Thanksgiving is just around the corner and Christmas is waiting silently in the wings. Are you headed to Grandma’s to get your fill of turkey and cranberry? Join the crowd. Best to fly armed with my Thanksgiving travel tips in mind. It will make for a better trip and help your wallet cope with the ever growing list of airline fees.

Turn on the news and it seems like every other day there’s a story about another charge being imposed by one of the big carriers.

Thanksgiving is coming.

I know what you’re thinking. We haven’t even hit Halloween yet. (Are your kids’ costumes finished?) The calendar will turn to November first and Halloween will be a distant memory. There will be very little time to catch your breath before you’re packing a suitcase to head to Grandma’s house.

Traveling with kids is challenging enough. Throw the busiest travel days of the year …

The calendar may dictate the official start of fall in the San Francisco Bay Area, but for me fall begins when pumpkins start appearing on doorsteps.

It’s cheap and easy to grab one with the groceries at the store, but the memories made when you traipse through the dusty fields are priceless. Unfortunately, there aren’t enough weekends to explore all the great pumpkin patches in Northern California.

It is hard to believe it is already the eve of 2010. This past year went by ridiculously fast. I love that the start of a new year means my husband has vacation days again, i.e. let travel planning begin!

Looking back, we had fantastic adventures in 2009. We are so fortunate to have the opportunity to explore the world together.

Something about the image of skaters conjures up that holiday feeling. As winter begins, skating outdoors is accessible even in the most unlikely places. Cities all over the world feature wonderful rinks to help get families in the holiday spirit.

Last year on our spring family vacation, I noticed the rink in Philadelphia’s center and it got me thinking about all the great outdoor rinks that offer this fun winter activity.

Welcome Travel Blogger’s Caravan! Today is Ciao Bambino’s giveaway day. We’ve joined 15 fellow travel bloggers in a holiday giveaway featuring a wide assortment of fun prizes.

We’re giving away a night at The Westin Verasa Napa Valley. Read our kid friendly hotel review of this fantastic wine country venue.

It’s already started. Grandparents, Aunts, and Uncles calling and emailing to ask what my girls want for the holidays. We have a well-earned reputation (that we’re very proud of) for jumping on planes and going just about anywhere, thus holiday presents have taken on a travel theme, resulting in great gifts that make trips run smoother than ever.

Nancy did a post on holiday gifts last month. Here’s our list—many of our favorites are things we use in day to day life. Nothing’s sitting in a box collecting dust between vacations.

In addition to Passports with Purpose this holiday season, Ciao Bambino will participate in the first (and, hopefully, annual) Travel Blogger’s Caravan. We invite you to follow 15 top travel bloggers for a chance to win cool prizes.

Prizes range from hotel gift cards and overnight stays—to digital cameras and noise-cancelling headphones—to luggage and camera bags—to travel guidebooks and DVDs.

We are participating in the Passports with Purpose fundraiser again and the cause is a good one—proceeds will help build a school in Cambodia by supporting American Assistance for Cambodia (AAfC), an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving opportunities for the rural poor.

Travelbloggers around the world are hosting giveaways in support of this fundraising effort. For each $10 donation that you make to AAfC …

The holiday season in New York City is by far one of the most beautiful times for a visit. It is a moment when the streets are filled with symbols of holiday traditions and songs, and the city is bursting with festivities and activities for the whole family.

However, there are some popular activities that can be a bit difficult to enjoy with younger children, be it due to the cold weather or the crowds, and families tend to forgo many of the various celebrations.