See Cool Gadgets and Test Your Espionage Skills at D.C.’s New Spy Museum
The new and improved International Spy Museum, which opened May 12 in Washington, D.C., claims to house “the world’s largest public display of authentic spy tools and gadgets.”
About Candyce H. Stapen
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.
Entries by Candyce H. Stapen
How Families Can Navigate Europe’s Trains (and Why They Should)
/in Europe & Scandinavia Destinations, Family, Family Travel Tips, Grade-Schoolers Ages 6-9, Multigenerational, Preschoolers Ages 3-5, Teens Ages 13-17, Tweens Ages 10-12/by Candyce H. StapenTraveling by train in Europe is convenient, cost-effective, and kid-friendly. In fact, riding the rails beats flying or driving a rental car every time.
How Families Can Sit Together on Airplanes
/in Air Travel, Family, Grade-Schoolers Ages 6-9, Preschoolers Ages 3-5/by Candyce H. StapenPaid seat reservations have turned airline cabins into competitive arenas. If you want to make sure you sit next to your children, you need a survival guide for the battle. Families who need to sit together on a flight often encounter the turbulence of extra fees, unfriendly boarding procedures, and random seat assignments. Airlines have… Read More
Books, Games, Apps, and Activities to Get Kids Excited About Travel
/in Family, Grade-Schoolers Ages 6-9, Preschoolers Ages 3-5/by Candyce H. StapenHere are some toys, books, apps, and activities that harness children’s innate curiosity about the world, preparing them not only for specific vacations but also instilling a spirit of exploration that will bring a lifetime of joy.
Top Lake Resort Vacations for Families in the U.S. and Canada
/in Adventures, Bargain Travel, Best Family Resorts, Canada, Cruises & Resorts, Family, Lake Vacations, Midwest United States Destinations, Northeast United States Destinations, Southern United States Destinations, Trip Ideas, United States Destinations, Western United States Destinations/by Candyce H. StapenLike ice cream on a steamy day, lake getaways have their own special flavors and pleasures.
The Best European Cities with Day Trips for Kids
/in City and Cultural Vacations, Europe & Scandinavia Destinations, Family, Family Travel Tips, Historic, International Parks, Non-U.S., Museums, Teens Ages 13-17, Tweens Ages 10-12/by Candyce H. StapenThe best European family trips tend to start with urban stays that, once children tire of museums and city touring, segue into out-of-town sojourns. Fortunately, most of Europe’s major cities have a firm foundation of family appeal: world-class museums, summertime festivals, and spacious plazas and parks perfect for picnics or blowing off steam. Just outside… Read More
Best resorts for families in the Caribbean and the Bahamas
/in Adventures, All-inclusive Vacations, Beach Resorts, Beaches, Best Family Resorts, By Age, Caribbean, Bahamas & Bermuda Destinations, College Age & Adult, Cruises & Resorts, Family, Family Travel Tips, Relaxing Getaways/by Candyce H. StapenA family vacation can be a household’s most-anticipated event of the year. But it’s easy to make planning mistakes. The key is finding a place with flexibility. The right resort for your family changes with your children’s ages and your budget.
Oceania Insignia: A Foodie’s Delight
/in Cruising/by Candyce H. StapenDeciding whether to order a second lobster and filet mignon sandwich for lunch proved an almost daily dilemma for me onboard Oceania Cruises Insignia. Lucky enough to be the guest of my friend Barbara and her 91-year-old mother, Rosalyn, for a July sailing to New England, Halifax and Bermuda, I loaded up my Kindle, packed… Read More
Luxury Digs Near Rwanda’s Mountain Gorillas
/in Adventures, Africa & Middle East Destinations, Wildlife and Safari Vacations/by Candyce H. StapenWhen Bisate Lodge opened in June 2017, it became the first luxury hotel near Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. Located in the Bisate region, about 20 minutes from Kinigi, the park’s trekking headquarters, Bisate Lodge offered the convenience of a short drive to the park as well as the promise of pampering. Long ago my husband… Read More
A Gorilla-Trekking Adventure in Rwanda
/in Adventures, Africa & Middle East Destinations, International Parks, Non-U.S., Nature Vacations, Wildlife and Safari Vacations/by Candyce H. StapenOn the day of our gorilla trek in Rwanda, we awoke to heavy downpour and thick fog. Guides had warned us that in drenching rain the gorillas typically move deeper into the forest to shelter among the thick foliage. In that case, viewing them would require a vine-clinging, strenuous hike up the slippery mud slopes… Read More
Why Families Love the Carnival Horizon
/in Caribbean, Bahamas & Bermuda Destinations, Cruising/by Candyce H. StapenThe Carnival Horizon, the line’s newest ship, launched in April 2018. The megaship continues the mass-market trend of packing in the people and pleasing them with multiple venues. It offers several pools, 12 places to eat and 13 entertainment venues, including bars with music. The ship carries 3,934 people at double occupancy, or 4,977 at… Read More
Come Aboard the Horizon for the Belly Laughs
/in Caribbean, Bahamas & Bermuda Destinations, Cruising, Family/by Candyce H. StapenWhen I crave belly laughs each night to blow away the blahs, I book a cruise on a Carnival ship. And that’s why my husband, David, and I recently boarded the company’s newest vessel, the Carnival Horizon. We can savor sunsets at sea, down plentiful food, and applaud razzle dazzle song and dance routines on… Read More