a holiday with no skiing in our forecast.  But then we arrived to several inches of the fresh “champagne” powder snow. We promptly signed Tiny Traveler up for a ski lesson, …

Visiting Monterey? Read about San Francisco and Southern California. We love spending time on the Monterey Peninsula with our kids. We regularly make the drive 2 1/2 hours south from San Francisco. Here are our top picks for a weekend in Monterey and its neighboring towns. Monterey Bay Aquarium The …

Updated March 2019 Denver is the gateway to all the amazing hiking and skiing that the Colorado Rockies offer. But before you head to the state’s great outdoors, take a few days to explore the city, too. The Mile High City has a lot of fun things to do with kids.  …

Parents sometimes hesitate to visit Los Angeles with kids. Hollywood, trendy restaurants and velvet-rope clubs don’t scream child-friendly.  But there are a lot things for families to do in L.A., and you really can’t beat the perfect Southern California weather. (Visiting Los Angeles? Learn all about Southern California.) The concierge …

Thanks to SeaWorld and a renowned Zoo, San Diego is a rather obvious kid-friendly destination. But this west coast city offers a lot more than pandas and Shamu’s latest tricks, and lesser known attractions can make for a mellow family vacation. Here are my favorite things to do in San …