Allison Tibaldi

Allison Tibaldi - Writer

Allison is a native New Yorker who's been lucky enough to have lived in Italy, Australia and Canada. She is fluent in Italian and Spanish, and
believes that language is a key to understanding other cultures. She frequently contributes travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they journey around the globe. She's also a senior writer at offManhattan.com, contributing car-free vacation ideas. Her background as an Early Childhood Educator gives her an added understanding of what it takes to travel with kids in tow, and she firmly believes that the most important part of education takes place outside of the classroom on the road. Her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine.

Latest posts by Allison Tibaldi

The Ikea Ferry: A Free and Fun Ride to Red Hook for NYC Kids

Submitted by Allison Tibaldi on Mon, 07/18/2011 - 10:00am

The Staten Island Ferry isn't the only free boat ride in town. The Ikea ferry also offers a (usually) no-cost tour of New York City's magnificent waterfront.

The Ikea Water Taxi departs from Slip A at Pier 11, right near South Street Seaport, and sails you to Red Hook, Brooklyn, land of funky post-industrial architecture, and trendy restaurants and shops. In addition to shuttling you right to the Swedish megastore, it's a great way to visit this cool neighborhood, which is quite a long walk from the subway.

My family and I had never taken this trip before, so this summer we decided to cross it off our bucket list. Here's how we fared during our maiden voyage.

Portsmouth, New Hampshire: 10 Things to Do With Kids

Submitted by Allison Tibaldi on Mon, 07/04/2011 - 10:00am

If you're looking for a family-friendly vacation destination that doesn't require getting frisked at the airport, consider Portsmouth, New Hampshire. This gem of a New England town puts its best foot forward during the summer, and its small size makes it manageable for families.

It's easy to have fun in this picturesque portside town without feeling overwhelmed. The downtown area is booming, but despite some urban renewal, it maintains an authentic saltiness that's in tune with the area’s maritime history and traditions.

The town is about a five-hour drive from New York City. However, you can also take Megabus, BoltBus or Amtrak to Boston’s South Station, and then connect to a C&J bus for the one-hour ride to Portsmouth.

Portsmouth is one of my family's favorite places to visit, and I've compiled the top ten things to do here with kids.

Philadelphia Day Trip: 13 Fun Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Allison Tibaldi on Tue, 05/17/2011 - 4:00pm

Just 100 miles from New York City, the City of Brotherly Love has a spirit all its own and is loaded with history and activities that appeal to kids of all ages, from tots to teens. NYers can drive to Philly in approximately two hours; my family likes to stay the night at the Hotel Palomar Philadelphia, which has an artsy vibe, and the Loews Philadelphia Hotel, with its small indoor pool.

Whether you're a local, visiting for a day, or staying the weekend, here are 13 fun activities to get you started. For a deeper look into Philly fun, check out our list of 100 Things To Do in Philly with Kids Before They Grow Up.

Staten Island: Spend a Day Exploring St. George With Your Family

Submitted by Allison Tibaldi on Tue, 03/29/2011 - 10:45am

For many kids, a ride on the Staten Island Ferry is a fun activity in itself. (That's why it's No. 69 on our list of 100 Things to Do With Your Kids in NY Before They Grow Up!) The 5.2-mile, 25-minute nautical jaunt offers crisp air, a great view of Lady Liberty and the thrill of moving on the water—all for free.

Once you're off the boat, you could go further inland to hit the Snug Harbor Cultural Center (there are some gorgeous flowers blooming there right now). But you don’t need to take a bus or train to get a taste of the borough. There's plenty of fun to be had within earshot of the ferry horn.

Here are my kid-tested suggestions for a day trip to St. George, Staten Island. With the amazing St. George Day Festival coming up on Saturday, April 21, you'll want to make a note of these!

Atlantic City, the Rodeo and Lots More Family Fun

Submitted by Allison Tibaldi on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 10:00am

If you thought Atlantic City was only slot machines and cocktail waitresses, think again. This South Jersey seaside city is reinventing itself as a family destination.

My kids and I took an overnight vacation to Atlantic City last spring, with winning results. The kids were excited to walk the actual streets whose names they recognized from frequent games of Monopoly. We headed over to the boardwalk, and though it was too cold to swim, there were lots of activities to keep the kids entertained. We had a great time visiting the emporium of the weird and freaky, Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Museum. We hit the famed amusement park, the Steel Pier, and had a ball on the rides and trying our luck at the arcade games.

Explore 1001 Inventions at the New York Hall of Science and Bring the Dark Ages to LIght

Submitted by Allison Tibaldi on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 12:50pm

The exhibit 1001 Inventions at the New York Hall of Science in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, is a fascinating journey. It explores the far-reaching contributions that Muslim civilization made during the Middle Ages in a broad variety of scientific and technological fields. Many of these 1,000-year-old inventions continue to shape our modern life, yet their origins are often overlooked or forgotten. Medicine, astronomy, math, architecture, engineering, even gardening are all legacies of the Muslim world. This exhibit is particularly meaningful for a generation of young people whose preconceptions of Muslim culture may be dominated by images of unrest, violence and war. After visiting 1001 Inventions, you and the kids may gain a deeper appreciation for this civilization’s achievements.

Flowers Will be Blooming in Philadelphia

Submitted by Allison Tibaldi on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 9:50pm

The Philadelphia International Flower Show will be held this year from Sunday, March 6 through Sunday, March 13. Although you may not immediately think of a flower show as a family activity, this annual event has exhibits that will appeal to all ages. It offers some fine opportunities to introduce children to the wonders of the natural world. My kids and I have been attending since they were toddlers, and it is a real favorite, even now that they are hard-to-please teenagers. Plus, after a winter of snow, ice, rain and wind, even the tiniest among us will be ready to smell the roses.

Fall Harvest Family-Friendly Car-Free Getaways From NYC

Submitted by Allison Tibaldi on Sun, 10/03/2010 - 11:05pm

[UPDATED: September 8, 2012]

Spend a Saturday or Sunday visiting small, family-owned farms, no car needed. You can get back to nature without increasing your carbon footprint. Metro-North has teamed up with Dutchess County to offer family-friendly daytrips that include stops at a sustainable agriculture farm, a kid-friendly vineyard for tours and tastings, a charming village and an apple orchard for picking and pies. These trips are super popular with families, so the kids should have lots of company. And it's a great way for kids to gain some first-hand understanding of the farm-to-table connection. Kick back and enjoy the ride, we've got the details for you here.