Laura Allen

We’re all familiar with Disney World, but what’s a Disney Cruise like? I like to call it ‘Disney Lite’ because it has all the Disney Magic without the enormous crowds and lines of the Disney Parks. The whole experience is designed for families—from the themed dining rooms to the amazing slide-in kids club to the Broadway style shows. We all know that when the kids are happy, the adults are happy. :)

Hawai'i is such a magical destination that’s hard to describe until you’ve visited. The islands have a rich cultural history, amazing local food and stunning topography -- it definitely does not feel like the US. If you’ve got the time, I’d recommend checking out two islands as flights between islands are inexpensive and quick. I visited the stunning Turtle Bay on the north shore of Oahu and the enchanting Mauni Lani on the Big Island (Hawai’i) and fell in love with both properties.

If you aren’t familiar with the island of St. Barthlemy, it’s a small French island in the Caribbean that’s only accessible via commuter plane from St. Martin or Puerto Rico. There’s also a ferry from St. Martin, but I hear it can be rough. The island is known for incredible French fusion food, boutique hotels and beach clubs. The main town of Gustavia is adorable (and very safe) and you definitely want an afternoon to walk around as well as a big budget for the high-end shopping.) The island is very popular for the festive period and generally pretty busy from November-February and then calms down a bit March-July. Like most Caribbean islands, many places shut down for hurricane season August-October.

Bar Harbor is a wonderful place to introduce kids to nature and hiking and will satisfy everyone in the family. The town itself is adorable and walkable. It really comes alive in the summer. There are ice cream shops, live music on the green, cute patios and gorgeous views of Frenchman Bay. Low tide means you can walk right out into the bay where there are amazing tide pools for little kids to splash around in or search for sea creatures. Of course, the main attraction is Acadia National Park, which offers both easy and more difficult hiking, beaches, bike trails and some incredible vistas.

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean, so it can be hard to know where to stay and how many stops to include. Unlike the rest of Italy, there’s not a train that serves the whole island, so your best bet will be to rent a car or have an advisor arrange transportation. To really get a feel for this amazing island, I’d recommend two to three stops during a 7-day Sicily itinerary. You’ll want to see the gorgeous countryside dotted with historic villages, the stunning coastline and the famous volcano, Mt. Etna.

Buenos Aires is a historic and elegant city and many are surprised to find it has a European feel with its 19th-century buildings and charming neighborhoods. Each of the neighborhoods or ‘barrios’ have different characters so it’s one of those cities where you’ll want to spend a lot of time simply meandering along the tree-lined streets to get a feel for each area. In contrast, Mendoza is a small city with many art deco buildings and small plazas at the foothills of the Andes mountains (in the heart of wine country!). A short, easy flight connects the two cities and makes for a perfect Christmas + New Year’s trip (plus, it’s warm!!)

Portugal is family-friendly and easy to get around with a rental car, making it an awesome choice for travel with younger kids. The gorgeous Algarve region is not even three hours south of Lisbon so the two areas pair perfectly together for a week long trip. Relax at one of the many beach resorts along the southern coast to enjoy the views and wide open space, and then head to the city where there are plenty of activities for kids and adults. The Portuguese people were wonderful with our 18 month old - we had many waiters making silly faces, picking up and washing pacifiers and just generally making us feel welcome. Plus, the wine is divine and cheap :)