Trip Ideas By Activity
There are so many ways to vacation with your children.
City explorations, museum sleepovers, condo-style rentals, road trips, mountain and lake cabins, beaches, cruises, and all-inclusive vacations stretch budgets. Resorts run the gamut from moderate to pricey. Staying midweek or during shoulder season saves money.
Dream trips—African safaris, Galapagos treks, polar bear watches—deliver the thrill of wildlife encounters but at a hefty price. Farmstays, state and national parks, and hikes through Costa Rican rain forests let you enjoy animal encounters at a fraction of the cost.
Time travel fascinates kids. At living history parks, march with the militia and meet pioneers. In Europe, tour centuries-old castles, climb atop medieval walls, and stroll streets laced with 18th-century buildings. Go back millions of years to the dinosaur era. Satisfy your kids’ curiosity by going on a dinosaur dig, walking in dinosaur footprints, and ogling fossils of these fierce critters in museums.
Build sandcastles at the beach, canoe and fish at a lake, get tossed, twirled, and dropped on rollercoasters at an amusement, ski downhill, or snowshoe through snowy woods.
Stay overnight, for a few days, or a week. Plan carefully, allow for spontaneity, know that things will go awry, and maintain your sense of humor. Have fun.


Winter Family Fun Off the Slopes
Creators Syndicate | Epoch Times||by Candyce H. StapenCategories: Adventures, Destinations, Family, Featured News, Grade-Schoolers Ages 6-9, Historic, Midwest United States Destinations, Multigenerational, National and State Parks in the US, Northeast United States Destinations, Preschoolers Ages 3-5, Ski and Mountain Vacations, United States Destinations, Western United States DestinationsHow did we learn to love winter? By dogsledding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and exploring snow-blanketed national parks. Such off-the-slopes activities enabled my family and me to enjoy the snow and the cold without downhill skiing. Although my kids can gleefully maneuver black-diamond mountain trails, I fall even on bunny hills.
But all of us have savored the trips we’ve taken to the storybook setting of glistening woods where the wind bent the snow-dusted branches, creating a fluttery dance of sun and shadow on the fresh morning powder. Here are some of our most-loved cold-season adventures.
Dogsledding combines two of our favorite things — happy dogs and icicle-laden forests. At Wintergreen Dogsled Lodge in Ely, Minnesota, operated by well-known musher-adventurer Paul Schurke, we relished the chance to go beyond being mere passengers by learning to mush. The basic rules are similar to good parenting: praise, patience and no yelling.
To keep the gang line taut (that’s the long chain linking the dogs to the sled), we had only to shout, “Tighten up, Sheba,” and “Good Sisu.” The pure-bred Canadian Inuit dogs loved to pull, and their excitement proved contagious. When we approached them, they howled and yelped for joy, raring to run.
The two-person sled footboards designed by Schurke allowed us to pair up. The dogs pulled us across sunlit frozen lakes and through snowy woods. We heard only the soft padding of paws and the occasional bark. Dogsledding gave us the awe-inspiring gift of meeting nature freely, without the din of motorized vehicles.
We eschewed a camping trip to opt for the four-night lodge option that rewarded us with hot showers, hot food and warm beds at the day’s end. All trips welcome children and teens, and the company also operates special family trips for parents, grandparents and children ages 7-12. Mushing requires standing for four to five hours in the Minnesota cold with breaks for outdoor lunches. Bundling up is key. Follow the packing list carefully and consider buying or renting warm boots, gloves and other gear from Wintergreen Northern Wear.
Mohonk Mountain House, with its turret towers and lakefront site amid 40,000 acres in the Shawangunk Mountains, has a castlelike feel. Add snow and the property turns into an enchanted woodland reminiscent of fairytales. We — both kids and adults — grew wide-eyed at first sight. Founded in 1869, the National Historic Landmark property, about 95 miles north of Manhattan near New Paltz, New York, is worlds away from the city.
We liked the opportunity to cross-country ski and snowshoe on 30 miles of groomed trails. Those activities enabled us to slow down and see forest details that ranged from deer tracks to birds and berries. In recent years the resort has added an outdoor covered ice-skating pavilion perched above the lake and a snow-tubing hill. After play outdoors, it was fun to gather around the fireplace in one of the grande dame Victorian resort’s many sitting areas.
At the complimentary Kids’ Club — available year-round on weekends and midweek on holidays and in summer — ages 4 to 12 ice-skate, snow-tube, create snow sculptures and enjoy indoor games and crafts. That gives parents and grandparents time to savor the 30,000-square-foot spa. The resort’s all-inclusive pricing covers all meals, afternoon tea and most activities. It’s no wonder that Mohonk Mountain House is an award-winning resort.
Winter is my favorite season to visit Yellowstone National Park. Blanketed by snow, the park exudes a mythical beauty. The crowds are gone, but the world-famous geysers, bubbling mud pots and hot springs remain. Plus, the animals become easier to spot as they gather in the lower elevations where conditions are less harsh. Near the roads you might spot red foxes and wolves. The bison often gather near Old Faithful and the snowy fields near Mammoth Hot Springs.
In winter, only one park road remains open, and it’s treacherous. Instead, opt for organized outings. Stay warm in a snow coach as guides point out animals, get the wind in your face on a snowmobile outing (the noise warns many animals away, although some tours stop within walking distance to Old Faithful) or sign up for a naturalist-led cross-country ski tour. You won’t soon forget gliding by bison, their shaggy coats encrusted with balls of snow.
Only two lodges remain open in winter. Many tours depart from Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, including wildlife tours and geyser basin tours. Both Mammoth and Old Faithful Snow Lodge offer group and private cross-country ski lessons and tours.
When You Go
Wintergreen Dogsled Lodge: dogsledding.com
Mohonk Mountain House: mohonk.com
Yellowstone National Park: nps.gov/yell/index.htm
Yellowstone National Park Lodges: yellowstonenationalparklodges.com
Yellowstone Vacations: yellowstonevacations.com
Good Eats in the Off-Season at Rehoboth Beach
Creators Syndicate | ArcaMax||by Candyce H. StapenCategories: Beaches, Destinations, Family, Featured News, Northeast United States Destinations, Restaurants, Seasonal & Holiday Activities, United States DestinationsA bounty of good food awaits at the Delaware shore, a popular year-round escape for Washingtonians and other Mid-Atlantic residents, and the off-season proved to be one of the best times for a seaside culinary journey to the Rehoboth Beach region. The lack of crowds made getting table reservations easy, and the reduced price of lodging enabled my husband and me to fatten our food budget. As we ate our way through delectable plates, “beach food” took on a whole new meaning.
Lobster French toast, anyone? That’s just one of the indulgent items at Drift Seafood & Raw Bar, which debuted in August 2022. Chef Tom Wiswell elevates his fare with unusual pairings of ingredients and artful presentations. Clams arrived as a stacked arch over bread, and my coconut shrimp, prepared with spicy red nam prik pao and arranged in a circle, reminded me of a holiday wreath. My swordfish schnitzel (who knew that was even a thing?), crusty on the outside and moist inside, made me a fan. But not all is seafood. My husband smiled through his pappardelle with duck ragu. Another plus for us — the non-fussy, casual atmosphere. The narrow indoor dining room felt tight, so we were glad we chose the roomier outdoor patio.
While Drift is relatively new, the Rehoboth area has long offered flavorsome fare.
Henlopen City Oyster House has been serving beachgoers since June 2010. We skipped this restaurant on previous Rehoboth trips because we don’t like oysters. But Henlopen offers much more than an ample selection of bivalves. Among the cooked seafood options are bouillabaisse, tilefish, flounder and king crab legs. Don’t miss the spicy seafood chowder, thick with shrimp, fish and scallops, or the excellent jerk grouper. Henlopen City Oyster House bans reservations — only walk-ins are seated. That’s another plus for visiting in the off-season when wait times lessen.
Salt Air Kitchen + Bar, another Rehoboth fixture, is an especially good spot for more than just seafood. Along with salmon, tuna and scallops, non-fish-eaters can opt for chicken, steak, pork chops, coconut-crusted tofu or mac and cheese. We especially liked the Greek salad, which was big enough for two, the halibut and the large slice of delicious peach pie. We commend Salt Air for its kids’ menu that, along with the usual pasta and chicken nuggets, recognizes that children might like a crab cake or a grilled flank steak.
Every time we visit the Delaware shore, we look forward to dinner at DiFebo’s, located in both Rehoboth and nearby Bethany Beach. In 1989, chef-owner Lisa DiFebo opened DiFebo’s Cafe & Deli in Bethany Beach. Some of her sauces and dishes have roots in her Italian family’s recipes. We always order the flavorful and generous Pop Pop’s Cioppino. My big-appetite husband has yet to finish the entree.
I scarfed down my tasty spaghettini with clams, and that was after sharing the crispy flash-fried calamari. Other popular plates include braised short ribs, lasagna bolognese and chicken parmesan. Both locations offer outdoor seating. Want more? At DiFebo’s Market, Bethany Beach, take home cheeses, salmon salad, Italian wedding soup, pizza plus hearty Cubano, meatballs parmesan, chicken and brie, and other sandwiches.
For this trip, we based ourselves at two hotels. At the oceanfront Atlantic Sands, a Rehoboth icon known for its expansive boardwalk frontage, we opted for a balcony with direct ocean views. That made it easy to listen to the waves and catch the salty breezes over morning coffee. These prime rooms will be refreshed in time for the 2025 season. The west wing suites come with big balconies and side views of the sea. Slated to be available in November, the new menu at the Atlantic Sands’ main restaurant focuses on handhelds and entrees with elevated ingredients.
We’re a dog family, so checking out the pet-friendly Breakers Hotel & Suites, two blocks from the beach, was a must. The hotel welcomes up to two pets per room, an increasing rarity, especially so close to the boardwalk. Each room has a balcony and a separate living area with a pull-out couch and television, perfect for kids. Rates include a Continental breakfast of cereals, yogurt and surprisingly addictive sweet, toasted waffles. But don’t worry: You can walk off the sugar high by taking the kids and the dog to Lake Gerar Park across the street when you are finished.
When You Go
Visit Southern Delaware: www.visitsoutherndelaware.com
City of Rehoboth Beach: www.cityofrehoboth.com
Drift Seafood & Raw Bar: www.driftrb.com
Henlopen City Oyster House: www.hcoysterhouse.com
Salt Air Kitchen + Bar: www.saltairrestaurant.com
DiFebo’s: www.difebos.com
Atlantic Sands Hotel & Conference Center: www.atlanticsandshotel.com
The Breakers Hotel & Suites: www.the breakershotel.com
Shenandoah County: Virginia’s Lesser-Known Gem for Families
Creators Syndicate | ArcaMax||by Candyce H. StapenCategories: Adventures, Babies to 2 Year-Olds, College Age & Adult, Family, Featured News, Grade-Schoolers Ages 6-9, Multigenerational, National and State Parks in the US, Nature Vacations, Preschoolers Ages 3-5, Road Trips, Southern United States Destinations, Teens Ages 13-17, Tweens Ages 10-12, United States DestinationsShenandoah Caverns’ aptly named Diamond Cascade entranced 7-year-old James and 5-year-old Charlotte. They gazed wide-eyed at the tall configuration of white calcite crystals that fell in folds, sparkling like a jewel-encrusted frozen waterfall. Exploring the caverns, along with hiking and horseback-riding, rounded out our family getaway. We wanted two leisurely days in the country with enough adventures for both the kids and us.
About a two-hour drive from Washington, D.C., Shenandoah County, Virginia, lies between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. The county, a lesser-known, budget-friendly gem, is a green swath of small towns, farmlands, rolling hills, thick woods and river bends dotted with parks, breweries, wineries and the intriguing caverns.
James and Charlotte had never explored a cavern. Since Shenandoah Caverns’ wonders lie 200 feet below ground, we were grateful for the elevator, something no other Virginia cavern offers. That way we avoided the 79 stairs and saved our legs for the mile-long one-hour guided tour. The formations’ names added to the fun. More kid favorites included the “breakfast bacon” slabs, created by water dripping down a slope and leaving behind a residue of iron oxide. Cathedral Hall impressed with towering columns and tall stalactites, and Rainbow Lake’s red, blue and green lights added vibrant reflections to the pool of water. A tip: Wear sweaters as the underground temperature hovers at 56 F.
After a convenient lunch of hot dogs, hand-cut fries and sandwiches at the Caverns Cafe, James and Charlotte tried the Caverns’ Gemstone Mining Sluice. We purchased bags of mining rough — sand and gravel salted with finds. There they dumped handfuls of the unpromising-looking mixture into a sieve, then placed it into the sluice’s flowing water. When the dirt disappeared to reveal amethysts and other brightly-colored rocks and gemstones, the children whooped with joy. “Eureka!” We didn’t expect this simple activity to be such a kid-pleaser.
For our next adventure, we explored Seven Bends State Park, about 2 miles from Woodstock, Virginia. One of Virginia’s newest state parks, the 1,066-acre facility officially opened to the public in June 2022. After coaxing James and Charlotte from the slide, mini-swinging bridge and sensory garden, we hiked. Even though we wanted to cross the real swinging bridge, a construction of steel cables over the Shenandoah River, we found the park map inscrutable to non-locals. Instead, we followed the cornfield to a path that paralleled the river. As we walked, we listened to the water’s lull and admired the butterflies and birds.
Since all family outings require some quiet time, we checked into the Holiday Inn Express Woodstock-Shenandoah Valley to relax before dinner. Woodstock, chartered in 1761, still uses the 1795 courthouse that Thomas Jefferson is reputed to have designed. Although chain restaurants dot the town’s outskirts, we sought out local places.
That led us to the Woodstock Brewhouse. The family-friendly craft brewery typically offers 11 beers on tap, six alcoholic ciders and some non-alcoholic sodas. The laid-back atmosphere and the moderately priced and tasty food were a hit. James rated his burger as “the best” and his first sips of real root beer as “good.” Charlotte gave her blue cheese salad and her chicken fingers a thumbs-up. My husband and I enjoyed chicken souvlaki bowls and favored our craft beer flight’s Sweet Buzz Honey Wheat and Tipsy Squirrel.
What’s the best kids’ dessert? Ice cream. In the rear of a bright yellow home, Sugar Creek Snowy & Sweet Ice Cream Shop scoops up big portions with big flavors. None of us could finish the small cones of creamy mint chip and chocolate chip.
Another first was the next day’s horseback riding at Fort Valley Ranch & Campground, Fort Valley. While the ranch offers guided trail outings into George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, James and Charlotte were never-evers, so the owners suggested a 30-minute walk atop gentle, full-grown horses led by a wrangler.
Sitting astride the steeds, the kids felt good and a bit grown-up. We strolled alongside them as they rode past trees and across a field. Before we left home, we got permission to bring cut-up apples and carrots for the horses in the paddock. Once the kids had mastered keeping their palms flat and thumbs next to their fingers and got accustomed to the funny feel of the horse’s lips, they loved offering the horses treats.
We lunched on pizza, salads, and sandwiches at the Woodstock Garden Cafe, an eatery within Woodstock Gardens. As James said, “It’s nice to eat with the plants.”
The children can’t wait to explore the caverns again, do more horseback riding and go on more adventures, but for now it was time to drive back to city life in Washington, D.C.
When You Go
Shenandoah County: www.visitshenandoahcounty.com
Shenandoah Caverns: www.shenandoahcaverns.com
Caverns Cafe: www.shenandoahcaverns.com/caverns-cafe
Seven Bends State Park: www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/seven-bends
Holiday Inn Express Woodstock-Shenandoah Valley: www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/en/woodstock/wncws/hoteldetail
Woodstock Brewhouse: www.woodstockbrewhouse.com
Sugar Creek Snowy & Sweet Ice Cream Shop: www.instagram.com/sugarcreeksnowysweet/?hl=en (no website)
Fort Valley Ranch & Campground: www.fortvalleyranch.com
Woodstock Garden Cafe: www.woodstockgardencafe.net