Hot property: Best Western Promenade Hotel, Savannah, Ga.

There were lots of things to love about the Best Western Promenade in Savannah, Ga., but what we appreciated most was the location.

The hotel sits right in the heart of the historic district. You can walk to River Street where seafood restaurants and souvenir shops line the cobblestone road on the banks of the Savannah River. You can walk to Forsythe Park, one of the many places in the movie Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. You can walk to the visitor center where you can pick up a trolley that will tour you around town.

And there was more to like about this hotel: heated outdoor pool, complimentary breakfast, friendly concierge who has eaten at every restaurant in town, and tastefully decorated rooms.

Do kids and fancy restaurants mix?

When we walked into the Olde Pink House restaurant in Savannah, Ga., I immediately felt out of place. The people waiting to be seated were elegant and distinguished. The women wore dresses and long wool coats with fur collars; the men wore sport coats and some even had on ties.

I looked at my jeans and tattered tennis shoes, my husband's fleece jacket, and my daughter's uncombed hair and gray sweat pants, and then bluntly said to the hostess, "We're dressed like slobs and we have kids. Can you seat us?"

"Don't worry about it," she said. "You're fine. Would you like to sit downstairs in the tavern? It might be a little more casual."

This splendid house sheathed in a layer of pink stucco was originally built in 1771 by James Habersham Jr., who was a hero during the Revolutionary War. It was the only mansion to survive a fire that swept through the city in 1796.

Over the years the house has served as everything from headquarters for one of Sherman's generals to a bank, and today it's a fancy restaurant known for Southern cuisine and an old world atmosphere. The dining rooms are dignified with crystal chandeliers, ancestor paintings, glowing fire places, and gilt opera chairs. The menu celebrates local seafood and signature dishes include black grouper stuffed with blue crab and crispy scored Flounder served with an apricot shallot sauce.

The hostess escorted us to the tavern--a dark, candlelit space with exposed brick walls, massive dark oak ceiling beams, cushy leather sofas, two roaring fireplaces, and a sprawling bar lined with beautiful men and women sipping martinis. I couldn't help but notice that there wasn't a kid in sight.

"What are we doing here?" I whispered into my husband's ear. "Just relax," he said.

The waiter came to our table and went over the specials. They don't have a kids' menu but thankfully macaroni and cheese was among the side dishes and there was a Cesar salad on the menu, my daughter's favorite.

The bread basket came--and my kids started to fight over the largest roll. Their voices gradually got louder: "No, I want that one!"

For a brief moment, I panicked, and thought, This is going to be a disaster. And then a man wearing a black tuxedo stepped into the tavern and sat down at the grand piano tucked in the corner. Something to drown out my children's loud voices.

The kids scarfed down their food and then walked over to the piano. They got the pianist to play a few Elton John songs. My husband and I savored three courses, and by the end of the night my son was snuggled up in the lap of a woman sipping a martini on the couch. If only we had dressed up.

Have you brought your kids to a fancy restaurant? Have you ever noticed kids behaving or misbehaving in a restaurant where entrees go for more than $20 or where a sports coat is proper attire for male diners?

Image: Frenchtower.com

Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room, Savannah, Ga.

The lunch at Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room got rave reviews in every online food forum covering Savannah, Ga. I spent a good hour online researching places to eat during our two-night stay in the Southern town, and that's the one place that people recommended again and again.

"Mrs. Wilkes should not be missed," I read on Chowhound.

And so on the day before Thanksgiving we found ourselves standing in a long line gathered outside 107 Jones Street. The brick house dating back to 1870 houses the restaurant in the basement, and apparently there's almost always a line--but don't be scared off. It moves fast. And while you're waiting outside, you can admire what is considered to be the most beautiful street in America--Jones Street. (It's what inspired the phrase, "Keeping up with the Joneses.")

Inside Mrs. Wilkes, diners eat family-style gathered around long tables in two cozy dining rooms. Table cloths cover the tables; ruffled curtains the windows. It's like eating at grandma's house.

Waitstaff bring out bowls brimming with sweet potato souffle, okra gumbo, black-eyed peas, cornbread stuffing, and fried chicken that's perfectly crisp on the outside and sweet and moist on the inside. Everything is flavorful and fresh. This isn't a greasy spoon.

At our table we sat next to Mrs. Wilkes' granddaughter, Emily, and great-granddaughter, Julianne, (pictured) who often drop in for lunch. We learned that Mrs. Sema Wilkes passed away in 2002 at age 95, and she worked in the restaurant up until two weeks before her death. "Grandma was amazing," Emily said. "She was always in the restaurant."

Emily's parents now run the place with the help of family members. Emily's mom later came out and grabbed one of my hands. "Where y'all come from?" she asked. "Your children are so pretty. It's so nice to see your children in the restaurant."

No doubt, Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room is family-friendly.

And my kids loved the meal. They noshed on the fried chicken, piled their plates up with mashed potatoes and lima beans, and gulped down glasses of sweet tea. But most of all, they loved the bicuits and corn muffins. I even caught my daughter sneaking one in her jacket pocket. Now that's the sign of a good restaurant.

The meal costs $16 per person and children are half-off. The restaurant is only open for lunch, Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. www.mrswilkes.com.

Beyond Disney: Things to do with kids in Orlando

We could have gone to Disney World. We could have gone to Sea World. We could have gone to Universal Studios or Discovery Cove. Instead we went spent our only full day in Orlando at the Science Center, where admission was free because we showed our membership card for the Academy of Sciences in San Francisco.

Maybe I'm a cheapskate depriving my children of fun, but my kids had a wonderful day at the hands-on museum. They watched baby alligators eat their lunch, raced soap box cars and learned about velocity, and built houses with blocks on an earthquake "shake table" and tested their engineering in an 8.0 tremor.

Here are 7 more things to do in Orlando with kids--beyond going to spendy amusement parks.

1) Pedal across a lake. Hop, skip, and jump along the mile-long path circling Lake Eola Park. You'll enjoy sweeping views of Orlando's skyline and colorful flower beds. You can also rent swan-shaped paddle boats ($15 per half hour), and feed the ducks. If you're hungry, Relax Grill right on the lake serves juicy burgers and blackened mahimahi. Info: click here.

2) Stop to smell the roses. Three miles of paved scenic walkways wind through Harry P. Leu Gardens' 50 acres of Southern styled gardens including one of America's largest Camellia collections, a formal rose garden, and a butterfly garden where it's fun for kids to look for winged insects. $7 adults, free kids. Info: leugardens.org.

3) Bite into a big sandwich. An Orlando institution since 1967, Beefy King is known for its roast beef and pastrami sandwiches. The meat is seasoned and heated over a steam vent, which moistens it and brings out its natural juices. Also, try the tater tots, onion rings, and thick milkshakes. Info: beefyking.com.

4) Get eye-to-eye with a gator. Thousands of alligators and crocodiles lurk in the 70 acres of swampy land making up Gatorland. Catch the crowd-pleasing show, Gator Jumparoo featuring the giant "lizards" jumping out of the water to snatch hunks meat from a trainer's hand. Also, feast on smoked gator ribs, watch gators wrestle, and amble along a boardwalk passing through the gator-filled swamp. adults $22.99, kids $14.99. Info: gatorland.com.

5) Hug a tree. Fifteen minutes north of town in Big Tree Park, you can take a walk and visit Florida's oldest resident, "the Senator." Approximately 3,500 years old and 18 feet tall, it is one of America's oldest bald cypress trees. Stroll along the boardwalk or bring along lunch to enjoy at one of the picnic tables. Free. Info: click here.

6) Cool off with an ice cream cone. Savor creamy, rich soft serve at Goff's Drive-in, an institution in Orlando's Parramore neighborhood since 1948. Info: click here.

7) Ride a merry-go-round. A retro amusement park in nearby Kissimmee, Old Town is the place to sip an old-fashioned root beer, go for a spin on the tea cups, ride the antique carousel and the wooden Ferris wheel, and step into the general store where you'll find collections of memorabilia from Coca-Cola and John Deere. Hundreds of motorcyclists rally through the streets on Thursday nights, and on Saturday nights the park comes to life with a vintage car parade. Live music every night at 7:30 p.m. Admission free. Info: old-town.com.

Know of any other fun things to do with kids in Orlando?

Barnacle Bills, St. Augustine, Fl.

"I have been on Prinivil for four years. It's a great drug."

I turn around and discover that four octogenarians are eating behind us at Barnacle Bills, a seafood restaurant in St. Augustine, Fl. I smile at my husband, who says "classic Florida," and turn my attention to the menu.

I read about Barnacle Bills on Chowhound, my favorite Web site for finding restaurants while on the road. A comment about the seafood being "fresh" and the restaurant being "family-friendly" had me sold. We were stopping in St. Augustine on our drive from Jacksonville to Orlando, part of our Thanksgiving road-trip.

The menu at Barnacle Bills offers a tempting array of seafood: coconut fried shrimp, crab cakes loaded with blue crab claws, and fish tacos simply prepared with diced tomato, cabbage, lime juice, and spicy salsa. I decide on the blackened mahimahi. My husband goes for the teriyaki shrimp. My son was excited to order shrimp when we first sat down, but then he realizes there's a kids' menu with mac and cheese. He quickly changes his mind. I'm disappointed because I know the protein-packed shrimp are a healthier option. Oh well!

"You have to have a good cardiologist."

I turn around and take a closer look at the seniors. They're drinking Bud Lights and feasting on a plate piled high with fried shrimp. They look as if they're in their late 70s, early 80s. They're smiling, laughing, enjoying one another's company.

The waitress takes our order. The kids start coloring their place mats. My husband begins to prep me on his cousin who we're visiting in Orlando: "He once picked me up from school wearing a gorilla suit."

"That's the beauty of the Mayo. They keep up with what's new."

The fish arrives, a flaky fillet, blackened and accented with lemon. It's bursting with flavor and deliciously sweet--better than candy. My daughter wants a bite. "This is so good!" she says, and then starts digging into my beautiful slab of fish. We're literally fighting for bites. This fish is that good.

"My daughter yelled at me: 'Don't you dare get a small turkey like you did last year. We want to take home leftovers.' And so I'm going to get the biggest turkey I can find that will fit into the oven. I'll show her."

I look back again. This conversation is way too interesting. They have now moved onto their second course--they're now eating fried fish and they each have a little dish of pickled beets. I wonder if beets are good for your heart.

We look up St. Augustine on Wikipedia on the iPhone--since we really don't have a clue about where we are:

Founded in 1565, St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied European established city, and the oldest port, in the continental United States...The city of St. Augustine was founded by Pedro Menendez de Avilas on September 8, 1565. Menendez first sighted land on August 28, the feast day of Augustine of Hippo, and consequently named the settlement San Agustin...In 1586 St. Augustine was attacked and burned by English privateer Sir Francis Drake. In 1668 it was plundered by English privateer Robert Searle and most of the inhabitants were killed.

"I had to stop drinking black coffee. I thought I had a tumor in my throat but actually the pain was from blisters caused by drinking coffee."

We learn that there are lots of sights and attractions in St. Augustine: Fort Matanzas built in the 1700s, the Lightner Museum with shrunken heads and mummies, and Castillo de San Marcos, a National Monument originally built by the Spaniards in 1672 to defend the Florida coast.

Unfortunately, we can't do more than drive by these attractions because we promised the relatives that we'd be in Orlando by dinnertime.

The kids fold their paper menus into airplanes. "Look it's a jet plane, Mommy! Watch it fly!"

I'm tempted by the pies on the menu: key lime, peanut butter, and Snickers bar--all homemade. When one of the airplanes zooms across the dining room, I decide my children aren't behaving well enough for pie.

"I think I'll have another Bud Light to wash everything down. And hey bring me a piece of pie and a cup of coffee with milk!"

Black: It's the fashionable color for travelers who pack light

Three black tops, one black cardigan, one black-and-gray striped sweater, a black dress, a gray skirt, a pair of jeans, and a pair of black boots.

This might sound like the wardrobe for someone following a Cure tour--but actually it's what I stuffed into my carry-on for our 12-day trip to the South. I was determined to avoid the fee for checking a bag, and so to limit the number of clothes I needed to sport coordinated outfits, I stuck with a simple color scheme: black.

It's versatile; it goes with everything; and it doesn't show dirt--so you can wear the same top for three days in a row without anyone knowing it.

And when you stick with a single color, you only need to pack one pair of shoes--although the shoes I brought look nothing like those pictured above.

Thanksgiving road trip

Why lug a 5-year-old and a 6-year-old across the country over the Thanksgiving holiday, a time of year when airports are packed, highways clogged, and the weather notoriously dreadful?

The answer to this question is complicated. Let's just say we're searching for long-lost relatives, warmer weather, and a breath of fresh air, in both a figurative and literal sense.

Our itinerary: Fly into Jacksonville, Fl. Drive to Orlando and spend two nights with some relatives. Drive back up the coast to Savannah, Ga., to soak up some Southern charm, and then charge on to Charleston, S.C., to spend Thanksgiving with another set of relatives. Stop by the Okefenokee Swamp on our way back to Jacksonville, and then return to S.F.

Here's a rundown of our first day:

8 a.m. We need to leave the house for the airport at 11:30 a.m. Can I pack for myself and two children in three and a half hours?

8:15 a.m. Packing for the kids is easy. Two pairs of pants each. One pair shorts. Three tops. PJs. Socks. Done!

8:30 a.m. Where are the kids' swim goggles? Looks like we left those at the pool. *&#?!

8:45 a.m. Printing out coloring pages and games from Kaboose.com--great resource for children's activities.

9 a.m. Which pair of shoes can I pack that I can wear with a dress and on a hike? I'm determined to bring only one pair of shoes for myself. I want to pack light so we don't have to check luggage; the airline we're flying charges $15 a bag. Ouch!

10 a.m. Snacks for the plane: dried mango, dried apricots, apples, almonds, and a few packs of gum.

10:30 a.m. "Where's the other booster seat? I looked everywhere for it."

"Uh, I left it at Mark's house. Sorry about that. We can buy a new one when we get to Florida."

11:29 a.m. I manage to stuff everything we need into three rolling carry-ons. I realize that it takes more effort to pack light.

11:30 a.m. Taxi arrives. "Mommy! Where's Marie! I forgot Marie! I need Marie." My daughter bursts into tears as I run back into the house to look for her stuffed cat.

Noon. Check in. Go through security. We fill 12 bins with all our crap--jackets, laptops, shoes, stuffed animals...

12:15 p.m. Lunch at Klein's Deli, where the sandwiches are big and imaginative and named after famous female icons of the 20th century. I order The Piaf: roast beef, cream cheese, horseradish, dill pickle, and tomato on dark rye. My husband orders The Kahlo: chicken salad with mango chutney, almonds, raisins, a dash of curry, lettuce and tomato on wheat.

1 p.m. At the newsstand: I pick up The New Yorker and In Touch. "Mommy can we get some Tic Tacs?" "No!" "Please!" I cave.

1:15 p.m. "Where have you been? They're boarding our flight?" My husband is mad because we're late in boarding our flight and we have a lot of carry-on luggage. "There won't be enough room for our carry-ones!"

1:30 p.m. We board the plane and find space for our luggage several rows behind us. The kids watch A Charlie Brown Christmas on the laptop. Ahhh! I can relax and read about Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' dysfunctional marriage, and about Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt (isn't that over?).

1:45 p.m. "Mommy, can I have a Tic Tac?"

2 p.m. OMG! Jennifer and Brad send text-messages every day! And Tom and Katie might get a divorce.

2:15 p.m. "Mommy, can I have a Tic Tac?"

2:30 p.m. The kid sitting in front of us is sneezing and coughing--and he sounds like Darth Vader when he breathes. And then the dad says to the wife, "Honey, he feels really hot. Feel his forehead. Maybe we should take his sweater off." I grab my CleanWell hand-sanitizer from my purse: "Kids let's take a bath!"

3 p.m. "Mommy, can I have a Tic Tac?"

3:15 p.m. "Mommy, my Tic Tac is stuck in my Transformer, and I can't get it out."

3:30 p.m. "Mommy, can I have another Tic Tac?"

4 p.m. We sit next to a 17-year-old girl from Arcata. She's flying to Pensacola to visit her boyfriend who is the Marines and currently in training. "I hope he doesn't get sent to Afghanistan," she says.

4:30 p.m. Turbulence. "Mommy, are we going to crash?"

5 p.m. Tic-tac-toe with my 6-year-old. Hey, she beat me!

5:30 p.m. "Can we watch another movie?" Darn! Computer is out of juice.

6 p.m. I'm going crazy!

6:30 p.m. Hello Atlanta, Georgia! I love you! We get off the plane and buy burritos at Moe's Southwest Grill. "Mommy, this is the best burrito I have ever had," my 5-year-old says. (Living on the edge of San Francisco's Mission district obviously hasn't had an effect on my child's palette.)

7:30 p.m. We board another plane. One-hour flight to Jacksonville, Fl.

8 p.m. "Mommy, can I have another Tic Tac?"

8:30 p.m. (or 11:30 p.m. Florida time) We arrive at our destination. The computers are down at the rental car company so it takes nearly an hour to get a car. The kids are sleeping on the floor of the airport.

9:30 p.m. Step outside. It's balmy. Ahhh! "Mommy, I need to take my jacket off! Mommy I can't get my jacket off! Mommy!"

10 p.m. (1 a.m. Florida time) We check into the Best Western Executive Inn, about a mile from the airport. "Mommy, they have a swimming pool! Can we please go swimming!"

10:30 p.m. Lights are out. We're all in our comfortable beds. Ahhh! "Mommy, can I have another Tic Tac?"

Funniest family vacation photos

I love this blog post from TripBase: 13 Funniest Family Vacation Pics. They have compiled a bunch of photographs such as the one above that are certain to make you laugh--and recall just how painful and awkward a family vacation can really be (especially when you're 16 years old!).

To see all the photos: click here.

Best Western Offers Deals from 49€ (USD $73) per Night Across Europe During Two-Day Promotion

Best Western hotels across Europe and in Egypt are offering outstanding winter value during a two-day period. On Nov. 20 and Nov. 21, book a December, January or February stay on www.bestwestern.it/2daypromotion for rates starting at just 49€ per night, including breakfast. Family-size guestrooms and triple occupancy rooms start at just 69€ per night, including breakfast. Rewards program members earn 1,000 points per stay.

Countries participating in the promotion include: Armenia, Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, The Netherlands and Turkey.

For a list of the 400 participating hotels and rates, visit www.bestwestern.it/2daypromotion.

What I'm loving right now: NY Times Family Guide

I check The New York Times Web site every morning and go to the Travel section at least once a week, yet it was just today that I stumbled upon the "Family Travel Guide." Here, The Times has compiled all dozens of its past articles geared specifically to those traveling with kids in tow. You'll find stories on everything from trekking with llamas in Colorado to playgrounds in Amsterdam to camping in New York City (who new?).

It's fun to browse through the section and daydream about all the places you could take your kids. Forget Disneyland when you can tour the mosques and medinas of Marrakesh, walk through a butterfly rainforest in Florida, or go tubing in the Poconos.

I was particularly excited to find a piece on Savannah, Ga., as my kids and I will be exploring the Southern town in a few weeks. Now, I know to check out the Railroad Museum, sign up for one of the children's workshops at the Jepson Center for the Arts, and go for blueberry corn pancakes at the Firefly Cafe.

So often the articles in The Times are even better than the best guidebooks because the writers hone in on a single destination and thoroughly research it. They only write about restaurants where they have actually eaten, and when they're writing about a place from a family angle they can actually tell you about their children's experiences in that place.

Google's holiday gift: Free Wi-Fi in 47 airports

Beginning today, Google is footing the bill for wireless Internet coverage at 47 airports across the country.

Google says the Wi-Fi will be available until January 15, 2010, and they're also extending the free service to Virgin America flights within the continental United States.

The list includes airports in Austin, Boston, Des Moines, Las Vegas, Orlando, San Jose, St. Louis, and more. For a complete list, click here.

"This is one of our holiday gifts to our users, and when you connect, we also hope you'll take the opportunity to try some of the latest Google products," the company said in a statement.

The FAA estimates 100 million people will travel back and forth across the country during the holidays, and those hunkered down in airport terminals due to weather delays will likely appreciate the free Wi-Fi, according to CNNMoney.

Best Western Countdown to Savings

Best Western’s Countdown to Savings Sale starts today. For each day of this week, select Best Western hotels will offer deep rate discounts on bestwestern.com until the clock strikes 4 p.m. EST. A new theme each day will reveal new hotel deals.


Monday, Nov. 9: Hockey Cities

Boston, Mass.: Rates From - $139

Atlanta, Ga.: Rates From - $75


Tuesday, Nov. 10: Ski Destinations

Anchorage, Ala.: Rates From $80

Bozeman, Mont.: Rates From - $89


Wednesday, Nov. 11: Grab Bag

Durango, Colo.: Rates From - $79.00

Detroit Lakes, Minn.: Rates From - $68.00


Thursday, Nov. 12: Tropical Destinations

Honolulu, Hawaii: Rates From - $89.00

Tamarindo, Costa Rica: Rates From - $89.00


Friday, Nov. 13: Romantic Destinations

Sedona, Ariz.: Rates From - $175.00

Napa, Calif.: Rates From - $113.00

Winter getaways: $200 a day

Gatlinburg, Tenn.
Thousands of twinkling lights, a parade and decorated trees bring plenty of cheer to this snowy town that celebrates the cold weather with an annual Winterfest, running throughout November and December. Play: At nearby Smoky Mountains National Park (pictured), you can hike in the snow or cross-country ski on Clingmans Dome Road, which is closed to traffic for recreation. Eat: At Desserts & More, start with a healthy homemade quiche and then choose from the amazing array of pies ($4.99 a slice): from almond joy to peanut butter. Stay: On Main Street, the Best Western Zoder’s Inn offers a fireplace in the lobby, mountain views, an indoor swimming pool with a waterfall, and milk and cookies at bedtime.

Scottsdale, Ariz.
This town enjoys 300 days of sunshine a year. In the winter, the average temperature hovers in the high 60’s, but you can also get 80-degree days. Play: For sweeping views of the desert landscape, hike up the sheer sandstone cliffs of Camelback Mountain. It’s a strenuous climb but worth it on a clear winter day. Eat: The Mission in Old Town is one of the hottest restaurants around, but it can be expensive. If you belly up to the bar and order the guacamole ($12; they make it in front of you) and a margarita ($7), you can still sample the happening scene without emptying your wallet. Still hungry? Try the grilled street corn ($5). Stay: Swimming outside in winter? Yes, you can dive into the outdoor heated swimming pool at the Best Western Sundial Resort right in Old Town.

San Francisco, Calif.
California’s city known for its hills, Bay views and cable cars has some of its best weather in the winter. Yes, rain falls, but it’s not unusual to have a beautiful crystal clear day when you can comfortably walk about in a T-shirt. Play: The Golden Gate Bridge is the city’s most iconic landmark and it’s free to stroll across its 1.7-mile span. Eat: The Ferry Plaza is a foodie haven with dozens of stalls selling everything from homemade sausage to fresh-baked bread. At Taylor’s Automatic Refresher, known for its big burgers and sweet potato fries, you can easily eat for $10 a person. Stay: Only a few blocks from Union Square, the Best Western Carriage Inn sits in the heart of the city, and if you’re a AAA member you can often book a room for a little under $100.

Lake Placid, N.Y.
This little lakeside village surrounded by the Adirondacks has hosted two winter Olympics. It’s a great spot for sledding, ice skating, and skiing at the nearby Whiteface Mountain, where you can hit the slopes for $35 on select Sundays and $38 on certain Wednesdays. Play: At the Olympic Center, skate around the Olympic Speed Skating Oval where Eric Heiden won a record five gold medals in the 1980 Winter Games—costs only $5 for adults, plus a $3 skate rental. Eat: At the Lake Placid Pub & Brewery, the onion soup ($6), made with Moose Island Ale, is sure to warm you up. Also, try the steak salad ($11), and fish and chips ($10). Stay: The Best Western Adirondacks has an indoor hot tub and heated pool.

SeaWorld Orlando raises ticket price. Do you care?

SeaWorld Orlando is raising its base ticket price to almost $80, the Associated Press reports.

The base price of a one-day ticket to SeaWorld will rise $4 to $78.95. The move brings SeaWorld's base price to just 5 cents less than single-day, single-park tickets to Disney or Universal, both of which raised their own prices over the summer.

The news caught my eye because my family is going to Orlando soon, and my children are asking about visiting to SeaWorld. A $4 increase isn't huge, but $79.95 sounds like a lot. What do you think? Is the price too high? Or does it seem reasonable?

Thanksgiving road-trip tips

Planning to drive over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house this Thanksgiving holiday? AAA offers up the following tips to ensure your trip is safe and smooth.

• Get proper rest. Set aside time to pack your clothes, load your vehicle and get a full night's sleep so you can set out fresh and rested.
  
  
• Buckle up, and make sure all passengers are secured properly with safety belts and age-appropriate child safety seats. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, eight in 10 safety seats are not installed correctly. Contact your local AAA club to have a licensed child passenger safety technician inspect your child's safety seat for proper installation.
  
  
• Try to do most of your traveling during daylight hours, when visibility is best. If you find yourself driving into the glare of a rising or setting sun, consider taking a break until lighting conditions improve.
  
  
• Take stretch breaks and rotate drivers to stay alert. Driving drowsy is extremely dangerous and results in many crashes and deaths each year. A good rule of thumb is to make a rest stop every two hours or 100 miles, especially if you are traveling with children and pets.
  
  
• Keep children interested and involved in your road trip with a ready selection of cards, maps, family games, sing-along CDs and activity books -- especially ones with references to your destination. This will help keep them occupied and create more interaction among family members.

What tips do you have for travelers braving the road this Thanksgiving?

Noisy 2-year-old kicked off Southwest Airlines flight: Is this fair?

Yesterday, the Associated Press reported on a 2-year-old boy named Adam and his mom who were kicked off a San Jose-bound flight for being too noisy.

Story goes Adam was screaming "Go! Plane! Go!" and "I want Daddy."

The mom figured Adam would quiet down once the plane took off, but instead the plane returned to the gate in Amarillo Texas, and escorted them back to the airport.

The mom is demanding an apology and compensation for a portable crib and diapers she had to buy for the extra night away from home.

Southwest spokeswoman Marilee McInnis told the AP that removing a crying child from a flight is unusual but that crews have leeway to resolve situations as they see fit.

It's hard to judge the incident without really knowing how long Adam was screaming for, but let's say he was screaming for about 30 minutes, the time it takes to board everyone and roll over to the runway. Did he and his mother deserve to get kicked off the plane?

Vampire vacations

My parents grew up with Stroker's Dracula. I was an avid reader of Anne Rice. And now the next generation is reading the popular Twilight books, and vampires are more popular than ever. No doubt, a vampire themed vacation could appeal to just about anyone in the family--and Forbes just put together a roundup of 10 destinations around the world where you're bound to find someone who will want to suck your blood.

The area of Romania known as Transylvania—"home to Vlad the Impaler, the historical inspiration for Dracula"—is on the list. So is New Orleans, where you can go on a Haunted History Tours, "which take guests on “bone-chilling” tours of real and fictional vampire sites throughout The Big Easy."

To read about all 10 vampire haunts on Forbes, click here.

Photo: Bran Castle is famous for its association with the Dracula legend.

Boo at the Zoo Halloween events

Zoo animals can't eat candy but who says they can't join in all the Halloween fun. This Saturay, a handful of zoos across the country will be celebrating the spooky holiday by opening their gates to kids in costumes and offering all sorts of Halloween fun, from pumpkin carving to haunted houses.

Here are a few zoos that will be throwing scary parties this weekend:

Detroit Zoo
Saint Louis Zoo
Bronx Zoo
Birmingham Zoo

Photo: Bronx Zoo

The muppets take Pennsylvania

Jim Hensons Fantastic World, Through November 29 James A. Michener Art Museum, Doylestown, PA

Without "fences" to limit where his imagination could roam, Jim Henson (1936-1990)—artist, puppeteer, film director and producer—created elaborate imaginary worlds filled with unique characters, objects, environments and even languages and cultures. Jim Henson's Fantastic World, an exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) and the Jim Henson Legacy, offers a rare peek into the imagination and creative genius of this multitalented innovator and creator of Kermit the Frog, Big Bird and other beloved characters.

This exhibition features 100 original artworks, including drawings, cartoons and storyboards that illustrate Henson's talent as a storyteller and visionary. Among the variety of exhibition objects are puppets and television and movie props, photographs of Henson and his collaborators at work and original video productions, including excerpts from Henson's early career and experimental films.

Experience Fall on the farm

Feeding animals and picking crops might not sound like typical vacation activities, yet this is a popular trend taking off throughout the U.S. by the name of Agritourism. That's right. Thousands of families are loading up and heading to the country -- and having tons of fun along the way. After all, apples taste better minutes after you pull them off a branch and goats are quite friendly when you're feeding them alfalfa from your own hand.

Below are three places oozing with farm fun.

Hood River, Oregon

Just follow the "Fruit Loop"-that's all you have to do to find the dozens of farms dotting the valley that spreads between town and Mount Hood. The 35-mile drive passes by pumpkin patches, alpaca farms, lavender fields, harvest festivals, corn mazes, and more fresh pies than you can possibly eat. Play: Don't miss Rasmussen Farms, where kids can pull pumpkins off their vines, Kiyokawa Family Orchards where you can pick your own apples and go on a hayride, and Cascade Alpacas, where you can help feed the animals and learn to spin yarn. Eat: The menu at Celilo Restaurant features ingredients grown at Hood River Valley farms. Stay: Best Western Hood River Inn sits on the banks of the Columbia River.

Bennington, Vermont

It's hard to visit this state without passing a working farm because there are so many (find a guide to all the farms through the Farm Association). But you'll encounter a particularly scenic area in the southern part of the state surrounding this pretty town best known as a Revolutionary War battle site. Drive the tangle of roads and you'll find yourself in the heart of rural country with old covered bridges, grazing animals and fields of crops. Play: At the Apple Barn, tour the orchards, run through a corn maze, and pick up a freshly baked pie. At Adams Farm in nearby Willmington, feed the goats and chickens and go for a hayride. Eat: After a day in the field, the fresh pizzas at Marigold Kitchen hit the spot-try the Mimi Pie with local goat cheese. Stay: Best Western New Englander Motor Inn offers a free continental breakfast.

Sevierville, Tennessee

Corn mazes, pumpkins and apples, oh my! This state has much to offer for travelers hoping to celebrate the fall harvest. And outside this town near Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the best places to do that. Play: Get lost in the five-acre corn maze and go for a hayride at Kyker Farms. Shuck corn, pick pumpkins and pet farm animals at Echo Valley Farm (pictured) in nearby New Market. Eat: Break for fried apple pies and fresh cider at the Apple Barn. Stay: Best Western Greenbrier Inn is also near Dollywood theme park.

iPhone apps for getting around Disney parks

Disneyland and Disneyworld may be the happiest places on earth but they also can the most overwhelming. How do you navigate them? How do you avoid long lines? Where do you get a decent meal for a fair price?

Enter a bevy of iPhone apps aimed at helping you answer these questions. In the iTunes store, you'll find options ranging from WaitWatch offering up wait times to Hidden Mickey helping you find the mouse ears cleverly hidden throughout the parks.

Of the dozens of apps, here are the best for navigating Disney parks:

MouseWait--This newly released free iPhone app provides accurate wait times at Disneyland and California Adventure, and the chance to bring your Facebook friends into the app to create a true social Disneyland experience. Free.

Disneyland Wait Times--ride wait times for Disneyland and California Adventure. Users submit wait times so the level of accuracy is dependent upon the number of users. Free with ads; 99 cents without ads.

Notecast Disneyland and Disneyworld--a guidebook to the parks wtih over 120 pages of in-depth info on everything from parade times to "must dos" to finding Disney characters. 99 cents.

Disneyland Checklist--Are there a few rides you must go on? This app allows you to develop a checklist. 99 cents.

Disneyland Facts--Did you know that sleeping Beauty Castle was given its name four years before the movie was released? Did you know that until the 1960s young men with beards were not allowed to enter Disneyland? This app will bring alive the history of the parks--and it provides educational entertainment while you're waiting in line. $1.99.

Do you have a favorite Disney park iphone app?

Places where you can pick your own apples

The best apple I ever ate was pulled off a tree at Kiyokawa Family Orchards in Oregon's Hood River Valley. I remember that piece of fruit well. Is was a rose-colored Honey Crisp with a dense, juicy flesh that was the perfect balance of sweet and tart. I actually picked that apple myself at the Kiyokawa "pick your own" orchard. The beautiful setting amidst an orchard spreading across a valley overlooked by snowy Mount Hood only made the apple more delicious.

On a clear, cool fall day my kids and I filled a bucket with apples, and ate nearly half of our harvest on our drive back to Portland. We didn't even have enough leftovers for pie!

Across the country you'll find orchards where you can pull apples right off the tree. Here's a list of places to help you find a pick-your-own orchard:

About.com: Apple picking in New England

All About Apples: Online resource for Apple Varieties, Orchards, and Health

Apple Hill Growers Association, California

Massachusetts Department of Agriculture: Pick-Your-Own Apple Orchards

Mommy Poppins: Apple Picking Orchards in New York and New Jersey

New York Apple Country

Ohio Apples

Pick Your Own: Online database of pick-you-own orchards

Time Out New York Kids: Pick your own apples and pumpkins in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut

USA Today: 10 Great Places to Pick Your Own Apples

Virginia Apples: Guide to Pick Your Own

Photo: Courtesty Hilltop Orchards

Business trips with baby: Can they work?

About eight months after giving birth to my son and returning to work, my boss at the time asked me to attend a convention in Chicago. I was working on a travel magazine, and one of my many responsibilities was to track new travel products--from the latest suitcase designs to high-tech gadgets for working on the road.

"Sure, I'll go I said, but I'm bringing my baby."

My boss gave us the go ahead and a few weeks later we were on a plane to Chicago.

My work obligations consisted of attending the two-day convention where travel companies were showing off their wares. I walked up and down the aisles lined with booths and spoke with salespeople--and wore my son on my back in an Ergo Baby Carrier (like the one pictured).

He slept most of the time. He never cried. He was at the perfect age when he had passed the fussy stage yet he was still sleeping a lot. I remember sneaking away into the rest room a few times to nurse. There were no meetings or presentations to attend, which made things easy.

While I was definitely the only one at the convention with a baby, no one seemed to mind. Mostly, people just wanted to hold him or told me what a doll he was.

The trip was a huge success, and I was able to take the trip without leaving my new baby behind.

Have any other readers brought a new baby on a business trip? What made it work or not work?

Best Western: Fall savings

Best Western just kicked off its week-long deal bonanza, Countdown to Savings, and the clock is ticking. Through 4 p.m. ET each day this week, folks can score great deals on www.bestwestern.com for hotels located in popular fall destinations. Each day, Best Western introduces a new group of destinations and discounts under a new theme. This week’s include:

· Monday, October 12: Haunted Houses and Mazes

o Orlando, Fla. (hotel rates from $59)

o New Orleans, La. (hotel rates from $94)

· Tuesday, October 13: Basketball Season Steals

o Phoenix, Ariz. (hotel rates from $39)

o Los Angeles, Calif. (hotel rates from $75)

· Wednesday, October 14: Fall Festivals

o Sonora, Calif. (hotel rates from $89)

o Hebron, Conn. (hotel rates from $97)

· Thursday, October 15: Great Walking Cities

o San Francisco, Calif. (hotel rates from $79)

o Honolulu, Hawaii (hotel rates from $109)

· Friday, October 16: Grab Bag of Destinations

o Homer, Alaska (hotel rates from $72)

o Palm Desert, Calif. (hotel rates from $73)

o West Haven, Conn. (hotel rates from $72)

o Savannah, Ga. (hotel rates from $70)

My new favorite travel game: Bananagrams

Bananagrams is basically like Scrabble without the board. You use tiles imprinted with letters to create words. It's fast and fun and doesn't require a board, paper, or pen. It has won oodles of awards for being a great travel game, and when my 6-year-old daughter recently tested it out, she was instantly hooked. And so was her mom. We'll definitely be bringing along this banana on our next trip.