Winter Family Fun in Chicago

In my previous blog I listed some of the spectacular outdoor activities that await you in Chicago this winter. I failed to mention that the city also offers a host of family friendly events for those of you who can only tolerate the cold for a short period of time (that would be me). I can’t stand the cold (being born and raised in Hawaii does that to a person), but my love for Chicago outweighs my distaste for Mother Nature’s brutal winter assault so my family makes the trip no matter what the weather. We just stick to the … Continue reading

Visiting Washington, D.C.’s Most Popular Museums

In honor of Veteran’s Day I am spotlighting Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States and home to some of the most famous and historic sites in the world. In this blog I am featuring a list of must-see museums that call D.C. home. They are some of the most visited sites on the planet and for good reason. If you have school age children a trip to D.C.’s museums is one of the best hands-on learning opportunities you can give them. National Air and Space Museum Even if you are not a fan of aviation the exhibits housed … Continue reading

Chicago’s Art Scene

In the past year or so I have written extensively about Chicago being an ideal family-friendly travel destination. From restaurants to monuments, kids’ activities to seasonal festivities, it’s hard to find a place that offers parents so many kid-friendly options than the Windy City. That being said, as I looked through my article archives I noticed that I have neglected to write about some of the city’s incredible cultural attractions. So without further adieu, here are some of my family’s favorite places to have fun and learn a few lessons in the process. Art Institute of Chicago You can’t miss … Continue reading

Family Fun In Phoenix

I told you about my agonizing delay in Phoenix, Arizona in a previous blog and now I am here to make amends to the Valley of the Sun. The city, while scorching hot for most of the year, is wonderfully kid-friendly and is home to a number of unique attractions that will have you forgetting about the heat and focusing on family fun. Arizona Science Center Whether they are chasing each other through a giant sneezing nose, or shooting paper airplanes from a mock air traffic control tower, your kids will love exploring the hands-on exhibits and interactive displays at … Continue reading

Family-Friendly Attractions In Charlotte, North Carolina

Like many travelers, my first introduction to Charlotte, North Carolina came during a business trip. At that time I didn’t have the ability (or desire) to visit all of the area’s most popular family-friendly attractions (I didn’t have children back then). I didn’t know what I was missing. And neither will you until you step foot into some of these kid-friendly attractions that cater to the curious child in all of us. Discovery Place The Discovery Place is a hands-on science and learning center located a few blocks north of “The Square” (the city’s oldest intersection in the heart of … Continue reading

More Minneapolis Must-Sees

In the wake of the collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis I have been writing about my favorite Twin Cities attractions. I realize the bridge tragedy is causing many to amend their travel plans and find alternate routes in the Minneapolis area, but hopefully the incident won’t deter you from visiting. The Twin Cities is a vibrant space that has so much to offer. Here now are a few more of my favorite places to visit in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area: Minnesota Landscape Arboretum I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and whenever I visit the Minnesota Landscape … Continue reading

Travel Updates: Green Options, Controversial Museums, and More

GREEN OPTIONS These days going green while on vacation is getting easier and easier. Resorts are moving beyond just recycling newspapers and are now harnessing the power of the sun to transport visitors. A resort in St. Lucia just unveiled a solar-powered ferry—the first of its kind in the Caribbean. The Sunshine Express has photovoltaic panels mounted on the roof and carries up to 15 guests from the Discovery at Marigot Bay resort to waterfront bars and restaurants using the sun’s rays. CONTROVERSIAL MUSEUMS In a previous blog I detailed the controversy surrounding the opening of a northern Kentucky museum … Continue reading

Chicago’s Must-See Attractions

My love affair with the “Windy City” is no secret. I have raved about many of the city’s unique family-friendly attractions in previous blogs… and I’m not done yet. The following a few more of my family’s favorite “Second City” pit stops: NAVY PIER Navy Pier holds the title of Chicago’s most-visited tourist attraction. And it’s easy to see why. After all, where else in the world can you find a 15-story Ferris wheel, a Shakespearean Theater, a children’s museum, a stained-glass museum, an IMAX Theater, and a miniature golf course sitting on a half-mile man-made peninsula extending out into … Continue reading

Another Reason To Visit Atlanta

Regular readers of this blog know I have been very outspoken about my love for “The City Too Busy To Hate.” I got my first taste of Atlanta, Georgia in 1996 when I moved there to cover the Summer Olympic Games, and as the saying goes, the rest is history. From the people (expect for some drivers who got upset with me for driving too slow on the Perimeter—I was going 82 m.p.h.) to the parks, the museums to the food, the zoos, and all of the other family friendly attractions, Hotlanta is hard to beat. If you have never … Continue reading

Southern Travel Attractions

Growing up in Hawaii you don’t hear very many people say they are “headed south” for vacation. Now that I live in the northern portion of one of the nation’s most northern states—-Wisconsin–I consider a jaunt to Chicago a trip “down south.” If you are fortunate enough to live south of Illinois, or plan to spend part of your summer vacation touring the south, I have a couple of noteworthy new attractions you should consider checking out. KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE If you enjoy a good party then head over to Knoxville, Tennessee this July. The city is planning a massive 4th … Continue reading