Fun with the Family Virginia: 8th ed. (Globe Pequot Press, 2010)

Hundreds of Ideas for day trips with the kids

“Bound to lead you and your kids to fun-filled days…that help compose the memories of childhood .“
Family Travel Times

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Fun with the Family Virginia: 7th ed. (Globe Pequot Press, 2008)

Hundreds of Ideas for day trips with the kids

From well-known sites to little-known places, families will find plenty to do in Virginia. Discover hiking, swimming, biking, and more in Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge; get wet at a forty-acre water park in Williamsburg; or visit the Virginia State Capitol building--designed by Thomas Jefferson--in Richmond. The whole family will enjoy:

• Exploring Shenandoah National Park
• Going back in time at Colonial Williamsburg
• Discovering underwater life at the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center
• Swimming, hiking, and searching for fairy stones at Fairy Stone State Park

Review: "Not many travel guides cater to the entire family by combining activities and stops that both parent and child can enjoy. With [this book], Stapen fills this niche. She includes restaurants that satisfy both mature and youthful palates . . . and fun sites to visit: from the educational to the whimsical."
--The Bloomsbury Review

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Fun with the Family Virginia: 6th ed. (Globe Pequot Press, 2006)

Hundreds of Ideas for day trips with the kids

Written by a parent, for parents, this opinionated, personal, and easy-to-use guide has hundreds of ideas to keep the kids entertained for an hour, a day, or a weekend! Fun with the Family™ Virginia leads the way to amusement parks, historical attractions, children’s museums, wildlife habitats, festivals, parks, and much more. The whole family will enjoy:

• Creating a circus with puppets and clay animals at Art Venture in Roanoke Valley
• Going behind the scenes with an overnight stay at the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center
• Feasting on a fried chicken buffet or learning a colonial dance at the Michie Tavern ca. 1784 restaurant and museum
• Fishing, hiking, and searching for fairy stones at Fairy Stone State Park

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Fun with the Family Virginia: 5th ed. (Globe Pequot Press, 2004)

Hundreds of Ideas for day trips with the kids

This guide to hundreds of family activities in Virginia includes not only well-known sites such as Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, and Monticello, but also the SPCA Petting Zoo, The Tugboat Museum, and Dinosaur Land.

Written by a parent for parents, this opinionated, personal, and easy-to-use guide has the best things to see and do to keep the kids busy and happy for an hour, a day, or a weekend - a guaranteed antidote to vacation boredom. Take a look inside for up-to-the-minute information on Virginia's family attractions, detailed maps, quick reference icons, age-appropriate guidelines and kid-friendly restaurants and places to stay.

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Fun with the Family Virginia: 4th ed. (Globe Pequot Press, 2002)

Hundreds of Ideas for day trips with the kids

Here's the inside information on all the family-friendly fun to be had in the Old Dominion State. Fun with the Family in Virginia leads the way to amusement parks, hiking trails, zoos and aquariums, children's museums, festivals, parks, and much more.

Written by a parent for parents, this opinionated, personal, and easy-to-use guide has the best things to see and do to keep the kids busy and happy for an hour, a day, or a weekend - a guaranteed antidote to vacation boredom. Take a look inside for up-to-the-minute information on Virginia's family attractions, detailed maps, quick reference icons, age-appropriate guidelines and kid-friendly restaurants and places to stay.

Available at Amazon.com

Fun with the Family Virginia: 3rd ed. (Globe Pequot Press, 2001)

Hundreds of Ideas for day trips with the kids

Written by a parent, for parents, this opinionated, personal and easy-to-use guide has the best things to see and do to keep the kids busy and happy for an hour, a day, or a weekend-a guaranteed antidote to vacation boredom!

Unavailable

Fun with the Family Virginia: 2nd ed. (Globe Pequot Press, 1998)

Hundreds of Ideas for day trips with the kids

Written by a parent, for parents, this opinionated, personal and easy-to-use guide has the best things to see and do to keep the kids busy and happy for an hour, a day, or a weekend-a guaranteed antidote to vacation boredom!

Available at Amazon.com

Great Family Vacations Northeast 3rd ed. (2001)

Family-travel expert Candyce H. Stapen has taken the hassle out of vacation planning with Great Family Vacations Northeast. Inside you'll find 25 complete vacations loaded with enough activities to keep every member of your family happy for weeks!

Whether you're looking for museums and historic sites, thrill-a-minute amusement parks, animal attractions, natural wonders and the great outdoors, sporting events, or a healthy dose of all of the above and more, here's everything you need to make your next family vacation a great family vacation.

This information-packed guide includes: hundreds of exciting things to see and do, valuable family-travel tips, family-friendly places to lodge and dine, personally recommended side trips, important local sources of information, and handy travel directions.

Publisher: Globe Pequot Press (May 2001)
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Great Family Vacations Northeast 2nd ed. (1999)

Publisher: Globe Pequot Press (June 1999)
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Great Family Vacations Northeast 1st ed. (1997)

Publisher: Globe Pequot Press (April 1997)
Available at Amazon.com

Blue Guide Washington D.C. (2000)

This long-awaited Blue Guide is a spectacular tour through the nation's capital city and its environs. Packed with fascinating historical information charting the city's development from the 1600s to present day and highlighting the political luminaries who have called it home, this guide provides the visitor with a thorough knowledge of this wholly unique and grandly designed city.

This is the definitive guide to the area, with over thirty walking tours including detailed information on the many federal buildings, monuments, museums, and other important places to see, as well as information on additional sites within the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia, and suggested day trips to Civil War battle sites, Baltimore, and Annapolis.

Publisher: Blue Guide (October 2000)
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Great Family Vacations Midwest 2nd ed. (1999)

Inside this guide you will find twenty-five complete vacations loaded with enough activities to keep every member of your family happy for weeks. Whether you're looking for museums and historic sites, thrill-a-minute amusement parks, animal attractions, natural wonders and the great outdoors, sporting events, or a healthy dose of all of the above, here's everything you need to make your next family vacation a great family vacation. This guide includes hundreds of exciting things to see and do, valuable family-travel tips, family-friendly places to lodge and dine, personally recommended side trips, important local sources of information and handy travel directions.

Publisher: Globe Pequot Press (September 1999)
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Great Family Vacations Midwest & Rocky Mountains 1st ed. (1997)

Publisher: Globe Pequot Press (July 1997)
Available at Amazon.com

Cruise Vacations with Kids Revised 2nd ed. (1999)

If so, a cruise might be just the ticket! While the kids swim, explore, or take part in organized ship activities, grown-ups can relax, romance, dine, and dance. Arranged by destination, this invaluable guide covers the latest information on:

Disney's Magic cruise ship
Fun activities for kids—from scavenger hunts to beach parties
The best new cruise lines and destinations
Cruises to Europe, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Alaska, and the Bahamas

Publisher: Prima Lifestyles (June 1999)
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Cruise Vacations with Kids 1st ed. (1996)

Cruising isn’t just for “Love Boat” couples anymore—now the whole family can enjoy fun-filled cruise vacations all over the world. From exotic tropical voyages to nostalgic steamboat trips, Cruise Vacations with Kids includes all the information you need to plan a getaway that’s paradise for every member of the family. Organized by destination, this book covers:

• Cruises to the Caribbean, Bermuda, Mexico, Hawaii, the Bahamas, Alaska, and other amazing destinations
• Which cruises offer programs kids are sure to love
• On-board fun for everyone—from aerobics, golf clinics, and facials, to scavenger hunts, bingo, and movies
• What to pack and how to avoid seasickness, sunburn, and other potential problems
• On-shore adventure in ports around the globe, including nightlife, gourmet dining, historic sites, museums, shopping, and spectacular outdoor activities
• Ecological-adventure cruises, smaller sailing expeditions, and educational cruises
• Tips for saving money, finding affordable package deals, and much, much more!

Cruises offer a unique appeal. While the kids swim, explore, or take part in organized activities, grown-ups can relax, romance, dine, and dance. Let Cruise Vacations with Kids guide you to this vacation paradise!

Publisher: Prima Lifestyles (February 1996)
Available at Amazon.com

50 Great Family Vacations Western North (1994)

From Library Journal
Following the example she set in Guide to Family Vacations: Eastern North America (Globe Pequot, 1993), veteran travel writer Stapen has produced another hit. Stapen covers states west of the Mississippi River (including Alaska and Hawaii) as well as the Canadian provinces Calgary and British Columbia, giving special emphasis to finding activities suitable for children, so amusement parks, swimming pools, and shopping centers are liberally sprinkled among museums, ruins, ghost towns, and natural attractions. Each destination includes information on getting there (airlines, Greyhound, Amtrak), getting around (rapid transit, rental car), what to see and do, special events, where to stay, where to eat, day trips, and more information, e.g., chamber of commerce or visitors' bureau, road conditions, and hospitals. Highly recommended for all public libraries.
Thomas K. Fry, Penrose Lib., Univ. of Denver
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Published: May 1994
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Additional Books

Family Adventure Guide Virginia (Globe Pequot Pr. 1995)

Fifty Great Family Vacations - Eastern North America (Globe Pequot Pr. 1993)

City & Country Inns: The best from Pennsylvania to North Carolina (Washington Book Trading Company 1988)

Elegant Lodging: A Guide to Country Mansions & Manor Houses in Virginia, Maryland & Pennsylvania (Washington Book Trading Company 1985)