Candyce H. Stapen @familyitrips

With 26 new ships launching at just Viking Ocean Cruises alone, it looks like 2017 could be the year of cruises.

What better way to celebrate the new year than with a trip? National Geographic Traveler magazine revealed the seven best cities to visit in 2017.

Planning your next getaway around a special celebration in a particular city could make your trip that much more exciting.

A favorable exchange rate from the US dollar to the Canadian dollar makes heading north for a ski or snowboard trip that much more appealing.

From snorkeling to jeep tours, it's no wonder that Aruba has so many repeat visitors.

Water sports activity lovers won't be bored on Bonaire Island, located 50 miles north of Venezuela.

Warm up this winter by giving yourself and your family a beach vacation as a holiday gift. Book the deals soon for travel later in the winter – and don’t worry, this is one present that no one will want to return.

‘Tis the season to be making wishes, and if one of yours is for interesting travel destinations, then be merry. This time of year, travel magazines and sites post “best of” lists, crowning select destinations as the hottest places to visit in 2017.

Travel gifts make great holiday presents. Many are wallet-friendly, most solve an annoying trip problem, and all come with a ticket to dream.

More than a million lights of decorations plus a winter wonderland of ice sculptures that you can walk through, complete with slides made of ice, can be enjoyed at the Gaylord Resorts’ Ice!

Not looking forward to ice and snow this holiday season? Then head to sunny Phoenix, Arizona. The desert stretches out as a landscape of cactus, sagebrush, and feathery Palo Verde trees.

Many US national parks offer special getaways during the winter and, with summer’s crowds gone, you can enjoy the relative solitude.

The turkey’s gone and so are the relatives. Use Cyber Monday’s discounts to dream and to stretch your travel wings by trying resorts and locations that are new to you.

After Thanksgiving, from Black Friday (November 25) through Cyber Monday (November 28) cruises, resorts, and booking sites lure travelers with deals sweeter than the perfect pecan pie.

Located on Lake Ontario’s northern shore, Toronto, Canada’s most populous city, sparkles with exciting museums, interesting neighborhoods, good theater, and a lively waterfront.

National Geographic Traveler Magazine’s newly released list of Best of the World for 2017 highlights the top choices for nature, cities, and culture.

Whether you seek an island trip for celebrating the recent election or for running away from the results, an island vacation comes with soothing scenery plus a sense of escape.

Holiday travel is costly for solo trips and even more expensive for those heading out with spouses, children, and grandparents. Here are some tips to save money on winter holiday vacations.

Celebrating holidays with family and friends often involves travel. You might be headed to grandma’s condo or to your brother’s house to commune with his twin four-year-olds and their incontinent poodle. What could possibly go wrong?

Whether you’re planning a celebration or an escape – especially after the recent election – consider a getaway at a US state park.

This holiday season, don’t ground your flights by failing to follow the rules for flying with children and don’t miss out on seeing favorite older relatives because they fear flying solo.

Speed matters. And we got the top 20 airports with the best Wi-Fi in 2016. The top airport worldwide with the fastest Wi-Fi is the Clinton National Airport in Little Rock, Arkansas, whose download speed is 42.17 Mbps.

What are the best cruise lines in the world? Condé Nast Traveler’s (CNT) 2016 Readers’ Choice Awards names 20 of the top lines, five each in four categories.

Each year, travel magazines and sites release their lists of the best in travel. More than 300,000 readers and users of Condé Nast Traveler (CNT) submitted reviews of their favorite destinations, hotels, resorts, cruises, and more.

Condé Nast Traveler’s (CNT’s) Readers’ Choice Awards are based on the comments and ratings of more than 300,000 of the magazine’s readers and the site’s users.

Much had changed, for the better, since our Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) Escape sailing years ago. The Escape surprised us: for the most part, the food was tasty, the entertainment engaging, and the ship, family-friendly.

It may seem premature, but you should book now for spring and summer stays at state parks. These hidden gems, often eclipsed by the National Parks, are easily accessible, offer wallet-friendly accommodations, engaging activities, and first-class scenery.

Good food is as essential to travel as is good lodging, but not all tasty meals come at a high price.

Las Vegas, Austin, Orlando, New York, and Columbus deliver the most satisfaction to travelers, according to the J.D. Power 2016 Destination Experience Satisfaction Study.

So many settlers – 350,000 to 500,000 – made their way through northwestern Nebraska between 1840 and the early 1860s. More than 150 years later, you can still stand in the ruts their footsteps and wagon wheels carved into the grass prairies.