Family
Things will be a bit quiet around the ol’ blog for a few days while I’m getting ready for/participating in/recovering from the tech conference madness that is “Geek Spring Break” at Austin’s South by Southwest Interactive (SXSWi) - here’s my report from last year’s travel blogging panel.
It’s a fabulous gathering but not exactly a hotbed of family travel information (unless you want to count my son going to the associated ScreenBurn video gaming event.)
If I was a more organized blogger
You know how it is in restaurants with little kids; you need to get seated quickly, get the food quickly and one parent ends up doing the “toddler-chase” while the other one bolts down the contents of his or her plate.
A good noise level to drown out the occasional squawking is a bonus.
I have a recommendation for you in Houston: Lupe Tortilla.
It’s a local chain of 8 restaurants, and I first heard about it when I wrote an article about
Are your kids like mine - often with some sort of headphone or earbud plugged into their aural sockets? Take advantage of that tendency by looking for available iPod/audio guides and tours when you travel. Kids can keep looking plugged-in and “cool” but may actually learn something on your trip.
As a parent, of course, your job is to never seem too “Squeeee!” happy when they occasionally admit that something is informative or educational.
Where do you find these tours?
First, if you
I just finished a post over on my Sheila’s Guide to the Good Stuff blog, about why tourism organizations might want to hold off using one of those neat pocket video cameras that shoot in HD (high definition) unless they have access to some rather sophisticated editing software and a pretty powerful computer.
Here is a quick summary of my own painful recent painful videographer learning experience as outlined in “Look before you leap into HD video:”
If you’re thinking of shooting
Every week or so until we run out of states, I’ll be posting about family-friendly vacation ideas, attractions and events in each one of the US states, taking input mostly from Twitter and Facebook.
Yes, I know how to search for travel ideas on a destination or attraction Web site, but a tweet or a Facebook Wall recommendation is a much more engaging and public way to spread the word.
Please don’t email suggestions to me; that’s nice but it is one-to-one communication.
Today is the 4th anniversary of the Family Travel blog here on the BootsnAll Travel Network. True story - this blog is here because of books.
I first heard about BootsnAll from Stephanie Elizondo Griest on a travel writer’s panel at the stupendously great annual Texas Book Festival in Austin.
The very first post on February 10, 2006 said hello to everyone, the second was some random screed about traveler’s checks, but hey, I started a blog and wrote something, then kept at it, and boy am
Hunting for travel deals? Don’t forget these Web sites
We’re so used to using search engines like Google or the new Bing Travel to look for travel deals (and metasearch engines like Kayak or Travelocity to book trips) that it’s easy to forget one “old school” way to do it….
The visitor’s Web sites that belong to the destination where you’re going.
For example, this fall [Read more]
Family travel in Ohio: the 50 state series
Every Tuesday (or Wednesday if Twitter crashes, which it did late yesterday as I was compiling this post) until we run out of states, I plan to post about family-friendly vacation ideas, attractions and events in each one of the US states, taking input mostly from Twitter and Facebook.
Yes, I know how to search for [Read more]
Driving backroads beats the tar out of the Interstate
Those who drive long stretches of most US Interstate highways know that, while you’ll get there faster and there might be some good places to pull off, it will be a mostly boring trip.
Fast, efficient, but boring.
If you decide to jump off on a backroad (see William Least Heat-Moon’s Blue Highways) for at least part [Read more]
Family Travel in Tennessee: the 50 state series
Every Tuesday until we run out of states, I plan to post about family-friendly vacation ideas, attractions and events in each one of the US states, taking input mostly from Twitter and Facebook.
Yes, I know how to search for travel ideas on a destination or attraction Web site, but a tweet or a Facebook Wall [Read more]
Tips roundup for the Netherlands
I recently had a request on my Facebook page for Netherlands vacation travel tips with kids….
“I came across your bio randomly as I was trying to plan a trip to the Netherlands at the end of August. I have three kids–16,12, and 8.
What kind of suggestions can you offer me for my travel plans? Any [Read more]
Why your family should consider travel insurance: a cautionary tale
When does it make sense to buy family travel insurance?
Vacation packages and cruises are often expensive, nonrefundable deals. If some crisis occurs, or you or someone in your family gets sick, you will often find it difficult or impossible to get your money back. A travel insurance policy can give you peace of mind before [Read more]
Hotel deals to help your travel budget
Planning on some summer day trips with the kids? Turn at least one of them into an overnighter with a free night at one of the Intercontinental Hotels properties.
Guests can earn a free night by registering at http://www.GetAFreeNight.com and staying two nights at any Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Staybridge [Read more]
Cheapest travel destinations? Here’s your guidebook
When my Perceptive Travel blog editor Tim Leffel sent me a review copy of his guidebook The World’s Cheapest Destinations: 21 Countries Where Your Money Is Worth A Fortune, I was a bit skeptical.
It’s not geared specifically to family travel, and even though Tim’s an experienced Dad as well as a terrific travel writer, I [Read more]
Travel tech tips on NPR (featuring me!)
Austin-based tech journalist Omar Gallaga mentioned me during today’s edition of the National Public Radio (NPR) All Things Considered program All Tech Considered.
Still awaiting my close-up….
The topic is Tech in Travel (here’s a link to the full travel-related NPR broadcast.)
*** The first part of the segment talks about integrating mobile into travel; using cell phones [Read more]
Welcome to The Family Travel Logue, your one-stop guide to family travel.
Whatever you need for your upcoming family trip, you will find it here. We have information about how to find cheap flights for families, where to stay with your kids once you get to where you are going, and ideas on what you can do with children on your vacation or holiday. This is the guide for both big and small families who love to travel!
