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 Family Travel Tips
Getting Your Child a Passport
Write About Your Family Vacation
 Share Your Family Travel Tips on Our Boards!
 Busy parents, take heart! If you've got kids, we know you've got better things to do with your time than spend hours planning a family vacation. So we've done some of the work for you, searching out the most useful Web sites for family travel and compiling them all in one convenient place. We've also made up a handy-dandy packing checklist that includes all the gear, games and gotta-have items you'll need to get you through your next family vacation. So what are you waiting for? Your next family vacation is just a few clicks away!
Resources on IndependentTraveler.com
A great place to start is our very own Family Travel section, which includes features, tips and great ideas for vacations with the kids. Here's a sample of what's there:
 Discount Family Vacation Deals
Family Car Travel
Family Message Board
Family Travel Tips
Getting Your Child a Passport
Top 10 Family Resorts
Traveling with Teens
See All Family Travel Resources
Destination Information on IndependentTraveler.com
Our "Taking the Kids" series provides fun, educational three-day sightseeing itineraries for families in big cities around the U.S. and Canada.
Boston
Fort Lauderdale
Honolulu
Miami
Montreal
New York
Philadelphia
San Diego
Seattle
Tampa
Our Favorite Web Sites
We scoured the Internet to find the most useful sites for family travelers, and these seven stood out for their useful content and functional design.
 GoCityKids.com highlights unique, child-friendly attractions in more than 20 major U.S. cities. We're not just talking the standard touristy stuff like museums and zoos -- think skating rinks, hands-on art centers, and public parks perfect for picnicking or kite flying. The site's clear organization and easy-to-use search feature make this a favorite for busy parents.
FamilyFun.com is Disney's Web site and has a plethora of travel advice and kid-friendly links. The site offers a vacation finder feature that allows you to enter a region (say, the Midwest) and a type of travel (like "outdoors" or "factory tours"), and get customized results. There's also useful information on beach vacations, camping trips and (of course!) theme park getaways.
WeJustGotBack.com provides detailed reviews of family-friendly hotels and resorts in the U.S., the Caribbean and Canada, with more destinations reportedly on the way. You'll also find reader tips, city guides and even a member photo gallery. Free registration is required to access most of the site.
BabyCenter.com is a comprehensive parenting site with a great section on traveling with younger kids (up to age 8). Features include expert advice, emergency checklists, itinerary ideas and survival tips. We like the way the information is geared toward specific age groups.
TravelWithYourKids.com has information on all aspects of family travel, including things to consider while planning a trip, how to keep the kids entertained on the plane and even how to find the places in the U.K. where the Harry Potter movies were filmed.
Ciao Bambino offers a searchable database of family-friendly hotels and resorts around the world, including ratings by age group (Baby Ready, Toddler Fun, School Age Action and Cool for Teens). Properties are reviewed by Ciao Bambino experts and by its community of parents. Also on the site are family travel tips, sightseeing recommendations and a blog.
Family Cruising: If you're considering a cruise for your next vacation, don't miss this resource page from our sister site, CruiseCritic.com. Find out which ships and cruise lines are the most family-friendly, read up on onboard kids' programs, and learn how to choose shore excursions your children will love.
Care.com is for parents who love to travel with their kids but could use a day or night to themselves once in a while. The site offers a searchable database of nannies and baby sitters, sorted by zip code, so that parents can find reliable childcare in any U.S. destination. Profiles of each provider include qualifications, certifications and years of experience. Parents can also request free background checks and video references.
Travel Agents
To find a family travel specialist, use the "Find a Travel Agent" feature at TravelSense.org, the Web site of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), or call 703-739-2782.
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