Before Disney: The Places That Made Me Love Summer Travel

Before Disney and Universal, my summer travel memories started with Eldridge Park, the Troy Fair, Darien Lake, and Hersheypark.

Before Disney and Universal, my summer travel memories started with Eldridge Park, the Troy Fair, Darien Lake, and Hersheypark.

I’ve written before about why I usually book hotels directly instead of using third-party sites. Most of the time, everything goes exactly as planned and it probably doesn’t matter much who handled the reservation. The difference shows up when something…

I used to think a good vacation meant fitting in as much as possible. Now I plan differently — with more room to rest, change plans, and actually enjoy where I am.

I almost always book hotels direct. Loyalty points, better odds of upgrades or discounts, and fewer headaches when something goes wrong are the biggest reasons why.

Things can go wrong even on a carefully planned Disney World vacation. Here’s what we learned from medical emergencies, a dead car battery, and other real-life problems.

I’m a Disney adult. I’m also a Potterhead who loves Revenge of the Mummy. These things are not mutually exclusive. Disney will probably always have a special place in my travel plans. I know the parks. I have favorite resorts,…