The Zune HD went on sale earlier this month, and the solid, thoughtfully designed MP3 player is already giving the iPod a run for its money. Features include a Wi-Fi connection with Web browser, an HD radio, and an easy-to-understand, touch-screen interface that even a 6-year-old could follow. And because it can play 10 hours of HD video right from the palm of your hand or connect and play the videos through your TV, it's handy both for long car rides and hotel rooms. From $219 for a 16GB player. 

Families who travel to Salt Lake City generally do so for one of two reasons: for the skiing or to visit family. For us it's usually to visit family (though the skiing is good and usually less expensive than in Colorado). We make our annual trek in the summertime so we can take advantage of Utah's clear skies, dry air, and cool nights. Nestled at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains, Salt Lake City offers spectacular views from just about any spot.

Most of the valley was once occupied by family farms that sold off land little by little to suburban developers. But you can still visit Wheeler Historic Farm (6351 South 900 East), now a park, small educational farm, and museum. We're a city family, so seeing live animals and food growing is especially neat for us. We also visited the goats at Drake Family Farm after I discovered Drakes creamy chevre at a farmers' market.

When Utah's hot, dry summer heat gets oppressive, we take refuge at the Clark Planetarium (where the museum is free). From there, if we can stand the walk, we head over to the Gateway Mall's Olympic Legacy Fountains with its music-synchronized water show (above). The children's library at the fabulous Salt Lake City Public Library, designed by Moshe Safdie, is another good escape from the soaring temps, especially during naptime. There you'll find a play area, sweet reading nooks, gift shops, and a cafe. Continue reading Just Back From ... Salt Lake City »

Over Labor Day weekend, I went to London with my husband, Matthew. We went for our friends Greg and Paula's wedding, and it was our first trip without our kids since they were born, over three years ago. The trip was too short, but I am glad that we finally got away together, and London was the perfect place to go. For the first two nights, we stayed at the Stafford, right off St. James Place. It's a charming little hotel down a sleepy cobblestone street. It's quiet and feels removed, but it's only a five-minute walk to Buckingham Palace, the Cabinet War Rooms (Churchill's headquarters during World War II), Jermyn Street, and St. James Park. And it's a five minute walk to the Wolseley, where in my fantasy life I would dine every morning. Breakfast is always better in a well-appointed room with bespoke tableware and 30 feet of soaring space between your head and the ceiling. And the food is impeccable: The eggs with soldiers, the orange-scented homemade granola, and the pastries are all delicious. It's a very grand room, dating back to the 1920s, but there were lots of kids, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. So if we return to London with our children, we'll be back for high tea.

Continue reading Just Back From ... London »

The Fairmont Orchid on Hawaii's Big Island is offering two rooms for the price of one with full daily breakfast buffet for both rooms, plus two Keiki Aloha Adventure Program passes; the package guarantees connecting rooms. Available through December 20.

The pictures online might look nice, but how do you really know if a hotel is right for your family? That's why we're loving Oyster Hotel Reviews. Each shockingly detailed listing gives pros and cons from Oyster and includes photos, amenities, maps, and user comments--and the site has a tool to compare rates. Right now the site's reviews are limited to properties in New York City, Miami, Las Vegas, and Oahu, Hawaii, in the U.S., and Jamaica, Aruba, and the Dominican Republic. They just launched in June, though, so we're going to give them time to expand!

In theory, taking a vacation with the extended family sounds idyllic. It can, however, become stressful if not planned properly. To that end, I have only two words: separate houses. We just came back from one of our best vacations in Nantucket. My partner, Fred, our 4-year-old daughter, Vivi, and I spent a week with Fred's sister and brother and their families. All in all, there were six adults, eight kids, and two houses.

The "cottage" we found online ended up having a lot more space than we expected. So every morning, the three of us had a quiet breakfast at our house (or an indulgent meal at Downyflake) before meeting up with the other families for a few hours on the beach. Then it was back to our house for a little unwinding—counting the shells we collected, a Bob Marley sing-along—and dinner before heading over to my in-laws' house for after-dinner drinks. The adults took over the front porch, the kids had free rein of the house and TV, and everyone was happy. Whereas Vivi couldn't believe that she was allowed to watch SpongeBob at night, eat candy after dinner, and run around the yard in the dark, Fred and I secretly enjoyed the fact that we got to leave the craziness of seven kids at the end of the night to go back to our quiet cottage, tuck in our exhausted daughter, and listen to the crashing waves. The solitude lulled us to sleep so that we could wake up and do it all over again the next day.

The Lower Farm Bed and Breakfast in North Stonington, Connecticut, is offering a midweek Fall Foliage special that includes a two-night stay, a full country breakfast, fresh apple cider, orchard picking, and a souvenir pumpkin to take home. Packages start at $385 and are valid until November 15.