Family Vacations

52 Fun Things to Do on the Plane --Part of a whimsical little series, this entry consists of a deck of 52 pocket-sized cards, each colorfully illustrated with an activity that people young, old or in-between can amuse themselves with during a plane ride. The activity suggestions range from word games to interactive story-telling and are a perfect way to make the hours fly by unnoticed. $6.95

Also:
52 Fun Things to Do in the Car (For Kids) $6.95

Away For the Weekend With Kids: Northeast --Eleanor Berman presents daytrips and weekend itineraries that appeal to all members of the family. She includes trips arranged around a wide array of activities including sports, nature, boat and train rides, dinosaur museums, festivals and fairs, and farms where you can pick your own produce. Berman provides detailed driving directions and recommends family-friendly accommodations and restaurants to make your trip as hassle-free as possible. $16.00

The Best Family Ski Vacations in North America --As active family vacations have grown in popularity, ski resorts have expanded their facilities for both parents and children. Laura Sutherland selects 50 of the best ski resorts in the U.S. and Canada based on critieria that includes day care, quality of the ski instruction and beginner slopes, activities for the non-skiers in the family, budget options, and the availablity of package deals. She even tells you what to pack. $14.95

Fodor Family Adventures --Christine Loomis, travel editor of Family Life magazine, directs you to over 200 family adventure vacation options in the U.S., Canada and even a few overseas, including llama trekking, floating on a houseboat and digging for dinosaur bones. Loomis provides complete outfitter information and helpful advice on planning your trip, with chapters arranged by activity and cross-referenced by geographical location. $16.00

NEW Fun Places to Go with Children in New England-- Diane Blair and Pamela Wright cover over 350 places, activities and seasonal events in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. The authors offer suggestions ranging from the Wells Auto Museum to the Mark Twain House, kayaking workshops to a Clydesdale horse stable to panning for gold, along with the usual skiing, biking and water sports. Nearby family friendly lodgings and restaurants for all budgets are also provided. Particularly useful is an index that cross references all the listings by age group, and maps that pinpoint all the activities. $11.95

Also:
NEW Fun Places to Go with Children in Washington DC $11.95

Great Caribbean Family Vacations --This well-researched book guides parents to the island vacations best suited to their families' interests and budgets. Laura Sutherland includes accommodations ranging from large inclusive resorts to inexpensive campsites, and details all the varied activities available on each of more than 20 islands. From pirates' caves to castles to swimming with dolphins, your trip to the Caribbean can be an adventure for the whole family. $12.95

Great Family Vacations: West --If you need a little inspiration for that upcoming family getaway, you need look no further. Candyce H. Stapen explores a wide array of options, from National Parks to ghost towns in California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, New Mexico and Arizona. She provides sightseeing and recreational highlights, as well as hotel and restaurant recommendations for all budgets. The activities she includes range from performing arts to sports to nature. $14.95

Also:
Great Family Vacations: Midwest & Rocky Mountains
Great Family Vacations: Northeast
Great Family Vacations: South Each $14.95

Kidding Around-If you're tired of hearing "Where are we going?" and "I'm bored", give your kids (six and up) one of these expanded, revised guides and they'll be travel pros in no time. Each includes historical tidbits and sightseeing in and around the city, all tailored to children's interests. Colorful maps, illustrations, puzzles and activities will keep your child involved. The re-packaged titles include each $7.95:

Kids Eat New York --Elizabeth Carpenter and her young son Sam ate in over 150 places researching this new guide to "kid-friendly" restaurants in the Big Apple. Arranged by neighborhood, the entries range from grown-up restaurants with exotic or entertaining atmospheres to ones designed with kids in mind, from chic to diner-style. Out-of-towners will find the lists of friendly restaurants near top tourist attractions particularly helpful. Natives and visitors alike will appreciate the detailed descriptions, practical tips and clear directions. A welcome new resource. $11.95

Kids Travel: A Backseat Survival Kit --The editors at innovative Klutz Press have done every parent a favor. First they created an oversized 48-page, full-color cardstock book filled with games, lyrics, craft instructions, puzzles, magic, fortune-telling and more. A 100-page activity pad clips on to the back of the book and is filled with puzzles, crosswords, connect-the-dots and activity cards. And to top it off, they have added a zippered vinyl pouch, bound permanently onto the book, that contains everything your child needs to do all the crafts and play all the games, including color pens, yarn and dice. For a trip of any length, and for the sanity of both parents and children, this activity pack is a must. $19.95

London For Families --Larry and Michael Lain prove that travelling abroad with kids can be fun and reasonably priced, too! They show you how to live like a local, by renting a flat (whether for just a week or longer), shopping for groceries, using public transportation, and exploring all of London's many attractions. They guide you to all the highlights that kids will love, from toy factories to museums to daytrips to the countryside. Checklists ensure you are prepared. $14.95

Take Your Kids to Europe --An invaluable resource for parents everywhere, Cynthia Harriman's updated guide provides information on how to plan a family trip to Europe, from car rentals to house rentals to how to get your child to eat "foreign" food. Numerous tips on cutting costs, creating a realistic budget, interesting your children in what they are seeing and bridging cultural differences make this book both practical and inspiring. A resource section provides addresses, phone numbers and contacts for every type of service possible to make your family trip as smooth as it should be. $16.95

Usborne Book of London --Your kids won't have to be talked into visiting Trafalgar Square or the British Museum after they read this colorful and entertaining book. Delightful drawings and concise captions explore the history, sights and everyday life of London. Ages 5 and up. $8.95

also:
Usborne Book of France $6.95

World Explorer Activity Pack --Dorling-Kindersly activity packs consist of hands-on projects that encourage young children to make their own discoveries and learn independently. The World Explorer contains a world map jigsaw puzzle, a postcard album and picture postcards, a map activity book and treasure island poster and stickers, so kids can make their own treasure map. All easy to use and filled with colorful illustrations, these activities teach children about geography, maps and the wonders of the world in a way that will be fun for hours and hours. Ages 4 and up. $15.95

NEW Your Child’s Health Abroad--The first up-to-date guide to protecting the health of your children while travelling offers expert advice from two doctors, Dr. Jane Wilson-Howarth and Dr. Matthew Ellis, and the people at Bradt Guides. Arranged by subject, this new book offers chapters on packing; food preparation; how to detect and treat signs of various illnesses in newborns, toddlers and older kids; how to deal with accidents and emergencies; and the hazards of nature in different parts of the world, from bugs to heatstroke to altitude sickness. It is filled with essential information for adventurous parents, and should carried in every suitcase (or diaper bag). $12.95