Eileen Ogintz Archive

A RV trip can put the vroom back into camping

Published July 11, 2013

Let’s face it. Camping with little kids isn’t easy.

Taking the Kids--8 summer vacations you can still book

Published July 05, 2013

It's gotta drive you crazy. Neighbors and colleagues are back from vacation tanned and bragging about their adventures with their kids and you haven't managed to get away at all yet.

If it seems like everyone you know is either on vacation or planning one, you're not far off. According to the latest travelhorizons (TM) survey from MMGY Global, travelers plan to hit the road in record numbers this summer, despite lingering concerns about the cost, safety and satisfaction of travel experiences. Seventy percent of Americans plan to take at least one leisure trip between now and October.

The good news is it's not too late to plan a getaway whether you've got a few days or a week or two. And you might even be able to grab a bargain. Here are eight ideas you can still grab -- and maybe even get your own bragging rights for getting a last-minute bargain.

Top road trip spots along the Blue Ridge Parkway

Published July 01, 2013

Is the car packed? The vast majority of us –especially when kids are part of the equation—head off on vacation  in the car, says the American Automobile Association.

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It’s easy to see why.  Not only is it cheaper, but given the hassles of air travel, it’s  easier,  according to a new survey from YP, which did a survey about summer travel and the cost of fuel based on its Local Search & Gas Prices App. Those surveyed said driving gives us more flexibility, we can take more stuff—and our pets. And with iPads and auto entertainment systems, it’s a lot easier to keep kids amused along the way.

Among our favorite routes:  Touring  the states of Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee on The Blue Ridge Parkway.

Taking the Kids -- to meet Lady Liberty

Published June 28, 2013

She's one big lady!

How to make the most of summer in the Bahamas

Published June 25, 2013

Imagine sitting on a deserted beach in the crystal clear water with a stingray tickling your toes, the palm trees swaying.

That was after a  beach picnic lunch of the fish we’d just caught that morning. Talk about catch of the day! 

Welcome to The Bahamas. 

Summer is a great time to visit, with hotel rates as much as 40 percent less. 

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And if you thought all there was to the Bahamas was Atlantis and the Nassau you see when your cruise ship stops there, think again.

I actually had my toes tickled by a stingray on a deserted beach in the Abacos Islands. This is the real Caribbean—calm waters, warm breezes, spectacular white sand beaches --and no people.

I’ve gone bone fishing and gotten up close and personal with swimming pigs in the Exumas,

I danced with local kids and got a lesson in making conch salad on a Friday night at Port Lucaya Marketplace on Grand Bahama Island.  I was hosted by a local Abaco family for a Bahamian feast through the People-to-People  Experience that connects visitors with locals—at no charge.  Cruisers can sign up to spend the day with a local Nassau volunteer when their ship is in port and see a different Nassau.

This year, you can join in the Bahamas’ 40^th anniversary celebration of independence. Independence Day is actually July 10,  but there will be celebrations and special events all summer long—concerts, regattas, parades and more.

I just got back from touring some of the Bahamian Islands.  Here’s how to make the most of your time:   

Taking the Kids -- to a very special resort for special kids

Published June 21, 2013

These families belong to a club no parent wants to join. They have a child, some as young as three, with a life-threatening illness.

Taking the Kids -- taking the kids to Aspen in summer when it's affordable

Published June 14, 2013

We ventured out on a six-mile hike that started right in Aspen along the Hunter Creek Trail.

Taking the Kids -- to the Caribbean in summer

Published June 07, 2013

In summer, you'll find cheaper air fares than in winter.

Top adventure trips for dad this Father's Day

Published June 05, 2013

Hardly anyone wears ties anymore, and dad can buy himself new utensils for the grill.  This Father’s Day get your dad something he’d really enjoy—a special experience on your next vacation  based on his interests, of course. 

Here are five we think are guaranteed to please:

Taking the Kids -- on the Norwegian Cruise Line Breakaway

Published May 31, 2013

Brave enough to walk the plank?