Allison Tibaldi

Allison Tibaldi - Writer

Allison is a native New Yorker who's been lucky enough to have lived in Italy, Australia and Canada. She is fluent in Italian and Spanish, and
believes that language is a key to understanding other cultures. She frequently contributes travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they journey around the globe. She's also a senior writer at offManhattan.com, contributing car-free vacation ideas. Her background as an Early Childhood Educator gives her an added understanding of what it takes to travel with kids in tow, and she firmly believes that the most important part of education takes place outside of the classroom on the road. Her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine.

Latest posts by Allison Tibaldi

The Roosevelt Ride: Day Trip Celebrates FDR in Hudson Valley

Submitted by Allison Tibaldi on Thu, 08/04/2016 - 4:10pm

FDR looms large in many Americans' minds as the man who led the country through the Great Depression and the only president to serve three terms. For New Yorkers, the legacy of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the nation's 32nd president, is perhaps even more pervasive.

He was born in Dutchess County's Hyde Park and his family was deeply connected to the Hudson Valley. He served in the New York State Senate and later as the governor of the state before ascending to the White House. Today, the area boasts several historic Roosevelt sites that help introduce visitors to our longest-serving president and First Lady Eleanor, including the FDR Presidential Library and Museum and the Franklin Roosevelt Park. Even a number of NYC sites carry his name. Time for a visit to Roosevelt Island?

A visit to Hyde Park, though, is a unique educational opportunity for children and parents—and don't count out a visit with young children. The shady grounds of the various Roosevelt sites offer plenty of room to romp in the fresh air. How to see it all, you ask? On the Roosevelt Ride, of course! This efficient shuttle takes visitors on a tour of the most important historic Roosevelt sites in and around Hyde Park—for FREE. We've got the scoop on catching the Roosevelt Ride as well as details on sites along the route, all adding up to a car-free, family-friendly day trip that’s heavy on history with a side helping of nature.

25 Things To Do in Cincinnati with Kids

Submitted by Allison Tibaldi on Sat, 07/23/2016 - 12:00pm

Cincinnati, Ohio hits the highbrow and lowbrow sweet spot for families. It may be referred to as the Queen City, but there are no regal airs in this utterly unpretentious town.

Proud of its working-class roots, Cincinnati forges into the 21st century with plenty of innovations. Its compact core makes it ideal for walking and an eagerly anticipated new streetcar route opens in September, connecting its diverse outlying neighborhoods with the vibrant downtown. Nature lovers can bask in Cincinnati's leafy parks just minutes from the city center. Pro sports are a big deal, with baseball’s Reds and football’s Bengals leading the charge, but families with an interest in history and the arts have also come to the right place.

To help families get the most out a visit to Ohio's Queen City, we've pulled together a carefully curated list of things to see and experience with kids. For more stateside family vacation ideas, be sure to check out our United States Family Travel Guide.

25 Things To Do with Kids in Palm Beach County, Florida

Submitted by Allison Tibaldi on Sat, 06/25/2016 - 12:30pm

You might think of Palm Beach as a preppy playground for America’s elite. In truth, Florida’s largest county offers families an array of activities at a variety of price points.

If you want to explore nature on land or at sea, the 38 diverse cities and towns within Palm Beach County are loaded with eco-options. Of course, most people come here to frolic in the 47 miles of Atlantic surf, so slather on the sunscreen and schedule plenty of unstructured time to build sand castles and jump waves.

If you’re seeking a value vacation, you can score big summertime bargains. As the heat and humidity rise, resorts slash their room rates until just before Thanksgiving. Flights to Palm Beach International Airport take about two hours from New York or Philadelphia, with the journey from Boston adding on a few extra minutes. Book a nonstop flight and you can be here in less time than it takes to drive from Manhattan to the Hamptons on a Friday night.

Summer Travel Deals for Families: Disney, Hamptons, Legoland

Submitted by Allison Tibaldi on Sat, 06/04/2016 - 12:00pm

The school year is coming to an end, and prime summer vacation season is about to get under way. If you still haven’t planned your escape, no problem. We have you covered. We’ve found bona fide deals at classic East Coast summer resorts like Mohonk in Hudson Valley and Woodloch in the Poconos, plus savings at Disney, in the Caribbean, Southern California and a low-key Hamptons spot. The catch? Some of these deals are good for travel just for June. So get booking!

Read on for 11 money-saving deals on family travel going on now at some of our favorite family resorts and destinations.

7 Favorite Upstate New York Getaways for Families

Submitted by Allison Tibaldi on Thu, 05/26/2016 - 4:30pm

New York City and its surrounding suburbs have enough attractions to keep a family busy for a lifetime, but that doesn’t mean you should let its magnetic energy prevent you from exploring upstate New York’s bounty. The less visited northern and western parts of the state are loaded with fantastic and even international attractions that present a feast for families. Whether you're seeking nature, culture, recreation or a combination of all three, the Empire State won’t disappoint.

Check out these seven kid-friendly upstate vacation destinations that will have the whole family saying “I Love New York.”

And find more regional travel ideas in our Weekend Getaways and Day Trip Guide.

25 Things To Do with Kids in Daytona Beach, Florida

Submitted by Allison Tibaldi on Fri, 04/22/2016 - 11:00am

With 23 miles of sand and surf, no wonder Daytona Beach is a vacation favorite. Swimming and sand castles combine with an old-fashioned pier, arcade games and salt-water taffy for a throwback family vacation of the finest caliber.

This Florida beach attracts a magnetic force, but this town boasts a range of non-beach attractions. Famous as the birthplace of auto racing, no visit is complete without a pit stop at the Daytona International Speedway. Motorbikes are a major presence in Daytona Beach and you’ll see bike enthusiasts of all ages cruising around town. Rainy days are no problem, as the Smithsonian-affiliated Museum of Arts & Sciences will keep the kids entertained.

It's true that spring break is big here, but once the college kids leave, families rule. The vibe is pure Americana and the retro feel translates to prices. Budget-friendly hotel, restaurants and attractions add to the appeal.

11 Best US Aquariums for Your Next Family Vacation

Submitted by Allison Tibaldi on Fri, 04/15/2016 - 12:30pm

A visit to a top-notch aquarium is a great way for kids to explore the secrets of the sea. New York tristate families are blessed with an array of regional aquariums. The New York Aquarium in Coney Island that's undergoing a renovation, the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, the Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead and the Adventure Aquarium with its new Shark Bridge in Camden are fine day trips.

If you’re looking for really fabulous odes to underwater environments and sea life that are simultaneously entertaining and educational, we’ve found them, from a 28-foot-tall kelp forest to a jellyfish invasion. The following 11 aquariums up the aquatic ante and are so worth the trip.

25 Things to Do in Berlin with Kids

Submitted by Allison Tibaldi on Fri, 02/19/2016 - 1:00pm

Yes, it's ultra-hip and loaded with cool nightclubs, but the city of Berlin surprises as a great family vacation destination with impressive museums, wide-open green spaces, affordable hotels—and even a Legoland. Berlin never tries to hide its brutal past; reminders of the Holocaust are everywhere, making a visit part history lesson, so be prepared for frank questions from your kids regarding Germany’s complicated legacy. A tolerant spirit pervades, so families of every configuration should feel at home.

Making spring break or summer travel plans? Check our U.S. regional travel guides for more family travel planning or some of our recent family resort reviews.

Allison Tibaldi

Allison Tibaldi

Latest posts by Allison Tibaldi

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