The latest travel trend is grandparents traveling with grandchildren — with and sometimes without parents. Grandparents traveling with grandchildren can bond with them and create memories that will last a lifetime. Below are tips for grandparents traveling with grandchildren — follow these and you’ll have the time of your life!

Choose a travel destination that’s “right” for everyone.

It’s important to plan a family vacation that appeals to everyone; otherwise, traveling with grandchildren may not be fun. Ask your grandchildren where they’d like to go and what they’d like to do on vacation. Review all of the travel ideas and plan a vacation that everyone will enjoy.

Air travel.

You don’t want air travel to be your first vacation with your grandchildren. However, after you’ve traveled a few times, plan a beach or adventure vacation that requires you to fly to the destination.

Tip #1: Book non-stop flights [...]

Isle Royale National Park, an island wilderness in northwest Lake Superior, is only accessible by seaplane or boat. Rock Harbor Lodge provides the only lodging in the Park (housekeeping cabins, several newly-renovated lakefront lodge rooms, full service restaurant/ grill onsite.)

For the adventure traveler, naturalist, outdoor enthusiast, avid fisherman and hiker, Isle Royale provides a dramatic escape from the fast pace of everyday life. There are no roads or cars on the island. Enjoy165 miles of hiking trails and spectacular views of Lake Superior plus sightseeing tours of historic lighthouses and abandoned copper mines. There’s 16 hours of summer daylight, thus extended recreational time. Plus, summer visitors may experience the magic of the Aurora Borealis! Ferries run seasonally from Grand Portage, MN, Houghton and Copper Harbor, MI. A seaplane operates from Houghton, MI. Open Memorial Day through Labor Day only. Room / ferryboat packages available. [...]

The attractions in Prestonsburg can suit the travel thirst for all ages. The diverse and fun places to visit range from water recreation, music entertainment, elk watching, harness racing, craft shopping, golf, and all kinds of special events.

Speaking of thirst, have you ever wondered why so many national artists hail from right here in Eastern Kentucky? Well, we think it’s in the water! So, beginning in 2012 our US 23 Country Music Highway “Road to Fame” talent search contests will be searching for the next Loretta Lynn, or Ricky Skaggs, or even Dwight Yoakum. Competitions begin soon, with the grand finale June 16 at the Mountain Arts Center. Go to www.cmhroadtofame.com for details.

Enjoy the fine places to lodge and eat and enjoy the great hospitality. Call us for detailed information at 800-844-4704 or visit www.prestonsburgky.org.

HAPPY TRAILS MY FRIEND!

Indulge in the tradition and spirit that make Oglebay Resort unique while you enjoy 1,700 acres of year-round recreational opportunities and picturesque natural beauty. Spend the night at the 271-room lodge featuring 59 new premium rooms, a new spa, dining, business center, indoor pool, fitness center and wireless Internet. Oglebay also has 54 cottages including three new 8-bedroom premium cottages and four estate houses. Recreational activities include 72 holes of golf including the newest championship course designed by Arnold Palmer, plus seven specialty shops, gardens, tennis, stables, fishing, two museums, outdoor pool, pedal boats, miniature golf, downhill skiing, a zoo, environmental center and miles of walking trails.

Oglebay is also home to the Winter Festival of Lights, one of the nation’s largest holiday light shows, beginning November 9, 2012.

Located one hour from Pittsburgh in West Virginia’s Northern Panhandle. Call 800-624-6988 or visit www.oglebay-resort.com.

Oglebay Resort

Located in the old New York Central freight depot in Medina, NY, the Medina Railroad Museum is the largest railroad and toy train museum in NY State. The depot was built in 1905-06 and is the largest wood-frame freight house ever built by the NY Central Railroad Company.

The museum features the world’s largest collection of railroad artifacts and memorabilia known to exist under one roof. See the longest HO-Scale model train layout and diorama all on one floor, an immense 204 ft. by 34 ft.

Enjoy our several family-friendly special events throughout the year. In May our Day Out with Thomas and in the Fall our Winery Trains, our Fall Foliage Trains and the magic of the Polar Express. Kids of all ages love the experience of this museum all year round.

Medina Railroad Museum
530 West Avenue, PO Box 136
Medina, NY [...]

For a unique vacation in Indiana County, PA, you’ll want to experience riding the 36-mile Ghost Town Trail from Ebensburg to Black Lick, PA. This bike and hiking trail follows Blacklick Creek, taking you through many ghost towns that had been abandoned in the early 1900s, with the decline of the local coal mining industry.

The first seven miles take you through overflowing creeks, flowers and wilderness on your way to Nanty-Glo, the first small town the trail connects with. Huge coal banks rise in the background as you come off the trail. Stop at Niner Diner and try Tiny’s Challenge – a 3 lb burger, 5 lbs of French fries and drink for $21.95. If you eat it all in two hours, it’s free!

You’ll come across 20 bridges on this trail as you ride through tranquil scenery, with [...]

ALERT!:

This is a post directed to all those teens out there who want to have the best family vacation this summer but are worried about how to do that AND get along with nagging parents, annoying siblings and visits to museums of natural boredom.

There IS a way to make sure you don’t fall asleep for the whole time you’re at your Tennessee log cabin or South Carolina resort.

Travel Tips for Teens #1: Play Along

Okay, so your dad really wants to go to some old house that was built about nine million years ago and you could care less. You COULD mope and groan and make everyone miserable… but that wouldn’t get you anywhere. Instead, play along with your dad’s big adventure. Ironically, if you think positively, you’re more likely to enjoy the family vacation getaway, even as you’re hearing a tour guide say “antique” for about the fiftieth time.

Travel Tips [...]