There are many exceptional hotels in Hawaii but there is one in particular that seems to have cult status with families, Kona Village on the Big Island. One of the few inclusive-style accommodations in Hawaii, we’ve had the family-friendly hotel review on Ciao Bambino for a while now. Even though I personally interviewed the family that wrote the review, I didn’t really understand what made the hotel so special.

I do now.

Where else can you take a kid to see a real, erupting volcano?

It’s safe – Kilauea Volcano is sometimes referred to as the “drive-in volcano” – and it’s interesting. Enter the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, located near Volcano Village, and take the 11-mile Crater Rim Drive, which circles Kilauea’s summit caldera and craters. You can see the eruption at Halema‘uma‘u Crater, learn about lava at the Jaggar Museum, peer into steam vents, smell sulphur banks, walk through Thurston Lava Tube, and hike Devastation Trail …

Kauai, known as the Garden Isle, is draped with lush tropical rainforests and cascading waterfalls, all surrounded by sapphire seas. But don’t just stand back and look! Dive in and enjoy what the island has to offer: hiking, swimming, and kayaking is plentiful for active families.

There’s a lot of history here, too. You’ll find Hawaiian cultural presentations at various venues around the island, giving you and your ohana (family) the chance to try their hand at dancing the hula or weaving lauhala.

Probably not your first thought for this year’s summer vacation, right? Well – Krakow, Poland is a wonderful place for families, and being just on the edge of Eastern Europe, the value can’t be beat! The city holds a unique place, both geographically and historically, bridging Eastern and Western Europe with delightful results.

Krakow, like any European city, has its challenges for the American visitor. Our family found Polish a hard language to crack, and while most younger people, and practically everyone …

Stowe, the self-proclaimed “Ski Capital of the East” is a fabulous destination for families who love to ski or want to learn to ski. In my opinion it’s the closest thing you’ll find to west coast skiing on the east coast.

Stowe boasts the highest vertical elevation in the state of Vermont. Skiing at Stowe offers the chance to ski two mountains, Spruce Peak and Mt. Mansfield. The services offered are comparable to those you find in some of the tonier ski resorts out west, complimentary lockers, overnight ski storage, a high speed gondola

Palm Springs is the perfect long weekend getaway for the winter weary. Steeped in old Hollywood charm, (think Frank Sinatra), this desert oasis located 111 miles east of Los Angeles promises vistas of majestic mountains and miles of incredible bright blue sky year round. Palm Springs also offers families lots of hip house rentals and activities to get outdoors during the winter and soak up the sun.

Europe offers a huge amount of variety and choice for family skiers; there really is something for everyone. Essentially accommodation choices come down to three main categories; self-catering, hotels or catered chalets. All can work well for families if you do you research and between them they cover all budgets.

Picking just five European resorts that work well for families is hard, but we think this selection represents some of the best options on offer.

My kids love to travel. As a result, we’ve been able to take some amazing family trips. China was the biggest challenge so far. Taking the family to Europe is one thing, but taking the leap to China … it’s just different.

The 2008 Olympics in Beijing opened up the idea of travel to China for many Americans. And families are no exception. Traveling through China with my kids was an amazing experience. But I recommend …

Two long-haul flights, two short-haul flights, and one beautiful ferry ride finally got us to Heron Island on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. The first thing I noticed was the unmistakeable smell of birds—thousands and thousands of them—within seconds my ears caught up to my nose and I was hit by the din of what I later learned was a staggering 70,000 birds!

Heron Island is a sanctuary for the Black Noddy (not the Heron as you might think).

I’m a beach person. Born and raised on an island, there is something about being close to the water that keeps me sane. It doesn’t even have to be warm. Walking on the beach, or even chasing two kids down the beach can pretty much guarantee a great day.

I guess that’s one of the reasons I enjoy Monterey so much. Miles and miles of beautiful beaches, a world famous aquarium, entertaining wildlife, and great food.