It will disrupt our routineYes, young kids are slaves to their routines, and most parents have learned the hard way that a skipped nap or delayed meal can lead to mayhem. But the key to weathering the disruption lies in planning ahead—both by requesting special accommodations, such as hotel cribs and airline bassinets, and by bringing along your child’s favorite treats or creature comforts. Jane Gooding traveled to Tokyo with her 6-month-old daughter and found that the airline bassinet she

Bring a change of clothesSeveral, in fact. First, a dry swimsuit can make a world of difference when it comes to preventing a toddler tantrum. And while you know to pack swimsuits and cover-ups for yourself, but you may want to pack an extra set for everyone. Why? Between the wading pools, animal statues that spit out water, water shooting up from the ground, and raining down from overhead fixtures, it’s pretty much a guarantee that you’ll be wet from start to finish. Even if it̵

Sell your vacation photosYour Instagram followers shouldn’t be the only ones to appreciate your awe-inspiring vacation snaps. Instead, you can make money on vacation by putting those photos to work for you. List your best shots for sale with an online stock photo site such as Istockphoto.com, pond5.com, and Shutterstock.com; then those sites can sell your images to websites, creative directors, travel agencies, and people looking for background images for their blogs. You receive a percent

Battle of MonmouthManalapan, New Jersey (June 17—18, 2017)For Revolutionary War buffs, the summer kicks off with the largest living history event in New Jersey. The Friends of Monmouth Battlefield and the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry co-sponsor this event, which commemorates the 1778 battle that made Molly Pitcher famous. The weekend features hundreds of troops encamped at Monmouth Battlefield State Park, recreating moments from the battle. For non-participants there are lectures, p

Do you know people where you’re going?Do you have friends or family there? Do your friends have family there or does your family have friends there? Do any of your Facebook friends have contacts there? Simply put: Get the skinny from someone who lives there. Get the inside scoop. Ask what they love about the place, what they wish was different, how it works for families, singles, kids, pets—whatever is important to you. Recently, my husband was contemplating a job change to Baltimore. I fo

Don’t set your dates—or your destination—in stoneWant to travel cheap? You can follow this great advice from travel agents, but here’s a bigger secret: Being flexible about when you take off for vacation can be a mega-money saver. Travel blogger Paula Dixon, who has visited more than 11 countries by herself or with pals, says searching for the most cost-effective travel dates, instead of specific times and days, is a smart way to save money. “I only decide which month I will tr

Ride a bansheeYour first stop on the planet of Pandora, home to the blue, long-tailed Nav’i people, is the Flight of Passage. The exhilarating ride makes it feel as though you’re soaring through the spectacular Valley of Mo’ara on a winged banshee. Although you’ll no doubt be in hurry to try out the motorcycle-like seat that pulses beneath you as though you’re riding a real flying creature, slow down as you walk through the Resources Development Association (RDA) la

Fountain of Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, Xi’an, ChinaOver 1,000 musical fountains light up each evening in the Music Fountain Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi’an, China. The water fountains cover around 168,000 square meters of land, surrounded by a cultural square and stunning garden landscapes. Swarovski Kristallwelten (Crystal Worlds), Wattens, AustriaThis stunning fountain marks the entrance to Swarovski Crystal Worlds, a museum in Wattens, Austria. The museum opened in 1995 to celebrate th

Christmas Meadows Trail, UtahWe asked readers for their best images of the waterways and shorelines that link us into one. Our favorite won a place on the cover of our July/August Issue (and $500!). The winner, Robin Phillips, submitted a breathtaking photo of Christmas Meadows Trail. But we received—yes—a flood of great entries. Here are the three runners-up and seven more we loved.“There had just been a spring storm so I knew Ostler Peak would be covered in snow that day. My grandfather and fa

It was originally planned to be temporaryIn the early 1960s, a contingent from the Country Music Association (CMA) was invited to create an exhibit on country music for the World’s Fair in New York. After traveling to New York and getting the lay of the land, the group ultimately determined that the amount it would cost to build a temporary exhibit for the World’s Fair could be better spent preserving that history in a permanent home in Nashville. Thus, the Country Music Hall of Fame

 A new kind of pet therapyIt may sound counter-intuitive, but in Thailand, some of the world’s largest animals have been tasked with helping kids with special needs. It’s part of an initiative called the Thai Elephant Therapy Program (TETP) in the Northern Thailand town of Lampang, where rescued elephants are trained to work with autistic children. It’s an unusual program, to say the least, supported by an equally unusual event: elephant polo. (These are the 12 things you shoul

Pare down your carry onRemember, you could be carrying a child at any second and you don’t want to miss a connection because you are frantically trying to make sure you have everything off of the plane, so packing smart is key. I take a tiny cross body purse so that my money, phone, and ID are at the ready and a backpack with the kiddo necessities. If I’m traveling without my husband, I pack a small carry on suitcase that I can manage and check it. “It’s hard enough to ca

FranceWho doesn’t dream of living the good life in France? The food alone is well worth the trip since the French basically invented fine cuisine. They also invented a little bubbly liquid called Champagne! Just before your first sip, look at your friend in the eye and simply say their version of “cheers!”: à votre santé! Find out the French phrases every citizen of the world should know. ItalyIs it just us, or is the Italian bubbly treat called prosecco sweeping the nation by

Don’t toss that dry cleaner bagHere’s the best way to pack a suitcase to keep your clothes wrinkle-free on the road: Use the clear plastic wardrobe bags that come free from the dry cleaner and are already in your closet. Place each of your hanging items in its own plastic bag, then place all the bags together in a garment bag or suitcase. The bags create a thin layer of air around each item, preventing friction. Friction is what causes wrinkles, and plastic stops friction—it’s

Go on a spa retreatAfter all the hard work of raising you, don’t you think your mom deserves a nice spa trip? The two of you can get massages, facials, and other relaxing treatments, then soak up some sun by the pool. Take the opportunity to do a digital detox, too: turn off you phone and have some valuable face time with mom instead. Check out any one of the Canyon Ranch locations for a relaxing and beautiful mother daughter vacation package. For the more adventurous relaxation seekers, c

When to take your babymoonThere are certain restrictions on how far into your pregnancy you can fly and also specific months when you feel much better and can actually you know, board a plane. Catherine Goodstein, MD, says, “The first trimester is not ideal for many reasons, chief among those is the nausea that many women feel. Nausea and fatigue can sometimes persist into the early second trimester, and for that reason I’d say the ideal window for a babymoon would be 18 to 28 weeks

For the outdoorsy familyIf your idea of a getaway isn’t to just lounge by the pool all day, then you probably want to choose an all-inclusive that allows for some action. In the Santiago Bay on the Mexican Pacific Riviera is Manzanillo, Mexico, home to the La Hada Golf Resort & Marina, where all-inclusive rates begin at $179 a night. Everything you need to make your vacation is part of your rate: food and beverage and access to the private beach, golf course, and marina. When you get b

Shade your phoneAfter you’ve found the perfect spot on the beach and have had a chance to Snapchat your stunning ocean view, store your phone away. Letting your phone sunbathe next to you in direct sunlight can cause it to overheat—something that can damage the phone’s battery and internal circuits. Instead, store the phone away in a cool and dry place, like inside the oversized tote you’ve placed under the beach umbrella. Check out this list of awesome beach gear you didn̵

Key Largo, FloridaYou’ve definitely heard of all the amazing beaches in Florida by now—but while Key West gets a lot of steam, the smaller city of Key Largo is worth a Google search. Unlike Key West, it’s a more laid back type of vibe, complete with brilliant white sand beaches and awe-inspiring sunsets—only an hour’s drive from Miami. Consider booking your stay at Playa Largo Resort & Spa, a new hotel in the area. Newlyweds can stay at one of the resort’s 10 private

Grand Canyon National ParkExperience the grandeur of this stunning natural wonder with your dog along the 13 miles of the South Rim trail. Pets are not permitted below the rim of the Grand Canyon, but you can take your pooch for a stroll on any of the hiking trails that stay above the perimeter, which includes most of the spectacular South Rim Trail. If you want to experience one of most scenic trains rides in America on The Grand Canyon Railway, Fido can rest and relax at The Railway Pet Resort