TAKING THE KIDS

Bring the kids to destination weddings

Wherever a wedding is held, eight out 10 couples invite kids to their nuptials, according to a surveyed by TheKnot.com.

Theme park prices are up, but look for deals

South Florida parents making that end-of-summer dash to the theme parks are in for sticker shock: One-day adult ticket prices have hit $75 -- plus tax.

Some airports have fun things for kids to do

Stuck in an airport with kids? Your wait time might not be as dreadful as you fear. Cheapflights.com has compiled the 'Kids' Airport Diversion Guide,'' listing play areas and onsite aviation museums to keep your children occupied until boarding time. To find the complete list, go to www.Cheapflights.com and scroll down the righthand side to the section titled '2008 Kids' Airport Diversion Guide,'' then click on the link. Here are some highlights.

TAKING THE KIDS

Budget-friendly national parks

National parks offer some of the most cost-effective options you can find.

Some airports have fun things for kids to do

Stuck in an airport with kids? Your wait time might not be as dreadful as you fear. Cheapflights.com has compiled the 'Kids' Airport Diversion Guide,'' listing play areas and onsite aviation museums to keep your children occupied until boarding time. To find the complete list, go to www.Cheapflights.com and scroll down the righthand side to the section titled '2008 Kids' Airport Diversion Guide,'' then click on the link. Here are some highlights.

Vegas on the flip side: Daytime is kid-friendly time

Las Vegas' ad campaign, ''What happens here, stays here,'' paints this city in Nevada as a giant playpen for misbehaving adults. It hardly comes across as a kid-friendly destination.

Colorado Springs: Base camp for exploring natural treasures with the family

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. We stuffed ourselves inside the rickety elevator like human dominoes, preparing to plunge 1,000 feet below the Earth's surface to see the inner workings of the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine.

TAKING THE KIDS

Backpacking with baby in Yosemite

You'll need patience and all the usual gear -- and whatever you do, don't forget the stuffed dog.

Frommer: Five vacations for families

We all live such hectic, pressured lives in our daily existence that it's vital to enjoy periodic family vacations away from our homes, free of our daily responsibilities.

FAMILY TRAVEL

A jolly good time for the kids

London has loads for children to do. But instead of simply visiting the tried-and-true sights such as Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London and Trafalgar Square, why not treat your kids to some hot spots popular with children who actually live in London?

TRAVELING WITH KIDS

A ride on the Auto Train with kids

For parents of three boys, the train proves to be a whole lot better than an airplane.

AIRLINE TRAVEL

Rules for kids flying alone

Summer means many children will be flying solo to visit a parent, see grandparents or go to camp. It's a good time to review airline policies.

TAKING THE KIDS

Grandparents are taking the kids more

Grandparents have been scooping up the little ones for brief vacations at least since we stopped having to work six days a week. But what was a travel trickle may be cresting toward a flood.

TAKING THE KIDS

Packing smart for flights this summer

Is there any good news for family fliers? Yes, but this isn't it. Starting June 15 -- just when we're taking off on long-planned vacations -- American Airlines will charge us $15 each way for the first checked bag and $25 each way for the second checked bag on American Airlines, assuming you are flying domestically on a discounted ticket and are not a top-level frequent flier.

SOUTH FLORIDA GETAWAYS

Family deals for every wallet

Familiarity breeds content this summer for cash-strapped families that want a low-mileage change of scenery. Sure, it's hot here this time of year. But if there's a pool or beach nearby, who cares? Thanks to favorable Florida resident rates, you can stay a few nights at that upscale resort. Or consider the camping trip your kids have always wanted. (Hey, some of our state parks have hot showers and cabins with air-conditioning.) Explore South Florida's backyard with some of these best bets for families...

TAKING THE KIDS

What the young think about cruising

What's not to like -- from a kid's perspective anyway. The way they see it, a cruise ship is vacation heaven, better even than a theme park.

TAKING THE KIDS

Packing just the right stuff

After almost 10 years of traveling around the country and to Europe with children, I have learned this: Less is more. All that stuff you hear about packing little toys for kids to unwrap on the airplane or stocking up on travel games to play in the car is, in my experience, pretty much useless. Such things will distract the kids for about 10 seconds and leave parents with more to clean up.

TAKING THE KIDS

Recession-proofing your summer vacation

The timing couldn't be worse. Just as we're all planning summer getaways, gas prices go through the roof, the dollar is so weak against the British pound and the Euro that trips to Great Britain and Europe seem out of reach, and the pundits suggest the economy is going to get worse.

Something different on beaches of the central Atlantic coast

As much as kids know that the 3 R's define the school year, they also know that summer is all about the 4 S's. That's right: Sun, surf, sea and sand are about all kids need for a memory-making family vacation.

BUDGET TRAVEL

On the road in the big RV

For most first-time RV renters, the conversation often goes like this: ``I can't afford to rent an RV.'' ``They're too large to maneuver.''

Wild & wet summer in Central Florida

Theme parks make a splash with pop-culture rides, a new family waterpark and tigers in the tank

AQUATICA

New water park thrills with dolphins

Waterslides, wave pools, meandering rivers and cooling fountains -- and dolphins? Dolphins and other creatures are the newest twist on Central Florida water parks, found at Aquatica, which opened in March.

BUSCH GARDENS

Jungala offers close encounters with critters

Who knew that tigers like to swim? That orangutans can paint? Or that there really is a theme park area with rides just for 'tweeners?

UNIVERSAL

What's new at Universal

Krusty the Clown is opening a new ride at his namesake theme park, Krustyland, and the Simpsons are first to take the ride. Little do they know that Sideshow Bob -- pushed over the emotional edge by being shot from a cannon and nailed by cream pies -- has escaped from jail, stolen Scratchy's character suit and is loose in the park. His goal: Destroy it all.

DISNEY

What's new at Disney World

You knew a Toy Story ride had to be coming. When it opens late this month, the toys will take over Andy's new Midway Games Play Set, and chaos will reign in the form of Toy Story Mania! -- a 3-D ride through the carnival. Cars are armed with spring-action shooters that let the riders rack up the points as they ''hurl'' pies, ''toss'' rings and ''launch'' eggs -- all virtual, of course. An animatronic Mr. Potato Head plays barker.

WHIRLWIND TOUR

So many rides, so little time

Four theme parks. Three kids. Two adults. And one seemingly impossible assignment: to visit every Disney World resort on the same day.

BUDGET TRAVEL

Central Florida: On a budget

Discounts are just one more reason why it's good to be a Floridian.

BEYOND THE PARKS

Central Florida: Beyond the theme parks

Yes, there is life beyond the major theme parks. Here are a few other things going on: At Kennedy Space Center, Shuttle Wing combines astronaut testimonials, artifacts, photos and anecdotes of otherworldly experiences. The permanent exhibit, just opened at the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, includes flight video narrated by Sally Ride, Bob Crippen, Charlie Bolden and Story Musgrave. Admission to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex includes the Shuttle Launch Experience, Kennedy Space Center Tour...

Led Zeppelin, Moody Blues rides at new Hard Rock Park in SC

The Led Zeppelin classic Whole Lotta Love throbs from the 1,200-watt sound system as the slick silver and white roller coaster nears the top of its serpentine track.