Family Travel With Colleen Kelly

Family Travel expert Colleen Kelly explores Pensacola, Florida, home of the Blue Angels, with her daughters and local families, starting with a visit to the National Naval Aviation Museum. Colleen and her kids learn that not only can families watch the Blue Angels in action for free, but they can actually meet them in person. Colleen's daughters get hands-on experience of their own at the National Flight Academy, where simulators take the girls soaring high above ... well, virtually, at least! To round out the views from above, a visit to the Pensacola Lighthouse shows off the sites. With a local family, Colleen and her daughters go back in time and learn about Pensacola's past at the historic downtown area. Colleen learns how to shuck oysters, and the girls try them for the first time. The family also braves another "first" by taking a high flying adventure parasailing above the Gulf Coast. Together with a grandmother and grandson duo, Colleen and her girls create artistic souvenirs from Perdido Key. They end their adventure throwing out the first pitch at a Blue Wahoos baseball game at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium, named one of the best ballparks in the country for its incredible view, food and more. Watch to see if Colleen makes it over the plate!

Wales is a gem of a country, offering old-world charm and 21st century adventure. Starting off in Cardiff, Colleen Kelly explores the capital's history at the famous Cardiff Castle, and then she takes a leap in time at the wildly popular Dr. Who exhibit, which brings the locally-produced TV show to life for visitors. Colleen then travels up the coast to Swansea to learn about Welsh technology, before heading to Llanelli to learn how to play rugby from one of the country's greatest all time players, Phil Bennett. Colleen tours Portmeirion, a beautiful getaway tucked along the coast, where young and old come to unwind and indulge in the breathtaking views. Not far from Portmeirion, Colleen takes a ride on the Ffestiniog railway, which is in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest narrow gauge railway in the world! Last stop is Conwy in Snowdonia, home to the smallest house in the UK and the train station with the longest name, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyll-llantysiliogogogoch. While in the Snowdonia region, Colleen takes a cooking class with local children and indulges in Welsh specialties at the Bodnant Food Centre. To top off her visit to Wales, Colleen gets her adrenaline pumping on the fastest zip line in the world...going over 100 miles per hour!

Discover the family fun offered in the 55,000-acre water playground known as Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri, with family travel expert Colleen Kelly. To kick off the vacation, Colleen and her kids get an aerial view of the lake, which shows off its unusual snakelike curves. The 1,100 miles of shoreline is perfect for watersports of all kinds, from fishing with a professional fisherman to learning how to wakeboard with a world champion! An old-fashioned paddle wheeler tour and a pirate ship adventure are exciting for grandparents and kids alike. In addition to all of the lakefront fun, there are family friendly activities on shore, too! Colleen and her girls meet a local family at Blair's Landing to learn how to make their sweet and unique treats. A visit to Lake of the Ozarks wouldn't be complete without a tour of the Bridal Cave to learn about the stories that lie beneath the earth. And the learning continues with a leisurely hike through Ha Ha Tonka State Park, where Colleen and her daughters meet a group of families to discover the history of the castle ruins located on the park grounds. It's a vacation packed with outdoor adventure!

The Palm Beaches of Florida are known for beautiful golf courses, polo grounds and pristine beaches, but did you know the area is also a wonderful family vacation destination? Join Colleen Kelly as she explores a sampling of family-friendly activities in the area. The vacation includes a behind-the-scenes visit to the first drive-thru safari park in the United States, where Colleen and her daughters meet a turtle that's more than 90 years old! Turtle fever continues with a visit to learn about turtle rescue and care followed by a surfing lesson and a canoe ride through Riverbend Park. The Palm Beaches are known for polo and golf, as the area hosts international competitions in both sports. So a visit to The Palm Beaches would not be complete without polo and golf lessons, and, lucky for Colleen, she and the kids get to learn from some of the best. Colleen also met parents and guides to explore local cuisine, the shopping scene on iconic Worth Avenue, and the Ann Norton Sculpture Garden, where they take an interactive tour for children. Colleen and the kids pack a lot of family-friendly fun into their vacation at The Palm Beaches.

Boston offers family fun all year round. Colleen explored Boston for a winter break getaway, finding its rich history, seafood delights and hands-on activities are great any time of the year. Colleen kicks off the visit to Boston with a friendly greeting from the seals at New England Aquarium. She joins a family at the Harvard Museum of Natural History for a lesson in minerals and crystals. And of course, you can't go to Boston without trying lobster! She and family friends learn how to properly crack open lobsters while discovering their connection to colonial times. And speaking of colonial times, taking a Freedom Trail Tour with a stop at the Old State House is a must! On this tour, we stopped at Paul Revere's gravesite, the Old South Meeting House and Faneuil Hall. If your family is looking for culture you might enjoy the Museum of Fine Arts, where Colleen and a family explored the museum using the Art Connections Cards. The free activity helps parents get even the youngest children excited about art. The vacation in Boston is rounded out with a dip in an indoor saltwater pool and a hands-on visit to the Museum of Science, where we developed our engineering skills. Boston has something for everyone, from freedom fighter to foodie and aquarium lover to budding artist ... a great destination to add to your family vacation bucket list!

A short drive from Quebec City, Canada, is Saguenay-Lac-St. Jean, a beautiful region in the Quebec Province that offers majestic views and fun for the whole family. Colleen Kelly and her children start by getting up close and personal with whales, by taking a boat tour of the magical area where the St Lawrence River and the Saguenay Fjord meet. After visiting the Fjord, the whales' "playground," Colleen and the girls go to the Fjord Museum to literally dig in and learn more about the environment. They also go on their first hands-on sailing adventure and soar through the trees on a daring ropes course at Cap Jaseux. The vacation continues with a step back in time at the Historic Village de Val-Jalbert, where presenters in period costumes explain what life was like in the area during the 1920's. A behind-the-scenes experience at the Zoo Sauvage de Saint-Felicien allows Colleen and the children to be zookeepers for the day, which includes weighing a camel and preparing food for the animals. It's a vacation full of breathtaking scenery and unique adventures for the whole family.

Chicago is a magical city any time of year, but during the holidays it really comes to life! Colleen Kelly joins families on a fun-filled tour of Chicago, celebrating winter traditions around the city starting with the Christmas Around the World tree display at the Museum of Science and Industry. The holiday magic continues with a high tea, a visit to the Christkindl Market and a tour of the holiday-decorated Thorne Miniature Rooms at The Art Institute. To round out the vacation in Chicago, Colleen and a family explore the wonders of the Field Museum and the incredible displays of fossils and dinosaur bones, including SUE the T. Rex. She also takes viewers to a unique spice shop in the Old Town neighborhood where visitors can buy spices for their holiday recipes and even as souvenirs! The trip ends with a visit to the top of the John Hancock Building where Colleen and a family brave the high in the sky sites overlooking the city at 360 Chicago and The Tilt experience. With so much to do even during the wintertime, Chicago is a wonderful family vacation getaway during the holidays.

Colleen Kelly uncovers quintessential Switzerland, family style! Starting the adventure with a scooter tour in the town of Arosa, Colleen joins area families at a cheese factory to learn about one of Switzerland's most well-known culinary delights. Her exploration continues in the Aletsch Arena area, where she meets an expert to learn more about the largest glacier in the Alps and a Unesco World Heritage Site. To get a bird's eye view of the area, Colleen tests her bravery and leaps off a mountain on a paragliding adventure ... what a way to see Switzerland! Colleen joins a family snow tubing down a glacier! It's a fast slide down to the bottom, but the thrill is well worth it -- check that one off the bucket list! Last, but not least, Colleen accompanies a family on a tour of a local chocolate factory where they not only learn about the addictive Swiss treat, but also are able to make their very own bars of chocolate to take home. You can't ask for a better souvenir!

There is nothing better than getting to know the locals. Colleen Kelly spends this part of her Swiss adventure with three families who show her the sites, tastes and fun that they enjoy in their own communities. A mountain bike tour kicks off the vacation, followed by a lesson in how to make an alphorn, a traditional Swiss instrument. She then attends a pizza-making class at a local pizzeria. The second part of the vacation brings Colleen to a nature playground called the Mooraculum, where she joins another family with American and Swiss roots, accompanying them to a local farm for a pony ride with their children. It's a typical weekend adventure for the children who love to ride horses. The vacation wraps up with the third family on a treasure hunt by train. After finding all of the clues, the children receive a fun prize at the train station. To top off the vacation, Colleen and the kids fill their need for speed on a toboggan run. There is nothing better than making new friends and enjoying their culture, food and fun!

Colleen and her daughters head to the sunny Emerald Coast of Florida for a relaxing vacation along the Gulf of Mexico. They get a deluxe lesson in how to build a sandcastle from a professional, making an extraordinary three-tower castle! Their next adventure is a dolphin cruise, where the dolphins swim so close to the boat, they can practically touch them! Colleen and the girls then visit the Gulfarium, where they do touch a dolphin and even paint with her, as part of a behind-the-scenes program called Dolphin Doodle. In addition to beautiful beaches, the Emerald Coast is known for its Native American history. The Indian Temple Mound and Museum located in Ft. Walton has one of the finest collections of artifacts and prehistoric ceramics in the Southeastern United States. Colleen also meets a local chef to learn about the fish in the area and tricks for getting kids to try new foods. She then has a fishing lesson on the Okaloosa Island Pier in Destin, known for being the luckiest fishing village. To top off the vacation, Colleen and the girls try jet skiing for the first time, taking in amazing views of the Emerald Coast area from the water. From Ft Walton to Okaloosa Island to Destin, Florida, the Emerald Coast offers fun for the whole family.