Top 5:

• Mexico: With 19,659,000 U.S. residents visiting in 2006, this Spanish-speaking country is almost like our second home, ranking as the Number 1 vacation destination for Americans.
• Canada: Our neighbor to the north opens its doors to 13,855,000 travelers every year, treating us to superb ski slopes, delicious French cuisine and stunning views.
• United Kingdom: The United Kingdom — England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales — warmly received 3,286,000 American travelers in 2006, inviting them to enjoy the Emerald Isle, Big Ben and the brogue-laced Scottish countryside.
• France: With 2,231,000 visitors in 2006, travel to this francophone country was up 1 percent, as Americans walked the Champs Elysees, enjoyed the beauty of Provence, and took in the sites of the French Alps.
• Italy: With an 8 percent increase, Italy had 2,201,000 American visitors in 2006, treating them to gelato, real pesto and the delight of authentic Italian pastas.

The Top 20 are rounded out, in order, by Germany, Jamaica, Bahamas, Japan, People’s Republic of China, Spain, Netherlands, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Republic of China (Taiwan), Switzerland, Republic of Korea, Australia, and Greece/Thailand (tie).

So which have you visited? Which are on your list?

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If you’re looking for a break from the snow and cold this winter, give Wisconsin a try. It sounds like reverse logic, but the Wisconsin Dells are actually a secret oasis of whitewater fun, no matter what time of year it is.

For decades the Dells have been known as the water park capital of the world, but in the last few years indoor water parks have taken hold and gigantic theme parks are cropping up all over. These parks give you the same thrills and splashing good times that the more traditional outdoor parks offer but their appeal is the all-weather excitement.

Most of these parks are open only to guests so the lines aren’t very long and it’s easier to wear your kids out with a day of fun in the water. But, if you want to save a few bucks and avoid the pricey resort fees, a few of the indoor parks do offer day rates.

Highlights include the Polynesian Resort’s Blackbeard Mystery Voyage, a pirate themed water ride; the great expanse that is Wilderness Resort’s 160,000 square feet of rides and slides; Kalahari’s Pro Bowl, a ride that is eerily similar to a toilet bowl; and the view of the snowy drifts outside from atop the waterslides at the Treasure Island Waterpark Resort.

(Photo via flickr cc)

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In Australia, especially along the coast, eating seafood is a must, and the seafood at the Pier is always fresh and superbly cooked. They even have specially trained fishermen providing them with the fish they need, caught and killed in the prescribed way so that they’ll taste freshest and best!

For travelers continuing around Australia, the top rated restaurant in Melbourne in this year’s awards is the Vue de Monde; in Brisbane, it’s E’cco and in Australia’s capital, Canberra, it’s Artespresso. While many people ask what typical Australian cuisine really is, the country is such a melting pot of cultures and foods that there’s no easy answer, other than to try these top restaurants for yourself and see what’s on the menu. But one tip: fresh seafood eaten anywhere along the Australian coast while looking over one of their magnificent beaches surely tastes better than most seafood in the rest of the world.

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• Allow everyone a certain amount of time to control what’s on the radio. Yes, you hate your teenager’s passion for angsty emo music. No, you don’t want to listen to your toddler’s sing-a-long CD again. But it won’t kill you to tolerate either of these for an hour, and sharing the radio can significantly ease the tension in the vehicle. Plus, it teaches your kids some great lessons about sharing, compromise and getting along.
• Give everyone in the car a tool for quiet time. Sometimes, the car radio needs to be turned off and the kids need to be immersed in something that gets their attention without annoying anyone else in the vehicle. MP3 players, video games and handheld DVD players can all be made silent through the use of headphones and everyone gets to enjoy their own time to themselves.
• Car games. Standard favorite games like “I Spy” and the search for the alphabet on passing road signs never get too old to make good use of passing the time in the car.
• Stop frequently. Yes, it will take longer for you to get to where you are going but the trip itself will go much more smoothly. Stop and see interesting things along the roadside. Get out and enjoy a sit-down lunch instead of snacking in the car. If you can plan your trip in advance, let each of the kids pick one thing that they want to stop and do during the trip. Looking forward to that will help keep them entertained during the ride.
• Let each child pack a bag of toys. All kids should get the same bag for the trip so there’s no fighting about who brought more of what. The bag may include books, action figures, crossword puzzles or any other distractions that each child enjoys. Make them responsible for their own bag and they’ll bring along things to keep themselves entertained.
• Talk. Many families are so worried about keeping everyone happy that they forget about the value of just spending time together. Use the road trip as an opportunity to get to know your kids better. Everyone in the family loves the spotlight now and again and this is a time when they can have your mostly undivided attention.

Long road trips can be an annoying aspect of family travel. However, they don’t have to be. You can enjoy the time that you spend with your family while using toys and pit stops to give everyone the break from each other that they need.

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The Churchill Hotel is celebrating the completion of its $10 million renovation by offering the extremely discounted rate of $79 per night during the months of November and December.

Located in Dupont Circle, the Churchill is near Embassy Row and convenient to the Metro. The century-old hotel now offers wireless high speed Internet in all rooms while retaining a stylish atmosphere. The in-house Chartwell Grill Restaurant and Lounge serves Continental cuisine and hearty breakfasts.

Although November and December aren’t the most weather friendly months to visit, there is always much to see in DC regardless of the time of year: The White House Christmas tree draws thousands of visitors annually; the charming neighborhood of Georgetown offers some of the finest retail stores around; and the museums in the Mall are free constantly updating their exhibits.

To take advantage of this fantastic rate, visit www.thechurchillhotel.com.

(Photo by flickr cc)

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Quebec, Canada is unique in several ways: It is the only Canadian province to have been declared a nation within the country, it is the largest province by area, and it is the only province whose official language is French. It is also a prime region for winter sports–especially skiing.

Quebec City, the province’s capital, offers much to tourists, including delicious food, rich cultural offerings, and stunning scenery. It’s the perfect home base for your Quebec ski vacation, within 45 minutes of four top-class ski mountains.

• Mont-Sainte-Anne offers spectacular ski facilities to all, including 64 ski trails spread over three mountain sides, 10 FIS-certified trails reserved for international competition, and a snowboarder’s dream snowpark.
• Stoneham is home to the famous 418 Snowpark, full of half pipes, jumps, and anything else a snowboarder could want. Its unique valley location protects the mountain from harsh winds, offering you a warmer climate in which to experience its 32 trails, four mountains, and exceptional facilities.
• Le Relais is a family-friend ski area featuring 25 ski tracks that are always guaranteed to be covered in snow, thanks to the park’s emphasis on trail maintenance.
• Le Massif towers high into the sky, offering not only fabulous ski trails, but heart-stopping views of the the ocean and Quebec City below. After you’ve finished looking around you, you can fly down the mountain on any one of their 42 trails.

(Photo via flickr cc)

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Taking a family vacation is the perfect time to work together with your children on a special vacation-related project. Depending on the age of your children, and the technology available on the journey, you could write a journal together, make a scrapbook, or even make a web page or blog.

When I traveled around Europe with my family as a 9 year old, my mother had numerous projects to keep me occupied and interested. Not only did these projects stop me from being bored or disgruntled, they also left me with momentoes like journals and scrapbooks that I still cherish. You can do the same with your kids on a family vacation. Here are some tips:

1. Collect everyday things from your travels. In a foreign country, especially, these will be fascinating for children: wrappers from food, receipts from shops, small coins and colorful brochures in other languages are all examples of interesting things to collect.
2. Create a scrapbook with your child while you’re on the road. Be sure to take scissors, glue and other stationery items to help make fun and creative pages. Help your child to organize the collection by themes or by destinations.
3. In a foreign country, explore the language with your child. I kept a small notebook where I’d write down new words I heard or saw in each different European country we visited. Usually it was things like the words for “open” or “closed” on shops, or vocabulary from a supermarket outing.
4. Draw the route you’re taking on maps and encourage your child to learn about the geography of wherever you’re traveling: talk about the population, the currency, help them draw the state or national flag, and so on.
5. Have your child fill a sketchbook with drawings and impressions of their new surroundings. Not only does it provide an interesting memory later, but it encourages them to focus their attention better on the new things they’re seeing. For example, if you visit an art gallery with your family, find a comfortable place to sit near your child’s favorite painting and suggest that they draw a copy of it in their sketchbook.
6. Older children can keep a diary or journal, writing about each day’s experiences. Remind them to write about everything they saw and did that was new, as well as how they felt about it. It might turn into a precious book that the whole family can use to reminisce about the trip in years to come, or your child might want to keep it private.

(Photo via flickr cc)

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The 21-inch Roll-Aboard bag is a big departure away from packs that can be carried on your back. This is a really light bag with a lot of space. The compartments can be expanded, although it is only suitable for carrying as hand luggage when it’s in the unexpanded state.

If you’re traveling independently and will need to get around on public transportation or do quite a bit of walking, I still think a backpack is the only way to go. But perhaps if you’ve got transfers to hotels arranged and aren’t moving around too much between destinations, something like this Rick Steves bag might also do the trick.

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The Yakima Valley, in Washington State, is home to over 60 percent of the wine grapes grown in that state. The region, located in the southern end of the Columbia River basin, is also a major producer of hops (used to make beer) and a whole range of fruits. Visitors to the area will find plenty to explore–wineries, orchards, museums, the scenic Yakima Canyon, and even a Native American-run casino.

The wineries

The Yakima Valley is home to some of Washington’s best-known wineries, including Columbia Crest Winery and Hogue Cellars. Most have tasting rooms where you can sample the local vintages, often for free.

Nature and its bounty

The Yakima Valley region is also a major producer of fruit–cherries, plums, peaches and pears. Visitors can drive the Zillah Fruit Loop, a circuit around many of the region’s orchards, dotted with roadside stands.

Other sights

In addition to orchards and wineries, the Yakima Valley is known for producing hops. Over 75 percent of the US production comes from this area. To celebrate this, the area is home to the American Hops Museum, which tells the story of hops over the years–here and abroad. Other area attractions include the Yakima Canyon, a favorite of hikers, bikers and kayakers, and Yakima’s many antique stores.

(Photo via flickr cc)

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The Couch Surfing Project is an Internet-based initiative with about 350,000 members worldwide, of whom about 40 percent are willing to open their homes to other travelers. It’s currently the largest hospitality exchange network.

Membership is free and simply requires registration at the website. Travelers then search for people who are willing to host them on their journeys. A personal vouching system exists and guests are highly encouraged to do their research. The aim is to provide guests with a free place to crash while they’re exploring. But if your host offers you meals or other amenities, like use of a vehicle, you’re always welcome to reimburse them or fill up the tank.

If you’re just dying to take a trip but just can’t see handing your hard-earned cash over to some overpriced hotel chain, then you may want to check out the couch surfing website http://www.couchsurfing.com for further details. Or if you’d like to invite a budget-conscious traveler into your home, feel free to explore the site and register.

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