Amanda Jones | Travel Writer & Photographer

SOUTH ISLAND

1. Queen Charlotte Sound Track

The four-day trek goes along gorgeous bays through native bush of the South Island's Marlborough Sounds. After a long day of hiking, you stay in luxury lodges each night - no camping required! There are two strenuous days, so this excursion isn't recommended for kids under 10. Guided walking tours are also available.

2. Routeburn Track

Located in Queenstown, this popular adventure destination is one of New Zealand's famous hikes through ancient forest. With younger children you can venture in for one day and return in the afternoon. Guided walking is available.

NORTH ISLAND

3. Waiheke Island

For an easy day trip from the city of Auckland, catch a one-hour ferry to bucolic Waiheke Island (famed for wineries and beaches) and hike the three-hour Matiatia to Oneroa walkway. Great views and bush experience. Go here for more information.

4. Cape Reinga

At the very tip of New Zealand is the Cape Reinga Coastal Walkway, with giant sand dunes and miles and miles of dramatic, empty beach. The track is three to four days long (involving camping), but day hikes to the Te Paki dunes are a good alternative.

5. Lake Waikaremoana

For families wanting a real adventure involving three to four days of relatively easy hiking and stunning scenery, try the Lake Waikaremoana Track on the eastern coast in the Hawkes Bay region (also known for great wine). The only options on accommodations are the Department of Conservation's rustic "tramping huts" or camping. Guided hikes are available.

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Being an early bird won't get you a worm (well, unless we're talking about tequila), but it will get you a big discount at Karisma's soon-to-open hotels in  Riviera Maya. Book your family vacation by September 31 and take advantage of the 20 percent off grand opening special Azul Sensatori Hotel for travel between October 1 and December 22, 2008. Family-friendly features  include clubs for kids and teens, swim-up cantinas, and rooms that accommodate a family of five. You can also get 20 percent off at Azul Fives Hotel -- set to open in December -- for travel December 1-22, 2008. Type A super planners will appreciate this Azul deal -- book by September 31 and get 15 percent off accommodations for either hotel from January 3 to December 22, 2009.

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Carl Germann | Cookie Assistant Managing Editor

Nash Vegas, Music City, Buckle of the Bible Belt. No matter what you call it, Nashville is a fun and friendly place with a ton of character and adventure. We went down recently to visit friends, and found the sights and scenes to be just as enthralling for us as they were for our three-year-old, Vivi. By the end of our stay, everyone was sad to leave.

When four smart, savvy friends (and new moms) found themselves scattered across Europe in London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Milan, they wanted to keep in touch and share all of their fashion obsessions, travel tips, and must-have products (like seriously spill-proof sippy cups from Tommee Tippee and stylish sneakers for moms by Emma Hope) with their fellow urban moms around the world. So, in February they launched the Babyccino blog, where they have posted guides to each of their cities (perfect for planning a family vacation!) and theme weeks like traveling with kids (idea: try wrapping up cheap toys to keep them happy during a long-flight).

Blogger (and American ex-pat) Courtney says, "We are still flattered and surprised by how many people care about what we have to say each day!"

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Tamara Heber-Percy | co-founder of Mr & Mrs Smith Boutique Hotels

Back from a recent trip to NYC, I began to think about what recommendations I'd make to someone in the same position as me - visiting a city thousands of miles from home with an ankle-biter in tow. I hope these tips (all regularly road-tested by me) will help you get as much out of London as I did from New York!

1. Kew Gardens

This vast, gorgeous park is a little way out of the center of London but well worth the trip. If it's raining, they have a fabulous indoor facility called Climbers and Creepers with slides and sandpit, enclosed beehives and a butterfly park.

2. Richmond Park

All kids love feeding the birds - and there are waterfowl aplenty in the beautifully floral Isabella Plantations. 

3. Spitalfields City Farm

A little rustic oasis in the heart of the City, kids will want to check out the goats, sheep, pigs, donkeys, and assortment of small furry critters. Hackney City Farm is also few streets away and has a great little Italian cafe, as well as regular pottery classes for kids.

4. Science Museum

Brilliantly geared to kids, this South Kensington museum has lots of special areas, especially the 'Garden' interactive exhibition in the basement and the IMAX 3D cinema.

5. Natural History Museum

Located in a stunning building and filled with animal magic, the museums highlights include the famous Diplodocus cast, a creepy-crawly gallery, and fascinating displays of global flora and fauna (don't miss the life-size blue whale).

Have an aspiring pro golfer, veterinarian, or artists in the family? Sawgrass Golf Resort & Spa, a Marriott resort in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., is offering a "When I Grow Up" family vacation package that includes a round of mini gold, shark tooth searches plus a welcome package that includes a beach gear, a journal, and a camera for kids to record their activities. Families also get the choice of tickets to the Jacksonville Zoo, the fountain of youth in St. Augustine or the Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art. Plus, while the kids are exploring their career options, parents can check out the golf course, which was ranked as one of the best by Travel + Leisure Golf. The "When I Grow Up" package starts at $199 per night and runs through Oct. 31. To make reservations, visit www.sawgrassmarriott.com and book under code U29.

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Melissa Biggs Bradley | Founder of Indagare.com

We make an annual pilgrimage to Martha's Vineyard each summer for a family reunion. There's something about the island's raw New England beauty and emphasis on simple rituals - like attending the weekend farmer's market, getting out on the water (whether it's on the ferry or a sailboat), and picnics on the beach - that make it a perfect place to capture the essence of summertime.

Everything old is new again...at least in the case of Castle on the Hudson, a nearly 100-year-old hotel that is going green. Resting atop acres of manicured grounds on the Hudson River, the historic property just 30 minutes north of Manhattan has partnered with electricity supplier Juice Energy to convert to wind power. The move is intended to help the hotel keep energy costs down in an environmentally friendly way. And that should help ensure that the hotel will be around for your family to enjoy for another 100 years.

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Rebecca Etter | Cookie Travel Assistant

"Hi, I know Copenhagen to be a very family friendly city and would love one of your fabulous, authoritative city guides to help me plan a trip there." -Tamara Shand, London

General Touring:
Copenhagen is an incredibly accessible city and there are multiple ways for your family to see the sights. Tour the city by canal via DFDS Canal Tours and kids will get a chance to ride in boats named for famed former resident Hans Christian Anderson's life works. What child (and child at heart) wouldn't want to ride on boat named for the Little Mermaid? Or make like a local and ride bikes - there are lot of safe, clearly marked paths.
 

Elisabeth Lepine | Nanny to Charles, the four-year-old son of globe-trotting fashion photographers.

Between the beach, the many sports activities and the Children's Center, my job was a piece of cake at the kid-friendly Jumby Bay Resort. 

Its "no key" policy sums up the attitude at this laid-back, exclusive getaway, which treats its guests like family and has to-die-for sunset vistas (much like the one below). Here's how little Charles and I kept ourselves busy (in a super fun way, of course) when we weren't gazing at the pristine water.

Bikes:
My favorite part of the resort was our daily bike rides.  The resort offered bikes to guests (Charles had a red bike with training wheels, I chose a blue beach cruiser), which we used to explore the entire island - riding on the sand, dirt paths, paved roads and grass.
*Tip: There are two other beaches that can be reached by bikes that provide for a change of scenery and small waves, so bring towels and snacks and make a day of it.