I grew up thinking that sand only came in one color. The sand of sand paper. The sand of tract housing garage doors. The sand of doctor’s office waiting rooms. Every beach I’d ever been to featured sand the color of paint swatch “sand,” and it wasn’t until I started thumbing through island guide books and devouring beach-heavy Flickr feeds that I realized the sand of SoCal’s golden beaches wasn’t the only sand out there.

Traveling to new destinations can be hard when you’re towing a couple of kids and a tight budget. To overcome this, my family camped. A lot. My family camped so much, we could have been some type of Ranger family; we would pack up the van in less than an hour and be ready to go on the road before the sun even came up. Upon arriving, my brother would set up the tent, I would unload the food, and my dad would start the fire. It was a team effort. Well, except for my mom. She just relaxed.

Looking back, these camping trips were some of the best vacations I ever had with my family. The adventures were educational and fun, and we were always in a beautiful environment.   And in the hopes that you’ll have as good a time in the Great Outdoors as I did, I leave you with this short list of National Parks offering great family camping opportunities. Each has something different to offer, but all provide a great setting to enjoy quality time with your family.

Nothing inspires your next vacation quite like taking up a new hobby. Cooking? Off to France you go! Star gazing? Maybe a trip to see the northern lights. Horseback riding? Get thee to Argentina!

A few months ago, I took up indoor rock climbing and I can barely think about anything else. And yes, by even the kindest standards I’m nothing more than a complete beginner but already I’m dreaming of the day when I can take a dedicated rock-climbing vacation.

Here are some of the best rock-climbing spots in the U.S. and our top outdoor vacation deals to help you keep costs down.

Editor’s Note: With March Madness, Spring Training and music festivals in high gear, spring may just be the manliest season of the year. Please join us in welcoming IgoUgo lead editor and man’s man Alex Basek as we salute man stuff for The Window Seat’s Mancation Series.

As a dude, I’ve been asked to comment on mancations (non-Charlie Sheen related edition). What’s a mancation? Ultimately, it comes down to activities that appeal to male sensibilities. That’s why I recommend Las Vegas as the ultimate mancation destination, not least of all because Vegas has something that appeals to just about everyone of any gender.

I’ve been waiting for March to go “out like a lamb” since January. It’s not that I don’t love winter–I’ll miss the early morning hailstorms and the hot buttered rum–but after three months of scarves, gloves, and boot socks, I’m ready for a season that’s a little gentler, warmer, and greener.

So for those of you who, like me, have been waiting on the orange blossom perfume that means spring is in bloom, here are five floral events you won’t want to miss:

This Sunday marks my least favorite day of the year: Daylight Saving Time. Losing a precious hour of shut-eye is painful, but springing forward does mark the dawn of spring–and to me, spring means one thing: travel season!

(Source)

And what better way to kick off the return of long, sunny days than a trip to Central Europe to see the colorful Easter markets? While most Americans have heard of the Christmas markets, the Easter markets are less widely known. However, they are an egg-ceptional way to experience the local culture. Here are the top cities to visit and even our best Central Europe vacation deals.

I live in a big city. Within two blocks of my apartment there are over a dozen restaurants. At night, I hear sirens wailing, my neighbor’s baby crying, and the occasional shouts of revelers as they make their way home from nearby bars. I squeeze onto crowded subway cars, know my sidewalk etiquette, and am rarely, if ever, able to experience total calm and quiet. And yet, when it comes to taking vacation breaks, I somehow find myself gravitating toward other cities. Through my travels, here’s what I’ve determined to be the five most important components for a successful big city break:

When I tell people that my goal is to cross two new national parks off my list this year, they usually begin recommending their favorites to me. The only problem is, they have no idea what actually qualifies as a national park.

If you’ve watched the PBS series The National Parks: One of America’s Best Ideas, then you already know that getting a national park set aside is extremely difficult. They must be established by an act of Congress and there are only 58 in the U.S. system. Here’s the official list if you’re curious.

Many of the parks my well-meaning friends and family have recommended are, in fact, national monuments, which can be signed into existence by any U.S. president, or state parks, which are far more abundant.

Ready for a ride?

Editor’s Note: Think you know all there is to know about Las Vegas? Read our Vegas series this week as we celebrate a city that continues to reinvent itself year after year.

Love is patient. Love is kind. And sometimes, love is a shotgun wedding at the Graceland Wedding Chapel. Not that you have to get Elvis involved. Try out one of these 10 Valentine’s Day dates in Las Vegas, and let the romance begin:

1. Break out the bubbles at Reliquary Spa.
At Reliquary Spa, relaxation goes way beyond a bottle of bath gel. Opt for the $300 “Couples Package” for a fun mix of dirty dancing, crisp champagne, and muscle-melting Swedish massage.

Editor’s Note: Think you know all there is to know about Las Vegas? Read our Vegas series this week as we celebrate a city that continues to reinvent itself year after year.

I recently went to Vegas after a five year hiatus, a visit so long ago that it almost doesn’t count. So this time I took advantage and tried to see what Vegas has to offer. There were definitely occasions where I thought, “Wow! Only in Vegas…”, and there were different kinds of entertainment every inch along the way. Although some of the sights may be very expensive (like the Louis Vuitton store), luckily there are others that are free for everyone, including those who have lost all of their money at War. No matter what activity you choose, rest assured it will have a spin that’s uniquely Las Vegas in every way. Here are a few of my favorite experiences:

Please join us in welcoming guest author Andrew Hickey, a travel writer and contributor to Aol Travel.

You’ve purchased your airline tickets, booked the perfect hotel and just finished packing your bags for what is sure to be a memorable vacation. But very few of us think about what would happen if you were to get hurt or sick during the trip. That’s why international travel insurance is key in some cases. Here are some ways to make sure you’re covered when you’re in a foreign land.

The Cost: When shopping around for the international travel insurance plan that best fits your needs, the lowest priced policy isn’t always the best one. Compare and contrast a few offerings and see if they include the most benefits at the best rate. Also always check both the price of the policy and how much the deductible will set you back if you need to make a claim.

Read original article on Aol Travel for more tips on buying international travel insurance.

Photo by ashleyt on Flickr