Cynthia J. Drake

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The Incredible Amazon Prime Perk That Can Improve Your Next Vacation

by Cynthia J. Drake

Amazon Prime is a useful subscription for a lot of things, but it can be a lifesaver for families on vacation. The $119-per-year subscription grants…

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Mother and two children playing in the ocean

11 Swimsuit Cover Ups You Need in Your Closet Now

by Cynthia J. Drake

Let’s be real: for some of us, anything related to bathing suits can be an event on par with, say, a root canal. But once…

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Mom and Kids on the Beach; Courtesy of Evgeny Atamanenko/Shutterstock.com

21 Best Swimsuits for Moms That’ll Make You Look and Feel Good

by Cynthia J. Drake

When it comes to swimsuits, moms bring a lot of demands to the dressing room. We want a bathing suit that hides our stretch marks,…

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The National Museum of Natural History is a natural history museum administered by the Smithsonian Institution, located on the National Mall.

13 Best Dinosaur Vacation Spots for Kids

by Cynthia J. Drake

Many kids experience at least a passing fancy with dinosaurs once in their lives, and it’s little wonder that these prehistoric creatures continue to captivate…

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8 Best Swim Goggles for Kids 2021

by Cynthia J. Drake

Keeping common complaints in mind, we set out on a mission to find goggles that keep kids happily exploring the underwater world (while also keeping…

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Mom In One Piece Bathing Suit with Kids on Beach; Courtesy of Flamingo Images/Shutterstock.com

7 Best One Piece Swimsuits for Moms

by Cynthia J. Drake

Like most moms, I know that whatever photo shows up on the product model is not necessarily what is awaiting me in the dressing room…

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Aleenta Phuket; Courtesy of Aleenta Phuket

18 Best All Inclusive Family Resorts in the World 2021

by Cynthia J. Drake

We’ve combed through some of the best all-inclusive family resorts around the globe to help you choose your next blissfully decision-free family trip. These are…

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Young African-American Girl Surfing the Internet Using Tablet computer at the Table Inside Home.; Courtesy of Flamingo Images/Shutterstock

8 Best Tablets for Toddlers and Kids 2021

by Cynthia J. Drake

You’re headed out for your next family trip and you’ve covered all the bases. Passports? Clothes? Medication? Tablet? Yep, we said it: tablets are becoming…

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Teens With Beach Cooler; Courtesy of Jacob Lund/Shutterstock.com

7 Best Beach Coolers 2021

by Cynthia J. Drake

Whether you’re heading to the pool or beach – or if you’re taking off on that family road trip – you’ll need a sturdy, easy-to-transport…

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The Best Baby Beach Gear 2020

by Cynthia J. Drake

Our favorite baby beach gear includes some out-of-the-box ideas from parents who have already beach-tested these items with their own babies. Bonus — you likely…

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giving gift holiday chritsmas tree; Courtesy of Yuganov Konstantin/Shutterstock

23 Best Holiday Gifts for Parents 2020

by Cynthia J. Drake

Buying gifts for the grown-ups on your list can be a challenge—particularly for the adult who’s always on the go and traveling across the globe.…

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Family at Vacation Rental; Courtesy of Monkey Business Images/Shuttesrtock.com

What to Pack for Your Vacation Rental: 62 Essential Items to Bring (and What You Can Leave at Home)

by Cynthia J. Drake

Vacation rentals (found on sites such as VRBO, AirBnb, FlipKey, HomeAway, and TripAdvisorRentals) can be a wonderful option for family vacations, as they typically allow…

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pretty woman with digital tablet sitting in chair at home.

7 Best Apps That Block Social Media

by Cynthia J. Drake

An estimated 42 percent of American children under 8 years old own their own tablet, according to Common Sense Media. Giving children access to the…

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mom swimsuit pool donut float; CourtesyAfrica Studio/Shutterstock

7 Best Bathing Suit Websites for Women 2020

by Cynthia J. Drake

In an era where anything can be ordered with a press of the “buy it now” button, trying on bathing suits in store fitting rooms…

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Disney Cruise vs. Disney; Courtesy of Disney

Disney Cruise vs. Disney World

by Cynthia J. Drake

Like many families, ours has cherished memories of visiting Disney World every few years since our two boys were small enough to get in for…

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LEGOLAND Florida Boating school; Courtesy of LEGOLAND Florida

10 Best Vacations for Kids Under 10

by Cynthia J. Drake

Some of the most treasured family vacations when you have young kids include a mix of sightseeing, cultural exploration, plus plenty of downtime by the…

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Padre Island; Courtesy of Visit Texas

9 Best Beaches in Texas for Families

by Cynthia J. Drake

Texas is known for barbecue, Tex-Mex and live music, among other things, but perhaps lesser known for its beaches. One visit and you’ll wonder why.…

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Natural Bridge caverns in; Courtesy of Travel Texas

7 Best Vacations in Texas on a Budget

by Cynthia J. Drake

As the second largest state in the U.S., both by population and land area, Texas has plenty of terrain for you to explore on your…

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KidZania Opens First U.S. Location in Texas

by Cynthia J. Drake

KidZania, an international company that literally puts kids to work with hyper-real role-playing attractions in a city designed just for children, just opened its first…

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Lake Austin Spa Resort; Courtesy of Lake Austin Spa Resort

5 All-Inclusive Family Vacations in Texas

by Cynthia J. Drake

When it comes to true all-inclusive resorts of the all-you-can-eat-and-drink variety, there aren’t many in the U.S. But if you’re planning a visit to Texas…

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The Best Personalized Kids’ Luggage: 9 Great Options

by Cynthia J. Drake

Parents know all too well the horrors that await you in the event your child leaves behind a beloved stuffed animal or other treasured toy.…

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baby on moms lap in flight; Courtesy of Kaspars Grinvalds / Shutterstock

8 Best Airplane Toys for Babies

by Cynthia J. Drake

Babies under 18 months often don’t need much in the way of entertainment besides a food source, maybe a pacifier and some mommy or daddy…

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A little girl walks on a trail surrounded by yellow wildflowers at Garrapata State Park in Monterey, California; Courtesy of RS Smith Photography/Shutterstock

9 Best Vacations With Toddlers in California

by Cynthia J. Drake

California is home to some of the biggest kid-friendly attractions on family vacation wish lists, and it’s home to dozens of destinations up and down the…

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Mom In Two Piece Bathing Suit with Child on Beach; Courtesy of Volodymyr Tverdokhlib/Shutterstock.com

7 Best Two Piece Swimsuits For Moms

by Cynthia J. Drake

Two piece swimsuits are super practical for moms, since they make bathroom breaks and locker room changes so much easier. When one kid is yelling…

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La Reunion Island; Courtesy of Serge Gelabert

9 Amazing Family Vacations That Will Take You Outside of Your Comfort Zone

by Cynthia J. Drake

Many families tend to pick the same tried-and-true vacation spots year after year. The temptation to stick with what’s familiar is strong, especially if you’re…

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