Helen Oktoberfest, Helen, GeorgiaWhen the official Oktoberfest began, its popularity spread throughout Germany. (By the way, the reason Oktoberfest is really celebrated has nothing to do with beer.) Now it’s become almost as popular in the U.S. The Helen Oktoberfest is the longest running Oktoberfest in the U.S. This year’s is held on weekends in September, then from September 26 to October 27. Every year, the event is held at Helen Festhalle and features German-style bands from arou

Start preparing earlyYou will think you have all the time in the world before the moving trucks get to your door. You don’t. You will want to procrastinate on sorting and packing in an attempt to make this life transition seem less real. You will regret it. Follow this week-by-week moving day countdown to make sure you stay on schedule and have everything prepared for the big day. When you’re prepared, you stress less and free up mental capacity to focus on the new adventure ahead of you. Ask fo

Go all-inclusiveOne stop resorts are fantastic for traveling with seniors, as they offer so many programs, accommodation styles and dining options that can please the entire family. Think they’re too pricey? Check out these incredible and affordable all-inclusive resort options. “Seniors can enjoy cooking classes while kids splash in the pool and parents hit the nightclubs in the evening. Excursions off-resort can also be tailored to multiple generations so everyone enjoys the visit,

Keep snacks and drinks on handCheck for any food allergies with your carpool families first, of course. And check out this guide to healthy snacks nutritionists would feed their kids. But the hungry horrors can make a routine trip across town in traffic to the next dance lesson simply awful. For some kids, having a snack in the car is the only nutrition they’ll get until dinner, so keeping healthy snacks and drinks available is crucial. Make sure to keep the food and liquids in their conta

Eating in popular tourist hotspotsAll that sightseeing is hungry work, but savvy travelers avoid the most popular cafes and restaurants around the main tourist hotspots. Research is key! Check out these 10 ways to eat healthy on vacation. And spend some time before your trip finding out where the locals eat and drink, and gathering information on where to dine without blowing your budget. For example, Londonist has a great list of cheap eateries near London’s major museums. Foreign transac

1 / 8The Manor in Saint Paul, MinnesotaWhen Sean Doyle, owner of The Manor, was checking out the house 10 years ago, he picked an old barrette off the ground, and a vivid image of a girl in a white dress flashed in his head. It seemed odd, but he didn’t think much of it. About a year later, the family who’d built the house in 1883 got in touch, and on a whim, Doyle asked if a little girl had died there. The woman asked her relatives, who revealed a family member named Rosalia Fihn died there of

Understand the jobAir travel used to be glamorous, and flight attendant jobs were highly coveted. During the golden age of air travel (the 1950s through the 1980s), flight attendants (or “stewardesses,” as they were called back then) held a certain mystique because they were almost uniformly young, pretty, and female. Today, they possess a different mystique because they know things the rest of us don’t, like these secrets of air travel. They’re able to suss out their pas

Easy access from NYCThe Catskills is super accessible from New York City. It’s a two-hour drive north and you can also get there by bus or train. Whichever mode of transport you choose, the scenic trip is sure to start your fall getaway off right. Enjoy every minute of your weekend with these must-do fall activities. Farm-to-table fareThe Catskills offers tons of unique dining options—connected by their farm-to-table philosophy. This is an area where seasonality reigns supreme. Butterfield

1. Scenic Country RoadsHop in the car and see where the road takes you. Diane Hooper shared this photo from Telluride, Colorado. She writes, “As my husband and I drove down this spectacular country road this past autumn, the aspen leaves were gently blowing in the cool breeze.” If you’re thinking about taking your own getaway, these are the best road trips in America. 2. Big Skies and Wide Open SpacesKaren Christman captured this scene as she and her husband drove through the T

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute—Birmingham, AlabamaOne of the best reasons to travel with children is to give them learning opportunities that they won’t get in school. The museum at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is an excellent place to teach your children about the history of the Civil Rights Movement in America, the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., and the ongoing struggles that African American people and other minorities face in America today. While this destination certai

Outer Banks, North CarolinaOn the coasts and small islands of North Carolina, wild horses still roam. The Outer Banks is home to several herds that are descended from Spanish mustangs brought over to North America by the conquistadors about 500 years ago. Previously numbering in the thousands, the size of these herds has dwindled as erosion and human development have reduced their grazing land. The easiest place to see some of these wild horses is at the north end of Ocracoke Island, where the N

South AfricaWhether it’s climbing to the top of Table Mountain in cosmopolitan Cape Town or searching for The Big 5 of safari lore (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and Cape buffalo) in the wild bush of Kruger National Park, few places on the globe offer the level of thrills available every moment of a South African adventure (which is happily an affordable travel destination that makes you feel like a VIP). Micato Safaris, which specializes in arranging trips throughout Africa for families

Take a ghost tourDo you believe in ghosts? Even if you don’t, ghost tours are a great way to learn about the history of a place. Not to mention, they’re often low-cost and a fun way to get outside. If you’re up for it, take a tour in one of the most haunted cities in America. Ride a ski liftTo keep people visiting in the off-season, many ski resorts have taken to opening their chair lifts in the fall. These “leaf lifts” offer panoramic views of the changing fall fo

Always carry the local currencyBeing ready for whatever expenses pop up is an important part of being an organized traveler—here’s a comprehensive checklist that will have you fully prepared for your trip. “Tipping in local currency is important because changing money actually costs the service provider and they very likely cannot make change for foreign money,” says Carrie Glenn, founder of Etiquette at Hand. Also, it is often impossible to add a tip when paying with your cred

Preparation and packingA great mini break starts before you even leave home because the anticipation of a great vacation can be almost as exciting as the actual trip! By selecting some hard-working luggage, tech solutions, and travel clothes you can make sure the relaxation starts right at the airport gate.I love the G-RO carry-on for long weekends away or for mini breaks of up to a week, it has a great big wheel which can easily maneuver up and down curbs and even has two USB ports so that it

Is it legal?The most important detail is to determine if you can legally be an Airbnb host. Local zoning and registration laws differ from state to state. In addition to your state laws, some areas have legal restrictions on short-term rentals. If you rent an apartment, own a condo, or belong to a HOA, there may be more hoops to jump through as you’ll need to get permission before laying out the welcome mat. Here are other ways you can make money fast. Keeping peace with the JonesesAll sys

“We tested every video service available”Before you scoff at the idea that a long distance relationship really can work, look at this research. And then check out Marina Lvova and Sean Roker‘s story. While they met in high school and became best friends in college, it wasn’t until a few years post-graduation that they made their love interest official. But when an opportunity to travel the world for a year arrived in Marina’s inbox, her first instinct was to walk aw

People are tracking their children in real timeTimes aren’t what they used to be, and parents are nervous just letting their kids walk to school, which is exactly why GPS-enabled smart watches and bands for children are increasing in popularity. Verizon’s GizmoGadget band allows 10 pre-selected contacts (like Mom, Dad, Grandma, and 911) for children to send and receive calls from, as well as offering real-time location monitoring for children wearing the watch-style bracelets. They&#

Harbor View Hotel, Edgartown, MANew England’s famous island, Martha’s Vineyard, is a local paradise featuring sandy beaches, charming lighthouses and luscious farmland. It’s one of the top 10 beach destinations in America. Accessible only by boat (or air), Martha’s Vineyard is known for its stunning sunsets, fresh farmer’s market and, of course, New England lobster rolls and clam chowders. The Harbor View Hotel is located right in the heart of Edgartown and has been

Missed flightDespite all the inherent bliss of a well-planned vacation, things can and will go wrong. Cover yourself by avoiding these nine common travel mistakes. And if you miss a flight, be prepared: “If you book with a travel agent, call the agent immediately to rebook,” says Laura Davidson, president of LDPR, a travel-and-lifestyle public relations firm. One of the nice things about booking through a travel agent is that they’ll deal with the mess, so you don’t have