Best state fairs in the U.S.

Jim Kopel has been a big fan of state fairs since he was 10, when he exhibited his Chester White pigs at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines....

A steam-powered train trip into West Virginia's past

At the old mill town of Cass, nestled deep in a remote holler of West Virginia, coal smoke and history hang in the air.

Highway 1 with kids: 10 fabulous pit stops between Los Angeles and San Francisco

I often lament having left Los Angeles, my hometown, to live in San Francisco, especially now that I have a son. After Kai was born, we...

Summer camps aren't just kids' stuff

In my youth, nothing spelled summer more than my box of stationery, stashed in a trunk next to my insect repellent, shorts, towels and...

San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park enjoys baby boom

I admit it: I fall in love easily. First, it was with a 268-pound guy. Despite his youth, he was gray and wrinkled. But there were others as...

Calaveras County: Still hopping to it

Los Angeles and this tiny Gold Rush town share the same "City of Angels" nickname, and the similarities don't end there.

San Francisco: The rolling transit museum known as the F line

The green-and-gold tram trundled down the road, a small Australian flag hanging out the driver's window. I stared in amazement,...

Children’s museums take a hands-on approach to little visitors

As our theater seats rocked back and forth for "takeoff," the kids watching the 4-D animated film "Journey to the Center of the Barnett...

Lessons of a family vacation in Spain

My husband, Tony; my daughter, Callie, 15; and son Zeke, 12, and I spent 10 days traveling in Spain in July. Callie had been living with a...

Peek into the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum if you dare

On a January afternoon, the temperature hovers in the upper teens, the sky threatening to blanket the coal-rich hills of West Virginia...

Traveling internationally with a child

Not all globe-trotters-in-training travel with Mom and Dad. If your child is traveling with a divorced parent, friend, grandparent or baby-...

Tips for cheap family travel

Venturing out with the kids? It pays to book early, shop for bargains, watch for freebies and consider a hostel stay.

Christmas in July -- and every other month too

The sprawling Bronner's emporium in Michigan maintains an all-seasons yuletide policy.

A family break by the lake

Five great retreats that are casual, affordable and fun for the whole family.

On the trail of vampires

Even before 'Twilight' and 'True Blood' helped raise their pop-culture profiles, vampires had left their marks in many places. The garlic is...

California's coast beckons vacationing families

Moderate pricing makes these options relatively affordable stops, from San Diego north to Mendocino.

Bargain hotel rates can be had for the entire brood

And if not, you can always rent a condo or an RV.

Travels with a toddler: It can be done

A family of three takes a trip to New Zealand, China and Europe and discovers the world through a child's eyes.

Vintage Roadside gear brings lost landmarks to life

T-shirts sport images of bygone attractions -- kitschy and cool -- that flourished along the byways of yesteryear.

Julian mining its history with Gold Rush Days

Today Julian is known for apples, but gold put it on the map. The picturesque mountain town celebrates its origins with a weekend of...