Candyce H. Stapen is an award-winning travel journalist and author. As travel editor/producer at USA TODAY, Stapen launched the company’s digital travel sites. Her work appears in many outlets, including the Washington Post and Frommers.com. Candyce has written thousands of articles and 29 books about family travel, including two for National Geographic. She founded non-profit Henny’s Kids to bring solar-powered laptops and computer training to rural elementary schools in Africa.
Candyce raised her family in Washington, D.C., and currently resides there with her husband and Lily, a Newfoundland.
Admire elaborately decorated trees, drive through landscapes popping with animated light displays and walk through ice sculpture wonderlands. Eye candy for the Christmas season makes December merry and bright. At Oglebay, West Virginia, the Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain, near Tucson, the Fairmont Scottsdale Resort, Scottsdale, and at 4 Gaylord Hotels, take in the festivities by admiring… Read More
Not looking forward to ice and snow this holiday season? Then head to sunny Phoenix, Arizona. The desert stretches out as a landscape of cactus, sagebrush, and feathery Palo Verde trees; but there’s no shortage of holiday exhibits and festive lights at the resorts. Sometimes even Santa wishes for a sunny and warm winter holiday…. Read More
There’s nothing like millions of twinkling lights to add sparkle to December, a month known to be cold and dreary in much of the US. Dancing tress, laser light shows, prancing reindeer (mechanical and real), musical performances, plus hot chocolate and hand-crafted trinkets go a long way to engendering a good-will-to-all spirit, even if you… Read More
Winter is a fantastic time to visit Yellowstone National Park. The snow makes for a great backdrop for wildlife and landscape photography. You also won’t have to compete with crowds for the vistas. Blanketed by snow, Yellowstone National Park exudes a mythical beauty. In winter, the crowds that make Yellowstone the fourth most visited National Park… Read More
Many US national parks offer special getaways during the winter and, with summer’s crowds gone, you can enjoy the relative solitude. Beyond that, the winter landscape offers snowy woods with icicle laced trees by hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and simply admiring the spectacular view. Another bonus: Winter lodging is less expensive than during summer’s… Read More
Located on Lake Ontario’s northern shore, Toronto, Canada’s most populous city, sparkles with exciting museums, interesting neighborhoods, good theater, and a lively waterfront. Easy to get to as several airlines offer service, Toronto, like the rest of Canada, is a budget-stretcher for Americans since the US dollar gets you about $1.34 in Canadian money. Whether searching… Read More
National Geographic Traveler Magazine’s newly released list of Best of the World for 2017 highlights the top choices for nature, cities, and culture.“ This special issue (December/January 2017 issue) takes readers on a globe-spinning journey to 21 of the world’s best destinations,” says George Stone, National Geographic Traveler, editor-in-chief. “We think this year’s list represents… Read More
With a favorable currency exchange rate for American travelers, Québec is an attractive destination, featuring many outdoor recreation options. Consider Québec for a great winter getaway. Québec is affordable–the US dollar gets you about $1.34 in Canadian money. Québec is easy to get to—several airlines offer service. And the city’s inhabitants know how to enjoy… Read More
Expect crowded airports and roads for holiday trips, especially on Thanksgiving. This year, more than 27 million people will fly US airlines between November 18 and November 29, an increase of 2.5% according to Airlines for America, a trade group representing most US airlines. In addition, nearly 50 million Americans traveled more than 50 miles… Read More
Holiday travel is costly for solo trips and even more expensive for those heading out with spouses, children, and grandparents. Here are some tips to save money on winter holiday vacations. Track airline prices Haven’t committed to your trip yet because you’re hoping for cheaper airfare? Then sign-up with apps and services that track the… Read More
Celebrating holidays with family and friends often involves travel. You might be headed to grandma’s condo or to your brother’s house to commune with his twin four-year-olds and their incontinent poodle. What could possibly go wrong? Involving your kids in the holiday process, from planning to partying, can go a long way to gaining their… Read More
The Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia covers 438,000 acres and within it the wildlife refuge, in Georgia and Florida, consists of 402,000-acres. Paddling through a swamp may seem more like penance for bad behavior than the particularly fun part of a vacation, but that’s because you may not be thinking of canoeing through the Okefenokee National… Read More
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