How to survive Alabama’s Gulf Coast with the kids
On a frenetic holiday weekend, I drove to Alabama’s Gulf Coast with the kids. Maybe I should have known better.
Destinations
A feature about sustainable and authentic destinations around the world.
Houston with kids: A far-out adventure in Texas
Houston with kids, in the middle of the summer. If those aren’t the perfect ingredients for a family adventure, then I don’t know what are.
A lot of Houstonians flee to the mountains during the hottest months, seeking relief from the 90-degree temperatures and oppressive humidity in Colorado or New Mexico.
Take your family to the water now: an expert guide
Even though I call Arizona home, I never waste an opportunity to take my family to the water. And there’s never been a better time of year than now, in the final, fiery throes of summer.
This is a cool family vacation
It’s time to think cold thoughts. Cold, as in get me out of this heat! Cold, as in snow.
It’s the middle of summer, and chances are you’re indoors right now, a refugee from the unbearable heat. Maybe you’re imagining a cool family vacation.
Scottsdale in the summer? I’m not kidding.
Maybe you laughed when I said Santa Fe was hot last week. That’s not hot! Betcha you wouldn’t go somewhere like Scottsdale in August.
Oh, but I would.
Why Santa Fe is a hot destination for families
What can I say about Santa Fe? It’s a hot destination, especially this time of year when the average daytime highs are in the mid-80s.
But I’m not talking about the temperatures or even the fiery-hot cuisine. (Beware of the salsa!) Santa Fe is now an all-around great place to be for other reasons, especially if you’re traveling with your family.
Avoid these mistakes every new parent makes when they travel
If you’re traveling for the first time with your kids this summer, I have a little advice for you: Don’t panic! Parents make mistakes when they travel, and I know because I’ve been one of them. But I can help.
I would love to share an anecdote about the worst moment I ever experienced while traveling with my family. It would involve sugared-up toddlers, full diapers, angry hotel guests, crying infants, and some kind of sweet liquid spilled on a computer keyboard. But that scene has repeated itself so many times that I wouldn’t know which example to choose.
What is the best camera for a family vacation?
Because I spent 16 years at National Geographic, people often ask me: What’s the best camera for a family vacation?
Then I have to deliver the good news and the bad news. The bad news? I wasn’t a photographer for the Society. (That’s what everyone in the building calls it, as if it’s some kind of secret society.) I wasn’t even at the Yellow Book (more NatGeo-speak for National Geographic Magazine). I was just the reader advocate for National Geographic Traveler.
The good news is: I didn’t waste any opportunity to learn from the photographers I met. And I met plenty of them. They taught me a lot about photography and then sent me on my way to document the last 17 years of family travel
Here are a few of my favorite summer vacation memories
What are your favorite summer vacation memories? Riding horses in Wyoming? Browsing the farmers market in Montreal? Running through the ocean surf in Sarasota?
This week, I want to share some of my favorite memories from 17 years on the road with my family.
It’s summer! Go have an adventure. Here’s how
It’s summer. Whether you’re staying home or traveling a long distance for vacation, there’s no better time for an adventure. And, although my children will be embarrassed by my show-and-tell, I’m here to encourage you to do it.
Sorry, kids.