Travel + Adventure

Road Trip Vacation Guide for Young Families (my article for BabyZone.com)

Looking for travel tips? Check out the Discuss board.

Before You Go

Packing List/Before You Leave Checklist: modify it (in MS Word) for your family travels.

Care.com - Find Pet Care.

Care.com - Find Child Care Providers: national directory of prescreened caregivers, perfect for travelers.

Oh the Places You'll Go!

Association of Children's Museums: Check to see if your local museum participates in the ACM Reciprocal Program that gives access to 100+ children's museums.

Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) Travel Passport Program: Access to science centers and museums, usually 90+ miles from originating member museum.

Association of Zoos and Aquariums: reciprocal programs. Check originating member zoo/aquarium to see which places are on the reciprocal list.

Bathroom Diaries: the world's largest guide to public toilets, restrooms, and loos.

Chowhound: for those who live to eat. Restaurant reviews.

City Search: "Your guide to everything local." Online city guide for dining and entertainment reviews, yellow pages for shopping and services.

Dining Guide Network: part of Metroguide.Community. Read and write reviews on restaurants worldwide.

Drive In Theaters: find drive-in theaters located across the country (and hopefully near you).

Event Guide Network: part of Metroguide.Community.

Factory Tours USA: celebrating American imagination and industry.

Family Travel: information and online booking.

Kid Friendly Guide: list of activities and services by zip code or area.

Lodging Guide: part of Metroguide.Community. Read and write reviews on lodging worldwide.

Metroguide.Community: Read and write reviews about restaurants, hotels, stores, happenings.

Open Table: Make restaurant reservations online. Free, instant, and confirmed reservations.

Parentography: Kid-friendly reviews, recommendations, and advice for families on the go.

Public Libraries

Roadside America: offbeat tourist attractions.

Travel for Kids: Fun things to do, trip planner, books, tips.

Trip Advisor: Traveler reviews & opinions of vacations, hotels, resorts, vacation and travel packages.

Sidestep: "The traveler's search engine." Find cheap airline tickets, discount hotels and resorts on all the other discount web sites.

USA Travel & Tourism: links to all 50 state travel and tourism sites.

Waymarking: discover and share unique and interesting places on the planet.

Map Your Route

Google Maps: Want to make sure your hotel is really on the beach? Check out the satellite and hybrid views.

MapQuest

World Atlas

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

Transportation Security Administration: Along with state, local, and regional partners, TSA oversees security for the highways, railroads, buses, mass transit systems, ports and the 450 U.S. airports to ensure your travels are safe and secure.

U.S. Passports: U.S. Dept. of State travel web site for American citizens traveling across the borders or overseas.

Planes

Farecast: "cheap flights" and hotels

Security Checkpoint Wait Times: The Transportation Security Administration provides general wait times to get through airport security so you can plan your trip better.

World Airport Codes: Data about airports, airport web site links, three-letter codes, etc.

Automobiles

Gas Buddy: Find cheap gas prices in USA and Canada.

National Traffic and Road Closure Information: from the U.S. Department of Transportation/Federal Highway Administration.

Travel Adventures

EarthWatch Institute: This non-profit offers family, teen, and adult adventurers opportunities to join science expeditions worldwide.

Global Volunteers: International volunteers combine service with travel abroad.

Go Camping America

KOA Kampgrounds of America: camping information and camping sites.

National Geographic Expeditions: The name---and its reputation---says it all.

National Park Service: Find a park to explore across the USA. Purchase an America the Beautiful annual pass.

Recreation.gov: Explore Your America. Federal recreation, camping, and tour reservation information. Purchase an America the Beautiful annual pass.

Seacology: Island expeditions.

Wilderness Volunteers: Opportunities in national parks and other federal lands.

For other volunteer organizations, see Healthy Planet page .

USA Government Sites   

States Government Sites: links to all 50 state government web sites.

USA Gov: U.S. government's official web portal to all federal, state, and local government web resources and services.

The White House