For me, hiking is a great way to stay grounded during the hectic holiday season. Plus there’s the added benefit of strapping on those shoes and hitting the trails:  working off a few extra calories and the  stress. So in the sweet-filled and time-starved days ahead, take time to breathe the fresh air on a trail near you.   

In Arizona, we are fortunate to have scores of trails, canyons, ridgelines and tree-covered pathways on which to wander. And of course, we have the granddaddy of them all: Grand Canyon National Park.

You have to see it to believe it. Up to 18 miles wide and one mile deep, this wonder of the world is aptly named. Whether you are a hiker, a climber or a photographer, there is so much to do in and around the canyon for visitors of all ages and abilities.

A rafting trip through the Grand Canyon still ranks as the all-time favorite vacation for my boys. Here are a few ideas to inspire your  trip to an American treasure:

Raft the Colorado River:  277 river miles snake through this geologic wonder. Spend a day or several weeks exploring the canyon, floating deep within its storied walls. Hike the glorious side canyons. Revel in the thrilling adventure of North America’s ultimate river trip. You’ll have tales to last a lifetime.  Discuss trip types—motorized rafts, dories, rowing—and age-appropriate departures with your outfitter. Contacts: O.A.R.S, http://www.oars.com/,  tel. 800-346-6277; Hatch River Expeditions, http://www.hatchriverexpeditions.com/, tel. 800-856-8966.

Hike the Canyon: The South and West Rim trails are mostly paved and offer a stroller-friendly opportunity to view the astounding vistas. Begin at the South Rim Visitor Center.  Offering some shade and water along the way, the Bright Angel Trail is the best place to start for great views of the inner canyon. Choose day hikes to the Three-Mile Resthouse (3 miles one way) or to Indian Garden (4.6 miles one way).

Spend the Night in the Canyon:  Reserve a camp site at the Bright Angel campground (9.3 miles one way)  or bunks at Phantom Ranch (9.8 miles one way) for an historic and unforgettable experience. Plan well in advance.  Reservations for Phantom Ranch can be made only by mail, phone or fax. Tel. 888-29-PARKS, www.GrandCanyonLodges.com/phantom-ranch. For camping, visit http://www.recreation.gov/.

Sleep on the Rim:  Inside the park, there are five lodging options on the South Rim.  Choose from El Tovar, an historic and elegant hotel, to cabin and motel type accommodations. On the North Rim—which closes after the first heavy snowfall and reopens in the Spring—the only park option is the charming Grand Canyon Lodge. Extensive lodging also exists outside the park in nearby Tesayan, the gateway village. Reserve well in advance. Contact: tel. 303-297-2757, http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/.

Ride a Mule: Try this traditional transportation style for viewing the Canyon’s panoramic vistas. Hop on for a short ride or trek to the bottom of the canyon for an overnight stay. Some weight, height and age restrictions apply. Contact: Xanterra Parks & Resorts, tel. 888-297-2757, http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/. 

For more about a visit to the Grand Canyon visit the National Park Service Web site: www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm.

Just in time for the holidays, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has added the popular “family lanes” to every airport in the United States. Before the recent expansion, 48 airports participated in the Diamond Self-Select program, which provides lanes for families, travelers who are unfamiliar with checkpoint procedures, and travelers who must carry medically necessary liquids, gels and aerosols that exceed the current 3-ounce limit.

The TSA had planned to expand the program to all airports by Nov. 20, a week before Thanksgiving, in an attempt to increase passenger security as well as convenience, according to TSA administrator Kip Hawley. “Passengers have clearly demonstrated their preference to go at their own pace.” Officers working in the dedicated family lanes will work with travelers to go through security checkpoints quickly and efficiently.

Individuals traveling with liquids, gels and aerosols within 3-1-1 limits will experience no change to their screening procedures.

In October, I traveled to Bucerias (a 30-minute drive north of Puerto Vallarta), Mexico, with my husband, daughter and husband’s parents. I’m a big fan of multigenerational travel as our extended family lives in Scotland, so we only see them once or twice a year. When they do come to visit, we find ourselves trying to return home from work at a decent hour, planning what to cook for dinner and thinking about weekend activities. Taking a trip together allows us all to relax, spend time catching up and hanging out, and enjoying the benefits of built-in babysitting!

Bucerias is a charming, low-key fishing town set on eight miles of gorgeous sandy beaches, which are frequented by locals on the weekend. The charming town center provides a great flea market, local art galleries, great restaurants and friendly locals. Bucerias has seen a lot of property development, with resorts and vacation homes still under construction—go now while it still holds its charm!

Casa Bella Vista, the house we rented, was gorgeous—we really wanted to pick it up and take it home with us! It was an airy three-bedroom house with a swimming pool, offering great views over the town and out to the Bay of Banderas, and situated only two blocks from the beach. The maid came a couple of times while we were there, and although there was an option to hire a chef, we decided to stock up at the nearby Mega (supermarket) or local mini mart and also try the local restaurants.

Our 2-year-old loved the swimming pool, but we did manage to extract her and the rest of the family for a few day trips. Hopping on the local AMT bus, we ventured into Puerto Vallarta and explored the old town and the Malecón boardwalk, noted for its metal statues and sand sculptures.

We also organized a couple of day trips through Vallarta Adventures. We took a family trip to Yelapa, a little village of less than a thousand people, which can only be reached by boat. The trip included a hike to the Cola de Caballo waterfall, time to relax on the sandy beaches, then snorkeling at Majahuitas cove on the way home. The next day, my husband and I left our wee one with her grandparents and embarked on an outdoor adventure in the heart of the Sierra Madre Mountains—move over James Bond! This was a thrill ride from start to finish—a speedboat trip to a secluded beach, followed by an off-road truck expedition, then a mule ride, followed by a series of zip lines through the jungle canopy, rappelling down waterfalls and plunging into pools. It was so much fun and I was most impressed with the professionalism and safety protocol of the guides.

In the evenings, we explored the restaurants of Bucerias, which were excellent. Close to our house were several expat-run restaurants including Mark's Bar and Grill (Asian/Mediterranean), Sandrinas (Greek/Mexican), Espressions (British!), and Rissos (Italian). We also enjoyed Famar (Mexican with fantastic margaritas) and authentic restaurants on the beach near the town square.

We would definitely return to Bucerias. In fact, on our last day I discovered an art gallery where you could sign up for a mosaic workshop and learn to break tile, which I’d love to do with my daughter.

If you consider a trip to Bucerias, here are some points worth noting:

1. October is the rainy season—it rained a few times in the evening, and it was quite humid.

2. People will try to sell you timeshares as soon as you get off the plane. Don’t be fooled by the promise of free trips.

3. Take bug spray—you’re next to the rainforest!

Hey baby, I hear the blues a-callin’,

Tossed salad and scrambled eggs

Oh My

Mercy (alt: Quite stylish.)

And maybe I seem a bit confused,

Yeah maybe, but I got you pegged!

Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha!

But I don’t know what to do with those tossed salads and scrambled eggs.

They’re callin’ again.

Ah Seattle. Home of the Seahawks, Starbucks, Pike Place Fish Market, and yes, Dr. Frasier Crane. (It’s still not clear to me what that little ditty has to do with a) Seattle or b) psychiatry, but I had it my head, and now you do, too. Sorry.)

What’s not to love about a city that’s surrounded by water and mountains? A city where you can easily get around by foot, bike or public transit. A metropolis that feels one with nature, and yet is hip and urban at the same time. 

On a recent October weekend, my family hopped up to Seattle to re-connect with friends who are now lucky enough to call this beautiful city home. We stayed in the lovely town of Kirkland, about 20 minutes from Seattle, on the shore of Lake Washington. On Saturday morning we ventured into downtown Seattle and explored the Seattle Aquarium, which sits right on Puget Sound. We arrived just in time for the scuba diver show, where kids sit in front of a 40- by 20-foot wall of glass while volunteer divers in dry suits educate them from inside the aquarium.

Next we headed up no fewer than 11 flights of outdoor stairs to Pike Place Market. Our timing again was great—the famous fish mongers were busy filling orders and flinging enormous salmon with startling precision. We fell for the “errant fish into the crowd” gag, which was actually a stuffed animal that had us all ducking for cover. 

Lunch was amazing at the Steelhead Diner. The kids enjoyed what has to be the world’s best homemade mac ‘n’ cheese, made with cheese produced across the street from Beecher's Hand Made Cheese, and I had the best mussels of my life, which were prepared with chorizo and a savory garlic broth. 

Sunday morning a few of us hearty souls enjoyed a tour of the University of Washington campus by participating in the 23rd annual Dawg Dash, a 5K/10K race that benefits the University of Washington Alumni Association. Nobody bothered to mention just how hilly the UW campus is, but it is gorgeous, and from the top you can take in the Seattle skyline and majestic Mount Rainier. 

Our only regret on this trip is that we only had a few days to visit. The next time we head to the northwest, we’ll spend some more time in Seattle and continue on to Victoria and Vancouver, B.C.—two cities that remain high on our TravelMuse trip list!

View from Queen Anne Boulevard of Seattle Skyline                    Photo: Kevin Fliess

My Sept. 19 post Breasts on a Plane hit a nerve with traveling moms and has received 24 comments ... so far. My Back Page column this week addresses this issue further and looks into mother’s breastfeeding rights when flying.

Traveling with small children can be challenging under the best of circumstances—airline delays, bad weather, long stretches on the road—and finding a discrete place to breastfeed or pump can make a long day feel even longer.

But never fear, there are ways (and places) to feed and pump in comfort while you’re in transit. Debbie Dubrow of Delicious Baby says creativity is key when looking for a quiet place to nurse. Dubrow recommends:

• looking for a family restroom, many of which now have chairs or nursing gliders for breastfeeding moms;

• when you’re in an airport, look for a quiet corner in an unused gate area;

• or buy a day pass to airline lounges, which have plenty of private corners in which to settle;

• if traveling by car, many of the same rules apply. Of course, you can nurse or pump in your car, but that can be uncomfortable. Road stops and restaurants sometimes also have family bathrooms, and when all else fails, you can cover up with a blanket.

If your baby doesn’t enjoy nursing while covered (and tell me, would YOU like to eat your lunch with a blanket on your face?), there are products available specifically to make nursing more discrete, such as the Bebe au Lait nursing cover.

Remember, where ever you choose to feed your baby, you have the right to do so. All 50 states have laws that protect nursing moms.

Sex sells.

At least that’s the word from an Atlantic City hotel that began offering $18 Passion Kits in June and has since sold more than 1,800 of the adult amenities, which include condoms and other intimate products. The introduction of such personal items is one of the edgier trends to make its way into the hotel industry’s guest service program.

I’ve yet to stay in a hotel that offers this type of amenity, but I’ve heard about the trend from friends and fellow travelers who have found similar personal items in their rooms.

Part of the discussion has included the various levels of discretion with which the hotel offers the items. Should they alert parents to the presence of such a kit? Might some with certain religious convictions be offended?

Parents who do check into a hotel with the kids and don't know there is a “passion kit” in the room, should perhaps be prepared to explain. The potential discovery and resulting curiosity could provide an impromptu teaching opportunity!

No kids on board? The kit could come in handy.

What are your thoughts?

p.s.: The New Jersey hotel mentioned discourages checking in with kids in general but promises to remove the passion kits ... with advance notice.

Yeah, you heard me.

I said, breasts on a plane.

If that makes you uncomfortable, apparently you aren't alone. Catherine Connors of Toronto recently breastfed her young son on a WestJet flight from Vancouver to Toronto, when a flight attendant intimated that she should cover herself and her baby while she breastfed.

Connors, author of the popular parenting blog, Her Bad Mother, wrote this about her experience in a post titled “Under The Blanket:”

When she approached me in my seat near the back of the plane, blanket in hand, I ignored her. Jasper was tucked in at my breast, wrapped in his own blanket, his head pressed against the white half-moon of flesh that was barely visible beneath him. His head was damp from the stream of tears that had been running down my cheeks from the moment of our departure, the tears that I'd held back while saying my goodbyes. I bent my head over his, shielding my face, my breast, my baby, my tears from view with the veil of my hair. I didn't even look up when she spoke to me.

Excuse me, perhaps you'd like to cover up with a blanket?

Connors isn't the first mother to express discomfort with the treatment she received during in-flight breastfeeding. In 2007, a Sante Fe, N.M., woman filed suit against Delta Air Lines and Freedom Airlines, after she was allegedly kicked off a flight for breastfeeding her then 22-month-old daughter.

These incidents, while more than two years apart, serve to illustrate the debate raging now about public breastfeeding.

The American Association of Pediatrics says breast is best for your baby. But many feel uncomfortable when women breastfeed in public. Just ask Bill Mahr, who riled up mothers everywhere when he spoke out  against  public breastfeeding.

It's hard to find out whether or not airlines have specific breastfeeding policies, and I'm not even sure if it's legal to prohibit a mom from feeding her babe using her preferred method.

No one wants to be uncomfortable, that's a fact. And when you are trapped on a plane with no where else to go, that discomfort can be amplified, no matter what its cause.

Lots of mothers feed their young children in-flight, to help prevent them from disturbing other passengers with their cries.

What's your take? Should airlines have specific breastfeeding policies, or is it a parent's prerogative to feed her baby in the manner she prefers, no matter where she is?

Tough question, isn't it?