Kimpton Hotels recently hosted five writers in five cities across the country as part of a holiday blogger getaway event.

My family loves Kimpton as this kid-friendly brand offers a fresh departure from typical hotels with updated décor and whimsical themes. We stayed at Hotel Marlowe in Cambridge for our family getaway and it was quite a treat!

The holidays are a perfect time to stock up on inspiring travel gifts for kids. As family travel becomes more mainstream, there are more and more beautiful options from which to choose.

Conveniently, the gift-giving season corresponds with holiday travel so the gifts get to be tried out right away — always a bonus!

I love creating this list every year. It’s a great excuse for me to test out new products and indulge in the latest toys and gear.

Can you imagine a world without books or libraries? Books stir up our imagination and open our eyes to the bigger world around us — much like travel does. That’s why we love this year’s Passports with Purpose fundraiser.

For the fourth year in a row, travel bloggers around the world will unite to raise funds for a charity. After last year’s success, $64,000 raised to help build housing in India, Passports with Purpose is aiming to raise $80,000 to build two libraries in Zambia.

October is here and even though I’m still not quite ready to say goodbye to summer, I have to admit a tinge of excitement because my family’s Halloween countdown has begun. You don’t have to be a kid to get into the spirit of Halloween in Northern California. All you have to do is enjoy a sense of mystery and know the way to San Jose.

About an hour south of San Francisco, the city of San Jose is home to the Winchester Mystery House. In 1884, Winchester rifle heiress, Sarah Winchester …

Christmas is a wonderful time to be with friends and family. Every year, our family comes together to have a big, traditional holiday celebration that is jam-packed with family activities. However, after hosting a hectic holiday season last year, we decided to take a break this coming season and go on a much needed family vacation. Wanting a coastal vacation in a smaller city, we settled on Charleston, South Carolina.

A delightful little seaside town, Charleston boasts a rich history and Southern charm that is just irresistible.

There are some extra happy Ciao Bambino readers this week! The winners of the Omni Hotel giveaway and 2010 Passports with Purpose fundraiser at the Riviera Palm Springs have now been confirmed.

Omni Hotel Giveaway Winners

Paul Haddock from Leesburg, VA and Page Pastore from Auburn, CA won a free weekend …

It can be difficult (especially for kids) not to be home for the holidays. Sure, there’s the excitement of exploring a different location, be it Grandma and Grandpa’s house in Phoenix or a ski resort in the Alps, but on Christmas morning, you sometimes can’t help but crave the comfort of home.

That’s where the power of food comes in. While there are many things you can’t bring with you when you travel, recipes actually travel quite well!

Nothing gets you into the holiday spirit in Europe like a Christmas market. These markets, which originated in Germany, can now be found in many cities throughout European.

I’ve been to several over the years and here are my picks of the best Christmas markets for festive family fun.

For many, the holidays mean travel. Making the trek to family on the other side of the country, escaping to a beach in Mexico, or skiing. Spending the holiday somewhere special has its perks, but my family does an amazing amount of excursions over the weekends leading up to (and after) Christmas and New Year’s.

We may not be hopping on and off of planes, but we’re definitely hitting the road to take advantage of the whirlwind of great “holiday things” on the calendar.

Holiday shopping mania is in full swing. There are holiday gift lists circulating all over the web right now. The upside? No shortage of information and suggestions. The downside? Sifting through all the articles is yet another chore we don’t have time for!

If travel gifts are on your mind, we have fantastic travel gift ideas for kids on CB. Plus, if you don’t see something you like on our list, we’re getting loads of comments from Ciao Bambino readers with additional suggestions.